Questions about Alpha Flight Headquarters

[Major Mapleleaf Jr]

Well, I'm writing my fanfic about Alpha, and I have a few questions about their headquarters building (the one seen in the last issues of the first series and all of the second series).

- I know the headquarters is based in Toronto, but is it based in the urban areas of the city itself, or outside of the city? I've seemed to have have seen it depicted both ways.

- How large is the facility (how many floors)?

- What features does the headquarters have (offices, living quarters, hangar bays, etc.)?

Please try and be as detailed as you can... this is very important to my writing! Besides, I wanna know how impressive this place is! Thanks!

(Edit: Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, would someone also mind giving me a run-down of Alpha's exact line-up as of issue #130? Alpha, Beta, and Gamma are all needed. What did the individuals uniforms for each branch look like? Heh, I'm seriously done asking silly questions now.)

[Ben]

whooo, I meant to answer this one earlier, but totally forgot about it. The part about Dept H. I'll have to dig for, I can't remember when (or if) they specified how many floors, but I'll at at least be able to dig out a reference to the hightest floor mentioned.

I always assumed it was along Lake Ontario in Toronto, so it's sort of on the cusp. City all around, but on the edge of a green-belt.

The final roster:

Alpha
Guardian (Heather)
Sasquatch
Puck
Northstar
Aurora
Windshear
Wildheart

Innactive Alpha
Shaman
Box (Jeffries)
Diamond Lil

Beta

Talisman
Persuasion
Manikin
Witchfire
Pathway
Goblyn
Witchfire

Gamma
Feedback

Other

Nemesis - Not part of Alpha, but had been fighting along side.
Wyre - Was in custody, however fought along side Alpha when Witchfire lost control of her demonic side.
Vindicator - (James Hudson) Just returned from the dead again

I'll do some scanning, and will post the different uniforms in a bit

[Ben]

Alpha:http://forum.alphaflight.net/spotlight/alpha.jpg
Beta:http://forum.alphaflight.net/spotlight/beta.jpg
Gamma:http://forum.alphaflight.net/spotlight/gamma.jpg

[Legerd]

In Vol. 1 #91 the new building is going up in Toronto, which is the first time we see it. A later issue the narrator says the building is located on the outskirts of the city. Personally, I would go with it being in the city as that was it's original location.
I don't think a layout of the place has ever been done, maybe that's something we should ask for in Vol. 3.

[Ben]

vol 2. #14, Gentry is in the Direcor's office, and it is listed as level 66. As far as we know, the director was the top of the ladder at that point in Dept. H, so we could possible assume he would have the top floor.

[Major Mapleleaf Jr]

I got my hands on #96, and it says that there are fifty stories, which another thirty-five stories underground.

[Prince]

Old topic but had to throw in my two cents. I'm from Barrie Ontario which is just north of Toronto. I always found it kinda interesting that the Marvel Atlas Project http://www.aub.dk/~henckel/canada.html places Dept H just north and east of Toronto. So if I lived on Marvel Earth Dept H would be right around the corner. Or well right around Lake Simcoe but still. :D

[Richv1]

Wouldn't it be something to visit the Marvel Universe. Can you imagine getting to really see them live and in person. Does anyone have a transdimensional teleporter handy?

[Major Mapleleaf Jr]

Thanks for the link to the Marvel Atlas Project! I needed that for my writing. :D

[Richv1]

That is a cool Atlas it is amazing what you can find when you look around the internet. You can find almost anything.

[Legerd]

The atlas is pretty cool, but they haven't included the third territory: Nunavut.

[Richv1]

Well what do you know we now have a third territory. Thats the first I heard of it. But I see its true. Nunavut "Our Land" is a big territory in area. Maybe it could be shown in a future Alpha Flight adventure.

[HappyCanuck]

How long have you been living in Canada if you didn't know about Nunavut?? it's been around since 1 April 1999....


.... mind you being a Northerner (orig from Yellowknife), I guess I WOULD know more about that.... Hell southerners still ask me if we live in igloos up there...

[jay042]

Hmmm, it lists Dimand Lil's birthplace as Yellowknife, but I'd swear it was Moosejaw (according to one of the MU handbooks) anyone can confirm that?

