As The Flash movie entered its final stage of intensive post-production, another DC film that had been shooting simultaneously—Justice League vs. The Avengers—was still in production.
Despite Quentin's use of advanced holographic projection to sync filming with special effects in real-time, this movie incorporated a substantial amount of practical elements.
With so many characters appearing on set, shooting proved to be quite the challenge. The crew had to wait for cameo appearances from real superheroes like Venom, Goblin, Spider-Man, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and more.
Determined to create a groundbreaking and unforgettable film, the director took each step carefully—never afraid of overspending in pursuit of cinematic excellence.
For a project guaranteed to be profitable, Jim's next task was to ensure it would also be memorable.
Anton briefly checked in on the production, then left the rest to Jim.
It's worth mentioning that during the filming, Tony Stark—who had been silent for a while—couldn't resist commenting on Twitter.
His fiery tweet stirred up a frenzy of excitement online, drawing attention from fans and boosting anticipation for the movie. The hype was real.
Anton reposted Tony's tweet with a cheeky remark, which only fueled the fire further.
Tony, somewhere else, smashed a cup in frustration.
But good times are always short-lived. Just after Anton wrapped up work with The Flash crew and returned to New York, he found a peculiar report from Z waiting in his inbox.
The contents made Anton's expression turn strange.
It concerned Jason Wann.
Jason had submitted a report to the Men in Black headquarters, claiming that a strange person had been following him lately—someone who seemed to be tracking his every move.
Jason believed the man might be a former enemy from his military days, someone holding a grudge. He requested assistance from the organization to both ensure his safety and investigate the matter thoroughly.
Anton decided to visit the Men in Black HQ directly and approached his deputy.
"What's going on here?" Anton asked. "This Jason Wann report—tell me that the person following him isn't one of ours?"
"Our people aren't that dumb," Z replied, shaking his head. "Jason Wann was a high-ranking officer with an intelligence background. His anti-surveillance skills are top-notch. I never ordered anyone to follow him physically. We've just been monitoring his online activity—after all, this is the digital age. Surveillance comes through the net now."
He paused and gave Anton a helpless look. "No one really uses basic tailing methods anymore."
"Makes sense," Anton said. "So then, who is this guy?"
"Actually," Z continued, "we noticed something was off about him before Jason even filed his report. We'd already begun investigating."
He furrowed his brows and activated a projection.
Shua!
A figure appeared in the air before them.
At the same time, Z played a piece of surveillance footage so Anton could get a clearer view.
It showed the strange figure shadowing Jason Wann.
The man was ragged, looking like a beggar. His hooded cloak covered his entire body and face, making it difficult to identify him. Stranger still, they couldn't determine when or how he'd first appeared near Jason.
Z looked serious as he came to a strange conclusion. "He appeared out of thin air—and vanished the same way."
"Appeared out of thin air, then disappeared…" Anton muttered, thinking it over. Then he nodded. "Alright. Keep investigating. Find out who this guy is. I'll use my own network to track him down as well."
"Clear."
Z nodded, then asked, "Anton, this person is clearly connected to Jason Wann. You've been keeping tabs on Jason for a long time now. Why? What exactly did Jason Wann do to earn that level of attention from you?"
Z's question wasn't without reason.
Although Jason Wann was once a high-ranking military officer, he was nowhere near Anton's level.
Who was Anton?
Chief of the Men in Black. A member of the Justice League. Owner of the Daily bugle , major shareholder of DC and Wayne Enterprises. He had deep ties with the World Security Council and strong cooperation with both the U.S. government and military.
In other words, Anton stood at the peak of the pyramid—where both power and wealth were within easy reach.
Jason Wann might have had some influence and authority, but compared to Anton, he was insignificant.
Anton didn't even need to say a word—Jason had been quietly removed from his original military post and reassigned as a regular agent in the Men in Black. He had no means to resist and not even the option to resign.
The Men in Black was considered a semi-secret unit. And such units didn't allow resignation—unless through death.
Of course, there were ways to get out.
But Jason Wann clearly wasn't someone who could pull that off.
