Guy Gardner's Flat of Squalor

Over at Comic Coverage, Mark has devoted a week of blogging to the wonders of Superman's famed Fortress of Solitude. Along with places like the Batcave, the Justice League Watchtower, Avengers Mansion, and the Baxter Building, it is one better known superhero hideouts and headquarters. Not all heroes enjoy such comfort, however, especially at home.

A good example of this is the home apartment of Guy Gardner of the Green Lantern Corps, as revealed in Green Lantern Vol. 3 #25. While Superman has his Fortress of Solitude, Gardner has something more like the Flat of Squalor. Guy is often portrayed as a crude, brutish meathead, so it might not surprise that his place would be a dump. Let's take a look shall we?

The first hints of apartment 401's contents are its door, on which both "666" and "IZZY" are scrawled. Given that this comic hit stands about six months after Use Your Illusion I and II were released, I'm totally guessing that's an Izzy Stradlin reference. Awesome.

Guy's apartment is initially nondescript, but a few features stand out. The dirty dishes, spilled can, and "Playman" magazine set the scene, but it's the dartboard with Batman's picture that steals the scene. I bet Supes doesn't have one of those.

Further sneaking around Guy's place reveals film tastes dominated by Sly Stallone and John Wayne. There seems to be a theme here, no?

Another view of Guy's apartment offers a glimpse of a prominently displayed Elvis poster. There's also an obscured view of a peppermint-striped lamp. But that tells only part of the story...

That's not just some silly lamp. It's a Statue of Liberty lamp with an American flag lamp shade. Seriously, that sort of thing could get Stephen Colbert all worked up. The fact it's nestled up with the Gun Fun Guide, 101 Ways to Get Even, and even more porn? Bonus.

Another perspective reveals Guy's leopard-print futon and chair, which further illustrate his taste and class. It probably doesn't help that he creates livestock with his ring, and lets them charge through his place. The single pink wall is a nice touch.

Unfortunately for Guy, this apartment was demolished in the following pages. It wasn't much, but not every superhero can be a billionare industrialist, royal official, government employee, or create a hideout from their sheer genius. Here's hoping those jackasses know how good they have it.