The Helicarrier, an aircraft carrier specifically designed to be itself capable of independent powered flight in addition to the conventional functions of aircraft carriers, is the signature capital ship of the fictional intelligence/defence agency S.H.I.E.L.D., usually shown in Marvel Comics-published comic book magazines. An aircraft carrier is a warship designed to deploy and recover aircraft—in effect acting as a sea-going airbase. ... The capital ships of a navy are its important warships; the ones with the heaviest firepower and armor. ... S.H.I.E.L.D. (originally an acronym for Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-Enforcement Division, subsequently changed to Strategic Hazard Intervention, Espionage and Logistics Directorate) is a fictional counterterrorism and intelligence agency in the Marvel Universe that often deals with superhuman threats. ... Marvel Comics is an American comic book line published by Marvel Entertainment, Inc. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ...

The Helicarrier - from Captain America # 2(2005) - art by Steve Epting and Frank d'Amato

Originally designed by Jack Kirby for the "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." serial in Strange Tales # 135(August, 1965), the Helicarrier concept has survived multiple redesigns whilst rarely straying from its originally depicted role as a mobile headquarters of S.H.I.E.L.D. until recent years. Image File history File links Helicarrier. ... Jack Kirby (August 28, 1917 – February 6, 1994) was one of the most influential, recognizable, and prolific artists in American comic books. ... Strange Tales was the name of several comic book anthology series that have been published by Marvel Comics. ...

History of the Helicarriers

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, the mutant inventor Forge and Reed Richards. According to an account in Amazing Fantasy v.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. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Nicholas Joseph Nick Fury is a fictional World War II army hero and present-day superspy in the Marvel Comics universe Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Fury first appeared in #1 (May 1963), a combat series that portrayed the cigar-chomping Fury as leader of an elite U... S.H.I.E.L.D. (originally an acronym for Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-Enforcement Division, subsequently changed to Strategic Hazard Intervention, Espionage and Logistics Directorate) is a fictional counterterrorism and intelligence agency in the Marvel Universe that often deals with superhuman threats. ... This article is about Iron Man, the Marvel Comics superhero. ... Forge is a Marvel Comics superhero, associated with the X-Men. ... Mister Fantastic is a Marvel Comics superhero who is the leader of the Fantastic Four. ... The introduction of Spider-Man: Amazing Fantasy #15 (Aug. ... Iron Man (Anthony Edward Tony Stark) is a fictional superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. ... Baron Strucker, retconned founder of HYDRA, wearing the HYDRA logo on his chest. ...

Additionally, at least eight Helicarriers have been built over the decades, and at least two have been in simultaneous service in the last decade on several occasions. Also, at least five Helicarriers have been named over the years:

• Luxor (not yet seen - a class prototype)
• Hermes (allegedly scuttled after being hi-jacked by the Red Skull)
• Argus (a Luxor-class Helicarrier)
• Black Hawk (destroyed in action against a HYDRA-Hand alliance of forces)
• Alpha (shown in the most recent trailer for the upcoming game Marvel Ultimate Alliance)

It is not yet known what criteria S.H.I.E.L.D. has used to name the Helicarriers. Red Skull is a Marvel Comics supervillain who is the principal enemy of Captain America. ... The Hand is a group of fictional supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. ... // Marvel Ultimate Alliance This game is an Action/RPG being made by RavenSoft (Published by Activision), and is the same vein as the previous two X-Men Legends games by the two companies. ...

Other depictions of the Helicarrier

The Ultimate Universe deals with Helicarriers differently. Whereas on Marvel's Earth-616, it is implied that S.H.I.E.L.D. (there a United Nations Task Force) only has a handful of Helicarriers in operation, in the Ultimate Universe, S.H.I.E.L.D. is depicted as a United States-operated military organization, and is shown to have dozens of carriers, some even replacing retired conventional aircraft carriers like the USS Constellation. 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 Ultimate Fantastic Four. These "Ultimate Universe" Helicarriers generally seem to be smaller than the Earth-616 versions, and have a more conventional aircraft carrier shape, but are far more plentiful, suggesting ease in its manufacturing, or retrofitting of existing sea vessels. Ultimate Marvel is an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics, featuring reimagined and updated versions of the companys most popular superhero characters, including Spider-Man, the X-Men, The Avengers and the Fantastic Four. ... United Nations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Ultimate Marvel is an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics, featuring reimagined and updated versions of the companys most popular superhero characters, including Spider-Man, the X-Men, The Avengers and the Fantastic Four. ... Three ships of the United States Navy have borne the name USS Constellation, in honor, according to the US Congress, of the new constellation of stars on the flag of the United States. ... Ultimate Fantastic Four is a comic book published by Marvel Comics, part of the Ultimate Marvel line featuring classic Marvel Universe characters re-imagined for a modern audience. ...

The first live-action incarnation of the Helicarrier appeared in the TV movie Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. featuring David Hasselhoff as the title character. David Hasselhoff as Mitch Buchannon in Baywatch David Michael Hasselhoff (born July 17, 1952 in Baltimore, Maryland) is an American actor, singer and songwriter best known for his lead roles on Knight Rider and Baywatch. ...