Top 10 Comic Book Headquarters (Part Two)

 

The best thing about Part Two? No long-winded introductory paragraph! Picking up where Part One left off, let's get to numbers five through one:

The JLA Satellite: Leaving their original cave hangout behind, the League moved into a spiffy new orbiting satellite in Justice League #78 (1970), undoubtedly inspired by the space station in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).  Despite the "America" portion of the team's name, the satellite seemed to elevate the League's mission to that of international or even planetary protectors. In the years since the satellite's destruction, the JLA have steadily increased the "wow" factor of their succeeding headquarters (at one point building one on the moon)...but none of them quite surpass the groovy space-age vibe of that ol' satellite.

Latveria: In the early days of Marvel Comics, creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were determined to shake up the status quo. One of their many, many innovations was a Fantastic Four villain named Doctor Doom who, in addition to a compelling appearance and origin story, took the concept of the bad guy's lair to a completely new category. Instead of holing up in a building or even a compound, Doom's home base was an entire country...and he its beloved monarch! Located somewhere in Eastern Europe, the sovereign nation of Latveria was strictly ruled and fiercely protected by Doom and his advanced technology...which often made the Fantastic Four's efforts to stop him a diplomatically sticky situation.

The Tower of Fate: As one of the coolest heroes of the fabled Golden Age of Comics, sorcerer Doctor Fate had a headquarters that perfectly complemented his eerie modus operandi. Its Earthly aspect located in (a perpetually overcast) Salem, Massachusetts, this windowless and doorless tower could only be entered by Fate and his wife Inza. Inside were countless magical artifacts, weapons, and tomes dating back to the ancient world. Much like the Rock of Eternity (yesterday's #9), this stark, lonely structure exists outside of conventional space and time...and has recently been shown to have a bewildering, Escher-esque interior.

The Fortress of Solitude: God knows, I've said almost everything I could possibly say about Superman's Fortress of Solitude...but I have to reiterate just how much I love the concept of the Man of Steel needing a place to relax and unwind. Sure, he had the obligatory headquarters stuff like super-computers and trophy rooms...but first and foremost, the Fortress was a place for Superman to chill the heck out! (no arctic-pun intended). My favorite of its many iterations was, of course, the version featured from 1957 through 1986 which, as you can read about here, is intertwined with my first-ever encounter with the Superman character.

As much as I love the Fortress of Solitude, it was narrowly edged out by my top pick...which by now should be obvious to just about anyone who's read a comic book. The number one Comic Book Headquarters is, of course....

The Original Legion of Superheroes Clubhouse: Made from a semi-buried, upside-down rocketship, the headquarters of the futuristic Legion of Superheroes was....

Okay, you didn't seriously think I picked this as #1, did you?

All right, all right...the real number one can only be...

The Batcave: The perfect expression of the secret headquarters concept, the Batcave simply can't be surpassed in its thematic compatibility with its hero and its sheer mythic weight. Mostly utilitarian, with intriguing touches of sentimentality, the sprawling underground complex is a breathtaking testament to the lengths Bruce Wayne has gone to avenge his parents' deaths. 

Now that I've posted my Top 10 hang-outs, what are some of yours? 

Comments

[Pat Curley]

LOL! Your gag worked perfectly! I scrolled down, saw the Legion Clubhouse and I'm thinking what the heck and I scroll back up to make sure I didn't miss the Batcave up above and I scroll down to give you the "Doh!" comment and I saw the real #1! Best laugh of the night!

Ones I do like that were not mentioned are Blackhawk Isle, and yes, the Legion Headquarters, as goofy as it is. In the early issues it definitely has that tree-fort look. From the outside you'd swear they couldn't get ten people in there without things getting a little sweaty. Right about the same time as the Tardis, Legion HQ was a building that was much bigger on the inside than the outside.

I agree on the Batcave and Fortress. They are truly special.

[Wes C]

Ha!, you got me too!

My initial reaction was wow, no Batcave? Really? Then I thought it was kinda brave (if not a little odd) to not even have the cave on the list. I was trying to imagine the litany of angry Bat-Fans you were going to have to placate, when, bam! there it is.

I would have put the Baxter Building closer to the top of the list (but that's just me). Thanks for including the Tower of Fate, it totally slipped my mind.

