Customer Reviews

Dramacon, Volume 2 (v. 2)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first read Dramacon online at Tokyopop.com. Eventually my friend bought it, and I was blown away by the sheer hilarity and touch of romance that makes this series great. The author is great at making truly funny storylines, and showing the chaotic atmosphere of a con. The second book is just as fun as the first as it digs deeper into Matt and Chirste's relationship and is sure to keep you laughing all the way through.

I devoured the book instantly, and it brough so many memories afresh. I was at both times nodding sympathethically to the characters as well as I was about to burst into tears when certain pages reminded me of my own times at conventions.
I loved the expressions on the characters, and the uptake the author gave to the eternal debate of "It's this manga?" Really well done.
It's a book many can fall in love with.
I am particularly fond of Monica from the Firebird Studio, wish to know more about her in the next stories! =3

Dramacon is one of those diamond in the ruft series that you find here and there. Take the simple concept of a visit to an anime convention. Add drama. You have Dramacon.

This volume picks up the story introduced in Dramacon Volume 1 one year later at Yatta Con. Chriss has a new artist with her and a new comic, the big manga company Mangapop is looking for new talent, and Matt is there (with a girlfriend >.>)! I'm sad to say that the Chriss/Matt relationship is not looked at as much as I would like in this volume, it is still an excellent read that you will go through in one sitting. If you are an otaku of any type or have ever been to an anime convention, then this is the manga for you! Be sure to pick it up! ^^

Tokyopop claims that it is leading the manga revolution. Although I'm sure that other companies like Viz would object to that, there's one area that they seem to have complete control over. That is OEL manga, Original English Language. New titles are constantly hitting the shelves of your bookstore's local manga section and some are even in their second volume. Dramacon is one of these titles to make it to the second volume, but will it be as good as the first?

Vol 2 continues the story of Christie, an armature comic book writer and her adventures at a yearly anime convention. A lot has changed in the past year, Christie has a new artist and best friend named Bethany, and she has become a much more confident person. Although she still has her insecurities, she shows to be a much stronger and mature individual. This new confidence is put to the test when she finds herself facing new challenges, many which have to deal with the challenges of being an OEL manga writer, and some on a more... romantic level. Matt is back, but he's brought a girlfriend with him and Christie is very confused about what to do. Volume two is a very different Dramacon, which the focus being on characterization over plot. Here we get into the minds of Christie and her new friend Bethany, as they struggle to make the right choices and figure out how to survive the con. As a result, the story we are told is just as strong as the first, if just a bit slower moving. The examples of the challenges behind being an American manga-ka are obviously inspired by Svetlana's personal experiences, and add an element of realism to the manga.

The artwork I'm sorry to say has seemed to take a small step down, but do not fear! The story is strong enough, the characters loveable enough so it doesn't hamper your reading experience. The only thing that did get to me is the overuse of her habit of renaming people and items from pop culture. Some of them, like pawky for pocky and mangapop for tokyopop are cute but when she began renaming American singers and such, I found it to be a bit much. Beyond that, the manga is great. She is writing a third volume and I'm interesting in seeing what she comes up with next! Hopefully we won't have to wait another year!

Long distance relationships are hard to maintain - especially when you do not call. That big career break that sets you on the path to artistic success may never happen - especially when you never show people your work.

Many of our dreams never come true because we do not take action. But even when we do not pursue our dreams they do not go away. We can confine them behind walls of rationalization and self-doubt, but we can still hear them cry. They sleeplessly probe the walls of their prison looking for a means of escape. All it takes is a reminder - a person, a place, or casual word - to unlock that flimsy dungeon and release paroxysms of unfulfilled longing.

Unrealized dreams are ephemeral. Even though they lack form and substance, they still have power over us. Imagine how much more dangerous is a dream made real. What would you do if your long suppressed dream came to life? What if you were suddenly confronted with an opportunity you long denied was even possible?

And what if the fulfillment of that dream meant the ruin of another's dream?

Would you have the heart and guts to protect another's dream at the risk of your own? Some people would protect the dreams of their parents. A few would protect the dreams of their partners. But would you stop to consider the needs of an innocent stranger who just accidentally wandered into the path of your oncoming emotional train wreck?

And where will you hide on that rain-swept summer's night when you know you can have what you want but it would be wrong?

In the second book of the DRAMACON series, Svetlana Chmakova takes her heroines out of their comfortable state of denial. She forces them to run the annual three day emotional obstacle course known as a comic book convention. There Christie (the writer) and Bethany (the artist) struggle together to do the right thing. Christie has unfinished business from the year before with Matt. Bethany has to balance her love of comics with her mother's plans.

As the story unfolds, Chmakova also finds opportunity in the ludicrous maelstrom to explore subjects familiar to comic book fans. Her take on the "is it really manga?" question is on target. One of her characters, Lida Zeff, talks about the downside and the upside of a career in comics. Chmakova weaves into the story commentaries on convention etiquette for both exhibitors and fans. She finds room to say nice things about convention staff people. She even finds room for a self-deprecating joke about one of her earlier web-comics (Night Silver).

