In the decades after the death of Paragon, the heirs of Paragon have integrated into American society.
The average hero has corporate sponsors, with the more famous heroes having contracts with multiple companies. In fact, as superheroic activities are often broadcasted live on multiple platforms (such as PNN's HeroCam, RabbitTail's HeroTV, or MinxNews' HeroView), citizens often find themselves owing their lives to brands such as Paracola and Great Justice bites
The Superhero Association, a large non-profit, tallies and accumulates points for each heroic feat publically accomplished (i.e.: arresting criminals or saving civilians) and the rankings of each hero are updated every season.
The rankings of the Superhero Association are more than just for bragging rights. In a world where heroic popularity equals personal power, the superheroes at the top of the rankings are powerful in combat and possess great wealth and influence; the top-ranked superheroes wield political power greater than that of career politicians and billionaires.
As becoming a superhero is a shortcut to the American dream, with hundreds of millions of dreamers, only a few hundred people are successful.
It's deceptively simple to become a superhero, you just have to gather enough "heroic popularity"; which is broken down into two key criteria: having enough fans and being recognized as a hero.
You could work in black ops, save countless lives as an unsung hero, but as long as the public remains unaware of your heroic deeds, you won't have any superpowers.
You could have hundreds of millions of fans as a scientist, politician, kpop idol, instagram influencer, etc... but as long as the public believes that you won't survive a hostile encounter with masked gunmen, you won't have any superpowers.
-----
Shocked, Ryan Malger sets aside the newspaper he was reading.
Taking off his reading glasses, Ryan quietly stares at his son for a few moments before asking,
"Why? Why a hero? Why now? Didn't your brush with death mean anything!?!"
"It does!!!" Alex protests, "But when I think about it.. We have these heroes, greater than life, whose purpose it is to save us… Who is SUPPOSED to save us.. But they…"
"Fine. How much do you need?", asks Ryan.
Without fully considering the ramifications, Alex quickly replies, "billions."
Ryan Malger lapses into momentary silence, and then with his expression hardening, states, "I can give you one, no two, billion, but only on one condition."
"... no matter what happens: even if you're maimed, in jail, or completely ruined; even if you lose everyone and everything important to you, as long as you're alive, you cannot give up."
"... if you can't do this, go home and never speak of this again."
Alex's face became gloomier, and through clenched teeth responds, "Dad, I won't give up! I won't disappoint you!"
Upon hearing that, Ryan Malger nods slightly. Standing up, Ryan turns his back on Alex to look out of his office's French windows; from the view of the office, one can see superheroes on patrol and countless propaganda posters of superheroes plastered on neighboring buildings.
Ryan Malger made the decision to take a third of his net worth and gamble on his son.
-----
Alexander Malger looks out the black Lezvani Tank's windows as his father's chauffeur, Pierre Sarrazine, expertly drives him toward the family estates on the outskirts of New Amsterdam City. With a professional driver, the bulletproof SUV easily navigates the City's treacherous streets.
In Alexander's mind, a plan is gradually taking shape.
Once, there were many ways to become a superhero. They were all lone rangers, fighting crime and villainy on their own.
Every three to five years, the rankings of the most powerful superheroes would change. But, nowadays, the situation's different.
There are fewer and fewer ways of becoming a superhero. Almost all superheroes belong to an organization or consortium. Superheroes rarely act alone, and the ranking of superheroes has become static.
The rankings of the top five superheroes have not changed in over a decade.
I'm not the first rich person who wants to become a superhero by burning money. In New Amsterdam City, there are at least a dozen people richer than dad, but most of these people failed to become a superhero.
From my research, if you want to become a superhero you need to do two things:
1) Establish a heroic presence in the public eye.
2) Establish a fandom and accumulate fervent supporters.
The quickest way to become a superhero is to participate in a talent show. Other rich people flaunt their wealth by bribing those involved; they bribe the producers to add more favorable scenes of themselves, they bribe the instructors so they can get higher evaluations, and they bribe the other contestants into "taking a fall" so they can look better in comparison.
The audience, however, isn't stupid and is disgusted by this kind of behavior.
Although burning money like this can increase your popularity when the show is being broadcasted, it's not conducive to establishing a stable fandom. If anything, it's really easy to lose whatever meager powers you might have gained.
