171: Redoing my Life, Comic Con 2013

Comic-Con was always a spectacle, but this year, it felt bigger than ever. The massive success of The Batman had catapulted DC Studios into the stratosphere, and there was a buzz in the air—anticipation for what we planned to announce. Marvel was here too, unveiling their Phase 2, but for us, it was time to reveal the rest of our own Phase 1—what followed Wonder Woman and The Batman.

As I walked through the bustling halls of the convention, I took in the chaos around me. Massive banners hung from the ceiling, showcasing upcoming movies, TV shows, and comics. Giant booths displayed everything from superhero merch to limited-edition collectibles. Cosplayers filled every inch of the place—some even dressed as our version of Batman.

“Daniel! You’re a legend, man!” someone shouted.

I chuckled and gave a small wave as I continued, security guiding me toward the VIP lounge. People snapped pictures, while others just called out their appreciation.

Inside the lounge, celebrities, directors, and executives milled about, chatting over drinks and preparing for their panels. The superhero era of Hollywood was in full swing. I thanked security and was about to walk in, suddenly, two massive, muscular arms grabbed me from behind.

“Whoa, whoa!” I yelped, immediately recognizing the vice grip. “Put me down, Joe!”

Joe Manganiello let out a hearty laugh as he set me back on my feet. “I’ve been waiting for you, man. You’re late!”

I turned to face him, shaking my head. The dude was a tank. “Yeah, yeah,” I said, catching my breath. “Had some last-minute work on my new book.”

Joe grinned and clapped me on the back. “I gotta say, you’ve been on fire. The Batman was insane.”

I hadn’t played D&D with Joe and the gang for two months, though I planned to return soon. “Appreciate it,” I said as we headed to a seating area. We sat down, and I glanced at my watch. I still had some time before the DC event.

I smirked at Joe as I leaned back in my seat. “So, are you going to that horse thing Shatner invited us to?”

Joe groaned, shaking his head. “If you’re game, I’ll go. I just don’t want to be the only one there.”

I chuckled. “That man is way too obsessed with horses. Remember how he never shut up about them during our games?”

Joe laughed. “Dude, every conversation somehow turns into horses. And I thought he was shifting more of his focus to D&D.”

I snorted, then noticed the shift in Joe’s tone as he leaned in slightly. “By the way,” he said, lowering his voice, “that thing we talked about—is it actually happening?”

I grinned. “Yes.”

Joe’s face lit up in pure excitement. “Are you serious?”

I nodded. “If Deathstroke is planned to appear in the DCU, then you’re getting cast.”

Joe’s grin widened, and he clapped his hands together. “First of all, thank you. This is literally a dream come true. Second—Deathstroke needs to appear! Maybe in the next Batman movie?”

I shook my head. “No, no. That movie is for the Joker.”

Joe immediately put his hands over his ears. “No, no, no—don’t spoil it! I want to experience it.”

I laughed. “Fine, fine. But I do have an idea for Deathstroke to make a cameo before playing a major role. I’ll work it out in the future.”

Joe nodded, looking like a kid on Christmas morning. “I trust you, man. Seriously, I can’t wait for the announcement you guys have planned.”

I leaned in. “I could just tell you now, Joe.”

“No, no!” He waved his hands dramatically. “Let me see it from the audience.”

I burst into laughter. “Sure, man. Whatever floats your boat.”

====

Joe and I went our separate ways as the DC event drew closer. I was about to head toward Dave and the rest of the team when I noticed a very familiar redhead striding toward me with a wide grin. She wore a sleek gray dress—elegant yet casual—and her red hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders. That smirk of hers —oh, that smirk....

“You stay away from me,” I said, taking a step back in mock caution.

Scarlett placed a hand over her heart, feigning offense. “Aww, what’s wrong, Danny? I thought we were friends,” she said in that distinctive, raspy voice.

I crossed my arms. “You know what you did.”

She laughed, tossing her hair. “Okay, seriously, I haven’t seen you in months, and this is how you greet me?”

I sighed, rolling my eyes. “Fine. It’s good to see you too.”

She beamed. “There we go. Was that so hard?”

I glanced around. “Is he with you?”

Scarlett smirked. “Nope.”

“Good,” I muttered.

She let out an exasperated sigh. “This whole thing is so stupid.”

“That’s what you think.”

“That’s what everyone thinks,” she countered, placing her hands on her hips. “It’s ridiculous what he’s planning to do.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What’s Reynolds planning to do?”

Scarlett let out a dramatic groan. “You know what? I’m not even going to tell you. You two just—just do whatever you want.”

Before I could press her further, I heard a familiar voice to my side.

“Traitor.”

