PRAGUE – Following the events of the recent months with the rise of the being called Apocalypse and his attempt to overthrow our entire civilization, a UN summit was convened to discuss the growing mutant population and the threat it poses on the rest of Earth’s population. It was one of the largest gatherings in the history of the organization, with every representative of it’s 192 members present, accompanied by aids and members of staff.

“Of course there would be so many of us here,” stated Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, “What has happened has devastated every country represented at the UN. Several statistics indicate that countries like America, the United Kingdom, and Russia were not even hit hardest by the attacks.”

President Klaus of the Czech Republic addressed the group, thanking them for coming out for what he claimed ‘could be one of the most important meetings of our time. One that would determine the fate of an entire species and how they will relate to the rest of the world.

Items on the table for discussion include a wide range from rebuilding efforts and financial aid to police response to mutant crimes. It’s main focus, however, will be mutant registration – an extremely controversial topic that has been plaguing the world for the last few years. Up until now it was merely an idea proposed by America that had been largely ignored by the rest of the world.

Presidential Aide, Reginald Love, had this to say, “Up until now, most of the world has been willing to turn a blind eye to a lot of the problems mutantkind brings. That was before Apocalypse. Since then, then world’s seen what mutants can really do if they’re left unchecked and unsupervised. We nearly lost everything. It scared everyone and made them think twice about their policies on mutants.”

Love went on to claim that there will be renewed efforts made in Congress to get the bill passed and that several other countries in the European Union and Asia are following suit. Many claim that the purpose of this meeting is to try and gain a united front on registration in hopes that others will see the seriousness behind the decision.

“I just want the mutant population to know that the decisions we make are with extreme reluctance and a heavy heart. It is an evil, but one that must be done.” Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s words ring slightly hollow in the wake of his impassioned speech about how vital it was to not only push through mutant registration, but even consider mandatory nullification of mutant abilities. Any resistance to registration has been weak at best, and met with crushing opposition.

We may be recovering from the darkness that plagued our world, but it appears that dark times for mutants are just beginning. Not only for those in America, but for the world.

As the world is beginning to recover from the ravages of Apocalypse’s machinations, the death tolls are coming in hourly from across the globe of our fallen and missing citizens. While the complete statistics have not yet been fully compiled, the Daily Bugle staff would like to send our deepest condolences to those who have lost family and friends: our hearts are with you.

Despite the fact that the numbers are still coming in, so far the sum total of lives lost in the wake of World Total War is staggering. Apocalypse’s legacy will be felt throughout the world for years to come. But even in the face of such destruction and chaos, the indomitable will of the American people still endures.

“I can’t believe…I can’t believe that we managed to get through it,” Anna Starkova, 17, said through barely contained tears. “The hurricanes, the flood a few months back…all of it. We’re just lucky to be alive.”

Now facing the aftermath of World Total War, America and other countries are beginning to get back on their feet. Reclamation efforts are well underway to restore the wasteland that was once the Midwest and rebuilding the cities attacked by the Horsemen are also now in effect. Anti-mutant sentiment is running at all-time high in many parts of the country, with increased violence and hate crimes despite the participation of various mutants in overthrowing Apocalypse. However, there are the rare few that think differently still remaining.

An anonymous interviewee had this to say when questioned about the rise of anti-mutant sentiment: “I have three mutants living with us in the basement. Sometimes it’s a little weird—one of them has gills—but we figure that this whole Apocalypse mess isn’t their fault, anymore than that bull[expletive deleted] with those terrorists. They wouldn’t have any place to go without us, and with this [expletives deleted] going on in the streets, I’m happy to let them stay until things get calmed down.”

However, in the wake of this global tragedy, the government is now pushing even more for mutant registration to ensure the safety of not only the non-powered, but mutants as well. The Deputy Attorney General had this to say on the recent influx of public concern, “This isn’t an Us versus Them problem. This is a question of safety, for both mutants and humans. After what’s happened, I can’t really blame anyone for wanting a little peace of mind. I know I do.” Already the NYPD is looking to include a mutant screening process for applicants to coincide with drug testing. Whether or not this will bring about discrimination lawsuits in the future has yet to be assessed.

In the last issue, The Daily Bugle: Frontline reporter Jeff Stern questioned whether we could “survive the siege.” Now, a month after his article, it’s clear that we very much can.

Nations have scrambled like mad to rebuild in the aftermath of Apocalypse’s attack. Not only were buildings crushed and pavement completely obliterated, but lakes turned to blood devastated fish, fowl, and livestock. The CDC is working overtime to fight off the infection found in many bodies of water all over the country as well as fighting off infestations of insects that have completely consumed entire towns.

