DVD Vol 2 - Menacing Staples Guns and Murderous Mannequins
At Anime Expo, I was able to chat briefly with Tran from DramaQueen. I expressed my frustration obtaining DQ titles, and she assured me that they are working hard to better distribute their books. She also wanted to let everyone who bought a copy of Audition Vol 1 with a bad binding to email DQ for a replacement. Some of the books had a problem with the glue, and she doesn't want you to have a book with pages falling out. Please send them an email to customer[at]onedramaqueen.com and they'll hook you up.
DVD Vol 2 by Kye Young Chon
Rated: 16+
Price: 11.99
Viz - Shoujo - Drama
Review May Contain Spoilers
Thinking her life was complicated before she moved in with Venu and DD, Ddam discovers that she's jumped in a chaotic abyss. The three misfits quickly form a bond, which only grows stronger when Ddam's ex tries to re-insinuate himself back into her good graces. Uncertain of her feelings for Sajang, her new roommates are determined to help her put the unpleasant past behind her, so she can begin looking forward. With a staple gun and a stolen mannequin, will Ddam be able to reconcile her feelings for the handsome Sajang?
This is one of the most unconventional books on the market. With its frenzied humor and unique characters, it's full of unusual plot twists and engaging dialog. Ddam is haunted by illusions, and at times, she can't tell the difference between reality and her own strange visions. Mocked by a stuffed squid and taunted by her own shadow, Ddam is struggling to the keep hold of her sanity. Influenced by the less than normal Venu and DD, her efforts might be in vain.
There were so many laugh out loud moments in this book! Venu's ridiculous stories, though they don't add much to the overall plot, added a lot of the humor to the book. Killer whales and cows? Murderous turtlenecks? Menacing staple guns? What was Kye Young Chon smoking when she wrote this comic?
The art is also like nothing else on the market. Angular and stylized, at first it was too jarringly different. The character designs seemed awkward, with all of those painfully pointy chins and scribbly lines. However, it compliments the quirky story and soon grew on me. It's fantastically unique, and the action scenes flow smoothly through the panels, teasing the reader with their chaotic pace.
This is a really fun title, and I highly recommend it.
DramaQueen books are, sadly, a little hard to come by. My local b&m doesn't carry any of their titles, but DVD is really worth the effort to track down. You can pick DQ titles up at TRSI, amazon, and the the DQ store.
Grade: A-
This review was written by Julie for the MangaCast. Please drop by the Manga Maniac Cafe and check out the menu. There's always tasty reviews on display!
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