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Dramacon #1-3
Dramacon
Relive Christie's three-year adventure at the Yatta Anime Convention with this 15th-anniversary edition of Svetlana Chmakova's debut series: Dramacon. All three volumes are compacted into one pocket-sized edition.
Vol 1 Summary: When amateur writer Christie settles in the artist alley of her first-ever anime convention, she sees it as an opportunity to promote the manga she had started with her artist boyfriend. But when she unexpectedly falls for a mysterious cosplayer, things become complicated. What do you do when you love someone who is going miles away from you in just a couple of days?! Web-comic vet Svetlana Chmakova gives us a funny, romantic, behind-the-scenes look at an anime convention-where sometimes even two is a crowd!
Vol 2 Summary: It's Christie's second year at the Lakeside Anime Convention and the drama picks up right where it left off in Dramacon volume one! With her new partner-in-crime, a.k.a. artiste extraordinaire Bethany, she is promoting her latest comic. Matt is also back, but to Christie's shock, he now has a girlfriend!
Vol 3 summary: College students Christie and Bethany are back to pimp their comic at the LAC, this time to a delightfully large crowd of loyal fans who read it online. Bethany's glowing with pride since her mascot art won the contest and is now on every t-shirt and program at the con. They are the stars this year!
Vol 1 Summary: When amateur writer Christie settles in the artist alley of her first-ever anime convention, she sees it as an opportunity to promote the manga she had started with her artist boyfriend. But when she unexpectedly falls for a mysterious cosplayer, things become complicated. What do you do when you love someone who is going miles away from you in just a couple of days?! Web-comic vet Svetlana Chmakova gives us a funny, romantic, behind-the-scenes look at an anime convention-where sometimes even two is a crowd!
Vol 2 Summary: It's Christie's second year at the Lakeside Anime Convention and the drama picks up right where it left off in Dramacon volume one! With her new partner-in-crime, a.k.a. artiste extraordinaire Bethany, she is promoting her latest comic. Matt is also back, but to Christie's shock, he now has a girlfriend!
Vol 3 summary: College students Christie and Bethany are back to pimp their comic at the LAC, this time to a delightfully large crowd of loyal fans who read it online. Bethany's glowing with pride since her mascot art won the contest and is now on every t-shirt and program at the con. They are the stars this year!
624 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2008
11 people are currently reading
671 people want to read
About the author
Svetlana Chmakova
38 books1,611 followersSvetlana Chmakova (Russian: Светлана Шмакова) (born 1979 in Russia) is a comic creator. She is best known for Dramacon, an original English-language (OEL) manga spanning three volumes and published in North America by Tokyopop. Her other work includes the 2-page The Adventures of CG for CosmoGIRL! magazine and the webcomic Chasing Rainbows for Girlamatic. Though born in Russia, she immigrated to Canada, where she graduated from the Sheridan College Classical Animation program, in 2002. She then began to publish her manga on the Internet, where her works were found by CosmoGirl! magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
December 22, 2020
Full of teen drama and suggestive of cheating and toxic relationship, this was quite a fun read.
The artstyle is good and the art sequence well-maintained.
It doesn't follow the usual manga reading style and can be read as well as a graphic novel or a comic series.
The manga talks about a teen couple in which the girl isn't happy because of the way her boyfriend keeps flirting with every girl he comes across.
He's violent and tends to neglect her all the time and tends to remember her when he needs something from her.
Fed up of all the hurt and betrayal, the girl tries her best to befriend other people and gets to know a guy during the comicon.
Well, lots of fights and drama later the story ends well.
Love how it's such a wholesome story.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
The artstyle is good and the art sequence well-maintained.
It doesn't follow the usual manga reading style and can be read as well as a graphic novel or a comic series.
The manga talks about a teen couple in which the girl isn't happy because of the way her boyfriend keeps flirting with every girl he comes across.
He's violent and tends to neglect her all the time and tends to remember her when he needs something from her.
Fed up of all the hurt and betrayal, the girl tries her best to befriend other people and gets to know a guy during the comicon.
Well, lots of fights and drama later the story ends well.
Love how it's such a wholesome story.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
October 12, 2020
I am probably not the best reader for this book as I am at the point in my life where a herd of drama llamas leaves me nothing but tired. This is a clearly early work by an author and artist who are both growing into their skills and technique; I'd love to find what they have done lately. And while this does capture the excitement of both finding a community and finding a new love, at 600-plus pages of moodiness and tears and sighs and.......drama, it really just left me tired.
**Thanks to the author, artist, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
**Thanks to the author, artist, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2020
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This one was not for me. I was very intrigued when it came to the story but I have to say that the artwork is horrible. I couldn't stop looking at how horrible it was. It looked like a 13 year old made this.
Story wise it was alright. Not the greatest however there were events and it was alright to read.
However I wouldn't recommend this to anyone any time soon.
This one was not for me. I was very intrigued when it came to the story but I have to say that the artwork is horrible. I couldn't stop looking at how horrible it was. It looked like a 13 year old made this.
Story wise it was alright. Not the greatest however there were events and it was alright to read.
However I wouldn't recommend this to anyone any time soon.
Read
April 1, 2011The first thing you need to know about this super cute trilogy of a manga series is that each book takes place one year after the previous at the same anime convention.
Christie is the main character as we see things from her perspective. Sometimes the scene focuses on another character, but it’s primarily Christie.
In the first volume we meet Christie as she attends this very popular anime convention for the first time with her boyfriend, who has been to a con or two before. Christie and her boyfriend, Derek, have a table at the artists’ section of the con for their indie manga. (Derek draws and Christie writes.) But Derek’s a huge flirt and doesn’t act like a good boyfriend should and during the weekend of this con, Christie meets someone who she instantly connects with, Matt. But Christie and Matt live on different sides of the country and Christie has a boyfriend.
What’s a girl to do?
Like I stated before, this series is super cute. I loved Svetlana’s depictions of Christie and all the people she meets at the con. I especially loved Matt. (Hubba-hubba) If I met a guy like Matt in real life, I’d start thinking about attending college near him (if not at his college). Short of pulling a Felicity, I would at least get his email so we could “stay in touch”. Seriously, Matt is uber-cute and adorable. I heart him.
The storyline is an interesting one since we have to be quickly filled in on everything that has happened in the past year, but I think Svetlana does a great job in getting readers up to speed without just summing it up. I am sad that this ended at three volumes since I would have loved to continue seeing Matt, but I can understand why it did. And it was nice to see a realistic storyline in that the characters didn’t immediately fall in love and forsake everything for each other. They were awkward and nervous and didn’t always say the right things, just like everyone does at one time. (Or all the time, in my case.)
