The Fortress of Solitude is Superman’s private headquarters where he learned important things about his home planet, history, and purpose on Earth. It is also the place where the superhero can get some much needed privacy away from his responsibilities.

The Fortress was originally a sanctuary nestled in a mountain range outside of Metropolis. Similar to Batman’s Batcave, Superman’s mountain sanctuary was a place where he stored tools and equipment, items needed for his superhero gig, and his diary.

During the Silver Age, the Fortress of Solitude changed locations to the Arctic where it was built into a cliff. The massive door could only be opened by using a large key so heavy that only Superman or another Kryptonian could lift it. To further protect the entrance, Superman created a camouflage cloak for the key after it was spotted by a helicopter.

The Fortress was outfitted with many impressive and interesting things. It has a lab where Superman works on defenses for kryptonite and other projects, a giant computer, the Man of Steel’s exercise equipment, his diary, and communications gear. The bottle city of Kandor is located there, it has a Phantom Zone projector, alien technology he found on other worlds, and Superman stores robot duplicates there. It also had an alien zoo, a robot that plays chess, and rooms for his friends (including a Clark Kent decoy room).

Despite the security measures that Superman has in place, the Fortress of Solitude has been penetrated by some of his foes. Lex Luthor and Brainiac have both broken into the Fortress on a few occasions, Mongul made his way in, as did the Atomic Skull. The Fortress made its last pre-Crisis appearance when Superman hid some of his friends there and they were attacked by Brainiac. The android surrounded the Fortress with a force field to keep the Man of Steel’s superpowered allies from offering assistance.

The Fortress of Solitude’s first appearance in comics is offered in Hake’s Auction #241. In their premier auction, Hake’s is selling the Bill Byers Collection, containing Superman #1-100 with many important key moments and debuts in Superman’s earliest books.

The sale includes Superman #1 CGC 0.5 (Superman’s origin, debuts of Ma and Pa Kent), #2 CGC 3.5, #3 CGC 4.0, #4 CGC 4.5 (second Luthor appearance), #5 CBCS 5.5, #6 CGC 4.0, #7 CGC 3.0 (first Perry White), #8 CGC 5.5 (ad for All Star Comics #3), #9 CGC 4.5, and #10 (first bald Lex Luthor),

Additional highlights are #12 CGC 6.0, #14 CGC 5.0 (shield cover), #30 (Mr. Mxyztplk’s debut), #46 CGC 4.0 (first mention of Superboy in title), #54 CGC 7.5, #58 CGC 4.0 (Tiny Trix’s debut), #61 (first Kryptonite), #75 CGC 7.0, and #77 CGC 7.0.

Get bids in soon, because Hake’s Auction #241 is closing next week on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 30-31, 2024.