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 signature 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
In the Marvel Universe context of the various Nick Fury/S.H.I.E.L.D. series, the original design is attributed to a co-operative effort by Tony Stark, Forge, and Reed Richards. According to one account in Amazing Fantasy vol. 2, #10, 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.

Over twenty Helicarriers have been built over the decades, and at least two have been in simultaneous service on several occasions.

Reception

Critical response 
Jamie Lovett of ComicBook.com referred to the Helicarrier as one of "Mavel'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

Marvel NOW
An alternate version of the Helicarrier appears in the epilogue of issue #25 of New Avengers, circa the year 1968. Howard Stark (father of Tony Stark, aka Iron Man), is seen giving Colonel Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. the hard sell of his newly designed Helicarrier.

Ultimate Marvel
Alternate versions of the Helicarrier appear in the Ultimate 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, Nick Fury reveals 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
 The Helicarrier appears in the Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends episode "Mission: Save the Guardstar".
 The Helicarrier appears in appears in Spider-Man. Besides being the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, it also served as a prison for high-risk individuals, such as the Chameleon. It is later destroyed by Electro.
 The Helicarrier appears in the X-Men: Evolution episode "Ascension".
 The Helicarrier appears in appears in The Super Hero Squad Show, and serves as the base of operations for the Super Hero Squad. It is usually piloted by Ms. Marvel, who reluctantly allowed the Squad to use it.
 The Helicarrier appears in the Iron Man: Armored Adventures episode "Technovore".
 Helicarriers appear in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
 The Helicarrier appears in Ultimate Spider-Man (2012). In the first season, it serves as a headquarters and home for Spider-Man's team, as well as a prison, before being destroyed by the Green Goblin. In the second season, the Helicarrier is rebuilt as the more versatile Tri-Carrier, which can divide into three ships: the central Strato-Carrier, the space-based Astro-Carrier, and the water-based Aqua-Carrier. In the fourth season, Swarm converts the Tri-Carrier into Hydra Island, which is destroyed by the Scarlet Spider.
 The Tri-Carrier appears in Avengers Assemble, serving as a prison for the Red Skull and the Squadron Supreme.

Film
 The Helicarrier appears in Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
 Several Helicarriers appear in Ultimate Avengers.
The Helicarrier appears in Iron Man: Rise of Technovore.
The Helicarrier appears in Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher.
A decommissioned Helicarrier appears in Deadpool (2016). It is not identified onscreen due to rights issues between Marvel and Fox.

Video games
 The Helicarrier appears in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.
 The Helicarrier appears in Ultimate Spider-Man (2005).
 The Helicarrier appears in Spider-Man: Friend or Foe.
 The Helicarrier appears in Spider-Man: Web of Shadows.
 The Helicarrier appears in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2.
 The Helicarrier appears in Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions.
 The Helicarrier appears in Iron Man 2.
 The Helicarrier appears as a stage in Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds.
 The Helicarrier appears in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.
 The Helicarrier appears in Lego Marvel Super Heroes.
 The Helicarrier appears in Lego Marvel's Avengers.
 The Helicarrier appears in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2.
 The Helicarrier appears in Marvel Strike Force.
 The Helicarrier appears in Marvel's Avengers.
 The Helicarrier appears in Iron Man VR. This version was created by Stark Industries and was the last project Tony Stark sold to S.H.I.E.L.D. before he stopped manufacturing weapons.
 The Helicarrier appears in Fortnite.
 The Helicarrier appears in Marvel Snap.

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

See also
 Airborne aircraft carrier
 Cloudbase
 Fictional airborne aircraft carriers
 Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

References

External links
 Marvel Comics' official profile on the Helicarriers
 Helicarriers' profile and story

S.H.I.E.L.D.
Marvel Comics vehicles
Fictional airships
Fictional aircraft
Fictional ships
Fictional elements introduced in 1965