I feel I should warn you about the second volume. If you fall for Matt as hard as I did, you won’t like it. I don’t want to say why, but every time I think about it, I start glaring and frowning. But the third volume redeems the series, so don’t be put off by the second. It ends well! I promise.
So, if you’re looking for a cute getaway and love anime/manga enough to know what cosplay is, this is right up your alley and you should get to reading!
Even if you don’t know a thing about anime or manga, I think you’d still enjoy this series. It’s a great starter for people who are interested in the genre, but aren’t too sure about what to read first. Plus you don’t have to read R to L, like traditional manga. This is an original English-language manga and reads L to R.
Reviewed on WhatchYAreading on December 30, 2010.
Christie is the main character as we see things from her perspective. Sometimes the scene focuses on another character, but it’s primarily Christie.
In the first volume we meet Christie as she attends this very popular anime convention for the first time with her boyfriend, who has been to a con or two before. Christie and her boyfriend, Derek, have a table at the artists’ section of the con for their indie manga. (Derek draws and Christie writes.) But Derek’s a huge flirt and doesn’t act like a good boyfriend should and during the weekend of this con, Christie meets someone who she instantly connects with, Matt. But Christie and Matt live on different sides of the country and Christie has a boyfriend.
What’s a girl to do?
Like I stated before, this series is super cute. I loved Svetlana’s depictions of Christie and all the people she meets at the con. I especially loved Matt. (Hubba-hubba) If I met a guy like Matt in real life, I’d start thinking about attending college near him (if not at his college). Short of pulling a Felicity, I would at least get his email so we could “stay in touch”. Seriously, Matt is uber-cute and adorable. I heart him.
The storyline is an interesting one since we have to be quickly filled in on everything that has happened in the past year, but I think Svetlana does a great job in getting readers up to speed without just summing it up. I am sad that this ended at three volumes since I would have loved to continue seeing Matt, but I can understand why it did. And it was nice to see a realistic storyline in that the characters didn’t immediately fall in love and forsake everything for each other. They were awkward and nervous and didn’t always say the right things, just like everyone does at one time. (Or all the time, in my case.)
I feel I should warn you about the second volume. If you fall for Matt as hard as I did, you won’t like it. I don’t want to say why, but every time I think about it, I start glaring and frowning. But the third volume redeems the series, so don’t be put off by the second. It ends well! I promise.
So, if you’re looking for a cute getaway and love anime/manga enough to know what cosplay is, this is right up your alley and you should get to reading!
Even if you don’t know a thing about anime or manga, I think you’d still enjoy this series. It’s a great starter for people who are interested in the genre, but aren’t too sure about what to read first. Plus you don’t have to read R to L, like traditional manga. This is an original English-language manga and reads L to R.
Reviewed on WhatchYAreading on December 30, 2010.
November 3, 2022
Dramacon is the perfect time travel capsule of western anime girl culture in the early 2000’s. I remember reading this in high school, and even as I was over-criticizing the extremely of its era Tokyopop How To Draw Manga art style, I was DREAMING of the day I’d finally get to go to an anime convention. I will always be very fond of Dramacon, and I hope Svetlana Chmakova is happy and doing well wherever she is.
August 18, 2020
I really enjoyed this. First time reading this and i loved the characters so far!!
Matt is such a cutie!!! And how he was treating this adorblr gal at this con.
Heck he treated her 1000x better then that crappy boyfriend. So glad he got his butt kicked!!
Matt is such a cutie!!! And how he was treating this adorblr gal at this con.
Heck he treated her 1000x better then that crappy boyfriend. So glad he got his butt kicked!!
December 11, 2013
Dramacon Ultimate Edition - If you're a manga fan and have been/want to go to a Con, READ THIS! *5+ Stars**The Gush*
I was an avid manga reader the day I picked this book up. I had been to a total of one con, a small one, with some friends and had even dabbled in cosplay. Yeah. So I knew a bit what to expect from a book set in an Anime con...and I wasn't disappointed. Far from it, I was amazed and brought immediately back to all my fond memories of that time with friends. Svetlana Chmakova has captured the good, the bad, and the ugly of so many fans trapped in a small place dedicated to their mutual love for a weekend. More, she captured the spirit and the heart; which I would have considered impossible before reading this. And, just as an extra, she gave us great characters and a neat plot to boot.
Characters:
One of the great things about this series is that not a single character is wasted. Each one, even the minor ones are there for a reason, whether to illustrate a type of person one will see in a con or to provide an integral part of the story. All of them are interesting and, if you've been to a con, most are recognizable to you.
Christie:
The main character, she is a young woman who grows from an 11th grader to a freshman in college through the course of the series. She is a writer, a lover of all things manga/anime, and a child thrown off the deep end into her first con. She discovers the wonder, the problems, and the pain that can happen during such a highly emotional event. Yet she comes back for more. She has dreams of writing manga and is part of the artist alley crowd - which opens the reader into another part of the con world, one they might not themselves get to experience. She's a typical manga heroine, kinda spastic and off the wall but so very lovable and you root for her every time she has a frame. She's not beautiful or super smart, she is (like the author/artist tells us in a cameo) the every man, the one we are to relate to and she does it beautifully.
Matt:
The main guy in the story. He is a rough, sarcastic young man roughly two years older than Christie who feels an instant connection to her. Around her, he is different, better and his sister instantly tries to push them together. It is mainly to Christie he shows a different side of him and though they fight like anything, they also work well together. He is an old hand at cons and acts as a sort of guide - though not without leaving a few scars from cutting comments. He is a deep character, with some bad history following him around, but you can't help but love him.
Bethany:
Christie's second artist on her manga, she is a very good artist who has a driven mother who sees working as an artist as akin to being a Hobo. However, this is her love and she dreams of doing it for a living, even if it is hard. She is the newcomer to cons in the second book and falls in love with the heart and energy of the gathering.
Lida Zeff:
The final major character that has to be mentioned is this older lady who serves to introduce Christie and the reader to a manga creator doing the circuit of cons who also gives a glimpse into the hardships and the rewards of working with manga.
Plot:
I don't want to give too much away here as I'm writing this in the hopes that it helps someone decide to read this series. This is a compilation book holding all three of the volumes that make up the series. Over the course of three novels, Christie meets Matt; experiences her first con and comes back for more; deals with all the hardships and joys of being a dreamy eyed young person; and deals further with pain, loss, cosplay, new friends, love, and growing up. Surrounding this personal tale (which is very good), is a larger one of what one experiences at an Anime con, both the good and the bad. This is, I feel, a must read for anyone about to go to their first con, is thinking about going to one, or someone who has gone to one or more and wants to nostalgically relive it.
