chapter 194 part 1
Chapter 193 Beard
2023-05-02 Author: Yue Shang Xintou
Information about the kidnapping case flashed through his mind and was gone.
Colin collected his thoughts and returned his attention to the radio broadcast.
In the radio program, the radio reporter was elaborating on the details of the kidnapping, providing real-time updates on the latest developments in the case.
Ever since the Charles kidnapping case, radio stations had begun to heavily involve themselves in news reporting.
Through a channel of information transmission more convenient than newspapers, radio easily garnered a large audience.
At the same time, through continuous exploration, radio stations gradually matured in their news reporting methods, converting text-based news into verbal information that was more easily accepted by listeners.
Because of this, some listeners who were originally accustomed to reading newspapers also began to change their habits, turning to the radio to receive the latest reports.
Without a doubt, this move by the radio stations encroached upon the interests of the newspaper industry.
To this end, The New York Times had published a special article about radio.
In the report, it claimed that radio possessed 'immense, unknown power,' finding the existence of the radio stunning and having an almost narcotic effect on the mind.
Although the article did acknowledge to some extent that the radio had the ability to bring families together, which was especially important during The Great Depression, the overall tone of the piece was a clear warning to listeners to absorb information with caution, lest they be influenced by irrational 'forces.'
It wasn't just The New York Times' report; in fact, based on the information Colin had received.
The major newspaper agencies in New York had already begun to orchestrate a counterattack against radio, protesting the stations' practice of citing newspaper news. Through this method, they intended to cut off the news channels for radio programs, forcing the stations to compromise.
However, as someone from a later era, Colin knew that this war between the newspaper industry and radio would ultimately end with radio's victory.
The newspaper industry's method of cutting off the radio's news channels, paradoxically, led radio to develop in a more independent direction.
With the establishment of radio news agencies, the newspaper industry lost its means of control and ultimately had to accept the advent of the radio era.
Compared to the resistance shown by his peers in the newspaper industry, Colin had always maintained a very open-minded attitude towards radio.
This wasn't just because the broadcast of radio dramas had brought him rewards in both fame and fortune, as well as Faith.
More importantly, Colin, who knew the course of history, understood that the rise of the radio age was irresistible.
Just like the later arrival of the television and internet eras.
So, rather than thinking about how to stop radio's development like those in the newspaper world, it was better to cooperate with the radio stations to gain more benefits and advantages.
In any case, The Messenger Newspaper never had a particularly good relationship with the rest of the newspaper industry to begin with.
...
At six in the morning, Colin adjusted the angle of his collar in front of the mirror. Looking at the increasingly dense beard around his mouth and jaw, he picked up the razor beside him and began to shave his chin.
Amidst a harsh, grating sound of metal, the beard on Colin's mouth and jaw in the mirror hadn't diminished in the slightest. Instead, the blade of the razor in his hand had become pitted and chipped.
Seeing this, Colin couldn't help but reveal a helpless expression.
As his Super Durability (Bronze) improved, his defensive capabilities were further strengthened. However, this wasn't entirely a good thing—at least, the problem of shaving was becoming more and more troublesome.
He casually tossed the razor into the trash can, stroking the seemingly soft yet astonishingly tough whiskers around his mouth and jaw.
From now on, given the durability of his facial hair, he could basically say goodbye to razors.
Shaking his head helplessly, Colin turned and went to the kitchen. He took a 12-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola from the refrigerator and downed it in one go. Feeling the faint refreshing sensation from the carbonated drink, he carefully controlled his strength, crushing the glass bottle into pieces in his hand. Colin then selected a shard of a suitable size from the fragments.
Holding the broken piece of glass, Colin returned to the mirror. He touched the whiskers on his jaw, and as his eyes grew slightly warm, two thin beams of red light shot out from them. Reflected off the surface of the glass shard, they landed on the whiskers around his mouth.
Controlling the power of his Heat Vision, he cleared away the hair on his upper lip and chin. Looking at his clean face in the mirror, Colin finally breathed a small sigh of relief, picked up the hat from the table, and put it on.
In fact, the issue of Superman's body hair has always been a thorny problem in the comics.
In 1959, the original comic story about an older Superman already featured a plot where a long-bearded Superman struggled with how to deal with his whiskers. In subsequent comics, related plot points appeared from time to time, including a story in a 1960 comic where Supergirl and Krypto the Superdog helped Superman shave using lasers.
Eventually, to make writing easier, the original comics simply gave Superman a setting where he didn't grow facial hair, to circumvent the hassle of a beard.
In comics that later expanded on this setting, there was even a storyline about Clark wearing a wig.
Because if they let Superman grow hair, the writers would have to figure out how he normally got it cut. So, they just went all the way and made Superman a being who only grew body hair, but not hair on his head, thereby silencing the readers' curiosity.
Among the many different settings, it wasn't until the 1986 *Man of Steel* that a definitive method for how Superman shaves was established—the very method Colin had just used, reflecting his Heat Vision. This setting became Superman's widely known shaving method in subsequent stories.
"Perhaps I should consider adding this setting to the comic."
Stroking his smooth chin, now hairless thanks to his Heat Vision, Colin couldn't help but ponder the thought.
Compared to the "no facial hair" setting, he personally preferred the Heat Vision shaving method.
Especially since, in Colin's perception, hairless characters in film and television often tended to represent a certain unique type of character or identity.
He had no intention of being associated with that type of character, so the Heat Vision shaving setting was better. Although it was a bit more troublesome, it was also a classic setting for the comic, and he believed the readers would like it.
...
"Mr. Langer Worster?"
Early in the morning, Colin saw Langer Worster's figure at the entrance of The Messenger Newspaper.
"What's wrong? Is there a problem at the factory?"
Looking at the figure pacing in front of the newspaper office, Colin asked with curiosity.
At this time, Langer Worster should be in Brooklyn, handling issues at the mechanical factory.
"Good morning, Mr. Luper."
Hearing Colin's question, Langer quickly turned and greeted him, then said with a wry smile, "It's not that I don't want to be at the factory. It's just that since early this morning, a group of people has been blocking the factory entrance, not allowing our workers to go in. That's why I had no choice but to come find you."
If there was one person who most hoped Colin's mechanical factory could get up and running, it was undoubtedly Langer Worster.
After all, only when the factory was operating would the sales commission he had negotiated with Colin take effect.
However, the current situation didn't seem to be as smooth as he had imagined.
"Blocking the factory entrance?"
Hearing Langer Worster's reply, Colin subconsciously frowned.
"Can you tell me the details of the situation at the factory, Langer Worster?"