First seen
1939
Action Comics #16.
Metropolis is the fictional American city where Clark Kent works at the Daily Planet. It was first named in Action Comics #16 (September 1939). Joe Shuster based its skyline on Toronto and later New York, and DC has placed it in New York state and later Delaware. Superman (2025) filmed its Metropolis in Cleveland and Cincinnati.
In depth
The full story.
Metropolis is the city Superman calls home: bright, busy and full of skyscrapers, with a giant globe on top of the Daily Planet building.
What is Metropolis?
Metropolis is the fictional American city where Clark Kent lives and works as a reporter at the Daily Planet. Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Perry White and Lex Luthor all live there. The city was first named in Action Comics #16 (September 1939).
Is Metropolis New York?
Not officially, but New York is its biggest influence. The real-world models are:
| Inspiration | Detail | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto | Joe Shuster, who grew up there, based the first skyline on it | Likely |
| New York | Later artists drew a New York-style city; Superman #2 (1939) puts Metropolis in New York state | Likely |
| Delaware | The Atlas of the DC Universe (1990) places it there | Likely |
| Cleveland | Where Siegel and Shuster created Superman; its Public Square became central Metropolis in Superman (2025) | Confirmed |
Landmarks of Metropolis
- The Daily Planet: Clark’s newspaper (see below).
- Suicide Slum and New Troy: two of the city’s best-known districts.
- Centennial Park: home to a Superman memorial statue after his death fighting Doomsday.
- LexCorp Tower: the headquarters of Lex Luthor’s company.
The Daily Planet
In the earliest comics Clark worked at the Daily Star. The Daily Planet is first mentioned in Action Comics #9 (1939), with a fuller appearance in #23 (1940). Shuster modelled its globe-topped building on the old Toronto Star building. In the Silver Age, Galaxy Broadcasting and its boss, Morgan Edge, bought the paper in 1971.
| Film or show | The Daily Planet | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Superman (1978) to Superman IV | Outside: the Daily News Building, 220 East 42nd Street, New York. Inside: a set on Pinewood’s E Stage (June 1977) | Confirmed (outside) / Likely (inside) |
| Smallville | The Marine Building, Vancouver | Likely |
| DCEU films | The Chicago Board of Trade | Likely |
| Man of Tomorrow (2027) | Terminal Station, Macon, Georgia | Likely |
Metropolis on screen
| Film or show | Where Metropolis was filmed |
|---|---|
| Superman (1978) | New York City; the Daily News Building played the Daily Planet |
| Superman Returns (2006) | Lower Manhattan and Sydney |
| DCEU films (2013–) | Chicago, with the Chicago Board of Trade as the Planet |
| Smallville (2001–11) | The Marine Building in Vancouver as the Planet |
| Superman IV (1987) | Milton Keynes, England, which also stood in for New York: the Central station forecourt played the UN plaza |
| Superman (2025) | Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio |
Superman’s Cleveland
Cleveland is where Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created Superman, and in Superman (2025) it became Metropolis. Public Square, with the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, was central Metropolis, Cleveland City Hall played Metropolis City Hall, and The Arcade on Euclid Avenue also appears. Filming began at Headlands Beach State Park in Mentor.
Fans can also see Siegel’s childhood home at 10622 Kimberly Avenue in Glenville. It’s privately owned, so look from the street: it has a plaque and was renovated in 2009. The fence at the Shuster site shows panels from the first Superman story.
The real Metropolis, Illinois
There really is a Metropolis in Illinois, and it calls itself Superman’s hometown. It has a Superman statue and has held Superman festivals for years, which the Superman Homepage has reported on.
Metropolis is a long way from Clark’s childhood home in Smallville and from the Fortress of Solitude. Meet the people who work alongside him on Superman’s friends and allies, and see the films in order in Superman movies in order.
Questions
Asked and answered.
Is Metropolis New York?
Not officially, but New York is its biggest model. Joe Shuster based the skyline first on Toronto, where he grew up, then on New York. Superman #2 (1939) put Metropolis in New York state, while the Atlas of the DC Universe (1990) placed it in Delaware. The 1978 film shot Metropolis in New York City.
Where is Metropolis?
It's fictional. It was first named in Action Comics #16 (1939). Joe Shuster said its skyline was based on Toronto, his home city, before New York took over. DC has placed it in New York state and, since a 1990 atlas, in Delaware.
Where was Metropolis filmed?
It depends on the film. Superman (1978) used New York City, Superman Returns (2006) used Lower Manhattan and Sydney, the DCEU films used Chicago for the Daily Planet, and Superman (2025) used Cleveland and Cincinnati in Ohio.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Metropolis (comics)
- Frommer's: Superman in Cleveland
- News 5 Cleveland: Cleveland landmarks in Superman (2025)
- TheWrap: the real-world Metropolis
- Cleveland Film Commission: Superman's Cleveland locations
- Cleveland Magazine: Superman attractions
- Mapping NYC: 220 East 42nd Street
- Den of Geek: the filming locations of Superman IV
- Wikipedia: Daily Planet
- Superman Homepage: Superman FAQ
- Wikipedia: Clark Kent
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