Writing/Illustrations:
The writing and drawings in the series are in a word: perfect. The dialogue is wonderful, entertaining, often hysterical, and always relevant. Her illustrations are even better. At times, one hardly needs to read the words at all. They tell the story all by themselves, often times bringing tears of laughter to the reader's eyes. My favorite part is in one frame where Christie is standing between her boyfriend and Matt as they nearly come to blows. Something they say sets her off and she incinerates them with her fury. Two towers of ash, surrounded by flame frame her, one with wide comic eyes (the boyfriend) and the other marked only by shades (something that is integral part of his character).
It is hilariously funny and wonderfully executed (with her boyfriend even coughing after like his lungs are singed a few frames after). Another is a scene of Christie storming down the middle of the anime market flames billowing all around her. People all around her are staring at her and the comments make this scene. One small boy points and asks his mother if they can buy those; the mother's face is priceless. A group of young people are amazed at her cosplay and wonder where she got it with one cynically quipping she must have got it from Japan while another critics that it needs more color. This not only lampoons manga staples but also works them into a real life situation with such ease, it's all part of the con atmosphere. This is a sheer delight to read and shows the creator's wonderful talent.
*The Rant*
Very little, though I have two minor complaints. First is the language. When it is used, it is completely unnecessary and slightly jarring. Also there are couple of inserted conversations that come completely out of thin air, happen, and then are never mentioned again. The problem is they are about really charged issues and just ring wrong. Finally, the age tag on this is not right. This is set for 13+ and I just could not in good conscience give this to the average 13 year old. I would suggest 15+ and that depends on the 15 year old. Most of this book would be good for most ages, but there are a couple of very...adult situations that while not shown in any great light are there, mentioned, and important to the story. This is just something one should be aware of.
*Conclusion*
If you are an older high school student or older, a fan of manga, and either a) are going to your first con, b) want to go to a con, or c) have been to one or more and love to remember - this is the book for you.
I was an avid manga reader the day I picked this book up. I had been to a total of one con, a small one, with some friends and had even dabbled in cosplay. Yeah. So I knew a bit what to expect from a book set in an Anime con...and I wasn't disappointed. Far from it, I was amazed and brought immediately back to all my fond memories of that time with friends. Svetlana Chmakova has captured the good, the bad, and the ugly of so many fans trapped in a small place dedicated to their mutual love for a weekend. More, she captured the spirit and the heart; which I would have considered impossible before reading this. And, just as an extra, she gave us great characters and a neat plot to boot.
Characters:
One of the great things about this series is that not a single character is wasted. Each one, even the minor ones are there for a reason, whether to illustrate a type of person one will see in a con or to provide an integral part of the story. All of them are interesting and, if you've been to a con, most are recognizable to you.
Christie:
The main character, she is a young woman who grows from an 11th grader to a freshman in college through the course of the series. She is a writer, a lover of all things manga/anime, and a child thrown off the deep end into her first con. She discovers the wonder, the problems, and the pain that can happen during such a highly emotional event. Yet she comes back for more. She has dreams of writing manga and is part of the artist alley crowd - which opens the reader into another part of the con world, one they might not themselves get to experience. She's a typical manga heroine, kinda spastic and off the wall but so very lovable and you root for her every time she has a frame. She's not beautiful or super smart, she is (like the author/artist tells us in a cameo) the every man, the one we are to relate to and she does it beautifully.
Matt:
The main guy in the story. He is a rough, sarcastic young man roughly two years older than Christie who feels an instant connection to her. Around her, he is different, better and his sister instantly tries to push them together. It is mainly to Christie he shows a different side of him and though they fight like anything, they also work well together. He is an old hand at cons and acts as a sort of guide - though not without leaving a few scars from cutting comments. He is a deep character, with some bad history following him around, but you can't help but love him.
Bethany:
Christie's second artist on her manga, she is a very good artist who has a driven mother who sees working as an artist as akin to being a Hobo. However, this is her love and she dreams of doing it for a living, even if it is hard. She is the newcomer to cons in the second book and falls in love with the heart and energy of the gathering.
Lida Zeff:
The final major character that has to be mentioned is this older lady who serves to introduce Christie and the reader to a manga creator doing the circuit of cons who also gives a glimpse into the hardships and the rewards of working with manga.
Plot:
I don't want to give too much away here as I'm writing this in the hopes that it helps someone decide to read this series. This is a compilation book holding all three of the volumes that make up the series. Over the course of three novels, Christie meets Matt; experiences her first con and comes back for more; deals with all the hardships and joys of being a dreamy eyed young person; and deals further with pain, loss, cosplay, new friends, love, and growing up. Surrounding this personal tale (which is very good), is a larger one of what one experiences at an Anime con, both the good and the bad. This is, I feel, a must read for anyone about to go to their first con, is thinking about going to one, or someone who has gone to one or more and wants to nostalgically relive it.
Writing/Illustrations:
The writing and drawings in the series are in a word: perfect. The dialogue is wonderful, entertaining, often hysterical, and always relevant. Her illustrations are even better. At times, one hardly needs to read the words at all. They tell the story all by themselves, often times bringing tears of laughter to the reader's eyes. My favorite part is in one frame where Christie is standing between her boyfriend and Matt as they nearly come to blows. Something they say sets her off and she incinerates them with her fury. Two towers of ash, surrounded by flame frame her, one with wide comic eyes (the boyfriend) and the other marked only by shades (something that is integral part of his character).
It is hilariously funny and wonderfully executed (with her boyfriend even coughing after like his lungs are singed a few frames after). Another is a scene of Christie storming down the middle of the anime market flames billowing all around her. People all around her are staring at her and the comments make this scene. One small boy points and asks his mother if they can buy those; the mother's face is priceless. A group of young people are amazed at her cosplay and wonder where she got it with one cynically quipping she must have got it from Japan while another critics that it needs more color. This not only lampoons manga staples but also works them into a real life situation with such ease, it's all part of the con atmosphere. This is a sheer delight to read and shows the creator's wonderful talent.
*The Rant*
Very little, though I have two minor complaints. First is the language. When it is used, it is completely unnecessary and slightly jarring. Also there are couple of inserted conversations that come completely out of thin air, happen, and then are never mentioned again. The problem is they are about really charged issues and just ring wrong. Finally, the age tag on this is not right. This is set for 13+ and I just could not in good conscience give this to the average 13 year old. I would suggest 15+ and that depends on the 15 year old. Most of this book would be good for most ages, but there are a couple of very...adult situations that while not shown in any great light are there, mentioned, and important to the story. This is just something one should be aware of.
*Conclusion*
If you are an older high school student or older, a fan of manga, and either a) are going to your first con, b) want to go to a con, or c) have been to one or more and love to remember - this is the book for you.
August 24, 2020
This was such an emotional ride for me. It was great but it does have quite a few downsides.
