Housing Prices in Comic Back Land...

[Tobias March]

See this is something that's bothered me ever since I played CoH.

Who the hell would live in a city filled with superhumans? Now in CoH it makes no sense at all. The general populace spend their days running to and fro out of sheer terror, with nothing but hapless level 1 gamers to protect them from satanic gang bangers and psychic robots. Must be hell.

It makes even less sense when you think of the DC and Marvel metropolises(?)

In the Marvel universe New Yorkers must exist in a state of constant terror. If it's not Sentinels or some magus turning back the clock to medieval times, Galactus might turn up over Times Square. Or your kid who you've grounded could develop mutant powers and in a fit of pique fry you with radiation waves. Or Spider-Man....just think about Spider-Man. Creepy little fella leaping through the city, hanging off walls, spying on you perhaps. Brrrr.

Then there's DC's fictional cities, like Metropolis or Gotham. If a citizen discovers that a superhero has set up shop in their town, I think they're well advized to immediately move.

Two words. Coast City.

I mean Superman can handle whatever is thrown at him, but the days of corrupt union bosses and bank robbers are long gone. Now galactic tyrants come to call on him. Collateral damage must be through the roof.

Gotham has Batman, yet in the dominant Millerverse perception of that crime-ridden town it's clear the only reason people live there is due to the poverty trap, or maybe there are those who hope to exploit the vagaries of corruption in a town ruled by the Mob and police chiefs who look the other way. Either way, not a place to raise a family.

So the only sane response to a world with superhumans in my opinion is to flee. If you see the cape brigade show up - run for the hills!

[Charles RB]

Pity the people of Astro City - everywhere has at least one superhero, THERE IS NO ESCAPE.

[FeminineMystique]

See this is something that's bothered me ever since I played CoH.

Who the hell would live in a city filled with superhumans? Now in CoH it makes no sense at all. The general populace spend their days running to and fro out of sheer terror, with nothing but hapless level 1 gamers to protect them from satanic gang bangers and psychic robots. Must be hell.

It makes even less sense when you think of the DC and Marvel metropolises(?)

In the Marvel universe New Yorkers must exist in a state of constant terror. If it's not Sentinels or some magus turning back the clock to medieval times, Galactus might turn up over Times Square. Or your kid who you've grounded could develop mutant powers and in a fit of pique fry you with radiation waves. Or Spider-Man....just think about Spider-Man. Creepy little fella leaping through the city, hanging off walls, spying on you perhaps. Brrrr.

Then there's DC's fictional cities, like Metropolis or Gotham. If a citizen discovers that a superhero has set up shop in their town, I think they're well advized to immediately move.

Two words. Coast City.

I mean Superman can handle whatever is thrown at him, but the days of corrupt union bosses and bank robbers are long gone. Now galactic tyrants come to call on him. Collateral damage must be through the roof.

Gotham has Batman, yet in the dominant Millerverse perception of that crime-ridden town it's clear the only reason people live there is due to the poverty trap, or maybe there are those who hope to exploit the vagaries of corruption in a town ruled by the Mob and police chiefs who look the other way. Either way, not a place to raise a family.

So the only sane response to a world with superhumans in my opinion is to flee. If you see the cape brigade show up - run for the hills!

Personally if I could live anywhere in the DCU, it'd either be Gotham in the hope of meeting one of the many kinky villainess's that seem to be everywhere in that town, or Keystone City. Cause their all you've got to do is put on a silly costume and your a supervillain. You rob a bank, the Flash shows up, you have some laughs and then same again next week:biggrin:

[Tobias March]

I might take the daytrip to Opal. It'd be like travelling back in time to the 1990's.

[Calvin Government]

I would move to Gotham if I could get a goddamn motherfucking job and a date. And while dates might be every bit as scarce there as they are here, I'd imagine the high fatality rate would mean there would be a few openings. Or, next best thing, that you'd get killed by some crazy supercriminal before not having one got too bad.

Hell, you could become a supercriminal, get sent to Arkham. Free food and a place to sleep? A nice therapist to talk to? That would fucking rock.

[FeminineMystique]

I might take the daytrip to Opal. It'd be like travelling back in time to the 1990's.

Plus the fatality rate is SLIGHTLY lower over there.

[Alex L]

Pity the people of Astro City - everywhere has at least one superhero, THERE IS NO ESCAPE.

I was just thinking of Astro City... particularly the issue where the new resident sees everyone pitching in to clean up after the damage and realizes that this place is an actual community; not just a bunch of strangers living next to each other.

