1. Central City in The Flash

Science and innovation are at the forefront of CW’s The Flash with S.T.A.R Labs being the central location of the show. Unlike other superheroes that magically got their powers or human superheroes that don’t have any powers at all, Barry Allen receives his powers from a science experiment gone wrong when a particle accelerator exploded.

While the science in Central City is mostly science fiction that includes time travel, super speed, and metahumans with distinctive powers, within the realm of the fictional universe, those strides are made through scientific experimentation that fail several times before they succeed. Like Central City, New York City is home to a multitude of scientific organizations as well as the birthplace of some notable historical science figures.

Like Cisco and Caitlin Snow were prone to making strides in advanced weaponry, J. Rober Oppenheimer, from New York City, created a secret facility called Los Alamos, where he helped create the atomic bomb, after operating a network of sites connected to the project in New York City (hence, the Manhattan Project). Oppenheimer was often cited as the moral compass for the bomb’s creation, but as is the case with all lethal weapons, once they get into the wrong hands, there’s no telling what they can do.

Another notable scientist from New York City was Jonas Salk. Salk developed the polio vaccine and was so confident that it would work without infecting those that were vaccinated that he used it on himself and his family. As he suspected, it developed antibodies that prevented them from getting the disease. Even at the age of eighty, when most people have long since retired, Salk tried to find a cure for AIDS, the epidemic that was particularly devastating to New York City and its LGBTQ community.

In addition, New York City is home to many science museums and events including the World Science Festival that begins on May 30th, a huge gathering for the recent March for Science rally, the New York Hall of Science, and the Museum of Mathematics. On a slightly weirder note, Albert Einstein, one of the most celebrated scientists in history, is always looking out for our city as his eyes are stored away in a New York City safety deposit box. Central City may have time travel and freeze rays but no city hoards random body parts of famous people quite like New York City.

While most cities tend to be alike in some way or another, it’s clear that New York City was the template if not the actual city that many comic book stories are set in. From journalism to diversity, to economic diversity, and scientific innovation, it is the perfect setting for heroes to don masks and capes and save the day.

Next, check out Superheroes that Call NYC Home  and NYC Film Locations for TV Show Gotham on FOX. Get in touch with the author at LitByLiterature.