The mystery of the story was quite well done! I enjoyed the overall story pretty well. It's the reason why I continued reading it, along with two of the ships. Honestly, Criss and Matt have the best comebacks for each other. I was legitimately cackling as I was reading some of them. My favorite one was "When I get back I'm taking you out for some TACT. My treat," that Criss said.
The weirdest part about this was that it was in American reading style (R-L) instead of traditional Japanese manga (L-R). Another weird (but not as weird) was all the references. I am educated in anime/manga terms and titles but did you have to name drop all of them??? Some other fussy elements (i.e. Matt's abs) were included and I'm not even sure why.
I'm glad that Criss was supportive of her artist friend Bethany. I really liked that element. The romantic elements were done in a great way if we're talking about Bethany and Raj. I found myself really rooting for them. I didn't like some of the characters you were supposed to dislike but I also disliked some of the main cast's choices.
I'm not a huge fan of the art. The eyes are too far apart and just generally the lineart style is strange. Also some of the paneling was done incorrectly and so it got confusing. It was consistent throughout which is good. I've read a webcomic online that was horrible about keeping their art style looking remotely similar.
I'm not sure I'll read it again, but if I do, I'm going to reread it for Beth and Raj!!
**Thanks Netgalley and Tokyopop for the ARCs!!**
The mystery of the story was quite well done! I enjoyed the overall story pretty well. It's the reason why I continued reading it, along with two of the ships. Honestly, Criss and Matt have the best comebacks for each other. I was legitimately cackling as I was reading some of them. My favorite one was "When I get back I'm taking you out for some TACT. My treat," that Criss said.
The weirdest part about this was that it was in American reading style (R-L) instead of traditional Japanese manga (L-R). Another weird (but not as weird) was all the references. I am educated in anime/manga terms and titles but did you have to name drop all of them??? Some other fussy elements (i.e. Matt's abs) were included and I'm not even sure why.
I'm glad that Criss was supportive of her artist friend Bethany. I really liked that element. The romantic elements were done in a great way if we're talking about Bethany and Raj. I found myself really rooting for them. I didn't like some of the characters you were supposed to dislike but I also disliked some of the main cast's choices.
I'm not a huge fan of the art. The eyes are too far apart and just generally the lineart style is strange. Also some of the paneling was done incorrectly and so it got confusing. It was consistent throughout which is good. I've read a webcomic online that was horrible about keeping their art style looking remotely similar.
I'm not sure I'll read it again, but if I do, I'm going to reread it for Beth and Raj!!
**Thanks Netgalley and Tokyopop for the ARCs!!**
April 29, 2011
I picked up this book at the library. The book was huge so I was planning to read it at home only, but it was so good, I packed it in the school bag to read on the bus. I made my bag heavies but it was SO worth it! I loved it, it had romance, comedy, people in pretty outfits and accessories. One thing that i didnt quite get... everyone in the book (characters and author) kept saying the main guy was a jerk and had horrible attitude, but I dont think so though. I rather enjoyed his quick, witty, sarcastic remarks :D
I wonder if I'm the only one...
I wonder if I'm the only one...
December 7, 2014
Cute and very, very resonant to anyone who's ever been at a convention, Dramacon is a wonderful story by a fabulous author.
January 17, 2016
Happy that I borrowed this one for my daughter from the library, as I didn't realize there was a little bit extra added to the story post convention.
April 14, 2019
This omnibus contains the entire 3-volume series.
Christie is an amateur manga author with vague dreams of making it big one day. In the meantime, she just wants to have fun at Yatta Con, her first big manga/anime convention. Unfortunately, her boyfriend and artist (they're co-creating original English-language/OEL manga) is being a jerk, practically drooling over every pretty cosplayer who comes to their table. Matt, the good-looking cosplayer manning the table next to them, annoys her with his snarky comments, but she finds herself turning to him more and more as things deteriorate between her and her boyfriend. Matt's attitude may be a bit abrasive, but he and Christie just sort of click in a way that Christie and her boyfriend don't.
Each of the next two volumes take place a year apart, at the next Yatta Cons, following the ups and downs of Christie and Matt's relationship, Christie's con-going experience, and Christie and her friends' prospective manga careers.
This was a reread, but my last time reading this series was so long ago that I'd forgotten a lot of specifics. I vaguely remembered thinking that the romance didn't quite work for me. My feelings about it haven't changed - Christie and Matt are cute together and all, but it bugged me that, by the end of the series, they'd spent a grand total of maybe 8-9 days in the same physical space. If they'd spent the time between Yatta Cons talking over the phone or online, it wouldn't have been quite as big of a deal, but they hadn't even done much of that. Christie tried calling Matt once between volume 1 and volume 2 but chickened out when someone else answered. Matt and Christie talked a little just prior to volume 3's Yatta Con, and Matt read Christie's blog (which mortified Christie when he finally commented for the first time), but there were still a lot of things they didn't know about each other and hadn't talked about when they met up again at the convention.
So, I didn't think the series' format worked well for its primary romance, but I at least felt other aspects of the series were much stronger. Chmakova's depictions of Yatta Con and Christie's experience of it, particularly her first time going, were great. Volume 2 was more dramatic, touching on folks who don't consider OEL manga to be "real" manga, racism, and fans who don't respect cosplayers' boundaries and hug or take pictures without asking - not inaccurate, but maybe a bit much in a single volume. There was also a nice ongoing storyline involving Christie's new artist, Bethany, who yearned for a career as a manga artist but whose mother wanted her to have a career that was more likely to produce a stable income.
Dramacon wasn't bad, but it didn't give its primary romance enough room to breathe and really feel like something that could last. As with Nightschool, one of her later series, it had a lot of promise but didn't quite hit the mark.
Extras:
This edition of the series contains a lot of previously unpublished material. I'm not sure which bits were new and which weren't, but I didn't recognize the multi-page comic featuring Matt and Christie's first real date (all in Matt's POV, which was kind of nice). There were also a few author's notes, comics featuring a little behind-the-scenes info, fan art, some four-panel comics, and an interview with Svetlana Chmakova with early concept art for the series. Even if you own the original three volumes, the extras in this omnibus are worth checking out if you're a big fan of the series. I only wish the fan art could have been in color.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
Christie is an amateur manga author with vague dreams of making it big one day. In the meantime, she just wants to have fun at Yatta Con, her first big manga/anime convention. Unfortunately, her boyfriend and artist (they're co-creating original English-language/OEL manga) is being a jerk, practically drooling over every pretty cosplayer who comes to their table. Matt, the good-looking cosplayer manning the table next to them, annoys her with his snarky comments, but she finds herself turning to him more and more as things deteriorate between her and her boyfriend. Matt's attitude may be a bit abrasive, but he and Christie just sort of click in a way that Christie and her boyfriend don't.
