American comics: I drew Superman during the Great Depression

Bang--

After leaving harsh words, the representative of the World Journal left the newspaper office without looking back.

"..."

Witnessing an unpleasant acquisition, the expressions of Old John and Little John were somewhat complicated.

After hesitating for a moment, Old John spoke and said to Colin: "Boss, I think what the World Journal said is serious."

"My refusal is also serious."

Raising an eyebrow and looking at Old John in front of him, Colin replied casually.

"No, I mean..."

Shaking his head, Old John said carefully: "As far as I know, the reputation of the World Journal in the industry is average, and many newspapers are not used to their methods... However, no matter how dissatisfied they are, they cannot change the fact that the World Journal is the newspaper with the largest circulation in New York."

It is not difficult to hear from Old John's words that he is implicitly reminding Colin.

The World Journal started out as a "yellow journalism" newspaper, using highly inflammatory and provocative means to exaggerate facts, exaggerate news events such as pornography, violence, crime, natural disasters and man-made disasters, and earn high profits. This had a profound impact on the news industry at the time, and was also the basis for the rise of the World Journal to become the giant it is today.

With the size of the World Journal, if they attack the newspaper, they will have no power to resist.

After listening carefully to Old John's concerns, Colin's expression did not change at all.

To be honest, he did not take the warning of the World Journal too seriously.

As the other party said, there is not only one newspaper in the world that creates superheroes, but there is only one Superman.

...

The revenge of the World Journal was faster than Colin had originally expected.

Just three days after the acquisition negotiations failed, that is, the day before the serialization of Superman.

The World Journal launched its own superhero in the newspaper-HumanFlame.

The main plot of the comic is about a scientist who made a creature in a giant test tube. When it comes into contact with oxygen, it will burst into flames. Everything the flame man touches will burn.

For their own safety, people sealed him in concrete; but a crack gave him oxygen and a chance to escape.

The flame man rushed out of the cage and burst into angry flames. The gangsters tried to use him, but he didn't want to be controlled.

In the last episode of the serialized comic, the flame man destroyed the scientist who created him and came to the modern society.

Putting aside the current antagonistic relationship between Colin and the World Journal.

Just looking at the serialization of "The Flame Man", it is undoubtedly a very good comic story.

Obviously, the World Journal did not slack off in terms of painters and screenwriters.

They really wanted to suppress the "Courier".

However, the excellent plot and painting skills cannot cover up the problems of the comic "The Flame Man" itself.

That is, this is not a heroic story at all, but more like a horror story.

It is a Frankenstein-style comic with similar themes as "The Dangers of Science" and "The Creator of Destruction".

Of course, it is no wonder that the painters and screenwriters that the World Journal is looking for are like this.

After all, except for Colin, superhero comics are quite unfamiliar to anyone in this era.

Even if they want to cross the river by feeling the stones and create a new superhero.

There must be a stone there, instead of creating a brand new superhero out of thin air based on the plot of a few issues of "Superman" comics like now.

…

The Courier Newspaper.

Little John put down the World Journal with the "Flame Man" comic in his hand.

Since the previous acquisition negotiations broke down, he has been paying attention to the actions of the World Journal. Now after reading the "Flame Man" serialized in the newspaper, Little John is somewhat worried.

Although it can be felt that there are some differences between the "Flame Man" serialized in the World Journal and the "Superman" comic created by Colin, it is undeniable that the "Flame Man" comic is already extremely excellent and attractive in terms of plot. Especially considering the circulation of the World Journal, Little John's anxiety has increased.

On this side, Little John is worried about the "superhero" comics serialized in the World Journal.

On the other side, Colin is still calm and "creating" the new issue of "Superman".

"Finally finished."

Putting down the brush in his hand, looking at the content of the latest comics completed on the manuscript paper, Colin breathed a sigh of relief.

"Boss, can I..."

From the beginning, Little John has been silently observing Colin's movements in the newspaper office, and he can't wait to speak when he sees him stop.

With Colin's permission, Little John stepped forward carefully, reached out and picked up the manuscript on the table, holding it in his hand, looking at the freshly baked comic content on it, his wooden face showed excitement.

"Flying! Superman's flying ability!"

Especially when he saw Superman flying in the explosion, Little John couldn't suppress his emotions and exclaimed.

Although Colin had mentioned in the first issue of Superman that Superman had the ability to leap over a twenty-story building with one leap, when John Jr. saw him take off in the comic with his own eyes, he couldn't help but feel excited.

This feeling was a reaction he had never had when he read the "Flame Man" comic strip in the "World Journal".

The next day, Wednesday morning, the readers who had been waiting for a long time.

also saw the latest "Superman" serial plot in the "Courier".

In this issue, an evil genius who called himself "Luthor" appeared in the comic. He had a bald look, rich money and supreme power, and controlled the spacecraft to try to cause a war between two European countries to make war money.

Clark and Lois went to investigate, but in the chaos Lois was kidnapped by "Luthor". In order to save Lois, Clark sneaked into the secret base of "Luthor" through invisibility, and then transformed into Superman to fight Luthor. In the end, Luthor was defeated by Superman, and Superman also showed his ability to fly in the explosion of the spacecraft and saved Lois at the critical moment.

Colin was a little hesitant about the image of Luther at first, whether to use his most classic bald look or continue the original setting of the comics, that is, the appearance of a red-haired middle-aged man. Later, considering the printing of the "Courier", it was impossible to show Luther's red-haired look, so Colin finally chose a compromise.

That is the bald look that readers see in the serialization today.

As for how long Luther's hair can stay, it depends on the popularity of this character.

Once readers show their acceptance of Luther, Colin will continue to arrange for him to appear in the subsequent plot until he loses the remaining hair on his head and completely transforms into the bald image in Colin's impression.

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