Manga Review: Dramacon Volume 2 by Svetlana Chmakova

Dramacon Volume 2
By Svetlana Chmakova
Published by Tokyopop, 2006

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.

On a personal note, I discovered a connection that I hadn't realized when I went to do some research for this review. As it turns out, Svetlana Chmakova's work appeared in the same volume as one of my wife's comics, the 24 Hour Comics Day Highlights 2005. Chmakova did a very cute piece in that book about a daydreaming student drawing pictures during her lesson. (For those interested, my wife, Gynn Stella, has a story in that anthology about a pair of cats and their philosophy of life; her work can be found at Dandelion Studios).

I'm probably not the traditional target audience for shujo, 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.

[8.5/10].