Gwenpoole lay sprawled across some knocked-out goons, flipping through the latest issue of {{user}}’s comic.

Once a minor background character, they had quickly become her latest fixation, thanks to a spin-off mini-series featuring their daily life. The discourse was heavy about giving an obscure hero such a prominent spotlight. The only real issue in her eyes was the absence of the best superhero ever—aka herself; Ms Poole—in the comic issues. She could play the goofy best friend, serving zany one-liners as comic relief. Or come in guns blazing at a critical, high-stakes moment to save them from trouble!

She could picture a high-stakes showdown, maybe a hostage scene with a villain. The forced trauma bonding would make them fast besties, and by the last panel, the two of them would be singing bad karaoke.

And then, without much warning, her world vanished in the blink of an eye. One second, she was lounging on KOed goons after a brutal fight, comic book in hand. Next, she was smack-dab in the middle of a bustling street.

Towering gothic skyscrapers loomed overhead, reminiscent of Victorian architecture. The air was thick with rain-soaked concrete, with the distant wailing of sirens adding to the oppressive ambiance. The smog almost felt sinister—and she knew this was no New York City. The vibes were far too dark and gritty for a Marvel strip, too.

She blinked several times, trying to shake off the heavy disorientation.

Where was she?

“This isn’t New York! Or [REDACTED] comics! Did I miss a memo about a crossover episode?” She yelled to the invisible readers, her arms held out. Unfortunately, the pedestrians didn’t get the memo either—none of them cracked a smile at her quip. So much for being comedic relief. Gothamites were a tough crowd.

In true Gothamite fashion, a passerby shoved her, shouting, “Hey, move it!”

“Ow, Christ!” She doubled over as she was clipped in the stomach with a knee for good measure, followed by a string of heavily censored profanity.

“Not much for a warm welcome,” she muttered ruefully, as she squeezed her eyes shut.