I turned and gasped slightly. Robert Downey Jr. was strolling toward us, dressed in a casually expensive suit with sunglasses perched on his face like he’d stepped out of a high-fashion commercial. I felt a brief flicker of starstruck awe—because no matter how successful I’d become, this was Robert freakin’ Downey Jr. I’d been a big fan in my previous life, and he was one of the few stars I would still fanboy over.

“You must be the famous Daniel Adler,” he said, extending a hand with a smirk. His tone was playful but assessing.

I grinned and shook his hand. “And you’re Robert Downey Jr.”

He nodded, then tilted his head toward Scarlett. “Missy here has been very complimentary of you. Suspiciously complimentary, actually. And I’m pretty sure she’s the spy in our little corporate rivalry.”

Scarlett smirked. “Guilty as charged.”

Robert chuckled and folded his arms. “Y’know, Adler, you’ve made things interesting. Before, we were just cruising—unchallenged, undisputed. But now? Now there’s actual heat. And I gotta say
 I like it. Keeps us sharp. Steel sharpens steel, or whatever the saying is.”

I smirked. “There can only be one winner.”

Robert’s eyebrows shot up. “Ohhh, so that’s how it is for you too?”

“That’s how it is.”

A beat of silence passed as we locked eyes. Then, Robert burst into laughter, clapping me on the shoulder. “I like you, kid. You’ve got moxie. We should talk more. Can I call you Daniel? You can call me Robert—or RDJ, whichever works. Just don’t call me Bobby.”

I chuckled. “Sure, you can call me Daniel, Robert.”

I glanced at my watch—time was flying. “Alright, I gotta go. My panel is about to start.”

As I turned to leave, Robert called out, “Hey! Just don’t release anything when my third movie comes out.”

I turned back, smirking. “No guarantees.”

Robert grinned. “Worth a shot!” he said, throwing up his hands.

=====

I stood backstage, hands in my pockets, taking slow, steady breaths. The energy in Hall H was electric—I could feel the hum of thousands of people waiting, anticipating, and ready. For the past hour, I’d been going through the motions with the event coordinators. They’d briefed me—again—on what I already knew from weeks of meetings. Dave would open the show, talk about The Batman’s success, and then introduce me. That’s when the real show would begin: the official roadmap for the DCU’s future.

I glanced at Dave.

“I still think you should be the one doing this,” I said.

Dave smirked. “Daniel, you have become the face of this whole thing. The fans love you. You’re the guy.”

I sighed, shaking my head. “Great. No pressure at all. If anything goes wrong, I’ll be the first—”

“—to be blamed,” Dave finished with a grin.

I laughed. “You fucker
”

“ Thankfully, nothing will go wrong as long as I have this job, after all.” I added with my usual confidence.

He chuckled. “That’s the Adler bravado we all know and love.”

From the stage, the host finished his intro, and the crowd erupted as Dave walked out. I waited at the side, watching the screens as Dave took the mic. The noise was deafening.

“Comic-Con!” Dave called out, waiting for the cheers to subside. “Let me just start by saying
 thank you.”

More applause.

“You guys are the lifeblood of this. You’re the ones who showed up, believed in us, and supported our labor of love with your enthusiasm, your passion, and
 your money—”

Laughter from the crowd.

“—and we’re here today to reward that. Because this—” he gestured to the massive screens behind him, “—is just the beginning.”

The cheering started again. I knew my cue was coming.

Dave glanced toward the side of the stage. “And there’s one man in particular who’s been at the center of all this. He’s the reason we’re even here talking about a DC Universe today.”

I took one last breath.

Dave turned back to the crowd, his voice booming over the mic. “San Diego, please welcome the man himself—Daniel Adler!”

The thunder of applause and cheers shook the walls. I walked out and, for a moment, just stood there, taking it all in—the roar of thousands of fans, some on their feet, some chanting, cameras flashing, and the energy surging through the room like a living, breathing thing.

I raised my hands, a wide grin on my face. “Thank you, thank you,” I said over the cheers. “Thank you all.”

The applause slowly died down, though the energy in Hall H was still palpable.

“Well, here we are,” I said, taking a step forward. “You guys know me—I’m the guy who likes to get right to the point. Show you what you came here to see, then make the long speeches.”

A wave of oooohs rippled through the audience.

I held up a hand. “No, that wasn’t a dig at Kevin Feige.”

Laughter erupted.

“All right, let’s get to it,” I said, turning and pointing to the massive screen behind me.

The DCU timeline appeared, showing The Batman with its release date—May 4, 2013.

I took a deep breath. “First, I’d like to officially announce the release dates for Wonder Woman and Superman.”

The screen glitched slightly before shifting. A new title appeared—WONDER WOMAN—in bold gold letters against a dark blue background. Beneath it, a date materialized:

MAY 2, 2014

The roar of the crowd was massive, nearly drowning out my voice. I let it continue for a few moments before gesturing for them to settle.

