A Place to Lay Your Head
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Loading ...Just as there are many different kinds of heroes and villains, so there are many kinds of lairs. Where a superpowered being chooses to spend their time says a lot about them. The various caves, castles, and condominiums where heroes dwell tend to reflect their personality, expressing some of just what makes them tick inside. Let’s take a look at the three different categories that these lairs can fall under.
Heroes Homes - As I said before, a heroes home base is a reflection of themselves. The most obvious example is the Batcave. Bruce Wayne took on the mantle of Batman in order to confront his childhood fear of bats, so what better place to keep his secret then in a bat cave. But Wayne is not only about facing his fears, he is also terribly rich. So the Batcave is no ordinary bat cave. Loaded with all kinds of gadgets and gizmo’s that probably cost a fortune, Batman’s HQ is like a stone manifestation of its crime fighting inhabitant.
Then there’s Superman’s Fortress of Solitude. Despite his clever disguise of a pair of glasses and a suit, we all know that Clark Kent is just the secret identity of the alien known as Kal-El. Because of this, there are times when Superman needs to just get away from humans and go off on his own. It’s a way to stay in touch with his deceased alien roots. In fact, the Fortress is actually a fragment from Superman’s home world, and like his secret identity, is cleverly disguised. Well the Fortress isn’t hidden but the key is. Under the snow. Which can blow away. Never mind.
Villainous Lairs - Heroes aren’t the only ones who need to get away once in a while. In fact, villains probably need the time off more. But like the heroes, a villains home says a lot about them. Take Castle Doom, for instance. Dr. Doom is a vicious and brutal dictator of Latveria, who many would describe as evil. Hence the dark and ominous look of his chosen home. Doom started out life as a poor gypsy child, but eventually gained control over the small Eastern European country using his various powers. And because of this, his choice of HQ is the perfect way to make up for his various insecurities about his upbringing. The castle was built during the 16th century for a Latverian noble, which helps Doom feel like a real, old-fashioned dictator.
Group Homes - Of course, not every hero fights on their own. There are many different crime-fighting organizations out there, and each of them has its own base of operations, just like solo heroes do. But unlike those who fight on their own, these group homes tend to be much more extravagant. A good reason for this is that these organizations are often government funded. Just look at the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. The BPRD is housed in a massive building disguised as a garbage depot in New Jersey. But behind those walls lies some of the coolest and most advanced technology on the planet. There is some incredible security (to keep Hellboy from escaping), a massive aquarium (so Abe can be at one with the water), and even, one would assume, some heavy duty fire retardant walls (so Liz doesn’t burn the place down). But what’s so great about BPRD HQ is the mix of the old and the new. Not only does it contain all kinds of technological wonders for dealing with mythological creatures, there is also an encyclopedic library of centuries-old texts that cover everything from trolls and elves to demons and angels.
Andrew Webster is a freelance writer based in Toronto who covers comics, movies, videogames, and anything else that will rot out your brain. Check out his personal site to read more of his incoherent ramblings.
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