Midway City

This is an article about a fictional city. For the real-life city, see Midway City, California

Midway City
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
In story information
Type	City

Midway City is a fictional city in the DC Universe, the shared universe of comic book titles published by DC Comics. Midway is always shown to be a midwestern city based loosely on the real world city of Chicago, Illinois (though Chicago also exists in the DCU). In an "Ask the Answer Man" column printed in Detective Comics #470 (June 1977), writer Bob Rozakis stated that Midway City was in Michigan, near Sault Ste. Marie. This statement has since been reasserted in assorted official ^[1] and licensed ^[2] publications. Previously, some writers stated it's in Illinois.

Fictional history

Midway City is most famous for once being the home of the Silver Age Hawkman and Hawkgirl. In current continuity, the Golden Age Hawkman, in his secret identity of Carter Hall, used to be the curator of the Midway City Museum. Along with the current Hawkgirl, the duo currently reside in St. Roch, Louisiana. One of the many incarnations of the superhero team Doom Patrol spent much time working out of a Midway City brownstone. They rarely met Hawkman and Hawkwoman.

Midway City was also the original home of the Doom Patrol. They moved to Kansas City, Missouri, early in volume 2 of their eponymous series during Paul Kupperberg's tenure as its writer.

Midway is described as hosting a "division" of the Science Police.^[3]

During the event knows as Final Crisis, Midway City is depopulated and wrecked.^[4] Later, Midway City is cleaning up. The efforts are stopped when Rising Sun, a Japanese superhero, shows up. He is not in his right mind and kills many of the restoration volunteers. ^[5]

Points of interest

• Bi-State Tunnel
• The Graphic
• Grinder's Bluff
• Hawk Valley
• Mount Tobar Observatory
• Channelview
• Doom Patrol Headquarters
• Downtown Business District
• Hyathis Corporation
• Industrial District
• Police Headquarters
• Slumville

Midway City Museum

The Midway City Museum is one of the nation's largest museums of natural history. It is particularly noted for its extensive collection of Egyptian artifacts and medieval weaponry. One of the museum's earlier curators was Ed Emmet, the brother of Midway City police commissioner George Emmet. When Ed retired, George used his influence to allow Thanagarian police officers Katar and Shayera Hol the opportunity to take his place. Assuming the anglicised names Carter and Shiera Hall, they became the museum's new curators. One of the Museum's most famed matrons was the naturalist Mavis Trent. Upon meeting Carter, Mavis became instantly smitten with him and persistently tried to seduce him despite the fact that he's married. Mavis' press agent was Joe Tracy, who was secretly in love with her, and frequently visited the museum on Mavis' behalf.

Sports

• Midway City Chiefs: Baseball, National League, eastern division
• Midway City Cardinals: Football, National Conference, central division
• Midway City Sprints: Basketball, Eastern Conference, central division
• Midway Wolverines: Hockey, Campbell Conference, Norris division

In other media

Midway City was the setting in the 1967 Filmation Hawkman shorts of The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure.

The Midway City Museum is the site of a battle between Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Vixen, and the Shadow Thief, in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Ancient History".

Midway City was mentioned in The Batman episode "What Goes Up...".

Midway City's connection to Chicago is loosely referenced by Chicago based hip-hop group The Cool Kids on "One Two" from their second album The Bake Sale: "Midway City is the city where wind blows".

In other comics

In issue 9 of volume 3 of Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series, Midway City is also the name of a city visited by Leonardo when Master Splinter, transformed into a giant bat, is spotted. Here Leonardo encounters the Knight Watchman.

References

1. ^ Hawkman v.2 # 4; writer Tony Isabella, artist Richard Howell
2. ^ Atlas of the DC Universe by Paul Kupperberg
3. ^ Superman # 677
4. ^ "Final Crisis" 1-6
5. ^ Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #1–6, 144 pages, paperback, February 2010, ISBN 1401226051