Metropolis, Gotham City and New York. Superheroes tend to congregate around major cities in the United States, fictional and real, which provide them with endless criminals to beat up and villains to stop. After all, you’re not going to find many megalomaniac geniuses trying to take over the world from Tulsa. But what superheroes can you name from Chicago, Illinois, the third most populous city in the United States?

While everyone who moves to Chicago should know that the city was the backdrop for Gotham City in Christopher Nolan’s first two Batman movies, as well as Metropolis in the lois and clark television series, it turns out that the Windy City’s true superhero roster is surprisingly thin.

However, there are still a handful of great heroes who represent Chicagoland in the funny books. Here are the top 10.

10. Heavy Duty – This “Real American Hero” serves as a heavy artillery specialist for the GI Joe team. A Chicago native, Lamont A. Morris, also known as “Heavy Duty,” enjoys cooking, classical guitar, and rapping.

9. Boy toy – This super-powered prankster is a member of the Brigade of Honor and the star of his own title published by indie comic creator Tom Stilwell. Toy Boy defends Chicago with an arsenal of hilarious gadgets and clever pranks.

8. Space Knights – Almost nothing is known about this government-sanctioned superhero team created during the Fifty-State Initiative and designated to defend Illinois with superhuman strength. The list of members has not been revealed, but just knowing that an entire team is searching for Chicagoans earns you a spot on this list.

7. Ruben Flagg – Born on Mars, the protagonist of American flag! Lives fights against a giant interplanetary union of corporate and government interests called Plex in a futuristic sci-fi Chicago.

6. Katar Hol and Shayera Thal – This incarnation of Thanagar’s alien superhero, Hawkman, was sent to Earth with Hawkgirl, Shayera, where they battled the Chicago Underworld, a neighborhood of metahumans, paranormals, psychics, and mutants in the old Union Stock Yards on the south side of the city.

5. Jimmy Corrigan – This titular “Smartest Kid on Earth” isn’t exactly a superhero, but he is the star of a widely acclaimed graphic novel by Chris Ware. Jimmy escapes the unhappiness of his lonely middle-aged life with an active imagination that gets him into awkward situations.

4. Tigra – Greer Grant was born in Chicago, where she attended UIC before a lab experiment gave her the Cat People’s combination of science, magic, and mental energy. Now as Tigra, she dons a stylish orange fur coat and black stripes and uses her cat-like powers to help the Avengers.

3. Lucas Cage – Though not a Chicago native, Power Man had a brief stint in Chicago during the ’90s as a Hero For Hire. In the Windy City, Cage teams up with Detective Dakota North and uses her superhuman strength and durability to clean up the streets of Chicago.

2.James Gordon – Batman’s resourceful police commissioner friend wasn’t always a Gotham City resident. According to his character’s backstory, Jim spent more than 15 years with the CPD thwarting criminals and acquiring the incredible detective skills that would make him one of the Caped Crusader’s best allies when he returned to Gotham.

1. Wild Dragon – Big. Green. Finned. The Savage Dragon isn’t your typical Chicago cop, but he’s got the emerald muscle to take on Chicago’s mutants and superfreaks. Regarded as one of the greatest comic book characters of all time, Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon has been defending the Windy City for nearly 20 years.

Now that you’re familiar with Chicago’s best metahumans, you’ll be a perfect fit for Chicago Comic Con. For more fun tips, advice, and secrets on moving to Chicago, check out our blog at New in Town Chicago.