Each of the next two volumes take place a year apart, at the next Yatta Cons, following the ups and downs of Christie and Matt's relationship, Christie's con-going experience, and Christie and her friends' prospective manga careers.
This was a reread, but my last time reading this series was so long ago that I'd forgotten a lot of specifics. I vaguely remembered thinking that the romance didn't quite work for me. My feelings about it haven't changed - Christie and Matt are cute together and all, but it bugged me that, by the end of the series, they'd spent a grand total of maybe 8-9 days in the same physical space. If they'd spent the time between Yatta Cons talking over the phone or online, it wouldn't have been quite as big of a deal, but they hadn't even done much of that. Christie tried calling Matt once between volume 1 and volume 2 but chickened out when someone else answered. Matt and Christie talked a little just prior to volume 3's Yatta Con, and Matt read Christie's blog (which mortified Christie when he finally commented for the first time), but there were still a lot of things they didn't know about each other and hadn't talked about when they met up again at the convention.
So, I didn't think the series' format worked well for its primary romance, but I at least felt other aspects of the series were much stronger. Chmakova's depictions of Yatta Con and Christie's experience of it, particularly her first time going, were great. Volume 2 was more dramatic, touching on folks who don't consider OEL manga to be "real" manga, racism, and fans who don't respect cosplayers' boundaries and hug or take pictures without asking - not inaccurate, but maybe a bit much in a single volume. There was also a nice ongoing storyline involving Christie's new artist, Bethany, who yearned for a career as a manga artist but whose mother wanted her to have a career that was more likely to produce a stable income.
Dramacon wasn't bad, but it didn't give its primary romance enough room to breathe and really feel like something that could last. As with Nightschool, one of her later series, it had a lot of promise but didn't quite hit the mark.
Extras:
This edition of the series contains a lot of previously unpublished material. I'm not sure which bits were new and which weren't, but I didn't recognize the multi-page comic featuring Matt and Christie's first real date (all in Matt's POV, which was kind of nice). There were also a few author's notes, comics featuring a little behind-the-scenes info, fan art, some four-panel comics, and an interview with Svetlana Chmakova with early concept art for the series. Even if you own the original three volumes, the extras in this omnibus are worth checking out if you're a big fan of the series. I only wish the fan art could have been in color.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
July 10, 2019
Sis, I'm fan-girling
I literally screamed at the book. Twice. And then finished it in less than 12 hours.
So this is my first Manga ever and I was really excited.
I believe that, if you like to read, you must try everything. And I mean everything. Books, essays, comic, manga, short stories, photography even recipes if you like to cook.
actually I wanted to read Fairy Tail but it's too long lol So here I go.
VOLUME 1. *5
I was on page 8 and I was already laughing out loud LOL. It's very funny both the dialogues and the illustrations.
The first are very few, about 30% of the whole story. Which is good, I guess.
The later are very simple which make it easy to process and give the book that extra-funny flavour. A lot of Chibis all of them hilarious.
At first this seemed like a classic romance book for 12yo girls where the silly girl falls in love with a random-sexy-bad guy. Yep, dumber that Twilight.
But how is this so addictive?? I don't even know!well to be fair the Twilight series was addictive too But you know what I DO KNOW? I was mistaken, the story is simple but effective. and I loved it
Chriss is the classic silly girl desperate for love. But she's not dumb. Oh no, she has a point. And I understand her feelings.
Call me stupid if you want to, but we all had experiences like that.
Derek is that toxic boyfriend that makes you feel guilty about everything wrong he does. I have met some guys like thatoops. Yet he is so hot omg.
Matt is the sexy and mysterious older guy that has to be the good one of the story. He's quite a bit charming but nothing else.
"Sometimes people cling desperately to their first, going to any lengths to make it work. Even if the first turns out to be an asshole"
VOLUME 2. *3
takes place exactly one year after Volume one.
It isn't as the hilarious as the first one, actually this is more dramatic... well it's trying to be.
It's still good but not as good as the first one.
Sadly it has too much of that "how is drawing a comic like?" instead of actual plot.
Matt is not on the spotlight as he was before, but that's okay because apparently he's a wh*r*. However I think we deserved more Matt.
VOLUME 3. *4
takes place one year after the events of the voumen two.
What the heck were they playing?? Omg I needed answers! And I got them; later.
I didn't like the Beth subplot. Not because it's bad, I only wanted more ChrissXMatt.
This is something between the past two volumes. I enjoyed it, but we deservedsexxx and that's a fact!
THE FIRST DATE: SHORT STORY
perfect. Yes, the perfect ending. That's it. That's what I needed.
THE BEST: Volume One is simply fantastic. Yuo can even stop right there and it's still perfect. I'm 100% sure that I'm going to read it again later this year.
THE WORST: I think the author lost the way about the middle of the story. It was stressing not knowing what Chriss&Matt were up to.
However, I really liked the book. And I'm gonna read this author again. I think she has much more to say.
I literally screamed at the book. Twice. And then finished it in less than 12 hours.
So this is my first Manga ever and I was really excited.
I believe that, if you like to read, you must try everything. And I mean everything. Books, essays, comic, manga, short stories, photography even recipes if you like to cook.
VOLUME 1. *5
I was on page 8 and I was already laughing out loud LOL. It's very funny both the dialogues and the illustrations.
The first are very few, about 30% of the whole story. Which is good, I guess.
The later are very simple which make it easy to process and give the book that extra-funny flavour. A lot of Chibis all of them hilarious.
At first this seemed like a classic romance book for 12yo girls where the silly girl falls in love with a random-sexy-bad guy. Yep, dumber that Twilight.
But how is this so addictive?? I don't even know!
Chriss is the classic silly girl desperate for love. But she's not dumb. Oh no, she has a point. And I understand her feelings.
Call me stupid if you want to, but we all had experiences like that.
Derek is that toxic boyfriend that makes you feel guilty about everything wrong he does. I have met some guys like that
Matt is the sexy and mysterious older guy that has to be the good one of the story. He's quite a bit charming but nothing else.
"Sometimes people cling desperately to their first, going to any lengths to make it work. Even if the first turns out to be an asshole"
VOLUME 2. *3
takes place exactly one year after Volume one.
It isn't as the hilarious as the first one, actually this is more dramatic... well it's trying to be.
It's still good but not as good as the first one.
Sadly it has too much of that "how is drawing a comic like?" instead of actual plot.
Matt is not on the spotlight as he was before, but that's okay because apparently he's a wh*r*. However I think we deserved more Matt.
VOLUME 3. *4
takes place one year after the events of the voumen two.
What the heck were they playing?? Omg I needed answers! And I got them; later.
I didn't like the Beth subplot. Not because it's bad, I only wanted more ChrissXMatt.