“All right, all right, but we’re not done yet,” I teased.

Another shift on the screen. This time, an even bigger title emerged:

SUPERMAN

The Man of Steel’s iconic emblem shimmered in red and gold, followed by:

NOVEMBER 7, 2014

The cheers were even louder this time.

“So there you have it—the Trinity is complete. On May 3rd, 2014, you’ll see Wonder Woman on the big screen for the first time, played by the beautiful Alexandra Daddario. Production is going quite smoothly, if I may add, and in less than a year after that, you’ll be able to enjoy what we’ve cooked up for Superman.”

I grinned. “I don’t really have to say much about the next one—it’s Superman. I’ve written the script myself with Scott Snyder, and I promise you, I will do him justice.”

"I know you guys already love our pick for Superman. Believe it or not, Henry is one of us. You may not believe me, but he actually missed the call informing him that he was going to be Superman because he was playing World of Warcraft. So yeah, I think Superman is in good hands."

“And now,” I said, speaking over the roaring applause, “what’s next?”

The cheers simmered down just enough for me to continue.

“Like I said, the Trinity is complete,” I declared. “So the next film? It’s a sequel—one I’m sure you’re all dying to see, especially after that ending.”

Before I could even finish, a wave of voices shouted from the audience—

“Batman!”

I smirked. “Yeah, you already know.”

The room went dark. For a moment, there was only silence. Then, on the screen—a deep, ominous boom. A bat symbol slowly faded in, surrounded by shadows, before bold letters appeared beneath it:

THE DARK KNIGHT

Then: MARCH 6, 2015

The Hall H crowd erupted in thunderous cheers. The title slid onto the timeline behind me, settling in after Superman.

I grinned. “Now, some people might say I have a bit of a bias toward Batman
” I paused, then shrugged. “You know what? I do have a bias for Batman. I’m making, like, five—six movies with him.”

The audience roared.

“LET’S GOOO!” someone shouted.

I laughed. “Exactly.”

Taking a step forward, I let the excitement settle before continuing. “All right, now let’s bring it back. Next up, releasing on July 3, 2015
”

The screen went black once again. A single golden-red lightning bolt crackled across the darkness. Then:

THE FLASH

The audience went wild.

“The Fastest Man Alive,” I announced as the title moved onto the timeline. Applause echoed throughout the hall.

“Now, let me just say something about Barry Allen—this guy? He’s the heart of the Justice League. He’s smart, compassionate, and always tries to do the right thing, no matter what. A very important character for the DCU moving forward.”

A few fans cheered in agreement.

The room went dark again, and the screen lit up with the title for Aquaman, accompanied by a trident symbol shimmering against a dark backdrop. Below it, the release date March 25, 2016 locked it into the DCU’s growing timeline.

The crowd erupted, and I raised my hands with a smirk. “The King of Atlantis!”

As the cheers died down slightly, I continued, “Look, all I’ll say is that I plan to make Aquaman great again.”

“FUCK YEAH!” one man yelled.

Laughter rippled through the audience, and I grinned. “He’s been ridiculed for far too long. Arthur Curry is a king, a warrior, and one of the most powerful heroes in the DC Universe. The man is a badass, and I will rehabilitate his image.”

More cheers followed as I gestured to the screen once more.

The room went dark again. A bright emerald glow illuminated the screen, revealing a sleek, metallic Green Lantern emblem, followed by the release date: July 1, 2016.

The crowd exploded with cheers, and I nodded. “Yeah, I figured you’d like that one.”

I paused, taking in the excitement before speaking again. “I’m not going to say too much about this movie, to be honest. We’ve just started writing it.”

That was a slight lie—only The Flash and Batman 2 had begun serious writing.

“I’ll let Dave explain more—he does the boring stuff.”

A ripple of laughter spread through the crowd.

“Let’s move on,” I said, taking a deep breath and stepping forward. I let the audience settle for a moment.

“All right,” I said, smirking. “I think you all know what the final one is. Marvel had its big moment this year, but ours?” I paused for effect, then pointed at the screen. “Ours comes on May 4, 2017.”

The room went dark. A remixed version of a JLA theme played, and then the title appeared:

JUSTICE LEAGUE

The audience erupted in cheers—deafening, shaking the very walls of Hall H.

One by one, images flashed on the screen:

• Batman

• Superman

• Wonder Woman

• The Flash

• Aquaman

• Green Lantern

• Martian Manhunter

The crowd roared, fans screaming, jumping, losing their minds. Some stood on chairs; others held their heads in shock. Phones flashed everywhere, recording the moment.

I smiled, letting the excitement swell. Hall H was practically shaking with pure energy. Finally, I stepped back to the mic and simply said:

“Oh, and here’s a small teaser for Wonder Woman.”

Hall H. Lost. Its. Mind.

.

.

.