**Chapter 75: Superman vs. Parasite**
2023-05-02 Author: Yue Shang Xintou
Fortunately.
The situation they feared did not occur.
After reminding the few people behind him, the passenger who bought the latest issue of The Messenger Newspaper turned back and continued to read the serialized content in his hand.
As he flipped the newspaper, the passengers behind him finally saw the subsequent plot of Superman.
"Heat Vision!"
At the end of the comic, when they saw Superman's eyes shoot out two blazing flames, defeating Parasite, even the passengers who initially believed Parasite had the powers to contend with Superman couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
Due to the newspaper's black-and-white printing, the Heat Vision, which Superman displayed for the first time in the comic, was only represented by two light gray burning lines. However, even such a rudimentary drawing delivered a tremendous sense of impact to readers, especially since in the previous page of the newspaper's story, Superman had fallen into weakness after Parasite absorbed some of his super strength.
This made readers who saw this scene worry about Superman's safety, marveling at Parasite's strength and terrifying nature.
Who would have thought that the very next page would show Superman once again display his formidable strength, shooting terrifying flames from his eyes, destroying that formidable villain, Parasite, in one fell swoop.
The plot that unfolded in mere seconds was even more thrilling for readers than a rollercoaster ride.
Many couldn't help but let out excited shouts, cheering for Superman's turn from defeat to victory.
...
New York, Brooklyn.
"It's me, it's me!"
"The Parasite I designed was serialized in the *Superman* comic!"
Mike Ciszek looked at The Messenger Newspaper, at Parasite, the villain who debuted in the latest serialized *Superman* comic, and shouted, unable to hide his excitement.
As a loyal fan of the *Superman* comic, as soon as he learned about Messenger Comics' first reader interaction event, Mike Ciszek cut out the content from the last page of the comic and participated in the activity.
However, even Mike Ciszek himself had little hope for the outcome of the interaction.
After all, as a fan, Mike Ciszek was more aware than the average person of Superman's popularity. Back then, to buy the second issue of Messenger Comics, he had searched four or five newsstands before finally buying the last copy of Messenger Comics from a vendor.
"I'm going to cherish this edition of The Messenger Newspaper!"
Looking at the newspaper in his hand, Mike Ciszek mumbled.
"Mike Ciszek, you have mail!"
Just then, the postman's shout suddenly came from outside the door.
Mike Ciszek poked his head out and saw a postman in a dark green uniform placing a letter into his mailbox, then riding his bicycle to the next house.
"Who sent it?"
With a hint of doubt, Mike Ciszek mumbled, then carefully put away the latest issue of The Messenger Newspaper before heading out to retrieve the letter from the mailbox.
Messenger Newspaper!
Looking at the sender's address marked on the envelope, Mike Ciszek's breathing suddenly quickened.
Could it be?!
He took a deep breath, trying hard to control his excited emotions, and with trembling hands, he carefully opened the envelope and pulled out the letter inside.
"Mr. Mike Ciszek, thank you for participating in this Messenger Comics reader interaction event. Here, the Newspaper Agency sincerely congratulates you that your designed character, Parasite, will debut in the latest serialized *Superman* comic in The Messenger Newspaper..."
The letter from the Messenger Newspaper first informed Mike Ciszek of the fact that his designed character had been chosen by the Newspaper Agency and was about to be serialized.
I already know.
Mike Ciszek's expression didn't change much, as he already knew this result from the serialized comic in The Messenger Newspaper before the letter arrived.
"...Of course, in addition to thanking you for your participation, the Newspaper Agency has also prepared a gift to send to you as a prize for winning the reader interaction..."
Reading further down the letter, Mike Ciszek's expression gradually changed.
Prize?
"...A single-page comic of Superman vs. Parasite personally created by Mr. Collin Roper, the boss of the Messenger Newspaper and the author of the *Superman* comic. We hope you will like it."
Seeing the message on the letter, Mike Ciszek quickly opened the envelope in his hand.
Sure enough, besides the letter he saw, there was also a single-page comic quietly lying inside.
Pulling out this page of comic, Mike Ciszek held his breath and carefully unfolded it.
Before him lay a scene of Superman and Parasite fighting. In the comic, Superman was swinging his fist, hitting Parasite hard on the head. The latter, with a wide-open mouth and a pinkish-violet face, showed an expression of pain, seemingly unable to withstand Superman's powerful blow.
That's right, this page of comic, gifted to Mike Ciszek by the Messenger Newspaper, not only vividly depicted the scene of Superman and Parasite fighting but also added color to it. In other words, this was the first colored comic of the villain, Parasite.
At the same time, in the lower right corner of the comic, there was also Collin Roper's personal signature.
This indicated that the page was personally drawn by him.
Looking at this page of comic in his hand, Mike Ciszek could barely find words to describe his excited feelings at that moment.
"This is *my* Superman and Parasite!"
With immense willpower, he controlled his inner emotions.
At the same time, Mike Ciszek made a decision in his heart: to carefully preserve this page of comic.
However, at this moment, Mike Ciszek would never have imagined.
The value of this page of comic, personally created by Collin Roper, would one day far exceed his imagination.
...
"Latest Report: A single page of a comic book, depicting the 'Superman vs. Parasite' image for the first time, sold for a record-breaking $3.85 million in Dallas, Texas, the United States on the 13th, setting the highest auction price ever for a comic-related item."
"According to the Associated Press, on the first day of Heritage Auctions' comic auction event, a single-page comic featuring Parasite, the villain character who debuted in the 23rd serialized issue of *Superman*, a publication of The Messenger Newspaper from 1932 by American Messenger Comics Company, started with a bidding price of $330,000 and soared, finally selling for a record-breaking $3.85 million."
"This colored comic page was drawn by Collin Roper, the 'father of Superman,' and features the first appearance of the classic horror villain, Parasite. Furthermore, as a prize for the second Messenger Comics reader interaction event, this page of comic bears Collin Roper's personal coloring and signature, confirming Parasite's purple appearance in the comic, making it highly collectible."
"At the same time, on that day at Heritage Auctions, an inaugural issue of Messenger Comics, which recorded Superman's first appearance, sold for $3.18 million. It is reported that hundreds of thousands of copies of *Messenger Comics*' inaugural issue were published in 1932, but now only about 100 copies remain. Last April, a well-preserved inaugural issue of *Messenger Comics* sold for a high price of $3.25 million on a comic auction website..."
Thanks to Hongchenke for a 500 Qidian Coin reward, and An for a 500 Qidian Coin reward.
(end of chapter)