This is something between the past two volumes. I enjoyed it, but we deserved
THE FIRST DATE: SHORT STORY
perfect. Yes, the perfect ending. That's it. That's what I needed.
THE BEST: Volume One is simply fantastic. Yuo can even stop right there and it's still perfect. I'm 100% sure that I'm going to read it again later this year.
THE WORST: I think the author lost the way about the middle of the story. It was stressing not knowing what Chriss&Matt were up to.
However, I really liked the book. And I'm gonna read this author again. I think she has much more to say.
October 8, 2020
A reader copy of volume 1 was provided to me by the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger warnings: Abusive partner, issues around disability (partial blindness and disfigurement), parental drama and near death experience, racism.
I really really loved this book! I would highly recommend it to people like me who go to conventions. It brought back lovely memories for me and made me really miss going to conventions. The last time that I went to one was over a year ago and this manga made me remember all the things I love about conventions.
The manga follows Christie who is an amateur writer who goes to her first con as an artist in the artist gallery to promote the manga that she wrote and her boyfriend drew. We follow her adventures at the convention as she finds herself, finds new love, and new friends.
I was really surprised about how quickly this manga gripped me. I was hooked as soon as we met Matt. I ended up finishing this book in two goes and the pages flew by. I am definitely going to be continuing on with the series because I need to know what happens next to the characters in the next convention. You grow to love the characters pretty much as soon as they are introduced which made me invested in the story and why I want to continue on with the series.
I highly recommend this manga if you have not yet read it. It is a bit more adult and it does have explicit scene, but if you are okay with reading those then do not miss out on reading this manga!
Trigger warnings: Abusive partner, issues around disability (partial blindness and disfigurement), parental drama and near death experience, racism.
I really really loved this book! I would highly recommend it to people like me who go to conventions. It brought back lovely memories for me and made me really miss going to conventions. The last time that I went to one was over a year ago and this manga made me remember all the things I love about conventions.
The manga follows Christie who is an amateur writer who goes to her first con as an artist in the artist gallery to promote the manga that she wrote and her boyfriend drew. We follow her adventures at the convention as she finds herself, finds new love, and new friends.
I was really surprised about how quickly this manga gripped me. I was hooked as soon as we met Matt. I ended up finishing this book in two goes and the pages flew by. I am definitely going to be continuing on with the series because I need to know what happens next to the characters in the next convention. You grow to love the characters pretty much as soon as they are introduced which made me invested in the story and why I want to continue on with the series.
I highly recommend this manga if you have not yet read it. It is a bit more adult and it does have explicit scene, but if you are okay with reading those then do not miss out on reading this manga!
November 15, 2015
I find it's a bit hard for me to review comics. Mainly because the story and art speaks really well for itself. So there's not really going to be much inside depth to this review.
The story follows Christie LeRoux, an amateur comic writer, at her first anime convention with her boyfriend that has wandering eyes and sees no problem in flirting and two friends who are a bit overly eccentric. Christie is floundering in this new land of Yatta Con and then she runs into Matt.
The story itself takes place over the span of three years. It's a very cute and funny story but it doesn't skimp on the bad and ugly of the anime con world as well as some of the other things the characters are facing in their lives. All the characters are fairly likable even when they mess up. And this ultimate edition also has a bonus chapter that make you want too buy it even if you're like me and had been collecting the single volumes as they came out *sigh*
Anyway, really good and enjoyable read. Definitely check it out.
The story follows Christie LeRoux, an amateur comic writer, at her first anime convention with her boyfriend that has wandering eyes and sees no problem in flirting and two friends who are a bit overly eccentric. Christie is floundering in this new land of Yatta Con and then she runs into Matt.
The story itself takes place over the span of three years. It's a very cute and funny story but it doesn't skimp on the bad and ugly of the anime con world as well as some of the other things the characters are facing in their lives. All the characters are fairly likable even when they mess up. And this ultimate edition also has a bonus chapter that make you want too buy it even if you're like me and had been collecting the single volumes as they came out *sigh*
Anyway, really good and enjoyable read. Definitely check it out.
July 19, 2016
Dramacon was a staple of my middle school existence. It was about nine years ago that I picked up the first volume, but after reading it again fairly recently, I was reminded of why it has a special place in my heart.
Dramacon is overall a very fun and engaging read, with plenty of humor, as well as a healthy dose of drama. The characters are multifaceted and believable, and the ratio of happy moments to sad ones was well done. (Basically, I had a lot of feelings, but not too many feelings, at least not all at once.) I found myself rooting for Christie every step of the way, from when she first stepped into the convention (all nerves and excitement at her first con) up until the very end (as a seasoned convention-goer, and overall having grown up a bit.) The supporting characters were no less compelling; I particularly liked Bethany and Lida Zeff.
In short, Dramacon was one of my favorite books when I was 12-13, but even at 22, I’ve found it still has a lot to offer.
-Kelsey Joy
Dramacon is overall a very fun and engaging read, with plenty of humor, as well as a healthy dose of drama. The characters are multifaceted and believable, and the ratio of happy moments to sad ones was well done. (Basically, I had a lot of feelings, but not too many feelings, at least not all at once.) I found myself rooting for Christie every step of the way, from when she first stepped into the convention (all nerves and excitement at her first con) up until the very end (as a seasoned convention-goer, and overall having grown up a bit.) The supporting characters were no less compelling; I particularly liked Bethany and Lida Zeff.
In short, Dramacon was one of my favorite books when I was 12-13, but even at 22, I’ve found it still has a lot to offer.
-Kelsey Joy
October 8, 2020
It should be illegal for a book to be this much fun. I became a fan of Chmakova after reading Berrybrook series and instantly order this and Night School. I have to say it was the best decision. Loved how she won over my heart with wholesome characters and super funny art. And yes, this story is a bit cheesy. But guess what I am a cheese connoisseur!
December 28, 2023
A very cute manga series that I wish got more books than it did. The large cast is amazing and I really cared about what happened in all of the storylines.
Want to read
September 16, 2020Dramacon Volume 1
This one was unexpected to say the least. It had plenty of things that I enjoyed but also a few things that I really did not.
To start it off with things that I liked, I liked seeing our main character’s development within herself as she realizes that her relationship and how she’s been treated isn’t the best. I like that she learns to stand up for herself. I also really enjoyed the budding friendships that I hope we see more of in the next volumes. Her banter with Matt was also hilarious.
As for things I did not like, I wish our main character were older because the fact that her new love interest is in college while she’s in high school... I’m not the biggest fan of that. I also didn’t really like the girl hate included.
I will note that there is a pretty graphic attempted rape scene so if you’re sensitive to that please use caution when reading this manga!