“This is wrath of God stuff right here,” said CDC response agent Fields. “It’s insane. I never knew mutants could do things on this large of a scale. No one should be able to do things like this.”

Aside from unusable roads, devastated telecommunications networks, and entire sections of large cities being uninhabitable for the time being, the attacks have completely ruined the American economy. As if times weren’t hard before Apocalypse, we now have to face the an economic future with entire businesses completely gone while heavily crippled ones have to make due without some of the things they have come to rely on. Meanwhile, many of the airlines have managed to recover, providing limited service for public and private use.

I managed to sit down with John Stebbins with Goldman Sachs

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Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.

Well, its busy at Goldman Sachs, but since the SEC still hasn't restarted trading, I've had a lot of time.

I guess the question on the American people's mind is how long will it be before you're back in business. In other words, when can we expect things to even begin to resemble what they used to before the devastation?

Well, that's a slightly misleading question. I mean, the electricity networks, the internet, that's back for like nine out of ten Americans. I mean, soon enough, in a few weeks, I imagine, going into your office, you'll be able to do office-y type things. I totally expect that the U.S and Western Europe to recover the attack better than the Kashmir region, which, my god, its going to be a nightmare.

But, looking at the larger picture, we were already in a pretty steep recession before this thing hit. Right now, I'm thinking that our annual GDP's been hacked into pieces, but the Unemployment rate's gonna plummet. A lot of the job losses in America were in the construction sector, and right now, Halliburton and Naze is looking for every able-bodied construction worker they can.

But the words on every economist's lips these days is the fallacy of the broken windows. We don't want to ignore the damages done to the nation. I've been thinking back to the post-war situation of Western Europe...

Broken windows? I'm sorry, you'll have to clarify what you mean to our readers. And what kind of parallel do you see in Western Europe?

Well, its a textbook thing of economics, when analyzing the state of the economy. A little boy breaks the window of the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper now has to pay the window maker for a new window. The Window maker now can buy shoes and bread, enriching the cobbler and the baker. So, the townspeople decide that the little boy wasn't being a vandal, he was being a beneficial economic agent.

Except that's not the case at all! Its counting only the benefit and none of the cost. Now the shopkeeper has to spend the money on the window instead of bread and shoes. The boy didn't add to the economy, he subtracted the value of one window from the economy. So, rebuilding, there's certainly some distributive gain for construction workers but, we're not actually building the economy.

As for Western Europe, at the end of World War II, the United States was able to become the economic powerhouse it is by basically threading the needle through the Broken Windows Fallacy. We had the economic beneficial effects of war, that is building capitol (In terms of factories and airplanes, and in terms of human capitol, since now a lot of young men had a bunch of new applicable skills for the job market), while incurring almost none of the cost. We weren't bombed and blown to pieces like Germany or France was.

Now, in this crisis, we're in the same situation of Post-War France. We had huge strikes against our capitol. We lost people and usable land and buildings. Now, from what I heard, Reed Richards is working on something to reseed Iowa, or something, but even that, how many billions of dollars did we lose in the attack on New York?

So despite the sudden increase in a need for manpower in the rebuilding efforts and all the contracts and the bidding, it's not doing anything for our economy? You're saying that we have to completely rebuild before we can see any real economic improvement?

Well, that's not entirely the case. If, when we rebuild a building, we make a better building, with better wiring and plumbing, that there is real tangible economic improvement. So, when we finish rebuilding, if we're smart, we very well might be in a better spot than we were before the attack. Uh, for example, we need to update the electrical grid in this country, and we've needed to do that for about twenty years. I can't think of a better time to do that than now. I shouldn't undersell this. There are going to be distributive benefits to the rebuilding. The average plumber is probably going to see his wages rise, and the average investment banker is probably going to be making less. That's not an entirely bad thing.

On a country-wide scale, though, I think this may be the last nail in American economic hegemony. I think the next superpower might surprise us, though. Everyone was saying India, China and China and India, and I don't think that's the case. The plagues may have started in Pakistan, but I've heard its spread to Mumbai and as far away as Kaifeng.

I'm mean, everyone was certain that the next superpower was going to be a 'Bricl' but I think the front runners have changed.

Well that's definitely not going to sit well with many of our readers. We've all grown up with the comforting thought that at the end of the day, we have the final say because we're the one with the biggest stick. But speaking of other powers, will international trading suffer and benefit in the same manner?

Oh, militarily, I think we're still going to be the big dog in the neighborhood, so speaking strictly 'stick'-wise. One of the proposals I've seen has included drafting every able-bodied man and woman into the Army and using them to rebuild the country, and there's merit to that. I just think our 'carrot' to go with the stick is going to be a bit smaller.

