Superman in Marvel: Multiverse Ascendant

A few days passed quickly.

The Stark household remained calm.

Leon continued his daily routine, soaking in the sun and waiting for the new university semester to begin.

As usual, Tony didn't bother going to work. Every morning, he rushed off to the Middle East with a piece of buttered toast in hand.

According to him, the Ten Rings terrorist organization would soon be wiped off the map.

Ever since his talk with Rhodey, he had managed to avoid further military scrutiny.

Pepper, however, was livid when Tony came home two nights ago, his armor riddled with bullet holes.

But as always, there was little she could do. Once her frustration subsided, she resumed her work, shouldering the massive responsibility of running Stark Industries.

Life at the Stark residence was like the ocean beyond their mansion—occasionally turbulent, but mostly calm and uneventful.

Yet, for the rest of the world, Superman's appearance had ignited a frenzy, stirring up ripples of speculation and controversy.

"KNKV News Report"

One morning, as Leon returned from his usual space training and prepared breakfast, a breaking news segment on KNKV TV caught his attention.

"Superman exists in our world—that much is beyond doubt."

The female anchor, holding a script, maintained a serious expression.

"Though he has not reappeared in recent days, countless people continue to attest to his presence and pray for his return."

"What he did that night changed our world forever."

The footage cut to a press conference, where a middle-aged Afghan man with graying hair and a beard stood at a podium. The air was filled with the incessant flashing of cameras, yet his unwavering gaze remained locked on the lens.

"Superman saved our country and our people!"

His voice rang with conviction, as if he wanted the world to feel the weight of his words.

"I was fortunate enough to capture his image that night—he was fighting for us!"

"He is Superman, the protector of all! He has no origin, no destination, and no adversary can stand against him!"

"He is our guardian, our savior! The Father is in him, and he is one with the Father!"

Behind him, an aide unrolled a screen, displaying footage of Superman intercepting a missile mid-air.

"Look at him! He is magnificent, driving away the jackals! We are all his lambs!" the man proclaimed to the cameras.

The scene faded, and the news broadcast returned to the studio.

The anchor continued, "The man in the footage is Abdullah, a veteran Afghan war correspondent. He captured Superman's first recorded appearance and fervently declared him a divine figure."

"Since then, countless people have come forward with their own accounts of encountering Superman."

The broadcast shifted to various testimonials.

A young girl confidently told a reporter, "That night, two bad men tried to break in, but Superman appeared out of nowhere and stopped them!"

Her father added, "Superman told us the Ten Rings would soon be gone—and he kept his word! Not only that, but now even the Eagles—"

The rest of his statement was cut off as the report transitioned to another interview.

A boy, animatedly gesturing, recounted, "He fell from the sky! Like a shooting star! I didn't even make a wish, but he still took out the terrorist who tried to hurt my sister!"

More similar stories followed:

— Afghan soldiers saluting a photo of Superman.

— Villagers in a war-torn settlement weeping and chanting his name in front of a communal food supply.

For five full minutes, the broadcast presented an overwhelming wave of public sentiment before cutting back to the studio.

"As more people confirm Superman's existence, we must consider the broader implications of his presence."

"Is he truly the righteous, selfless hero we see in comics—a god among men?"

"Or is he merely an imposter, wearing the mantle of Superman to satisfy his own ego?"

"According to our sources, just yesterday, a large number of U.S. troops withdrew from assisting local communities due to Superman's interference."

"Is he a benevolent protector, or a masked dictator imposing his own sense of justice?"

"Now, we turn to sociologist Francis Windham for analysis..."

Leon, resting his chin on his hand, watched as the so-called expert launched into an elaborate breakdown of Superman's psyche.

From comic book origins to real-world impact, from costume choices to childhood speculation—the scholar wove a grand narrative, ultimately concluding that Superman was a paranoid individual obsessed with drinking milk.

The argument was so layered with references and theories that Leon almost believed it himself.

"Are you still watching this nonsense? Haven't you had enough of it by now?" Tony's voice rang out as he descended the stairs.

"It's either fanatical praise or complete vilification—what's so entertaining about these opinions?"

"Especially these news outlets. They're all funded by political interests and want to paint you as the ultimate villain."

"Why do you even bother watching this garbage?"

He tossed a rolled-up newspaper onto the table and sat beside Leon.

"And look at this! It's all about Superman! Have none of these people ever read a comic book before? They're acting like this is a divine revelation!"

Leon glanced down at the front page:

"Mysterious Armored Figure Spotted in the Middle East—A Poor Imitation of Superman?"

So that's what's bothering him.

Tony had spent days tirelessly dismantling the Ten Rings' operations across the region. Yet, the media barely acknowledged his efforts.

If he was mentioned at all, it was only in passing—before the discussion inevitably shifted back to Superman.

No wonder he was irritated. Tony wasn't the type to seek attention for his heroics, but being overshadowed so completely had clearly struck a nerve.

"Maybe you should buy a newspaper and have them write exclusively about you," Leon suggested dryly.

"Something like, 'Iron Man Reappears—A Hero Protecting Civilians in the Middle East!'"

Tony raised an eyebrow. "Tempting idea. But you know me—I'm not in this for the fame. I'm just helping you out, Leon."

"Oh sure," Leon smirked. "If you really wanted to help me, you'd throw some money at these media companies and teach them how to tell the truth."

Tony got up and grabbed a slice of bread. "If you want, I can make that happen."

He took a bite before continuing, "But do you think it's necessary?"

"Not really." Leon leaned back. "Once Hydra is gone and I've demonstrated my full strength, the media will have no choice but to fall in line."

Tony smirked, tapping the screen with his finger. "That's the truth."

"The media only praises those who can silence them."

...

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