Super Cruel and Terrible Tales of Mangaka Act 5 - Anguish Side Story Mr. So-so - Page 151 - Side Story: Mr. So-so Guys: So, the Weeny Weakling Manga Club is finally splitting up and going its separate ways. But we're all going to Tokyo after graduation, right?! Of course we are. I'm gonna go to Tokyo and do whatever I have to... To be a first-rate ERO MANGAKA. Yeah, you could do it. The girls you draw are so naughty. Glasses: I just don't understand them. - Page 152 - Guys: (I'm confident that I can give boners...) (If my lolicon manga gets read...) Glasses: Is becoming a professional mangaka such a great thing? They say all those guys can only draw what their editors tell them to draw, these days. There are so many terrible rumors. Some mangaka had all of his assistants take the week off at the same time, drew the entire chapter by himself, and died of exhaustion. Some of them get hugely obese because they sit around and eat all day. Some of them go crazy and slit their wrists. Fanatical followers splash pig's blood on their doorsteps. Ancient grandpa assistants show up. Some of them commit suicide by jumping off the roof of their studio. It's all horrible. - Page 153 - Glasses: Let's not bother with being pros! It's okay being so-so. Brow: "Mr. So-so"... I like it. And so, they started with a "so-so" effort. The trick to not losing the fight was "TO NOT FIGHT." Covers: Crab Attack Guys: It's okay only using your head twice a year! Gotta watch carefully to see which works are popular at the summer and winter event. Signs: Crab Attack Crowd: Hey, new issue. Wow, tentacles going in Crab Girl's ass!! That's so hot. I got a stiffy. Ha ha ha. Guys: Sales were so-so. (about 1,000) Yep, quite so-so, indeed. The trick is achieving a certain niche style. Not too overdone, not too new. - Page 154 - Brow: I wish we could have sold a bit more, though. Glasses: Stop that! Being greedy will get you nowhere! The squeaky wheel gets the grease! A duck that does not quack is not shot! You have to stick to the middle! Climbing heights just means there's further to fall! Now, time to check out the new releases at the used bookstore!! Tachinosuke Chikubi's latest work is gonna be HUGE at the next winter event! We've got to get on the wagon! So-so! So-so! So-so! So-so! Covers: Shrimp Attack - Page 155 - Glasses: You can't do anything big. Gotta start with the small. Signs: Shrimp Attack Crowd: Hey, new issue. Wow, tentacles going in Shrimp Girl's ass!! That's so hot. I got a stiffy. Ha ha ha. Glasses: Another day of so-so sales! Brow: Yeah. Glasses: This is the next big boom, after little sisters! Mother-in-law moe!! And after 10 years of this... Books: Barnacle Attack Glasses: Accept things as they are, Mitsuo! Arrow: Got fat Sign: Barnacle Attack Crowd: Hey, a new one. Wow, tentacles going in Barnacle Girl's ass!! That's so hot. I got a stiffy. Ha ha ha. Glasses: Another day of so-so sales! Yep, so-so is really the best... Shirt: Johnnie Walker Brow: Ummm. - Page 156 - Brow: I've actually been scouted by one of the big publishers. Glasses: So-so... Whaaaat?! Brow: I've been doing this whole so-so thing, like you said, but I haven't been really satisfied with the gig lately. Glasses: No. No... Shirt: Johnnie Walker Brow: I drew a little piece out of frustration, and they liked it. Glasses: But, what about so-so... Brow: I figured, it might be tough at times, but I'd like to try it out. Later! Glasses: Wait! No! Shirt: Johnnie Walker - Page 157 - Glasses: ...Was I wrong?! H-He was so cool, just now!! Even though he can't turn back anymore. All this time, I made fun of working hard and dreaming, deep inside my heart. I always worked so hard to keep myself from taking any risks! I've lived 30 years of my life without fighting! Have I only been wasting the precious, irretrievable years of my youth?! Have I... have I been left behind, all alone?! - Page 158 - Glasses: I never noticed... Just how huge the sky really is. ...not that that makes any difference to me. {So-so is still the best.} Crowd: Wow, tentacles going in Clam Girl's ass!! That's so hot. I got a stiffy. Sign: Clam Attack - Page 159 - Afterword This is a gag manga originating from that immortal classic of modern manga, the late Shinji Nagashima's "Cruel and Terrible Tales of Mangaka." I most presumptuously used this title as my book also deals with the dreams, trials and tribulations of young mangaka. I hope my cheap and cowardly tactics have not offended you. The first chapter, "Samson," is a direct parody of "Half-wit," the first chapter of Nagashima-sensei's work, but all of the others are created by me, Naoki Karasawa, using characters in the style of original's make. - Page 160 - In the case that I parodized the lines in the original manga, I used them from the 3-volume edition from Sun Comics, and the older 2-volume Fusion Products edition, as well as "Fuuten" v1-2 (1972, Seirindo). I would like to use this opportunity to thank Shinji Nagashima-sensei. The mangaka of the world (myself included) continue to struggle and agonize as you once portrayed us. Alas. And just to be sure, I want to make clear that all characters, mangaka, assistants, editors and whatnot that appear within this book are works of fiction and have no relation to any existing persons. October 2005, Naoki Karasawa - The End - Project started July 13th, 2006. Project finished August 22nd, 2007. All translations by Stephen Paul. Thanks for reading.