2009 was over, and I was thrust back into my hectic schedule after the small break I took for Christmas. The fourth Percy Jackson book had been released before Christmas as planned, and now I was focusing on the release of the comic Matt and I were working on.
Chris was too busy with Toy Story and Finding Nemo, and we were supposed to start shooting for 12 Angry Men after Toy Story 2 which was going to be released in a few months.
Dave and Sam were working on the casting. The actors we agreed upon before had all signed on; Tom Hanks had greatly helped with that. He was committed to making this movie, and with the financial backing of Henry, we decided to cast more A-list actors, but that was not my concern now. Dave and Sam were handling it.
Now I was on my way to the offices of my publishing company with Matt to see the first physical copy of Invincible.
Matt and I approached the sleek glass doors of Infinite World Publishing's offices. Matt was excited; he was practically bouncing into the building.
"We actually did it!" Matt exclaimed.
I smiled and clapped him on the back as we entered the cool, air-conditioned lobby. "If it weren't for you, my friend, it wouldn't have been possible," I replied.
As we waited for the elevator, Matt continued, "All my online friends are hyped about the comic. Even the forums I lurk on are buzzing about it." His smile faded slightly as he added, "But there are also quite a few negative responses... it's a bit disheartening, you know?"
I looked at him, seeing the downturn in his expression. "Matt, they're just trolls and old comic purists who resist any new entries into the genre. Don't let them get to you. The important thing is that we're bringing something new and exciting to the table."
Matt nodded, taking a deep breath as the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. "You're right, Daniel. Thanks, man."
"Come on, let's go wait in Lucy's office," I said, leading him into the office. Lucy was not there yet; we sat on the couch talking about my plans to buy the rights to DC characters and start a cinematic universe.
"So, how's it going with Nebula? Any progress with acquiring DC characters?" Matt asked.
"It's going well," I replied, leaning back against the soft cushions. "They've been quite responsive to our inquiries. There's a good chance we could secure the rights."
"I bet you'll get them. Nebula is nearly bankrupt, right? They'd be foolish not to sell."
"Yeah, we have to move fast, though we have a deadline," I replied, remembering Iron Man was coming out sometime this year. Matt knew what I was talking about; I had told him Jon Favreau was working on an Iron Man movie.
"Are you sure it'll be that big? I mean, Iron Man isn't exactly top-tier. I mean, Spider-Man I can understand," Matt questioned, skepticism lacing his voice.
Before I could answer, the door swung open, and Lucy walked in.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, guys," she said with a cheerful smile. "Had to handle a last-minute crisis."
"No worries, Lucy," I replied, standing to greet her.
"Oh, and Matt, great to see you again. Loved the portrait you did of me," Lucy said, shaking Matt's hand.
"So where is it?" I asked.
Lucy opened the suitcase she was carrying. "Here you go, the very first off the press," Lucy announced, handing the copy to Matt.
Matt took the comic with trembling hands, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Well, I'll be damned," he muttered, still in disbelief.
"It looks great," I replied, clapping Matt on the shoulder, sharing in the joy of our accomplishment.
Lucy, meanwhile, started discussing the logistics of the launch. "The marketing campaign is picking up steam," she began, her voice business-like as she pulled out her laptop to show some graphs and numbers. "We're seeing a lot of interest online."
She scrolled through a digital calendar, highlighting key dates. "We have several conventions lined up from May. It's going to be busy."
"Of course it is," I said, sighing.
She ignored me and continued, "Matt, we'll need to get you some media training before then."
Matt, still half-absorbed in flipping through the pages of their comic, nodded absentmindedly. "Yeah, sure, media training sounds good," he said, his attention still on the colorful panels.
"So, while Matt admires his art, why don't we talk about my schedule for next month?" I said, changing the subject.
Lucy laid out the schedule on her desk, pointing to various events marked across the next month. "You've got a pretty packed month ahead with the book event in Boston and several others. Have you cleared all these dates with your school?"
"Yeah, I've taken care of it," I replied, scanning the calendar. Each day seemed filled with commitments.
Lucy's voice softened. "I know it's a lot, Daniel, but this is part of your life now."
"Yeah, after this I have the promotional thing with Toy Story 2," I said as I read through the schedule. I already felt exhausted just reading it.
"It's just that it's taking a toll on my personal life too. Haven't had much time with Haley, Mom, or Alice lately," I added.
Lucy gave a sympathetic nod. "It's tough, but you'll find a balance."
