Society fears that young people don’t want to be literary godfathers

Showing a complicated expression.

Looking at the flowing street scene in Tokyo outside the window, it felt like he was back in Toyama Prefecture when he was traveling with Xu Yuhuai. Mochizuki couldn't help but say meaningfully:

"It's just that I feel that compared to the future when your edges are polished and it becomes more philistine and harder to be a sincere woman, you are cuter now."

"........."

Mochizuki continued with his words.

Xu Yuhuai's expression was slightly startled.

"What, what!"

As if she was a little panicked, the girl's voice faltered:

"Still laughing at me! Sure enough, you still treat me like a child, right!?"

"Nothing - on the contrary, I have high expectations for you."

The young man shook his head and smiled:

"Just spend every day slowly as you are now. I believe you will become a very good adult in the future."

"........."

The girl was slightly taken aback.

He looked down at the empty bowl on the table, then raised his head at the young man sitting in front of him, and the unreasonable touch easily emerged in his heart.

Silence for a long time.

She said nervously and hesitantly:

"...Then, there's really nothing I can do about it - as long as I'm sure I won't hold you back, I'll try my best to be your heroine!"

.......that's all.

"Puella Magi Madoka Magica" is on the agenda at this moment.

35. "Fire Fist": A healing comic that is keen on killing readers.

Comics are like the vast sea of ​​​​stars. Even if you spend your whole life, you can only read a small number of works in your limited life... This is a truth that everyone knows, and it also confirms from the side that you want to be in the world. How difficult is it to make a name for yourself in this industry that focuses on stories and creativity and leave some memories and impressions for readers?

As the most influential nugget of newcomers in the Japanese comics industry, Shonen Jump, the well-deserved leader of shounen manga magazines in the new era, will naturally not give up the opportunity to discover new talents - with just a wave of their hand, their cartoonists will Receive instructions, publish some relevant introductory guides on the Internet or in magazines, and begin to provide enlightenment and guidance for many new comics authors.

.....Of course, most cartoonists have public relations tasks, so they just pretend to talk nonsense and conduct interviews in a perfunctory manner, without paying much attention to it.

If you don’t get overtime pay, who will work hard.jpg

It is precisely because of this that Shonen Jump's cartoonist tutorial column actually does not have many useful elements.

However, although most cartoonists only approached this work with the mentality of completing the task, a certain psychotic cartoonist named Mochizuki Ri was inexplicably serious.

Question: Teacher All, my submission has been blocked again. How can I get the editor interested?

Answer: I was also shot at submitting manuscripts when I was in high school. Although most of the manuscripts can no longer be found, most of the works that were shot were somewhat "déjà vu" and lacked eye-catching elements. This may be the reason for the failure.The drawing skills are so bad that I can’t add them. Magazine editors have to read dozens of people’s submissions every day. It’s annoying even if you don’t read them carefully... So it’s important to establish your characteristics on the premise that your audience can accept them. Very important point, please remember this.

Question: Teacher All, I don’t know how to draw the first frame of my comic. What should I draw?

Answer: In fact, when I first started drawing comics, I didn’t put much thought into the first page. I just thought the story looked good. But as my research deepened, I gradually mastered the basic elements of the first page - "5W1H" .The so-called "5W1H", to put it bluntly, means "who does what, when, where" is clearly explained.If one grid is used to explain "where the protagonist is" and "what time is it now", the area of ​​the grid will definitely be too small.So I think newcomers to drawing comics can try "the protagonist stands in the front, with some kind of building or object that highlights the theme behind".

Question: Teacher All, do you think the role is important?Is it possible to emphasize the plot and ignore the characters?

Answer: I think it is very important.If the comic only serves the development of the plot, it will definitely become something similar to a secret room mystery novel.The core of mystery novels is to reveal the murderer's first crime and the mental battle surrounding the mystery. The characters are nothing more than the detective and the murderer.This leads to the fact that no matter what kind of work you watch, the actual plot patterns are very similar.Because there is a big flaw in this type of work - the characters cannot move.Only when the characters "move" can the plot reach a climax. Naturally, the characters cannot be ignored just to highlight the strong plot.

Question: Teacher All, I want you to help me draw comics. Can you help me?

Answer: Yes.Remember to buy the second volume of "Fist of Fire" in the future. My bank card number is printed on the title page. You can send me money if necessary.

