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Wikipedia / Helicarrier

The Helicarrier is a fictional airborne aircraft carrier appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the aircraft first appeared in Strange Tales #135 (August 1965).

The Helicarrier is depicted as the crucial mobile command center, forward operations platform, and capital ship of the fictional intelligence/defense agency S.H.I.E.L.D. It has survived multiple redesigns while rarely straying from its originally depicted role as a mobile headquarters of S.H.I.E.L.D. until recent years.

Fictional history

The original design of the Helicarrier is attributed to a co-operative effort by Tony Stark, Forge, and Reed Richards. The first Helicarrier was proposed by Stark Industries as a political compromise among the signatories of the treaty in response to fears that any nation hosting the Directorate's main headquarters would be subject to attack by organizations such as Hydra, with domestic political fallout sure to follow immediately thereafter.

After Iron Man replaces Maria Hill as director of S.H.I.E.L.D., he designs a new class of Helicarrier with a red and gold design resembling the Iron Man armor. This Helicarrier is severely damaged by the Red Hulk and subsequently commandeered by the Intelligencia, who rename it the Hellcarrier.

S.H.I.E.L.D.'s replacement agency, H.A.M.M.E.R., decommissioned the surviving Helicarriers, with three of them — including the Iliad and the Argonaut — being stolen by Nick Fury. H.A.M.M.E.R. subsequently commissions at least one new carrier to Norman Osborn's specifications, which is destroyed during the Siege of Asgard.

Reception

Critical response

Jamie Lovett of ComicBook.com referred to the Helicarrier as one of "Marvel's most iconic vehicles." George Marston of Newsarama included the Helicarrier in their "Best Superhero Headquarters And Hideouts Of All Time" list, calling it one of the "very coolest, most iconic, and ultimate best superhero headquarters in comic books." Sam Scott of Looper included the Helicarrier in their "Coolest Superhero Hideouts In Marvel History" list, writing, "Jack Kirby came up with more wild ideas in his career than most of us could in 12 lifetimes, and if there was one thing he loved dreaming up, it was huge, outlandish vehicles. None of them were huger, more outlandish, or more iconic than the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier." Brad Hill of Sportskeeda included the Helicarrier in their "10 Best Vehicles In Comic Books" list, saying, "Another iconic vehicle within the Marvel universe, which became even more iconic after the first Avengers movie, is the Helicarrier."

Comic Book Resources ranked the Helicarrier 3rd in their "10 Coolest Vehicles In Marvel Comics" list, 6th in their "10 Best Vehicles In The Marvel Universe" list, 7th in their "10 Most Important Vehicles In The Marvel Universe" list, and 10th in their "10 Most Iconic Superhero Hideouts In Marvel Comics" list. Casey Haney of Screen Rant ranked the Helicarrier 7th in their "16 Best Superhero Vehicles" list.

Other versions

Alternate versions of the Helicarrier appear in the Ultimate Marvel universe. The engines that keep the carrier aloft were designed by Tony Stark and were modular enough to be used in a space shuttle by the Fantastic Four. In Ultimate Avengers Vs New Ultimates #4, it is revealed that Hank Pym designed the Helicarriers.

In other media

Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Helicarrier appears in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It is based on the Ultimate Marvel incarnation of the vehicle and has stacked carrier decks and optical camouflage capabilities.

Television

Film

Video games

Miscellaneous

A futuristic incarnation of the Helicarrier called the Levicarrier appears in the graphic novel Crash.

See also

References