The following is a list of prisons, asylums, institutions, planets, and alternate dimensions which have been used to imprison humans, superhumans, and nonhumans in various fictional comic book universes. Due to the unusual nature of many inmates, most of these facilities are equally unusual or exotic.

Crossgen Comics

Kholyma

A prison-camp on the planet Tcharun. Its inmates are criminals and rebels against the Saurian Hegemony. The Saurian prince Tchlusarud is sent to the prison, but manages to escape and liberate the prisoners, using them as his army against the new ruler Khyradon. Kholyma first appeared in Sigil #22, by writer Chuck Dixon and artist Scott Eaton.

The Prison-world

A facility in the universe of the Negation, the Prison-world houses 100 prisoners abducted from the Sigilverse, and is overseen by warden High Castellan Komptin. The Negation plans on invading the Sigilverse and constantly tests the prisoners to gather information. The Prison-World is destroyed during an outbreak in Negation #3, killing most inmates. The Prison-world first appeared in Negation Prequel, written by Tony Bedard and with art by Paul Pelletier.

Dark Horse Comics

Citadel Prison

A prison for superhumans located under the Citadel in Golden City, from Dark Horse's Comics Greatest World imprint. Citadel Prison first appears in Golden City Week 1 as the Vault, and later appeared in issues of Catalyst: Agents of Change as Citadel Prison.

DC Comics

Alcatraz Island

In reality, Alcatraz Prison and the island it sits on are now tourist attractions. In the DC Universe, it is an active metahuman prison, a version of Alcatraz Prison which was first shown in the pages of the Teen Titans vol. 3 #1.

Arkham Asylum

The Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane is a psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane that appears in the fictional DC Universe. DC solicitations have also referred to it as a prison . Created by Dennis O'Neil, the asylum first appeared in Batman #258 (October 1974). Len Wein developed much of its back-story during the 1980s. Arkham is located near Gotham City, and is where many of Batman's foes are incarcerated. Ravencroft (see below) is a similar institution in the Marvel Universe.

Belle Reve

Belle Reve is a fictional prison and sanitarium in the DC Universe. The facility was the original base of operations for the second Suicide Squad. John Economos was the first warden of the Belle Reve prison in Louisiana. The prison psychiatrist under Economos was Dr. Simon LaGrieve, who examined and counseled the various Suicide Squad members stationed there. Current warden Robert Crichton is the facility's third, following Amanda "The Wall" Waller.

Blackgate Penitentiary

Also known as Blackgate Prison. Blackgate Penitentiary is a fictional prison depicted in the DC Universe, traditionally located near Gotham City. While the local Arkham Asylum may house those in need of mental health services, Blackgate is a high security institution where criminals such as The Penguin, Firefly, and Clayface are incarcerated. In Batman: The Animated Series, this prison was called "Stonegate".

Concord Federal Penitentiary

Concord Federal Penitentiary is a maximum security women's prison located in New York State. Its most infamous inmate was the original Killer Frost (Dr. Cystal Frost). Killer Frost broke out of Concord, killing the warden and several guards. First appears in Firestorm v.2 #20 (February 1984).

Crowley Penitentiary

Crowley Penitentiary (also known as Crowley Prison), is Fawcett City's main superhuman prison. Ibac, Sabbac, Captain Nazi, Black Adam, and Doctor Sivana have all been imprisoned within its walls.

The Dark Tower

The World of the Dark Tower is the other-dimensional home of Lord Joshua Coldrake, the master of Anti-Magic. Coldrake has the power to negate magic, so his home dimension is used by the Shadowpact to store dangerous magic using criminals until they can be rehabilitated. Coldrake is bound to the world of the Dark Tower for the next few thousand years due to socially inappropriate actions in his youth. The "Dark Tower" itself is a massive castle of black stone. Former prisoner the Warlock's Daughter, was released after serving a one year sentence. First appears in Shadowpact #5 (November 2006).

