What Exactly IS the Watchtower? Is it like, a Dorm?

[DerekPowers]

Hey all. I'm just wondering, after "The Once and Future Thing" part 1, and other JLU and JL eps, just what purpose does the Watchtower serve the League?

In JL it appears certain heros, like maybe J'onn or Hawkgirl, live there, since they have no identities, and presumably, no homes.

And now, in JLU, its like we always see all the heros socializing in the watchtower. In "Initiation" we see they have showers and like locker rooms. In "Fearfull Symetry" its shown they have like 'hang-out rooms', where Supergirl has a little heart to heart with the motherly J'onn about her troubles. And now in "The Once and Future Thing" we see they have a dining hall, where a lot of gossiping goes down. BTW, does that mean they have a kitchen staff on board?

Do the heros live there? Do some live there while others dont? Why are there so many heros there all the time, youd think they'd be on missions or living their civilian lives, rather than hanging out in the watchtower.

If they do live there, do they have their own rooms or whole appartments? Like, just a bedroom, or do they get their own living room, bathroom, kitchen, etc? Do they have roommates?

All i can say is that the JL watchtower seemed more like a look-out post, headquarters, etc, where the heros who were unfortunate enough not to have families or civilian lives could crash, BUT the JLU watchtower reminds me more of my college dorm, with a dining hall, locker rooms, and J'onn acting as Resident Hall manager. :shrug:

I'm not complaining, i'm just pointing it out and seeing what you guys think about this new dorm style Watchtower. Its kind of interesting, for now. I have to say, i usually enjoy the Watchtower scenes more than the other parts of JLU. BTW, is Brucey still paying for it?

peace.

[Obsidian Age]

I would assume that a certain group of heroes would take up residence in the Watchtower for a certain number of hours and the next shift goes up. Each hero would probably have their own room since they may just get back from a mission or just need a nap. And since they have a large numbr of people who get hungry, they need a dining hall.

Personally, I think its alright. The dining hall just doesn't look right in my opinion. Looks too much like a school cafeteria.

[Simpler Simon]

Personally, I think its alright. The dining hall just doesn't look right in my opinion. Looks too much like a school cafeteria.
It's a pretty standard mess hall...lunch trays, tables, grouchy serving ladies even...:p

I remember in Fearful symmetry The Question had his own room, and it looked pretty lived in. I'd think they'd each be entitled to living quarters; some like Batman would decline because they have a mansion, others like J'onn would probably appreciate the free room and board, Red Tornado gets the broom closet to plug in, and B'wanna Beast gets a pigpen or something.

[Gillespee]

J'onn as an RA. ROFL.

[BeastBoyWonder]

J'onn as an RA. ROFL.

Agreed, DerekPowers has made a hilarious observation. One day last year some of my buddies from the hall and I completely sealed off our RA's door with duct tape.

I wonder if J'onn has any trouble with his "kids."

EDIT: This is completely irrelevant, but one of the moderators here at Toon Zone, "The Penguin" is (or was?) an RA. Also, Dwayne McDuffie was an RA at the university that I currently attend. Connection, anyone? :p

[ktoriyama]

They have a lot of staffers, humans with no powers manning the machinery so to speak. Also being a superhero is not a high paying job, so to speak, so I am sure half of them are broke, resulting in them using the WatchTower as a home. Is is just me or does the Watchtower seem to be composed of three distinct pieces.

O yeah I can see J'onn as an RA. Knocking on doors at 12 in the night. Room check! Everyone in your own rooms. Batman, and o Wonderwoman. <pauses> for a sec. Wonderwoman what are you doing in Batman's room.

[lostrune]

Agreed, DerekPowers has made a hilarious observation. One day last year some of my buddies from the hall and I completely sealed off our RA's door with duct tape.
We used to plan all-nighter mischiefs prior to every April Fool's, Among those, we sealed off the door of our "special interest building" prez (and by "we" including the vice-prez and secretary) with empty soda cans (I was in charge of recycling) on their sides (not standing up). We counted 554 cans to fill the whole door.

