Central City (DC Comics)
- For other uses of Central City, see Central City (disambiguation).
| Central City | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Showcase #4 (September-October 1956) |
| In story information | |
| Type | City |
| Notable people | Barry Allen Wally West Captain Cold The Spirit |
| Notable locations | Flash Museum |
Central City is a fictional city that appears in stories published by DC Comics, and is the home of the Silver Age version of the Flash, Barry Allen. It first appeared in Showcase #4 in September-October 1956.
Contents |
[edit] Location
Central City's location has been vaguely defined over the years, similar to DC's other fictional cities such as Gotham City and Metropolis. In the 1970s, Central City was stated as being located in Ohio, where the real-world city of Athens, Ohio, would be (as shown in Flash #228 in 1974). Bob Rozakis' Ask the Answer Man column also stated that Central City was located in Ohio. In 1987's Flash (volume 2) #2, published just after the reality-altering storyline Crisis on Infinite Earths, Central City was shown as being in Florida. In the 1990s, Central City was shown as being located in Missouri, near the Kansas/Missouri border, adjacent to Keystone City. In DC: The New Frontier Barry Allen is called the "Illinois Flash" by Hal Jordan, insinuating that Central City, the Flash's home, is in that state. In Young Justice, maps show Central City in Missouri, near the Kansas/Missouri border.
[edit] Statistics
Central City's population has never been depicted as static over the years. In Flash v2, #2(1987) it was cited as being 290,000. In 1990, the Atlas of the DC Universe listed it as 750,000. As of Flash Secret Files and Origins 2010, the population stands as 1,395,600. In Flash v.4 # 1, Central City Police Captain Darryl Frye is quoted as describing the population as having "tripled" during Barry Allen's years-long absence.
[edit] Notable residents
From 1956 until approximately 1985 (in publishing years), Central City was defended by the Flash (police scientist Barry Allen) against a myriad of foes, including Gorilla Grodd, Captain Cold, the Weather Wizard, the Mirror Master, and Professor Zoom, the "Reverse-Flash".
After Barry's death in Crisis, most of his foes, as well as Barry's successor (and former sidekick) Wally West moved to Keystone City, which thanks to the reality-altering effects of Crisis, was now Central City's twin city (pre-Crisis, Keystone City was located on the parallel Earth known as Earth-Two, in approximately the same space as Central City). Subsequently, Central City was treated as a relatively quiet venue that was not frequently depicted in DC comic book stories, but this situation has changed as a result of Barry Allen's recent return as the Flash.
[edit] Internal Geography, Institutions and Landmarks
During the years in which the second Flash series was written by Cary Bates, Central City was apparently divided into Upper and Lower East and West Sides, as well as a "downtown" region.
Central City is the home of the Flash Museum, a museum dedicated to the exploits and memorabilia of the city's hero.
Central City's main newspaper is the Central City Citizen (previously the Central City Picture-News), for which Barry's wife Iris West Allen is currently once again a reporter after an absence of several years.
[edit] In other media
[edit] Television
- Central City appears in the Justice League episode "The Brave and the Bold."
- Also in Justice League Unlimited episode "Flash and Substance."
[edit] Video games
- Central City appears in DC Universe Online. It can be accessed if the player has the Lightning Strikes Downloadable Content.
[edit] External links
- Information on Central City from the Flash fansite "Those Who Ride The Lightning"
- Crimson Lightning - An online index to the comic book adventures of the Flash.
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