AN: Alright, everyone. I'm back with a fresh mind, mood, and ideas. I've already implemented some of them in the upcoming chapters. Time to climb the ranking again. And thanks to everyone who gave powerstones during the break. 🫡
---
[San Diego – Comic Con International, 2006]
The crowd stretched from the front doors to the street, a river of color, movement, and sound. Fans laughed, cheered, and took photos. Every few minutes, someone shouted the name of their favorite hero, and the crowd responded with excitement.
Inside, Titan's banners hung from the ceiling, massive black and silver sheets with the company's new logo. The letters shimmered against the light, and the slogan underneath read: "The Future of Imagination."
Rachel had done what no one else could. Within weeks, she quietly removed the old Comic-Con board and replaced them with Titan's own people. Every sponsor, every vendor, every schedule block ran through her command chain now.
She arranged extra security for the event, just to make sure it goes smoothly.
The main hall was a sensory overload. Every corner buzzed with energy.
A group of fans dressed as Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Wonder Woman posed for photos near the entrance. Across the hall, a cluster of diehards in trench coats and vampire makeup debated comic lore like scholars. The smell of popcorn, coffee, and plastic wrap from newly opened figurines filled the air.
Reporters weaved through the crowd, carrying cameras and microphones. "This is the biggest Comic-Con in history," one shouted into the lens. "Over two hundred thousand fans in attendance, and Titan's presentation is the talk of the weekend!"
At the far end, Titan's main stage towered above the rest, with four massive LED screens flashing teaser clips for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Spawn, Hellboy, and Aliens Comics.Â
The TMNT booth featured a life-size model of the Turtles' lair with bright neon lights and graffiti. Fans queued up around the block to take pictures with the props or get a limited-edition comic. A large screen showed a teaser with the Turtles in realistic animation that amazed everyone.
The Spawn booth was a darker corner of the convention and was lit in red and black. A replica of the Hellscape throne stood at the center, surrounded by fog machines and pulsing lights. Only adults were allowed inside; the sign outside read: "Restricted Access. Mature Content." Security checked IDs as people entered. Fans whispered about the art prints and the R18 edition of the comic rumored to be violent and brutal.
The Hellboy booth drew its own cult crowd. The entire setup looked like a museum: ancient relics, arcane symbols, and the massive stone fist mounted on a pedestal. Actors dressed as B.P.R.D. agents walked around taking photos with fans, while a trailer played on repeat, showing glimpses of Hellboy punching through walls and facing off against monstrous creatures.
The Aliens booth was cold and metallic, designed to feel like the inside of a spaceship. Strobe lights flickered overhead as fans walked through the "hive tunnel." Every few minutes, someone screamed when an animatronic xenomorph lunged from the shadows. The staff laughed each time.
Each booth had one thing in common: a massive crowd. The lines twisted through the hallways, and Titan staff were shouting through megaphones:
"Attention, everyone! Due to high demand, collector editions will be distributed through a lucky draw! Only ten winners per title! Please register at the booth terminals!"
People still tried to push their way closer, some waving cash, others begging for early access. Security held firm.
On the other side, the Kong: Skull Island team unveiled a towering animatronic head that roared every hour. The sound shook the hall, drawing cheers every time.
Nearby, Marvel's booth showed teasers of two new storylines, The Civil War and Dark Phoenix, while under the DC banner were The Injustice series and a Constantine Vol: 1. Lines formed instantly, and everyone was excited as usual for the new comics.
Game developers took over the second hall. Early previews of Halo 3, Resident Evil, Metal Gear Solid, Splinter Cell, and other games filled massive screens. Players shouted as they got hands-on time with demos.
In another wing, smaller studios pushed their new comic lines. Independent creators signed books at tables covered in sketches and stacks of hand-inked covers.
Journalists and bloggers ran between halls, recording reactions, snapping photos of fans in intricate cosplay.
[Inside Titan's Main Hall – Afternoon]
The Titan cosplay stage was impossible to miss. A custom neon sign flashed "COSPLAY EXPERIENCE – STRIKE A POSE!" over a black platform surrounded by velvet ropes and security guards trying their best to control a very overexcited crowd.
The DJ blasted a remix of "Toxic" through the speakers as cameras flashed nonstop.