As for trade, I think we'll see dips in the countries that were relatively hard hit. The U.S, the U.K, France, Pakistan, Japan, India, China. But as I was saying, the BRICL countries...well, I guess its only the BRL countries now, are practically salivating at this developments. Brazil, Russia and Latveria, maybe even South Korea, will definitely try to use this to start their own little trade empires. Brazil's political class is full of devoted free-traders. Any economic development, to them, is a signal to start trading. Russia might try some monetarist policies, but even with the weakened position of the US and UK, I think the WTO will keep them in line. Latveria, I think, the leader just wants to show off.

I've seen some academic papers suggesting that international trade is cyclical in nature, it just has a long cycle, and that we were due for a trade contraction. I'm not sure I buy into that. Still, I think it'd be appropriate for another Bretton Woods, to make sure we don't lose too much ground on the trade front.

I couldn't agree more. So bottom-line this for us. You don't think this is the end of the American Dream or the way of life?

Hey, if we could survive Carter, we can survive anything.

---

Despite these incredibly hard economic times, there is hope. If we continue to stick to the principals this country was founded upon, we will survive this. We will continue to prosper and hand down the torch to our children. Apocalypse might have killed many Americans, but he will never kill America. Remember that as you celebrate this Independence Day.

Interview done by Matt and Will

It is the selfless acts of kindness that will heal our world. From the Kashmir, to London, to DC and to the Midwest, the world has faced a terrible scourge. As we are slowly recovering from the horrors of the Apocalypse, we endure the painful process of healing the wounds of the world. Mankind has begun to show its true colors. We represent a new order of the world and we cover all the shades. Some of us are struggling for a foothold in the new world, some of us are fighting to adapt, some steal, some lie, some love, and some hate. But most? Most of the world is working together in a machine of love, caring, and renewal.

Though most of us would like to participate more in the recovery, we simply don't have the funds. Only the drive to fix what is broken. Those who do have the resources are offering their own earnings to the recovery.

The two greatest benefactors in the post-Apocalyptic world are Stark Industries and Shaw Industries. These multi-billion dollar companies have donated more than their fair share of the funds aimed towards the recovery efforts. The donations of Stark and Shaw Industries have been aimed towards rebuilding the foundation of New York, reworking some of the infrastructure, and providing aid to those who need it. From renting RVs, helicoptering the need, giving food, water, and shelter, the two industrial heavyweights continue to run us towards a speedy recovery.

We were lucky enough to get a brief interview with Mr. Tony Stark when he was visiting ground zero of Mutant Town.



"Mr. Stark, Jeff Stern, Dai--"

"--Woah there. Get some implants and a sex change we'll talk, maybe, but I give no garuntees."

"Daily Bugle. Could I get a word on your charity work?"

"Bugle? JJ's going to Spiderman me if I don't talk. Fine, walk with me; with all this publicity, I can spare Jameson a headliner."

"Thanks. Given the current situation--"

"--The world being struck by an age-old evil that crumbled the greatest countries in the world?"

"-- what provoked Tony Stark to offer so much aid?"

"Sometimes one has to think for the better interest of something as a whole rather than an individual. Now I'm all for lavishing myself with naked women, cigars, and cars that you can only afford after you save up for thirteen years, but I think the rest of the country -- the world -- needs help. So I decided to donate a few billion to the cause. It's not like I was using that much every time I sat on my throne."

"Was it all from your pocket change?"

"That's bad journalism, Jeffery. What would JJ say when he finds out you're asking that? And no, it's from my piggy bank farm. So many plastic porkers died for America."

"Journalism only seeks the truth, sir."

"Poor JJ... Now, I'm not going to say it's all mine. Ignoring the technicalities, we just didn't give ourselves a raise this year. GM can waste the tax-payer's money, but Stark Industries is giving it all back. It's just not for New York. Like I said, the world needs it. Gates, Oprah, Shaw -- all the members of my possy -- we're all doing what we can. Hell, even Reed's throwing his genius at people. It's not green, but it works."

"So you came to New York to see how your company's investments are working?"

"Stern, no one comes to New York to see progress. They come for the bagels."

It has been two months since World Total War, and with the global markets slowly beginning to recover, one thing is certain: nothing will be the same again. However with extensive rebuilding efforts underway in all affected countries, the future of America is certainly looking bright. With the infrastructure newly restored life as we know it has largely returned to normal. What the future will bring is uncertain, as the long term effects have yet to be addressed by many scientists and government officials.

