DC Heroes in Marvel

Anton walked out of the New York airport, and it was his nominal assistant, Betty, who came to pick him up.

"What's the situation with DC recently?" Anton asked calmly as he settled into the car.

Betty glanced at her notes. "The Flash TV series has just aired its fourth episode. It's averaging a 1.1 rating, ranking sixth in its time slot. While it's not as high-profile as the major shows, it still far exceeds the network's renewal standards. The audience reception has been encouraging: only 20% negative reviews, 14% neutral, and the rest positive."

She added, "Especially Wonder Woman—the Easter egg in the first episode has been the biggest talking point for fans. Everyone's looking forward to your next project."

This result wasn't spectacular, but it was respectable—right on par with Anton's expectations.

The first season of the Flash in a previous timeline had debuted with a record-breaking 1.9 rating on the CW network, but its viewership had eventually stabilized around the low 1s, even dipping below 1 at times. At its peak, it never exceeded a 2.

Judging from the steady ratings now in the early 1s, more than 2 million people were watching the show daily in the United States. 

This aligned with the Flash fan-value data displayed on Anton's system panel. Since the series premiered, the Flash's fan base had grown from 3 million to 8 million in just half a month.

By the time the Flash concluded its run, Anton estimated the fan base could reach around 15 million. 

With the show following a 12-episode-per-season cycle, the three-month airing period was comparable to the production cycle of one of his movies, making it a solid investment.

Additionally, Wonder Woman's cameo in the first episode, coupled with promotional efforts, had significantly boosted her popularity. Her fan value had climbed to 5.5 million. 

Once the Wonder Woman movie was finalized, the screenwriters planned a special crossover episode in the Flash. Instead of a brief cameo, Wonder Woman would team up with the Flash to defeat an enemy—a perfect prelude to the movie.

Anton projected that this strategic move, combined with targeted marketing, would push Wonder Woman's fan base to 10 million by the time the film released.

"The movie is almost done," Anton said. "Have Jim prepare some materials and start formal promotional work."

"Understood," Betty replied with a nod.

"Next, take me to Wayne Enterprises," Anton instructed, closing his eyes to rest for a while.

The drive was quick.

When they arrived at the relocated Wayne Enterprises building, Anton met the old man he hadn't seen in a while.

Betty lingered at the office door, leaving them to their reunion.

Anton stepped into the spacious, brightly lit office and found Jonah Jameson seated behind the desk. 

The older man looked as sharp as ever, dressed in a tailored suit and puffing on a cigar. He sat in the boss's chair with an air of authority, exuding confidence that bordered on villainous swagger.

"Anton! How's the movie coming along?" Jameson grinned broadly, showing no sign of surprise at his grandson's arrival.

"We're set to make a fortune!"

"Here's the same."

Jameson spread his arms wide, his voice booming with pride. "Ours is the only solution of its kind in the world. No need for advertisements—the perfectly cured patients are the best marketing we could ask for!"

Anton shrugged. "Don't forget, this is just the beginning."

"I've already negotiated with Vice President Rodriguez. When the time is right, he'll introduce us to the military. Plus, with Secretary of Defense John Keller as a guarantor, we'll soon secure a large number of military contracts and establish ourselves as the new arms giant."

The old man's tone was brimming with confidence as he looked at Anton. "The biggest issue now is the advanced arms technology you promised me."

"Technology isn't the problem," Anton replied. "The issue is that we can't focus solely on military business. There are vast untapped markets waiting for us, like the Middle East or certain African countries."

"Don't worry," the old man said calmly, nodding. "Those have already been addressed. I've even reached out to the Continental Hotel. As Batman's allies, they're willing to lend their support to his cause."

Anton froze, staring at Jonah Jameson in astonishment. He hadn't expected the old man to go behind his back and establish contact with the Continental Hotel—or, more shockingly, the High Table.

More surprising still was the old man's awareness of the alliance between the High Table and Batman.

"High Table…" Anton began, but before he could continue, the old man cut him off.

"Anton, I know what I'm doing," Jameson said firmly. After a pause, he added, "Don't forget—when you first told me you were Batman, the Continental Hotel was the first to approach us. Now that we've made peace, do I need to spell out the possibilities?"

"Fine. I'll leave the company to you," Anton said, letting the matter drop.

The old man's initiative had taken him by surprise, but it reminded him of something Norman Osborne had once let slip: Jonah Jameson wasn't as straightforward as he seemed. 

Behind that confident exterior lay a cunning and resourceful mind.

Maybe Jameson had a sense of justice in his heart, but in a world like this, doing what aligned with one's conscience was the greatest justice one could achieve. After all, absolute idealists rarely thrived.

By aligning Wayne Enterprises with the High Table and expanding into the underground world, the old man had effectively filled the void left by Batman in those circles. 

Wayne Enterprises was well on its way to becoming a true global powerhouse.

After a moment's thought, Anton pulled a USB drive from his pocket and handed it to Jameson.

"This contains data on extraterrestrial energy weapons. It should be enough to deal with the military and the High Table."

He added, "I wasn't planning to hand this over so soon, but the company's development has exceeded my expectations. Plus, I won't be focusing on Wayne Enterprises in the future. The company is yours to manage now."

"Don't worry about it," the old man said with a nod and a smile, pocketing the USB drive. "I heard there's been a lot of buzz at the Stark Expo. Hammer plans to showcase their latest weapons, Osborne is flexing their muscles, and Tony Stark's new armor is making waves. It's going to be quite the show."

Anton raised an eyebrow, hearing the implication. "You're not planning to watch the fireworks?"

The old man scoffed. "I'm not interested in their petty competition. Besides, this is a critical period for Wayne Enterprises. Their infighting only benefits us. With this USB drive, I'll meet a few key players tomorrow and accelerate Wayne's entry into the arms industry. We'll aim to capture the market Stark Industries left behind when they exited the weapons business."

"Got it," Anton said, waving his hand. "I'm off."

"Good. Now get out," Jameson replied, leaning back in his chair with a grin.

….

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