Chapter 1: An Ordinary Comicon?
October 9th 2016
The Javitz Center is bursting with energy. The line in the morning went up and down 34th street. It's the last day of this year's New York Comic Con. People dressed as their favorite characters from every conceivable fandom parade around to get comic books signed, pictures taken, attend artist/writer's panels, compare costumes, purchase merchandise and collectibles, as well as hang out and connect with fellow fans of the same work. It's a magical time.
However, this NYCC is a bit different than usual. People dressed as Spider-Man, Thor, Black Widow, and many other beloved Marvel characters can be seen with mixed emotions on their faces, excited, yet also despondent. Looking at them you'd think that someone just told them that their favorite grandmother was about to die but was also leaving them with her entire fortune after she passed away. If asked about it, many would agree with that sentiment, especially those who live in this city that never sleeps.
The reason for this occurred two days ago. It was announced online that this would be a beloved icon's last convention in his birth city of New York. The man who has given all Marvel fans so much of his time and energy, as well as being a co-creator of so many of the more well known characters in the Marvel Universe. Stan Lee is having his last panel at this location today, this afternoon, in-fact. Right now though, the man every comic book fan adores can be seen chatting and signing autographs from behind a white plastic table with the upcoming Marvel Studios movie poster "Spider-Man: Homecoming" blown up behind him.
One New Yorker can be seen in line to get the man's signature, shuffling in place nervously but gingerly holding a limited edition copy of Fantastic Four #72. His deep green eyes looking over the others ahead of him in order to see how long it'll be until it's his turn. A cough from behind startles him. He turns around to see who wants his attention.
"Hey tall guy, what's got you so impatient? Not like you can make this line move any faster."
Embarrassed, the man scratches the back of his dark brown head of hair as he looks down to acknowledge the older gentleman. He must be around five ten? Five nine? Maybe 70 or 80 years old. And dressed as Thanos, The Mad Titan, of all people, complete with a replica of the infinity gauntlet and purple makeup. It's kind of a odd choice of character for an elderly person to dress as. While keeping up with the rest of the line, the brown haired man responds.
"S-sorry, it's just, I've always wanted to meet him again since the first NYCC I went to and I don't want to miss him. I mean, it's his last one, y'know?"
'Thanos' shows a knowing smile.
"I get it, believe me, but doin' what your doin' ain't gonna help at all. By the way, been meanin' to ask you... who are you cosplaying as?" 'Thanos' asks, gesturing to the man's attire. "You can't be dressed as Peter Parker, you're a bit too bulky for it... Clark Kent? That'd fit, but you don't have the glasses on..."
"Huh?" The man looks down at his plaid button down shirt, white undershirt, and jeans. "Oh! No, sorry, I actually couldn't really afford to make a costume this year. So, I'm just me, unfortunately."
"Ah," 'Thanos' nods. "No worries young man, we've all been there. By the way, name's Jack. And you are?" Jack extends his non-gloved hand out for a handshake.
Taking Jack's hand with the one not holding his most prized comic, the man replies, "Jonathan Stevens, call me Jon, nice to meet you. Nice Thanos costume, by the way."
Jack grins, "Thanks, made it myself. Took a while to get it right, though people keep telling me I'm too old for this stuff. If I had a build like you and maybe twenty or so years younger I'd probably be able to pull it off better."
Now it was Jon's turn to smile, "Nonsense, just say you're a Thanos where Dr. Strange used the Time Stone to accelerate your age and you're good to go!"
Jack showed a bemused expression and chuckled as the both of them kept walking forward in line. "Yea, that'd work, if I didn't have the Time Stone already in the Infinity Gauntlet that is."
"Ah, I guess you're right. Then how about a Thanos that's an extra few thousand years old?"
"Again, Infinity Gauntlet. With the stones, Thanos wouldn't need to age like he normally would. Plus, his race's longevity doesn't work like most others, he'd look the same clear up until the day he died."
"Hmm, then say you're a Watcher who is a fan of the Titan?"
"Nope, if there were a Watcher that was a fan of Thanos he'd have his title revoked. Though they're supposed to be neutral, they favor good over evil. The only outlier in the Watchers is that simpleton that watches Deadpool exclusively. And the other Watchers barely tolerate him because Wade Wilson is usually doing good."
Jon and Jack both continue chatting about comics, how to resolve Jack's cosplay identity, and their favorite characters for a while. All of a sudden a trio of cosplayers dressed as Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, and Power Girl walk by, distracting Jon for a few seconds while Jack gives the young man a smirk. Though, after a bit it becomes more annoying than funny. So Jack snaps him back to reality.
