Belle Reve

Belle Reve
Belle Reve in Suicide Squad #1 (May 1987) Art by Luke McDonnell and Karl Kesel
Type	Penitentiary
First appearance	Suicide Squad #1 (May 1987)
Publisher	DC Comics

Belle Reve Penitentiary is a fictional prison and sanatorium appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The prison first appeared in Suicide Squad #1 (May 1987) by John Ostrander and Luke McDonnell.

Belle Reve translates from French as "beautiful dream", and it is an allusion to the name of Blanche and Stella's family estate in Tennessee Williams's play A Streetcar Named Desire.

Belle Reve Federal Penitentiary is a special prison for metahumans and other supervillains. It is located in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. It is near the Gulf of Mexico, and is surrounded by miles of swamp land. Being the prison for many supervillains, it was chosen by Amanda Waller as the headquarters of the Suicide Squad. Criminals can reduce their sentences by working on the missions. Some of the more untrustworthy ones are required to carry devices that will cause maiming or death if they try to escape.

Many, but not all of the staff, work both as prison employees and facilitate Suicide Squad operations. Some of the staff are friends with the more level-headed Squad members. Mechanics work on Squad vehicles. Prison doctors treat prisoners and Squad staff alike. The existence of the Squad brings the facility under attack many times.

The prison has been the focus of many governmental investigations, as it would be a scandal to learn that the United States is using murderous supervillains to further its own ends. Noted reporter Lois Lane did an investigation, only partly turned away by a fake warden installed to divert attention away from Squad activities.

Amanda Waller actually served time in Belle Reve when she was convicted on charges stemming from her Squad operations.