Bang!
The sharp sound of a hand hitting the table echoed through the office, catching the attention of the employees outside. Natasha Romanoff looked on with curiosity, her expression inscrutable.
"Are you out of your mind? This is a joke! Do you realize this could ruin the hard-earned reputation of Juvenile Jump?" Andy shouted, his face flushed with anger.
Xu Mo's proposal was radical: using manga magazines as a short-term display platform and then shifting entirely to single-volume books. It was an unprecedented move in the comic industry, where magazines served as a staple for serialized storytelling. Normally, standalone volumes were released only after a comic had proven popular in the magazines, serving as a collection for dedicated fans. Xu Mo's plan threatened to upend this model entirely.
"Uncle Andy, I know what I'm doing," Xu Mo said calmly. "I understand the risks, but I believe this is the future of our company. I need your help to make it happen."
Andy, still reeling from the shock, stared at Xu Mo. "Are you serious about this?"
"Absolutely," Xu Mo replied without hesitation.
Andy sighed deeply, realizing that Xu Mo was resolute. As just a manager without any company shares, he knew he had little choice but to comply. "If you're set on this, then fine. But fifteen episodes per standalone volume are too few. Let's make it thirty. That way, the last issue of the magazine will be a proper send-off before the series becomes an independent comic."
Xu Mo nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "That sounds fair. Thank you, Uncle Andy."
Though Xu Mo agreed to the change, Andy couldn't shake his concerns. "No one in modern times does this, except maybe Captain America. It was initially serialized in U.S.A. Today and then turned into standalone comic books. But that move nearly killed the newspaper's circulation. If the standalone volumes don't sell well, the magazine's sales will tank too. It could be the end of everything."
Andy tried to offer one last piece of advice, but Xu Mo remained firm. "No, I have a plan to overcome these challenges," Xu Mo assured him, though he kept the details vague. He didn't want to explain that his urgency stemmed from a broader, almost apocalyptic vision of the future.
Andy, still skeptical but out of options, relented. "Alright, what's the next step?"
Xu Mo's mind raced as Andy's concerns brought up another issue: the speed at which these comics were being released. It was an impressive output, far beyond what any normal comic artist could achieve, and it would undoubtedly attract attention—perhaps even unwanted scrutiny from S.H.I.E.L.D., especially given Natasha's presence in the office.
"Okay, here's the plan," Xu Mo said decisively. "We'll use a mix of strategies. 'Tokyo Ghoul,' 'Attack on Titan,' and 'The King's Avatar' will continue as weekly releases. However, 'Naruto,' 'Bleach,' and 'One Punch Man' will transition to standalone books once we have a sufficient number of episodes. We'll keep adding new comics to Juvenile Jump and Soulmate Manke as needed."
Andy nodded, finally seeing a more concrete plan. "Fine, but remember, you need to take care of yourself. You've already pushed yourself too hard, and this pace will only make things worse."
Xu Mo waved off the concern. "I'll manage. Besides, there's one more thing I need to discuss. Stark Industries is the leading tech and arms company, right?"
"Uh, yes, but what's that got to do with us? We're in comics, not tech or weapons," Andy replied, puzzled.
"I think we can explore a partnership. With their global presence, it might open new avenues for our publications," Xu Mo explained, already considering the vast promotional opportunities and technological integrations that could arise from such a collaboration.
Andy looked at him, still bewildered. "Partnership? With Stark Industries?" His voice was filled with disbelief, but he knew better than to underestimate Xu Mo's ambitious ideas. "Alright, if you think it's worth exploring, I'll set up a meeting."
As Xu Mo left the office, he felt the weight of his decisions. The new direction was bold, potentially transformative, but it also carried immense risks. Still, he was confident that this was the right path, both for the future of their comics and for the broader fight against the looming threats in the world.
Natasha watched as Xu Mo walked past, her mind already working through the implications of the conversation she had overheard. There was something different about Xu Mo, something more than just a brilliant comic artist. She resolved to keep a closer eye on him, sensing that whatever he was planning was just the tip of a much larger iceberg.