.......The above conversation comes from the new permanent column "Cartoonist All's Questions and Answers" newly added to this year's "Weekly Shonen Jump".The person who answered was none other than Ri Mochizuki, a popular mangaka who is currently popular in Shōnen Jump, and the question came from reader inquiries collected from the Internet.

In this permanent column, Jump's editorial staff will take turns planning and writing articles, including not only how to submit articles, how to communicate with editors, how to create comics, and exclusive interviews with well-known cartoonists, etc., aiming to provide those who aspire to Help for newbies becoming cartoonists.

Now a few months have passed, "All Questions and Answers" has become the most popular column in Shonen Jump magazine, and has also helped hundreds of readers and fans answer their questions - although this has indirectly led to the number of submissions attracted by Shonen Jump's various comic newcomer contests. There is a sense of psychosis and even the style of painting that is common in All, which makes the Shonen Jump headquarters a bit difficult...but there is no doubt that Mr. Mochizuki, the leader of All, is really good at helping newcomers. Yongxin is one of the few pure-bred freaks who has turned high-level tasks into permanent activities.

"...All in all, I still hope that the industry can have more talented bosses."

One day, I had an afternoon tea party with Mr. Dog Eyes and happened to talk about this topic. Mochizuki said very seriously:

"Of course, the reason why I turned that interview into a permanent program is not because I am a good teacher, but more because I am also a bit of a reader and want to see more interesting, entertaining or thoughtful works - if The only new star emerging in the comics industry is me, who is very eccentric, and I feel like something is still missing...so I want to do something, and it would be even better if I can help some future big boss."

"...That's it."

Sitting by the window with Mochizuki, watching the crowds and traffic flowing on the streets of Tokyo, the dog-eyed girl who finally ate the Portuguese tart that the boy treated her to also nodded obediently:

"Then I really learned some things that I didn't know before... I thought that the column you wrote was a monthly task that my parents forced you to do - but it took me a long time to do it. It turns out that out of all the jumps, you’re the only one who still insists on fixing the newbie guide?”

"Yes."

Mochizuki snorted, then put on his sunglasses:

"As the saying goes, helping others has a lingering fragrance. Being able to do some good deeds within your ability is also a good thing?"

"Really~"

Asking tactfully, Kasumi Takegami couldn't help but joke:

"...You look like a living Lei Feng. Did you have such a violent seizure in the comics that you started to think about doing something good in reality to make up for it?"

"If Teacher Xiaocheng thinks so, it seems that we can't talk together."

Mochizuki sighed, then took off his sunglasses and shook his head:

"Just make me mad. If you make me mad, Young Jump won't have the cartoonist who cares about you the most——"

"Okay, okay, don't talk!"

Seeing the boy with natural curly hair hanging his head, clearly looking angry, Takegami Kasumi immediately surrendered and his tone became quite soft:

"I'm just kidding...Sorry, sorry, I'm treating you to afternoon tea today."

"Good good."

Seeing that today’s afternoon tea was free of charge, Mochizuki also made a Sichuan Opera appearance:

"Then I'll forgive Mr. Xiaocheng's humiliation - how about you know who is the kindest cartoonist of Shonen Jump?"

"...it's you, okay~"

As if comforting a kindergarten child, Takegami Kasumi stroked Mochizuki's furry head.

..........I don't know if it's an illusion, but sometimes she really feels that when she is alone with this naturally curly child, she will always intentionally or unintentionally transform into an elementary school psychology teacher, always ready to comfort the elementary school student who breaks through at some point. Boys——

I'm obviously the same age as him...

Seeing a naturally curly freak with a crazy mental state and a bit of a childish temper, the little teacher with dog eyes felt a little nervous.

But...forget it.

After all, today is one of the rare days off when both of them are free at the same time. It’s really a big deal to pay attention to such a trivial matter——

With this thought in mind, the girl stopped curling and smoothing a certain natural hair, picked up the milk tea at hand, and began to taste the sweetness:

"Okay, we are all in our late teens and early 20s, so don't act like a middle school student and have a little temper. Let's relax a little bit today. After all, it feels like you blew yourself up three times, and you are officially determined to appear in When you are in front of the public, it becomes more and more difficult for you to get a date."

"...Maybe so."

Feeling that a certain dog was no longer smoothing his hair, the boy raised his head and stopped joking:

"Speaking of which... I've actually been wanting to prepare an interesting project recently, and I'm thinking about how to implement it better - so I may meet a little less recently."

