Superhero headquarters

Cafe Society
1

Here is an intriguing list of superhero-related buildings in a size comparison chart: http://www.worldcomicbookreview.com/index.php/2015/12/21/urban-architecture-in-comic-books/

There are some notable omissions, though:

a. Fortress of Solitude (Superman)
b. Avengers Mansion (Avengers)
c. Stately Wayne Manor (Batman)
d. The upside down rocket, followed by its more modern replacement (Legion of Superheroes).

But I’m struggling to think of any others. (Satellites and spaceships don’t count in this scenario - they’re not buildings.) I suppose Aquaman and Namor each have some sort of unidentified throne room in unidentified palaces. Hawkeye, written by Matt Fraction, has his anonymous Brooklyn brownstone.

Any others?

2

Aquaman’s palace has shown up a lot in his recent series, though he doesn’t spend much time there, any more.

I’d also include the Themysciran embassy from Wonder Woman.

The Gotham Clock Tower (which the Birds of Prey operate out of) is also a notable lack.

Several other Wayne owned buildings, aside from his house would also be appropriate, mostly Wayne Tower.

Like Wayne Manor, Arkham Asylum might be a little small on that chart, but still seems iconic enough to warrant inclusion.

3

Off the top of my head:

Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum
Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters (X-Men)
Tony Stark’s Malibu house (from the Iron Man movies)
Stark Tower / Avengers Tower (from the Avengers movies)

4

Namor has his seat in Atlantis
Super President stays in the White House
Iron Man in Stark Industries
Thor in Asgaard

5

Arthur’s apartment building in The Tick.

6

The original Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic (yes, Superman stole not only the location, but the name, too. Not the only things Superman took from him) was Doc Savage’s.

They even showed it at the opening of George Pal’s disastrous (and unintentionally hilarious) 1975 film:

So you also have the original (non-Fortress of Solitude) Secret Citadel of Superman:

http://comiccoverage.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/03/29/01_citadel.jpg

And don’t forget the Fantastic Four’s HQ at The Baxter Building:


7

Hong Kong Phooeyhas his dumpster.

8

And how can you forget the Hall of Justice, HQ of the Justice League of America:

9

There’s also the Hal of Heroes (sometimes called the Batmen of All Nations) club in Gotham City

in their first appearance, they had a physical clubhouse. I haven’t kept up with them since then.

10

Superman’s Silver Age fortress used the giant key, but the keyhole was big enough to crawl through. Great design.

11

Not forgotten. It’s one of the buildings on the list linked to in the OP (the smallest of them by approximately 10m). The Baxter Building is also included.

12

Titans Tower

ETA: Should’ve clicked the link in the OP. Oops.

13

Remember Shazam! He had a special RV.

14

Ah – sorry. I read the OP, but didn’t click the link. I assumed they were all in the OP.

15

This image from the cover of Adventure Comics 322 certainly suggests that the Legion of Super-Pets had a fixed physical headquarters (possibly within the Legion Clubhouse Building itself), but I don’t recall anyone ever definitely pinning it down

16

the absence of the Legion HQ could be explained by the fact that it hasn’t been built yet!:rolleyes:

Also, it did seem to change size and shape depending on who the artist was at any given time. I recently built a model of the structure, so I’ve done some research on the topic. Finally settled on the design as shown in the iconic Adventure 300 cover.

17

Didn’t the House of Secrets serve as a superhero HQ at one point? For the Secret Six a decade ago?

Avengers Mansion and Avengers Compound are missing. Attilan, too. The Defenders briefly met at the Richmond Riding Academy on Long Island, when Dr. Strange kicked them out of his Sanctum.

Starhawk (Guardians of the Galaxy) had, at one point, a suburban tract house and yard encased in a glass dome in space, to give his three children a normal upbringing. It was destroyed and they died as soon as a new writer got hold of the series.

The Wasp had a fully-equipped mansion shrunk down to the size of a birdhouse installed in the backyard of Avengers Mansion, which was kind of cool.

18

Apparently the idea was to restrict access to Kryptonians by locking the door and making a really heavy key that only a Kryptonian could move. Not sure why he didn’t just forget the key and make a really heavy door.

19

Because the key was also used as an aircraft guidance arrow. Pre-GPS! I did read somewhere - Atlas Obscura? - that these things actually existed. Superman not only locked his door with it, he also helped out aircraft flying over the Arctic. Unending altruism.

The JSA had a brownstone building in the 1970s. In Keystone City? I forget where.

20

THat should be the Batcave. Does a cave count as a building?

Tracy Island, home of International Rescue.