So, all in all, Z couldn't understand why Anton was giving so much attention to such a small player.
"He's very special."
Anton thought for a moment, then explained, "You know, there are always people in this world who get caught up in storms far beyond their control—all because of their ambitions. Jason Wann is one of them. Honestly, this matter has little to do with us directly. I only got involved because Batman asked me to look into it."
"Batman?"
Z's expression turned serious instantly. Realizing the weight of the situation, he nodded at once. "Understood. I'll go all out—we'll find that guy."
"Good. That's all for today."
With that, Anton left the Men in Black HQ.
He drove home.
And on the road, his thoughts drifted.
Someone was watching Jason Wann.
But who?
Anton already had a name in mind. He wasn't certain—but his instincts told him he wasn't far off.
"Spawn... Al Simmons."
In the original story, Al Simmons returned to Earth from hell five years after his death, seeking revenge on Jason Wann.
Sure, he got his revenge. But it was too late.
His girlfriend had already married his best friend. His daughter was three years old.
Now that Anton thought about it, it had been more than half a year. The "daylily" might not have withered yet—but the situation was looking pretty "green."
In comic films, there's always a little ntr in the mix. It's practically a signature of American superhero drama.
"Could it be you?" Anton muttered, deep in thought.
When he got home, he immediately contacted the Continental Hotel and ordered them to track down Al Simmons in New York.
At the same time, he accessed the military database using his clearance to dig up anything on Al Simmons.
Anton's eyes eventually landed on a name in the files.
Wanda Black.
This wasn't that Wanda—just Al Simmons' girlfriend.
Anton scoffed. "Author's imagination really isn't all that original."
He couldn't help but complain.
Too many reused names. Across comics, cartoons, and film adaptations, major characters often shared the same names—like how the old web novels were always full of Lin, Ye, Xiao, and Chu families.
If Al Simmons really returned from hell, then he wouldn't just be watching Jason Wann—his ex-girlfriend Wanda Black would also be under observation.
Jason Wann was already under surveillance by the Men in Black. So, Anton figured it was better to approach the situation from another angle.
As that thought struck, something stirred in his heart.
Beside him, Shazam appeared.
Although Spawn might be a niche street-level movie, the themes it deals with are anything but ordinary.
It involves the devil of hell—on par with Mephisto.
In fact, the hell lord in Spawn could be considered even more terrifying than Mephisto. Despite his underwhelming portrayal in the film, the character's lore and power are significant. Anton couldn't afford to overlook him.
So he sent in someone from his own side—the Dark Justice League, the greatest magical combat force available.
Shazam, known as the Magic Superman, had every reason to get involved.
Whoosh!
A teleportation halo wrapped around Shazam, transporting him to the location mentioned in the file.
New York — Somewhere in Brooklyn.
Shazam's figure materialized in a dim alleyway.
Wanda Black.
Originally Simmons' girlfriend, she had lived in Los Angeles. But after Al Simmons' death, she left that sorrow-filled place and moved to New York.
According to the intel, Wanda reconnected with an old friend here.
That "old friend" was none other than Al Simmons' partner—his so-called best friend—the very guy who put a green hat on his head.
The two had grown close and eventually became a couple. Wanda, step by step, walked out of her grief and embraced a new life in this new city.
It seemed… Al Simmons had come back too late.
Shazam frowned at the thought—but then, his expression shifted. He sensed a wave of demonic energy nearby and immediately shot into the air.
At that moment.
It was already evening.
Not far from where Shazam had landed, in a quiet little house, Wanda was greeting her boyfriend at the door. They kissed affectionately, both smiling with warmth and happiness.
Neither of them noticed the figure hidden in the shadows nearby.
An extremely ugly, ragged, foul-smelling homeless man crouched in the corner—watching them in silence.
Though… "watching them" might be an overstatement.
His gaze was locked entirely on Wanda.
The tramp didn't move, didn't blink—just stared at her.
Even when Wanda's boyfriend turned slightly and went inside, the tramp didn't shift his gaze.
"Woof!"
Suddenly.
A sharp bark cut through the air. The dog's bark made both Wanda and her boyfriend turn around.
