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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 23: Too successful, and that’s a problem too
’Fullmetal Alchemist’ follows the classic plot of a traditional shōnen fantasy.
However, its detailed structure and the despair that appears in each episode completely shatter the usual formula of effort, victory, and friendship.
At first glance, it looks like a typical shōnen manga, but it’s more like an antithesis to shōnen manga itself.
That’s how the editorial team viewed ‘Fullmetal Alchemist.’
“Matsuda, how many chapters did Jung say he already has ready?”
“At least ten chapters’ worth of content is saved up.”
“I see.”
The biggest strength—and weakness—of a traditional shōnen fantasy is its length.
Long-running stories carefully build up events, gradually raising the tension and atmosphere within the work, delivering a thrilling catharsis when the conflicts finally resolve.
The problem lies in ‘how’ you build up those events.
If it’s not handled well, readers can easily get bored during these slower stretches.
That’s the headache both editors and manga artists constantly wrestle with.
‘Fullmetal Alchemist’ was created by Jung Junhyuk reimagining the story based on future knowledge, making each installment quite a satisfying read.
But what if they could release two chapters at a time, building the series faster?
“…Matsuda, can you get in touch with Jung?”
Maybe from this unexpected gap, they could produce newer, even stronger results than before.
＊ ＊ ＊
To get straight to the point, Jung Junhyuk immediately gave the editor-in-chief the green light.
After that, everything moved quickly, and chapters 1 and 2 of ‘Fullmetal Alchemist’ were published.
Compared to Japanese manga magazines, which boast thick volumes, their price is actually quite low—cheaper than even some slightly pricier drinks.
Yet people don’t buy magazines as much as they do books.
Thick magazines are cumbersome to keep compared to collected volumes, and teenagers, who are the biggest consumers of manga magazines, usually buy just one copy to share with friends or read standing at convenience stores (which, technically, they shouldn’t be doing).
“What? ‘Gold Crown’ is on hiatus?”
“Ah, ‘Abyss’ is on hiatus too...”
Two middle schoolers flipped through the latest Weekly Shōnen Jump at a convenience store, grumbling in disappointment.
They had just read that the manga they’d waited a whole week for was going on a long break.
As members of a sports club who had practice coming up soon, it was a deflating way to start the day.
“A new series just dropped.”
“Probably just a filler, since both of the other series are on break.”
“Wait, isn’t this the new work by the ‘D Note’ author?”
“Yeah, that’s it. It says ‘New Series’ in small letters on the cover.”
Normally, a new series would get a flashy cover feature, but this new series was put together at the last minute—decided only a week ago.
Since the cover artist was already chosen, they couldn’t replace it, so they just slapped on a small character drawing and the words ‘New Series,’ making the cover feel a bit humble.
Maybe because of that, the middle schoolers, even knowing it was drawn by Wakayama Jun, the author known for ‘D Note,’ flipped through the pages without much hype.
They were just thinking, ‘I’ve got time, might as well check out the buzzed-about author’s new work before practice.’
After exchanging a few words, the two middle schoolers quietly focused on the magazine.
“I’m gonna buy this.”
“Me too!”
With their limited allowance, the two kids who rarely bought manga magazines headed to the register holding their Weekly Shōnen Jump.
＊ ＊ ＊
“Wow… how many times in my editor life have I seen records set and broken like this?”
“Is this number even right? Maybe there’s a mistake in the tally?”
“Well, at least ‘D Note’ finally dropped from number one.”
‘D Note’ had held the top spot in the reader polls for 35 weeks straight, but now it finally handed over the crown.
And the work that stopped ‘D Note’s winning streak was—
“Fullmetal Alchemist beat ‘D Note.’ And not just that...”
“With a new record.”
Fullmetal Alchemist.
It was the new manga that just started serialization.
“Ha… what do we do now…”
An editor let out a big sigh, rubbing his head with a troubled look as he stared at the poll results.
“Right?”
Another editor nodded in agreement, sharing the same frustration.
There were a few reasons why the editors were so stuck in a bind.
Was it because the new series pushed down the rankings of the manga they were in charge of?
Nope. Only one of the two new works had come in, so actually, their own titles had moved up a notch.
Was it because Matsuda was doing too well?
The seniors were watching closely, and it was a little cheeky to bring in a strong series and snag the top two spots, but that was a different issue entirely.
