Justice League Satellite
Encyclopedia
The Justice League Satellite is the name of two fictional locations, both of which were used as bases of operations for the DC Comics
superhero
team the Justice League of America.
, Rhode Island. In Justice League of America # 77, honorary member Snapper Carr
betrays the location of the Secret Sanctuary to the Joker
. The League subsequently moves its base to a new secure headquarters, an orbiting satellite 22,300 miles above the Earth
, in Justice League of America # 78 (February 1970).
The satellite would be the League's home for the next several years. Members are able to teleport to and from the satellite using teleportation centers located across the planet. League members took turns on watch duty, monitoring Earth from the satellite and dispatching the League as needed. This era of the Justice League (and its roster of heroes), is commonly referred to as the "Satellite League".
It is revealed in Identity Crisis that the satellite base was not quite as secure as the Justice League had hoped, as Dr. Light was able to use the satellite's transport system and break into the base. Finding Sue Dibny
alone aboard the satellite, he raped her.
The satellite is heavily damaged and rendered effectively inoperable just prior to Aquaman's
decision to disband the team in Justice League of America Annual # 2. The League was in a time of transition, not only in its choice of headquarters, but also in its membership. The deepening detachment of members such as Batman
, Superman
, and Wonder Woman
caused the three charter Justice League members to resign from active duty with the League. At the same time, the Flash left the team to confront his manslaughter trial and investigate the disappearance of his wife. The death of her mother led Black Canary to leave the team and move to Seattle with Green Arrow. Green Lantern
had been temporarily expelled from the Green Lantern Corps
and resigned from the League as well to sort out his life.
The satellite meets its final and complete destruction during the Crisis on Infinite Earths
, when it is destroyed by a self-destructing Red Tornado that had been sabotaged and tampered with by the Anti-Monitor
. It is never rebuilt, but the League would return to a spaceborne base of operations in the 1990s when it relocated to the Overmaster's
orbiting base known as the Refuge.
Following the gathering of the new team as seen in Justice League of America (vol.2) # 7 (April 2007), a new satellite is presented as headquarters.
The new satellite is an orbiting Watchtower working together with The Hall
, a building located in Washington D.C.
paid for by Batman and designed by Wonder Woman and John Stewart. Inside the Hall is an archway-type teleportation system, dubbed 'Slideways' in which a person merely need to walk through the archway to be transported to the League's new orbiting satellite headquarter 22,300 miles above Earth.
Jim Lee
was called to design the new headquarters. Writer Brad Meltzer
: "On the satellite, he did six different designs; some that resembled the old League satellite, [or] resembled the JLU
satellite. We kind of took a little from Column A and B. I saw in one of his other designs, he also had these drones and I loved those, and I said, 'Can we put those on there as well? I really want to take that!"
The satellite has a Danger Room
-like training room nicknamed The Kitchen because "if you can't stand the heat...". Meltzer also explains that, for the first time, the satellite has defensive and offensive weaponry. Despite the defense systems, the Watchtower was damaged by the Sinestro Corps
.
animated series, although it wasn't shown to be the headquarters of the Justice League. (At least not their regular headquarters, which was the Hall of Justice
).
. This animated version of the Watchtower appears in several episodes of Justice League, as well as a two-part crossover episode of Static Shock
. The heroes use the Javelin-7 spaceplane
to travel to Earth and back, in place of the comic book's transporter. The Watchtower is destroyed in the series finale episode, "Starcrossed", when Earth is attacked by invaders from the planet Thanagar
.
, a new satellite Watchtower is introduced as a replacement for the original. The rebuilt satellite is substantially larger, in order to accommodate the many new members of the expanded League, as well as its many non-superhero personnel. There are now several Javelins, a teleportation
system for beaming personnel down to earth, and a powerful energy weapon capable of causing massive damage on Earth.
) used a Swann Communications satellite (a company owned by Dr. Virgil Swann, played by Christopher Reeve
) for a base.
version of the satellite, which floats above the earth on a massive asteroid. Although it is literally a "Justice League satellite," it hasn't yet been named as such.
. It's called the "U.N. Orbital Space Station". It is similar in design to the original Justice League Satellite from the comics.
holding a meeting inside. The defunct Satellite is reactivated in "Darkseid Descending!", where it is used as the headquarters of the Justice League International
. The Satellite reappears in "Shadow of the Bat!", "Time Out For Vengeance!", "Powerless!" and "Crisis 22,300 Miles Above Earth!" It is used as the primary setting of the latter episode, where it is used to hold a historic meeting between the JLI and the Justice Society of America
.
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
team the Justice League of America.
