Every city claims something cool, but how many cities can say one of the most feared assassins in modern fiction got his start right here?
Before the sleek suits, before the “Baba Yaga” nickname, before the events of John Wick launched a billion-dollar action franchise, John’s first epic vendetta exploded in the streets of El Paso, Texas. And it’s not fan fiction. It’s official canon.
The Baba Yaga Was Born in the Sun City
In 2017, John Wick dropped a five-issue prequel that digs into John’s origin story. The series opens with a young John Wick fresh out of prison, heading straight into a blood-soaked reckoning that traces back to a massacre from his childhood.
Where does this first war unfold? El Paso.
The comic takes us deep into the underworld of the Sun City, where John hunts down The Three Bills: Pecos, Buffalo, and Billy. What follows is an all-out war in the streets as John clashes with Calamity, a bazooka-wielding enforcer who becomes the true target of his rage.
This is the moment he collides with the assassin underworld. This is where he learns the Book of Rules. This is where the myth starts forming.
Yes, El Paso Has a Continental
One of the wildest details? El Paso has its own branch of the Continental Hotel.
The Continental, the sacred neutral ground for assassins introduced in the films, plays a major role in this story. And it’s here in El Paso that John meets Charon for the first time.
Yes, that Charon. (RIP Lance Reddick!)
Before he becomes the loyal concierge we know from the films, Charon crosses paths with John in El Paso. John actually saves his life, sparking the bond that later becomes one of the most quietly powerful friendships in the franchise.
That connection started here in our Sun City.
Texas Talent Behind the Mayhem
The series was written by Greg Pak, the Texas-born comic legend behind the iconic Planet Hulk run and the creator of Totally Awesome Hulk. So yes, a Dallas writer telling a John Wick origin story set in El Paso. That’s a lot of Lone Star energy packed into five issues.
And because this story is confirmed canon, it means something big: if the franchise ever does a true prequel series or film, there is a real chance we could see a live-action John Wick origin set right here in the Sun City.
Keanu Reeves. Black suits. Continental rules. Desert skyline.
El Paso is truly where John Wick was born.
The Geeks Guide To El Paso: All Star Comics & Toys
All Star Comics & Toys in Central El Paso is a staple of the geek community! Here for almost 40 years, this is a must visit for any vintage toy and comic collector in the Sun City!
Gallery Credit: Grizz
The Most Famous People You Didn’t Know Were El Pasoans
These are just a few of the most famous El Pasoans to grace the earth. Some of them, like Alan Tudyk, have played so many famous characters, its crazy that we could ever forget they were El Paso born!
Gallery Credit: Grizz
The City of The 915: El Paso, Texas Through Photos
El Paso, Texas is a hidden gem full of so much culture, art, and community. These photos show what the city has to offer.
Gallery Credit: Courtesy: UnSplash