10 Most Important Fictional Cities in DC Comics

by

In the DC Universe, unlike reality, all its settings are made-up cities where superheroes reside. As James Gunn has mentioned, these cinematic stories won’t feature real-life cities like New York City. This approach works well because DC Comics has effectively created these fictional urban landscapes, such as Gotham City and Metropolis, which are just as significant as the superheroes themselves. These cities can be compared to real-world locations in Marvel Comics, but they stand out by being self-sustaining entities with their unique identities and histories.

In these comics, cities similar to those inhabited by characters such as Batman, Superman, Nightwing, The Flash, Green Arrow, and others, serve as backdrops. Notably, unlike Marvel Comics where most superheroes reside in New York City, the DC Universe’s fictional cities are scattered across the United States. Here’s a glimpse into some of the top cities in DC Comics, ranging from the City of Tomorrow to the location of Crime Alley.

10) Gorilla City

Gorilla City, as portrayed in The Flash comics, exists in Africa and houses intelligent gorillas. It originally hailed from the planet Calor, but was transported to Earth due to Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern’s unintentional actions, as detailed in DC Super-Stars Vol. 1 #44. The city moved because the gorillas sought a safer habitat. Despite first being introduced in The Flash Vol. 1 #106 when Gorilla Grodd aimed to master mind control to create a gorilla army for world domination, it’s worth noting that while Grodd is a villain, most of the gorillas in this city are peaceful. In the current continuity, its extraterrestrial origins have been rewritten, but the rest of the storyline remains unchanged.

9) Coast City

Coast City, nestled near Edwards Air Force Base in California, is where Green Lantern resides. For much of his Earth-bound career as Green Lantern, Hal Jordan safeguarded this city. However, it was also the site of his greatest sorrow. In Superman Vol. 2 #80, the villain Mongul joined forces with Cyborg Superman to obliterate Coast City, leading to the loss of more than seven million lives. This event pushed Hal Jordan over the edge, causing him to become Parallax, a notoriously evil DC Comics villain. Post-Infinite Crisis, reconstruction of the city was completed within a year, and it’s now known as “The City Without Fear” due to its troubled history.

8) Smallville

Smallville, a city from the DC Comics universe, holds intrigue as it’s not home to any significant superheroes. Yet, its importance lies in being the childhood home of Superman. Situated in Kansas, this town was where Jonathan and Martha Kent resided when they discovered baby Kal-El, who they later adopted and named Clark Kent. Notably, Supergirl has also claimed Smallville as her temporary residence, and it’s where characters like Lana Lang and Pete Ross grew up. To add to its significance, there was a popular TV series titled “Smallville” that revolved around the story of Superman.

7) Blüdhaven

After stepping out of his role as Robin and transforming into Nightwing, Dick Grayson intentionally distanced himself from Batman’s influence by making a few alterations. He initially teamed up with the New Teen Titans in Jump City, but later when he ventured out independently, he became a hero in a city adjacent to Gotham City known as Blüdhaven. This city is located in New Jersey, and Nightwing assumed dual roles there – joining the local police force and patrolling the streets as their superhero guardian. Unfortunately, during the Infinity Crisis, the city was obliterated, transforming into a nuclear wasteland. However, following the events of Flashpoint, Blüdhaven reappeared and Nightwing has been its protector ever since.

6) Star City

Star City, nestled in the northern part of California, near the Pacific Northwest region, is where Green Arrow resides. This city, one of DC Comics’ longstanding urban landscapes, debuted in Action Comics Vol. 1 #266. As a champion for the downtrodden and a progressive superhero, Green Arrow spent many years in Star City confronting the corrupt officials who held sway over the city, seeking to dismantle their power and protect the working-class neighborhoods.

In later years, Star City became famous for The Forest, a vast, enigmatic area that emerged from the ruins. This forest frequently assisted Green Arrow and had the unique ability to inhibit superpowers within its perimeter. It was eventually unveiled that The Forest was governed by White Lantern power.

5) Poseidonis, Atlantis

In some DC comic books, not all remarkable fictional cities originate within the United States, and at least one of these cities wasn’t conceived by DC Comics creators themselves. For instance, Aquaman reigns over Atlantis, a city steeped in both historical lore and Marvel Comics (with Namor), submerged in the North Atlantic Ocean. In the DC universe, however, Atlantis isn’t just any ordinary city; it spans an area as large as a small continent, making it one of Earth’s oldest and most sophisticated societies, blending advanced technology with ancient magic. As for the city itself, Aquaman rules as king and resides in Poseidonis.

4) Themyscira

The enchanting land of Themyscira is primarily recognized as the dwelling place of Wonder Woman and the Amazons, often referred to as Paradise Island. Originally hailing from a location now identified as Turkey, the Amazons found their second home here after relocating. Similar in mythos to Atlantis, Themyscira has existed for an extensive period but has experienced numerous transformations over time. First emerging nearly at the break of dawn for DC Comics, it made its debut in All-Star Comics Vol. 1 #8, published in 1942. Throughout the years, this island has been moved around, appearing in the Bermuda Triangle, the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California, and even in the Aegean Sea.

3) Central City

Central City, found in the state of Missouri, serves as the primary setting for Barry Allen’s rendition of The Flash. This city debuted in Showcase Vol. 1 #4. Geographically, it lies on the opposite side of the Missouri River from Keystone City, home to Jay Garrick and Wally West’s Flash. Collectively known as the Gem Cities, similar to the Twin Cities, these two cities hold significant importance. In the 25th Century, Central City was rechristened Central Cityplex, suggesting it continues to maintain a prominent role in its future. Notably, this city is also home to several villainous characters such as Captain Cold, Heatwave, Mirror Master, and Trickster.

2) Metropolis

Superman’s city of residence is known as Metropolis. This sprawling metropolis, famed for its size and recognition within the U.S., bears a resemblance to New York City, albeit with lower crime rates (although it does have an area called Suicide Slum). The Toronto skyline served as inspiration for Metropolis’ design; it is situated in New York and is affectionately known as “The City of Tomorrow.” This thriving urban hub is among the largest and wealthiest cities globally, boasting a population surpassing 11 million residents. Notably, Metropolis is also home to numerous superheroes, much like New York City in the Marvel universe. Furthermore, it serves as Lex Luthor’s residence as well.

1) Gotham City

Although Metropolis may hold the title of a more successful city within the DC Comics universe, Gotham City stands out as an exceptional creation by the company. Unlike Metropolis, which debuted first in 1939, Gotham City was introduced in Batman Vol. 1 #4 in 1940. Despite not being as glitzy as its counterpart, Gotham offers a more intriguing narrative. The city is a character in itself, teeming with danger that rivals its villains. Series such as “No Man’s Land” and locations like Arkham Asylum have solidified Gotham City’s status as the most iconic and noteworthy city within the DC Universe. Naturally, being Batman’s home, it has endured more than any other location in the DC Universe over time.

https://comicbook.com/comics/news/ridiculous-superhero-weaknesses-marvel-dc-green-lantern-fantastic-four/embed/#

Read More

2025-07-16 01:40