Also, where was Tamarind Island (Alpha's HQ during #30-50) suppsoed to have been located?

[Richv1]

I've been in Canada all my life 39 years.
Creepy-Crawley now thats a cool nick name for Lil. Lillian Crawley Jefferies I wonder why her husband Madison isn't with her? And how is her breast cancer going?

[HappyCanuck]

LOL, the last time I remember anyone calling Lil 'Creepy-Crawley' was in AF 26... as for her breast cancer, it was ruled out as a benign cyst by Whit after a biopsy

[Legerd]

Lillian Crawley Jefferies I wonder why her husband Madison isn't with her? And how is her breast cancer going?

Check out Weapon X for Madison Jefferies, he's currently on the run with Aurora and the head of the Weapon X program, The Director. Li's tumor turned out to be benign and not cancer at all, however she's in worse shape right now as a prisoner of the Weapon X program.

[Legerd]

.... mind you being a Northerner (orig from Yellowknife), I guess I WOULD know more about that.... Hell southerners still ask me if we live in igloos up there...

Come on, us "southerners" don't really think you folks up there still live in igloos, but I did want to ask you about something. Aren't you worried about being left out on an iceflow when you grow old? Maybe you should move down here where the only ice is in the rinks and the drinks? :lol:

[HappyCanuck]

Come on, us "southerners" don't really think you folks up there still live in igloos...

I didn't say ALL southerners... but you'd be surprised howmany DO think I lived in an igloo... one even designed an 'igloo skyscraper' for me...


but I did want to ask you about something. Aren't you worried about being left out on an iceflow when you grow old? Maybe you should move down here where the only ice is in the rinks and the drinks? :lol:

LOL, actually, I now live in the great mountains of southwestern BC, so I'm a few steps ahead of you... too damned cold in the Knife for this not-so-old geezer...

[Prince]

Speaking of Nunavut I remember in an issue of Iron Man around that time he had an adventure in the Nunavut territory. It was at the start of that Eighth Day Exemplars thing where 8 beings (Juggernaut included) were activated to basically fight until one of them was the last one standing. The temple in Nunavut was the location of the Blazing Brazier of Balthaak if I remember correctly, in it the Exemplar Inferno was created representing heat and energy. Yup. Back in 1999.

[Richv1]

If you want to see misconceptions about Canada try people from the States. Like the polar bears we have roaming the streets?

[DelBubs]

If you want to see misconceptions about Canada try people from the States. Like the polar bears we have roaming the streets?

I don't know about main civilian centres, but I saw a documentary on Discovery a couple of years back that showed Polar Bears wandering through Inuit towns to sift through garbage. These were normally young males. The Inuit just accepted it as part and parcel of life.

[beetleblack]

If you want to see misconceptions about Canada try people from the States. Like the polar bears we have roaming the streets?

Don't worry, we know it's actually moose which roam downtown Toronto, I know it goes on, I've seen 'Northern Exposure'! :wink:

Btw, I was speaking to someone the other day who was surprised when I mentioned that it was sunny over here in England. Unfortunately he had the misconception that it ALWAYS rains here! (Okay, so it IS raining as I type this!) From what I remember the original Excalibur series had loads of shots of red London buses and Beefeaters wandering the streets!

[DelBubs]

Yeah, them bloody Beefeaters were becoming a nuisance, but I believe pest control have the situation in hand now.

[HappyCanuck]

Yeah, them bloody Beefeaters were becoming a nuisance, but I believe pest control have the situation in hand now.

okay, for those of us who are NOT British, can someone please explain the references??

[DelBubs]

http://www.camelotintl.com/tower_site/warders/images/easter1.jpg

taken from http://www.camelotintl.com/tower_site/warders/index.html
=============================
On the 22nd of August 1485 Henry, Earl of Richmond, was by public acclamation saluted on the Battle field of Bosworth King over England and was crowned on the 30 of October following. In the first year of his reign, the Yeoman of the Guard was first ordered of which the Yeoman Waiters or Warders of the Tower hath the seniority.

It is therefore from Henry VII's reign that the Body of Yeoman Warders claim their origin.