Overall, I had a fun time with this first volume and I do plan on continuing with this series!
3/5 🌟
tw: attempted rape, sexual assault, cheating, ableism, assault,
Dramacon Volume 2
Okayyyyy so this was a major improvement from the first volume and I had a blast with this one. The angst!!!! I’m usually not a fan of it but the amount of angst in this volume has me so excited for the next!
I liked the plot twist of Matt having a girlfriend and Christie having to deal with it which I think she did very well! I did not like Matt’s girlfriend which I hope was the intended purpose because she was awful to him.
I really loved the friendship aspect that we saw throughout this volume too, it was super sweet and had me feeling so much joy for them and their accomplishments!
Overall, I had a blast reading this volume and will be continuing on with this series immediately.
3.5/5 🌟
Dramacon Volume 3
This last volume was so bittersweet mainly because we’ve come to the conclusion of a really fun and wonderful series!
I loved the progression of Matt and Christie’s relationship and it was so satisfying that they are finally together in this volume! I did like that his ex didn’t cause too much strife between them and that they managed to fix things without adding more unnecessary drama.
The second plot line with Christie’s best friend, Bethany was really interesting too! Her story had me tearing up, angry and happy among a myriad of other emotions. I like that we got her darker and more emotional story along with Christie’s more happy one. Their friendship was also super adorable just as much as it was in the second volume when she was introduced.
Overall, this final volume was a great conclusion and this series was so much fun to read. I highly recommend it!
4/5 🌟
TW: car accident
This one was unexpected to say the least. It had plenty of things that I enjoyed but also a few things that I really did not.
To start it off with things that I liked, I liked seeing our main character’s development within herself as she realizes that her relationship and how she’s been treated isn’t the best. I like that she learns to stand up for herself. I also really enjoyed the budding friendships that I hope we see more of in the next volumes. Her banter with Matt was also hilarious.
As for things I did not like, I wish our main character were older because the fact that her new love interest is in college while she’s in high school... I’m not the biggest fan of that. I also didn’t really like the girl hate included.
I will note that there is a pretty graphic attempted rape scene so if you’re sensitive to that please use caution when reading this manga!
Overall, I had a fun time with this first volume and I do plan on continuing with this series!
3/5 🌟
tw: attempted rape, sexual assault, cheating, ableism, assault,
Dramacon Volume 2
Okayyyyy so this was a major improvement from the first volume and I had a blast with this one. The angst!!!! I’m usually not a fan of it but the amount of angst in this volume has me so excited for the next!
I liked the plot twist of Matt having a girlfriend and Christie having to deal with it which I think she did very well! I did not like Matt’s girlfriend which I hope was the intended purpose because she was awful to him.
I really loved the friendship aspect that we saw throughout this volume too, it was super sweet and had me feeling so much joy for them and their accomplishments!
Overall, I had a blast reading this volume and will be continuing on with this series immediately.
3.5/5 🌟
Dramacon Volume 3
This last volume was so bittersweet mainly because we’ve come to the conclusion of a really fun and wonderful series!
I loved the progression of Matt and Christie’s relationship and it was so satisfying that they are finally together in this volume! I did like that his ex didn’t cause too much strife between them and that they managed to fix things without adding more unnecessary drama.
The second plot line with Christie’s best friend, Bethany was really interesting too! Her story had me tearing up, angry and happy among a myriad of other emotions. I like that we got her darker and more emotional story along with Christie’s more happy one. Their friendship was also super adorable just as much as it was in the second volume when she was introduced.
Overall, this final volume was a great conclusion and this series was so much fun to read. I highly recommend it!
4/5 🌟
TW: car accident
August 27, 2020
High-Schooler and budding graphic novel writer is on her way to her first anime con with her boyfriend, Derek. While she's traveling with two 21+ friends, she's getting thrown into the deep end with having a table in the Artists' Alley. The con is huge. Confusing. Worse, Derek and her friends seem to think the best way to experience a con is to be thrown in feet first -- sink or swim -- without checking to see if the person is able to handle something like that. And worst of all, her boyfriend, and also the artist/partner on her graphic novel/webcomic, is flirting with every cute cosplayer who stops by their table.
When Christie can't handle it any more, she takes off. Running through the crowded halls and directly into the chest of the too-cool-for-words Matt. The sparks fly. And when did Christie's life turn into a Shojo Manga?
--
Oh my stars, how Dramacon by Svetlana Chmakova takes me back. Initially published in 2005, the manga accurately depicts the convention scene from back then -- I should know I worked them (still do). Everything from the chaos (which still happens), To the labyrinth of the various convention centers (which is still the case), To the sleeping arrangements (Let me tell you of the time I slept in the bathtub of a hotel) rings true to reality. There’s lots of in-jokes and callbacks to the time. Like the lines. The Pocky. And the cosplayers.
The story is definitely in the vein of a Shojo manga. There’s a lot of the same tropes and beats -- the whole thing is very much an homage to both the convention world and Shojo. It reminds me in some ways of Skip Beat! and KareKano. The art style is lovely. Especially if you like the styles seen in things by Yuu Watase and Arina Tanemura -- especially Watase seriously some of the asides reminded me of how Watase did them.
I especially liked the characters -- particularly Bethany (who shows up in Volume Two) and Matt. Christie is a pretty typical teenager -- in fact she reminds me greatly of the kids I'd see at cons. Most of the cast could easily be a typical con-goer... you have the purists, the old-pros, the n00bs, the cosplayers, the fangirls, etc. There's even an older Mangaka, Lida, who is there as a Guest of Honor.
One of the things I liked most about this collection as a whole is that it features PoC and people with disabilities. That's something that is still rare in graphic novels/manga.
As a note, it is laid out/written Left-to-Right as opposed to Right-to-Left so don't do what I did and start reading from the wrong side. LOL
Frankly I really loved this trip down memory lane complete with nostalgia glasses.
Five stars
I received an ARC via NetGalley.
When Christie can't handle it any more, she takes off. Running through the crowded halls and directly into the chest of the too-cool-for-words Matt. The sparks fly. And when did Christie's life turn into a Shojo Manga?
--
Oh my stars, how Dramacon by Svetlana Chmakova takes me back. Initially published in 2005, the manga accurately depicts the convention scene from back then -- I should know I worked them (still do). Everything from the chaos (which still happens), To the labyrinth of the various convention centers (which is still the case), To the sleeping arrangements (Let me tell you of the time I slept in the bathtub of a hotel) rings true to reality. There’s lots of in-jokes and callbacks to the time. Like the lines. The Pocky. And the cosplayers.