Devil's Island of Space

In the pre-Crisis Silver Age, Lex Luthor, Brainiac, and the Legion of Supervillains were once trapped on the Devil's Island of Space. The name is a reference to the real world Devil's Island prison. The Devil's Island of Space first appeared in an eight-page Tommy Tomorrow story from World's Finest Comics #117 (May 1961), which was later reprinted in From Beyond the Unknown #10 (April 1971). Its final chronological appearance was Jimmy Olsen #87 (September 1965).

Eddleton Federal Women's Penitentiary

Location unknown, somewhere within driving distance of Gotham City. Introduced in Birds of Prey #98.

Enclave M

The Sonora Desert Special Adjunct Holding Facility is located in the Sonora Valley. It is noted as "Belle Reve's Bad Brother". First appearance was in Villains United #4.

Golden Boughs

The Golden Boughs Retirement Village was introduced in the ongoing Jack of Fables series from DC Comics' Vertigo imprint. The village is overseen by a man known only as Mr. Revise who considers it his duty to capture and neuter Fables. Some of the Fables imprisoned at Golden Boughs are The Tin Man, Mother Goose, The Cowardly Lion, and Paul Bunyan. First appears in Jack of Fables #1 (July 2006).

The Gulag

In the pages of Kingdom Come, future versions of Mister Miracle and Big Barda assist Superman in creating and policing the Gulag, an inescapable prison for the future's meta-humans. Superman designates Captain Comet as warden. The massive penal colony is constructed in the Kansas wastelands. The prison is filled to capacity almost as soon as they build it.

Gull Island

The Earth Two version of Blackgate Prison. notable for a prison riot led by Lionmane, former henchman of Selina Kyle (Catwoman), mother of Earth Two's Huntress. First seen in Huntress (Helena Wayne) backup stories from Wonder Woman v.1 #277-285.

Haven Security Village

A special prison for mad scientists in the DC universe. Prisoners appear to live inside a residential suburb, which is a facade hiding a high tech security system. 52 #2 shows T.O. Morrow to be a resident inmate.

Iron Heights

Iron Heights is a fictional maximum-security prison in which many of the Flash's rogues gallery and other metahuman criminals of Keystone City and Central City are imprisoned. Iron Heights first appeared in Flash: Iron Heights (2001). The current warden is Gregory Wolfe.

Located about three miles north of Keystone City, Iron Heights is known for its vicious treatment of its prisoners. The metahuman and supervillain prisoners are jailed in an area known as the Pipeline.

Kulani Prison

The fictional Kulani Prison is based on Kulani Correctional Facility a real life minimum security criminal detention center of the same name. The fictional kulani is located on the East side of Hawaii. The villain known as King Shark broke out of Kulani killing several guards. As seen in Superboy v. 3 #0 (October 1994).

Labyrinth

A special 30th Century rehabilitation facility created during volume 3 and 4 of the Legion of Super-Heroes, it was never re-introduced after the Zero Hour event reset the Legion's future. Labyrinth was created as a replacement for Takron-Galtos, to imprison the future's worst criminals. The facility was linked to a red dwarf star by a stable plasma arc. Notable prisoners were Roxxas, Spider Girl and Mekt Rannz (Legion of Super-Heroes v.4 #10).

Lockdown 6

A S.T.A.R. Labs special holding chamber in the waters near Metropolis. The chamber once held a being known as the Unimaginable as seen in the pages of the second Supermen of America mini-series.

Peña Duro

Peña Duro, is an infamous prison located in Santa Prisca, a fictional caribbean country in the DC Comics universe. It was where the Batman villain known as Bane was born, raised, and eventually addicted to the drug known as Venom.

Penitenciaria de San Pedro Sula

This real world prison located in Honduras, known for its overcrowded conditions, excessive violence, and out of control drug trade, appeared as a metahuman prison in the DC Universe in Villains United: Infinite Crisis Special #1.

Phantom Zone

In the pre-Crisis DC Universe, the Phantom Zone is an extra-dimensional "zone", which was discovered by Jor-El and used on the planet Krypton as a method of imprisoning their most dangerous criminals. The Phantom Zone criminals first appeared in the Superboy stories and soon began appearing in the Superman stories. When cast into the Phantom Zone the inmates reside in a featureless state of existence from which they may only observe, but not interact with, the DC universe. Inmates do not age or require sustenance in the Phantom Zone; furthermore, while there, they are telepathic and are mutually insubstantial.

