Full-time cartoonist

After Toriyama Kazuhiko signed Oda's autograph, he and Hibiki went to the study.

Akimiya and the others were curious and looked at Sasaki. Sasaki shook his head and said he couldn't tell.

Oda lowered his head in disappointment. He returned to his work table and conceived a character design.

This is his hobby, and sooner or later he will be able to use it.

When Dongye Hibiki didn't see it.

Oda drew a boy wearing a straw hat and a vest. He had a scribbled face, his eyes were just two dots, and he was pointing his finger to the sky confidently!

"If there is a serialized work in the future, this character must be the protagonist and give him a name, Luffy, Monkey D. Luffy!"

…

In the study, Torishima Kazuhiko sat down directly without being polite.

"Ah, I really didn't expect that the kid who submitted his comic book award in 1993 has now grown into a very popular author."

"Thank you so much, Mr. Torishima." Hibiki Higashi sat across from him and said gratefully, "If it weren't for you, I might not be where I am now."

Although he said this, he was cursing in his heart. As soon as he sat down, he started talking about favors. How cunning, Mr. Torishima.

He was immediately at a disadvantage.

"I saw your talent, and the most important thing is," Torishima Kazuhiko recalled: "When I first met you, you were still bald. It was really interesting and energetic at that time, but now it's not as good as before."

Higashino Hibiki smiled nonchalantly: "Energy is for newcomers. My grades are very good now. I just need to keep down-to-earth the series."

Torishima Kazuhiko frowned, this was not good news.

Glancing at Higashino Hibiki, he didn't know whether he was sincere or if he wanted to make a condition.

So I continued to test.

"You should really keep your feet on the ground," he pointed at the table with his hand, stood up suddenly, and picked up the medal awarded to Hibiki Higashino by the chess academy, "I was watching the live broadcast more than a month ago. Toakino-kun, you were shining brightly at that time. There are very few young people like you who become famous at the age of 19."

"You're flattered." Dongye Xiang nodded, and this was something he was proud of.

It has promoted the development of Go, something that ordinary comics cannot do.

"For a while, "Soul of the Game" won Kosho's first place several times," Torishima Kazuhiko put down the medal, turned around and looked at Hibiki Higashino, "Even "Dragon Ball" surpassed it, no wonder it can influence the chess academy. , organizing an event just for you.”

What Torishima Kazuhiko was talking about was the episode between Sa Wei and Taya Yukihiro before Sa Wei disappeared.

During the climax, it was not inferior to "Dragon Ball", surpassed "Rurouni Kenshin", and crushed "Jojo Part 4". It was simply glorious.

"Compared to what I said now...ah, I'm sorry, I said too much." He paused, as if he said the wrong thing.

Hibiki Higashino understood. As soon as this person came in, he first established a relationship, and then aroused the young man's desire to win. Finally, he compared the highs and lows of "Soul of Chess", hoping that Hibiki would choose to finish "Soul of Chess" because of the powerful contrast. .

This is also what Hibiki Higashi wants to do.

But you can't bring it up yourself, you have to ask him to bring it up.

"Mr. Torishima, that's why I have to keep working hard." He said: "Success has been hard-won for me. If I don't have the ability to guarantee the bottom line, I'm worried that I will fail completely."

"If we continue to serialize "Soul of Chess", maybe our grades will improve. In the last few chapters, Xiaozheng's grades are between 5th and 8th, which is already quite good."

Higashino Hibiki refused to give in, which made Torishima Kazuhiko very unhappy.

If you can't be clever, then you will have to suffer miserably.

"Tori Akino-kun, let's be honest, jump has lost its former glory. Horie Nobuhiko is also very incompetent."

"At this time, the senior management decided to appoint me as the editor-in-chief of Jump, and I will take office after the New Year meeting. In fact, it is not only to hope that I can create miracles, but also to shift the blame."

"I'm very stressed now and have dark circles under my eyes. It's really hard. When I close my eyes, it's a difficult situation. I really hope there is someone who can help me share the burden."

