In Magic From The Margins, Latonya “Penn” Pennington explores sci-fi fantasy webtoons and Tapas comics by marginalized creators. For the thirteenth entry, they’re checking out Little Hollow Cafe.
Little Hollow Cafe
Creator: Sam Camp, Vivian Ha
Writers: Sam Camp, Vivian Ha
Production: Mitzi Lovelace, Maria Li (original scenario by wmw)
Characters: Vivian Ha
Storyboards: Geoniya Acuna
Colors: Iniro
Letters: Kielamel Sibal
Genre: slice of life, fantasy
Rating: Teen
Platform: WEBTOON
If it’s one thing I find comforting, it’s a nice drink made by a cafe or at home. Whether it’s boba tea, iced coffee or hot cocoa, these drinks are a wonderful way to add some sweetness to my day. It is this sweetness and comfort that I was reminded of when I stumbled on Little Hollow Cafe on WEBTOON.
For those not in the know, Little Hollow Cafe is about the Deja Brew cafe in the small town of Little Hollow. It is run by Mimi, who inherited the cafe from her recently deceased grandmother. Despite not being good with money, Mimi has the kindness and heart needed to serve customers and make them feel welcome with a drink or pastry. However, she soon finds that a little magic can go a long way into making the shop thrive.
One of the things that charmed me about this comic is its characters. Starting with the protagonist Mimi, she is the earnest and kind protagonist that I enjoy rooting for. As the comic progresses, we are also introduced to other characters such as the plant nursery owner Rose and the blunt and practical Javi. One character that adds a bit of tension and conflict for Mimi is August, the owner of a local diner in Little Hollow. He has a surprising connection to Mimi’s grandmother and is also a snobby jerk, so he’s one of those characters that you want to boo while also hoping they learn to get along with the main character.
For the most part though, each character that Mimi meets in Little Hollow is part of a welcoming and helpful community that genuinely wants her to succeed at Deja Brew. Some of them even come together to help put the word out about the cafe reopening and even inspire Mimi to make certain drinks or pastries. One particularly wholesome chapter involves Mimi serving cafe con leche to an elderly woman who praises Mimi.
Another aspect of the comic that I enjoyed is the artwork, especially Iniro’s use of warm, earthy colors like orange, green, gold and brown for the scenery and some of the food and drinks. It reminded me of autumn, one of the best times to eat and drink cafe food. The use of color enhanced the comic’s wholesome and relaxing vibes.
A final aspect of the comic that I loved is its subtle use of magic. There are little colorful fireflies that appear around certain characters and the cutest and most helpful mushroom I’ve ever seen. I liked that the comic doesn’t show you the magic right away, but rather eases the reader into it gradually as you keep reading. It is the comic equivalent of stumbling on a new, enjoyable place, food or drink that gets better the longer you experience it.
All in all, Little Hollow Cafe offers a nice relaxing sip of magic that will soothe the reader as well as a Studio Ghibli film. With an enjoyable cast of characters, delicious-looking food and a gorgeous use of color, this cafe is worth stopping at and sitting with for a while.
Little Hollow Cafe is currently available to read on WEBTOON.
Keep up with every entry in K-Comics Beat’s Magic From The Margins column by clicking here.
