DC Heroes in Marvel

"Don't worry, I'll inform Batman about this immediately, and he'll help us investigate," Anton replied confidently.

Hearing this, George relaxed and smiled. "I feel reassured when it comes to Batman."

Soon after, at Anton's request, they exited the car outside the building that housed the Daily Bugle.

It was nighttime. The cool evening breeze rustled through the streets, and the dim streetlights cast long shadows across the pavement.

"Wait," Eddie said, glancing around suspiciously. "Where's Phil?"

"…He'll show up," Anton replied after a moment of thought. "He always does. Let's focus on Justin Hammer for now."

"Right!" Eddie's eyes lit up with curiosity. "You haven't told me yet—who took Justin Hammer?"

"Sandman," Anton said simply. "His name is Flint Marko. He was originally a small-time criminal, but after escaping from prison, he stumbled into one of Hammer's physics labs and fell into a particle accelerator. Exposure to radiation gave him the ability to control sand."

Strictly speaking, Sandman has two names. His real name is William Baker, but he used the alias Flint Marko during his criminal activities.

In the original Spider-Man movies, Sandman was referred to as Flint Marko, and subsequent versions largely kept his backstory consistent—only minor details changed.

In essence, Flint became the Sandman after an "experimental accident" during his escape. He survived, gaining his sand-controlling abilities in the process.

Although Anton doesn't know much about Flint Marko in this world, his enhanced memory—thanks to his unique abilities—helped him recall a report he'd seen months ago. 

At the time, Norman Osborn had requested assistance from Anton's Arrow clones, and during that mission, Anton encountered some files about Hammer Industries.

Hammer had been in conflict with Oscorp, and Harry Osborn had become one of Justin Hammer's biggest obstacles in regaining control. 

Among the information Anton reviewed was a passing reference to Flint Marko.

At the time, Anton hadn't paid much attention to the name. After all, in the U.S., names like Tom, Jack, and Tony are incredibly common, and there was no reason to connect it to Sandman.

But now, with the current situation, Anton was nearly certain that this Flint Marko was indeed the classic Spider-Man villain, Sandman.

"Sandman is working with Hammer Industries?" Anton muttered, stroking his chin. He found the connection intriguing.

While the full truth wasn't yet clear, Anton was almost certain of one thing: Justin Hammer staged his own kidnapping.

Hammer likely orchestrated this entire event to avoid arrest, retreat into the shadows, and continue running Hammer Industries from behind the scenes. 

The longer he stayed out of sight, the better it was for him.

As for Sandman, Anton knew he wasn't entirely evil. 

In the original comics, Sandman had even reformed for a time, joining the Avengers before eventually quitting due to ideological differences and returning to his villainous ways.

In the original Spider-Man movie series, Sandman's story was also tied to the tragic death of Peter Parker's Uncle Ben. 

However, he wasn't the true culprit and was later forgiven by Spider-Man. In the end, Sandman left to care for his sick daughter, seeking a semblance of peace.

Anton couldn't help but find this situation fascinating. "So, Sandman has been pulled into Hammer's schemes," he mused, "and Justin's using him to cover his tracks. This might be more complicated than I thought."

On another note, Sandman, or Flint Marko, isn't entirely evil. However, that doesn't mean he's innocent. 

Just because someone isn't a pure villain doesn't make them a saint. People like Sandman—dangerous, morally ambiguous, and reckless—aren't exactly worthy of sympathy.

Anton's current priority is to track down Sandman's whereabouts and locate the "kidnapped" Justin Hammer. If Sandman tries to interfere, Anton won't hold back.

In truth, even if George hadn't brought it up, Anton would still be intrigued by this case. Getting Justin Hammer behind bars would be advantageous for Anton's plans.

Justin orchestrated this fake kidnapping to protect himself and Hammer Industries. The stakes are high—Hammer Industries is in the same league as Stark Industries and Oscorp. 

As the company's driving force, Justin's removal would cripple it. No matter how large Hammer Industries is, it wouldn't survive without him.

The fallout would be ruthless. Stark Industries and Oscorp would eagerly carve up Hammer's share of the market. That's just how business works—cold and unrelenting.

And then there's Wayne Enterprises. Though it's a fledgling company now, Anton has big plans for it, envisioning its rise into a powerhouse like the Wayne Group. 

This is a prime opportunity to push Wayne into the arms industry and claim a piece of Hammer's territory. If Justin Hammer ends up in prison, the vacuum left behind could be the foundation of Wayne's empire.

"Hmph!" Anton thought, smirking as his plans took shape.

Turning to Eddie, Anton said, "Eddie—"

"No way!" Eddie interrupted, swallowing nervously. 

His face was a mix of dread and desperation. "I'm already staying up late to write tomorrow's piece about the Stark Expo. You're not seriously expecting me to investigate Justin Hammer's kidnapping, are you? That's a nightmare project! It's not something you can finish in one night!"

He sighed dramatically before continuing, "Anton, I can't afford to lose more hair. For a man my age, hair is critical!"

Anton considered this, nodding solemnly. Hair was, indeed, important. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Fine. Let's call Phil back. Didn't he always dream of making his superhero debut? This is his chance!"

A few minutes later, Phil returned, looking exasperated. "Boss. Editor-in-Chief. You forgot me again, didn't you?"

"How could we?" Anton and Eddie replied in unison, exchanging a knowing glance.

"Don't overthink it," Eddie added quickly.

"Exactly," Anton agreed. "We just ran into a minor situation—"

"—which we solved," Eddie finished.

Phil raised an eyebrow, still suspicious. "So... why am I here?"

"We've got something important for you," Eddie said, his tone suddenly serious.

"You've always wanted to make your superhero debut, right?" Anton chimed in. "Well, this is the perfect opportunity. Don't miss it."

Phil's suspicion deepened. "What is it?"

Both Anton and Eddie maintained their serious expressions, like secret agents assigning a classified mission. Despite his growing doubts, Phil couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope.

….

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