American manga: I drew Superman in the Great Depression

Positive World, New York.

The deliveryman drives a truck through the lower city.

The streets were deserted in the early morning. The newspaper delivery truck was driving quickly on the road, shuttled in the middle of the street under the dim light of the street lights on both sides.

Inside the truck, bundles of newspapers and magazines were stacked, waiting for deliverymen to distribute them to newsstand owners in the lower city.

Driving the newspaper delivery truck around the corner, the deliveryman saw the newsstand not far from the intersection and the boss waiting anxiously aside.

"It's a little late today."

In front of the newsstand, the boss complained to the deliveryman.

"There was a slight situation on the road. There was a newsstand that changed its owner. He was not very skilled yet, so it was delayed a little bit."

After getting off the newspaper delivery truck, the deliveryman explained something to the newsstand owner.

"Here are today's newspapers and magazines."

Reaching out to catch the piles of newspapers and periodicals, the boss skillfully counted the number and said, "Is there no more "City Men and Women"?"

"No more. I heard that the publishing house plans to print fashion magazines instead."

Hearing the deliveryman's answer, the newsstand owner couldn't help showing a regretful expression on his face.

"It's a pity, "City Men and Women" is quite popular among readers..."

After counting the magazines in hand, make sure the number is not missing.

The boss took out the coins he had prepared from his pocket and handed them to the deliveryman on the side. He asked casually: "By the way, are there any new newspapers and magazines coming out recently?"

"The newspapers are still the same, they are always the same ones, but when it comes to new magazines, there is a new comic magazine coming out."

"Are comic magazines like Famous Comics?"

"It should be about the same."

"Bring me a copy and read it."

Hearing the delivery man's words, the newsstand owner couldn't help but show some interest on his face.

The deliveryman pulled out a magazine from the newspaper delivery truck and handed it to him.

Reaching out to take the comic from the deliveryman, the newsstand owner looked down. The first thing that caught his eye was the large words "Messenger Comics" on the cover of the magazine.

"Messenger Comics?"

Looking at the name in the comic magazine, the newsstand owner murmured, feeling that the name was somewhat familiar.

And then, follow the name of the book "Messenger Comics" and read down.

What I saw printed on the first issue of "Messenger Comics" was a figure wearing a blue tights and a red cape. There was a big "S" mark on the shield-shaped logo on the chest, and a car was connected.

A proud figure raised high above his head.

"Superman!"

The moment he saw the comic cover, the newsstand owner couldn't help but blurted out.

He is obviously no stranger to Superman.

"So, what is serialized in "Messenger Comics" is the comic content of "Superman"?"

"The Courier Comics and the Courier. I should have thought of the relationship between them."

Holding the copy of "The Courier Comics" in his hand, the newsstand owner had a look of surprise on his face.

"Have you decided yet, boss?"

At the same time, the deliveryman on the side spoke and urged him.

"I'm still rushing to the next newsstand to deliver the goods."

"Give me fifty, no, one hundred copies of Courier Comics!"

Faced with the deliveryman's urging, the boss gritted his teeth and gave a reply.

Because of the use of color printing, the price of each copy of "Messenger Comics" was set at 10 cents.

Such a price is obviously not cheap for a comic publication that has just been launched.

You know, even "Famous Comics" has been published in newsstands and achieved certain success.

The price of a single copy is only 8 cents.

The difference of 2 cents is not a small amount of money for readers.

Especially in an era like the Great Depression.

"I should take a look at the situation first, or buy a few fewer copies to observe the sales situation. I shouldn't be so impulsive..."

The deliveryman left a hundred copies of "Courier Comics" behind and drove away from the newsstand.

Looking at the small stack of "Messenger Comics" stacked in front of the newsstand, the boss's eyes not only flashed with a look of regret.

But now, there is no point in regretting it. Looking at the figure of Superman leaping high in the "Messenger Comics", the boss sighed. While sorting the newspapers and magazines, he unconsciously copied the "Messenger Comics"

Comics" was placed in a more conspicuous corner of the newsstand.

…

In New York in March, the temperature is still a little chilly.

After sorting out the newspapers and magazines for the day, the boss sat in the newsstand and waited for customers to visit.

As the street lights on both sides of the road were extinguished, the sky in Xiacheng District gradually became brighter, and faint pedestrians began to appear on the deserted streets. The piercing horns broke the tranquility of the early morning.

"Give me a copy of World Journal."

Arriving at the newsstand, a passerby stopped, glanced at the neatly arranged newspapers and periodicals on the shelf, his eyes rested on the cover of "Messenger Comics" for a few seconds, and said to the boss.

"OK."

He picked up a copy of "World Journal" from the newsstand and handed it to the guest. The latter took the newspaper and put the change in his hand. At the same time, he pointed at the "Messenger Comics" in front of the newsstand and asked: "Boss, this is

What magazine is it?”

"This is a comic publication, sir."

Upon hearing the customer's inquiry, the newsstand owner quickly spoke and replied.

"comics?"

Hearing the newsstand owner's words, the pedestrian's face showed some interest. He put the "World Journal" in his hand under his shoulder, picked up the "Messenger Comics" in front of the newspaper, flipped through the contents and asked: "

How much?"

"10 cents."

The newsstand owner's quotation made the passerby pause for a moment while holding the Courier Comics.

Looking down at the colorful cover of "Messenger Comics", the pedestrian's face flashed with an expression of struggle, and finally he put the "Messenger Comics" in his hand back in front of the newsstand.

"Sure enough, it's still because of the price."

Sitting in the newsstand, the boss watched the pedestrians leaving in a hurry and couldn't help but sigh.

As the sky gradually gets brighter, there are more and more customers in front of the newsstand. Although occasionally some of these customers are interested in the Superman image on the cover of "Messenger Comics" and make inquiries.

However, after hearing the selling price of 10 cents per copy, they still seemed to be deterred.

After several times in a row, even the newsstand owner has given up paying attention to "Messenger Comics" and has even acquiesced to the possibility of losing money in comics.

"If I had known better, I would have read less Courier Comics."

In the newsstand, just when the boss was feeling regretful.

Suddenly, a pedestrian came directly to the newsstand and asked.

"Boss, do you have "Messenger Comics" here?"