Blackbird (comics)

For the real-world aircraft called Blackbird, see Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.

Blackbird
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	X-Men #94 (August 1975)
Created by	Chris Claremont Dave Cockrum
In story information
Type	Jet aircraft
Element of stories featuring	X-Men

The Blackbird (also known as the X-Jet) is a fictional jet aircraft appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum, the aircraft first appeared in X-Men #94 (August 1975). ^[1] The Blackbird concept has survived multiple redesigns over the years. It is used primarily by the X-Men as a personal transport vehicle. ^{[2] [3]}

Publication history

The Blackbird debuted in X-Men #94 (August 1975), created by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum. It appeared in the 2020 X-Men / Fantastic Four series. ^{[4] [5]}

Fictional history

When the X-Men were introduced, they traveled in Professor Xavier's Lambert private jet and helicopter: advanced but fairly conventional aircraft with remote autopilots. When the series resumed in 1975, the X-Men flew a strato-jet that resembled a larger version of the Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" spy plane (hence the name), modified to carry several passengers and for Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL). Some writers have referred to this design as the "SR-73", "SR-77", or the "SR-70". ^[6] 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 weapons, holographic active camouflage, and engines capable of hypersonic speeds. One version of the Blackbird had an experimental cockpit windshield infused with traces of the same ruby quartz material used in Cyclops' visor, allowing him to project and amplify his optic blasts. ^[7]

Reception

Critical response

Jamie Lovett of ComicBook.com referred to the Blackbird as one of "Mavel's most iconic vehicles." ^[8] Brad Hill of Sportskeeda included the Blackbird in their "10 Best Vehicles in Comic Books" list. ^[9] Comic Book Resources ranked the Blackbird 1st in their "10 Best Vehicles In The Marvel Universe" list, ^[10] 8th in their "10 Coolest Vehicles In Marvel Comics" list, ^[11] and 10th in their "10 Most Important Vehicles In The Marvel Universe" list. ^[12] Casey Haney of Screen Rant ranked the Blackbird 5th in their "16 Best Superhero Vehicles" list. ^[13]

Other versions

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

Alternate versions of the Blackbird appear in the Ultimate X-Men series. The X-Men have several aircraft, including one that resembles a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. ^[14] It is also referred to as the "X-Wing." ^[15] One of the airplanes has been referred to casually as the "Blackbird" owing to its resemblance to the SR-71.^{[ citation needed ]}

In other media

Television

• The Blackbird appears in X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men . ^[16]
• The Blackbird appears in X-Men: The Animated Series . ^{[17] [18]}
• The Blackbird appears in the series finale of Fantastic Four: The Animated Series , where it fires at Doctor Doom, who turns it to stone with the Power Cosmic.
• The X-Jet appears in X-Men: Evolution . ^[19]
• The Blackbird appears in Wolverine and the X-Men . ^[20]
• The Blackbird appears in Marvel Anime .
• The Blackbird appears in X-Men '97 .

Film

• The Blackbird appears in the X-Men film series.
  • The Blackbird appears in X-Men (2000).
  • The Blackbird appears in X2 .
  • The Blackbird appears in X-Men: The Last Stand . The X-Jet now employs stealth technology that renders it invisible. It is later used to carry the X-Men to Alcatraz, where it is disintegrated by Phoenix.
  • A new Blackbird appears in X-Men: First Class . ^[21] It is almost externally identical to the SR-71, though its internal layout is very different. It is later destroyed when a whirlwind created by Riptide causes it to crash.
  • The Blackbird appears in X-Men: Days of Future Past . In the future scenes of the film, set in 2023, the rebuilt X-Jet contains a compact version of Cerebro. ^[22] After they are attacked by Sentinels, Magneto and Storm catapult the X-Jet toward the approaching Sentinels and cause its tokamak reactor to explode, wiping many of the Sentinels out. ^[23]
  • The Blackbird appears in X-Men: Apocalypse . ^[24] While Charles Xavier is being taken away by Apocalypse, Havok tries to stop Apocalypse and his horsemen with his powers. However, he misses and instead hits one of the Blackbird's engines, causing the jet to explode.
  • The Blackbird appears in Dark Phoenix .
• A SR-71 Blackbird schematic appears in Tony Stark's computer screen in Iron Man . ^{[25] [26]}
• The Blackbird appears in Deadpool .
• The Blackbird appears in Deadpool 2 . ^{[27] [28]}

Video games

• The Blackbird appears as a level in X-Men: Children of the Atom .
• The Blackbird appears as a level in X-Men vs. Street Fighter .
• The Blackbird appears as a level in Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter .
• The Blackbird, based on the Ultimate Marvel incarnation, appears in X-Men Legends .
• The Blackbird, based on the Ultimate Marvel incarnation, appears in X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse .

