"Hero."
Even though he was still intrigued, Andy felt a scream erupting in his heart. He glanced at Xu Mo and found himself at a loss for words.
Was this lack of muscle truly worth witnessing?
It was clear that Saitama's nonchalant remarks had touched a nerve with the Vaccine Man, enraging him further.
The Vaccine Man, in his fury, grew to a monstrous size, far surpassing his previous form. Andy couldn't shake the feeling that the creature could easily wipe out the hero who had piqued his interest with a single wave of his hand.
The contrast between the two was striking. Their physical disparity was immense, and the difference in aura was palpable. Seeing Saitama's detached expression, Andy found himself touching his forehead in disbelief.
Was this supposed to be a dark hero comic?
This new comic concept was a radical departure. The protagonist was continuously beaten down, his girlfriend had died, and even the criminals were only slightly affected by the violence.
Initially, such a novel idea had garnered interest, but readers quickly grew disillusioned, their patience wearing thin.
Andy turned the page, bracing himself for what came next.
"Well, it really is like this, huh?!!!"
The next page depicted something so shocking that Andy's body shivered, his skin crawling, and his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
Andy muttered to himself, "You must have missed a page." He flipped back and forth in a daze, his confusion growing.
"No, not a single page has been missed. That's exactly how it is," Xu Mo assured, noting Uncle Andy's bewildered reaction with a hint of satisfaction.
"Oh, Shett."
Andy's exclamation caught the attention of the employees outside the door. He read the final lines of the draft in a state of disarray, unable to comprehend the magnitude of what he had just seen.
With trembling hands, he set down the draft of Chapter 4, fearing the paper might crumble under his grip. He swallowed hard and asked, "What's the name of this comic?"
The comic had completely upended the traditional notion of a hero. The protagonist wasn't a saint, didn't possess superpowers, and the usual heroic ideals were absent. It was purely about personal interest.
For the first time in many years, Andy was genuinely captivated as a manager and editor. This comic was destined to be a sensation.
The previous villains were expected to follow the same pattern, but the Crabman in Chapter 2 had already hinted at a critique of traditional criminal archetypes.
The villain's grandiose speeches were irrelevant. Saitama's punch delivered a finality that made a powerful statement. The contrast was stark and attention-grabbing.
There was no coherence, the settings were chaotic, and the plot seemed random. Yet it was captivating and irresistible.
Additionally, the artwork was of the highest caliber, surpassing anything seen in American comics. It was evident that this new manga would revive the declining market.
Xu Mo shrugged and said casually, "One Punch Man."
"'One Punch Man,' it fits this comic perfectly." Andy picked up the draft again, flipping through it with renewed admiration. "It's an amazing comic."
"Well, I'm going to push it forward."
Andy's concern was palpable. "Even so, the company can't rely on just one comic. You don't have enough resources."
This was a valid point. It was impractical for a company to be sustained by just one comics artist. In the current economic climate, the market was too unstable for a single creator to support a company on their own.
"Don't worry, Uncle Andy. I've got more ideas as fantastic as this one." Xu Mo tapped his head confidently, assured in his creative abilities.
Without the system, the comics he remembered were limited, but with the search function, he could endlessly produce new material.
"Well, you're the boss," Andy said with a resigned sigh. Although he was a friend of Xu Mo's father, he had no ownership and could only offer advice.
Andy's worry was evident.
Xu Mo knew that what he said now wouldn't change anything. The true results could only be seen in the future.
After a brief pause, Xu Mo declared, "Rename the magazine to: Juvenile Jump. From now on, all my comics will be published there."
Shonen Jump was a high-circulation shonen manga magazine from Xu Mo's previous life, known for publishing numerous classic series.
For example, it serialized titles like One Piece, Dragon Ball, Naruto, Bleach, and Hunter x Hunter—each of which Xu Mo planned to introduce.
Andy, understanding the implications, asked, "Juvenile Jump? What about the comics from the artists who have resigned?"
Typically, if a signed comics artist resigned, the comics would revert to the company. Renewal was common unless the artist was exceptionally prominent.
"No, don't continue their work. The essence of Juvenile Jump is friendship, hard work, and victory. The traditional superhero theme is outdated and unnecessary."
Xu Mo tossed the previous artists' comics into the trash, potentially causing quite a stir if they ever found out.
Andy understood and nodded in agreement. He had come to realize that Xu Mo was capable of handling the situation on his own.
His words were logical, and his actions were decisive. Xu Mo was far from the humble traditionalist of his father's generation.
Andy recognized Xu Mo's American-style boldness and innovative vision.
The two began planning for the future, including discussions about animation. They both felt confident about One Punch Man's potential.
Given the current manpower, starting an animation project would require more resources. They intended to handle production and sales themselves to maximize profits.
In truth, if Xu Mo were in a normal world, he could take his time. But in the Marvel Universe, where villains might appear unexpectedly or danger lurked around every corner, he felt the need to act swiftly.
He didn't want to rely on anyone else. The sooner he achieved success, the safer he'd feel. Thus, he resolved to plan the future with Uncle Andy.
Time was of the essence.
Outside the office, employees whispered anxiously about the company's fate.
"What did the boss and editor-in-chief say? Are we going bankrupt?"
"Let it be."
"It's hard to find jobs these days."
The staff, not being comics artists themselves, were deeply concerned about their futures. Bankruptcy meant unemployment, and finding new jobs in the current economic climate was challenging.
As they were discussing their worries, Andy and Xu Mo emerged from the office. Andy addressed the employees, calming their anxiety with a few reassuring words. He even showed them the manuscript to prove that submissions were still being accepted.
Andy chose not to reveal that the new comic's author was the boss himself, fearing it might increase their distress.
"Drizzt—no, Xu Mo. I'll call you by your Chinese name. Don't forget to keep up with your studies. University is important," Andy said, patting Xu Mo on the shoulder as they headed for the elevator.
"Ding."
As Xu Mo entered the elevator, he looked pensive. He said with calm determination, "By the way, Uncle Andy, the company name is also changing."
Andy, caught off guard, asked in confusion, "What?"
The name Tengman had been chosen by Xu Mo's father and had strong oriental significance.
"Marvel Comics."
As the elevator doors closed and began its descent, Andy was left in stunned silence.
"Marvel Comics."
The name was distinctly Western, and Andy felt there was a deeper meaning behind the change.