While Kingpin's declaration, "Being a hero is a job," was still reverberating, a more precise, impactful, and "down-to-earth" visual storm was meticulously planned and unleashed globally by the Hero Association's PR and marketing department (personally overseen and led by Wesley).
Overnight, from the giant electronic billboards in New York's Times Square to the lightboxes in London's subway tunnels, from the bustling Shibuya crossing screens in Tokyo to the ad boards on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro... and even in every corner of the online World—social media feeds, video website pre-roll ads, pop-ups on major portals—all were dominated by a series of recruitment posters with a highly unified design style but extremely "addictive" and "anti-traditional" copy.
The core visual element of these posters was, naturally, the Association's simple blue shield emblem, but what truly caught the eye were the slogans displayed in bold, striking fonts. They completely abandoned the grand terms common in traditional hero propaganda, such as "responsibility," "honor," and "sacrifice," opting instead for a straightforward, almost blunt, yet precisely effective realistic rhetoric that resonated deeply with countless people.
One of the main visual posters:
The background featured the majestic profile of Sandman Flint Marko (authorized and moderately beautified) manipulating a sandstorm, with the text below:
[Gold runs out, but heroes come to the Association for their pay!]
[Your abilities deserve a better reward.]
One of the main visual posters:
The image was split in half. On the left, a masked vigilante (image blurred) bought discounted sandwiches at a convenience store late at night, with a desolate background; on the right, Sandman, in a crisp Association uniform, enjoyed a balanced work meal in a bright and clean restaurant.
Text below:
[Still worrying about battle damage and dinner?]
[Join the Association: five insurances and one housing fund, free meals and lodging, battle damage reimbursement!]
One of the main visual posters:
A serene close-up of The Silent Heart Master wearing a silver mask, with the text below:
[The greater the ability, the clearer the KPI.]
[No more fighting blindly; redeem points and clearly grow stronger.]
Series of posters, "Benefits Edition":
[Worried about injuries? Top global medical coverage protects you and your family!]
[Afraid of retirement? The Association plans your perfect retirement, ensuring a glorious old age for heroes!]
[Craving progress? Customized growth paths and cutting-edge tech gear are yours to redeem!]
[Tired of loneliness? Join us, find like-minded comrades, and fight back-to-back!]
These posters, like carefully crafted sugar-coated bullets, sparked an explosive global reaction with their strong visual impact and pragmatic, "rough but right" style.
Ordinary citizens found them engaging; these slogans were easier to understand and relate to than lofty hero declarations.
"Rough but right! Heroes need to eat too!"
"Five insurances and one housing fund, battle damage reimbursement... This treatment, I'm seriously tempted!"
"Look at their logistical support; it's much better than some who just fight and run, leaving a mess behind!"
Meanwhile, the individuals hidden in various corners of society, possessing strong or weak, overt or covert superpowers, felt an even more intense stir within their hearts.
A young man with weak and unstable abilities, who had always hidden himself and worked at a fast-food restaurant, looked at the subway billboard with the words "Your abilities deserve a better reward" and for the first time began to seriously consider... A unlucky person who had caused accidental property damage while using his abilities to stop a crime and was now worrying about compensation, saw the words "battle damage reimbursement" and his eyes instantly lit up... An ability user who had been exploring his powers alone, progressing slowly, and feeling incredibly lonely, developed an infinite yearning for "customized growth paths" and "finding comrades."
Of course, there was also significant controversy and criticism.
Defenders of traditional values were heartbroken:
"Blasphemy! This is a complete blasphemy of the heroic spirit!"
"Equating noble sacrifice with vulgar money, the World is in decline!"
"This is encouraging utilitarianism! Who will selflessly contribute for belief anymore?"
Certain existing hero organizations or individuals who adhered to traditional heroic ideals (especially some masked vigilantes) felt particularly offended and targeted. The subtle comparisons in the posters were undoubtedly designed to praise one while disparaging others.
At Director Fury's desk at S.H.I.E.L.D., intelligence reports and analyses from all over the World were piled high.
"He's muddied the Water with an almost shameless bluntness," Agent Coulson summarized. "Now, every superhuman individual globally is probably weighing the pros and cons of joining the Association. This blatant material temptation is deadly for many ability users who are in distress or a period of confusion."
Fury's single eye was grim. Kingpin's move was no longer a profound technical display, but the most direct and effective talent war. He was building an irresistible gravitational field with real money and visible future plans.
Inside Stark Tower.
Tony Stark looked at the "Gold runs out" poster on his tablet, so angry he almost crushed it.
"Vulgar! Low-class! Absolutely no taste!" He paced around his laboratory, roaring at the air, "Jarvis! Immediately draft a proposal for Stark Industries' 'Future Hero Foundation'! We'll recruit too! Better benefits than them! More generous conditions! I'll use money to crush that damn muscle-bound brute!"
"Sir, according to preliminary calculations, to achieve the welfare level promised in the Association's promotions and cover the globe, the initial budget might require..."
"No matter how much! Just do it!" Tony interrupted.
However, although Stark Industries was wealthy, how could a hastily assembled "Foundation" compete with Kingpin's complete system, which integrated systematic support, institutionalized management, and clear promotion channels? Not to mention the unfathomable technical support behind the Association. Responders were few and far between.
In a classroom at Midtown High School.
Peter Parker felt like he was about to split. His phone, his web pages, the billboards he saw on his way to and from school... everywhere were the Association's recruitment posters. The slogans echoed in his mind like a hypnotic chant.
"Gold runs out..." He looked at his cracked-screen, second-hand phone.
"Five insurances and one housing fund, battle damage reimbursement..." He remembered his deflated wallet from repairing his web-shooters last night.
"Redeem points, clearly grow stronger..." He thought of the technical accessories in the app store that made him drool.
"Find like-minded comrades..." He recalled the loneliness of facing danger alone.
"No! Peter! Hold on!" He slapped his face hard. "With great power comes great responsibility! Not for money! Not for points!"
But another voice whispered, "But... if I had a stable income, wouldn't Aunt Mei have to work less hard? If I had better gear, wouldn't I be able to save more people? And... the Association doesn't seem to be bad people; they are indeed helping..."
The scales within him were slowly tipping.
Queens, inside an apartment building.
Flint Marko, who was taking care of his daughter, also saw the Association's recruitment advertisement playing on TV. He looked at the artistic and majestic image of himself on the poster, listened to the blunt yet real slogans, and felt a mix of emotions. If not for the Association, without the advanced five hundred thousand, without the growth insights redeemed with points, what would Penny and he be like now? He dared not imagine.
He picked up his phone, logged into the Association's internal forum (accessible only to heroes), and posted:
[Real Share: Joining the Association was the best decision of my life. Not for slogans, but for tangible life and hope.]
Below his post, several other early-joining heroes quickly followed up and agreed.
This global recruitment poster storm, initiated by the Hero Association, with its unique, controversial, yet undeniable realistic charm, successfully implanted its concept of "hero professionalization" deeply into the consciousness of countless people worldwide.
It was not just a recruitment drive, but a widespread and profound impact on social perceptions. It forced everyone to reconsider: in an era where superhuman powers are increasingly intervening in daily life, should the definition of "hero" also evolve with the times?
And the Association's name, along with these "addictive" posters, truly moved beyond New York, becoming a global, phenomenal topic.
A torrent of talent began to quietly converge towards Fisk Tower.