American comics: I drew Superman during the Great Depression

The real world, New York.

The deliveryman drove a truck in the downtown area.

The streets were deserted in the early morning, and the newspaper delivery truck drove quickly on the road, shuttling through the center of the street under the dim street lights on both sides.

In the truck, bundles of newspapers and magazines were piled up, waiting for the deliveryman to distribute them to the newsstand owners in the downtown area.

Driving the newspaper delivery truck around the corner, the deliveryman saw the newsstand not far from the intersection, and the owner who was waiting anxiously on the side.

"It's a little late today."

In front of the newsstand, the owner complained to the deliveryman.

"There was a small problem on the road. A newsstand changed its owner, and he was not very skilled, so it took a little time."

After getting off the newspaper delivery truck, the deliveryman explained to the newsstand owner.

"This is today's newspapers and magazines."

Reaching out to take the bundled newspapers, the boss skillfully counted the number and said, "Is there no more City Men and Women?"

"No, I heard that the publisher plans to print fashion magazines instead."

Hearing the deliveryman's answer, the newsstand owner couldn't help showing a regretful expression on his face.

"What a pity, City Men and Women is quite popular with readers..."

After counting the magazines in his hand, he confirmed that there were no omissions.

The boss took out the coins he had prepared long ago from his pocket and handed them to the deliveryman beside him, while casually asking, "By the way, are there any new newspapers and magazines coming out recently?"

"The newspapers are still the same, they have always been the same few, but when it comes to new magazines, there is a new comic magazine coming out."

"Is the comic magazine also like Famous Comics?"

"It should be about the same."

"Give me one to have a look."

Hearing the deliveryman's words, the newsstand owner couldn't help showing some interest on his face.

The deliveryman took out a magazine from the newspaper delivery truck and handed it to him.

Reaching out to take the comic from the deliveryman, the newsstand owner looked down and the first thing that caught his eye was the big words "Messenger Comics" on the cover of the magazine.

"Messenger Comics?"

Looking at the name on the comic magazine, the newsstand owner murmured, feeling that the name was somewhat familiar.

And then, following the name of the book "Messenger Comics", he looked down.

Printed on the first issue of "Messenger Comics" was a proud figure wearing a blue tights, a red cape, a big "S" mark on the shield on his chest, and holding a car high above his head.

"Superman!"

The moment he saw the cover of the comic, the newsstand owner couldn't help but blurt out.

He was obviously not unfamiliar with Superman.

"So, the comics serialized in the Courier Comics are the comics of Superman?"

"I should have thought of the relationship between the Courier Comics and the Courier Journal."

Holding the Courier Comics in his hand, the newsstand owner showed a look of realization on his face.

"Have you decided, boss?"

At the same time, the deliveryman on the side spoke and urged him.

"I'm still in a hurry to deliver goods to the next newsstand."

"Give me fifty, no, one hundred copies of the Courier Comics!"

Faced with the deliveryman's urging, the boss gritted his teeth and gave a reply.

Because of the use of color printing, each copy of the Courier Comics is priced at more than 10 cents.

Such a price is obviously not cheap for a comic magazine that has just been launched.

You know, even the "Famous Comics" that has been published in newsstands and has achieved certain success.

Its price per copy is only 8 cents.

The difference of 2 cents is not a small amount of money for readers.

Especially in the era of the Great Depression.

"I should have taken a look first, or bought a few less copies to observe the sales situation. I shouldn't have been so impulsive..."

The deliveryman left 100 copies of "The Courier Comics" and drove away from the newsstand.

Looking at the small stack of "The Courier Comics" in front of the newsstand, the boss's eyes flashed with regret.

But now that things have come to this, there is no use regretting it. Looking at the high leaping figure of Superman in the "The Courier Comics", the boss sighed and unconsciously put the "The Courier Comics" in a more conspicuous corner of the newsstand while sorting newspapers and magazines.

...

In New York in March, the temperature is still a little chilly.

After sorting out the newspapers and magazines of the day, the boss sat in the newsstand, waiting for customers to patronize.

As the street lights on both sides of the road went out, the sky in the downtown area gradually brightened, and pedestrians began to appear vaguely on the deserted streets, and the harsh sound of horns broke the tranquility of the early morning.

"Give me a copy of the World Journal."

A pedestrian stopped in front of the newsstand, scanned the neatly arranged newspapers and books on the shelf, and stayed on the cover of the Courier Comics for a few seconds, and said to the owner.

"Okay."

He picked up a copy of the World Journal from the newsstand and handed it to the customer. The latter took the newspaper and put the change in his hand, while pointing at the Courier Comics in front of the newsstand and asked: "Boss, what magazine is this?"

"This is a comic magazine, sir."

Hearing the customer's question, the newsstand owner quickly answered.

"Comics?"

Hearing the words of the newsstand owner, the pedestrian's face showed some interest. He put the "World Journal" in his hand under his shoulder, picked up the "Courier Comics" in front of the newspaper, and asked while flipping through the contents inside: "How much?"

"10 cents."

The offer of the newsstand owner made the pedestrian pause in holding the "Courier Comics".

Looking down at the color cover of the "Courier Comics", a trace of struggle flashed across the pedestrian's face, and finally put the "Courier Comics" in his hand back in front of the newsstand.

"Sure enough, it's still because of the price."

Sitting in the newsstand, the owner looked at the pedestrian's back as he hurriedly left, and couldn't help sighing.

As the sky gradually brightened, the number of customers in front of the newsstand increased. Among these customers, although occasionally some were attracted by the image of Superman on the cover of the "Courier Comics", they asked questions.

However, after hearing the price of 10 cents per copy, they still looked discouraged.

After several times, even the newsstand owner has given up on the "Courier Comics" and has even acquiesced to the possibility of losing money on comics.

"If I had known earlier, I would have bought less "Courier Comics."

Inside the newsstand, just as the owner was regretting.

Suddenly, a pedestrian walked straight to the newsstand and asked.

"Boss, do you have "Courier Comics" here?"