Review by Ian Keogh
Hooky has charm in abundance, excellent cartooning from Míriam Bonastre Tur, and an engaging set-up, but despite all that Volume 1 took some while for the quality to kick in. However, Tur is now on a sure footing, has her cast in place and knows where she’s heading. A hangover fault is Nico being a feisty character, yet somewhat the spare wheel in terms of the group dynamics, but that’s rectified early here with the discovery that he’s able to locate people via a crystal ball. He is a witch after all.
Dani and Dorian Wytte are alienated from their parents, also witches, who have a plan to wipe out humanity, and a flashback chapter shows how that hate began to fester. Their older brother Damien is conflicted, but now King of the Witches, and their mentor Pendragon has been captured. Monica had been attracted to Dorian, but now she knows William is alive, although possibly captured, her attention’s back to being focussed on him.
Yes, it’s a lot to keep up with, especially with other characters also involved, and although there’s a direction, an ongoing plot isn’t a priority. Tur is prone to throwing in ideas that occur as she goes along, so there are plenty of diversions and she keeps adding to the cast. So we have a wolf granny, a nightmare house and a battle with a dragon, although that certainly defies expectations. The bigger picture is often advanced via flashbacks filling in the past and how some relationships developed, yet when least expected Tur will push everyone into a crisis.
The major reason Hooky became popular enough to earn such an online hit rate, and subsequently printed collections, is Tur’s attractive art. The sample page isn’t typical as it’s half scenery, but isn’t it gorgeous? It’s also an oasis of serenity in what’s otherwise constantly action or awkward conversations. Tur isn’t as focussed on the action. In one sense it’s drawn well, but there’s a pivotal scene where someone dies, and it’s not built up or shown well enough, so much so that you’ll be flicking back the pages when someone references it.
For the most part Tur keeps her cards close to her chest regarding personal attraction, but has us constantly wondering if there’s more than friendship in the minds of some people. That’s one conversation point and if there’s a second running throughout it’s Dani’s fear that somehow her magic is cursed, destined to harm people rather than help them. The dynamics between her, Dorian and older brother Damien are well handled, conveying as realistic with the younger siblings uncertain about matters and Damien having made up his mind.
The background to everything that’s happening is distrust between royal families and witches, and by the end of this volume the ground has shifted on that matter. Tur drops some grimly portentous dialogue before the end, and things don’t look good for Dani and Dorian. That’s what Volume 3 is for.
