Official Metropolis Map Is Best Look Yet at Superman’s City

Warning: Spoilers for Power Girl #8 ahead!

Everyone knows Superman’s hometown of Metropolis – but not everyone knows that the city is actually an island. An alien invasion gives readers the rare opportunity of seeing modern-day Metropolis mapped out, giving a tantalizing glimpse at one of DC’s most iconic locations.

Power Girl #8 by Leah Williams and Eduardo Pansica covers Brainiac and the Czarnian’s invasion of Metropolis from a new angle, with Power Girl one of the few heroes left behind to run damage control. As she takes stock of the situation, the issue pulls back to reveal a full map of modern-day Metropolis.

This map depicts Metropolis as a Manhattan-esque island, connected to the more rural mainland by a series of dams and bridges.

There’s More to Metropolis Than Meets the Eye

Panel from Hawkgirl #4 by Jadzia Axelrod, Amancay Nahuelpan, Alex Guimarães, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

As one of DC’s classic “big city” locations, it makes sense that Metropolis would take inspiration from New York City (especially when contrasting with Superman’s rural Kansas roots). However, outside the Daily Planet building with its iconic globe, Metropolis itself tends to be somewhat undefined. When compared to the codified neighborhoods and interlacing networks of its sister-city Gotham, Metropolis tends to be depicted as little more than a shining downtown vista.

Two areas highlighted on this map have become some of Metropolis’ most important neighborhoods, despite also being some of its newest landmarks. First is the neighborhood of A-Town: established after the Warworld Saga, A-Town comprises alien refugees who have made Metropolis their home, with notable residents including Power Girl, Galaxy, and Dreamer. Secondly, the Supercorp tower proudly complements the Daily Planet building, housing the scientists and technicians tasked with assisting Superman in his heroics — and established by none other than Lex Luthor.

Superman’s Metropolis Is DC’s Crown Jewel City

Gotham Could Never Live Up to Superman’s City

Metropolis as an island city makes a lot of sense, not just as a copy of Manhattan, but because of how it plays into Superman’s strengths. With Superman as Metropolis’s protector, the bay around the city divides it into a clear zone where Superman can focus his attention. Likewise, in the inevitable occurrence of an attack or invasion, Metropolis’ natural moat makes it easy for its super-science centers S.T.A.R. Labs and Steelworks to shield and defend the city.

This vibrant map of Metropolis is marred only by the fact that readers only see it in the wake of Brainiac’s destruction. Superman’s home is one of the most fascinating places in all of DC, harboring bastions of super-science alongside interdimensional crime, where corporate evil sits side-by-side with DC’s definitive voice of journalistic justice. This map of Metropolis is a gem for readers that brings a dash of welcome cohesion to Superman’s home.

Power Girl #8 is available now from DC Comics.