Many people doubt the ability to find good manga at an anime convention, when in truth, there is much more there than one would suspect. This author has recently visited AnimeIowa, and anime convention held in Iowa City, Iowa, traveling to see how much manga a manga lover could find at a convention devoted to the animated form of these books. And I was pleasantly surprised to discover a plethora of manga to be found at an anime convention if one looks hard enough. From the Artist’s Alley, to professionals that are at the convention as featured guests, manga fans can find much of what they love at an anime convention. This article is the first in a series of four that will cover finding manga at an anime con, an interview with some very talented manga artists, and reviews of two up and coming manga novels.

At AnimeIowa, I had the pleasure of having plenty of time to walk through the dealer’s room, as well as wander the hallways, and the first thing I noticed were all kinds of convention goers who were dressed up as some of my favorite manga characters. Visiting an anime convention is an excellent place to see your favorite manga characters come to life. Many people walk around all day long dressed as Asuka from Neon Genesis Evangelion, or even L from Death Note, so into character that you feel as if you are a character in an absurd chapter of your favorite manga.

The dealer’s room presents an amazing array of opportunities for a manga fan. There are many small dealers that have large amounts of manga for sale, as well as big name dealers that have websites and physical stores. There are also many dealers who carry rare doujinshi manga, and other collectable items. Figurines that are a perfect addition to your collection sit side by side with full volumes of any manga you’d like. The dealer’s room is also a great place to talk about your favorite books. Walking through and talking to the manga dealers in the room is a great way to find out when the newest volume of your favorite series will be coming out, and even find out what is new and popular.

Another part of the dealer’s room is the Artist’s Alley. Most conventions have an Artist’s Alley, and this is a wide row of tables that have art from up-and-coming artists who have not been discovered by a publisher yet. You can get commissions done here of your favorite manga characters, or find a new manga that nobody else has ever heard of. Most of the time, these books have been self-published, but they are a great way to get ahead of the curve on learning about new artists that may be famous in a few years, as well as getting what may become rare signed first printings.

The featured guests at an anime convention can range from voice actors that have come all the way from California, to local artists who have found some fame online or with a popular publisher. Richard and Shannon Townsend of manga-style web comic Otaku No Yen are examples of this, a writer and artist married couple who were guests at AnimeIowa. Approaching these guests, buying their manga, and speaking with them can be a rewarding experience for any manga fan who wants a signature and a free sketch.

Anime conventions are as much for the anime source material, manga, as any graphic novel section of a bookstore. Visiting your local convention, as this author did, can be a rewarding experience not only in the people you might meet, but in the books you can get. Whether you just want to add to your collection, get the next book in your favorite series, or find a piece of memorabilia that ties in with a series, you will be certain to find it at an anime convention.

Stay tuned for next week’s article, an interview with manga authors and artists Richard and Shannon Townsend of Otaku No Yen!