Spotlight#13: Hooky

Have you ever seen Harry Potter, because if you did tell me how it was since I never read it (#PercyJacksonforlifesuckas)? But enough with a terrible opening because ghouls and gals on this fine Halloween season, we talk about one of my favorite Webtoons! And since I shot myself in the foot with Noblesse and Ghost Teller already reviewed might as well try and crack open the only Halloween themed Webtoon I got left. But without further introductions, let's talk about how Hooky by Miriam, is the ultimate don't skip school PSA.

Summary

In a world where the tensions of humans and witches have been sky high for hundreds of years, the Wytte family, a rich and powerful family of witches, had the bright idea of sending their kids to school. Unfortunately for the brother and sister duo, they missed the first bus to said school. However, instead of going back home, they instead go to find a magical teacher of their own and end up in a conflict that will teach them far more than they ever bargained for.

Characters

Dorain Wytte: A studious and smart student Dorain is the most likely to show off his skills but is socially awkward and can trip himself up now and again. Dorian is very proud of his witch heritage, which makes him the more inclined out of the 2 to improve himself. He is a competent teacher but an even more grounded friend being able to adapt to many situations.

Daniel Wytte: The yin to Dorian's yang Daniel effectively makes up for her lack of knowledge through sheer power. She is a very bright and cheery girl who, unfortunately, is afraid of her magic power, which makes her more sympathetic to humans. She is the will to Dorian's conscience but tries her best to end the conflict between Witches and Humans.

Monica: She is the princess of The present human king. Originally Monica lives a very sheltered life, but as time goes on, she goes from snobby to a more grounded. However, out of her peers, she is probably the most willful and ambitious, never giving up and accepting her limitations.

Mark: The sort of big brother to the group, Mark is the soul and rock that keeps them together. He is always willing to help; he views magic as a helpful blessing.

Nico: A very ambitious, outgoing, and adventurous lad Nico is the first into trouble. However, underneath this trying smile lives a man with a crippling inferiority complex.

Good stuff

Hooky has one of my favorite art styles; it's very bouncy and colorful with individually colorized bubbles to add more characterization. The setting is also very playful, having a very storybook feeling with modern technology sprinkled in at various times. The story does have a couple of classic fairy tale references peppered throughout the story. Miriam keeps in mind the characters are unapologetically just kids in a messed up world, which makes a lot of their development and views feel very real. Every emotion displayed is very real and very high at all times, which can add to any scene. By the end, you feel like this group went from people of a common goal to a family.

Hooky's biggest strength is in its message. There is not some secret villain behind all of it. The tension between humans and witches is a cycle of hatred that runs deep in their society. You can't fix everything with just a happy song and dance. Stories like X men, gargoyles, and Glacias also deal with this a lot. If there is a running theme in this story is easily not letting hatred and fear dictate our lives and instead allowing ourselves to live freely regardless of differences. And while I know the world is a lot better now, I think that we still can take a lot to learn from this webtoon since we often share our opinions without a second thought.

Epilogue

I know this is a sucky Halloween special, but as I said before, I shoot myself in the foot. But then again isn't real life scary enough? But don't worry, there are still many dark and terrible stories in store for you, dear reader. And it's up to me to shine a light on them all. Hooky was a passion project 4 years in the making and I resonate with her feelings on this story a lot. I'm going to really miss it with all my heart. But with that out of the way, Happy All Hallow's Eve to all and to all a good night.