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Issue #01 · 2023 · Special Edition

The Networking League

LinkedIn vs Alternatives!

Four heroes. Different powers. One mission: your professional future. Read their origin stories, compare their abilities, and choose your champion!

💼
The Corporate
A.K.A. LinkedIn · Microsoft Alliance · Since 2003
POW!
"I have ONE BILLION connections across 200+ dimensions! I hire 8 heroes per minute! My revenue exceeds $15 BILLION!"
ORIGIN: Born in 2003, this hero grew into the most powerful being in the professional networking universe. Acquired by the Microsoft Alliance in 2016 for $26.2 billion. Wields the complete arsenal: identity shields, employment cannons, Sales Navigator targeting systems, InMail energy bolts, Learning power-ups, and content broadcast arrays. The undisputed champion of the professional league.
1B+
Allies
200+
Zones
$15B
Power
8/min
Hires
Profiles Job Board Recruiter Sales Nav InMail Feed Learning Premium $29+ Recruiter $170+
📝 Editor's Note
The flagship hero. No one else in the League has this many powers or this large an alliance. Every reader's first pick. But the content broadcast is getting jammed with AI interference, and those premium power-ups keep getting more expensive. —Ed.
Letters to the Editor
  • Content broadcast increasingly jammed with AI noise
  • Power algorithm favours the most active heroes
  • Premium power-up costs escalating ($29.99–$99.99+)
  • Organic signal fading for team-based heroes
  • Alliance data shared with Microsoft HQ
  • Requires daily missions to maintain ranking
🔍
Speed Seeker
A.K.A. Indeed + Glassdoor · Recruit Alliance · Since 2004
ZAP!
"350 MILLION monthly encounters! I find jobs at LIGHTNING SPEED! Glassdoor gives me X-RAY VISION into any employer! And I'm FREE!"
ORIGIN: A speed-class hero with a single devastating power: employment acquisition at maximum velocity. 350M+ monthly encounters across 60+ zones. The Glassdoor sidekick grants X-ray vision into employer secrets — salary intel, review data, and interview strategies the Corporate keeps classified. No social powers. Pure combat speed.
350M
Monthly
60+
Zones
3M+
Targets
$0
Cost
Job Search Resume AI Match Salary Data Reviews Interview Intel Quick Apply Sponsored $
📝 Editor's Note
The speed specialist! When the mission is employment — not world-building — this hero's strike rate is unmatched. Glassdoor's X-ray reveals the intel the Corporate shields. Zero social abilities though! —Ed.
Letters to the Editor
  • Zero networking, social, or team-building powers
  • Glassdoor X-ray can show distorted images
  • Sponsored villains may block the true targets
  • Not built for extended campaign arcs
  • Hero data visible to paying organisations
  • Cannot participate in B2B or diplomatic missions
🚀
Truthseer
A.K.A. Wellfound · Ex-AngelList · Since 2010
REVEAL!
"I see what THEY hide! Every job shows SALARY + EQUITY! I connect you DIRECTLY to founders! 8M+ believers and growing!"
ORIGIN: A truth-class hero from the indie league. 8M+ followers across 150K+ startup bases. Unique superpower: forces every opportunity to reveal its salary and equity data openly — intelligence the Corporate has never disclosed. Direct telepathic link to startup founders. Powers go dormant outside the startup dimension.
8M+
Fans
150K+
Bases
100%
Transparent
Direct
Founder
Startups Investors Salary Open Equity Founder DM Remote Featured $
📝 Editor's Note
The indie fan-favourite! Truth powers that no other hero possesses. Spectacular in the startup dimension — completely powerless on the corporate battlefield. A specialist, not a generalist. —Ed.
Letters to the Editor
  • Powers only activate in the startup dimension
  • Much smaller fan base than the Corporate or Speed Seeker
  • Many allied bases at early (construction) phase
  • Invisible on mainstream hero rosters
  • Social abilities less developed than the Corporate
  • Low name recognition outside indie circles
🤝
The Handshake
A.K.A. Meetup + Lunchclub · IRL League · Since 2002
CONNECT!
"I'm the only hero who fights IN PERSON! 52M+ allies! 2M+ missions per year! You can't shake hands through a SCREEN!"
ORIGIN: The only hero who must be physically present to use their powers. Meetup: 52M+ allies, 190+ zones, 2M+ missions annually. Lunchclub: an AI sidekick that identifies your perfect team-up partner. Together: the shift from reading the comic to living the adventure. No employment powers. Just the human connection no digital hero can replicate.
52M+
Allies
190+
Zones
2M+
Missions
AI
Sidekick
IRL Events AI Match 1:1 Meets Local Virtual+IRL Goals Org $20+
📝 Editor's Note
The people's hero! LinkedIn fights through screens — The Handshake shows up in person. For authentic connection that no digital power can replicate, this hero's superpower is simply being there. —Ed.
Letters to the Editor
  • No employment or hiring superpowers
  • Requires physical presence to activate powers
  • Mission hosting costs $20+/mo for team leaders
  • AI sidekick accuracy varies by zone
  • Geographic range limitations
  • Cannot replace a professional identity power

Hero Roster

All four heroes compared

PowerCorpSpeedTruthShake
Allies1B+350M8M+52M+
NetworkingMax—StartupIRL
Job SearchStrongMaxStartup—
IntelPagesX-RayTruth—
ContentFull—Min—
SalaryPartialGDAll—
IRLMin——Core
AIPartialJobs—LC
Corp
$0
Free. Premium $29.99+.
Speed
$0
Free for all.
Truth
$0
Free for all.
Shake
$0
Free. Org $20+.

Every great team needs more than one hero! The Corporate for raw power, Speed Seeker for the fastest strike, Truthseer for startup transparency, and The Handshake for the only power that works in person. Assemble your league!

All names are trademarks of their respective owners · Issue 2023 · Subject to retcon
For informational purposes only · Not professional advice · Independent publisher · No hero endorsement · Excelsior