Round 2. Shueisha. After the last interview I went in with low expectations but was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. I'll get to that in a minute.

Once again, a 3 o'clock interview. Shueisha has 3 seperate buildings. All very modern and sleek. Not as much security as Kodansha but I did see guards looking imposing and eyeing visitors. Same routine of filling out a visitor form and getting a badge but this time we were led to a small room to wait for the editor. There was a public conferencing space with cubicles right outside but it seemed pretty full and boisterous. The general feeling was very informal and casual. The editor came and ordered us something to drink while we exchanged greetings and business cards. I'd met the editor last Christmas thanks to C.B. Cebulski and my writer has a friend who had worked with him so there was already a connection established allowing for some small talk.

Fast forward as I pull out my print-outs. He was very thorough with his viewing. He'd brought us a copy of a magazine he edits so it was nice to have something to do while we sat there. He went through it twice and his following critique centered mostly around the story and characters. We took notes as he suggested things to make the concept a little tighter and the characters a little more likable but, in the end, he liked it and thought that with a bit more work it would be marketable. He touched on a few art details like adding more "manga-isms" in order to create tempo but mentioned not to cater too much and to balance it since it made it unique. He also asked me to incorporate bigger and wider panels but other than that it was good and he was supportive. The interview lasted about an hour-fifteen. Maybe an hour-thirty.

So, basically, we're in bizness. We're gonna work closely with the editor to produce another 30-something pager as a one-shot and see how things develop from there. This still doesn't mean a regular gig by any means but it's a foot in the door. I have a feeling his art requirements will become much more severe in the later stages but for now I've got direction and an opportunity.

Rock.

TAK