Queer Witches and Werewolves: Should You Be Reading ‘Mooncakes’? [Pride Week]

When you look at the sheer range and number of original stories being told in comics form today, it’s hard to imagine a better time to be a comics reader. Online and in print, from all around the world, artists and writers are telling stories with their own voices and styles, and there’s so much to choose from that it’s sometimes difficult to know what to read next. With Should I Be Reading… ?, ComicsAlliance hopes to offer you a guide to some of the best original ongoing comics being published today.

There are a ton of webcomics out there, but not all of them have great art and compelling stories. Even fewer feature queer people of color as main characters. Mooncakes has all of the above, in a modern world with fantasy elements.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT?

Nova Huang is a charming young witch who works at her grandmothers’ bookshop during the day and fights supernatural crime at night. She’s hard of hearing, so she’s developed expertise with nonverbal spells.

After hearing about a big white wolf in the woods, Nova goes to investigate and finds out the wolf is actually her old childhood friend, Tam. Tam’s a werewolf, but they’ve been stuck in wolf form for the past month while trying to take down an archdemon. Now that Nova’s found them, the two are working together and rekindling their friendship (and maybe kindling some romance).

WHO'S IT BY?

Mooncakes is written by Suzanne Walker and illustrated by Wendy Xu. You may know Xu from her amazing Twitter illustrations of Terry Shin, the internet’s best pigeon boyfriend, collected in Will You Go Out With Me? --- for sale on Gumroad. Suzanne Walker has written several great articles about comics and living with a disability over at Women Write About Comics.

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?

Werewolves. Witches. Lesbian grandmothers. Queer people of color. Black cats with bowties. It’s a really fun comic that’s not afraid to get dark, too.

WHO SHOULD READ IT?

Anyone who wanted to be a witch when they were younger (or still does). Fans of Teen Wolf who want more queer representation. Lovers of cute romance.

WHERE CAN I READ IT?

You can read Mooncakes online. It updates twice a month, on the 1st and the 15th.