And I'd almost rather be where TONS of superheroes are, instead of a non-super-town when the Joker realize there's no JLA presence in Toledo, Ohio.

[Night Swordsman]

One of the reasons i am NOT enjoying either City of Heroes OR Champions:Online is the fact that it is 101% superheroes, all the time. No secret id's, no normal life. No romantic interests or friends, no nothing. Its fight scene after fight scene.

That is the MAIN reason i don't play them anymore.

[Cam63]

Somalians express sympathy to anyone who lives in Gotham.

[Lester C.]

Somalians express sympathy to anyone who lives in Gotham.

Best quote ever.

To answer the question, each town has something going for it.
1. Gotham is like Saddam and Gramora. Sure you will die in a painful and creative way, but you are going to have one hell of a good time as it makes Amsterdam look like Saudi Arabia.
2. Metropolis is the city of the future. Sure Superman might get flung through your building killing you instantly but you get to take a jet pack to work.


Ultimately though people just don't have a choice where they live when the shit hits the fan. I have a cousin-in-law who was a teenager in Iraq when the invasion started and he tells a story of waking up one day to see his neighbor's house gone, bombed by Allied Forces armed with bad intellegence, wiping out the whole family inside. In parts of the world bombings and military strikes within your immediate vincinity is a tragic daily fact of life.

[FeminineMystique]

I was just thinking of Astro City... particularly the issue where the new resident sees everyone pitching in to clean up after the damage and realizes that this place is an actual community; not just a bunch of strangers living next to each other.

And I'd almost rather be where TONS of superheroes are, instead of a non-super-town when the Joker realize there's no JLA presence in Toledo, Ohio.

Fair point...and it's actually surprising all the villains in the Marvel U and the DCU don't just do that, commit crimes in places that don't have many superheroes

[Charles RB]

And I'd almost rather be where TONS of superheroes are, instead of a non-super-town when the Joker realize there's no JLA presence in Toledo, Ohio.

But there are always tons of villains where the tons of superheroes are. You rarely see the Joker go "hey, nobody's defending Toledo", he keeps coming back to Gotham. Must be an ego thing: "THIS time I'll defeat the superheroes!".

[DubipR]

This is why Los Angeles in comics books, like in reality, is the best place to live; no superheroes or villains on every corner. In the Marvel U, the Pride held LA villain free as part of an agreement with The Kingpin..makes sense for me.

[FeminineMystique]

But there are always tons of villains where the tons of superheroes are. You rarely see the Joker go "hey, nobody's defending Toledo", he keeps coming back to Gotham. Must be an ego thing: "THIS time I'll defeat the superheroes!".

Well the Joker's too obsessed with beating Batman to go elsewhere. But you'd think guys like Metallo and the Parasite might learn to stop commiting crimes in the only city on Earth that has the god-like completely indestructible superbeing protecting it

[Tobias March]

Fair point...and it's actually surprising all the villains in the Marvel U and the DCU don't just do that, commit crimes in places that don't have many superheroes

Well the Pride had a pretty sweet arrangement going on in LA until their kids The Runaways messed it up.


edit: DubipR beat me to it.

[FeminineMystique]

Well the Pride had a pretty sweet arrangement going on in LA until their kids The Runaways messed it up.


edit: DubipR beat me to it.

:biggrin: Good point. And yes, you've got to be quick to score the fan-points

[dupersuper]

This is why Los Angeles in comics books, like in reality, is the best place to live; no superheroes or villains on every corner. In the Marvel U, the Pride held LA villain free as part of an agreement with The Kingpin..makes sense for me.

In DC, Zauriel floats overhead in the Aviary...


Well the Joker's too obsessed with beating Batman to go elsewhere. But you'd think guys like Metallo and the Parasite might learn to stop commiting crimes in the only city on Earth that has the god-like completely indestructible superbeing protecting it

Parasite wants his power. Metallo...may simply be a moron.

[shrike]

It isn't the housing prices that concern me, it is the damn insurance.

[pariah-1972]

Fair point...and it's actually surprising all the villains in the Marvel U and the DCU don't just do that, commit crimes in places that don't have many superheroesIt would make sense but then some hero would eventually find out or there wouldn't be much of a point.

[Calvin Government]

Parasite wants his power. Metallo...may simply be a moron.

He has a Kryptonite heart. What the hell else is he supposed to do with that?

[dupersuper]

It isn't the housing prices that concern me, it is the damn insurance.