It can be said that to become a superhero, one not only requires money and popularity, but also strength. At the very least, people have to feel like they can rely on you.
If I participated in a talent show, I would probably fail; there's a really good chance that the audience will dislike me.
The audience prefers superheroes who come from the working class, have tragic backgrounds, and show a strong sense of social responsibility.
Although I have fans, the vast majority of the public sees me as a rich playboy; that's the very definition of "unreliable".
And even if I participate honestly in a talent show, people are going to assume that I bribed the judges and other contestants.
I have a better idea.
I'll create a talent show myself, and call it "The Successor"
-----
6 months later.
On the TV show, "The Many"
The Many is composed of four middle aged white men, one token white woman in her early 30s, and one token minority of Hispanic and African descent in his 60s.
Although they make claims about presenting "fair and balanced facts", The Many, like many other shows on MinxNews, is a propaganda outlet used to "build consensus" on the behest of the Owners of MinxNews.
They accomplish this by having the four white men present the side of the argument that the Owners' favor, and either the token white woman or the token minority present the other side of the argument. The men would then "mansplain" to the woman if she presented the dissenting opinion, or the white people would collectively shout down the minority if he presented the dissenting opinion. Although blunt and crude, it works; misleading The Many's viewers to think that the vast majority of people agree with the Owners' opinion. Propaganda, misleading facts, and manufacturing content, these are the tools of MinxNews. Their viewers are stupid, and they know it.
Of course, the panel of The Many are free to express whatever opinion they want if there are no "directions from above". These occasional bouts of "organicness" help mask The Many's true nature.
The white folks have just finished shouting down the token minority for expressing his belief that "people should be able to borrow six-month old movie releases from a library without having to pay a fee".
"And now", says the token white woman - Debbie Brookes, "Something that is causing no end of consternation on the internet. Should Alexander Malger be a judge and mentor on the upcoming superhero talent show, The Successor?"
"Who's even organizing this?", asks Greg Dumas - a white man with hazel eyes and nasally voice.
"It would be a collaboration between Tenyen and iFree", responds William Tuphor - a bespectacled white man with green eyes.
"Those two variety shows decided to get together and have a baby?", Greg incredulously states, "and it's a talent show? Un-fricking-believable."
"I think it's a good thing", replies the token minority - Romeo Jimenez, "more options for viewers."
"Yuh-betcha", says John Brownsmith - a white man with brown eyes and a slight accent, "These shows is expensive tuh develop. It's been fav years since Heroic Champion ended".
"I was a huge fan of Heroic Champion", William reminisces, "I only hope The Successor will be half as good."
"Who are the other mentors besides Alex?", asks Erick Moensen - a white man with pale blue eyes.
"Keith Cuhyll, S.Q. Wong, and Krystal", answers William.
"Oh. Good choices. Ah wonder how much is thuh appearance fees?", muses John.
"I like Krystal...", Erick begins to say.
"Like her? You just want to do dirty things to her!", Greg interjects as he makes grabby motions with his hands.
"Me? That's you Greg!", Erick says while defending himself.
"Guilty as charged!", Greg admits while laughing.
The group bursts out laughing.
"Anyway... back on topic", interjects Debbie as she tries to steer the conversation, "Should Alex be a judge on the show?"
"I don't think he's qualified...", Romeo begins his reply.
"Oh Romeo, Romeo, Romeo", interrupts Greg, "You're not thinking it through. He has two advanced degrees."
"Yes, but...", Romeo protests, "he has no experience analyzing superheroes. Heck! As far as I know, he has no experience mentoring or coaching!"
"I agree with Romeo", interjects William, "His father is rich. Although Alex has a JD and an MBA, we all know how easy that is with daddy's money.
"Yeah-up", agrees John, "All daddy has tuh do iz make uh donation tuh thuh skoo an *bam* instant degree."
"Psshaw", interrupts Greg, "His schools have stringent entrance requirements, he has to have some talent."
"I agree with Greg", says Erick, "Alex has over seven million Twitter followers, if that's not talent. I don't know what it is."
"Rilly?", John laughs, "Thet doesn't 'mount tuh uh hill uh beans..."
"How many followers do you have?", asks Romeo.
"Nondy thousand", John says laughing.
The group bursts out laughing before moving on to the next topic, "the merits of clubbing baby seals".