The historical duties of the Yeoman Warders or 'Waiters were to guard the prisoners and attend the gates, hence the name "Waiters", which was in use in earlier time. The daily duty roster is still called 'The Wait'. The popular term "Beefeater" should not be applied to the Yeoman Warders of the Tower. It means what it says and, according to the dictionary, is not entirely complimentary. It certainly does not imply attendance at the King's table and the back formation of a non-existent French word "Buffetier" is an absurdity.

The Royal Livery, the State clothing, has varied in detail over the years and the present style was established during Queen Victoria's reign. It is worn only on special occasions, most frequently at the three annual church parades. The coat, hat and white gloves are worn when Royal salutes are fired. The present blue undress clothing was introduced in 1858 and the present cloth hat in 1885. As can be imagined, there was much early criticism of it. The scarlet Watchcoat, which the public see worn by the Chief Warder and the Watchman at the Ceremony of the Keys, has been in use for a very long time. The Yeoman Warders are armed with a sword and partizan...
=============================

[beetleblack]

Cripes - that sounds more complicated that an X-Men plot!

Bascially, Beefeaters are guys who hang around the Tower of London and get their pictures taken with tourists. They wear fancy red clothes (as in above pic) and that's about it!

[HappyCanuck]

LOL, thanks Del and Beetleblack, for the clarification...

[Richv1]

What other misconceptions of Canada have I heard. Someone wanting to know when the Vienna Boys Choir were going to perform and also when the Hippo races were. Can we say Germany and Africa. :roll:

[HappyCanuck]

What other misconceptions of Canada have I heard. Someone wanting to know when the Vienna Boys Choir were going to perform and also when the Hippo races were. Can we say Germany and Africa. :roll:

The one I usually get when I tell people I'm in Canada is 'oh really? that's in Wisconsin, ain't it?'

[Ottawa Renegade]

Yeah, them bloody Beefeaters were becoming a nuisance, but I believe pest control have the situation in hand now.

okay, for those of us who are NOT British, can someone please explain the references??

Think of it in the same way that some Americans think we have Mounties on horseback on every street corner. :D

[Richv1]

What you mean it isn't? And here all along I thought I was living in a suburb of Wisconsin.
Another one was a person asking if they could walk from Toronto to Vancouver, sure you can just bring lots of water and food. What is it 4000 miles or so. Canada in land area is bigger than the States.

[syvalois]

the thing with perception, it's depends of the culture you came from. In France, when they speak of Canada, they usually talk about Québec and acadia. They think everyone in canada is bilingual. That native live in tipi and that we are always freezing and there is no summer here. Again I made a generalisation.

Del, or others englishmen, I'm sure you can tell what is the perception of Canada in England.

Now, it's just those talk about what other people told you, just made me remember when I was in Houston, in training for my ex-company. I was with people mostly american and Canadians and some others nationalities that where working in north america. We had to do a presentation and we where noted by one of us. Me it was an indonesian (sp?) and his most stange comment was that I had a good english but it was normal since it was my first language. The thing is, I've got an huge accent but in his head everyone in Canada was speaking english. He knew I was from Canada, so he tought english was my first language.

[SwiftFox]

Maybe it's 'just' me.... but I think your 'just' outside of Toronto is kinda skewed. I mean to me the 90 clicks to Barrie is more than JUST outside of toronto. When I think of their idea of Dept. H being just outside of Toronto I think more like 5 or 10 km out of the city....

But that's just me...



Old topic but had to throw in my two cents. I'm from Barrie Ontario which is just north of Toronto. I always found it kinda interesting that the Marvel Atlas Project http://www.aub.dk/~henckel/canada.html places Dept H just north and east of Toronto. So if I lived on Marvel Earth Dept H would be right around the corner. Or well right around Lake Simcoe but still. :D

[SwiftFox]

I may be completely wrong, but I thought Tamarind Island was supposed to be off the west coast....


Also, where was Tamarind Island (Alpha's HQ during #30-50) suppsoed to have been located?

[HappyCanuck]

I looked into it, and from what I can tell, Tamarind Island is supposed to be apart of the Queen Charlotte Islands, north of Vancouver Island.

[Richv1]

Maybe Marvel should make an atlas to show where all these places are located.