Chapter 43 - Industry Challenges

Andre, a prominent comic editor at one of the top companies in the industry, faced a significant challenge. Since the release of Shounen Jump, the sales of his company's magazines had been declining.

He acknowledged the rarity and impact of the three comics in Shounen Jump, but he doubted their longevity. With all three comics created by the same artist, he anticipated a potential drop in quality as they added more assistants. To combat this, Andre had previously employed tactics to undermine Marvel Comics, aiming to pull it down from its top position.

Walking through a bustling commercial street, Andre's expression brightened as he saw a crowd outside a bookstore. Curiosity piqued, he squeezed through the crowd, wondering if a popular comic had just been released.

To his surprise, most of the readers were holding copies of Juvenile Jump, eagerly flipping through its pages.

"Two new comics have been published, and Marvel has also released a new magazine," shouted a reader, returning to the shelf.

Andre's mood darkened as he noticed the posters in the bookstore windows—one of a fox with nine tails and another of a hollow monster. The left poster featured Naruto, and the right one showcased Shinigami. Both were labeled with Xu Mo's name.

Andre hadn't expected Xu Mo to serialize two new books in addition to the existing three. This level of output was beyond what he thought feasible.

"It must be someone else painting on his behalf," Andre thought, trying to convince himself.

A bookstore employee approached with the new issues, offering them to Andre. He hesitated but bought them, determined to assess Xu Mo's work firsthand.

Opening the magazines, Andre noticed a new name among the authors—an assistant to Xu Mo. This was a surprise, but Andre remained skeptical about the quality.

Flipping through Friends Manke, Andre's expression remained neutral. He observed that Marvel's dominance in the market was overwhelming, and if they didn't act soon, they might fall behind.

"Boss, we need to fight back. Marvel's comics are overwhelming. If we don't take action, I'm afraid..."

"Can any of our artists surpass Marvel's work?"

"No."

"Really? In that case, I'll seek someone to handle it."

After ending the call, Andre's mood improved slightly. He thought to himself, "Xu Mo, you're in for a challenge."

Just then, Andre bumped into someone and looked up to see Edward, a rival in the comic industry. Edward grinned and said, "Edward, you're here too? Interested in our company's comic reviews?"

Edward laughed and responded, "Sorry, even if I weren't looking at them, I know your company still isn't innovating. Let's see if you ever stop recycling hero themes."

Edward's dismissal stung, but he walked into the bookstore to grab the latest magazines.

Andre, fuming, turned away with a scowl.

Meanwhile, Edward sat down with the new comics and began preparing his weekly review. The latest issue of One Punch Man showcased a detailed battle between Genos and a dragon-level monster, the Ashura One-Horned Fairy. The artwork was exceptionally vivid, capturing the intensity of the fight.

Edward eagerly turned the pages, eager to discover Saitama's training secrets. Saitama's serious advice about perseverance and training drew Edward in, but his excitement soon turned to disbelief when Saitama's training regimen was revealed:

"100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10-kilometer run… every day."

Edward was left dumbfounded. He couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of Saitama's routine, realizing it was all part of the comic's charm.

"Isn't it the supermarket sale day today?" Saitama's exclamation and the subsequent defeat of another monster brought Edward back to reality.

Edward shook his head, smiling wryly, "Can't take it too seriously, as usual."