What a wonderful ride this was! Cassie is, on the outside, a loner and outcast, but within the walls of her bedroom, the pages of her notebook, and the screen of her laptop, she’s a master fanfic writer of the show RIVERVIEW. One of her greatest characters, a vampire named Jessica, happens to be a “Mary Sue,” which people commonly use as a discouraging term for writers who self-insert or create “perfect” idealized characters of themselves. While Cassie deals with friends from the past (turned bullies) and her AUs come to life, Jessica is on a mission not only to help her creator, but to show what a Mary Sue truly is, and what they are capable of.

This was a whirlwind first volume (that ends on a cliffhanger) that does a great job of throwing you into the world of fanfic creation. The first few pages show how fanfic readers often encourage writers as they go, share in the obsessions, and offer support. That’s what keeps Cassie holding on as her real-world troubles threaten to take over her life, from her mother to her former friend, Bennett.

While I do think the resolution between Cassie and her mother happened really fast, I thought the quick pace of the comic worked out quite well. No space or word was wasted. It’s an enjoyable and colorful piece of comic art along with a story that celebrates fandoms and fanfic and AUs.

I had a lot of fun with this one and look forward to the next volume.