Hong Kong Island Comic Master

Chapter 127 Happy Conversation
"This is "My Monkey King" that I serialized for Akita Bookstore in 1952. I was only 24 years old at the time. Of course, compared to you, I was already old at that time!"

In the studio, Osamu Tezuka was introducing the comic books on his bookshelf to Li Wannian, but Tsunoda was not in the studio.

The comic in my hand seems to be just a book, but in fact it is a period of Osamu Tezuka's life.

"Thank you for letting more Neon people understand Chinese culture."

"It's still far away, and even I only have a partial understanding of China."

Although Tezuka Osamu has a deep Chinese plot, he does not know enough about Chinese culture.

"It's already very impressive. After all, you have never lived in China!"

Li Wannian flipped through the comic book casually, put the comic book back on the shelf, and then saw another comic book, so he took it out.

"In comparison, I still like your comic more!"

Looking at "Bird of Fire" in Li Wannian's hand, Osamu Tezuka smiled and said, "I like it too!"

Speaking of Tezuka Osamu's comics, people often think of familiar comics such as "Iron Wall Astro Boy", "Jungle King", "New Treasure Island" and so on.

But when it comes to Tezuka Osamu's pinnacle work, whether in terms of quality, quantity or scale, it is generally recognized as "Fire Bird".

He began to create in 1954, and re-drawn it and serialized it in his magazine "COM" in 1967. Until Osamu Tezuka's death, he created 21 chapters intermittently in the next 12 years, the last chapter of which is "Modern Chapter" Unstarted is an unfinished work by Osamu Tezuka during his lifetime.

This work is composed of multiple independent stories. Throughout all the content, there is a fire bird with eternal life, traveling through any era and region, witnessing the changes of human beings and life.

The whole work absorbs a large number of myths, legends and historical facts, showing readers the different attitudes of human beings in various eras towards life and death. The writing is thick and the themes are profound and unprecedented.

In addition, Tezuka Osamu cleverly combined a majestic novel with experimental expression techniques, and drew the 12 chapters in a disrupted chronological order. This work is generally considered to be the highest masterpiece in the neon comics industry.

Unfortunately, this comic is also a famous curse, affecting one magazine after another, from the Schoolboy Club when it was serialized in 1954, to its own Insect Production Company, and the famous "Manga Boy".

Looking at the "Fire Bird: Troubled Times" that was just published last year, Li Wannian thought to himself: I have to read all 12 chapters in this life no matter what!

"When did you start drawing comics?"

Li Wannian, who was reading the comics and meditating, suddenly raised his head when he heard Tezuka Osamu's question.

"13 years old, 76 years!"

"So early?"

Osamu Tezuka was stunned for a moment, and then he came to his senses. This guy is only 16 years old now. Can he draw so many comics? Doesn’t it take him two or three years?
“I just started on the comics path by accident!”

Li Wannian put the comics on the bookshelf, and then told Osamu Tezuka the story of how he saved his father's printing factory from closing down.

After listening, Osamu Tezuka couldn't help but sigh: "I'm so grateful to fate that the manga industry didn't lose you!"

"Mr. Tezuka, what you said is too exaggerated. Even if it weren't for me, there would still be others in the comics industry!"

Although the contact with Tezuka Osamu didn't last long, Li Wannian felt that the old gentleman was a little too good to him.

Whether it's the praise now or the discussion about his future plans just now, it all reveals his concern for himself.

Before that, when the two talked about Li Wannian's future, although Li Wannian didn't say it explicitly, he told him: "No matter what you want to do, as long as you go all out and don't regret it later!"

No, what are you doing?

You are so good to me, I will cry!
"Mr. Tezuka, why are you so nice to me?"

After thinking about it again and again, Li Wannian decided that he should ask in person.Facing Li Wannian's question, Tezuka Osamu smiled, came to Li Wannian, looked into his eyes, and said seriously:

"Because I see the shadow of my youth in you!"

In response to Tezuka Osamu's burning eyes, Li Wannian couldn't help but said: "Were you so handsome when you were young?"

"...Maybe I'm not as good as you in terms of shamelessness!"

It has to be said that although the two are very different in age, they do have similar personalities and can even make jokes.

"Did Tsunoda tell you about the meeting with Kodansha tomorrow?"

"I told you it was thanks to your help!"

"I didn't do anything. I just asked Terada to introduce you. The final result is still up to Kodansha itself to decide. You still have to rely on luck!"

"Any luck?"

"That's right! It's luck!"

Regarding Li Wannian's strength, Tezuka Osamu is absolutely assured. The key is that Neon's prejudice against China is too deep. Even if the Hong Kong movies are now conquering the city, Neon still cannot reverse it.

Even with the help of Osamu Tezuka and the introduction of Hiroshi Terada, it is still not enough to guarantee that Li Wannian's "Dragon Ball" can be serialized [-]%.

In Hong Kong Island, Li Wannian's comics are exempt from inspection. After all, even the magazine belongs to him. How dare others not let Li Wannian get on it?
Even at the previous "Dragon Ball" serialization meeting, what the editors opposed was not the serialization of "Dragon Ball", but the suspension of "Bleach".

But now, when he came to Neon, he finally experienced the anxiety that ordinary cartoonists feel when faced with serialization.

Even because of his identity, the situation he faced was worse than that of ordinary neon cartoonists.

At lunch time afterwards, Osamu Tezuka did not treat Li Wannian to an expensive meal, but to a working meal in the studio.

However, Li Wannian did not refuse and continued to chat with Tezuka Osamu while eating in his office.

"How many days will you come to Neon this time? Will it not affect your creation?"

"About three or four days, it doesn't matter. I have worked overtime before then and have already finished the paintings that need to be painted in advance!"

"Did you hear that you are currently serializing several works?"

"Yes, three magazines, five comics in total!"

"Pfft...five?"

Osamu Tezuka, who was drinking water just now, was sprayed directly. Fortunately, Li Wannian was far away and was not splashed on him.

Good guy, I am serializing three volumes at the same time, and I am already known as the Tentacle Monster. Five volumes?Are they all this curled up now?
"I draw relatively quickly, and I use an assistant to help me, so I can barely sustain it!"

Even though Li Wannian said this, Tezuka Osamu still couldn't imagine how he could serialize five comics at the same time while maintaining such high quality?

"Are they all weekly magazines?"

"Yes, they are all weekly!"

"...You, you are really..."

At this time, Tezuka Osamu really couldn't do it anymore, and Li Wannian's situation was beyond his imagination.

In front of you, I am not worthy of being called a tentacle monster. Even if you give me two extra hands, I won’t be able to use them!
(End of this chapter)