In Magic From The Margins, Latonya “Penn” Pennington explores sci-fi fantasy webtoons and Tapas comics by marginalized creators. For the ninth entry, they’re checking out HoverGirls.
HoverGirls
Creator: Geneva Bowers
Writer: Bowers
Artist: Bowers
Genre: Action, Supernatural
Platform: WEBTOON; Graphic Novel
Kimmonique and Jalessa are two cousins wanting a fresh start as young adults. When they move to the city of Los Aguaceros, they get more than they bargained for when a mysterious beam of light hits them and gives them magical water powers. When monstrous water versions of marine animals suddenly appear, Kim and Jalissa decide to become the magical girl duo known as the HoverGirls to protect the city. Between fighting monsters, working at a coffee shop to make rent and trying to get a fashion dream off the ground, Kim and Jalissa have their work cut out for them.
One of the best aspects of the HoverGirls comic is its fun take on the magical girl genre. As a subgenre of Japanese anime and manga, magical girls are typically associated with grade school girls like Sailor Moon or Cardcaptor Sakura who fight monsters while coming-of-age as teens. Having Afro-Latina young adults as the main characters is even better because adulthood can seem so mundane at times. Through the character Kim, it is shown that dreams don’t have to die in adulthood as long as you are motivated to work towards them.
In fact, the characters are another highlight of HoverGirls. Kim is ambitious and starry-eyed, always thinking up new fashion designs and how she wants to be famous. While she might come off as ditzy to some, there is more to Kim than meets the eye. Not only does she design the magical girl outfits that she and Jalissa wear, but her level-headed moments serves as a good foil to her sometimes temperamental cousin.
On the other hand, Jalissa is mostly level-headed with no particular dreams except to watch her soap operas in peace and possibly deepen her relationship with her best friend Beryl. Her fierceness comes out not only in her temper, but also in her protectiveness towards her cousin Kim. She also wields a water bat against monsters, which is really cool.
Besides Jalissa and Kim, there are other minor and secondary characters that bring the city of Los Aguaceros to life. Restaurant owner Beryl ended up being a surprising favorite because she ends up being a source of support to Jalissa, providing food and hugs when things with Kim feel too much. There’s also Seong-Min, Kim’s manipulative love interest, who ends up playing a bigger role than expected at the story’s climax.
In addition to the characters, there are entertaining moments with the dialogue that are funny and witty. One scene that I liked is when Kim tells Jalissa to use her new powers to “create what she feels in her heart” and Jalissa makes a big knife. It’s an amusing twist on typical magical girl weapons like sparkly wands that serves to enhance Jalissa’s snarky moments.
Tying everything together is Geneva Bowers‘ gorgeous artwork. Drawn with soft pastel-like colors, it adds a somewhat dream-like quality to the story and the characters, especially Kim. One bit of art I liked comes at the beginning of the book when Jalissa uses her powers to fly and then hit a monster with her bat.
All in all, HoverGirls is an entertaining take on magical girls and also contemporary fantasy. It demonstrated that there is a delicate balance between lofty ambition and being realistic and one doesn’t have to negate the other. If you want adult magical girls, adulting, and a magical and grounded story, look no further.
HoverGirls is currently available to read on WEBTOON, or as a graphic novel from your local bookstore and/or comic book shop.
Keep up with every entry in K-Comics Beat’s Magic From The Margins column by clicking here.