Max Black strutted onto the stage first, dressed in a comic-accurate Harley Quinn outfit—tight red and black latex, high pigtails, and a baseball bat slung over her shoulder with the words "Bite Me" scrawled across it. She leaned into the mic.
"Who's ready for a little chaos, puddin'?" she called, her Brooklyn accent sliding perfectly into Harley's manic tone.
The crowd went wild. Someone yelled, "MARRY ME, HARLEY!"
Max winked. "Sorry, sugar. My schedule's full. But I can pencil in emotional damage if you're free later."
The fans howled.
Next came Caroline, as Supergirl in her sky-blue suit and red cape. The sunlight from the overhead skylights hit her just right, making her look like she had an actual halo.
"Okay, everyone, calm down," she said sweetly, posing with her hands on her hips. "Supergirl's here to save you from bad lighting and questionable fan hygiene."
Max leaned toward her and muttered, just loud enough for the crowd to hear, "You do realize your skirt's shorter than a tax refund?"
Caroline shot her a look. "You're just jealous I can fly in heels."
"I can fly too," Max replied, "right after three shots of tequila."
Laughter rippled through the crowd as they struck a joint pose—Harley smirking, Supergirl smiling like a pageant queen.
Behind them came Angela White, April, Bobbi, Megan, and Claire, each stunning in their own right. Angela, as Spider-Woman, looked like she swung straight out of the comics. Tight red suit, yellow lenses, and enough sass to make the crowd blush. April, as Wonder Woman, struck a pose with her golden lasso and immediately drew a cheer loud enough to rattle the banners.
Bobbi, dressed as Magik, twirled her massive glowing sword carefully and shouted to a nearby group of fans, "Don't worry, it's foam! I only use the real one for bad dates!" The crowd howled.
Megan Fox, in a flawless Black Cat costume, climbed up on one of the booth platforms and blew a kiss to a teenager holding up a "Marry Me" sign. "Sorry, babe," she said into his phone camera, "I only steal diamonds, not hearts."
Claire, the Dazzler, was a glitter bomb in motion—silver jumpsuit, blue eyeshadow, roller skates, and a portable speaker blasting disco lights around her. "Titan brought disco back, baby!" she shouted, spinning in a perfect twirl that made everyone clap.
A kid dressed as Flash pointed at Max's mallet. "Hey, Harley! Can I hold that?"
Max crouched down. "Only if you promise not to sue when it accidentally bonks your head."
Angela smiled. "She's kidding, sweetie. It's foam. Totally safe."
The kid poked it. It made a squeaky sound.Â
A few minutes later...
April was posing for a photo when a teenage fan nervously said, "You're the best Wonder Woman ever!"
April softened immediately. "Aw, thank you. You want a picture?"
He nodded shyly. She handed him her shield. "Hold that like you're about to save the world." The camera flashed, and the kid walked away grinning ear to ear.
Meanwhile, Bobbi had somehow started a small crowd around her, teaching a group of girls how to pose with swords. "Rule one," she said, "don't smile. Rule two, pretend the photographer owes you money."
Angela was trying to help Megan untangle her whip from a camera tripod. "How did this even happen?"
"I flirted too close to the press section," Megan said, tugging the whip free. "That's on me."
Caroline was giving a small interview to a TV host. "We're thrilled to represent Titan. It's such a creative space."
Max leaned into the frame. "Yeah, creativity, passion, and a paycheck big enough to afford a Persian Cat."
Caroline smiled tightly. "Ignore her. She thinks microphones are therapy."
A fan shouted from the crowd, "Supergirl! Harley! Do a selfie together!"
Max grinned. "Only if she admits I'm the fun one."
Caroline crossed her arms. "Fine. You're fun. But I'm the one people trust with children."
They posed anyway, faces pressed together, flashing peace signs as the crowd cheered.
Then another fan dressed as Batman handed Max a comic. "Can you write 'To my favorite puddin'?'"
Max smirked. "Sure thing, Bats. But if Joker finds out, I'm denying everything."
Caroline leaned toward her, laughing softly. "You're loving this."
Max winked. "What's not to love? I get to play dress up, flirt with nerds, and make sarcasm my brand. It's like my birthday, but with better lighting."
Claire glided over, glitter still catching the light. "We're doing a group photo at the main Titan stage in ten! Let's go, sparkles!"
Angela groaned. "Sparkles? That's your nickname now?"
