Customer Reviews

Dramacon, Volume 1

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I loved this manga so much!! It's slated to be a short series, but I am definitely going to get the last two volumes whenever they come out!

...Okay, the story follows an aspiring comic writer named Christie, the unknowing owner of one of the most jerk-faced boyfriends on the planet. Luckily, she gets to attend her first Con (sadly, with said boyfriend), and meets Matt, a very sweet, sarcastic guy that she can show her "I'm-going-to-EAT-you-for-that" side to, rather than the submissive role she often takes around her boy, Derek. Matt is not perfect though, and has quite a few secrets, but their chemistry is crazy together; they can't NOT be near each other. And when Christie's world is rocked on it's axis, she turns to the one guy that "[feels] like home". ^_^.

Mind, all of this happens within the usual time of a Con, a single weekend (i.e. 3 days).

So of-course I am anxious to see where this all leads since circumstances for the two of them are horrible (she's in high school on the east coast, he's in college on the west coast) and the ending just begs for an encore. Definitely pick up this book; it'll keep you turning the pages for its quirky humor and wonderful story. The art is also well done, and takes a softer touch on traditional manga styles, which fits the tale very well. If you don't like it, all I can say is: "What is WRONG with you?!" Later!

Dragged against her will to her very first anime convention, Christy is at once both overwhelmed and fascinated by everything the con has to offer...including her mysterious neighbor in the Artist's Alley, Matt. Unfortunately for Christy, she has a boyfriend (albeit a selfish, inattentive one) that she can't seem to say no to, even when he's being a jerk. Will she be able to make it out of the con alive??

Dramacon is a definite departure from the fantasy world of <a href="http://wirepop.com/comic_index.php?id=8">Night Silver</a>, and the more dramatic <a href="http://girlamatic.com/series.php?name=svetlanaseries">Chasing Rainbows</a> (Svetlana's two web comic series), but as always both the art and story deliver with flying colors. Svetlana's simple, yet elegant style is true to the shojo manga form without compromising her own unique voice, nor getting lost in the minute details and forgetting to tell the story. Dramacon not only tells you the story, it lets you see, hear and even smell the world that Svetlana has created, making it easy to read in one sitting and yet fun to return to over and over again.

Without hesitation, I can highly recommend Dramacon to anyone who likes shojo manga, or even just enjoys a great story. Three volumes are planned (and Svet is a little sketchy on the details for the next release date), but the first stands on its own as an excellent read that satisfies at the same time that it leaves you hungry for more.

I especially liked Dramacon because it hit way too close to home for me. Every decision that Christy struggled with in the story was one that I had also experienced (sometimes at a con, no less!), especially her willingness to let her boyfriend walk all over her for the sake of saving the relationship in the beginning. Watching Christy grow and blossom through the story was a personal treat for me, and I am eagerly looking forward to the next installment!

Or to put it in simpler terms...I <font color="red"><3</font> Dramacon!

Previous reviewers have already summarised the story, so I'd just like to add my own impression:

Not only is this title a great example of encouragement for US teens who want to break into the market as mangakas, it accurately shows the fan scene at an anime convention from a beginner's point of view. Just like Christie has to find her way through the pitfalls of the convention to some self-confidence as a writer, she also transforms from a wimpy follower of peer pressure, who holds on to her first love because it's convenient, into a tentative explorer of new things, even a new love - leaving herself open to disappointment but daring to dream. What is also nice that there's no clear happy end, all the characters have their faults.

The almost-rape scene and its aftermath is handled very sensitively but also not made into the be-all of the book. Apart from that the art is perfect for the story, clearly manga style and still routed firmly in US reality.

I'm your typical American Manga/Anime junkie, so naturally when Tokyopop started hyping their new Manga Magazine, which contained a preview of Dramacon, I dug right in. As soon as I read the preview, I was hooked. I read the preview at least 20 times while waiting to get my hands on the book.

Once I got the full graphic novel in my paws, I could not put it down. I bought it the same day that my family got Satellite TV service, and I chose Dramacon over some of my favorite shows that I haven't been able to watch in 2 years!

It was just that good!!! Svetlana's artistry is histarical, captivating, emotional....she manages to make ever-day-life, something so realistic as a con, into magic. The story is fast paced, there is no filler, and frankly, it just downright rocks.

I highly reccomend Dramacon to anyone, especially if you're a Shojo nut, though. If you're not into Shojo or aren't a big Anime-Con fan, you may not like it as much as I do, but if you're willing to try it, you can go to Tokyopop's website (www.tokyopop.com) and get a preview of the first chapter! What do you have to lose? A whole 15 minutes?

I've read a lot of romance mangas like pita-ten and saikano, but this one takes the cake because it has no supernatural elements to it and that makes the reader(me) totally relate to it. After you read this manga you'll only feel desperate waiting for the next volume comes out, especially after you read the preview. I absolutely recommend everyone to buy this manga. It's real, funny, sweet and it makes you want to find love inmediately. The two main character, Christie and Matt, are made for each other and I have to admit Matt's totally hot even with an injured eye.

Svetlana Chmakova's DramaCon is the brightest and best of TokyoPop's domestic output. In fact, it's better then the vast majority of the japanese manga they put out! Though Svetlana's still a young cartoonist, she has a lot of talent, and it shows in this book. The Con depicted in this book is a wacky atmosphere, full of all kinds of horrors and wonders you'd encounter at any Anime or Comic Convention. Endearing characters like Christine and Matt are really well fleshed out, with Christie's earnestnest, and naive trust of others shining through, and Matt's standoffishness. Both have secrets and surprises to give you later on, and it's generally a righteous frollick.
Svetlana includes great extras as well, such as SD bonus strips interacting with her editor and characters, a trend continued from her webcomics like Chasing Rainbows. This award nominated cartoonist is someone to watch.

If you love Anime, Manga, or good stories in general, this book is a must!

I went out on a limb with this manga. I wasn't familiar with Svetlana Chmakova's work and didn't know if the story would be overly cheesy. But it was discounted so I figured why not.

Chmakova's artistic range is impressive. Each of the characters went from adorably expressive to serious without losing the qualities that made them unique. There was no emotional confusion in any of the panels and each of the panels were easy to follow.

The story takes place over three days at a comic convention. Christie is in a relationship with a boy named Derek when Matt comes along with a large (proverbial) mirror, and Christie is forced to take a long hard look at how troubled her relationship truly is.

The writing was well-done and well-edited, in turns hilarious and poignant. Something else that I loved is that the story isn't toned-down or overly sugarcoated. There's one scene in particular that shocked me because it was truly dramatic and heartrending, but I was glad it was included because it drove home the seriousness of Christie's situation with Derek. But not to worry that the book is overly dramatic or tragic because it's balanced with plenty of lighthearted moments, too.

Now that I'm done, I would have gladly paid full price--in fact, I went and purchased the next two issues immediately. This manga was a gem.