After the spectacular beginning in the first volume, the story has entered the muddy middle of the saga. This is what the movie folks would call the second reel. While it lacks the impact of the first volume, the slower pace makes possible more plot and character development. As with the first volume, the story reaches closure on the final pages. The girls reflect on what they lost and gained in those three strange days.

And they resolve to come back next year and do it again.

Read this book.

Like the first one it's even better with more adrenaline & drama. Your on your seat thinking "what's going to happen next! I must read faster! & then your like Oh my gosh & then your emotions go "No Way!"
If the story sounds good to you I would suggest buying all of them at once because your going to hate waiting until you get the next one.

Having already conquered her first ever anime comic convention, Christie is ready to take her second Yatta Anime Convention by storm in Dramacon Vol. 2 (2006) by Svetlana Chmakova. Christie is also ready to show her new artist/partner-in-crime Bethany the ropes at the con. What Christie isn't ready for is to find Matt, the mysterious cosplayer that rocked her world in Volume 1, back at the con--with his girlfriend!

Will these star-crossed not-quite-lovers ever connect? Will Chriss and Bethany's comic ever get the respect it deserves? Will Bethany be able to reconcile her love of art with her mother's staunch disapproval? Find the answers to those questions and more in Dramacon Vol. 2!

It's hard to explain how much I love this series without sounding ridiculous. But I do. Dramacon is one of those things that just makes you feel good. It's charming and sweet and exhuberant in a way that is zany and, really, perfect.

It was also interesting to read about Chriss and Bethany's difficulties in the face of manga snobs who claim that "real" manga has to be written by someone who is Japanese. Even after researching graphic novels and comics for a school paper, I didn't know that. Snobbery aside, Dramacon is about as real manga as you can get and it is awesome.

That's all I'm going to say about this book as a manga because I think my review of Volume 1 covered my opinion of calling manga junk food (hint: it's ridiculous). I will grant that this book might be a bit of escapism. But who doesn't need that now and then?

What I liked especially in this story is that Chriss and Beth are both willing to walk away from their dreams to do what seems best in the long run. (It was heart-wrenching seeing Chriss watching Matt and his girlfriend. It was even more heart-wrenching seeing her walk away from him--again!) These are not, perhaps, the best choices or the easiest ones. But they are very real and I liked finding that bit of reality in a comic. That said, this volume obvious totally leaves readers hanging desperate to see if everything works out for the best in the final volume of the series.

Dramacon is a romance manga set at an anime convention. Chmakova weaves a complex story with some wonderful characters into a setting that is at once loving tribute and brilliant satire of the convention scene.

This volume takes place a year after the first one. The setting is once again the Yatta Anime Convention, where manga writer Christie had a series of adventures and mishaps a year before, culminating in a breakup and the beginnings of a new crush on mysterious cosplayer Matt.

Over the year that has passed, Christie hasn't kept in touch with Matt, but she hasn't forgotten him either. She is dismayed to discover that Matt has arrived at the convention with a new girlfriend.

This volume also introduces Bethany, the new artist for Christie's manga. Bethany is a talented artist struggling with pressure from home to be a top student. Her mother does not approve of her interest in drawing comics, and she herself is unsure of how much she is really ready to committ to being an artist.

As with the first volume, Chmakova featured a rich supporting cast with some compelling characters. Particularly interesting is Lida, an older established Manga artist who becomes a sort of mentor figure for Christie, even as she still deals with some of her own doubts.

Matt remains the stereotypic strong silent type, but the little glimpses behind the mask that we do get are telling ones, and I also found that romantic rival Emily (Matt's girlfriend) has a good deal of depth beyond her role as an antagonist.

The convention itself is described in loving detail, and Chmakova does a great job of conveying the kind of friendships and crises that seem to go hand in hand with such a setting.

The artwork is gorgeous. My only gripe is that I find Chmakova goes to the chibis a bit too often for my tastes, but that is just personal preference. The characters look great and the emotions come across beautifully.

The story ends with the end of the convention, with some issues resolved and many left hanging, and the reader is left to wonder what will happen when Christie, Bethany, Matt, Emily, and the others are reunited at the next convention in another year.

I'm probably not the traditional target audience for shoujo, but the convention setting hooked me from the start and the very strong characters kept me interested. Highly recommended for anyone who's been involved in manga or anime fandom.

I really liked the first book and waited MONTHS for the second one. It was worth it! This series does not dissapoint! The situations are realistic and you can relate to most of them. I am a big fan of this series and my only question now is...WHEN WILL I GET TO READ THE THIRD BOOK?!?!?!?!?!?!??!

With a little sadness in the story you still wanna know wath's gona happen in the nes episode