In the post-Crisis DCU, the Phantom Zone first appeared when the semi-sentient Kryptonian artifact known as the Eradicator attempted to recreate the planet Krypton on Earth. The extradimensional space in which the Eradicator found the necessary Kryptonian materials was called the Phantom Zone. A Phantom Zone Projector is part of Superman's current Fortress, and it has been used to trap villains such as the White Martians.

Pluto

In the 853rd century, the Batman is aided by a robot called "Robin The Toy Wonder". This Batman's parents were guards on the prison planet of Pluto and died in a prison riot. First appears in DC One Million #1 (November 1998).

The Science-Cells of Oa

A prison on Oa, designed and built by the Guardians of the Universe to contain inter-galactic criminals apprehended and detained by members of the Green Lantern Corps. As of recently, the Death Penalty has been applied to some of the more dangerous criminals, who now reside in Death-Row.

The Slab

The Slabside Island Maximum Security prison for metahumans (also known as the Slab) is now located in Antarctica, as depicted in the Joker's "Last Laugh" crossover. The facility's first warden was Shilo Norman. First appears in Green Lantern Volume 3, # 51 (May 1994).

Source Wall

The Source Wall lies on the edge of the known universe, in the Promethean Galaxy. Beyond the wall lies what is known as The Source, a cosmic essence or being which, according the residents of Jack Kirby's Fourth World, is the "source" of all that exists. While the wall may be theoretically passable (the Flash has apparently done so in an issue of Super-Team Family), usually those who try have become inexorably trapped in it. Over time it has accumulated the trapped forms of many would-be conquerors and curiosity seekers.

Starlag

A planetary prison for superhuman enemies of the Alien Alliance, last seen in the pages of Invasion. Starlag II is later introduced in the pages of Valor by writer Robert Loren Fleming. Starlag II's most powerful prisoner, a being known only as the Unimaginable, was accidentally freed by the Blasters.

State Penitentiary

The unnamed prison in Steve Gerber's DC Focus series, Hard Time.

Stryker's Island

Stryker's Island is a maximum security federal prison that serves the DC Comics city of Metropolis. It is located on an island in the West River between New Troy and Queensland Park. Stryker's Island first appeared in Superman #9 (September 1987). The name is a play on the similarly located Riker's Island prison in New York.

Takron-Galtos

A prison planet in the 30th Century setting of the Legion of Super-Heroes whose prisoners include that era's superhuman criminals. It first appeared in Adventure Comics #359 (August, 1967).

Timepoint

The Timepoint is a prison at the end of time. It was originally used by Epoch, a time traveler who, after gaining his powers in the year one billion AD, began confining criminals to a "pocket dimension" similar to the Phantom Zone.

Transformation Island

Transformation Island is a small island near the Themysciran coast which served as a rehabilitation facility for reforming criminals like Queen Atomia, Baroness Paula von Gunther, and the Cheetah using Amazonian psychotherapy. As seen in Wonder Woman vol. 1 #21, (January 1947).

Van Kull Maximum Security

The Van Kull Maximum Security Facility, is a metahuman prison located just outside of Metropolis. It was introduced in Power Company: Bork #1 from (March 2002).

Vũng Tàu (Con Dao Island)

Vietnam's superhuman prison seen in Villains United: Infinite Crisis Special #1. Based on the real world Con Dao Island facility in Vũng Tàu Vietnam.

Wormwood Scrubs

England's superhuman prison as depicted in the Villains United: Infinite Crisis Special #1. Presumably based on the real world HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs, built between 1875 and 1891 by convict labour.

Image Comics

Hell of Mirrors

From Alan Moore's Supreme series. Located in the Citadel Supreme, it is used by Supreme to hold some of his deadliest enemies, including the Televillain, Shadow Supreme and The End. The Mirror Prison first appears in Supreme #53 (September 1997). It is based on the Phantom Zone.