“The government is attempting to determine what the world should expect in the next year, but right now with the current situation not everything is definite,” a White House staffer commented in a recent press release. “Right now, we are merely attempting to focus on the present state of affairs.”

But what, our readers may ask, has happened to our heroes?

With the Avenger’s mansion laying in ruins in the wake of Apocalypse’s attacks, the fate of the Avengers and other superhero teams the world over have been a point of concern for many fans and citizens alike. As one of the only a government-sanctioned groups in the United States, the Avengers provided a necessary and useful service that those in law enforcement couldn’t when faced with homicidal super villains and rogue monsters.

Many in the media are now questioning the veracity of a recent press release detailing Captain America’s “critical condition” at an unidentified government medical facility, as the hero himself was declared MIA only weeks ago from a reputable news source. Current information indicates that a private funeral might be held for Captain America in a month’s time if his body is not recovered, and with the Avengers currently receiving their own medical treatment, things are certainly looking bleak for the former team. As very little concrete information has been released on Captain America’s status, Frontline will attempt to keep its readership updated as more reports come through.

The hero known as Thor said his farewell to the public last week in a press conference held in Central Park. Take him or leave him, the so-called God of Thunder certainly stepped out gracefully. Remaining in character as always, he thanked the “denizens of Midgard” for allowing him to “once again walk amongst its heroes” and apologized to be called away by “his brethren of the Aesir.” Before the press could manage to get any questions, the man stepped back and disappeared with a flash of lightning that left scorch marks on the podium and the assembled crowd in a small panic. Some skeptics continue to theorize that Thor is merely a mutant whose abilities have gotten the best of him, but with the blond hero gone, no one can be sure whether or not he was what he made himself out to be.

Unsubstantiated rumors that the current roster of the Avengers might disband completely have begun to circulate, and with the possible demise of one of our nations greatest heroes, the staff at Frontline can only offer our deepest condolences to Captain America’s teammates and family. He will be missed.

Symkaria – Small hamlets that had managed to survive the ruin of the worldwide attack are now completely ablaze. Loved ones able to hold each other and begin to rebuild their lives in hope now lay dead in the skeletons of their houses and the streets. Explosions rock farmland… a mother surviving the attacks screams about an unknown enemy eating her child in front of her. One of the countries hit hardest by the devastating affects of the Apaocalypse attack now faces even more ruin.

The isolated country of Latveria suffered very little compared to its neighbors, thanks to a combination of the natural protection of the Carpathian mountains and the strong defense policies of its monarch – Victor von Doom. However, his protective side apparently ends with his subjects. Seeing a window of opportunity in the wake of ruin left by the war, Doom has violated Latveria’s southern border and invaded its neighboring country.

Government officials aren’t giving the public much information, but sources say that the offending army is made up of some of of Latverian army and mercenaries… some of which might have gone under genetic enhancements or could possibly even be mutants. Regardless, Symkaria just doesn’t have the manpower to deal with the threat.

Meanwhile, neighboring countries have called to the UN for help and there are talks of setting up government sanctions against the offending country. However many feel it won’t be enough due to Latveria’s lack of damage sustained in the attacks.

“They don’t really need our help,” said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. “In fact several Eastern European countries were hoping for their support in the rebuilding effort.”

No official action has been taken by any members of the United Nations. Meanwhile the death toll increases every day as Doom’s stranglehold on Symkaria tightens, while many of the surrounding countries strengthen their defenses as best they can along their borders, despite their own recovery efforts.

Aside from the THOUSANDS of people who died during the Apocalypse...

Infomercial King Billy Mays died recently. Rumors had it the clove compartment on his plane opened up and dropped a suitcase on his head, resulting in a brain anurism. It was recently discovered that this was not true. After an investigation by officials, it was discovered that Billy Mays was SCREAMING at one of the other passengers about the peanuts not being salty, and they shoved a ShamWow down his throat. Oddly enough, it actually did something. The passenger has not been identified, but it is believed that a certain competing pitchman did it.

Billy Mays suspect Vince was using Slap Chop when he slapped it a bit too hard and one of his nuts was cut, resulting in massive groinal bleeding. While Vince himself survived, his nuts got the slap chop.

A man was found in the sewers with strange growths coming from his eyes.

A young lad was found with his jockstrap around his throat downtown. No suspects yet.

Farah Faucett died this past week. Her doctors say that her dying wish was that all children in the world remain safe. A few hours later, Michael Jackson passed away.

Ed McMahon passed away recently, died at the age of 86. Autopsy reports suggest that he bled to death from a large paper cut he received from a Publisher’s Clearing House check.

Mel Gibson died this week, struck by lightning while in his bed asleep. His pastor says God killed him for making the Almightly look bad.