First satellite
When the Justice League of America originally formed, its base of operations was the Secret Sanctuary, inside a cave in Happy HarborHappy Harbor
Happy Harbor is a fictional United States location in Rhode Island, referenced in DC Comics as the location of the first headquarters, "Justice Mountain" or the "Secret Sanctuary", of the Justice League of America, first appearing in The Brave and the Bold #28.-History:As the home of the Justice...
, Rhode Island. In Justice League of America # 77, honorary member Snapper Carr
Snapper Carr
Lucas "Snapper" Carr is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe, most famous as a supporting character to the superhero team the Justice League of America . He has often been referred to as the team's mascot...
betrays the location of the Secret Sanctuary to the Joker
Joker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
. The League subsequently moves its base to a new secure headquarters, an orbiting satellite 22,300 miles above the Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
, in Justice League of America # 78 (February 1970).
The satellite would be the League's home for the next several years. Members are able to teleport to and from the satellite using teleportation centers located across the planet. League members took turns on watch duty, monitoring Earth from the satellite and dispatching the League as needed. This era of the Justice League (and its roster of heroes), is commonly referred to as the "Satellite League".
It is revealed in Identity Crisis that the satellite base was not quite as secure as the Justice League had hoped, as Dr. Light was able to use the satellite's transport system and break into the base. Finding Sue Dibny
Sue Dibny
Susan "Sue" Dearbon Dibny is a fictional character from DC Comics associated with the Elongated Man. Created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, the character first appeared in Flash vol. 1 #119...
alone aboard the satellite, he raped her.
The satellite is heavily damaged and rendered effectively inoperable just prior to Aquaman's
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
decision to disband the team in Justice League of America Annual # 2. The League was in a time of transition, not only in its choice of headquarters, but also in its membership. The deepening detachment of members such as Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
, and Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
caused the three charter Justice League members to resign from active duty with the League. At the same time, the Flash left the team to confront his manslaughter trial and investigate the disappearance of his wife. The death of her mother led Black Canary to leave the team and move to Seattle with Green Arrow. Green Lantern
Hal Jordan
Harold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker...
had been temporarily expelled from the Green Lantern Corps
Green Lantern Corps
The Green Lantern Corps is the name of a fictional intergalactic military/police force appearing in comics published by DC Comics. They patrol the farthest reaches of the DC Universe at the behest of the Guardians, a race of immortals residing on the planet Oa...
and resigned from the League as well to sort out his life.
The satellite meets its final and complete destruction during the Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
, when it is destroyed by a self-destructing Red Tornado that had been sabotaged and tampered with by the Anti-Monitor
Anti-Monitor
The Anti-Monitor is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain and the antagonist of the 1985 DC Comics miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths. He first appeared in Crisis on Infinite Earths #2 , and was destroyed in Crisis on Infinite Earths #12, only to return after a long absence in Green...
. It is never rebuilt, but the League would return to a spaceborne base of operations in the 1990s when it relocated to the Overmaster's
Overmaster
The Overmaster is a DC Comics supervillain. He first appeared behind the scenes in Justice League of America #233 , and was created by Gerry Conway and Chuck Patton.-Fictional character biography:...
orbiting base known as the Refuge.
Second satellite
The new satellite is an orbiting Watchtower working together with The Hall
Hall of Justice (comics)
The Hall of Justice is the fictional headquarters of the Super Friends, in the eponymous animated series. It has subsequently been incorporated into the DC Comics main shared universe, the DC Universe as the new headquarters of the Justice League....
, a building located in Washington D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
paid for by Batman and designed by Wonder Woman and John Stewart. Inside the Hall is an archway-type teleportation system, dubbed 'Slideways' in which a person merely need to walk through the archway to be transported to the League's new orbiting satellite headquarter 22,300 miles above Earth.
Jim Lee
Jim Lee
Jim Lee is a Korean-American comic book artist, writer, editor and publisher. He first broke into the industry in 1987 as an artist for Marvel Comics, illustrating titles such as Alpha Flight and Punisher War Journal, before gaining a great deal of popularity on The Uncanny X-Men...
was called to design the new headquarters. Writer Brad Meltzer
Brad Meltzer
Brad Meltzer is a bestselling American political thriller novelist, non-fiction writer, TV show creator and award-winning comic book author.-Early life:...
: "On the satellite, he did six different designs; some that resembled the old League satellite, [or] resembled the JLU
Justice League Unlimited
Justice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
satellite. We kind of took a little from Column A and B. I saw in one of his other designs, he also had these drones and I loved those, and I said, 'Can we put those on there as well? I really want to take that!"
