Chapter 178: United Front against Creed
As the public attack on Creed ensued, DC had its meeting and devious editor was there to regain his status with apprehension. "Are we sure about really going through with this, sirs?"
"The articles are published for everyone to see and the lawsuit process is already underway." A DC departmental director said with hostility. "If we weren't so sure, then those wouldn't have happened?"
"Yes, of course." Devious editor nodded but was feeling some kind of collective in this room that seems to be against him.
However, all was not clear yet and he still had a chance to get in everyone's good graces. "It's just that our advertising funds have already been shot. Wouldn't this lawsuit and publicity move be quite the damage to our resources?"
An executive fumed. "Our resources wouldn't have been low if it wasn't for your supposedly great schemes! Why are you hesitant now?"
"I hope you know that we choose to go through with it to see through all the mess you've dug for us."
"It isn't a mess, sir!" Devious clapped back. "Don't we still have an Alan Moore story up and coming? I'm sure that would knock Watchmen out of the park!"
"Forget that Alan Moore guy. He hasn't pulled through yet and we've already moved forward." The executive expounded. "It isn't just us that initiated this Creed mess after all. There are also our other peers inside and outside the industry trying to put Creed Comics and its related companies down."
As the talks ensued, Mr. Devious was quite panicked at how things were already headed. In haste, he added. "If Alan Moore is moot now, how about I recommend another contender to go against Alexander Creed?"
An executive, fed up with this editor, rubbed his brows. He was irritated and just wanted to get on with things already but he also wanted to know the man's last-ditch effort. "Go on then, we're listening?"
Devious editor found his chance. "Alan Moore is out of the picture, why don't we introduce someone like Frank Miller? He isn't quite well-known but we could still give him momentum, just like how we did with Moore."
"Then...?" The executive asked in a hardened tone.
"What do you mean by then, sir?" Devious was confused.
"Then, what will we do if this Mark Millar doesn't pull through like the last one?" The executive clarified but also chose to answer for the devious editor. "You would probably suggest another writer or whatever so-called "talent" you have under you. Then, DC would be stuck with another Moore mess to clean up."
"You should just change your editor job to some fight coordinator from now." Another editor chimed in. "I could recommend you to someone I know in the boxing industry."
"Is that a sign, sir?" Devious editor asked with a twisted expression. The direction where things were headed seems to have been set from the start.
"Unfortunately for you, it is!" The executive didn't bother giving his condolence. "If you don't have a box to carry your stuff out, then use the ones from all the unsold comic prints that you've spearheaded."
Devious was devious no more at this point as his scheming facial expression turned blank. Being fired was just devastating for anybody that didn't want it.
Sighing editor could only sigh at his rival's fate, maybe it was also a sigh for himself.
After all, just as how these executives cursed devious editor and moved on to their corporate planning with cold-heartedness, they could do the same to him as well.
The devious editor was a cautionary tale and a bad example to follow. Sighing editor and his comic-making peers under the DC banner could only keep that in mind.
In any case, the DC versus Creed lawsuit plans ensued while the previous scheming spearhead was sacked.
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Just as DC Comics had its fair share of upheavals and operational discussions, Marvel Comics had its own as well.
"Are we sure about this, Mr. Shooter?" A representative of Cadence Industries asked. "The parent company has its own troubles as of recent years and our support may not be too big. I hope your Creed vendetta is worth it?"
"There's no doubt about it?" Jim Shooter was quite sure of this decision.
"I heard Mr. Lee and his cohorts advised you from doing such a forced Daredevil infringement claim." The Cadence representative pressed on. "Why did you have to push on?"
"Creed Comics is quite the trouble that hovers over us and would be trouble for your parent company investment if it continues to grow." Jim Shooter explained his worries. He was the Marvel chief editor and would do whatever he can to make Marvel strong again.
Shooter's points weren't too detailed but it was succinct enough for them to understand. The Cadence representative could only advise at this point. "Then, I hope that this endeavor is quite effective."
"Don't worry." Shooter appeased. "As you've already noted from the news articles. Marvel isn't alone as DC and a few other publishers are somehow coordinated with this tactic. Even a toy company like Hasbro is with us."
There was no denying that. With Shooter representing his Marvel cohorts, it can be seen that they were already on a majority's consensus.
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Of course, as the comic industry's Big Two had their turn, Hasbro from the toy field had their own meeting as well.
"Are we the only ones from the toymaking camp that's trying to take down the Creed companies?" CEO Hassenfeld was a bit discomfited by that. "What about Mattel and the others?"
"They aren't too motivated as us, sir." A company director pitched in. "Mattel specifically hadn't moved yet as Shinri and Hotaru toys haven't been made by Creed Toys yet."
"What sort of reasoning is that?" Hassenfeld could only shake his head. "Their wait-and-see strategy would probably be outdated once Creed Comics gain even more steam in its field. The chances of it gaining strength once it crosses over to our toy industry are guaranteed and such a big competitor wouldn't be so easy to kick out."
Hasbro and Takara's lawsuit to a comic book and toyline like The Cybertronian Chronicles was not alarmist in their opinion at all.
Creed Toys is troublesome already and they just want to take it down early before everything becomes irreversible.
In any case, a toy giant like Hasbro had already steadied their decision to trouble Creed Comics in this combined assault.
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As big corporations planned and fortified their decisions, the same could be said for the little players as well.
The nitpickable screenwriters were just looking for an extra buck and gain some bits of recognition from attacking Alexander Creed. However, the same could not be said for Mirage Studios!
It was an early conviction for them. Ever since Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles became a phenomenal hit and keeps expanding, their grudge has been growing as well.
They could have done this a year ago but how could two nerds working in a basement have some resources to take down a rapidly growing private company like Creed Comics.
Fortunately, a helping hand came from an unexpected but opportune time when Creed seems vulnerable.
"Can you believe it, Peter?" Kevin Eastman asked for the nth time. "We finally have someone who echoes our vendetta to go against the hateful Alexander Creed. Ninja Turtles should have been ours and it's finally time for us to take it back."
"I'm as happy as you, Kevin." Peter Laird patted his excited friend to calm him down. "However, don't we seem like pawns with all the lawyers and money being taken care of by those big publishers."
"I don't care about that." Kevin didn't mind. "At least, we can fight back now and make up for all the silence we've had to put up with. Our Samurai Pizza Kats wasn't cutting it for us."
Peter understood his partner's feelings quite well. He was also quite unbalanced whenever he compared their basement and shoddy publishing livelihood while the "TMNT-stealer" is earning millions from quality prints, Volume Book binding, and toy deals.
Kevin and Peter affirmed themselves. Even though they were used as an attacking pawn by bigger corporations that wanted to take down Creed Comics, they'll gladly ride that wave to relieve their long-running grievances.
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Thus, the united front to mess with everything Creed was formed from this. With different thoughts but one goal, there was a bit of telling on what they can achieve.