About David Rasmussen
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All good things must come to an end, so too the Dramacon series must end. Was it as good as the previous outings, or better? Find out.
All good things eventually come to an end.
That includes the much beloved Dramacon series.
After all this time Volume 3 (a few months late from it’s supposed October 2007 release) hit’s the bookshelves and we are treated to one final romp over at Yattacon.
Featuring the best grouping of main/secondary cast of the three years, and the best plot twists and complications of the entire run, we return to Yattacon one more time to find that this year is going to be something special (and by that I don’t mean just because the raccoon from Volume 1 has returned… with a mate… and children)!
As the story starts we find Christie has gone and teamed up with former secondary backup characters Hyu-Jeong (she of the glasses wearing), Monica (she of the maniac obsessive vid-camera filming) and Raj (who sports a brand new, more compatible) of Firebird Studios. No longer just the people who sit on the next table over, they are now super active characters and become the bright shining back-up cast the title has been needing, especially in regards to Hyu-Jeung and Monica who work their loli garbed selves into many many things during this volume. Sigh. If they weren’t already related by blood, or marriage, or lifelong friends they’d make such a cute lesbian couple!!
As they get to con (in fact on the bus ride to con) they’re already talking about the t-shirts at this year’s con. Apparently Beth (Christie’s new Artist if you missed Dramacon Volume 2) won the t-shirt designing contest and this year everyone is wearing her designs at the con (though it looks like she may have… ahem… borrowed a element from Dramacon Volume 1 for her shirt… maybe). This is just the first of many trials and tribulations Beth will have to face this con, but none more shocking than the fact her very strict hardline mother is going to show up at the con to give her misery (which can only end on a happy note when her mom is put into the hospital and gets her priorities put in order by her sister (who is on Beth’s side in this family brouhaha if you’re wondering).
The misadventures of the Firebird Studio twins, more relationship foobahs with Christie and Matt (because we can’t end this one until we find out if they really do end up happily ever after or not), the starts of what looks like a cute romance between Raj and Beth (which we probably will never see grow to fruitation since the series is now defunct before the real forming of a great relationship could occur) and the tying up of some final loose ends brings the series to it’s closure.
Sad that we won’t see what happens next (unless Miss Chmakova can be talked into writing a Dramacon Volume 4 just to show us where everything went with Christie/Matt and (more importantly) Raj and Beth after this volume.
Of all three years of the run, this year is the best of the three. If you got t he first two then you must own this one. If not… best to start at the start with Dramacon Volume 1 and 2 before you get this one, you wouldn’t want to spoil anything for yourself now would you.
Appropriate for the title that started off so well to end on such a high note.
With, again, the best cast of the three years, the best skits and story, and the best ending, we say goodbye to our beloved Dramacon by sending it off with it’s best year to date.
Writing is still high, and yet seems to be even better than the past two years (adding on the trio which we first met last year as a more active member of the cast was genius, the wacky antics of the troublesome twosome of Hyu-Jeung and Monica really sent the title’s plus-o-meter right through the roof. Add the lovable duo of Chrissy and Beth from last year, Beth’s “mompocalypse”(and other appearing family members), and the ever evolving love story which branched out this year to include romantic rumblings between Raj and Beth, and we got ourselves the writings of a winner here. Artwork is no slouch either (again the best it can be). Put it all together with the hard work of all involved and we have a romp that will not be soon forgotten (hopefully not forgotten when The Best of 2008 Awards are solicited and we ask you to name the Best of AmeriManga/OEL Manga of 2008. Don’t forget to vote for Dramacon this year, it deserves to win!
Well written, nicely drawn, and a lovable cast we will all miss when we realize there will be no Dramacon Volume 4 (doesn‘t mean we won‘t fully appreciate a Dramacon Volume 4, or be willing to beg and plead for one mind you), the series is over and it goes out with all guns blazing and at full warp speed. So is it any wonder that the beloved Dramacon leaves us with the highest score it can get, a 5 out of 5? No, no wonder about that. It earned it in spades, yes it did. Buy it, read it, enjoy the last ride. I did.
