Dramacon, Volume 1 [Paperback]

Svetlana Chmakova (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 11, 2005

When Christie settles in the Artist Alley of her first ever Anime convention, she only sees it as an opportunity to promote the comic she had started with her boyfriend. But conventions are never what you expect and soon the whirlwind of events sweeps Christie off her feet and changes her life. Who is the mysterious cosplayer that won't even take off his sunglasses indoors? Where does her boyfriend get the nerve to act the way he does? And the hardest question of all...What do you do when you fall in love with a guy who is going to be miles away from you in just a couple of days?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set at a comic convention, this story shouldn't be as entertaining and fun as it is. But it's a little gem: the plot trips along, and though the art is good, not breathtaking, the Russian-born Canadian artist/author has clearly mastered the now international visual language of manga. The heroine is Chris, a self-willed girl who is taken for granted by her boyfriend, Derek. Chris meets the dark and mysterious Matt, who seems to understand her completely, and hijinks ensue. Sounds corny as hell, but the narrative is smart, witty and moving. The characters tap into the manga archetypes, which makes them breathe and have moments of being larger-than-life. Chris goes through self-doubt to self-knowledge and learns a bit of bravery along the way. It's astonishing to reflect that all the action takes place in the hotel rooms and convention floors where kids sell their homemade comics. Under the noses of adults, these "cons" have slipped into popular culture as a new land of rebels, mentors and wisdom—what road trips and the Haight once were. They're a perfect place for a growing-up story. Using every visual manga convention to its fullest, this ripping little tale is strong and expressive enough to reveal real emotional depth. (Nov.)
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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: TokyoPop (October 11, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598161296
• ISBN-13: 978-1598161298
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #799,465 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fabulous New Voice in OEL Manga!, October 11, 2005

By 

Manga Librarian "missrelena" (Hurricane, Utah, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dramacon, Volume 1 (Paperback)

I just finished reading this wonderful new manga, and I'm already dying to read the next one. Christie, the writer of a home-made manga comes to her first anime convention with her artist/boyfriend Derek, and two of his older friends who are supposed to be acting as chaperones. After having Derek's supreme 'jerk-ness' rubbed in her face for a few hours, Christie runs off crying and runs headlong into Matt, a slightly shy cosplayer who never takes his sunglasses off. Not understanding why, she instantly trusts this total stranger and pours out all her troubles to him. With snyde remarks, good advice and a touch of sympathy, he comforts her and sends Christie on her way. But that's not the end, not even close! Derek gets worse, Christie attempts to grow a spine and stand up to the loser and Matt just keeps turning up in all the right places. Saying any more would give it all away.

The art is free-flowing and fun, without the wooden look that several new manga artists (Japanese and North American alike) tend to have. It has just enough super-deformed moments to keep the laughter going, but the events between Matt and Christie are what really keep the plot moving. Buy the book and be prepared for a great shojo ride through the ups and downs of an American Anime Convention -- where anything can happen, even true love.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching and funny story about love and self-discovery, July 22, 2006

By 

A&M Junkie (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dramacon, Volume 1 (Paperback)

The first thing you will probably notice about Dramacon is that it's origins are not from Japan or Korea but Canada. However, even though it's of Western origins, Svetlana Chmakova has brought us a great and totally sweet Manga that captures the very essence of what we love about shojo stories - better than many from Japan.

Christie, a high school amateur Manga writer, goes to an anime convention in the U.S. with her boyfriend Derek to show off their joint Manga in the Artist Alley. However through the days of the convention, Christie learns that her boyfriend is actually an insensitive and selfish jerk as he spends his time flirting with other girls in their cosplayer costumes. Meanwhile, through a series of accidents and coincidents, she forms a bond with a good-looking college student, who despite being constantly rude to her, is always there when she needs him.

Christie is an instantly likeable character with honest feelings who finds throughout the Convention her true spirit. Always torn by her feelings of attraction to the mysterious college student and loyalty to her boyfriend she learns to stop being subdued and to voice her own opinions. So this is first and foremost a romantic shojo about self-discovery, however, it is also truly funny. Throughout the book their are touches of comic genius that you cannot help but grin from ear to ear.

Svetlana embraces the life blood of anime conventions and does not make fun of them. We are always laughing with the anime convention, not at it. She picks classic moments like our heroine's obsession with "Pawky" (meaning Pocky - the addictive chocolate covered breadstick - yummy!), finding new releases from "Mangapop" (aka Tokyopop), the prospect of watching hentai, and cosplayers dressed very scary ways. Little touches, like a plush of Totoro being present in the background almost as an afterthought, brings forth Svetlana's genuine love of Japanese sub-culture.

Near the end the story takes a more serious turn with a confrontation between the main characters and the learning of the college student's secret. Svetlana does a brave move in showing the hero's faults to the audience and does not present him as "too good to be true."

The artwork, though not breathtaking, is pleasant and funny, with the hero looking suitability sexy. It sometimes has similar artwork to Van Von Hunter and Sokura Refugees. The story is touching and funny. This is really worth buying so please do not be put off by the fact that it has a Western author. 4.5 stars.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazingly good!, October 22, 2005

By 

DigiMaeve (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dramacon, Volume 1 (Paperback)

OK, I'm not the type to think "Gee, it's done by a non-Japanese person, so it must suck!" but I admit to having a slight bias. I saw the advertisement on Tokyopop's site and figured I'd flip through it....I was hooked!
It's REALLY REALLY good! So good, that it's now in my top 5 manga.

The art: Though the main character can be slightly inconsistent when drawn in a "serious" way, for the most part she's spot-on. ALL the art is gorgeous. The "hot guy" is super hot (mmm...) and the beautiful girls are lovely without being overbearing. The background art is excellent as well, and the art has a lot packed into it, detail-wise, without feeling TOO packed.

The story: Fortunately, the damsel-in-distress can stick up for herself, and though is at times unsure of herself, doesn't suffer from low self esteem, which is pretty darn cliche. She's not whiney, which is great, too! (Ugh, Miaka...)
Anyway, the main character's personality is quite believable and curiously enough, so are the personalities of the other characters.

Seriously, I'd stopped buying most manga (with a couple of Clamp exceptions) because it all started to blur together. This really stands out!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.