"Alas." Torishima Kazuhiko let out a long sigh.

He sat down in frustration, showing the weakness of the middle-aged man.

"I know this person, the person who can save Jump!" Higashino Hibiki said loudly.

There was hope in Toriyama Kazuhiko's eyes. He held Hibiki Hibiki's hands and hoped that he would say his name.

"This person is my assistant Oda Eiichiro! I have a hunch that he can become a great cartoonist comparable to Toriyama-sensei! The next era belongs to Oda!"

Torishima Kazuhiko was stunned and looked at Hibiki Higashikata intently.

"At this time, you are still kidding!"

Higashino Hibiki was not joking, but Torishima Kazuhiko would definitely not believe it, and no one would believe it.

Except for himself and Eiichiro Oda.

Hibiki doesn't want soft food, and Torishima Kazuhiko can't eat hard food either.

He simply said directly: "Teacher Hibiki Higashino, do you have any ideas about serializing new works?"

Higashikata breathed out slowly and nodded. It was finally the critical moment.

…

In the study, he took out a stack of storyboards and handed them to Torishima Kazuhiko.

The name of this comic is "Slam Dunk".

"Basketball?" Torishima Kazuhiko raised his head unexpectedly, "The popularity of basketball in Japan and even Asia is too low. Although the confrontation is good, it is difficult to show it."

It is very difficult to depict the fierce confrontation of basketball in a medium such as comics.

Some editors may even think that basketball is weak and low-confrontation, and that's a problem with the painters.

Compared to basketball, baseball is much easier.

Pitching, hitting, baserunning, it's easy to draw the subject and dynamics.

Torishima Kazuhiko was different from other editors. He decided to take a look at the content first.

"The main character Sakuragi Hanamichi is a bad character and has many shortcomings, which is good."

"The second male lead, Rukawa Kaede, is also okay. His cold personality fits the classic duo of mindless and unhappy characters, and he can create a lot of laughs."

"Sakuragi Hanamichi joins the basketball team because of the girl he likes. It's very comic."

After reading the beginning, Torishima Kazuhiko was a little embarrassed.

Of course you are eligible for serialization.

But he couldn't control the results.

Because the popularity of basketball is low, the opening is a comedy plus a bad fight, in order to attract readers.

The direction of the plot is also in line with the hot-blooded comics.

But can such a work really become a hit?

It looks a bit ordinary.

Torishima Kazuhiko raised his head, "Do you have the finished manuscript?"

"It's not the original manuscript of the work," Hibiki Higashino said: "I only drew a comic version of an NBA basketball game clip. Do you want to see it?"

Torishima Kazuhiko said seriously: "Please show me, please!"

Hibiki rummaged through his desk drawer and found a slam dunk by Jordan of the Bulls.

There were only three original manuscripts, and they only described one scene. Torishima Kazuhiko was shocked when he read them.

This is the scene of Jordan's three pull-up shots. In reality, it lasted for 3 to 5 seconds. In the comics, many shots were cut.

Different angles, Jordan's expression, the reactions of other players, and the reactions of opponents.

The shots are coherent and the expressions are on point, it’s like actually seeing Jordan dunk.

"And this realistic painting style," Kazuhiko Toshima touched the manuscript paper and thought to himself, "It's completely different from "Soul of the Game". This style of painting can show the expressions of the characters and increase the sense of immersion!"

"The painter has become stronger," he glanced at Hibiki Higashikata and exclaimed, "It is about to reach the level of a first-class painter."

"Although it is a waste of time to draw like this, as long as Tori Akino can put his mind to it, readers will definitely like it."

In general, he did not find the problem, but felt that he had gained more knowledge.

He still can't guarantee whether he can break through the boundaries of basketball comics.

But this comic, this kind of drawing method and technique, has the possibility of success.

That's enough.

"Reduce the funny content and increase the basketball games," Kazuhiko Toshima told Hibiki Higashino: "Even if Komasa's performance is insufficient at first, I will not let "Slam Dunk" be cut in half."

His attitude was clearly expressed.