Three-Year-Olds Read Comics

It was noon, and the blazing sun hanging high in the sky scorched the earth like a fireball.

Inside a newsstand by Brooklyn Street in New York City.

A somewhat overly plump young white man appeared to have just returned from lunch.

After closing the door, he placed a stack of freshly delivered newspapers from the latest issue of the Daily Bugle in the most conspicuous spot in the stand.

"They may have delivered them late, but they sell well."

Even such a simple task left him drenched in sweat.

He casually wiped his face with his arm.

Then the young man impatiently threw his heavy bulk into a chair.

As if suddenly remembering something, he laboriously turned sideways and slowly pulled a pack of cheap cigarettes from the side pocket of his big shorts.

Puff.

Without the slightest concern that this might get him burned alive, he lit a cigarette.

"Whew… That feels good!"

Half-closing his eyes, he slowly exhaled a smoke ring. At that moment, he seemed happier than ever.

"Young man, please get me a newspaper. Thank you."

An elderly man with graying hair and a hunched back had appeared outside the newsstand at some point.

"There, they’re all over there. Pick one yourself. Five cents each, and remember to pay."

Half-squinting, he raised a finger toward the newspapers and blew out another smoke ring, filling the entire stand with cheap secondhand smoke.

The old man laboriously straightened up, took a copy of the Daily Bugle, and slowly placed a five-cent coin on the table.

"Young people these days…" With a sigh, the old man sat on a chair by the roadside and began reading the newspaper in his hands.

"Superman in New York? Heh, this world is truly interesting…"

As he read, a rather inscrutable smile appeared on the old man’s face.

Whoosh!

A breeze swept through the sweltering air, bringing an incomparably refreshing coolness.

"Give me a newspaper, please."

"There, take one yourself. Remember to pay five cents after you do."

It was still the same routine.

But the young man, who was half-squinting as he enjoyed the satisfying rush of nicotine from his cigarette, suddenly felt an icy breath brush across his face.

Even in the scorching midday heat, frost instantly formed on his unshaven stubble.

The bone-chilling cold made him shudder, and he hurriedly opened his eyes.

The next moment, the cigarette frozen out between his lips fell to the ground.

He sprang to his feet like Tom with his tail on fire, the flesh on his body jiggling.

"Hehe, hello, Mr. Superman. Here’s the newspaper you wanted."

"Mr. Superman, there’s no need to pay. Consider it a gift from me."

"Young man, remember to strive for perfection in everything you do!"

The old man by the road had risen at some point, leaving behind only those words and his hunched silhouette.

Whoosh!

Watching enviously as the figure vanished into the sky in an instant, the young man wiped away cold sweat that did not exist from his forehead.

Then he stared wordlessly at the five-cent coin deeply embedded in the stainless-steel tabletop.

"The greatest superhero in human history—Superman—has appeared in New York City. This is a blessing for New York and for all humanity!"

Inside Obadiah Stane’s office at the Stark Industries office building.

"The Daily Bugle’s editors are getting better and better at writing eye-catching headlines."

He casually tossed the Daily Bugle, having just read the headline, onto his desk.

Obadiah Stane walked over to his desk.

He then opened a heavily encrypted file on his personal computer.

"Jericho Missile. Hmph, Tony Stark, you truly are a genius worthy of standing alongside your father."

"Unfortunately, you’re just as stubborn and inflexible as he was."

He casually sent this file containing Stark Industries’ highest-level classified information—only a weapon introduction—along with a letter he had drafted long ago, to an unknown IP address.

Obadiah Stane shut down the computer and walked to the window. From his lofty position, he could take in nearly all of New York City.

"Superman? Tony Stark? Strength? A genius mind?"

"Heh heh, in the end, this world is ruled by capital. Whoever has enough money can truly dominate this world!"

As if remembering something, Obadiah turned and returned to his desk, picking up the telephone.

"Hello, General Ross…"

"That’s right. On behalf of Stark Industries, I accept your deal regarding the purchase of special weapons."

"Don’t hang up just yet. I can also offer your military another new deal…"

"Haha, then, happy cooperation!"

After hanging up, a sinister smile flashed across Obadiah’s face.

The next moment, his smile instantly became warm and amiable as he looked toward the blue-eyed blonde beauty at the office door, who was about to knock.

"Come in, Ms. Potts. Your timing is perfect. We’ve just received two major orders from the military, worth a full five billion dollars. I hope you can notify Tony as soon as possible."

"Mr. Stan, with orders like these, will Stark Industries be able to…"

As the president’s secretary, Pepper Potts had a nagging feeling that, after briefly looking over the orders they had accepted, Stark Industries might not be able to fulfill them.

"Don’t worry, Ms. Potts. Don’t you know Tony? He’s the most brilliant weapons engineer humanity has today. No difficulty can stump him."

"All right, Mr. Stan. I’ll pass this along to Mr. Stark."

As a secretary, Pepper’s authority was limited. Being able to raise her doubts was already the most she could do.

That night, inside a Luxury Villa on Malibu Beach in distant Los Angeles.

Tony Stark had just returned to the villa from some banquet with two beautiful blondes, finally ending his life of nonstop bedroom warfare.

Unable to sleep, he removed his hand from a soft, alluring body, left the bedroom filled with strange odors, and headed to the villa’s underground laboratory.

"Hey, J.A.R.V.I.S., see what new projects we’ve got to work on lately."

Holding a glass of expensive 1992 vintage wine, Tony called out to the air.

"Sir, two new orders have just been received from your company. There is some information you need to review."

Along with the magnetic voice, a virtual projection instantly appeared on the laboratory table before Tony.

"Hmm, this is…"

Tony’s expression remained casual as he looked at the two files on the visual desktop.

He casually tossed the valuable wine in his hand into the trash, then used his finger to open one of the files in midair.

"Recreating the Super Soldier Serum Experiment? Gamma Radiation Mutation? Green Giant…"

As Tony looked at the document before him, his expression grew increasingly serious.

"Those idiots in the military only know how to cause trouble."

After briefly reviewing the information, Tony felt that this order was somewhat challenging, then opened the second order.

"Are you kidding me? How could Superman possibly exist in this world!"

The instant he opened the second order, Tony was filled with doubts about its authenticity.

"Sir, these are today’s latest media reports on Superman, as well as the original footage from the press conference and numerous photos online allegedly showing Superman flying, taken by passersby."

As soon as J.A.R.V.I.S. finished speaking, numerous videos and blurry photos concerning Superman appeared in the virtual projection before him.

"Did Superman really jump out of a comic book?"

Tony still could not believe it.

"Mr. Stark, would you like to read the comics about Superman? They contain detailed introductions to the character Superman and may help you complete the order."

"Don’t be ridiculous. Only three-year-old children read comics."

Tony seemed deeply disdainful of people who read comics.

"Warning, there is…"

J.A.R.V.I.S.’s warning had only just begun when Tony vanished from the basement.

"…"

Even J.A.R.V.I.S., the most powerful Artificial Intelligence, froze for several seconds.

"Activating emergency protocol. Contacting Ms. Pepper Potts…"