"Yeah," I sighed, acknowledging the truth in her words. I glanced over at Matt, who was completely absorbed in flipping through the comic, a look of awe on his face.
"Maybe you should take a long vacation after all this is done," Lucy suggested, mirroring my earlier thoughts about her own recent break.
I chuckled, "I wish. That sounds perfect."
"Hey, it was great for me. Don't burn out. You've got to recharge, too," Lucy advised.
I nodded, appreciating her concern. "I'll think about it, thanks, Lucy."
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I enjoyed the Q&A sessions at the fan events I attended because interacting with people was fun, and time seemed to pass quickly. I stood on the stage of the event held in Boston in a modest convention hall filled with Percy Jackson fans. Many cosplayed as their favorite characters, while others donned t-shirts featuring iconic symbols and quotes from the series. Percy Jackson merch was very popular nowadays.
The room was decorated with banners of Camp Half-Blood and various Greek gods. I scanned the crowd, waiting for the next question. A fan girl in her late teens, dressed as Annabeth and complete with a handmade replica of her celestial bronze knife, stepped forward.
"So my question is... what are your plans after this series is done? Will you start another volume of Percy Jackson?"
The room fell silent; every attendee waited for my response. "Well, right now I'm working on the last book of the series. After that, I have a whole new series planned, but it's not related to Percy Jackson."
A mixture of surprise and disappointment rippled through the audience, sparking whispers and speculative murmurs. I continued, "It's very different from Percy Jackson," I chuckled, "and definitely not for kids. So, I think the adults in the room are going to love it."
This remark stirred more murmurs across the hall. The moderator, sensing the heightened interest, quickly followed up. "Can you give us a hint about what to expect from this new series?"
"It's high fantasy—darker, more violent—so that's why I meant it's not for you kids," I chuckled. "I will release more info next year. Let's talk more about Percy Jackson. Forget I mentioned this."
The next person stepped forward, a boy in his early teens.
"I have a theory I'd like to share with everyone, and especially with you, Daniel," the boy said, his voice quivering slightly. He shuffled his papers, then looked up, his eyes meeting mine.
I leaned into the microphone with a playful smile. "Okay, let's hear it."
The fan took a deep breath and began, "In your recent book, there's a new demigod who appears briefly—his name is Daniel, too." Murmurs rippled through the crowd as they listened. "I believe this character is based on you, Daniel. Am I right?"
I chuckled, nodding. "Yes, you caught me. That character is based on me."
The audience laughed along, but the boy wasn't finished. He straightened his papers with a serious expression. "But there's more. I've read all your books, and I've come to a conclusion that the events in your books... they're all real. Daniel, I believe you're a real demigod and you're writing about events you've actually witnessed."
The room fell into a stunned silence for a moment before whispers began to circulate.
'What the fuck?' I thought; this was new, but I decided to play along.
"Oh, you got me there. So, what makes you think all this is real?" I asked.
The fan eagerly dove into his explanation, pointing out various 'clues' he had deciphered from the books, connecting mythical elements with real-world locations and events. His lecture was detailed, pointing to specific pages and quotes, drawing speculative looks and chuckles from the audience.
'Wow, he really is serious,' I thought as I listened to the boy.
The fan concluded, his eyes alight with fervor. "All these elements—when you piece them together—suggest that these aren't just stories. They're a retelling of actual events, witnessed and perhaps even participated in by you, Daniel, a modern-day demigod among us, chronicling the age-old battle between gods and titans through a lens accessible to us mere mortals."
"Well, that was something," I said with a dry tone; this elicited a laugh from the audience. I did not know how to deal with this; maybe I should just call the next person over.
The audience started heckling the boy; one girl even asked for more evidence, making fun of him, but the boy continued.
"And another key piece of evidence," he declared.
'Oh, he is not done,' I thought as I made eye contact with the moderator.
"Just like the demigods in the book, Daniel does not know his own father." The room filled with a mixture of gasps and murmurs at this bold statement.
I froze for a moment but quickly recovered from the boy's statement, chuckling awkwardly as I waved the remark off.
"Wow, you really did go there, didn't you?" I said, trying to sound as light-hearted as possible, trying not to bring down the mood.
"I can assure everyone here, my life is definitely not as exciting as my books. I'm just a regular guy who loves mythology, not a demigod. But I appreciate the creativity and thought you've put into your theory!" My response drew laughter and some relieved chuckles from the audience.
"Next," I called, trying to show I was not bothered by the boy's final statement, but deep down, I felt like an old wound had been reopened.
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