New York Might Have a Secret Villain Side, According to New Study

Are New Yorkers rooting for superheroes or do they secretly cheer for the bad guys? A new study released on National Superhero Day (April 28th) looked at Google search trends for 100 popular Marvel and DC characters in every state, and New York’s results were pretty interesting.

New York’s favorite hero is Captain America

According to researchers at OvidLife, Captain America was the most searched superhero in New York. That may not come as a huge surprise. Captain America has been one of Marvel’s most popular characters for years thanks to the blockbuster movies, comic books, and his all-American image.

New York’s favorite villain is Joker

When it came to villains, Joker took the top spot in New York. And here’s where things get interesting. Researchers found New Yorkers searched for villains more often overall than the heroes, suggesting the Empire State may have a bit of a mischievous side too.

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Marvel beats DC in New York

The study also found that Marvel characters generated more total search interest in New York than DC characters. That means while Joker may be the state’s top villain, Marvel still wins the bigger popularity battle overall.

So what does this say about New Yorkers?

For the most part, people love a good hero story, but they also like to take a look at the darker side too. To be honest (and why wouldn't I be), that feels about right when it comes to New York. To see the most popular comic book character in every state, go here.