In Manhattan, New York, Marvel Comics headquarters, Avi Arad is on the phone with Arthur Macomb, who is far away in Los Angeles.

Since becoming Marvel Comics Chairman and CEO, Avi Arad's hairline has been backing every quarter, from last year to backing every month, with less hair on his head and almost completely bald on his forehead.

Avi Arad hung up the phone and looked at Marvel Comics' first quarter financial statements in 2004. He was very sure of one thing. If Marvel continued like this, he would probably become bald in at most two years.

The financial statements are nothing, they lose as much as before. Although the loss amount is not high, and it is less than ten million US dollars in a single quarter, Marvel Comics can no longer afford to lose.

With the current situation of Marvel Comics, it lost tens of millions of dollars in a single quarter and it was just a breakup.

Avi Arad put down his financial statements and began to consider continuing to lay off employees. The comic creation department now mainly adopts an external creation model, which does not require so many employees, leaving only a dozen people is enough.

In terms of external creation, in addition to "Spider-Man" and "X-Men", which have a joint effect due to movies, other comics are so poor that they can't bear to watch them. The more they create, the more they print and release, the more they lose.

You can cut off most of the comics created by external contracts, but you can't sell them anyway.

Correspondingly, the distribution department does not need so many people.

There is also the copyright department. Marvel Comics has thousands of comic characters, but they can’t even handle copyright mortgage loans and adapted copyrights. Except for a few elites, what’s the use of keeping others?

Avi Arad has long reached an agreement with the board of directors, and Marvel Comics is imperative to lay off employees.

Marvel Comics must lose weight so that they can persist for a longer period of time. Only by surviving the cold winter of the comics industry can they be reborn.

Avi Arad sent two emails to the personnel director in succession, asking the affairs department to determine the scope of layoffs and promote the layoffs as soon as possible.

It's really undesirable.

Avi Arad had many hopes, but in the end they all turned into disappointment. There were many disappointments and there was no other way to go. I wanted to hold on to a little hope.

He now hopes that Arthur Macomb can get a good result.

It is best if the 20th Century Fox pays the bill in advance, and it will make up a lot of money for the copyright transaction of "Fantastic Four" that year.

In that case, coupled with the copyright owners of the upcoming Spider-Man 2, Marvel Comics can at least survive this year.

As for the loan from Citibank that expires next year, we can only talk about it next year.

The same is true for poor people and short-sighted ambitions in the company.

What Marvel Comics considers the most most important thing now is the most basic survival issue.

The knock on the door sounded softly, interrupting his thoughts. Avi Arad said with a little displeasure: "Come in."

The female secretary wearing a fitted skirt pushed the door and said, "Chairman, Mr. Fionster of Citibank is here and wants to see you."

This is the lender, Avi Arad didn't want to see him, so he waved his hand: "Let him go to the Finance Department."

The female secretary reminded as gentle as possible: "He said it was about loans and must talk to you."

Marvel Comics has always wanted to mortgage the copyright of some of the remaining comic characters to Citibank to raise more funds. Avi Arad thought the matter had made progress and said, "Let him come here."

As soon as Fernst, wearing gold-rimmed glasses entered the office, Avi Arad enthusiastically printed and shook hands, saying, "Why does Mr. Fernst have time to come today?"

At the warm invitation of Avi Arad, Fionster sat on the sofa in the office and said with a serious expression: "As the direct person in charge, I must explain some things to Mr. Arad."

Seeing Fionster's expression, Avi Arad's little hope and fantasy just now disappeared without a trace, and it was impossible to make a mortgage loan.

"Please say." Avi Arad's heart was sinking.

Feinster said slowly: "I came here to inform Mr. Arad that the $40 million loan provided by Citibank to Marvel Comics will be recovered within this month."

Speaking of this, he took out an official document from his briefcase and handed it to Avi Arad: "This is a notice, and you still have two weeks to repay the loan."

When I saw "Spider-Man" selling well at the box office, Citibank thought Marvel Comics would be running, so he provided a loan.

Avi Arad took it and looked it up, his heart continued to sink, touched the bright light's shiny forehead, and said with some luck: "No, according to the loan agreement, this loan will not expire until June next year."

"There are additional terms in the agreement. If Marvel Comics' operations exceed the cordon set by Citibank, Citibank has the right to request Marvel Comics to repay in advance."

Avi Arad's luck disappeared and his heart sank to the bottom.

