For other usages of Metropolis, see Metropolis.

The fictional city of Metropolis is the home of the comic book superhero Superman. The co-creator and original artist of Superman, Joe Shuster, modeled the Metropolis skyline after both Toronto, Ontario (where he was born), and Cleveland, Ohio (where he later lived and met co-creator Jerry Siegel in high school).

Since then, however, it has become a fictional analogue of New York City. At one point, DC Comics stated that Metropolis is in the state of Delaware.

It has been said that, metaphorically, Metropolis is New York during the day, and Gotham City (home to Batman) is New York at night; this comparison is usually attributed to Frank Miller. Longtime Batman writer and editor Dennis O'Neil also said figuratively that Metropolis is New York above 14th St., and that Gotham City is New York below 14th St.

The real town of Metropolis, Illinois, has proclaimed itself the "Hometown of Superman," and celebrates its "local hero" in every possible way that it can. Among the ways it celebrates the character are a large Superman statue in the city; a small Superman museum; an annual Superman festival; and its local newspaper, known as The Metropolis Planet, a name inspired by the newspaper in fictional Metropolis, The Daily Planet.

The fictitious Metropolis became more defined (and more obviously based on New York) following the Crisis on Infinite Earths. It is presently divided into six regions or "boroughs", centred around "New Troy", an island borough based on Manhattan. The Daily Planet building is here (in "Planet Square"), as was Lex Luthor's corporate headquarters, the Lexcorp Tower. Clark Kent and Lois Lane also live in an apartment here.

New Troy is separated from the suburban boroughs by the West River and Hobb's River. Jimmy Olsen lives in the borough of Bakerline. There is also a economically depressed area in northwestern New Troy called Suicide Slum best known for the 1940s adventures of the Guardian and his street urchin companions, the Newsboy Legion.

At the Millennium, the city was given a futuristic makeover by Brainiac 13, but it has since reverted to its former state.

In the Smallville TV series, Metropolis seems to be located in Kansas or in a neighboring state. In an interview, the creators of Smallville have stated that Metropolis is approximately 100 miles (160 kilometres) from Smallville. In Superman the Movie, its sequels and Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, it is shown as New York. (The first movie even shows the Statue of Liberty).