Chapter 52: Printing

[Bronze Seal (14/100)]

[Faith (1688/10000)]

In the afternoon, Colin at the Messenger newspaper noticed a significant increase in the [Faith] value mentioned in the text. This was evidently a result of The Messenger Comics being sold on newsstands. However, there may have been a hint of nostalgia associated with old newspapers.

"Colin, we need to act swiftly. Instruct the factory to print an additional 10,000, no, make that 20,000 copies of 'The Messenger Comics'!" Harry Donnelfield burst into the Messenger newspaper office and spoke to Colin in an excited tone.

Since yesterday, Harry had been closely monitoring the printing progress of "Messenger Comics" at the factory. Once the printed comic books were loaded onto the newspaper delivery trucks, they rushed without delay to the newsstands across New York City. Harry made it a point to visit several newsstands in a row to verify the release status of "Messenger Comics."

Though the distribution of "Messenger Comics" varied slightly among different newsstands, overall, the sales of the comics exceeded Harry's expectations. As someone who had been involved in publishing pulp magazines for a long time, Harry found it challenging to comprehend why individuals were so captivated by comic book characters printed in picture form. Nevertheless, this did not dampen his excitement over the success of "Messenger Comics."

"Are 20,000 copies sufficient?" Jack arrived at the newspaper office slightly later than Harry. He overheard the conversation between Harry and Colin and couldn't help but shake his head. "I've already arranged for the factory to print another 100,000 copies of 'Messenger Comics' overnight, and we will distribute them to more newsstands in New York City."

"One hundred thousand copies?" Harry's initially jubilant expression subsided a bit, and he hesitantly voiced his concern, "Could that be too many? What if..."

Harry's worries were not unfounded. Although the distribution of "Messenger Comics" in major newsstands was going well, it was only the first issue, lacking the accumulation of previous editions. Printing 100,000 copies in one go posed a potential risk. Any issues that might arise during this period could result in substantial losses for the newspaper office.

"The audience for 'Messenger Comics' is larger than you can imagine. Let's not overlook the readers who have been following the serialized 'Superman' in the 'Messenger.' They are devoted fans of 'Superman' comics," Jack responded persistently to Harry's questioning.

Jack firmly believed that the full potential of "Messenger Comics" had yet to be unleashed. Once these readers flocked to the newsstands, the sales of "Messenger Comics" would experience another wave of explosive growth. A mere thousand comics would be insufficient to meet the market demand.

Inside the newspaper office, Colin observed the heated argument unfolding before them. Meanwhile, Little John silently contemplated the situation. Even for him, ten cents was a significant sum of money. However, when it came to Superman, he would willingly forgo a meal just to purchase a copy. After all, the new color version of "Superman" in "Messenger Comics" presented a clearer depiction of the superhero compared to the serial in "Messenger." Little John pondered whether he could leverage his position to acquire a copy of "Messenger Comics" from his boss.

On the other side, Harry and Jack ceased their argument and redirected their attention towards Colin, who sat at his desk. They both understood that although they had joined the newspaper in collaboration with Colin, it was ultimately Colin who held the authority to make the final decision.

"One hundred thousand copies?" Colin sensed the gaze fixed upon him from the newspaper office. A contemplative expression crossed his face. He glanced at the steadily increasing [Faith] value in the text and made a decision within himself.

"Given the smooth release of 'Messenger Comics,' as the publisher, we have no reason to hold back. On this point, I agree with Jack. I have confidence in the future of the comics market, so..." Colin paused briefly before continuing, "Inform the factory to print an additional 200,000 copies of 'Messenger Comics.'"

"200,000 copies?!" Colin's decision surpassed everyone's expectations in the newspaper office. Even Jack, who initially requested 100,000 copies, did not anticipate that Colin would not only approve his request but double the quantity.

"Isn't 200,000 copies a bit excessive? Perhaps we should print another 100,000 copies first to test the market's response. Based on the distribution of the initial issue, we can then adjust the print run for subsequent issues of 'Messenger Comics'," Jack and Harry exchanged perplexed glances as Jack, contrary to his earlier stance, attempted to persuade Colin.

Nonetheless, Colin remained unfazed by their concerns. If his memory served him correctly, "Action Comics," which featured the serialized adventures of "Superman," experienced a meteoric rise right from its first issue. The debut edition sold a staggering 200,000 copies and went on to surpass half a million copies, heralding the golden age of American comics. With such precedents and the growing [Faith] value in the text, Colin brimmed with confidence in the sales of "Messenger Comics" he held in his hands.

Observing Colin's resolute demeanor, Harry and Jack refrained from further objections. They nervously relayed Colin's request to the factory responsible for printing "Messenger Comics." The factory, upon receiving an order for 200,000 copies, naturally rejoiced. The four-color printing machine in the factory operated round the clock, tirelessly carrying out the printing and coloring work, as the factory employees worked overtime to fulfill the reprinting of "Messenger Comics."

Simultaneously, delivery trucks traversed all corners of New York City, delivering the reprinted "Messenger Comics" into the hands of newsstand owners. Equipped with the success of the previous edition, these newsstand owners exhibited tremendous enthusiasm for the reprinted version of "Messenger Comics." Many newsstands purchased a greater quantity of comics than ever before.

One newsstand, in particular, acquired a staggering 500 copies of "Messenger Comics," entirely filling its shelves with Superman-themed covers. Reports emerged of a confrontation between a newsstand owner in the lower city and another newsstand owner over The Messenger Comics, further emphasizing the buzz surrounding the publication.

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