"Better than Grumpy Glove Girl," Max quipped.
Then there were other models posing as Catwoman, Psylocke, Rogue, Penguin, and other characters. Well, all in all, the cosplay section was a success.
...
[Evening] [Event Hall]
Rows of chairs were packed shoulder to shoulder, and standing fans filled the aisles, craning to catch a glimpse of the main stage.Â
A hush fell as Alex stepped onto the stage. The crowd erupted briefly, then quieted again as he lifted a hand. He wore a tailored dark suit and a white shirt. The spotlight followed him, casting a shadow across the stage.
"Good evening, everyone," Alex began, his voice calm but carrying across the hall. "In less than a year, thanks to your support, both Marvel and DC comics have seen success beyond our wildest dreams. And none of this would have been possible without you, and everyone who believed in what Titan could do." He paused, letting the applause wash over him.
"We've shown you what stories can do on the page, and now it's time to bring them to life in ways you've never seen before. Animated series, live-action movies. As you all know, we started small with the Spider-Man animated movie last year. Now, after taking the reviews and requests into consideration, we're ready to take the next step together."
The crowd cheered again, some jumping in their seats, waving hands, banners, and cosplay props.
"Without wasting any more time on speeches," Alex continued, "let us show what we have in store for you all." He gestured to the side stage, and the lights dimmed, leaving only the glow of the massive screens behind him.
...
The screen brightened as the Teen Titans Go! trailer kicked off. The upbeat theme music pulsed through the hall, making fans sway in their seats. Quick, snappy clips flashed one after another:
Robin somersaulted through the air, landing in front of the Titans Tower with a flourish. "Titans, go!" he shouted, striking his iconic pose.
Cyborg rolled in on his mechanical wheels, punching a robot villain in half. "That's what I'm talking about! Full power, baby!"
Starfire floated above the city, firing energy blasts. "I shall illuminate your darkness!" she declared, the lights in the hall flickering in sync with her beams.
Raven's cloak swirled as she levitated, dark energy sparking at her fingertips. "Focus… and maybe try not to explode the city again." Her dry tone made some fans laugh aloud.
Beast Boy morphed into a tiny, green dragon, who sneezed fire in the middle of a villain's hideout. "Oops… my bad!" The crowd in the hall chuckled at the clip, some shouting, "Beast Boy!"
The screen flashed to a montage of the Titans battling creatively absurd villains—a giant taco monster, a villain who controlled rubber ducks, and a robot shaped like a disco ball.
The release date flashed: April 10th, 2006
...
Next, the trailer transitioned into The Ultimate Spider-Man. The city skyline glowed at sunset. Spider-Man swung through the streets, quipping mid-air.
"Hey, villain! Ever been webbed to a streetlight? No? Well, today's your lucky day!"
He landed on a rooftop, shooting webs at a group of robbers. "I really need to get a vacation… maybe Florida. No supervillains there, right?"
Nick Fury appeared on a nearby balcony, arms crossed. "Kid, stop monologuing and save the day."
"Sorry, Fury! I talk when I swing," Spider-Man called back, somersaulting toward a bank heist in progress.
Quick cuts showed Spider-Man teaming up with other heroes, including a brief glimpse of a tech-savvy female hero hacking a villain's device while Spider-Man distracted them with sarcastic banter.Â
The trailer ended with Spider-Man perched on a skyscraper, city lights reflecting off his mask. "With great power… comes great… okay, you all know the rest." He shot a cheeky wink at the camera as the music swelled.
The release date flashed: July 1st, 2006
...
The screen shifted again, this time showing a minimalist chart labeled Phase 1. Names of upcoming live-action movies scrolled across the timeline:
MCU Phase 1
Spider-Man: The Sinister Five
Iron Man
Blade
X-Men: Origins
Fantastic Four
There were no trailers yet, just the names, but that was enough to make the crowd erupt. Murmurs of excitement rippled through the hall as fans whispered to each other. Some were already imagining how their favorite heroes would leap from the page into real life.
Alex stood at the side stage, smiling quietly as he watched the reactions.
"Phase one," he murmured to himself, "and we're just getting started."
----
[POWERSTONES AND REVIEWS PLS]
Support link: www.patr eon.com/UnknownMaster
[7 advance chs] [All chs available for all tiers] [No double billing.]
---