Miskatonic Institute

The Miskatonic Institute for the Homicidally Distressed is a feature of Alan Moore's Supreme series. Professor Night's greatest foes, such as Jack-A-Dandy, the Lounge Lizard, and Fakeface, have all been incarcerated there. It first appears in Supreme #53 (September 1997). It is based on Arkham Asylum, complete with a name from H. P. Lovecraft.

Marvel Comics

Alcatraz

Californian island prison, operational 1859-1963, held superhuman criminals in the 1940s. First mentioned in Marvel Mystery Comics #26 (1941), when the android Human Torch's foe the Parrot was being transported there. Later seen in Human Torch #8 (1942), when the Python escaped.

Almagordo

New Mexico nuclear testing facility that held the Armageddon Man and perhaps others in suspended animation. First appeared in X-Men vol. 2 #12 (1992).

Anvil

Penal colony on the planet Annoval XIV. It was the site of an attempted breakout by Nebula. First appeared in Silver Surfer #74 (1993).

The Cage

Based on a remote island in international waters, the Cage uses a special forcefield to deprive inmates of their superhuman powers. Created by writer Frank Tieri and artist Sean Chen in the pages of Wolverine #164 (2001).

Crossmore

Her (Britannic) Majesty's Ultimate Security Prison. Previously known as Crossmoor.

The Cube

A prison for super-powered beings. Its location is undisclosed and only high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D.-agents know of its existence. It has a special program where prisoners are brainwashed to become obedient soldiers. The Cube was created by writer Grant Morrison and artist J.G. Jones in Marvel Boy #6 (2000). When last seen in Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways #4 Noh Varr (Marvel Boy) had taken control of the entire facility.

The Kyln

The Kyln were a series of artificial moons at the edge of known space, which served both as a superhuman prison and a source of nearly unlimited power. Operations at the Kyln were overseen by the Nova Corps. All life on the Kyln moons was extinguished in Annihilation Prologue #1.

Lang Memorial Penitentiary

Also known as the Pym Experimental Prison #1. Inmates in this prison are shrunk down using Pym Particles for cheaper storage and easier control. Also known as the Ant-Hill. Known guests of the facility were the Mandrill, Titania, the Grey Gargoyle , Tiger Shark , and the Absorbing Man.

Negative Zone Prison Alpha

Introduced in Civil War: Frontline #5, it is a prison originally constructed to house super-villains but which acted as a holding facility for unregistered heroes during the civil war. The portal to the prison is operated by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. The prison itself is an automated facility. Designed by Reed Richards and built by Stark Enterprises and Fantastic Four Inc., it is located in the Negative Zone. The inmates call the facility "Fantasy Island", probably because prisoners who are unable to manipulate technology to their own ends are connected to virtual reality systems.

It is also referred to as "File 42" due to it being the 42nd item on a list written by Tony Stark, Reed Richards and Hank Pym of ways to make a world with super-powered beings safer. The prison is an extremely secure, clean facility with cells custom-designed for each inhabitant. Notable inmates during the war include Daredevil stand-in Danny Rand, Robbie Baldwin and Cloak & Dagger. After the war, it is now used for super-villains, and was known to house at the very least Taskmaster and Lady Deathstrike until Taskmaster made a deal with Camp Hammond to become an instructor and Lady Deathstrike somehow escaped as she appeared in X-Men: Messiah Complex.

Project Pegasus

Created in Marvel Two-in-One #42 (August, 1978) by writers Mark Gruenwald and Ralph Macchio, Project: Pegasus was originally intended to research alternative (and unusual) forms of energy, but is also used as a prison for super-powered individuals with energy-based powers. It is located in the Adirondack Mountains, New York.

The Raft

The Raft is a fictional prison facility for super-human criminals (predominantly supervillains) in the Marvel Universe. Created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist David Finch, it first appeared in New Avengers #1 (2005) as the "Maximum-Maximum Security" wing of the Ryker's Island Maximum Security Penitentiary. The Raft is introduced as the setting of a large-scale prison break.

