Superhero Metropolises
Superhero metropolises are fictional cities found in superhero worlds. These are cities designed to highlight the struggle between super-powered heroes and their villains. They often contain bodegas, banks, secret lairs, super-prisons, secret laboratories, newsstands, and jewelry stores ripe for theft. They may have extensive sewer, alleyway, and rooftop areas where battles between good and evil (or at least good and greedy) rage. They are home to superheroes, supervillains, and citizens.
| Synonyms: cities, towns, megapolises |
| Example Mythonyms: Hero City, Midnight City |
Designing Fictional Superhero Metropolises
Overview
Fictional superhero metropolises are often modeled after a real modern city here on earth. New York, Tokyo, or Cairo for example. This can be used to give the superheroes and supervillains within that city a unique tone or character to them. Also consider fictional cities. While not as common, superhero metropolises could equally be set in foggy Londons of the early 19th century or a city-wide ecumenopolis of a far future era.
The type of city chosen for a superhero metropolis – its’ architecture, landmarks, and aesthetic – will impact the tone of the world. Darker and grimmer narratives may utilize rainy, congested cities of stone where graffiti and trash litter each corner. Lighter narratives may be better served by more open cities where bike infrastructure and children’s parks are present.
More
The places within fictional superhero metropolises – the parks, stores, and infrastructure – are often designed to be battlegrounds in the struggle between super powered entities. Often these cities contain extensive sewer systems that hide all sorts of lairs, monsters, and plots from the light of day. Alleyways may be home to thugs, secret clubs, and daring chases. Rooftop areas may also be featured, a perfect setting for a superhero to watch over a quiet city night or a villain to scope out their next heist.
Banks, mansions, and museums may offer tempting targets for villains to strike, while refineries, warehouses, and dock areas could be the backdrop for a midnight stakeout. Laboratories are frequently found in superhero metropolises. Prisons and insane asylums are also likely present.
