Just Looking Makes You Hungry
"Completely satisfied, a classic is a classic, no matter how many times you watch it, it never gets boring, and the poster is really nice too."
Claire sat at her desk, closing the single volume of "Your Name" and carefully examining the poster she had just unrolled.
For her, her favorite part was Porter's scenery.
The art is incredibly beautiful, and although many skilled artists online create similar works, none capture that unique charm quite like Porter's.
After putting up the poster on the wall, Claire picked up the latest issue of Picca Comics.
Seeing the cover featuring a young boy tossing a wok, Claire couldn't help but feel excited.
Who doesn't like to eat?
Although she rarely indulges—mainly because she can't afford to—Claire felt that if she had the means, she would definitely turn into a little dumpling.
With eager anticipation, Claire opened the comic.
She really liked Porter's comics and naturally didn't want to see him flop in this culinary comic.
But as she read, Claire realized she was just...
Getting hungry.
"I feel a bit hungry..." Watching the dishes in the comic, Claire couldn't help but hold her stomach and swallow her saliva.
Despite the exaggerated glowing dishes, for some reason, they intensely stimulated her taste buds, making her feel unbearably peckish.
There's no denying it, Porter's art skills are too impressive.
The ma po tofu glistening with chili oil in the comic seemed to tantalize her taste buds, its steam as if reaching out from the pages to her face.
As Lee, the character, indulged in the food, Claire felt as if she was truly tasting it herself.
Yet, it was this very illusion that tormented her even more.
"No, I can't take it, I must eat something."
Despite her intention to diet, she couldn't help herself at that moment; she slipped into her slippers, rushed outside, then came back with a cucumber and stuffed it into her mouth.
Only after finishing the comic did Claire understand what truly appetizing food looked like.
Of course, she wasn't the only one feeling this way.
At that moment, Douzhi Net was abuzz with comments:
"I now understand that if it doesn't glow, it's not good cuisine."
"Who knew a dish could be so exhilarating?"
"No, did you see the sixth flavor of the ma po tofu in the finale? Could it be that Porter really found the so-called sixth flavor? It sounds quite convincing."
"Yes, he talks so convincingly, I almost believed it was real until someone tried to replicate it and failed."
Reading these comments, Daniel deeply inhaled and closed the comic.
Recalling his own experience reading the comic, Daniel felt that Porter was truly exceptional.
If "Your Name" brought emotion and warmth, then "Cooking Master Boy" brought fiery enthusiasm and an irresistible hunger...
"He's really amazing, doesn't seem like a newcomer at all..." Daniel murmured.
Indeed, the panel transitions, artwork, and even the intensity were impressive.
But among the veteran manga artists, there was none quite like him.
"Well... time to write something." Daniel opened his laptop, then feeling hungry again, immediately grabbed some noodles.
Ah, truly a meal enhancer.
Soon, a post appeared on his Weibo:
"Today, I came across a culinary manga called 'Cooking Master Boy,' different from other culinary mangas, it's very thrilling. It might initially seem just a culinary manga, but if you think about it, it's actually a classic battle manga disguised with cuisine. From elements like superior chefs to special-grade chefs, it's all there—similar to power levels in battle mangas.
The only difference is:
In typical battle mangas, the protagonist impresses by fighting others, thrilling readers with exhilarating victories, while 'Cooking Master Boy' achieves this through cooking, conquering various formidable opponents, whether they be skilled colleagues or picky eaters. The joy of triumph is the same, not to mention the inherently intoxicating nature of culinary works.
Of course, that's not all; the ultimate twist lies in the author's bluffs, which seem plausible at first, almost convincing me."
This analysis wasn't wrong.
'Cooking Master Boy' is a highly commercial culinary manga. The reactions of the diners and even the glowing food, even tofu getting an upgrade, should be seen as just fantasy shock value, typical of thrilling narratives. The eternal theme of surprise is a key ingredient for success, also making this manga exceptionally popular.
Due to Daniel's popular 'Money Talks' account, the comment section exploded shortly after the post went live.
"I've never seen such an exciting culinary manga before."
"After seeing the food in the manga,
I looked at the instant noodles in my hand and suddenly didn't find them appetizing."
"It's just too bad, it's not enough."
...
Meanwhile, Wang Tao wasn't looking too happy.
Not because his sales were poor.
With a solid fan base and heavy promotion by Jia Rong Comics, his sales hadn't just maintained; they had increased compared to his past works.
He had been ready to celebrate with some wine and mahjong after hearing about his manga's success.
But after reading 'Cooking Master Boy,' his good mood evaporated.
Truth be told, he found the manga excellent. Whether it was the art, the framing, or even the intensity, it was all captivating.
Had this been a work by one of the top five manga artists, he wouldn't have said anything.
But knowing that it was Picca Comics' new release, and that its performance was comparable to his, annoyed him.
He had left Picca Comics to make Jada realize that her company couldn't succeed without him.
Yet, how had the tables turned?
Picca Comics seemed to have risen even without him...
...
Simultaneously, the entire manga industry was buzzing about 'Cooking Master Boy' and 'Your Name,' analyzing and evaluating these two works.
They were also scrambling to dig up information on Porter, aiming to poach him.
After all, with two such successful works, he was definitely worth the attention.
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