time trial.

The fashion week might go unnoticed by any fool, and by some others not involved in the fashion world. But the cultural event is a flame that takes a short time, yet that short time entails months of work, for some years, thinking about a fashion line for some year, or several years due to the work of multiple brands, authors, known adventurers who venture into the world of fashion, celebrities, businessmen, and people from the circle.

To receive an invitation, pay for an invitation, or be part of those who were there. He received a big invitation with a white envelope, the cardboard decorated, black and detailed letters in a delicate and computerized cursive style. He could bring a companion, but that was already there, his companion was already titled, and accepted by Winona herself. Who was an enthusiastic woman of fashion, although before the closing with Deep, she had frequent encounters, she wasn't available for it.

Billy, from his hotel, had spent days in a makeshift office at one of the lobby tables, drawing from sunrise to sunset, sometimes going out with Mili, there was no rest. He wrote and drew as much as he could, staying busy.

He ate pizza under the building of the comics; there, he met sometimes at Joe Kubert's animated school of graphic arts, and sometimes he gave lectures at his alma mater, the Rochester Institute of Technology. To his surprise, Joe Kubert had a comic class that used his work as a reference, from different styles, depths, scenarios, details, and characters.

Having a cup of coffee, he awaited Joe Kubert's arrival, also expecting Raimon's call and a sign of life from what would be his date at the fashion week. His date didn't show up, and the clock read 3:10 PM; as Joe had said, if he didn't arrive by 3, it was due to work contingencies, and the meeting was canceled. He walked the streets of New York; in time, there were only two things to do when his mind, exhausted from work, needed relaxation.

And that was the Marvel studio, a better relationship, a much more available relationship for his liking, seeing the Marvel members was refreshing, although the atmosphere was depressing, and the work base wasn't as relaxing as one thought because they were people who made their dreams flesh, working for Marvel.

-Look who we have here, - said Brenda Stick, a novice editor and writer at Marvel.

-Well, I had an important meeting with Joe Kubert, but apparently, he's quite busy with his curriculum classes; being a teacher consumes a lot of his time, so I just came to say hello, - said Billy.

Billy had a strong impact within the Marvel lines, as a contracted entrepreneur, with several licenses on cinematographic rights for Spider-Man and X-Men for ten years, along with other requests, for more commercial IPs. But these, they had bet on audiovisual work and marketing that, after the 1993 comics bubble, and in the subsequent case, many sources that Marvel gathered began to collapse, and in less than two years, Ronald Perelman would announce his departure and leave the company in ruins, for now, Billy's proposal to be involved in the purchase of licenses and rights was preferential in certain ways. But such preference only comes thanks to the Marvel leaders, who know that Billy is part of the same guild.

-Well, the office you're looking for is over there. Todd McFarlane has also come to plot a new Spider-Man series, which I consider prudent. Given the dates we are and how we are, we need better comics; you've put us in a bind, - said Brenda Stick.

Brenda is a woman in her twenties, thin, very thin; she looks like a thirteen-year-old girl. The most remarkable thing is her green eyes like balls, big, they light up the environment, but Stan Lee says she's a very hardworking and polite girl. "Thanks, Brenda," leaving a business card. In the face of the hesitant gaze of the girl, with her big eyes.

-When you need work, if you keep up with your grades, a position as an editor in my company is available. For now, learn; by my side, you won't have many things to learn; I'm also a novice, - said Billy.

Walking towards the back offices, only there do some important people gather, the administrative parts have their offices on the upper floors, Marvel's infrastructure isn't large, but enough to occupy a considerable space of workers between 350 to 400 workers, all occupied and people who strive for their duties.

-Good morning, Mr. Carson, I wasn't expecting you back in the offices, - said Jose Quesada, an important member of the board.

-Well, I've come to fill myself with your continued talent. See your new works and talk with your famous editors, - said Billy.

-You don't take your time away, kid, - said Jose Quesada, entering his office, for a break.

He walked closely to the distant offices where the most experienced ones are located, who curiously worked in dark offices lit by a white light, and beyond, some small windows and ventilation ducts. Climbing another floor by the stairs, old and gray, somewhat confusing.

