"A true hero does not act for glory, but for sacrifice."
The moment Professor Brink stepped onto the stage, dressed impeccably in a suit and brimming with charisma, he uttered the very aphorism that countless people hailed as a classic.
Then he gave a slight shrug and added with humorous ease, "Of course, that is a topic for *Hero Ethics*, though it happens to be my favorite... I know what you want to ask. Yes, I love it even more than my wife. I'd say the same thing even if she were standing right here.
"However, what we are here to discuss today is *Hero Brand Marketing*. So, back to the subject: does anyone know why this course exists? Why should a superhero have anything to do with brand marketing?"
Quite a few hands shot up.
Professor Brink first glanced over at Qi Li, who remained unfazed and was exchanging looks with Kate. After sighing inwardly, *Ah, to be young,* he called on Luke.
Luke answered earnestly, "Because superheroes need fame, and fame itself cannot be separated from brand marketing."
Professor Brink offered a knowing smile and pressed further. "Then why should a superhero chase fame like an actor or a singer? Shouldn't a superhero's real job be fighting crime and saving the world?"
Luke was caught off guard, at a loss for words.
From childhood onward, Luke had been immersed in a world where superheroes appeared on talk shows, endorsed all kinds of products, and starred in their own feature films. These had long become second nature.
Nobody considered these superheroes neglectful of their duties.
On the contrary, greater fame only served as further proof of their greatness.
At that moment, not only Luke was stunned; a wave of confusion washed over the rest of the class as well.
Qi Li, on the other hand, cast an intrigued glance at the professor on the podium.
Then he heard Professor Brink ask again, "Does anyone know when the earliest superheroes came into being?"
A student answered, "World War II, Professor. Soldier Boy led the Allied forces landing at Normandy."
Professor Brink nodded. "That's right. Soldier Boy, America's pride of the last century, and a household-name superhero during World War II. He was strong—immensely strong. But to all the future superheroes sitting here today: do you believe that he alone could have wiped out the Nazi regime?"
As superhumans, the young people in the classroom were confident in their powers, but the idea of one person taking down an entire nation still struck them as sheer fantasy. Even Soldier Boy could never have accomplished that.
Someone in the back muttered softly, "Homelander could."
Professor Brink pretended not to hear and continued, "A superhero's individual strength is limited, but the superhero brand brings boundless value.
"During World War II, Soldier Boy toured the nation giving speeches to packed houses everywhere. He didn't just boost the public's fighting spirit to carry on; he also brought in tens of billions in donations, and one million young men were inspired by Soldier Boy to eagerly enlist.
"That is the massive benefit brought by a superhero's fame! It contributes far more to society than running off to take down some lone criminal ever could.
"Of course, I'm not saying fighting criminals is unimportant. Rather, it's about pursuing a more proper, more efficient method."
Professor Brink opened his hands, patiently elaborating, "For example, bring a camera crew with you to document your heroic exploits from start to finish. That way, not only will your fame rise, but the public will also get to see what happens to criminals, spreading proper values even more effectively.
"The number of superheroes is small, but a superhero's fame is infinite.
"To fight crime, to spread positive values, to save the world... and, of course, for yourselves. After all, America is the land of liberty; superheroes are entitled to enjoy the good life, too."
Cheering and applause immediately erupted from the room.
Once the excitement settled down, Professor Brink concluded in his steady, resonant voice:
"Fame is your personal brand. Future superheroes sitting before me, you must cherish your fame just as you cherish your lovers and parents. It is the benchmark of your superhero career. And the purpose of this course, *Hero Brand Marketing*, is precisely to teach you how to build that popularity!"
Passionate applause echoed through the lecture hall.
Luke looked flushed with excitement, Jordan gazed at Professor Brink with sheer admiration, and Kate wore a thoughtful expression.
Qi Li was also among those clapping.
He had to admit, the superhero industry in this world was able to flourish so extensively partly because of this theoretical foundation—specious as it was, it held some twisted logic.
How many criminals could a single superhero fight in a lifetime?
Yet, backed by a superhero's fame, entire emerging industries revolving around them could be generated. This meant not just hundreds of billions in profit, but also countless new jobs and a boost to the GDP.
And the crime-fighting still continued, even with wider publicity.
Wasn't that great?
Born-and-raised superhumans like Luke, Jordan, and Maverick all thought Professor Brink gave a fantastic lecture—that this was how superheroes were supposed to be.
Qi Li, meanwhile, was wondering what the Marvel and DC superheroes would think if they heard this nonsense. They'd probably be dropping their jaws in utter disbelief.
When a superhero poured their focus into fame and making a fortune, how much genuine dedication to fighting crime could remain?
Especially when the whole thing was controlled by corporate capital conglomerates.
Unlike Hollywood films, which didn't even dare to write the words "down with capitalism."
Qi Li understood the ways of capitalism all too well.
Fortunately, he wasn't someone who would jump through hoops or sacrifice himself for the American people.
Nor did the American people need him to.
Having long become part of the vested interest group and currently living quite comfortably, he might complain in his head, but he had zero interest in smashing his own rice bowl to start a revolution.
If he really did that, someone would just hit him with: "What kind of American are you?"
How on earth would he answer that?
Having explained the significance of the course, Professor Brink pointed to the large screen behind him.
Yellowed newspapers and magazines detailing stories about "Payback" appeared on the display.
In a relaxed posture, he walked over to the front row and casually perched on the edge of the long desk, gazing at the weathered, vintage images on the screen before speaking:
"Different eras call for different brand marketing for superheroes. Take the most popular superhero team back then—Payback, which Soldier Boy belonged to. Even though television already existed, the mainstream promotion was still through newspapers and magazines. But today, things are different."
As his words fell, the display shifted, revealing familiar platforms: the Vought network, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, major television networks, streaming services, movies, and numerous other social media outlets.
Professor Brink looked out at the students. "With technological advancement and the ubiquity of the internet, superhero brand marketing has not only diversified, but fame accumulates far faster than in the past. A single viral event is enough to turn you into a household-name superhero. By the same token, an equally minor misstep could completely ruin your fame and banish you from the public eye forever.
"As for how to effectively prevent and handle PR disasters that damage your personal brand, I will cover that in detail in upcoming classes.
"As for now..."
Professor Brink gave a confident smile.
"I'm going to teach you how to market your own personal brand from the ground up."
Chapter 20