The story is definitely in the vein of a Shojo manga. There’s a lot of the same tropes and beats -- the whole thing is very much an homage to both the convention world and Shojo. It reminds me in some ways of Skip Beat! and KareKano. The art style is lovely. Especially if you like the styles seen in things by Yuu Watase and Arina Tanemura -- especially Watase seriously some of the asides reminded me of how Watase did them.
I especially liked the characters -- particularly Bethany (who shows up in Volume Two) and Matt. Christie is a pretty typical teenager -- in fact she reminds me greatly of the kids I'd see at cons. Most of the cast could easily be a typical con-goer... you have the purists, the old-pros, the n00bs, the cosplayers, the fangirls, etc. There's even an older Mangaka, Lida, who is there as a Guest of Honor.
One of the things I liked most about this collection as a whole is that it features PoC and people with disabilities. That's something that is still rare in graphic novels/manga.
As a note, it is laid out/written Left-to-Right as opposed to Right-to-Left so don't do what I did and start reading from the wrong side. LOL
Frankly I really loved this trip down memory lane complete with nostalgia glasses.
Five stars
I received an ARC via NetGalley.
September 9, 2016
It was okay.
For what it IS, it's good. Very nostalgic for me, very teenagery, pretty sweet. It's a fun read and difficult to put down. I really did enjoy reading it, although I find it difficult to say why. Basically, it's been a guilty pleasure. The characters are kind of okay, although by the end they do get on my nerves a bit (especially the main character, who goes from being reasonably upset by things to just being ridiculous). There's too much going on in some places, not enough in others (why do we find out what happened to Matt only in a tiny note in the back of the book and not in the actual plot anywhere?)... I really liked the side characters, for the most part. The art is well done, and the story is cute.
So... what I'm trying to say is, it's not good literature, it's not even always a very well constructed story. But it is fun, and I do recommend it, especially if you like romance or have ever been to an anime convention.
For what it IS, it's good. Very nostalgic for me, very teenagery, pretty sweet. It's a fun read and difficult to put down. I really did enjoy reading it, although I find it difficult to say why. Basically, it's been a guilty pleasure. The characters are kind of okay, although by the end they do get on my nerves a bit (especially the main character, who goes from being reasonably upset by things to just being ridiculous). There's too much going on in some places, not enough in others (why do we find out what happened to Matt only in a tiny note in the back of the book and not in the actual plot anywhere?)... I really liked the side characters, for the most part. The art is well done, and the story is cute.
So... what I'm trying to say is, it's not good literature, it's not even always a very well constructed story. But it is fun, and I do recommend it, especially if you like romance or have ever been to an anime convention.
October 13, 2020
'Dramacon: 15th Anniversary Omnibus Edition' by Svetlana Chmakova collects all three volumes of the Dramacon series in one huge manga edition.
The series takes place over 3 years at an anime convention. In the first volume, Christie is a writer who is new to conventions. Her manga is drawn by her boyfriend who is kind of a jerk. A mysterious stranger who always wears sunglasses. Over the course of three cons, they form a relationship that has it's ups and downs.
I just loved this story and these characters. There is drama and humor and really loveable characters. The art kept drawing me in, and I loved the con setting that felt pretty authentic to me. I gulped down all 600+ pages and loved every minute of it.
I received a review copy of this manga from Tokyopop, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.
The series takes place over 3 years at an anime convention. In the first volume, Christie is a writer who is new to conventions. Her manga is drawn by her boyfriend who is kind of a jerk. A mysterious stranger who always wears sunglasses. Over the course of three cons, they form a relationship that has it's ups and downs.
I just loved this story and these characters. There is drama and humor and really loveable characters. The art kept drawing me in, and I loved the con setting that felt pretty authentic to me. I gulped down all 600+ pages and loved every minute of it.
I received a review copy of this manga from Tokyopop, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.
April 9, 2010
Each book in this three-volume series follows Christie's adventures at the annual Yattacon, where she meets the mysterious, sarcastic, and sunglasses-wearing Matt. Despite an immediate initial attraction to each other, both Christie and Matt must overcome obstacles in order to be together, not the least of which is working up the courage to admit that they want to be together.
The art is well drawn, and helps to push the story along at least as much as the dialogue. Definitely recommended for fans of romance, and anyone who wants to read a sweet, light story with the hope of a happy ending.
The art is well drawn, and helps to push the story along at least as much as the dialogue. Definitely recommended for fans of romance, and anyone who wants to read a sweet, light story with the hope of a happy ending.
April 24, 2020
Much of the humor about how *funny* and *weird* it is for men to wear dresses doesn't age well, same for some of the language used. Christie herself is kind of unbearable, albeit in a realistic way. It's cringe-y reading the way she and Matt fight/flirt because I've either seen people doing it or lived through a version of it. So many bad boundary issues with the friends as well! And yet, I see why this is a compulsively readable manga. And I'm glad to see that Chmakova has gone on to hone her craft and writing.
February 28, 2022
I first read this book shortly after going to my first con. So much of Christie's journey resonated with me then, and it's easy to tell why. The relationship I was in was less dissimilar to Christie's and Derek's than I would have admitted at the time, and as it happened I met someone who helped me see that at the con.
I've been to a few more cons since then, and lived through a few more of the scenarios Chmakova brings to life as well. It definitely holds a soft spot in my heart and I'm glad to have this new Omnibus edition to collect it with.
I've been to a few more cons since then, and lived through a few more of the scenarios Chmakova brings to life as well. It definitely holds a soft spot in my heart and I'm glad to have this new Omnibus edition to collect it with.
July 17, 2024
Re-read for the umpteenth time, and my love for this collection still hasn't faded. (NOR WILL IT EVER!) I did notice a few little tidbits that I've missed in past readings, and that just adds to the charm. I've said it in person, and I'll say it again, "Thank you, Miss Svetlana, for writing such a great and adorable manga."
April 7, 2021
its pretty cliche, anime tropes, chibis and over exaggerated drama, wish it had more about things going on at the con then personal "DOES SHE GET WITH DAH BOI?!"
but idk always wanted to go to a con. *shrug* eh its fine. i get in the mood to read it from time to time. Reminds me of how much of a cringey weeb with too much adhd i was.
... i miss manga clubs
but idk always wanted to go to a con. *shrug* eh its fine. i get in the mood to read it from time to time. Reminds me of how much of a cringey weeb with too much adhd i was.
... i miss manga clubs
September 11, 2020
This takes me back to my high school days and my first con. I loved the nostalgia and I love the main character, she's timid but finds her voice as time passes. Plus the love interest in on point. I really like Svetlana's work, they consistently do a good job. This gn is cute, sweet and fun, and i want to read more.
September 5, 2017
So impressive that someone from Russia can write a manga. One of my favorites!!
August 20, 2020
Adorable story about falling in and out of love at a con and how to decide you are worth more than staying in a crappy relationship because it's what you've always known.
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