Chapter 126: Best-Selling Comics Outside the United States

Since neither side was willing to compromise, they simply dragged things out through litigation. In any case, the Comics Code Authority (CCA) had already ruined its reputation, and winning the lawsuit would hardly make a difference.

The insistence that Batman and Robin were "good friends" was truly laughable. To paraphrase William White, "Your mind is filthy, so everything you read looks filthy; if you covered the cover of the Bible, it wouldn't pass the code either." This was not just gibberish; if you insisted on picking apart such a thick book for flaws, nothing would ever be published.

Saying this in the United States would normally trigger a massive uproar. Yet, strangely enough, most people just laughed it off, and no one offered any excessive interpretation. The CCA was completely rattled. They found that they no longer recognized this society. Why was everything they said wrong, while this guy could say whatever he pleased?

The reason was simple. Those familiar with him knew that William White was truly learned and possessed an incredible memory. He could effortlessly cite historical allusions that many pastors didn't even know. If you dared to debate him, you would undoubtedly end up humiliated. Some things simply weren't meant for debate—they were matters of faith. If you tore them apart and scrutinized them, no one could explain them clearly. Everyone knew that the gods of the "Western devils" weren't particularly fastidious, so it was best not to invite trouble.

The world was watching the farce in the U.S. The general consensus was that this was just suppression by industry giants, and people naturally trusted their own local censorship boards. Because the pre-launch hype was so effective, Japan printed an additional 500,000 copies, while other regions remained unchanged. After all, scarcity breeds value; the harder it was to buy, the more the foreigners wanted it.

Japan was the first to start sales. Following continuous news and advertising, many Japanese people were eager to see this magical comic weekly. They had heard that the character designs were too "provocative" for the U.S. to sell, but fortunately, Japan had no such issues. Seeing the long line at the entrance, the bookstore owner was bewildered.

"What are you all lining up to buy?"
"Dummy, are you stupid? Don't cut in line, old man! We're obviously lining up to buy the comic. You don't know? Go get in line!"

Lining up to buy it? I must be dreaming. This is impossible.
"Ouch! That actually hurt! Are they really buying comics? I’m going to be rich!"
"Tanaka, what are you doing? Idiot, start the business! Why are you making the customers wait? Baka!"
"Hai!"

Comic vendors across Japan were collectively stunned. According to reports from various regions, excluding a few remote areas, every bookstore saw a shopping frenzy. Many shops began limiting purchases to two copies per person.

In less than a day, two million copies of the comic weekly were sold out—a truly staggering figure! Europe also saw hot sales, with many bookstores even hiding copies to fulfill pre-orders from Americans, as they didn't want to lose their credibility. Except for some Chinese-speaking regions, all other areas were cleared out within a day. This was unavoidable, as the price of around two dollars was slightly expensive.

United States: 0 copies.

A globally successful comic, with daily sales exceeding five million dollars, yet this weekly had nothing to do with the U.S. because we have the powerful CCA. Rumors surfaced that a Los Angeles comic studio was planning to relocate to London, as the U.S. was simply not suitable for comic development—it was a desert for the medium.

The uproar was so loud it even overshadowed the buzz surrounding *Star Wars*. People were discussing the comic even while watching the movie. What greeted the CCA was global ridicule and widespread domestic questioning. Now, everyone understood William White’s strategic layout. Reducing tax expenditures was only part of it; avoiding being deliberately targeted was the main reason. If the company had been registered in the U.S.? It would have ended disastrously.

As the situation developed, people marveled at William White’s foresight while simultaneously throwing out various conspiracy theories. Marvel and DC both caught strays. After all, they were the two biggest players, and Marvel, in particular, was the primary suspect.

Although *Star Wars* was a massive hit, William White’s film remained unfazed. The promotional efforts were immense, and not even in the same league as *Star Wars*. The American film market was actually quite mature; while many viewers liked *Star Wars*, there were just as many who didn't. The real indicator of North American box office potential was *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial*, which doubled the box office of *Star Wars*—that was the true movie-consuming power of the Americans.

Hollywood was truly curious now. *Star Wars* was undeniably a blockbuster, yet here was White daring to charge ahead with a film starring a Black lead. What kind of confidence was this? In William White’s view, unless *E.T.* appeared, there was nothing to hide from. *Star Wars* was at a level of less than two hundred million dollars. Having given up a month of screening time, what did he have to be afraid of? Unless you were that "Big Ship" (Titanic), everyone’s box office would decline by the second week and be cut in half after three weeks. Films of this caliber usually had a six-month run; where could you possibly hide?

White Pictures remained unmoved and marched forward firmly, while Warner Bros. started to falter.

"*Star Wars* is a great film. I can't beat it, but I’m willing to try. People always need ideals, right? What if I succeed?" William White said to reporters with a wink. "Besides, Lucas is my senior; losing to him is perfectly normal. Next time, I’ll ask my teacher to step in, and I’m sure we’ll win big. Please, everyone, I’m just a newbie. You’re killing me with kindness—stop talking about defeating *Star Wars*. I can't beat Lucas's fans."

"What? The comic?"
"Believe me, the standards they used are similar to the Soviets'. It's a disaster."

The reporters had their answers and were naturally satisfied; someone’s sharp tongue never disappointed them. Reporters were, of course, able to get their hands on the comics. They didn't believe the CCA's explanation. If it were truly that offensive, how did it pass censorship in other countries? It simply didn't hold up. They must have stepped on someone's tail, and this was just a desperate, frantic reaction.

"Huh, this *Resident Evil* is interesting. Umbrella Corporation? So that's how it is."

The so-called *Resident Evil* was essentially about a few powerful families seeking immortality, while innocent civilians suffered. Thinking they had found the root of the problem, reporters let their imaginations run wild. Serious media outlets were cautious, but the tabloids didn't care—the more exaggerated, the better.

Such a stark contrast quickly left the public in a state of confusion. They couldn't help but wonder: did such families actually exist in the U.S.? This curiosity drove many to seek answers. The *Viking Raiders* comic weekly quickly spread through the underground market. In just a few days, over 500,000 copies flowed into the market.

With things having reached this point, the CCA’s stubbornness was meaningless; it only made the situation worse. As the "Beacon of Democracy," the U.S. was actually being compared to the Soviets—what a speechless state of affairs! When the head of the CCA received the notice, he was completely stunned. Their censorship standards had to be made public, and a rating system had to be introduced.

As for his own position? Unfortunately, you'll have to resign.