"...I think so."

Pretending to curl her lips in dissatisfaction, Takegami Kasumi said meaningfully:

"Really, I'm still your assistant, but in the end I can't stay together all day long - suddenly it feels like we are forced to drift apart after going to college."

"...That's not the case, it's just that we may see each other a little less during this period. Once things are sorted out, it won't be a problem for you to stick to me all day long."

Mochizuki said this while thinking about preparations for the TV series "Puella Magi Madoka Magica".

"Oh, who wants to stick to you all day long? I have something to do..."

Deliberately choking on Mochizuki's mouth, the dog-eyed teacher, whose whole body exuded the fragrance of milk-flavored shower gel, held his chin and spoke to care about a certain elementary school boy who was sick some time ago:

"But let's not talk about that first. Let's talk about our comic "Fist of Fire"... You have recovered from a bad cold and it has been more than a month since you resumed updating. How are you doing?"

"well enough......."

Seeing a girl who always called him when he was sick, and occasionally ran to his house to send some supplies to ask about his current situation, the boy scratched his head in embarrassment:

"Although if we resume weekly updates, we will miss the rest days before, but my recent condition is good, and I feel that I can continue to fight."

"Huh, that's good~"

As if he breathed a sigh of relief, Takegami Kasumi couldn't help but stretch:

"I was really shocked when I saw you had a bad cold... Xiaosaki is not in good health to take care of you, and you don't have any relatives in Tokyo to help you. If anything happens, It's troublesome - luckily we got through it, otherwise it would have been really difficult."

"...This is not a terminal illness. I can definitely get through it."

Crossing his hands on his chest, Mochizuki complained:

"The cold I have is not Key Club's. It won't kill anyone. Don't worry."

"Don't say such unlucky words."

"Good good..."

After being glared at by the dog, Mochizuki immediately surrendered:

"Let's not talk about the cold. After all, it's been a while... let's take a look at "Fist of Fire" in the distance, family. Today is the time for the latest episode to be updated."

"...Oh, it seems to be true."

Since entering college, the curriculum is far different from that of high school. Kasumi Takegami's sensitivity and responsiveness to weeks have plummeted... Perhaps because of this, her amber eyes also appeared at this moment. It shows the common stupidity of college students:

"I just realized that you updated it today - well, I haven't bought Shonen Jump yet..."

"Okay, to watch Yan Fist doesn't mean you have to get a magazine."

Mochizuki gently poked the furry puppy sitting next to him with a dumb look on his face, and Mochizuki said:

"Open your phone and look at the Shonen Jump app. The latest comics are also updated here."

"It's true that you can read it on your mobile phone...but I am a loyal fan of physical magazines. It would feel wrong if I don't get a physical copy of Shounen Jump offline."

"....Okay, after the afternoon tea, I'll go buy a physical version of Shonen Jump with you."

Understanding that the girl next to him has an inexplicable attachment to physical magazines due to the influence of his parents and his childhood experiences, Mochizuki also left this sentence:

"Let's open the app first and read the latest issue of "Fire Fist"... After all, it has been updated for several hours. I don't know how my readers will react after seeing the latest episode."

"..."Fire Fist" will be updated this week?"

He gently held his chin and recalled the plot he had seen some time ago when he used the computer to help the boy retouch pictures. Takegami Kasumi's expression was as dull as ever.

but.......

The abstract picture I saw when I was helping an elementary school boy edit his manuscript suddenly came to mind.

The confusion in the dog-eyed little teacher's eyes disappeared instantly.

"Wait a moment........"

A large amount of cold sweat rolled down his forehead.

Kasumi Takegami, whose reaction was getting slower and slower, raised his head half-consciously and looked at the boy with natural curly hair in front of him:

"I almost forgot... the latest chapter of "Fire Fist" is very lively."

"Yes."

Seeing that his assistant and teacher finally responded, Mochizuki nodded slightly:

“Just because it’s a somewhat abstract task, I’m quite curious about how readers will react.”

"...I feel like they're going to feel traumatized."

"Hai, even if I know they are likely to be beaten to death, I still want to see what they will say." Mochizuki rubbed his hands excitedly and said, "I can't wait...let me Take a good look at how stretched they are to the point of sweating???"

"........"

Looking at a young man who was expressionless but actually looked intoxicated at the moment, a large amount of cold sweat rolled down Takegami Kasumi's forehead.

Almost got it.