Feinst solemnly said: "Mr. Arad, Marvel Comics is a listed company. According to your first quarter financial report released by you, Marvel Comics has suffered continuous losses. We seriously doubt the repayment ability of Marvel Comics. In order to ensure the interests of Citibank, we activate the additional terms of Articles 7 and 8 of the loan agreement, requiring Comic Comics to repay the loan two weeks after receiving the notice."

Avi Arad quickly said: "Two weeks are too tight..."

Marvel has some other small loans, but the main debt is this 40 million.

"Sorry, Mr. Arad." Feinst did not give Avi Arad any bargaining opportunity at all: "I just served the notice and had no right to decide."

He stood up and said, "The company has something to do, so I'll leave first."

There was no need for Avi Arad to get up and see him off. Feinst quickly walked out of the office and left Marvel Comics directly.

This comic company cannot find investors with sufficient strength, and it will not take long to become history.

Perhaps some people may jump out to take over the copyrights of movies such as "X-Men" and "Spider-Man".

That would be the best, and it would also avoid the bank from taking compulsory measures, after all, that is the last option.

In the office, Avi Arad's face was gloomy and called the female secretary, saying coldly: "Notify the directors of various departments and the board members to have a meeting. I don't care where they are. I must rush back tomorrow. Those who don't come will submit their resignation themselves!"

The female secretary was frightened and quickly went to do her job.

Avi Arad knew very well that Marvel Comics had reached a time of life and death.

After calming down a little, he held the last little hope and called Arthur Macomb again. Twentieth Century Fox was still talking, and there was no definite news for the time being.

In just two weeks, Marvel Comics may not be able to wait for Twentieth Century Fox to compromise.

The method used by Marvel Comics to limit the 20th Century Fox will take several months or even half a year to truly produce results.

There is not so much time.

The funds, just a $40 million loan, forced the once-popular comic giant to a desperate situation.

Avi Arad closed his eyes. Will Marvel Comics take the last step? Selling hard assets? Marvel also has a peripheral toy and doll manufacturer, which should be able to raise 20 million US dollars if sold.

But this is not enough, and this is the most important fixed asset, just like Marvel Comics' headquarters in Manhattan. It loses the production capacity of peripheral products when sold, which means that Marvel Comics will have a chance to turn around in the future.

There is also the office building of the headquarters.

Selling a toy factory and headquarters office building can raise $40 million. What is the difference between Marvel Comics and the end?

Avi Arad picked up the phone, called, and contacted digital senior executives of Citibank, but there was no good news. Citibank had only one attitude - loan collection!

In Century City, Jim Bross once again sent Arthur Macomb out of the reception room and returned to the office.

The assistant followed into the office: "Boss, New York has just called and Citibank officially issued a notice to Marvel Comics to withdraw a loan!"

Jim Bros nodded and said, "Don't relax in PR work there, it's related to the benefits of the two series of movies." He thought for a while and said, "In addition, next time Arthur Macom comes over, you are responsible for the reception, find a way to drag it on for a while, and then he can do whatever he wants."

The assistant said, "I understand."

Even though everything is in control, Jim Prous said: "Remind them not to take it lightly."

What Marvel has to face next is not ordinary trouble. At that time, it will be too busy to take care of itself, so how can we still find trouble for the 20th Century Fox?

When Marvel is in chaos, perhaps Twentieth Century Fox can take the opportunity to change the X-Men collaboration to similar terms in Fantastic Four.

Some people have proposed to shoot movies independently with Wolverine and Magneto, so that 20th Century Fox no longer has to consider Marvel's constraints and divisions.

Also in Century City, not far from the newly renamed Relativity Entertainment, the office of the Pacific Investment Foundation has occupied half a floor of a building.

Ronan just walked into the Pacific Investment Foundation, and Scott Swift came to meet him.

The two walked into Scott's office, and Ronan asked directly: "The foundation has no problem with about $400 million being drawn, right? It won't affect Shahai Entertainment's investment in film projects, right?"

Scott immediately said: "No problem." He briefly explained: "In the past few months, the Pacific Investment Foundation has successively invested with the Philippines and Thailand. We have cooperated with many companies and investment institutions in many countries to become the best signboard. The foundation's ROI is attractive and very stable, attracting a large number of investors."

Ronan said: "Scott, do it well."

Scott said with a smile: "Actually, the most difficult thing is to start. Once the foundation opens up, it will be much easier to give investors stable returns, and attract later generations." He asked: "When will the funds be used? I can get people to mobilize them."

Ronan made a little consideration: "At the fastest time this month will not exceed next month."
Chapter completed!