Uhhhhhhh!
Gali was busy with the paintbrush, creating vibrant scenes on the white paper. The story of Doraemon, the beloved blue cat, gradually took shape under her brushstrokes.
Xu Mo stood behind Gali, observing her work. Since Gali lacked formal training, her painting was somewhat unrefined. Fortunately, the warm, daily themes of "Doraemon" meant there were fewer complex movements to portray, making it easier for her to handle.
If it had been a high-octane action comic, even a well-done imitation might have felt off.
"Dudu."
Xu Mo picked up his phone and saw it was Uncle Andy calling. He stepped out of the study, leaving Gali and Lorna alone.
"Xu Mo, the manuscript will be delivered tomorrow. The day after tomorrow is Monday, the release day for the third issue of Juvenile Jump," Andy's anxious voice came through. "I heard there was supposed to be a new magazine launch. What's the situation now?"
Andy had been meaning to call earlier but didn't want to disturb Xu Mo. Now that the release date was imminent, he needed answers.
"Alright, Uncle Andy. Let's talk about the new comics and magazines," Xu Mo replied, hanging up. He reviewed the sketches on his desk, then placed them in the living room for Andy.
Soon, Andy arrived.
Seeing the stacks of thick sketches, Andy was astonished. "Xu Mo, how many books are you planning to release?"
"Six books. Well, actually, it's seven," Xu Mo said nonchalantly.
"You're crazy! Don't push yourself too hard!" Andy's voice grew urgent. "Your parents are gone. I need you to take care of yourself."
"Don't worry. I have an assistant," Xu Mo said, pointing to the study door. "Come out."
Lorna and Gali emerged from the study with awkward but polite smiles. They had been listening and had to greet Andy.
Andy was surprised to see two girls. His gaze shifted to Xu Mo, who explained, "These are the new serial comics for this issue of Juvenile Jump. Unlike previous ones, these two are very lengthy."
Andy picked up a stack of sketches and quickly flipped through them. "The setting is intriguing, but it seems like it will unfold slowly."
"Yes, each book has nearly 700 words, so these are slow comics," Xu Mo explained.
"What? Seven hundred words?!" Andy's face changed in disbelief. "There's no comic book of this length except for government-published titles like Captain America."
Xu Mo shrugged and replied calmly, "I have it now, and there will be more in the future."
Andy was perplexed. "Such long comics are unpopular in the market. Are you sure about this?"
The current market was fast-paced and focused on high-energy stories. Xu Mo's first three comics had tapped into this trend, making them highly engaging.
Now, Xu Mo's new works were vastly different. Andy wasn't optimistic.
"I expected you'd say that," Xu Mo said. "Most comic artists follow trends, but I prefer to set them. Right now, Captain One Punch is extremely popular, turning Saitama's story into Steve's epic battles against Hydra."
"Wait and see. I haven't lost my confidence," Xu Mo added, waving toward the other two stacks of drawings. They were noticeably heftier than previous ones.
"Let's talk about the new magazine, which will be released alongside Juvenile Jump," Xu Mo continued. "It's called Friends Manke."
Friends Manke is inspired by China's first full-color weekly magazine for original comics, praised as China's version of Jump. Although its circulation cannot match Juvenile Jump due to different national conditions, it covers a broader range of genres.
"These comics are different from Juvenile Jump. Here are the drafts for the current issue of Friends Manke," Xu Mo said.
Andy examined the drafts: one featured a blue cat on the cover, while the other was a more realistic portrayal of a muscular man with glasses and a gun, surrounded by iron men.
"It seems you were well-prepared," Andy said, smiling as he flipped through the pages. "With your reputation, people will buy these without a doubt. If these four were your first release, they might not attract attention."
Despite the market's deformity, Xu Mo's name had become a significant brand in the comic industry.