To add insult to injury, we also taped black plastic bags a few inches behind the wall of cans, and in the space between, we filled with styrofoam. When the prez woke up for morning classes, when she tried to clear the cans blocking her door, all the cans and styrofoam poured into her room. She was a bit peeved, but hey, she knew it was just for laughs. :D

[DerekPowers]

Now all the watchtower needs is a pool table. :D

Im not complaining, mind you, there is a certain charm to the new dormitory style Watchtower. I'd love to see an entire episode take place in the watchtower. Then maybe J'onn would get some decent screen time again, although i'd rather see him fighting bad guys than acting as RA. :p

ktoriyama, did they ever show non-superpowered staffers? I dont remember, although i wouldnt be surprised if they did. Its just there are VERY few watchtower scenes, and i dont really remember seeing any normal humans working there (although they could have aliens on staff as well).

And they do have a gym there i'd assume. did they show it in "Initiation"? I dont remember. peace.

[Trevor Balena]

did they ever show non-superpowered staffers? I dont remember, although i wouldnt be surprised if they did.
They have. Several times. They can be seen most prominently in Initiation, The Greatest Story Never Told, and Dark Heart.

[Squall]

If I remember correctly, Batman told Superman in "Secret Origins" that the Watchtower was designed as an observatory to look out for incoming alien invaders and dangerous interstellar phenomenon (like an incoming asteroid, or a cosmic blast). It also doubles as a satellite, living quarters for the superheroes (which has gone from 7 members to 57 members -- 58 if you count Longshadow now), and a facility to store dangerous materials to be studied later (like the philosopher's stone, a piece of Brainiac, etc.)

Basically, the Watchtower is a useful multipurpose facility. :D

Whereas the original Watchtower seemed like an office building, the Watchtower II seems more like an apartment complex. :p

My big question is, "What are all those other satellites oribiting around the Watchtower II?" Surely they don't all belong to the Justice League? It should be the early-to-mid 21st Century by now, so many of Earth's nations, and even some big corporations, will also have their own space stations in orbit as well, and the Watchtower II has to share space with them, of course. By this time, Earth's orbit is becoming a pretty busy place!

With such a large space station, and such a prominent place in orbit, I have no doubts that the Justice League got World Assembly (the modern DCAU equivalent of the U.N.) approval before construction of the space station began. (Just how fast was it built, anyway? I'd think the newer, bigger one would take at least five years, minimum. I always thought the last scene in "Secret Origins" took place like a year later than the rest of the episode for this reason...)

Finally, how about those Javelins? In JLU, the number of Javelins the JLU seems to have access to seems a little ludacris sometimes. Like the fleet that engaged AMAZO in "The Return". Five, ten, even twenty Javelins I can live with... but hundreds??? :eek:

[murmur]

Finally, how about those Javelins? In JLU, the number of Javelins the JLU seems to have access to seems a little ludacris sometimes. Like the fleet that engaged AMAZO in "The Return". Five, ten, even twenty Javelins I can live with... but hundreds??? :eek:That's a great point. Was anyone here observant enough to get a count of the number destroyed and maybe how many they used after that episode?

BTW, I imagine Bruce isn't the only means of funding at this point. He's still likely the most prominent financial source, but c'mon, you can only milk the "Batman's alter ego is so filthy rich, he can buy all the crime-fighting gizmo's he wants" trick for so much. Think about how much a single Javelin would cost. Aren't there other superheroes that have money? Maybe even back when it was just 7, couldn't they have accepted donations?

[randomguy]

I've always assumed that the new Watchtower functions in essentially the same way as Avengers Mansion... living there isn't a requirement, but for heroes whose entire careers consist of being heroes, it's presumably a source of free room and board. So yeah, it's structured a lot like a dorm for those who choose to stay there. Presumably, full-time superheroes, like in the Avengers, are given some kind of stipend or salary.

That, of course, begs the question of who underwrites the whole operation, which is a curious thing to ponder. It's hard to imagine Bruce Wayne paying for all of it, so I'm wondering who subsidizes it.

Not that the show ever would (or should) get into such specifics.

[Squall]

That, of course, begs the question of who underwrites the whole operation, which is a curious thing to ponder. It's hard to imagine Bruce Wayne paying for all of it, so I'm wondering who subsidizes it.

Not that the show ever would (or should) get into such specifics.
Hey, you could make a really interesting episode about this very question... if well written, it would be a cool episode to watch! :)