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 is said to have satellites "around the world" that are controlled from the Watchtower. They also sometimes make use of technology from Apokolips to allow travel by 'Boom Tube' that involves fitting a 'Mother Box' to a desk control panel, and part of the 'Anti-Life Equation' is also held to keep it out of Darkseid's hands. We see enclosed rooms and passages in the Watchtower which must be inside the rock of the volcano, and are often shown curving around probably because they are following the shape of the volcano and are adjacent to the round lift shaft.
One of the rooms is for interrogating prisoners, and there are cells with "power-dampening grids" to hold those with super-powers. Inevitably, there are necessities like kitchens, laundries and a boiler room, and 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.
The Watchtower is said to have "security protocols", and these must be implemented by the computerised security system that is able to detect intruders and 'lock down' by closing heavy, internal steel doors and releasing numerous flying drones that fire rapidly at their targets. The ventilation ducts in the side of the volcano have laser beams inside to warn of covert entry. 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.