Principio del formulario

-Guys, it's great to see you, - said Billy, looking at a gang of artists; it would surprise many to see the number of people working for the company.

They were a group of artists who worked behind the scenes, and they usually hung out with some extra people, Jim Valentino, Thomas Thun, Armando Estrada, and John Wright.

-Well, if it isn't Billy, friend, royalty doesn't have much to do these days, - said Thomas Thun.

-He lacks a girlfriend; my grandfather used to say a man without a wife is a fool without a future, - said Armando Estrada.

-No one was there to give him his goodnight kiss, can't you see the character? - said Thomas.

-Repression, - they both said at the same time, laughing.

Both Thomas and Armando had the habit of teasing and embarrassing people in general, regardless of their status and social position. They were like two thieves who only knew how to bother people, which caused laughter, which was contrary to Billy's expectations because both guys were very funny.

-What do we have here? - said Billy, looking at a deep piece of work on the Avengers, a series whose expansion began to gain more momentum in 1990.

-We're the blacks; they make us do all the dirty work, - said Thomas Thun.

-Good designs. I like the finish of the cities; this post-apocalyptic aspect is simply charming, - said Billy, taking note of the large-scale city plan of New York, totally different with strange aspects, and micro-details that ranged from realistic to surrealistic.

They moved forward; both were good at artistic design, sharing their ideas and their work, adapting to all the new interesting forms, which, although Billy didn't know, their work was studied very closely, and they took all his techniques literally.

-I was notified of your arrival, - said Avi Arad, a true comic book fan, who owned a total of 2% of Marvel's shares; Ronald Perelman owned 83%, J.P Morgan Entertainment Group 10%, and the other 5% were owned by some shareholders who were fans or retired workers.

-Mr. Avi, - said Billy, giving a firm handshake.

-I'm sorry to interrupt, but we need to talk urgently. We'll meet in Issac Pelmuter's office; there are many things we need to discuss, and it's urgent, - said Avi Arad.

-Let's go immediately then! - said Billy.

Arad raised his eyebrows in surprise.

-Let's go, - said Arad.

Thomas and Armando said swear words in Spanish, teasing Billy as much as they could. Both faced the boss with smiles and applause. Avi just shook his head and adjusted his leather jacket, facing the dynamic duo; the company wanted to bother him with different script and coloring activities, but they just smiled and laughed like thieves every time they were asked to do activities, like big fans, they ended up winning over several people.

They entered Arad's office, after moving through the maze of Marvel offices, it took some time before they settled in Avid's office, it was simply empty, a small office for an executive who was in charge of license links, sales, and marketing for the company.

-The commercial activities of Wall Street have harmed our company, that's why I called you. As you well know, the company is slowly falling; you signed a commercial license to produce an animated series; and your accounts on animation expenses, reviews, and prices have reached us. I advocate for the practice, but the company is not recovering. And the clearest signs are the sales; in 1993, there was an agonizing drop, which we still feel, even your idea of serializing crossed our minds, but, before anything else, we want to make a deal, - said Avi.

-So, you want to sell your copyrights, - asked Billy.

-For now, although the dealmakers will arrive soon, I don't decide this alone; it's better if they agree with me and the company, - said Avi.

-Can you tell me about the deal? I'm curious to know the general terms, - commented Billy.

-It's not possible, - said Avi.

At that moment, Issac Perlmutter, Jose Quesada, and Bob Harras arrived.

The agreement was a tactless tactic to squeeze money, very rudely to extend; it charged for a paid license for 10 years, for the Spider-Man and X-Men series of 11.3 million dollars, with some percentages, only counting on cinematographic rights, without marketing, and the license was not exclusive.

Therefore, making the exclusive license would require another three million dollars, along with other extra agreements, which exceed the license costs. As well as extending the agreement and allowing more interference from the Marvel staff, in a rather unpleasant summary, an agreement that he would have accepted eight years ago. That is when he was a child, small.

-I'll think deeply about this negotiation; however, our industries are different, and it's complicated for me to start in that industry without enough money. We sell comics and make productions, but I can talk to my board of directors and see the feasibility of the business, - said Billy, closing the speech in an obvious business stance.

The faces didn't like it, but a sensible Jose Quesada just watched in silence.

...