Watchtower

The headquarters of the Justice League near Metropolis.

## Description

The **Watchtower** is the most detailed and frequently seen location in the series, appearing in half of the episodes and replaces the Hall of Justice which was destroyed in one of the early episodes. From the outside, it is seen to be a large transparent globe-like canopy with bright, geometric designs lit up on its surface. It is perched on top of a steep-sided volcano on a small island in the sea with the skyscrapers of Metropolis visible in the distance.

The topmost part of the rock of the volcano extends up into the canopy and is the anchor for five circular platforms, one above the other, which are just visible from the outside. The platforms vary in width according to the shape of the canopy with the middle one being the widest. Running down the center of the volcano and through the platforms is a cylindrical structure which contains the lift shaft. It is sometimes shown protruding from the rock.

The platforms have tables and desks on them with control panels and displays. The middle platform is the one that holds the League's meeting table which seats ten. In addition to an exit to the lift, there are doors either side allowing entry into the rock.

The desks at the edge of the platforms face outwards towards the lit designs on the inside of the canopy, of which the largest are seen to be displays allowing video communications with the outside world. The sheer size of these dwarf the figures standing on the platforms.

The League sometimes makes use of technology from Apokolips to allow travel by 'Boom Tube' that involves fitting a 'Mother Box' to a desk control panel. We also see enclosed rooms and passages in the Watchtower which must be inside the rock of the volcano. These are often shown curving around probably because they are following the shape of the volcano and also are adjacent to the lift shaft.

One of the rooms is for interrogating prisoners, and there are cells with "power-dampening grids" to hold those with super-powers. Alongside the showers and sauna is the Sun Room that can hold a kryptonian prisoner by selecting internal red sunlight. A combat training area (sometimes called the "Kitchen") has changeable, solid holographic constructs. Somewhere "downstairs" is the "Lab" with scientific equipment, advanced weaponry and the master power switch that can interrupt operations elsewhere in the Watchtower. In one episode, a storeroom is shown but it is not clear whether it is in the rock or inside a platform.

Further down inside the volcano is the hangar for the League's aircraft like Justice One and the Batplane. When they take off, they have to fly horizontally along a passage before exiting from the side of the volcano. Even further down, at sea level, is an enclosed basin big enough for ships and submarines to dock.

There are ventilation ducts in the side of the volcano with laser beams inside to detect intruders. At the base of the volcano is the front door, and outside are rocks extending to the sea where Krypto can be taken for walks.

## Appearances

4. Abate and Switch
5. Follow that Space Cab!
6. Nuclear Family Values
7. Zombie King
8. Galaxy Jest
10. Under a Red Sun
14. Play Date
15. Repulse!
19. Rage of the Red Lanterns
21. Inside Job
22. The Trouble with Truth
25. Garden of Evil
32. Booray for Bizarro
33. Best Day Ever
35. Superman's Pal, Sid Sharp
36. Superman Red vs. Superman Blue
38. Forget Me Not
39. The Brain Buster
42. Phased and Confused
43. It'll Take a Miracle
44. System Error
47. Watchtower Tours
51. Unleashed
52. She Wore Red Velvet
Short 4. Good Cop, Bat Cop
Short 8. Selfie Help
Short 12. Mint Condition
Short 16. Something in the Hair
Short 19. Skyjacked (brief)
## Notes

* The Watchtower first appeared in the comics in 1997 as a moonbase, but the two *Justice League* animated series of the early 2000s had it as an orbiting space station which was then adopted by the comics. The Earth-based version seen in this series is unique.
* From the outside, either the whole canopy or just the patterns on it are seen to rotate; but on the inside, everything seems stationary which means the platforms must be moving as well; but they would be obstructed by the rock which is not seen to move from the outside. It is difficult to see how this rotation can work.