The satellite has a Danger Room
Danger Room
The Danger Room is a fictional training facility built for the X-Men of Marvel Comics as part of the various incarnations of the X-Mansion.-Early designs:...
-like training room nicknamed The Kitchen because "if you can't stand the heat...". Meltzer also explains that, for the first time, the satellite has defensive and offensive weaponry. Despite the defense systems, the Watchtower was damaged by the Sinestro Corps
Sinestro Corps
The Sinestro Corps is a group of fictional characters, a villainous analogue to the Green Lantern Corps in the DC Universe. It is led by the supervillain Thaal Sinestro.-Before the Corps:...
.
Super Friends
The JLA Satellite appeared in the Super FriendsSuper Friends
Super Friends is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes, which ran from 1973 to 1986 on ABC as part of its Saturday morning cartoon lineup...
animated series, although it wasn't shown to be the headquarters of the Justice League. (At least not their regular headquarters, which was the Hall of Justice
Hall of Justice (comics)
The Hall of Justice is the fictional headquarters of the Super Friends, in the eponymous animated series. It has subsequently been incorporated into the DC Comics main shared universe, the DC Universe as the new headquarters of the Justice League....
).
Justice League
In the Justice League animated series, Justice League headquarters is an orbiting satellite, although the headquarters is referred to as the Justice League WatchtowerJustice League Watchtower
The Watchtower is the name of various bases used by the Justice League of America in DC Comics and various other media. It has been portrayed in DC comics as a building on Earth's moon, and as a space-station in orbit in the Justice League Unlimited cartoon.The Watchtower debuted in JLA #4 during...
. This animated version of the Watchtower appears in several episodes of Justice League, as well as a two-part crossover episode of Static Shock
Static Shock
Static Shock is an American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It premiered in September 2000 on the Kids' WB! block and ran for four seasons, with a total of 52 half-hour episodes....
. The heroes use the Javelin-7 spaceplane
Spaceplane
A spaceplane is a vehicle that operates as an aircraft in Earth's atmosphere, as well as a spacecraft when it is in space. It combines features of an aircraft and a spacecraft, which can be thought of as an aircraft that can endure and maneuver in the vacuum of space or likewise a spacecraft that...
to travel to Earth and back, in place of the comic book's transporter. The Watchtower is destroyed in the series finale episode, "Starcrossed", when Earth is attacked by invaders from the planet Thanagar
Thanagar
Thanagar is a fictional planet in the . Thanagar is the original home of the humanoid Thanagarian race, noted for the discovery of gravity-defying Nth metal...
.
Justice League Unlimited
In Justice League UnlimitedJustice League Unlimited
Justice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
, a new satellite Watchtower is introduced as a replacement for the original. The rebuilt satellite is substantially larger, in order to accommodate the many new members of the expanded League, as well as its many non-superhero personnel. There are now several Javelins, a teleportation
Teleportation
Teleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
system for beaming personnel down to earth, and a powerful energy weapon capable of causing massive damage on Earth.
Smallville
On the online multimedia Smallville parallel story Justice and Doom, John Jones (the Martian ManhunterMartian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
) used a Swann Communications satellite (a company owned by Dr. Virgil Swann, played by Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
) for a base.
The Batman
Batman is introduced to the Justice League in a classic Hall of JusticeHall of Justice (comics)
The Hall of Justice is the fictional headquarters of the Super Friends, in the eponymous animated series. It has subsequently been incorporated into the DC Comics main shared universe, the DC Universe as the new headquarters of the Justice League....
version of the satellite, which floats above the earth on a massive asteroid. Although it is literally a "Justice League satellite," it hasn't yet been named as such.
Mortal Kombat vs. DC
A JL-operated space station in the game MK vs. DCMortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is a crossover fighting game from Midway Games and Warner Bros. Games. The eighth game in the Mortal Kombat series, MK vs. DC was released on November 16, . MK vs. DC contains characters from both the Mortal Kombat franchise and the DC Universe...
. It's called the "U.N. Orbital Space Station". It is similar in design to the original Justice League Satellite from the comics.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
The Satellite appears in a flashback in the episode "Sidekicks Assemble!", with the Justice LeagueJustice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
holding a meeting inside. The defunct Satellite is reactivated in "Darkseid Descending!", where it is used as the headquarters of the Justice League International
Justice League International
Justice League International is a DC Comics superhero team written by Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis, with art by Kevin Maguire, created in 1987.-Publication history:...
. The Satellite reappears in "Shadow of the Bat!", "Time Out For Vengeance!", "Powerless!" and "Crisis 22,300 Miles Above Earth!" It is used as the primary setting of the latter episode, where it is used to hold a historic meeting between the JLI and the Justice Society of America
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
.