Five Years in the City of Heroes

It was April 28, 2004.

Paragon City was still recovering from the devastation of the Rikti Invasion of 2002 when the call went out for heroes around the world to come help rebuild the city and bring order back to it. It didn’t matter if they were new heroes or seasoned veterans. Humans, aliens, robots, mystical creatures, pure of heart or not, thousands have heeded Statesman’s call for help.

A lot has happened in those five years since.

There is still much of Paragon City that needs rebuilding, but the city is making a comeback. The Hollows, formerly known as Eastgate, have been opened as a hazard area. Where once criminals run wild, order is slowly being restored there. Faultline, formerly known as Overbrook, has gone from a hazard area into a relatively safe zone as that district rebuilds itself from its devastation. Croatoa opened up again.

The influx of heroes opened a new sport for the city, known simply as The Arena. DJ Zero opened up the extradimensional Pocket D nightclub, and later expanded it with a Tiki Lounge and seasonal ski chalet.

But the threats have magnified as well.

The Rularuu crossed over from the Shadow Shard dimension in 2004. Civil war broke out in 2005 between the factions now known as the 5^th Column and The Council, with The Council prevailing. Lord Recluse and his Arachnos forces began bringing escaped prisoners from the Zig over to his empire in the Rogue Isles, essentially turning that chain of islands into their own City of Villains.

The Rikti returned in 2007, five years after they were originally defeated by the noble sacrifices made by the Omega Team. The Vanguard ramped up their operations. The Midnight Squad came back from near-extinction. Through the Menders of Oroboros, new doors to the past and the future opened to unlock the secrets.

There have been many things since Statesman’s call was sent. Zombie Apocalypse and Snow monsters, meeting Father Time and saving Baby New Year, taking on gods and Titans, and travelling through time and to alternate realities. There was even a wedding as heroes Manticore and Sister Psyche got married.

And things are just starting.

For one day only, on April 28^th, the Fifth Anniversary of Statesman’s call for more heroes, the City of Heroes will relive the great events that have happened in the five years. Rularuu? Rikti? Zombie Apocalypse? The return of the Wedding Event and Winter Event? Holiday presents and Trick-or-Treating? The only way to find out is to be in Paragon City and the Rogue Isles from 11am EST to Midnight EST on April 28^th.

Then on April 29^th and running until May 31^st, ALL characters that log in will get a special 5^th Anniversary badge. These badges are rare and will only be issued PER CHARACTER during that time.

Also anyone who ever was a hero or villain in the past five years will be allowed to reactivate and join in the festivities from April 28th until 11:59pm EST on Sunday, May 3^rd.

And that’s not all. There are anniversary events going on, including two contests, a special address from Positron, visits from all of the Freedom Phalanx in the Test Universe, and already there are details on Issue 15: Anniversary, including the highly anticipated opening of the Omega Team Time Capsule! New faces, new costumes, new missions, new costume change emotes… all of that is just around the corner.

It has been a busy five years… and it can only get better from here.