By Omar Muñoz
Today is National Superhero Day, and New York has a clear answer as to who it prefers: the villain.
An OvidLife study analyzed Google searches for 100 Surprise and DC characters in every state in the country over the past 12 months. In New York, the Joker was the most searched comic book character overallabove any hero. When all the state’s searches are added up, the clown prince of crime prevails without argument.
The country’s most wanted villain is also New York’s favorite
The result is not entirely surprising. The Joker has been in DC comics for more than eight decades, and each generation has reinvented him in their own way: from the theatrical villain of the original comics to the disturbing character brought to the big screen by Heath Ledger, Jack Nicholson, Jared Leto and Joaquin Phoenix. Phoenix’s film, filmed partly in the Bronx and Upper Ny, used the city as the central setting for its story, further strengthening the link between the character and New York. The actor won the Oscar for Best Actor for that performance.
Nationally, the Joker topped the list of favorite villains in 14 states, more than any other character in the studio. His ability to reinvent himself in films, animated series and comics keeps him relevant in the cultural conversation in a way that few characters manage to sustain for so long.
Captain The US, the favorite hero, has roots in Brooklyn
New York’s favorite hero is Captain The US, and the fact has a logic of belonging that is difficult to ignore: in the comics, Steve Rogers was born and raised in Brooklyn before becoming the symbol of American heroism. That New York chooses him as its favorite among the good ones makes sense beyond the searches.
As for the battle between publishing houses, New York leans towards Surprise when considering the total searches for all the characters analyzed, a result that coincides with the national trend: Surprise won in 38 of the 50 states, compared to 13 where DC won. The full study is available at ovidlife.com.
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