Chapter 290: Progressive October III: To the Past and Present

Anyways, with all that has happened... the future of Back to the Future has long been set. Still, it was gratifying to note how things might advance from there.

The domestic and overseas performance of the film would ultimately complete the global pay-off that it would have.

Also, Creed Costumes has been steadily raking some returns for those stores that sold it.

As much as the focus of Progressive October may be 'Back to the Future' and costumes... there's actually something from the Creed Comics selection this time.

Comic books had pretty much been on Creed Entertainment's backburner ever since the whole slew of accusations.

It wasn't exactly stale per se.

After all, Creed Comics' existing comic book titles have been steady with the issue releases of its existing titles.

However, the general perception of the comic book industry is that Creed Comics has slowed down, stalled, or might as well be going downhill with the way things are.

The toys, shirts, merchandise, and the upcoming tv show announcement is an advancement and a progression, however, it is quite an odd development in the eyes of comic bookers.

With how Creed Comics currently is, some comic book purists have a pretty grim view of the company. In their opinion, things are in a not-so-good direction if they continue as it is. Purists are purists, after all.

Competing comic book publishers saw this as a positive sign but it felt a bit depressing to the fans of that Creed brand that roused the comic book market with freshness and vitality.

As dim as that was, something much-need progress did come out of this October to rile up that Creed Comics enthusiasm some more. Mind you this was "Comics" and not all the other stuff that Creed is progressing into.

Within people's expectations, a new Predator story has come up in full Volume Book form.

However, it is still unexpected in a way.

For one... the comic book isn't exactly titled Predator but Prey.

Of course, that was just one thing as there were still so much more ways that this new story has up-ended expectations.

Horror stories are meant to surprise and bait readers that way but Prey felt like something else.

Set in the Comanche Nation 300 years or so ago...

"Prey" is the story of a young woman, Naru, a fierce and highly skilled warrior.

She has been raised in the shadow of some of the most legendary hunters who roam the Great Plains, so when danger threatens her camp, she sets out to protect her people.

The prey she stalks, and ultimately confronts, turns out to be a highly evolved alien predator with a technically advanced arsenal, resulting in a vicious and terrifying showdown between the two adversaries.

That was just the teasing synopsis in itself and the full content of the Volume Book was packed with so much more.

Predator wasn't going for the militaristic advancement and alien invasion epic that they'd thought it was.

It had actually taken a step back into the past. No readers were complaining though... as a primitive-esque premise against the horrific-ly advanced Predator is a thrilling epic in itself.

Not a lot were receptive to an "Injun" slash "Indian" slash "Native American" focused story. A female-led one is good but there are just people that have a biased outlook on certain technicalities.

In any case, the text in the text bubbles was English and the Comanche-ic sub-text was integrated quite neatly.

The story still worked as it is... with a lot of people even enlightened about how this certain Comanche tribe does things.

Hunting beasts with the tools they have is one thing. It was even more different when they looked regal and admirable when going against the forces of nature.

Spears and axes against lions.

A simplistic bow and arrow against the mighty birds in the high sky.

Then there's that axe-rope tool that proved versatile and effective.

There's that man's best friend tagging along for the foraging and tracking frey as well.

Everything in this tribe has been set to really embody what the prime hunters of centuries ago are capable of.

They were hunters, alright. A representation of what peak predators of the human food chain are about.

Unfortunately, something arrived via a "thunderbird" and totally disturbed everything they knew.

Their hunting pack became preyed upon and it's going to take their all to be able to vanquish something that could very well be an embodiment of an abnormal force of nature.

The members of this tribe were no military elites but this "Prey" story could not be anything less than the first three Predator installments.

Readers and comic book fans were hooked... and they finally have a fourth green-covered book to add to their Predator shelf.

Of course, the new Predator with its ebony mask was a novelty addition. Which made the new Predator toy and that bony Predator mask a must-have this Halloween season.

Granted, debates were already being made on who among the two Predators was better than the other, but it all boils down to semantics. These people just admired these ferocious Predators and what they mysteriously represent.

In a way, the Predator storyline never really progressed. If anything, it backtracked to the year 1719.

But that made the lore all the more expansive and the potential of the character to be more vast.

The story can be told in the age of dinosaurs. The story had even been set in the distant future. RoboCop versus Predator, the crossover special, is a testament to that.

It is also possible to set it in the present time... and that possibility made this Halloween season all the more interesting.

One can never know which trick-or-treating bloke was being terrorized by a true Predator at the peak of the trick-or-treating season.

Of course, that was quite the thought, and weren't there Predator masks being sold? If they use their resources wisely, then they might make this season even more fun.

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Alexander just left his audience to do what they want with it. Hopefully, they wouldn't go overboard and over the line.

His attention was much more on the story itself since this Comanche-based 'hunt or be hunted' flick was something that he didn't really expect from himself.

He heard rumors that Hollyweird was going to make Predator inclusive and woke. They always do so with established IPs.

He hadn't really seen any semblance of a show, movie, or even trailer about that. However, something just clicked in his enhanced mind and the Prey inspiration just came to him.

Alexander wants to say that this "Prey" was his 'true' original derivative from a plundered franchise... but something about his unexplored Mind Mansion tells him that it was so much more than that.

Well, like how he always treats his Mind Mansion and Chaos Monster affairs, he designated it at the bottom of his priorities. Then deal with it when things become more understandable and relevant again.

Of course, aside from those business-centered matters... there is also a home-centered matter that should be of note this month as well. There was the future, then the past, and then something that has to do with the a present.

Anyways, just 2 days after the mall-inaugurated Back to the Future day... the 28th did come.

'October 28, 1985' happened to be Miss Galina's 35th birthday, and Alexander had to show appreciation to the lady that's mostly been in charge of looking out for him.

Old Sullivan from far away had already sent his gifts and Alexander had to have his own- a present in a way.

At least an introverted person like him still knows some gift-giving decorum and had already prepared his own.

Other factors seem to have favored him as well since it was a schooling Monday and Miss Galina wasn't that interested in blown-out house parties.

Milla and him just had to prepare a cake and sing the birthday lady a happy birthday song.

Gifts were given and unwrapped. Thank yous and congratulations were given and that was it.

The celebratory hassle was out of the equation after that. A scenario that Alexander liked and the type of celebration that he wants.

Hopefully, celebrations would always be as uncomplicated as he hopes them to be.

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When Alexander looked back on this month... it was full of advancements and improvements in a way.

Creed Costumes has improved from last year. Back to the Future has been up to a global scale.

Predator has even advanced its story possibilities. Prey may have backtracked into the past, but it was progressive if you looked at it differently.

There's also Miss Galina that grew her age with inevitability.

Progressive October really fit the entire month quite well.

That's not to say that prior months weren't progressing anything. They were. However, Alexander just wanted something to call this month to go with the monthly theme-ing he's been doing.

Since it's an October filled with advancement and progress... Progressive October it was.