Merchandise

• In 2014, Lego released an X-Men set containing the Blackbird. In 2024, a similar set was released. ^[29]
• In 2016, Funko released a Blackbird Funko Dorbz figure with Beast. ^{[30] [31]} In 2017, another Dorbz figure was released with Storm. ^{[32] [33]}
• In 2023, Hasbro released a Blackbird / X-Jet figurine. ^{[34] [35]}

See also

• List of vehicles in Marvel Comics

References

1. Cronin, Brian (February 7, 2018). "The Real Life Origins of the X-Men's Blackbird Jet". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
2. Hood, Cooper (May 2, 2023). "11 Biggest MCU Teases From Iron Man 1". Screen Rant . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
3. Chrysostomou, George (November 1, 2019). "The 10 Fastest Spaceships In The Marvel Universe, Ranked". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
4. Terror, Jude (April 6, 2020). "X-Men/Fantastic Four #3 Recap: The Failure of Krakoan Diplomacy". Bleeding Cool . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
5. Lovett, Jamie (March 22, 2020). "Marvel's X-Men: Cyclops Can Fire Optic Blasts Through the Blackbird Now". ComicBook.com . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
6. X-Men '92 #1 (May 2015, Infinite Comic)
7. Uncanny X-Men #154 (February 1982)
8. Lovett, Jamie (October 29, 2014). "Marvel Vehicles: Owner's Workshop Manual Exclusive Quinjet Excerpt". ComicBook.com . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
9. Hill, Brad (May 7, 2022). "From Batmobile to Thanos Copter: Exploring 10 best vehicles in comic books". Sportskeeda . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
10. Harth, David (August 3, 2022). "10 Best Vehicles In The Marvel Universe". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
11. Allan, Scoot (October 29, 2022). "10 Coolest Vehicles In Marvel Comics, Ranked". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved November 25, 2022.
12. Jackson, Carl (January 10, 2021). "10 Most Important Vehicles In The Marvel Universe, Ranked". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved January 9, 2023.
13. Haney, Casey (December 20, 2015). "The 16 Best Superhero Vehicles". Screen Rant . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
14. Harn, Darby (August 17, 2020). "X-Men: 10 Things Fans Should Know About The Blackbird". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
15. Striga, Danijel (October 31, 2016). "X-Men: 15 Things You Need To Know About The Blackbird Jet". Screen Rant . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
16. "X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men Screen Grabs". Toonzone. September 8, 2010. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
17. Allan, Scoot (May 29, 2020). "X-Men: Forge's 5 Best Inventions (& 5 That Went Bad)". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
18. Mohan, Ishvar (August 27, 2020). "10 Things You Need to Know About the X-Men's Blackbird - Animated Times". AnimatedTimes.com. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
19. Thapa, Shaurya (February 24, 2021). "X-Men: Evolution: 5 Characters From The Comics The Show Improved On (& 5 It Worsened)". Screen Rant . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
20. Allan, Scoot (September 22, 2019). "Blackbird: The Secrets of the X-Men's Comic Book X-Jet". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
21. Bettinger, Brendan (December 24, 2010). "X-MEN: FIRST CLASS Set Photos". Collider . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
22. "Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy for X-Men: Days of Future Past". AMFM Magazine. May 23, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
23. Failes, Ian (May 27, 2014). "Future threat – X-Men: Days of Future Past". Fxguide . Retrieved May 27, 2014.
24. Gallagher, Brian (April 27, 2015). "X-Men: Apocalypse Art Shows Cerebro, Blackbird & Egypt". MovieWeb . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
25. Bacon, Thomas (January 18, 2019). "Iron Man Had The MCU's First X-Men Easter Egg". Screen Rant . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
26. Jackson, Matthew (October 18, 2018). "The Best MCU Easter Eggs You Missed So Far". Looper . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
27. Francisco, Eric (April 19, 2018). "'Deadpool 2' Trailer Has 10 Easter Eggs Worth Spotting". Inverse . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
28. Shepherd, Jack (January 25, 2016). "New Deadpool clip teases further X-Men tie-ins". The Independent . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
29. Whitbrook, James. "The X-Men's Return to Lego Marvel Comes at a High Price". gizmodo.com. Gizmodo. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
30. Collins, Elle (October 25, 2016). "Cable And The '90s X-Men Get The Full Funko Treatment". ComicsAlliance . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
31. White, Brett (October 25, 2016). "Funko Launches X-Tensive Line Of '90s X-Men Figures". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
32. Anderson, Ashley (June 20, 2017). "COMING SOON: WALMART EXCLUSIVE DORBZ RIDE!". Funko .
33. Anderson, Jenna (June 20, 2017). "Funko Announces Exclusive Storm with Blackbird Dorbz Ride". ComicBook.com . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
34. Roberts, Tyler (July 17, 2023). "The X-Jet Takes Flight with Hasbro's New X-Men 97' Epic Hero Series". Bleeding Cool . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
35. Will, Malory Noreen (July 19, 2023). "X-Men '97 Toy Reveals First Look At Two Iconic Team Members". Game Rant . Retrieved August 8, 2023.