Halloween is almost here, which means it’s time to suit up, grab your candy sacks, and get ready for a night of scares and sweets. The DC Universe is a big place, and with only one night to hit all the hotspots, it’s hard to know the best places to trick-or-treat. Fortunately, we’re here to help. We’ve put together a helpful trick-or-treat guide, showing you which places are likely to dole out the good stuff and which are more likely to send you running home in pure Halloween terror.
Atlantis
Location: This aquatic kingdom is located many depths under the sea, which might be a little off your typical trick-or-treat route.
First Appearance: 1939’s Action Comics #18
Tricks-or-Treats: I wouldn’t recommend trick-or-treating here. The water will ruin your costume, and your candy is likely to smell like seaweed. And there’s the whole suspicious of surface dwellers thing…
Doom Manor
Location: Take the bus to Midway City, and you can’t miss it. It’s the weird house wedged between two skyscrapers.
First Appearance: My Greatest Adventure #80
Tricks-or-Treats: If the Chief answers the door, don’t take any candy from him. You’ll probably wake up with your head attached to a donkey or something. No piece of candy is worth that, even if it’s a full-sized bar. That said, if you were to find yourself in the Chief’s clutches, you might be able to convince him to let you go by offering him some of your Halloween chocolate.
Apokolips
Location: Apokolips is a planet of hellfire ruled by Darkseid and his lieutenants Granny Goodness and DeSaad. It can be accessed with a Boom Tube.
First Appearance: 1971’s The New Gods #1
Tricks-or-Treats: With a name like Granny Goodness, you might think this is a good place to trick-or-treat—but you’re dead wrong. She is neither a granny nor good, so skip this stop, unless you like parademons chewing on your face.
Justice League Watchtower
Location: The Justice League’s satellite headquarters orbits the Earth and can be accessed with a teleporter.
First Appearance: 1970’s Justice League of America #78
Tricks-or-Treats: If Martian Manhunter is on Watchtower duty, then all the Oreos will be gone. It’s a gamble, but the view is worth it. Plus you can use their teleporter afterwards to head to your next trick-or-treat hotspot.
The Kent Farm
Location: A few miles from downtown Smallville. If pass the cow pasture, you’ve gone too far.
First Appearance: The Adventures of Superman by George Lowther
Tricks-or-Treats: Definitely treats. If you’re lucky enough to live in a continuity where Martha Kent is alive, then this will be the best stop of your night. Not only will you get candy, but if you’re really lucky she’ll offer you a nice slice of apple pie and show you some of Superman’s childhood Halloween costumes.
S.T.A.R. Labs
Location: That’s the best part, they’re a franchise! A S.T.A.R. Labs facility can be found in most major cities in the DC Universe.
First Appearance: 1971’s Superman #246
Tricks-or-Treats: As long as you don’t have superpowers, this is probably safe. But if you’re a metahuman of any kind, you’re rolling the dice a bit here. In that case, can we recommend CC Jitters instead for some Barry Allen-approved pumpkin spice lattes?
Daily Planet
Location: Downtown Metropolis. Look for the building with the giant globe on top.
First Appearance: Superman newspaper strips, November 1939
Tricks-or-Treats: Stop by Lois Lane’s desk. She’ll be so busy on her phone or reading up on her investigation notes that she won’t remember if she already gave you candy. Last year she gave me candy six times!
Arkham Asylum
Location: It varies depending on the continuity, but most versions of the Asylum can be found on the outskirts of Gotham…which is still closer to the city than most sane people would want to go.
First Appearance: Batman #258
Tricks-or-Treats: I mean, if you’re an extreme haunt sort of person looking for a really intense scare and don’t mind making it out without your candy—or most vital organs—intact. (Though, we hear Calendar Man’s pretty generous with the candy, so if you do trick-or-treat here at least make sure you stop by his cell.)
The Batcave
Location: I’ll tell you, but you have to promise not to post it on TikTok. Batman’s not big on going viral.
First Appearance: 1944’s Detective Comics #83
Tricks-or-Treats: It’s a cave full of bats. Think about that for a minute. Candy from a millionaire might be cool, but you’ll have to dodge so much falling “trick-or-treats,” which doesn’t make for a fun Halloween.
Slaughter Swamp
Location: After you finish up in the Batcave, head on over to the city outskirts. Solomon Grundy was born here (on a Monday), so just follow the sound of his moaning if you get lost.
First Appearance: All-American Comics #61
Tricks-or-Treats: If you’ve been watching Stargirl season two, then you know that Solomon Grundy likes to throw apples. Getting murky swamp water on your costume isn’t worth it if the only thing you’ll walk away with are apples. Hard pass.
The Houma Swamps
Location: Take a ride over to Houma, Louisiana, and then head towards the bayou via motorboat. Just make sure you don’t drop any candy wrappers on the way because Swamp Thing hangs out here and he’s not big on littering.
First Appearance: 1971’s The Phantom Stranger #14
Tricks-or-Treats: It’s creepy, which is what you want on Halloween and Swamp Thing’s not a bad guy, but if he drops a yam in your sack, don’t eat it. Especially if it comes from his body.
Themyscira
Location: This Amazonian island has been known to teleport, so it might be hard to pin down. Honestly, just stow away on Wonder Woman’s Invisible Jet and you’ll be there before you know it.
First Appearance: All-Star Comics #8
Tricks-or-Treats: Well, that depends on one thing—your gender. Expect some nice treats if you identify as a woman, but if you’re a man…well, you’ll be lucky if your candy is the only thing they take from you.
The Speed Force
Location: The Speed Force powers the Flash and his fast allies. You can find it by running really fast, but it’s also one of those “state of mind” things.
First Appearance: 1994’s The Flash #91
Tricks-or-Treats: This is kind of a moot point, isn’t it? If you’re in the sort of physical shape you’d need to be in to enter the Speed Force, you’re probably not big on junk food.
Titans Tower
Location: Take the Subway to New York City and you’ll find Titans Tower on a nearby island. It’s impossible to miss—it’s the giant building shaped like the letter T.
First Appearance: DC Comics Presents #26
Tricks-or-Treats: Oh, heck yeah! There is a huge variety of candy here, making the ferry to the island more than worth it. Starfire has some cool Tamaranian snacks that you can’t find in any stores and Raven’s presence adds to the spooky vibe. If you’re still hungry, there is always leftover pizza at Titans Tower, so gorge responsibly.
Danny the Street
Location: I can’t really give you an intersection because Danny is known for doing their own thing. Depending on their mood, they might become a brick, ambulance, or a poolside cabana this October 31st. You didn’t think you were the only one who enjoyed dressing up, did you?
First Appearance: 1990’s Doom Patrol #35
Tricks-or-Treats: This is probably your most important stop of the night. Danny is a never-ending party with colors, music, costumes and more. Come for the candy, stay for the celebration of self-affirmation and awesome karaoke.
We hope everyone has a spooky, but safe, Halloween! Have fun and please trick-or-treat responsibly. After all, you might see some Supermen, Wonder Women and Flashes out there while you're going door-to-door, but none of them are going to save you if you decide to ignore our advice about Arkham Asylum.
Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, movies and comics for DCComics.com, is a regular contributor to the Couch Club and writes our monthly Batman column, "Gotham Gazette." Follow him on Twitter at @TBUJosh.
