Blackbird | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
In story information | |
Type | Vehicle |
Element of stories featuring | X-Men |
The Blackbird (also nicknamed X-Jet) is the aircraft used by the fictional superhero team the X-Men. There have been several incarnations of this craft over the years with Cyclops and Storm as the main pilots.
Contents |
History
When the X-Men were first introduced, they were portrayed as travelling in Professor Xavier's private jet and helicopter, advanced but fairly conventional aircraft with remote autopilots (i.e., the Professor flew them from home). When the series resumed in 1975, the X-Men were shown using a new strato-Jet, that was visually based on a modified, scaled-up version of the Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" spy plane (hence the name), but was modified to carry several passengers, as well as for Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL). Some writers have referred to this design as the "SR-73" or the "SR-77", and is known to be canon in most plotlines of the Marvel Universe, including X-Men: Evolution, where it is referenced by Scott as the SR-77 in the first episode. The original X-Men Blackbird has been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times in the course of the team's many adventures. The later versions incorporated technology created by the mutant inventor Forge, as well as alien (Shi'ar) technology, including weapon systems, holographic active camouflage, and engines capable of hypersonic speeds. One version of the Blackbird possessed an experimental cockpit windshield that was infused with traces of the same ruby quartz material used in Cyclops' visor, allowing him to project and amplify his optic blasts through the windshield.[1]
Ultimate X-Jet
In the Ultimate X-Men series, the X-Men seemingly have several aircraft, including one that resembles a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber (this craft is referred to in issue #70 as the "X-Wing"). One of the airplanes has been referred to casually as the "Blackbird", but it bears no visible relationship to the SR-71.
In other media
Television
The Blackbird appeared in "Pryde of the X-Men" and frequently in the X-Men animated TV series.[2][3][4][5]
The X-Jet (along with a helicopter) appeared in the more recent cartoon X-Men: Evolution.
The Blackbird appeared frequently in the Wolverine and the X-Men.
Video games
The Blackbird is the setting of Storm's stage in the arcade and console-imported game X-Men: Children of the Atom. The players fight on top of the Blackbird, which is parked on top of an aircraft carrier itself. It also appears again in the arcade and console-imported game X-Men vs. Street Fighter. The players must once again fight on top of the Blackbird, but this time it is not on top of an aircraft carrier but it is getting prepared for lift-off.
The X-Jet's look from the Ultimate X-Men comics was used in the games X-Men Legends and X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse. It served the purpose of taking the characters to their next location.
Film
- In the first X-Men film, the X-Men utilized a jet named the X-Jet rather than the Blackbird.[citation needed] In an attempt to tie the comics to the films, the comics X-Men replaced their Blackbird with the X-Jet.[citation needed]
- It has played a major part in X2, the sequel to the first film. Grey and Storm used it to travel to Nightcrawler, then back to get Wolverine, Rogue, Pyro and Iceman. They fly to Alkali Lake's dam to save captured Xavier Institute students and to foil William Stryker's plan. When they are asked to stay, Rogue and Iceman waited in the X-Jet while Pyro abandons them to join the Brotherhood of Mutants. Rogue and Iceman fly the X-Jet to save the X-Men and the captured mutants. Jean Grey stays behind to counter the flood and sends the X-Jet to safety from the incoming wave from the broken dam.
- It appears in X-Men The Last Stand. It's mainly featured during the climax, where it arrives at Alcatraz Island in stealth mode. When Jean Grey, now the Phoenix, unleashes her power, almost everything is disintegrated, along with the X-Jet. Only part of Worthington Labs, the X-Men, Magneto, some soldiers, Warren Worrington II and his son Angel survive.[citation needed]