Joe Iliff
Reformed City Planner
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Ok, so the new Spider-man movie is almost out and I've got superheroes on the brain. So, let's get some of that out with a discussion relevant to our jobs.
I'm pretty familiar with most superheroes and most all of them live, work, and fight crime in an urban setting. Spider-man and the Fantastic Four live in New York City. Superman moves from Smallville to Metropolis to fight crime, and Batman is the protector of Gotham City. It's rare to find a superhero not based in a major urban setting, except for those that patrol the space between the stars. I mean, how would Spider-man get to the other side of town if he didn't have all those skyscrapers to swing on? Would Batman be interesting if Gotham wern't home to a seedy underworld, full of abandoned warehouses and corrupt industries?
It's hard to imagine a superhero at home in the suburbs. Would he/she get around in a flying SUV? Would they fight big box developments or deforestation?
Anyways, I'm asking for your thoughts. Is suburbia too boring for our heroes to live in? What does it say that our prefered built environment doesn't inspire us? That our favorite characters like superheroes, hobbits (LOTR), and wizards (HP) all live somewhere else?
I'm pretty familiar with most superheroes and most all of them live, work, and fight crime in an urban setting. Spider-man and the Fantastic Four live in New York City. Superman moves from Smallville to Metropolis to fight crime, and Batman is the protector of Gotham City. It's rare to find a superhero not based in a major urban setting, except for those that patrol the space between the stars. I mean, how would Spider-man get to the other side of town if he didn't have all those skyscrapers to swing on? Would Batman be interesting if Gotham wern't home to a seedy underworld, full of abandoned warehouses and corrupt industries?
It's hard to imagine a superhero at home in the suburbs. Would he/she get around in a flying SUV? Would they fight big box developments or deforestation?
Anyways, I'm asking for your thoughts. Is suburbia too boring for our heroes to live in? What does it say that our prefered built environment doesn't inspire us? That our favorite characters like superheroes, hobbits (LOTR), and wizards (HP) all live somewhere else?