Super Cruel and Terrible Tales of Mangaka Act 2 - Aspirations Chapter 9 Mangaka Under Fire - Page 55 - Chapter 9: Mangaka Under Fire Man: This is your new editor, Mr. Meshimase. Meshimase: You must be Manjo-sensei! It is pleasure to make your acquaintance!! Manjo: All right. Meshimase: Let us work together, to make great manga! Manjo: Uhhh. Yeah, sure. - Page 56 - Meshimase: You know what I think? I think there's only one way to break through this boring, stale manga industry and let in some fresh air, and it's through YOUR WORK ALONE, sensei! Manjo: Oh. Really? He was a character like those that existed in the golden age of the shonen magazines, a fiery editor brimming with determination and spirit, resurrected into the modern era. His enthusiasm and love for manga succeeded in exciting and moving Takeo Manjo, a successful manga mainstay who had created multiple hits in his 10 years in the business. But only for a moment. Meshimase: No! That just won't do! This completely fails to portray the pathos of "Mr. Exactly." You have to redraw it! By tomorrow! Manjo: ...for the 10th time? Meshimase: Oh, Sensei. You had the most disgusted look on your face. And this is all for the manga's sake! I'm only doing this because I want us to be the best we can be! Manjo: All right, all right. - Page 57 - Manjo: Ugh. Meshimase: Sensei, let's hold a meeting!! Right now!! Manjo: How did you get my cellphone number? Meshimase: I was lying in bed thinking, and I just couldn't sleep!! It was the sixth panel of Page 11 in the draft you turned in yesterday! Mr. Exactly's pose, it shouldn't have been like THIS... It would have expounded the theme of the manga if it was more like THIIIIS! Manjo: Um, no. That would be way too broad. Meshimase: I, I'm only trying to improve Mr. Exactly!! That's my only wish! That's my only desire! Sensei! Are you there, Sensei?! - Page 58 - Meshimase: Here's a present! Try a taste of this cake I baked! Key: Spare Key Made w/o Permission Meshimase: Huh? Assistant: Sensei's out right now. Editor: Who the hell are you?! Oh, you must be from "Shonen Heaven," eh! He's working on our series today, so you just play nice and butt out, yeah? Meshimase: That makes you from "Comic Nirvana"! It's YOUR fault we're always backed up to the deadline!! You deserve nothing but THIS!! Editor: Oh my god! What the hell?! Manjo: ...I swear, the man is insane!! I'm just tired of it all. Woman: (how terrible) You should just quit the story with him. Meshimase: What did you say, you filthy SOW?! - Page 59 - Meshimase: You have no inkling of the noble and lofty ideals of our shonen manga, you hussy!! Manjo: Ohmygod! Woman: ...murderer! Manjo: Wait, don't go! Meshimase: You musn't chase after that harlot! She is nothing but bad news for your manga!! Manjo: Why don't you just give it a rest?! Meshimase: So you want a woman? Perfect! Just take my advice, and use my sister here!! This might be unbecoming to say as her brother, but she's great in the sack. Sister: Mph mph mph! Manjo: Aaaah! Meshimase: His rival Mr. No Way's eyes are dead. Redraw it!! Let's move them to the championship next chapter. Make this character parody Tachinosuki Chikubi-sensei. Let's make the heroine a transcendental being from the 6th dimension. The hero is actually the bastard child of a Taiko drum! - Page 60 - Meshimase: We have a guaranteed hit on our hands, Sensei!! Chewed up and spit out by the battle of opinions, the author succumbed to his editor's lofty demands and "Mr. Exactly" found massive success for about half a year. However, numerous incidents stemming from the author's mental instability (sudden crying in public, incontinence, irregular pulse, self-mutilation) caused the serial to be cut from the magazine, and Meshimase was removed from his position... Woman: ...you've been through a lot. Manjo: I have. But as God giveth, God taketh away. And hey, I'm in discussions with Jodansha's "Paradise Magazine" to start a new series with them. Woman: That's wonderful. Meshimase: I've quit working for "Shonen Heaven" and hooked up with Jodansha!! Come, Sensei, let us discuss this new serial! Manjo: Eeeek!! Fear not, dear readers. This story is fiction, through and through. Why do I say that? The days of such hilarious editors are long in the past, my friends. They died out years ago... - Chapter 9 End -