By Omar Muñoz
Today is National Superhero Day, and California has a clear favorite: Superman.
An OvidLife study analyzed Google searches for 100 Marvel and DC characters in every state in the country over the past 12 months. In California, the Man of Steel was the state’s most wanted character and hero, above any other name in the comic book universe.
California’s favorite superhero came from another world
The choice has its own logic. Superman is, in essence, the story of someone who comes from afar, adopts a new identity and claims to protect the land that welcomed him without giving up who he is. Kal-El was born on Krypton and became Clark Kent in Kansas, but his story has always been that of someone who belongs to two worlds at the same time. For a state where more than half the population has roots outside the United States, that tale resonates in a way that few comic book characters can match.
Superman debuted in comics in 1938 and hasn’t left the cultural conversation since. He has starred in a variety of television, film franchises, and video games in every decade since his creation, making him one of the few characters capable of connecting with readers and viewers of completely different generations. In cinema, its most recent version arrived in 2025 with James Gunn’s film, which relaunched the character within the new DC universe with David Corenswet in the predominant role.
Physician Doom is the favorite villain, and Marvel wins in the total count
On the villain side, California cast Physician Doom, the scientist and ruler of Latveria who combines intelligence, power, and boundless ambition. He’s one of Marvel’s most complex antagonists, with an origin story that mixes public tragedy with a thirst for survival, which has made him a favorite among readers who prefer caped villains.
However, when the searches of all the characters analyzed are added up, California leans towards Marvel in the total count. A result that coincides with the national trend: the house of Avengers won in 38 of the 50 states compared to 13 where DC prevailed, despite the fact that the most popular villains in the country, led by the Joker, belong to DC.
The full study is available at ovidlife.com.
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