Mei Man: I drew Superman during the Great Depression

Chapter 28 Additional Issue
the next few weeks.

With the serialization of the Superman comics in the Courier-Journal.

The sales of newspapers began to show an upward trend, and according to the feedback from Newsboy Jimmy, people in the entire block were discussing the topic of Superman.

At the same time, fan letters poured into the Courier newspaper on the corner of the street.

Most of them are expressing their love for the role of Superman, discussing the plot of the comics, and at the same time urging the "Courier" to speed up the serialization of subsequent comics.

A small part of them unexpectedly praised the portrayal of the female reporter Louise in the comics.

"... I think Lois Lane is a symbol of the modern professional woman. She is independent, brave, strong, talented, and can't lose to any man - the relationship between her and Clark is also a competition between the two sexes, and she always Slightly better..."

In the serial comics of this period, the role of women was not prominent. Even in serial comics like "Tarzan of the Ape" adapted from the novel of the same name, the protagonist of the story also focused on Taishan. The image of the hero appears on the stage to set off the strength or charm of the hero.

This point is more prominent in the current mainstream detective comics.

However, this situation has changed in the Superman comics serialized in the "Messenger".

In the "Superman" comics, Superman Clark still exists as the absolute protagonist, relying on his powerful superpowers to punish evil and help the victims.However, the existence of the heroine Louise is no longer a pure vase role in previous comics, but as Clark's colleague, competing with him in work.

Such a setting, in the era when female protagonists are common in later generations, may be just a common arrangement.

Even some extremists will express strong dissatisfaction with this.

However, it's 1931, during the Great Depression, and the emergence of female independent characters, especially in comics, is still a relatively rare situation.Therefore, the existence of the beautiful female reporter Louise in the "Superman" comics has not only become a woman in the fantasy of young people, but also an existence that girls yearn for.

They also want to be, to be respected professional women like Louise.

"Boss, readers have responded enthusiastically to the serialization of "Superman"..."

Inside the Messenger newspaper, Little John was sorting out letters from readers, and said excitedly as he read the contents of the letters.

In the past, for a local tabloid with little reputation like "The Courier", it might not be able to receive a few letters from readers throughout the year, unlike now, the newspaper office has received no less than [-] or [-] letters in this week alone Fan letters, and listening to the delivery guy, that's not all.

【Faith (868/1000)】

His eyes scanned the [Faith] points displayed on the text.

Apparently, Colin's decision to serialize the comics in the Courier-Journal was a success.

In fact, with the popularity of "Superman", the content published on the newspaper page has gradually changed from the original "criticism" of Hoover to the serialization of comics.If it is not taken into account, the "Courier" is a newspaper media after all, not a comic publication, and it needs to maintain basic news report content for readers to understand information.

Old John and Little John were about to switch careers to comic editors.

……

"Boss, the current printing of the newspaper can't keep up with the demand of the newspaper..."

Today, sales of the Courier-Journal outstrip demand.

The only thing limiting the growth of newspaper sales is the printing volume of the newspaper itself.

At present, the rotary printing press used by the Courier newspaper is still the old style of the past.The number of newspapers it prints is more than enough for the original newspaper office, but it has long been unable to supply the sales volume of the increasingly popular "Courier".

Especially this weekend, after the new plot of "Superman" comics created by Ke Lin was serialized in "The Courier", the readers responded enthusiastically, and letters from fans floated into the newspaper like snowflakes.

This made Old John understand that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Perhaps we can try to add a new rotary printing press to the newspaper?"

The suggestion made by Old John coincides with Colin's inner thoughts.

To speed up the acquisition of [Faith], it is obviously a good choice to increase the printing scale of the newspaper.

However, considering that the price of the rotary printing machine is not cheap, Ke Lin hesitated.

During this period, as the sales of the "Courier" increased, he did have some money in his hands, but this was far from enough to pay for a rotary printing press.

"If, boss, you are worried about the price of the printing machine, I may have a way...to help you."

Before sensing the hesitation on Colin's face, Old John pushed the brass glasses on the bridge of his nose and spoke.

"I know a newspaper worker who went bankrupt. Their boss couldn't pay their wages because of bankruptcy, so they had to mortgage the newspaper's machines to the workers..."

In this era, there are only a few newspapers like the Courier that have been brought back to life after all.

The vast majority of tabloids have been reduced to unemployment and bankruptcy due to the impact of the Great Depression.

"...I was able to get in touch with those workers and offered to buy the machines in their newspaper office at a low price."

To the unemployed newspaper workers, the machines were of no use in their hands.

But for the current Messenger newspaper, these mortgaged and idle machines are important treasures.

"Contact those workers, and once the price is right, buy those machines at the newspaper."

Nodding his head, Colin didn't say much, but said directly.

Immediately afterwards, he thought for a while and added: "In addition, after the machine is in place, the publication date of the "Courier" will also be changed. In addition to the original weekend newspaper, I decided to add a special series every Wednesday. "Superman" comics appeal to readers."

"Wednesday's special?"

Hearing Ke Lin's order, Old John and Little John looked at each other in dismay.

Colin's decision was undoubtedly very bold.

It is tantamount to adding a new publication outside the newspaper's original stable publication date.

However, given the popularity of the "Superman" comics, the two don't see any risk of failure with the new addition.

However, looking up at Colin in front of him, Old John was a little worried whether such a serialization method would affect the quality of "Superman" comics.

If Colin knew what Old John was thinking at the moment, he would definitely laugh.

If you have to say it, he is the person in this world who doesn't need to worry about the quality of manga.

After all, behind him, there are more than half a century of "Superman" comics to choose from.

(End of this chapter)