Comics What city is Metropolis based on?

[DieSmiling]

In the DCU, where is Metropolis and what city is it based on?

Gotham City is clearly at least partially based on New York, and I think it's located in New Jersey... What's the scoop on Metropolis?

 

[CConn]

Dover.

 

[CLARKY]

At first I remember that it was based on Cleveland with Toronto. There is a building in Cleveland that is the daliy planet carbon copy. I suppose there is a bit of New York here and there.
Its situation is not far from Gotham city, there is a large bay between the 2, or at least there was (in my old Superboy comics).
Check this :
http://www.karridian.net/dcusa_ne.html
Personally I consider Vancouver (canada) being a very good Metropolis. Not for the situation, but for the atmosphere and the clarity of the city, I often think about Vancouver. But it is my own and very humble vision.

 

[Flint Marko]

What state is metropolis in?

 

[Spidey]

What state is metropolis in?

It would have to be New York, seeing as the Statue of Liberty appears several times in the panels of Superman, Action Comics, Superman/Batman etc. when we see Metropolis.

 

[Damien Rage]

I saw a map once online...I wish I had saved the picture. Showed where cities (in the DCU) were located. Metropolis was NYC and Gotham was Providence, RI.

I like this idea so that is were they are to me =)

 

[Flint Marko]

Gotham being in Rhode Island?
That's...interesting.
I was picturing some where near Philedalphia, Chicago or something like that.

 

[Andy C.]

I've seen a few of those maps; some have Metropolis as NYC, some have it in Delaware, etc. DC's never released an official one as far as I know, so there's no real definitive answer.

But to answer the main question of the thread, Metropolis was originally Cleveland, Ohio (since that's where Siegel and Shuster grew up) but over time took took inspiration from cities like NYC and Toronto etc, and placed somewhere in New England.

 

[slave2catwoman]

I always thought New York. One thing I do know, contrary to a certain television show, it is NOT in Kansas.

 

[CConn]

Metropolis is located in Delaware in the comics.

Gotham pretty much replaces Newark in New Jersey...with Bludhaven being just to the south of it.

 

[slave2catwoman]

What comic book ever said that Metropolis is in Delaware? As far as I know, no state has ever been named.

 

[Carnage921]

on the map that Clarky posted the link to it is in Delaware

 

[Rob-el]

I've seen a few of those maps; some have Metropolis as NYC, some have it in Delaware, etc. DC's never released an official one as far as I know, so there's no real definitive answer.

But to answer the main question of the thread, Metropolis was originally Cleveland, Ohio (since that's where Siegel and Shuster grew up) but over time took took inspiration from cities like NYC and Toronto etc, and placed somewhere in New England.

Metropolis was originally based on Shuster's home town - Toronto. He moved to Cleaveland when he was 10 or so but used his hometown for some of the his inspirations including the buildings as well as other elements (The Dialy Star was named so because he used to be a paper boy for the Toronto Star etc.) and he acknoledged this in past interviews. This kills me to admit because I'm originally from Montreal (big Montreal vs Toronto rivalry in Canada) but Toronto was the original Metropolis. Of course its taken on a life of its own over the years and obviously in STM it was totally New York complete with Statue of Liberty and Time Square.

 

[Optimus Prime.]

i like superman

 

[Spiderine]

I thought it was Delaware.

 

[CLARKY]

Anyway I think it's not that important to know where the city is precisely based. At least for me. I know it's located on the east coast, around New York, it's good enough for me. I give more importance to the look of the city (realistic, 1930, futuristic, etc ...).