"Hey now, they're beautiful alright, but there's no need to stare that much. What would your girlfriend think?"
Startled, Jon hastily waves his hand in front of his face. "Eh!? No, no no. I d-don't have a girlfriend. At least, not anymore."
Jack's eyes widen slightly in surprise . "Really? Big guy like you doesn't have a girlfriend? Well, I'm sorry to hear that, what happened?"
"Ah, w-well... after I got out after my last tour I found out she left me, so I moved back home to Queens for a while." Jon shows a self deprecating smile. "She said she couldn't stand me being away all the time and that I wasn't able to give her what she needs. She's married now with a kid on the way..."
"Ah jeez, I'm sorry, shouldn't have brought it up. Wait a minute. Got out? Last tour? You a vet?"
"Hmm, I wouldn't really classify myself as a veteran. It's not like I was in the full 20. But I did a few tours with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion in Afghanistan. Some of my friends that served with me would say that anyone who deployed and saw the desert is a vet, but personally, I think the guys who stayed in and continued their service after being in that hell are the real veterans. But anyway, after that, well, like I said I got out and came back home."
"So, what're you doing now?"
"Not a whole lot. Living by myself and going to school again to get a degree, G.I. Bill won't use itself, you know? But mostly I'm just reading comics and watching tv and movies."
"Hey, no shame in that. And thank you for your service."
Smiling, Jon appreciated the elderly gentleman's sentiments. Prior Service men and women may not get treated as badly as they used to after Vietnam, but in a city like New York it's a bit rarer to find someone who is grateful for the sacrifices that people like Jon have made in service to the country. So, Jack saying that meant a lot.
The odd duo made small talk for a while. Soon it was almost time for Jon's turn in line. However, before he could go up to his idol he got stopped by Jack.
"Wait a bit, been meaning to ask you. What's so important about that Fantastic Four comic you have? You seem to treasure it. But from what we've been talking about it doesn't seem like you particularly care for the FF all that much." Jack asks, looking at the comic held carefully in Jon's hand.
"Oh, this?" Jon brings the 72nd issue up. "Yea, I don't care much about the FF. Susan Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm are one thing, but Reed Richards... I don't like much, and those movies are cringe worthy. This issue is special though."
"Oh?" Jack quirks up an eyebrow. "And why's that?"
Jon gets an excited look on his face. "Because, this is one of the few times we meet the One-Above-All. As the Creator you don't hear about him much and the focus is more on Earth and it's protectors. I figured there must be more to him, so I wanted to ask Mr. Lee about him while also asking him to sign the page where the FF meets him. I know this incarnation of the character is more an homage to Jack Kirby, but it still seems appropriate, you know?"
Jack frowns a bit. "What more to the character do you need? He's omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. Kind of hard to really put a finger on that sort of being don't you think? Even worse to try and have a story surrounding him, or her."
"Well, uh, it's just there isn't a character in the Marvel Universe that doesn't have a story and I wish I could experience his. Heck, a being like that inside the Marvel Universe? I wish I could BE the One-Above-All." Jon looks back at the line, "Ah, sorry, Jack, I need to go, it's my turn!"
As Jon scampers off giddily, Jack laughs at his young friend's antics. "Indeed, it just might be."
At this his eyes seem to glow for a split second before being replaced by his normal look. After a few minutes, he walks toward Jon, who's standing in front of Jack's best friend and colleague.
Jack places his gloved hand on Jon's shoulder as he gets his comic back from Stan, and before he can ask his question says, "Stan, this one."
Jon looks at his new costumed friend curiously. 'Does Jack know Mr. Lee?'
Stan Lee looks up surprised. He takes his trademark aviator sunglasses off and points them at Jon. "You sure Jack?" Jack nods. Stan shrugs, "Alright, but you have to explain it to him." Stan Lee takes out a pencil from his pocket, a worn out, dirty, chewed up pencil. He then reaches under the table and brings up a blank sheet of paper. As he places it on the table, the whole convention center seems to quiet as if someone is turning the volume dial down on a stereo. Once the paper hits the table, it's eerily silent. Jon starts to panic a bit. 'Just what is going on!?' The only thing Jon can hear is his, Jack's, and Mr. Lee's breathing. As the elderly celebrity drops his old pencil down onto the page, a word escapes his lips.
"Excelsior"
Jon's consciousness fades to black as his body turns into motes of light until it disappears entirely.
"Thanks Stan, as always." Jack Kirby says as he walks away and fades into nothingness.
"See you in a few years, Jack." Says Stan, and life returns to the convention hall.
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