Larry the Cable Guy was murdered yesterday during a performance. In the middle of a joke, he was shot with a hunting rifle. The offender , claiming that he had rid the world of a grave injustice, then turned the gun on himself and committed suicide.

I was totally blowing shit up and like all these people were hassling me, so I totally said STFU losers! What kind of city is it that stifles my creative process, you know, bro?

Explodey in MT

You’ve raised a good point, Explodey. New York is probably one of the best places to be to study art in America, so it seems like you just fell in with the wrong crowd. I’d suggest ditching the people you’re with and finding some new ones that appreciate your talent. There’s plenty of places around here for you to thrive and…

Hang on a second! You can kiss my ass. In fact, I think I’ll sue you for damages! You’re FIRED!

J Jonah Jameson
Editor in Chief

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I was attacked by this weird guy. Called himself a horseman. Strangest thing is he didn't have a horse... how could he be called a horseman if he doesn't have a horse? Seriously.

Some Random Guy

Well I think it was metaphorical or some nonsense. Something to do with the Bible and the Devil or whatever. There were four guys on horses that were supposed to ride through and completely ream the entire population of earth. Guess we showed them in the end who did the reaming, huh? Whatever happened to them anyway? Any of you guys know, write and let us know.

J Jonah Jameson
Editor in Chief

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The world.

Everyone is asking why we got attacked? Why the world went to hell? And why there Ipods suddenly stopped working for a moment or two. But I think we are all missing the big issue here. If the US government cant solve the small issues we face everyday how can they solve this one? I think looking to the government here is like asking a vegan which steak is better.

At the end of the day our government needs something smaller to handle. Since there response has been blame the mutants...why’s it got to be the mutants? Maybe it’s the Chinese did anyone stop and ask them if they did this? Nope.

So why the mutants?

Because they have horns and breath fire...and eat your babies that's why! Or so we are told. But wouldn’t it be these mutants who saved the world for us all? Think about that. If some of them saved us so why blame them? Anyone stop to ask them to explain or did we all just go kill the beast on them! So show a little love. Have a little faith...not all monsters are bad.

And I say until the government proves to us they can do something beside point fingers we give them a mission more up to their speed. Like the underwear dwarfs who steal underwear at laundry mats or something along those lines.

Peace.Love. It’s the way we need to act so we can rebuild and make this world a better place.

-The Girl Who Knows Stuff-

Girl, I would love to agree with you. Most of the world would. Fact of the matter is though that we saw people flying through the air roasting people alive and sucking the life out of everything we hold dear. It’s not a pretty world where peace and love will save the day. It’s dirty, and the people in it are dirty. Fact is that mutants can be just as good or evil as humans, but fact is that humans can’t ice hundreds of people with a dirty look. Mutants can be more destructive and we have to watch out for ourselves. Mutants might have had a hand in saving the day, but we still lost millions to mutants in the first place. That’s the cold reality and keeping that in mind is what will keep us all alive.

J Jonah Jameson
Editor in Chief

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Strange to say I'm not one to read papers but when I do it's the Bugle all the way. After all this 'end of the world jazz,' what's the state of Capitol Hill? Are the leaders of the country going to be too involved in trying to get the US of A off its teeth to worry about a silly registration bill? Man, first the incident with the pen to Senator's jugular and now the bread basket dryin' up... Wouldn't be surprised if the registration bill is used as a stunt to unsuccessfully increase the morale of the people. Tell ya what, if they do I'll be sending the Bugle a donation check and to my Senators a petition against idiocy.

Signed, Mr. Swann

Mr. Swann, keep reading. I think you’ll be in for an eye-full in this issue. And have you considered a career in political forecasting? I think you’d do a good job at it. Might have a place for you at the Bugle. Oh wait… we’re in recovery. Never mind. YOU’RE FIRED!!!

J Jonah Jameson
Editor in Chief

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Yo! Maaan, I had a close call with that end of the world stuff. I toootally dodged a bullet! Like okay it was something out of a Romero flick! These zombies were coming in from my yard, and I was like 'S%#@!' So I waited it out, bolted everything down but one of the zombies came in and it almost got me! Man evasive action worked for the military and it worked for me. JJ did you run into any zombie trouble?


- Leon Kennedy

Leon, maybe you should teach a class on how to live through zombies. I wouldn’t have thought there was a market for it a few months ago, but I stand corrected. I didn’t run into any zombies, but I had a close call with some guy on fire trying to roast my ass in New York. Spiderman interrupted me before I could finish him off. Anyway, I lit my last cigar off his ass. So yeah… start a class and buy some advertising space from us.

J Jonah Jameson
Editor in Chief