Think of the Kents insurance in Smallville. This is a world without super heroes out the yin yang, yet for some reason the insurance companies couldn't even guess at this seemingly nice small farm family went through dozens of vehicles, hospital stays, dead livestock, damage to the house, barn, storm cellar, fires...the husband died of a heart attack 2 years after a medical said his heart was strong...


He has a Kryptonite heart. What the hell else is he supposed to do with that?

He's also a super strong invulnerable sometimes size-changing cyborg...I'm sure in a town without super heroes he could think of something...but an earlier poster was right anyway, the heroes would just track them down. Blaming super heroes for super criminals is like blaming cops for crooks any way, even if some villains are in a specific city because of a personal obsession with a particular hero.

[Iangould]

Fair point...and it's actually surprising all the villains in the Marvel U and the DCU don't just do that, commit crimes in places that don't have many superheroes

They do but neither company published a Random Killing Spree title.

[Venom Melendez]

Fair point...and it's actually surprising all the villains in the Marvel U and the DCU don't just do that, commit crimes in places that don't have many superheroes

They have done that...... and then a hero conveniently shows up because he's/she's on vacation or they just happen to be in the neighborhood.

I also wonder if insurance cover the damages. They apparently don't cover damages done by a Hulk rampage because it's an "Act of God" for some reason. That would probably include Thor too.

[Venom Melendez]

In DC, Zauriel floats overhead in the Aviary...



Parasite wants his power. Metallo...may simply be a moron.

Nah, Metallo has a grudge against him and he runs on kryptonite.

[Grazzt]

But there are always tons of villains where the tons of superheroes are. You rarely see the Joker go "hey, nobody's defending Toledo", he keeps coming back to Gotham. Must be an ego thing: "THIS time I'll defeat the superheroes!".

There are some exceptions, though. The Shade commits crimes for profit only when there's no superheroes around, and only when he actually wants to fight the Flash does he come back to Keystone. You could see someone like the Joker doing something similar, saving the crazy stuff for Gotham and turning a profit elsewhere to fund the crazy stuff.

[Sabrinaset]

There was a throwaway quote in an old comic, I'm pretty sure it was by Claremont of all people, about how people and businesses in the MU actually have Super-Hero Insurance just in case someone crashes thru their house or something.


But there are always tons of villains where the tons of superheroes are. You rarely see the Joker go "hey, nobody's defending Toledo", he keeps coming back to Gotham. Must be an ego thing: "THIS time I'll defeat the superheroes!".

That actually happened during Moore's first Swamp Thing arc where Jason Woodrue takes over a small town while altering the Earth's atmosphere and Green Arrow says "Maaan, we were watching out for Metropolis and Gotham, but who thought to look out for Lacroix, Mississippi?"

[FeminineMystique]

There was a throwaway quote in an old comic, I'm pretty sure it was by Claremont of all people, about how people and businesses in the MU actually have Super-Hero Insurance just in case someone crashes thru their house or something.

That actually makes sense...kind of:biggrin: In a world where a gamma powered monster might end up being chased through your back yard by the US millitary its probably a good idea to insure against that:biggrin:

[Tobias March]

That actually makes sense...kind of:biggrin: In a world where a gamma powered monster might end up being chased through your back yard by the US millitary its probably a good idea to insure against that:biggrin:

In Dan Slott's She-Hulk you had superhero lawfirms.

Now that was cool.

[Iangould]

I'm really surprised no-one has mentioned Damage Control yet.

Damage Control was the MU company that used superscience and super powers to repair New York (and other cities) after superhero battles.

[Vakanai]

They have done that...... and then a hero conveniently shows up because he's/she's on vacation or they just happen to be in the neighborhood.

I also wonder if insurance cover the damages. They apparently don't cover damages done by a Hulk rampage because it's an "Act of God" for some reason. That would probably include Thor too.

Which reminds me, I hear there is a story where insurance refuses to pay a guy because it was considered an 'Act of God.' So the guy tracks down which god it was an act of (Thor) and took this information to the insurance company. Because for some reason 'Act of God' tends to imply the biblical God and not gods of other pantheons, the insurance company had to pay up.

[FeminineMystique]

Which reminds me, I hear there is a story where insurance refuses to pay a guy because it was considered an 'Act of God.' So the guy tracks down which god it was an act of (Thor) and took this information to the insurance company. Because for some reason 'Act of God' tends to imply the biblical God and not gods of other pantheons, the insurance company had to pay up.

:biggrin: That's a point actually...shouldn't everyone in the Marvel U pretty much worship the norse gods? I mean it's hard to be an atheist when one of them flies over your house every other morning. You'd think there'd be temples to Odin all over the place.

