149

It was a rare, beautiful day in Gotham.

Diana stood proudly outside the newspaper office, cradling the freshly printed weekly cartoon newspaper in her arms. Though the stack was light to her, its height made a significant visual impact.

Several days had passed since the incident with the Grave Mafia. Since then, Peter and Diana had commandeered Grave's printing shop, along with a group of willing volunteers and ample resources. Peter even personally upgraded the factory equipment with advanced technology from beyond their time, making production more efficient.

The factory workers, mostly uneducated, marveled at the new equipment, unaware of its origin but appreciating its ease of use. The factory remained under the Grave family's name, ensuring it would take some time for outsiders to discover the changes.

With the printing house, newspaper office, and master copy all in order, the final piece of the puzzle was the sales channel. Apart from established vendors, newspapers in this era were distributed by newsboys—often impoverished children who needed to work to support their families.

When Peter suggested recruiting these children, Diana eagerly complied. She quickly spread the word among nearby neighborhoods, recruiting a group of youngsters aged eight to fourteen.

At the newspaper office, Diana lined up the newsboys and distributed bundles of newspapers based on their age groups. She motivated them, saying, "Kids, the next steps are up to you. For every copy sold, you'll get an extra one."

Unlike unscrupulous businessmen who exploited child labor for meager wages, Diana offered them several times the usual earnings for selling each copy. In a city where a newsboy might typically earn a pittance, this offer was met with excitement and promises from the children to sell out every issue of "Marvel Weekly."

Diana was touched by their enthusiasm and encouraged them warmly, "Alright, work hard! Sell our Marvel Weekly!"

Yes, Peter had named the new newspaper "Marvel Weekly," even changing the signboard of the newspaper office to "Marvel News Agency 2." It was a deliberate homage.

Eager to see what they were selling, the newsboys eagerly peeked into the first issue. The sight of the advanced artwork and storytelling techniques amazed them—nothing like the simple comic strips of their time. They were drawn into the stories of characters like Iron Man, captivated by his adventures and technological prowess.

"He's Tony Stark? A rich guy in the 21st century? What a life!" exclaimed one boy.

"And Mark 1 looks so cool! Building an armor in a cave with scrap metal!" chimed another.

"Can comics really look like this? This artist is a genius!" added a third.

"I want to see the next issue right now! Hurry up!"

The debut issue of Marvel Weekly was an instant success, receiving rave reviews and near-perfect ratings.

Inside the Marvel News Agency, the atmosphere contrasted sharply with the buzz outside. Diana sat upright, her demeanor respectful and obedient as she faced Black Superman.

Peter, amused by the scene, teased Diana, "What's happened to our Amazon Duel Champion?"

Unperturbed by Peter's jests, Diana graciously replied, "Thank you for agreeing to increase the children's wages."

They had discussed this move beforehand; Peter had approved, understanding the impact on their lives. He remarked, "For people like us, money means little. But this was your decision."

While Peter wouldn't exploit children, he also wouldn't have offered such generous terms himself.

Diana nodded, her thoughts clear, "During this time, I've learned that my own strength has limits. Money can extend that influence to help more people."

Her approach differed from Gwen's (Spider-Woman), who took a more direct, frontline approach to helping others. Diana preferred to leverage society's resources for long-term impact, understanding the limits of her individual powers.

She continued, "Historically, it's hard to say which method is better. But over time, I hope to find out."

The first day's newspapers sold out swiftly, signaling a promising start. The printing factory was gearing up for more orders, and the future looked bright for Marvel Weekly, despite its initial niche appeal.

While Peter adhered to a weekly update schedule for the comics, he kept busy with other tasks. From teaching Diana about coffee-making to establishing themselves in Gotham, he ensured their presence grew steadily.

In an era of slow information dissemination, legends spread gradually. Even if Bateman fought tirelessly for justice, his fame would take time to spread far and wide. But for now, their rhythm was familiar and steady.

...