The Bronx was one of the five boroughs of New York City. Parts of the Bronx were annexed by the city in 1874 and the rest in 1895, it is the northernmost borough of NYC and the fourth largest. A largely residential area rife with slums and urban decay mainly in the southeast and estates along the Hudson River, the Bronx is the only portion of New York on the mainland.
Public housing projects nestled among the piles of rubble and ruins are common sights in the Bronx. Many buildings are half demolished and stand in urban ruins, or vacant in this primarily Hispanic (Puerto Rican) area. The second-largest minority here are Black, which make up 37% of the total population. Distinct Italian neighborhoods are also found in the area and Asians make up a small percentage of the population.
Industrial areas are few in the Bronx and concentrated in the southernmost portion. They are chiefly made up of manufacturing plants such as food processing and garment assembly. Along the waterfront, shipping facilities, warehouses, and the largest produce market on the East coast are the mainstays of the landscape.
20th Century[]
In 1940, the Bronx was the site of a chaotic attack by the Sub-Mariner on New York City, and the subsequent clean-up by the Human Torch.
After flooding the Hudson Tunnel, Namor decided his next target would be the Bronx Zoo. Enroute to the location, he was intercepted by a police plane, but he easily neutralized it by ripping off its propeller. Upon arriving at the zoo, Namor began a wave of chaos: first, he tore open the lions' cage, inciting them against the zookeepers, and fought the animals.
He then continued his destruction, smashing the glass of the snake house and then ripping the bars off the elephant enclosure. This freed a herd of elephants that began to stampede, terrorizing the public.
In the midst of the chaos he himself created, Namor showed a rare moment of compassion upon seeing a helpless baby in the path of the animals. His pity awakened, he saved the child, even lifting one of the elephants to protect it. He then took the baby to safety at a medical center, ending his attack on the Bronx before heading to the George Washington Bridge.
Shortly after, the Human Torch arrived at the zoo to find the animals still running rampant. He subdued a tiger that was attacking a guard and herded the other beasts with a ring of fire, allowing zookeepers to help secure them as he welded the broken bars back into place. However, before he could leave, a gorilla that had remained loose ambushed him. The powerful beast threw the Torch against a wall and threatened a guard. The Torch fought back, striking the gorilla with fireballs. Maddened, the ape climbed a nearby building, but the Torch knocked it down, finally ending the threat in the Bronx.[1]
Modern Era[]
When Black Bolt confronted Thanos in hopes of preventing the Mad Titan's invasion of Earth in the search of his son, he unleashed a powerful attack that triggered a Terrigen Bomb and destroyed Attilan in the process.[2] The resultant Terrigen Cloud released in New York City struck the Bronx and transformed Humans of Inhuman descent including Lineage.[3]
Alternate Reality Versions[]
Earth-138
Punk Universe (Earth-138)[]
In Earth-138, the Universal Church of Truth attempted to take over The Bronx, but were defeated by Spider-Men Hobie Brown and Miles Morales.[4]
- Stan Lee grew up in the Bronx and went to DeWitt Clinton High School.