Ravencroft

Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane was a maximum security prison for the mentally ill (not unlike Arkham Asylum of the DC Universe). Many insane murderers and supervillains, such as Carnage and Venom, were kept at Ravencroft. The institute was first mentioned in Web of Spider-Man #112, written by Terry Kavanagh. The institute is officially opened in Web of Spider-Man Annual #10 (1994). Dr. Ashley Kafka was the founder and first director of Ravencroft. John Jameson was head of security. Both were fired in Spectacular Spider-Man #246 and Dr. Leonard Samson became Ravencroft's new director. The institute hasn't appeared since and in Leonard Samson's recent appearances, he owns a private practice. Also, Chameleon is listed as being held there in Christopher L. Bennett's book Spider-Man: Drowned in Thunder.

Ryker's Island

Ryker's Island is the Marvel Universe counterpart to the real-world Rikers Island, New York City's largest jail facility, which also includes the 415-acre (1.7 km²) island on which it sits. The fictional Ryker's houses both conventional criminals and costumed offenders lacking superpowers. Daredevil is held there after his arrest in Daredevil vol. 2 #80. Others held there include Punisher, Bullseye, and Kingpin. Ryker's Island has a special branch for dangerous superhuman criminals called the Raft.

The Vault

The United States Maximum Security Installation for the Incarceration of Superhuman Criminals., known as The Vault, is a defunct prison facility for super-human criminals (predominantly supervillains) in Marvel Comics' Marvel Universe. It first appeared in Avengers Annual #15 (1986) and figured prominently in the 1990 Marvel crossover "Acts of Vengeance". It was destroyed in Heroes for Hire vol. 1 #1 (February 1997).

Wildstorm Comics

Biro Island Prison

From Kurt Busiek's Astro City. First appears in the Tarnished Angel storyline from Astro City vol. 2 #14-20. Named after golden age comic book writer Charles Biro, who helped create Crime Does Not Pay.

Castle Baaleskine

from the Albion mini-series used by the British government to confine of England's IPC Media/Fleetway superheroes and villains from Britain's Bronze Age of comics, using special high tech cells. Characters such as the Steel Claw, Fishboy and the Spider were interred at Baaleskine. First appears in Albion #1 (August 2005).

Halo Corporation

Homebase of the WildC.A.T.s. While not an official prison, the Halo Corporation's New York office contains several cells to contain superhuman prisoners. Within these cells, prisoners are put into a virtual reality environment that repeats scenarios until the prisoner's criminal behavior improved. The criminal Ladytron undergoes a similar procedure before becoming a member of the WildC.A.T.s. The villain T.A.O. frees all other prisoners to cover his own escape. Whether the new Halo Building in Los Angeles contains similar holding facilities is unknown.

Purgatory Max

A prison for superhumans based in Antarctica. Officially known as Purgatory Maximum Security Prison for Metahuman Criminals, it is introduced in Backlash #1. A terrorist group destroys the prison and free most inmates in Gen-Active #4.

Skywatch

Skywatch is an orbital satellite that functions as the base of Stormwatch. It also is an official prison with holding facilities for superhuman prisoners. Its most dangerous inmates are the WarGuard, who double as living weapons of mass destruction, only to be freed in the most desperate of times. Most prisoners are kept comatose with cryonics. Skywatch is destroyed in WildC.A.T.s/Aliens #1.

Independents

Colony

The Colony prison facility is a planetary prison from Bob Layton's self-published webcomic of the same name. The series is written by Layton and illustrated by Dick Giordano. Colony was originally known as planet Erus.

References

External links

• DCU Guide entry on Simon LaGrieve
• DCU Guide entry on John Economos
• La Prensa: San Pedro Sula Prison
• Honduras this Week: Amnesty reports human rights violations in Honduras
• Vietnam News Agency: Con Dao Island
• Marvel Universe: Grey Gargoyle
• Marvel Universe: Tiger Shark
• Marvel Universe: Absorbing Man
• Superman Comics Index 1986
• DCU Guide: Tommy Tomorrow chronology
• Jazma Online Interview with Bob layton about Colony
• Bob Layton's Colony homepage
• Alan Moore's Awesome Comics Universe Timeline Part 4
• Fanzing: Batman One Million