Marvel-less Comics presents:
The X-creators in:
A Day in the Marvel Building
By Laney

SCENE: The Marvel Building. Joe Kelly and Steve Seagle are at work.

(enter Bob Harras and Mark Powers)

Harras: What do you think you're doing sitting around here guys?

Seagle: Were.. uh. we.. We're writing the books.

Harras: BAH! Do we pay you to do that?!? Certainly not! You can't trust them to take care of anything, these days, can you, Mark?

Powers (snatching the scripts from Kelly and Seagle's hands): And what do you call this? This is not a script. First of all, there's no need for characterization, it's not simplistic enough for our readers. Run along and play with Deadpool while I make the appropriate changes. Juggernaut a mutant. At least they got that right...

(Kelly leaves the room as he's ordered. Seagle follows. Brandon Peterson and Chris Bachalo walk by)

Harras (holding up a paper): PETERSON! Do you know what this is?

Peterson: Uh... I... no.

Harras: Shall we show him, Powers?

Powers: It's a letter from Jonathan Freedman of San Francisco, CA. >Ahem< (reading)

"DEAR EDITORS, I'M WRITING BECAUSE I'M UPSET ABOUT THE WAY YOU HAVE RECENTLY DECIDED TO WRITE THE BOOKS..." blah blah blah blah blah... Anyway, here's the important part. "ROGUE HAS BECOME A TAD BORING, LATELY." Do you know what that means, Peterson?

Peterson: Not really.

Powers: That means that YOU are changing the costume right NOW!!

Bachalo & Peterson: Bbbbut--

Harras: NO BUTS!! There's a reason Marvel is the #1 comic industry, and I'm it. Follow my orders and we'll stay #1. Now back to your quarters. Mark, summon the Laborers.

Powers: SEAGLE! KELLY!! Did we say you could leave?

Harras: Tell us who Joseph is!

(the two propose their well-thought, well-written idea)

Harras: THAT'S IT?!?! Out!!! Out out OUT!!!

Powers: Every fanboy on the face of the Earth knows that Joseph is a clone, but nooooooo, they had to be original. They had to be innovative. They had to be different.

Harras: *sigh* Get Alan Davis on the phone. I don't have the time for this!

(The end of the day. The X-men have yet another creative team and the editors celebrate yet another victory)

Powers: Wow. It sure feels great to be me. To know that every day I make the X-men a better book. Imagine what the fans out there are saying about me? They love me. I've made their book the best book in the industry, and I make it better with every issue.

Harras: Yes, Mark. They love us. That's why Marvel Comics is the #1 industry. Never forget that.

The End?