Webtoon Spotlight

Spotlight#40: Winter Moon (MMM#1)

Have you ever felt like an epic gamer? Well, if you have, then maybe you'll relate to the magnum opus of Merryweather's many comics: Winter Moon!

    Author

    Might as well get this over and done with now. Merryweather had been an avid author and writer of numerous webcomics back in 2012. He got his start in a Danish convention called Genki, where he asked for the help of various artists before finally getting a yes from a future friend named Joakim Waller. 

As someone aspiring to be a writer, I can relate to his drive and competence in writing multiple stories. In particular to this webtoon, however, it's noted that the artist's name is Mayui, who has a Twitter and also likes singing, dancing, and voice acting.

    Summary

    Everyone and their mother seem to be talking about the newest hit game sweeping the nation: Magnolia Online. But, unfortunately, everyone doesn't tell you that the game is a hotbed of toxic activity, with one guild being at the center: Winter Moon. This is the story about how this group of rambunctious rebels made their mark for better or worse. It may be a game to some, but their connections to each other are plenty real, even if they don't always show it.

    Characters

    Florence: In real life, Florence is the son of a wealthy Ceo who refuses to acknowledge his homosexuality. Thus to escape this reality Florence became a pyromaniac that was unforgiving to just about anyone. Though after meeting Risa, Florence's righteous and protective qualities come more into the open.

Risa: Growing up as a weak girl that never got taken seriously, Risa is a girl who has always had to fight. In the game, she uses her weakness as a strength to manipulate people out of their money. However, as time goes on, she develops her confidence both in and out of her two worlds.

Gideon: The only one with actual sense Gideon is Florence's only friend in both the game and real life. His stoic nature and intelligence are pretty much the only reason why the guild is even still alive.

Overview

Even amongst the various artists that Merryweather has worked with, Mayuu is my personal favorite. Her art does feel like some concept art out of a game, and it shows. The coloring and shading are always excellent as it gives a lot of panel life. Like any story of this genre, Winter Moon shows the highs and lows from the game. 

Cyberbullying, online stalking, harassment, and trickery are all themes that the webtoon explores. But it also shows the wonders of such an online community because it brought Winter Moon together as friends. Combine all that with the concise chapters, and this series is highly binge-able. And while our mc's do come off as unlikeable, they have their moments of levity that make them enjoyable and relatable with their development shining through.

Epilogue

Overall, Winter moon is one of the premier webtoons of Merryweather for a reason. It's a story about showing that even the most trivial of activities can have meaning to you. It's a story that shows how judgemental the world is and how important it is to live freely. 

As COVID 19 continues the rage, I think that message does ring true. But this is only the first of Merryweahter's great works; stick around as I decided to shine a light on another one.