Let’s be honest; when it comes to scenic locations and cinematic appeal, the 50 states are not created equal. Take, for example, my home state of Delaware.
The Diamond State was the butt of good-natured ribbing by Mike Myers in Wayne’s World and Aubrey Plaza (a Delaware native herself) in Judd Apatow’s Funny People. It was the setting for George Romero’s final zombie flick, Survival of the Dead, as well as the unnamed home of David Fincher’s Fight Club. For the most part, though, filmmakers for some reason tend to place their pictures in California, New York, Texas, and the other usual suspects.
With this in mind, you can imagine my surprise when I went to see James Gunn’s new Superman movie this past weekend. Early on, as Clark Kent (David Corenswet) walks through the lobby of the Daily Planet building, we’re treated to a quick shot of Delaware’s state flag (see the photo above).
There are a couple of other scenes where the ol’ Colonial Blue and Buff colors are featured alongside the Metropolis city flag. So while it’s never specified, it’s clear that Gunn’s Man of Steel is a believer in Truth, Justice, and Tax-Free Shopping. What’s more, a highway sign directing drivers to a bridge exit for Gotham City means that Batman’s home base is going to be situated across the Delaware River, in southern New Jersey.
This superhero geography has been semi-canonical for nearly half a century. In a 1977 issue of the official magazine Amazing World of DC Comics, writer and continuity maven Mark Gruenwald first posited the cities’ Mid-Atlantic locale. This, he said, was a way of explaining how the DC Universe could have a New York City as well as Metropolis and Gotham (Unlike Marvel Comics, where everyone seems to live in or near the Big Apple). This was later depicted on a map in the syndicated comic strip The World’s Greatest Super-Heroes.
So, does all this Delaware detail play a big part in Superman? No, of course not. I’m sure Ohioans are just as thrilled that Cincinnati’s Union Station is being used as the basis for the headquarters of the film’s Justice Gang, just as it was for the Hall of Justice in the ’70s Super Friends cartoons (After all, Supes himself was created by Clevelanders Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster). State pride is a funny thing.
Do you have a favorite movie or scene set in your home state? Tell us about it in the comments.