I’m Really a Superstar

Detective Conan’s serialization.

File 1.

At night.

In a mansion.

“That’s right. The perpetrator made his escape by moving from window to window before anybody who heard the victim’s screams had a chance to rush over here. That’s why there aren’t any footprints outside the window.”

“H-How is that possible? There’s five meters between the two windows!”

“But it’s not even two meters if you climb up the walls to the roof. However, that wouldn’t occur to you unless you knew the unique construction of this mansion. And there’s only one person who could have moved around inside the house without arousing any suspicion at that hour.”

“Who did it! Who killed my wife?”

“It was—her husband, you!”

…

The Japanese people were shocked!

“Aiya!”

“It’s yet another good comic!”

“A detective comic? I like it!”

“Why have there been so many good comics recently?”

“Who knows!”

“Eh, why are there so many pages?”

“Yeah, why is one chapter of this comic equivalent to three chapters of the other comics?”

“What do you know? They’re updating three chapters at one go!”

“Three chapters a week!”

“What? Aren’t Teacher Ozawa and Teacher Aoi the only ones who can achieve that speed?”

“Fuck, another freak who does three chapters a week has shown up!”

“Another one?”

“Heavens! What kinds of animals are they!”

Shūkansha, always the bridesmaid, had burst onto the scene without any warning!

POO Studios and Shōnen Publishing both trembled in fright. Many of the editors were stunned by it as well. One Piece and Naruto might be updating at three chapters a week and still competing for more, but there was still a lead-in to that release rate prior to this. They had both started from one chapter a week, followed by two chapters a week, before edging upwards to three chapters a week! Fuck, you’re starting off with three chapters a week? Do you have a death wish?! You might as well ascend straight to the Heavens!

When they finished reading the comic, the editors of both publishing studios were so frightened they broke out in cold sweat!

It was too good!

It was so wonderful to read!

This was the pinnacle of detective comics!

Surely it couldn’t be, right? Did they really have another competitor? There was going to be another national cartoon joining them?

No, it was still too early to say!

…

The days passed.

Detective Conan continued its fiery run!

It managed to forcefully grab a piece of the market from under Naruto and One Piece’s noses. It had developed into a three-horse race!

The Japanese public had high praise for it.

“It’s good!”

“It’s very suitable for girls to read!”

“Right, my boyfriend is always following the updates!”

“Is the new chapter out yet?”

“Who’s gonna die this week?”

The reception from the people was very enthusiastic.

However, the title of national cartoon wasn’t so easily given by the industry insiders. This was because they were still waiting for the comic to be market tested. To say anything now would be too early. Moreover, they couldn’t give out the title so recklessly. One Piece had already been named a national cartoon. Naruto was also named a national cartoon. And now, they had to confer the title upon another comic again? Wouldn’t that dilute the number of national cartoons around?! So if there weren’t any results to show for this time, a lot of people wouldn’t even dare to utter the words “national cartoon”!

They didn’t dare give it out so easily anymore!

They couldn’t afford to!

But on this day, the results came out!

The sales figures of Detective Conan’s first standalone volume was astonishing!

Tokyo.

Hokkaido.

Osaka.

Long lines could be seen appearing in many regions.

Moreover, it was obvious that the majority of the people in line were female.

“Do you have Detective Conan?”

“I want a copy of Detective Conan.”

“How much for Detective Conan?”

Additional print run!

And another additional print run!

Fortunately, Shūkansha was well-prepared this time and did not get caught panicking!

The final sales figures for Detective Conan stopped at 680,000 copies. It was nothing compared to One Piece and Naruto’s results but was leagues ahead many other comics! Usually, this figure would’ve been more than impressive. In any other year, this result would have taken the top honors as well. But it was different this year in that the comics industry had too many sparks. It was flourishing. First, there was One Piece. It was followed by Naruto. Both series’ first standalone volumes had achieved over a million copies in sales each, so that took the shine off of Detective Conan’s sales figures. It was also an excellent series, but it wasn’t the best out there!

Shūkansha was a little disappointed.

“It didn’t surpass a million copies?”

“Is it because the release rate is too fast?”

“Hai, detective comics are indeed not as popular as those hot-blooded comics!”

“We really can’t outdo them?”

POO Studios and Shōnen Publishing also heaved sighs of relief.

“They did worse than us by quite a bit.”

“Fortunately for us.”

“I got such a scare.”

“It probably can’t be considered a national cartoon yet, right?”

“Yeah, it was just a false alarm.”

“Hur hur, I knew it! How could there be such an abundance of national cartoons everywhere.”

“Yeah, it’s already a miracle that two appeared this year. If there was another? That would be insane!”

This was what a lot of people were thinking as well.

Even Shūkansha themselves were finding it regrettable.

However, as things would have it, the development of things sometimes did not go according to expectations. Detective Conan naturally went the way of getting an animated adaptation as well. With an elite lineup of voice talents and a top-tier soundtrack, many people had high hopes for it. Everything related to it was made according to the most sophisticated standards. And when the first episode of Detective Conan’s cartoon was broadcast, when the viewership ratings of this week was revealed, everyone was shocked to find out that something big had occurred in the comics and animation industry!

No one could have expected it!

No one predicted it!

The viewership ratings for the premiere episode of Detective Conan’s animation had absolutely crushed that of both One Piece and Naruto’s!

Yes, it was a crushing!

A crushing of several magnitudes!

And what was even more worth mentioning was the performance of Detective Conan in the other Asian countries. It attracted even more eyeballs than One Piece and Naruto!

Children!

Boys!

Girls!

All of them acknowledged Detective Conan!

Detective Conan had a very wide audience base as it attracted all kinds of people!

…

China.

“I like Kudo Shinichi so much!”

“How handsome!”

“This is the first time I’m watching a cartoon. It’s really good!”

“My boyfriend is always watching that Naruto or One Piece whatever you call them. I couldn’t even make myself finish one episode of them. I still prefer a cartoon like Detective Conan.”

“Me too, me too. I don’t like all that fighting and killing.”

“Damn, don’t people die as well in Detective Conan?”

“They do, but that’s different.”

…

Korea.

“Wow, it’s a new animation!”

“I like detective shows!”

“This one’s interesting!”

“What’s going on in Japan these days?”

“I don’t know. Why have so many good cartoons appeared?”

“Haha, the more the merrier, of course!”

…

Detective Conan took Asia by storm!

All of Asia was enveloped in the wave of Detective Conan!

And right at this moment, the industry in Japan was forced to admit a shocking fact!

Detective Conan: yet another national cartoon had appeared!

Shūkansha was dumbfounded!

POO Studios was stunned!

Shōnen Publishing was shocked!

The industry insiders went crazy!

One Piece!

Naruto!

And now, Detective Conan?

Each was more popular than the other?

Each was more influential than the other?

Six years ago, only one national cartoon existed. But they were only six months into the year and there were already three of them?

What the hell!

Th-This doesn’t make any sense at all!