Seven loosely connected stories follow the ventures, successful and not, of cosplayers Annie and Verti, who film amateur web videos of scenarios with unwitting bystanders by hidden camera, attracting comments—some caustic. Then at a manga convention, they don't win the cosplay contest but meet an inappropriately besotted fan of their various productions. Everyone has illusions: the cosplayers, the admirer crushing on Annie, and a self-dubbed "anime expert" convention speaker. Annie and Verti, however, rebound from setbacks and decide that creativity can be its own reward. Unfortunately, Verti's budding romance in the first story is not followed further. Shaw's art intercuts cosplayer cameos and collage pages among the stories, which are drawn in simple yet realistic outlines with muted full color.
VERDICT These complications and contradictions of fandom, told with pathos and humor, will resonate with readers interested in the pop culture fan world. For adult and teen collections.
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