Setting of the Green Hornet

The Green Hornet franchise franchise originated with a radio series, co-created and largely written by New Yorker Fran Striker, which was set in New York City. Later iterations of the franchise have been set in various locales including the real life cities of Chicago and Los Angeles, and the fictional cities Central City, Century City, and Metropolitan City. Most iterations are set during a time contemporaneous with when the story was written. However, some iterations, particularly those which treat the personas of the Green Hornet and Kato as mantles handed down from one generation to the next, have specifically set stories in the past.

Setting of the radio series

The Green Hornet franchise began with a radio series which aired from 1936-1953. The series originated from Chicago-based radio station, WXYZ. However, its lead writer and co-creator, Fran Striker, was from New York, and the series was set in New York City, with several of its episodes making reference to this. For example, in Episode 81 a man who is wanted by the law in St. Louis, Missouri flees to New York City, where the Green Hornet operates and The Daily Sentinel is based.

Setting of TV series and 1970s films

The city in which the Green Hornet and Kato operate was specified as Center City in a series outline, written by Lorenzo Semple Jr., who was tasked with creating the series bible and served as one of the show's primary writers. However, by the time the series aired, the name of the city was changed to Metropolitan City and it was stated as such in the original outline for "Trouble for Prince Charming." Although the city's name is never spoken, it is referenced numerous times through various objects and signage that appear throughout the series. For example, when a list of construction companies within the Green Hornet's city is displayed in "The Frog Is a Deadly Weapon," it reveals each of their addresses as being in Metropolitan City. Phone books, public transit, and other background details also corroborate the city's name.

Setting of the 2011 film

This version of the franchises shifts the setting to a contemporaneous Los Angeles.

Setting of the comic books

Setting of the Green Hornet Comics

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Setting of the Gold Key comics

The Gold Key comics are set within the same continuity as the television show and, as such, are also set in Metropolitan City.

Setting of the NOW Comics

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Setting of Dynamite Entertainment comics

The majority of Dynamite's Green Hornet comics are set in a continuity dubbed "Earth-818793." Various titles in this continuity, such as The Green Hornet: Year One establish that the original Green Hornet and Kato operated in Chicago, while later iterations where based in the fictional locale of Century City. The latter perhaps derives its name as a nod to the fact that the TV series was filmed in the real life Century City, a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. During their adventures, the Green Hornet and Kato often travel to other cities, such as the similarly named Central City, which serves as the basis of operations for the masked crimefighter known as The Spirit.

Setting in Dick Tracy comics

In the Green Hornet's crossover appearances in the Dick Tracy comic strip, Britt Reid and Kato are stated as being based in Central City. It's possible that the writers of Dick Tracy might have mistakenly believe that since the recently published comic book, The Green Hornet '66 Meets the Spirit, was set in Central City that the locale was the home of the Green Hornet and Kato, when in reality it was the Spirit's. Some of Dick Tracy's supporting cast members such as Chief Patton and Lafayette Austin are retroactively stated to originally be from Central City.