Typically, it's believed that the legal forms, troubles and other matters are dealt with when you're logged out of the character. This also goes for the character's day-to-day job and much of their personal life.
As far as taking evidence from the scene, well... Think of your characters as "One-Man-SWAT-Teams," and that you're sent in to deal with situations that the Police normally can't handle. Evidence confiscated during such raids are still admissible in court, despite the violent nature of the acquisition. Of course, you're also part-detective, so you can still use the evidence to keep yourself going through the case.
Non-humans are generally treated to a screening process. Former humans (such as the Devouring Earth's Devoured monsters) are considered teleported first to the prison, then to a secure facility where scientists labor extensively to reverse the process that turned them into a monstrosity (do the Terra Conspiracy arc in the 35-40 levels, just be careful of the EB/AV at the end). However, the rock, grass and fungus-based minions of the DE are simply left for dead, they were never human. The same goes for the robots, though it can be Roleplayed that heroes, rogues, criminals, and even ordinary citizens scavenge the materials. I'm not sure how the Hydra Men are treated. There's a mission in the 40+ levels where you learn how they came to be here and just what they think of the whole situation.
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In the villain-side, it's generally assumed that one of three things is happening. Either you're leaving the enemy for dead (though they might not necessarily be dead), they're being rounded up by Arachnos authorities (unlikely, the Arachnos troops rarely keep order, despite the fact that they ARE the authorities in the Etoile Isles), or the enemies have their own medical facilities (for groups like the Family, the Freakshow or the Sky Raiders, this is somewhat believable; the Circle of Thorns have their own explanation as to why you keep seeing the same names over and over again, and it could be said that the Tsoo have powerful meditation techniques to resist unnatural death).
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There were comics. They were run first by a company called Blue King Studios (which features the tone of the storyline before the Fifth Column became the Council), then by Top Cow (which featured the storyline of what was happening after City of Villains started). The first was (and for some, still is) considered the stronger of the two, as it placed the characters in their own world, unlike the Top Cow comics, which, especially in the closing comics, was acting more like a commercial than a story. Both had their ups-and-downs, and they've sadly been the only official comic-book forms of the City of Heroes stories.
The rest is fleshed out through roleplay and storywriting, which you can find here on the boards. Will these stories ever see a wider publication? Who knows? Time will tell.
My Stories
Look at that. A full-grown woman pulling off pigtails. Her crazy is off the charts.
Thank you for your perspective.
As for the actual published comics produced about the video game, yep I'm aware, and find it rather neat that they are cannon. My pondering was if there were comics in the game world. Much like there is a super hero themed soap opera, "The Super Days," on TV and what not.
There would be no reason why there wouldn't be comics in Paragon City read by superheroes and citizens alike... perhaps even comic books about the very hero READING it! I would speculate that even regular comics (like DC, Marvel, etc) would be available in the stores.. I mean, why not? If Co* was a real place, these assumptions would probably hold true as they do in our own world.
As to your earlier question: I assume heroes are part judge, jury and executioner simply due to the unique nature of Paragon City. Even though you could argue some of the things are heroes are allowed to do would normally violate Constitutional law, you could roleplay the situation out that would conform your character actions to fit within Constitutial statutes (like saying the Miranda rights when you take down a baddie for instance).. even if you do that, you might roleplay it out that the Constitution is modified for Paragon City only and let that be that...
One other thought to consider is the method of your character,
My Superheroic Superheroes go out of there way to arrest healthy Villains, where My normal Nat Blasters (Cops and Soldiers) who are hero support use guns and Guns unless tasers or beanbag don't stun.
It's all in the matter of perpective.
Valor 
Quote:
|
by Star Ranger 4 WIN LOSE OR DRAW, WE WILL FIGHT. WE ARE HEROES This is what we DO! |
Decide that this will be another day in which you Walk The Talk.
MA #14724 Operation: Discredit @American Valor
Sentinel Of Liberty SG
I appreciate the responses. After getting one hero and one villain up to 50 (and then subsequent characters to 30+) I find knowing the lore of the land is helpful to build characters that fit into the world. It all adds to character motivation and color.
Finding out what happens to the defeated helps flesh things out.
Have a good one 
I've seen comic stores all over Paragon. XD
My main hero will always do his best to arrest humans or near-humans, because he believes that if they have any human emotions, or morals, they can be led to do good.
Creatures, robots, all those things, he has to destroy. He couldn't imagine trying to hurt one enough to knock it out and capture it, and somehow keep it from getting out and hurting people, so killing it is the only way he knows how to stop it entirely.
Every one but one villain kills their enemies, unless they need them to live. Blind Messenger rarely kills unless he needs to, but every other villain finds that leaving enemies alive just allows them to come right on back.
I suppose it is nice that we have a choice as to how things are handled. Though heroes running around with swords and axes are asking for problems.
Soon it will be the rogues asking for trouble!
My Stories
Look at that. A full-grown woman pulling off pigtails. Her crazy is off the charts.
I have some role-play questions about the day to day things that happen in the game. I had posted this under the General Discussions, but I'm still curious what others think.
Now I assume hero side that when any thug, gangbanger, or super villain is knocked out that they are tagged with a locater beacon that transports them to police custody for legal processing.
Should I even speculate the legal process? And is it even legal to take evidence (aka dropped items)?
What happens to defeated non human things: robots, hydra, whisps, rikti, demons, and ghosts?
Meanwhile villain side
You are taking out thugs and the mafia making a name for yourself and a hefty wad of cash. Are these guys porting to the nearest underworld medical facility after knockout?
And what is their story with the aforementioned knocked out non human encounters?
And finally a philosophical pondering.
Are there comics in the CoX universe? (as in within the world of the game) Some shows such as Smallville have comic books paralleling the material.
As CoX is creatively influenced by an amalgam of many comic worlds, would we expect the print adventures of Locksley & Chiroptero-lad vs The Living Clown?