[Mark Engblom]

Heh. Glad the #1 gag worked out.

Actually, the Legion headquarters that almost DID make the cut was the one introduced during the 70's with the big "L" on the front and the funky space-age spindles and such adorning it.

[Michael Rebain]

No quibbles about any of your choices, although I would have named the Baxter Building in place of Latveria. Avengers Mansion and the SHIELD Helicarrier are also worthy of mention, but the expanded Legion HQ introduced in 1968 is definitely an all time favorite of mine.

[Comic Coverage]

As high profile as the Avengers Mansion is and, similarly, the old JSA brownstone, I didn't choose them since they're essentially just old buildings without a whole lot to distinguish them as A-list headquarters.

[greyman24]

I kind of liked the Watchtower, but mainly because if its name.

Functionally, it wasn't kind of worse than the satellite. I mean...granted, space is space, and regardless of distance, you're still talking about travel measured better in hours than minutes (including take-off and docking/landing). Still, satellites generally are 80 to 1,200 miles up. The moon, on the other hand, is 225,622 miles away at its closest point. Pretty significant difference.

I know they had teleports, but if those are down (which they ALWAYS seemed to be), you wind up having to travel for a heck of a lot longer. Unless you're Superman, and can travel the speed of light through a vacuum, you're SOL.

[Pat Curley]

I was trying to think of ones that weren't named. One is the Aerie, the brief home for the Olsen/Robin team, in an abandoned observatory. I believe it was only mentioned in a couple of World's Finest issues. Very high on the coolness quotient, but minor as history.

[rob!]

The gag worked on me too. Damn I'm gullible!

Batcave @ #1--as it should be.

[Texcap]

Really enjoyed the list, and I'm glad the Phantom's headquarters made the cut! I think the only deviation I might have made is to somehow include the Hall of Justice in there, and maybe the Legion of Doom as a tie-in but that's about it. Then again, it isn't nearly as steeped in actual comic book lore.

Ah, and I still love the fact that not only is there a giant key sitting just outside Superman's Fortress of Solitude, but that it's actually pointing right to it as well! Talk about super confidence! Then again, when 99.999999% of the universal population can't lift it, and even more have never visited the location, you can probably be a little open and honest about that kind of thing.

[Skeeter]

Great list, but I'm kind of surprised that Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters didn't make the cut. I understand the building itself probably isn't worth mentioning, but the concept of the school and specifically the Danger Room was unique and brilliant...

[Keith]

Great list. I'd probably shuffle them around a bit and I'd definitely include Dr. Strange's Sanctum Santorum and probably the Xavier School as Skeeter mentioned. But lots of fun to read and remember.

[Dr. OTR]

How could you forget Green Arrow's Arrowcave? The most original secret headquarters ever!!! With the unforgettable arrowcar, arrowcopter, arroboat, um, lessee, probably a glass booth with Speedy's costume in it, maybe some arrowpoles to slide down ... okay, maybe it wasn't so original after all.

[John Trumbull]

Great list, Mark! I've never thought of Latveria as a headquarters before, but it makes sense. I'd give honorable mentions to Blackhawk Island, the 70s Legion HQ, the All-Star Squadron's Trylon & Perisphere, the Super Friends' Hall of Justice & the Legion of Doom's giant Darth Vader head.

[Comic Coverage]

AAAARRRRGGGHH! I can't believe I forgot the All-Star Squadron's headquarters!!! Geez...if I'd remembered, it would have been in the place of Challenger Mountain. Hmmmm....maybe I should make a change?

[Pat Curley]

Since you included villains (well, one) I'd also put in a good word for Luthor's Lair, his Silver Age hideout in a museum in downtown Metropolis. You had to shake Caesar's hand to get in, and inside there were statues dedicated to the greatest criminals in history.

[Dr. OTR]

Two more came to mind. Titan's Tower -- basically a Baxter Building rip-off, even the point of being in Manhattan, but it gave the Teen Titans someplace to hang up their capes. Also, while the Joker has never stuck to a single location, it was referred to periodically as the ha-ha-cienda, which has a nice ring to it.

[JL]

What about Joker's Ha-Hacienda?