With $189,000 in his pocket and immortalization in July's UNCANNY X-MEN #500, Josh Akuna walked away from NBC's "Deal or No Deal" last night as one happy True Believer.
A Marvel fan from Michigan, Akuna's night on the hit show started off roughly. The first briefcase he chose eliminated his chance at a million dollars.
Though it seemed like things would devolve from there, he quickly went on a roll—knocking off some of the lower dollar briefcases while the Banker's deals kept growing.
Meanwhile, Marvel and comic books were the theme of the night. Akuna as the "hero" was pitted against a "real villain and arch rival," the Banker.
Akuna told host Howie Mandel he works multiple jobs and he's saving up for his house and a wedding. So it's no surprise that Akuna's fiancé urged him to take just about all of the deals the Banker offered with the first one starting over $150,000.
In fact, things turned a li'l bit nasty when the Banker tried to use our hero's two greatest fears against him when offering deals. The first being a fear of, ahem, squirrels. (He was bitten by one in his youth.)
The Banker presented Akuna with a chance to pick one of three envelopes with a range of dollar amounts to add to his deal. However, the box our hero would have to reach into contained a live squirrel! Curses! Akuna quickly declined.
A second fear was realized when the Banker decided to reveal himself—for the first time ever—as a psychotic clown! Add clowns to Akuna's fears. Naughty, naughty Banker.
Psychologically wounded and with half the briefcases gone, the famous "Deal or No Deal" models left the stage—only to return in
Storm costumes! Needless to say, a standing ovation greeted them upon return.
With five briefcases remaining containing dollar amounts ranging from $300 to $750,000, the Banker made Akuna a $250,000 offer. He once again declined and proceeded to open the next case that eliminated the $400,000 amount.
By the goddess, with things looking their bleakest, the tides turned!
The Banker offered $189,000. Mandel noted they would also add something that would be priceless—comic book immortality! In addition to the money, Akuna would be drawn into UNCANNY X-MEN #500, due out in July.
What's a Marvel fan to do? Accept it, of course!
The moral of the story? It pays to be a True Believer!
Congratulations, Josh, from everyone here at Marvel!