"What's going on?"
Wanda was startled. The dog was hers—it had been with her for years. Loyal and gentle. It never barked like this.
Whoosh!
The puppy barked excitedly and dashed straight toward the man in the corner.
Curled up in the shadows, Simmons stared at the rushing dog, his eyes suddenly welling up.
The dog had recognized him.
"Who is it?!"
A shout snapped Simmons out of the moment. He looked up—and saw her.
Wanda.
"Who are you? Stay away from my dog!"
There was fear in her voice.
Clearly, the man in front of her—filthy, disfigured, and broken—disgusted her on sight.
Simmons opened his mouth… but couldn't speak.
"If you don't leave, I'm calling the police!"
Wanda scooped the puppy into her arms and gave Simmons one last cold look before turning back toward the house.
Bang!
The door slammed shut behind her.
Inside, she and her boyfriend returned to their warm, well-lit home.
From outside the window, Simmons stood motionless in the dark.
He saw them—silhouetted against the glow of the lights—embracing each other without a care.
His fists clenched tight. His heart twisted in silent rage.
But the hatred in his eyes wasn't directed at the couple behind the door.
No.
It was for the man who had orchestrated all of this.
"Jason Wann!"
Simmons' eyes burned with fury.
Clack... Clack... Clack…
Suddenly, the sound of strange, heavy footsteps echoed behind him.
"Hee hee hee hee hee!"
Shrill, eerie laughter filled the alleyway.
Irritated and on edge, Simmons turned to look.
Standing before him was a massive, grotesque figure—like a mountain in clown makeup.
A circus clown.
"It's you!"
Simmons recognized the figure immediately. "What the hell do you want?"
"I told you—you're dead."
The fat clown let out a sharp laugh. "Simmons, accept reality. You now serve the Lord of Hell. You're no longer human."
"…"
Simmons fell silent.
Deep down, he had already suspected it. But he had never been willing to accept it.
"Your body's still buried in Los Angeles," the clown continued. "If you want, I can take you there, dig up your corpse, and show you. Maybe then you'll finally give up."
"What do you want?" Simmons growled, eyes narrowing into a glare. "Tell me—what are you really after?"
"It's not about what I want. It's about what the Devil wants."
The fat clown grinned wider. "Haven't you noticed it yet? You've changed."
"Changed?"
Simmons was stunned.
And then—he felt it.
A sudden, searing pain exploded through his entire body, catching him off guard. His scream tore through the night.
"Aaarrrgghhh!"
The cry echoed down the street, jolting nearby residents.
Inside her house, Wanda and her boyfriend had just sat down for dinner.
Startled by the noise, they rushed to the door—and opened it to a shocking sight.
Standing outside was a disturbingly overweight circus clown, dressed in bright, filthy colors, wearing a wicked grin.
And before him, a homeless man—filthy and trembling—was on all fours, soaked in sweat, writhing in agony.
Szzzzz!
A grotesque, metallic noise rang out from the tramp's body.
Then, something truly terrifying happened.
Szzzt! Szzzt!
From the man's back, several metallic, bone-like spines shot outward. The metal seemed to ripple and spread like liquid across his skin—wrapping around him, hardening, morphing.
In mere seconds, the beggar was gone.
What stood now was a fully armored being—something between man and machine, metal and flesh. The armor gleamed with a dull, sinister shine. Bone spurs jutted out from the elbows and knees. A deep crimson cloak unfurled behind him, fluttering like living flame.
Wanda and her boyfriend gasped in horror.
"Y-you…"
The two instinctively backed away, faces pale and eyes wide with fear.
The armored figure turned to face them, his eyes full of complicated emotion.
They had feared him. Ignored him. Pushed him away.
But now…
He had become something else entirely.
"At last…"
"You've finally awakened."
The fat clown clapped slowly, clearly pleased with the transformation. "Let's go. It's time to carry out your mission."
But before he could take a step—
A voice cut through the night. Cold. Calm. Unshaken.
"Fat man… did you really think no one was watching Earth?"
The words echoed across the alleyway like a warning.
"I'm here now. Let's see how far you think you can go."
…
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