So what was the real problem?
“This can never be finished as a short series…”
The problem was that Fullmetal Alchemist was just way too popular.
“Monday and Tuesday were total hell.”
Usually, when a popular series goes on a long hiatus, the editorial department turns into an emotional dumping ground.
But now there were ‘two’ series? This was basically setting them up to take all the heat.
So when the flood of calls hit the editorial office, they closed their eyes tightly and picked up the phone, bracing themselves.
If they were going to get yelled at anyway, they were ready to curl up into a ball and apologize nonstop.
“Hi! We’re so sorry! It’s all our fault! Sorry for being born!”
But the actual calls were nothing like what they expected.
- So, is Fullmetal Alchemist just a short-term series replacing ‘Abyss’ and ‘Gold Crown’ this time? I hope it becomes a long-running one.”
“Ah! I see, valued customer—no, esteemed reader. We haven’t reached an internal decision on this serialization yet…”
The details varied depending on who you asked, and some considered it a long-term hiatus issue, but most of the concerns centered around Fullmetal Alchemist.
- That Fullmetal Alchemist…
“Ah! You know Fullmetal Alchemist!”
“Fullmetal Alchemist? That one’s the weakest in our lineup, though?”
- ???
The incoming calls were as expected, but at least they avoided becoming a total emotional dumping ground.
After the first big wave of calls subsided, the editors suddenly had a troubling thought.
What if ‘Fullmetal Alchemist’ ended halfway through as a short-run series?
What if all those calls came back with bad intentions?
- Hey! Beep—Beep—Fullmetal Alchemist—Beep—”
- What’s your name?! What? I said, say your name, you fuck! You fucking name! I’m coming for you!”
- Bark-Bark-Bark!
From complaints about the series to downright creepy prank calls and nonsensical rants with no context, imagining what kind of backlash might come next was terrifying.
It wasn’t only the editors juggling multiple tasks who were stressed out.
“No, what is this?!”
At a meeting with team leads, Takahashi, the leader of Team 3, grasped his head and screamed in frustration.
“Why is it so popular?!”
The problem was that ‘Fullmetal Alchemist’ was way too popular.
‘Fullmetal Alchemist’ was officially a filler series replacing two on-hiatus titles.
Although the editor-in-chief had pulled this ace card to minimize complaints about those hiatuses, the response was overwhelmingly positive—too positive.
As often mentioned, filler series stepping in for hiatus titles usually get bashed without reason.
Readers see their favorite series missing and view the replacement like a homewrecker boldly taking over its spot.
So it’s common for people to be annoyed before even reading the content.
But despite this disadvantage, ‘Fullmetal Alchemist’ boldly smashed the poll records and took first place.
When Jung Junhyuk heard this from Matsuda, he muttered something like, ‘Hmph! Guess the only one who can beat me is me,’ but luckily no one on this side ever got wind of that.
In any case, this situation put the editorial department in a real tight spot.
A filler series meant to quell confusion is doing great? Like, insanely great?
Then the editorial department has no choice but to push this serialization as a regular, long-term series.
And if you ask what’s wrong with that...
“Ah… what about our other authors?!”
The problem is the limited space in the magazine. If one series comes in, one has to go out.
Sure, they wouldn’t immediately shut the door on an author returning from hiatus, but if ‘Fullmetal Alchemist’ cements its place during that break, the returning author’s spot is at risk.
Sigh…
Hashida glanced at an editor of the same rank with a troubled expression.
Unintentionally, their own team’s author’s series was threatening a colleague’s author’s position.
“Takada-sensei said he’d return in a month and was already a long-term serial, so his comeback shouldn’t be a big problem.”
“Ishida-sensei’s hiatus is expected to last longer, and since ‘Fullmetal Alchemist’ is a new serialization, plus their age, it might be tougher for them…”
Sighs of sympathy echoed around the room.
If an author fails to manage their health under the grueling weekly schedule, it’s seen as a personal failure and lack of professionalism.
That’s the cold, harsh reality of the industry.
‘I should tell Matsuda to visit Ishida-sensei in the hospital, at least.’
Maybe it’s unnecessary worry, but it’s about mutual respect.
After leaving the meeting room, Hashida called Matsuda.
And then...
“Hey, you crazy idiot! Why are you taking Jung-sensei to the hospital?!”
- Well, because it’s Jung-sensei…
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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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