Oliver sat at his desk, candlelight flickering as his pen scratched against the parchment. The first chapter of Clarke Kent's story was taking shape.
He had already decided on the core of the character—his gradual awakening, his struggles, his growth—but now came the challenge of actually putting it into words and images.
Drawing wasn't a skill Oliver had mastered, but he had trained his hands for precision—whether it was handling a bow, wielding tonfa, or performing delicate hand seals. That same control helped him create clean, dynamic lines as he sketched the first panel.
The opening scene:
A quiet village at dawn.
A boy sitting on the roof of his home, gazing at the sky. He knows he's different, but he doesn't understand why.
The Art of Storytelling
Tenten leaned over Oliver's shoulder as he worked, curiosity shining in her eyes.
"So… this is 'manga,' huh?" she mused, watching him fill in the details of Clarke's face. "It's kinda like the scroll illustrations we use for mission reports, but more… I don't know… expressive?"
Oliver smirked. "That's the idea. Manga is about capturing motion, emotion, and impact in a way that pulls people in. It's like a fusion of art and storytelling."
Tenten crossed her arms. "And… what was the other one you mentioned? Comics?"
"Yeah. Comics and manga are similar, but their styles are different. Comics tend to be more realistic, with detailed shading and depth. The characters look more lifelike. Meanwhile, manga exaggerates expressions and emotions—it makes things more dramatic, more immersive."
"So, it's like one style is aiming for realism, and the other is aiming for intensity?"
"Exactly."
Tenten looked at the character Oliver had drawn—a young Clarke, his eyes filled with uncertainty as he stared at his hands. "And you're seriously just… making this from scratch?"
Oliver chuckled. "I guess you could say I'm inspired by stories I knew before."
He would never tell anyone the truth—that he was from another world, that he had already seen countless masterpieces of storytelling back on Earth. But that knowledge gave him an unfair advantage.
In this world, there was no manga. No comics. No superheroes.
Oliver was about to introduce something entirely new.
Building the Foundation
As the days passed, Oliver's sketches filled dozens of pages. He refined Clarke's design, ensuring his costume was simple but memorable—not too flashy, but distinct enough to be iconic.
He thought about his powers—how Clarke would struggle with them, how they would slowly evolve.
• At first, Clarke's fire would be uncontrollable, bursting out when he was emotional.
• His wind would let him move faster, but only in short bursts.
• His lightning would come later—unpredictable, unstable, and almost frightening in its power.
Each new ability would force Clarke to adapt, to learn. He wouldn't just brute-force his way through fights. He would strategize, think ahead, and outmaneuver his opponents.
The First Readers
A few weeks later, Oliver had completed the first few chapters. He sat at his usual training ground with Tenten and Rock Lee, flipping through the pages.
"This is… impressive," Tenten admitted, scanning through the artwork. "I've never seen a story told like this before."
Rock Lee, who had been reading intently, clenched his fists. "This Clarke Kent… he burns with youthful energy! His struggles, his determination—I can feel it in my soul!"
Oliver chuckled. "Glad you think so."
Tenten tapped her chin. "So what's next? Are you going to try and sell this?"
Oliver exhaled. That was the real challenge. Getting this published.
There were no printing presses like on Earth. Everything was done by hand. If he wanted to get this out into the world, he would have to convince a publisher, or maybe even start his own business.
It was a risk. But if it worked… he would create an entire industry from nothing.
And something told him… this was just the beginning.