[Vakanai]

:biggrin: That's a point actually...shouldn't everyone in the Marvel U pretty much worship the norse gods? I mean it's hard to be an atheist when one of them flies over your house every other morning. You'd think there'd be temples to Odin all over the place.

Well, as I heard from another story, in a world where gods perform miracles and meddle with the affairs of mortals daily, sometimes it's more comforting to pray to a god who doesn't answer back.:biggrin:

[FeminineMystique]

Well, as I heard from another story, in a world where gods perform miracles and meddle with the affairs of mortals daily, sometimes it's more comforting to pray to a god who doesn't answer back.:biggrin:

I don't know...I'm agnostic but if God looked like some of those Asgardians, well...:wink:

[pariah-1972]

:biggrin: That's a point actually...shouldn't everyone in the Marvel U pretty much worship the norse gods? I mean it's hard to be an atheist when one of them flies over your house every other morning. You'd think there'd be temples to Odin all over the place.It's quite possible that the mere human populace don't actually believe that Thor and Hercules are actual gods but just meta's with a huge ego.

[Vakanai]

I don't know...I'm agnostic but if God looked like some of those Asgardians, well...:wink:

Eh.
tencharactersofalmightydoom!

[FeminineMystique]

Eh.
tencharactersofalmightydoom!

Not your type? What about Loki in that female body?:biggrin:

[pariah-1972]

Not your type? What about Loki in that female body?:biggrin:Or Kelda !

[FeminineMystique]

Or Kelda !

Indeed!:biggrin: And Thor is pretty cute himself. I like his look in the Ultimate U

[pariah-1972]

Indeed!:biggrin: And Thor is pretty cute himself. I like his look in the Ultimate UI guess if i were to swing that way Thor would be a good choice.

Although Ultimate Thor is a hippie so he might smell bad :tongue:

[Vakanai]

Not your type? What about Loki in that female body?:biggrin:

Never seen it.

[scout1279]

Never seen it.

She-Loki was super hot, but the no eyebrows thing freaked me out. (I can't be the only one disappointed that Loki is back to being a dude, right?)

Also, Donald Blake is so much cuter than Thor.

[pariah-1972]

She-Loki was super hot, but the no eyebrows thing freaked me out. (I can't be the only one disappointed that Loki is back to being a dude, right?)

Also, Donald Blake is so much cuter than Thor.No she Loki was creepy.


at least for me.

[scout1279]

No she Loki was creepy.


at least for me.

Well, Doom liked her.

[pariah-1972]

Well, Doom liked her.Ummm Doom doesn't like anyone.

[FeminineMystique]

She-Loki was super hot, but the no eyebrows thing freaked me out. (I can't be the only one disappointed that Loki is back to being a dude, right?)

I'm dissapointed. I'm VERY dissapointed:frown: She-Loki was indeed super-hot:biggrin:

[Venom Melendez]

:biggrin: That's a point actually...shouldn't everyone in the Marvel U pretty much worship the norse gods? I mean it's hard to be an atheist when one of them flies over your house every other morning. You'd think there'd be temples to Odin all over the place.


Besides, the Norse Gods can be explained as interdimensional being. It's why DC and Marvel still have atheist, you can still explain it away scientifically.

Ghost Rider also gave and explanation for this, basically they're all right.


Not your type? What about Loki in that female body?:biggrin:

Though technically that was Sif's body. So compliments should go to her.

[Venom Melendez]

* Double post

[Venom Melendez]

*Double post

[Karen El]

Best quote ever.

To answer the question, each town has something going for it.
1. Gotham is like Saddam and Gramora. Sure you will die in a painful and creative way, but you are going to have one hell of a good time as it makes Amsterdam look like Saudi Arabia.

Maybe it's this cold I have, but that's the most entertaining misspelling I've seen all day.

[FeminineMystique]

Maybe it's this cold I have, but that's the most entertaining misspelling I've seen all day.

It's not just your cold. I've been chuckling all day wondering how Gotham is like a now-dead former Middle East dictator.

And get well soon Karen! I'll be making a sacrifice to Cthulhu to wish you a speedy recovery *Hugs*

[Charles RB]

wondering how Gotham is like a now-dead former Middle East dictator.

It's rotten, and nobody has ever liked it?

[FeminineMystique]

It's rotten, and nobody has ever liked it?

Did you come up with that on the spot?:biggrin:

[Charles RB]

Regrettably!