Chapter 59: The Biggest Cash Cow

In the late 1970s, society was undergoing a counterculture movement, and the position of the CCA was awkward. In the comics of the time, the main villains were Frederick Wertham and the CCA, with the portrayal being overwhelmingly negative. This cultural phenomenon was not unique to America; it was rampant in Europe as well. The CCA was fully aware that if they didn't loosen their grip, underground comics would spiral out of control. "You planning to have the FBI go after those kids?" they wondered. In Japan, entertainment culture was practically the same as America. This was easy to understand. American soldiers stationed in Japan needed entertainment. Comics and gaming consoles emerged to meet these needs. Soldiers had strong purchasing power. Action films, comics, and game consoles were all targeting America, and naturally, their styles closely matched American interests. Japanese people quickly realized the potential of comics. Unlike movies, where you could have the best Asian films and Americans still wouldn't care due to their facial blindness -- their aesthetic sense was different. Looking at future Hollywood, you'd see actresses like Lucy Liu and Wendi Murdoch being considered beauties, while the Asians couldn't see the beauty from their perspective. Comics could dodge facial blindness and depicted alternative realities, even fantasies of American life. Fist of the North Star was one such post-apocalyptic manga with a Western style. Initially meant for American soldiers, it became hugely popular in Japan too. Skin color wasn't a problem; language wasn't a problem; culture wasn't a problem. America had ruined their comics industry while Japan seized the opportunity. In the era when Marvel was sweeping everything, traditional comics still couldn't compete with Japanese manga. Their bestsellers were sold in billions per volume, and they also had weekly comic magazines. You could combine Marvel and DC and still wouldn't outdo them. They couldn't make successful film adaptations because Hollywood was xenophobic. If each film were as good as Godzilla, they'd give Marvel a run for its money. ... Viking Comics didn't attract any industry attention. William White preferred to stay under the radar for now. Even if he had full creative ideas and plans, he still needed a lot of artists. You can't rush these things. To make waves in Japan's comic industry, William White put in great effort. With so much creativity in his mind, making money wasn't difficult. He only feared interference from his own people. Cars, steel, home appliances, semiconductors, comics -- these were all industries America self-destructed. Here we see short-sighted capitalists, politicians vying for votes, and doom-seeking experts. Even if you were to pursue industrial transformation, shock therapy was too extreme; like Russia, which never recovered. Why was a first issue of The Incredible Hulk so expensive in later years? Parents had burned these books, making well-preserved copies rare. Finding these after 2008 became nearly impossible. A comic book valued at millions -- what a time it was. If a certain expert got a peek at Japan's future manga, they'd probably drop dead from shock. In Japan, manga was consumed by all ages; it was fascinating. Seeing an old man read manga on the train was a common sight. Besides well-known manga, there were hundreds of successful ones, with many niche manga in abundance. Calling Japan a land of comics would find many in agreement. This was a massive industry. When Japan's economic bubble burst, the entertainment industry remained relatively unaffected. America's economy struggled; besides high-tech, entertainment was its main support. The high-tech industry had high barriers; without a foundation, it was best to stay away as the stakes were too high. If you couldn't protect your wealth, distance was advisable. It was a time of wild, unchecked growth. Fortunately, Japan remained easy to navigate. They usually didn't provoke their American allies. "Don't bother others" -- that was the Japanese code. It's what parents taught their kids, teachers instilled in schools, and gang bosses reiterated. Thus, as long as you didn't cause trouble, Japan was safe. Nightclubs posed no threat if you had enough cash to guarantee your safety. ***** https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.