Thanoscopter

1979Comic panel / fan art / exploitableclassic

Also known as: Thanos-Copter · Thanos Helicopter

Thanoscopter is a bright yellow helicopter labeled 'THANOS' from 1979's *Spidey Super Stories* #39, piloted by the Marvel villain and revived as a beloved fandom in-joke during the MCU's Infinity Saga era.

The Thanoscopter is a bright yellow helicopter labeled "THANOS" on its tail, piloted by the Marvel villain Thanos in a 1979 children's comic book. What started as an absurd visual gag in *Spidey Super Stories* #39 became one of Marvel fandom's most beloved running jokes, exploding into meme territory during the MCU's Infinity Saga era when fans campaigned relentlessly for its on-screen appearance.

thanos memesmarvelabsurdist humor memescomic book panel memesdelayed virality memes

Overview

The Thanoscopter is exactly what it sounds like: a helicopter with "THANOS" printed on the side, personally flown by the Mad Titan himself. The image of a cosmic-level supervillain capable of wiping out half the universe choosing to travel by labeled helicopter is inherently ridiculous, and that absurdity is the entire joke. The original comic panels show Thanos piloting the yellow chopper while battling street-level heroes, getting the Cosmic Cube knocked out of his hands, and ultimately being arrested by two regular NYPD cops1. The meme uses these panels, fan art recreations, and petition campaigns to contrast Thanos's fearsome MCU reputation with his goofy comic book moment.

The Thanoscopter first appeared in March 1979 in issue #39 of *Spidey Super Stories*, a Marvel Comics series aimed at children ages 6-10 that tied into Spider-Man's appearances on PBS's *The Electric Company*3. The story, "The Cat and the Cosmic Cube," was written by Nick Sullivan, Michael Siporin, and Jim Salicrup with art by Win Mortimer and Mike Esposito1.

In the story, a child finds the Cosmic Cube and Thanos arrives in his name-branded helicopter to steal it. He battles The Cat (the kid-friendly version of Hellcat) and Spider-Man over the Cube. The story ends with Thanos being defeated, handcuffed, and led away to jail by ordinary police officers1. As ComicBook.com put it, the idea that someone "strong enough to regard the Hulk's punch as insignificant as a mosquito bite" could be stopped by two cops made the whole thing laughably iconic7.

Origin & Background

Platform
*Spidey Super Stories* #39 (source material), Reddit / Twitter (meme spread)
Key People
Nick Sullivan, Michael Siporin, Jim Salicrup, Win Mortimer, Mike Esposito
Date
1979 (comic origin), 2015–2019 (meme peak)

The Thanoscopter first appeared in March 1979 in issue #39 of *Spidey Super Stories*, a Marvel Comics series aimed at children ages 6-10 that tied into Spider-Man's appearances on PBS's *The Electric Company*. The story, "The Cat and the Cosmic Cube," was written by Nick Sullivan, Michael Siporin, and Jim Salicrup with art by Win Mortimer and Mike Esposito.

In the story, a child finds the Cosmic Cube and Thanos arrives in his name-branded helicopter to steal it. He battles The Cat (the kid-friendly version of Hellcat) and Spider-Man over the Cube. The story ends with Thanos being defeated, handcuffed, and led away to jail by ordinary police officers. As ComicBook.com put it, the idea that someone "strong enough to regard the Hulk's punch as insignificant as a mosquito bite" could be stopped by two cops made the whole thing laughably iconic.

How It Spread

The Thanoscopter stayed buried in comic book obscurity for decades until CBR.com spotlighted it on June 14, 2010, in an article titled "I Love Ya But You're Strange – The Birth of the Thanos-Copter!" that showcased the original panels. This article introduced the helicopter to a wider audience of Marvel fans online.

Interest spiked once Thanos became the MCU's central villain. On January 26, 2015, *Guardians of the Galaxy* director James Gunn tweeted "Whoa! Can't wait to see the Thanos-copter in the MCU!", picking up over 330 retweets and 630 likes. On April 8, 2015, the Thanoscopter made a canon comics comeback in the 250th issue of *Deadpool*. Gunn doubled down on May 28, 2016, with a Facebook post claiming he'd asked Marvel to include a 20-minute aerial battle between the Hulkcopter and the Thanoscopter in *Avengers: Infinity War*. That post got over 13,000 likes and 1,100 shares.

The helicopter also appeared as a selectable vehicle in the 2016 video game *LEGO Marvel's Avengers* and as an exclusive Hot Wheels model at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con.

As the Infinity Saga built toward its climax, Thanoscopter memes flooded Reddit and Twitter. On July 6, 2018, Redditor Ogopogo-Stick posted "Petition to get the Thanoscopter to appear in Avengers 4," earning over 12,900 upvotes. The meme got another boost in September 2018 when it overlapped with the viral Thanos Car trend. On February 4, 2019, a Change.org petition demanding the Thanoscopter's inclusion in *Avengers: Endgame* collected over 11,200 signatures. A Reddit meme posted on April 4, 2019, just weeks before *Endgame*'s premiere, pulled in over 23,300 upvotes.

How to Use This Meme

Thanoscopter memes typically work in a few ways:

- Direct panel sharing: Post the original comic panels showing Thanos in his labeled helicopter, usually to contrast with his intimidating MCU portrayal - Petition format: Frame a campaign or demand for the Thanoscopter to appear in something, played for laughs - Fan art: Draw Thanos in the helicopter in MCU-style settings or crossover scenarios - Comparison humor: Place the Thanoscopter alongside Thanos's MCU vehicles (like Sanctuary II) to highlight the absurd downgrade - Reaction image: Use the panel of handcuffed Thanos being led to jail as a reaction to someone's plans falling apart

The core joke always hinges on the gap between Thanos as a universe-threatening villain and Thanos as a guy who flies a labeled yellow helicopter and gets arrested by beat cops.

Cultural Impact

The Thanoscopter broke out of niche comic fandom into mainstream awareness during the MCU's Infinity Saga. Director James Gunn's public endorsement gave it legitimacy as an in-joke even Marvel insiders found funny. The Change.org petition and multiple high-upvote Reddit campaigns showed genuine community organizing around the bit.

Marvel's decision to include the Thanoscopter in *Loki* was widely covered by entertainment press, with outlets like GamesRadar, Screen Rant, and ComicBook.com all running dedicated articles about the Easter egg. The *Loki* cameo validated years of fan campaigning and meme-making.

The official Walgreens toy turned the meme into a physical product, completing the loop from obscure comic panel to mass-market merchandise.

Full History

While the Thanoscopter didn't make a literal appearance in *Avengers: Endgame*, Thanos creator Jim Starlin revealed that the double-bladed sword Thanos wields in the film was actually inspired by the Thanoscopter's rotor blades. Fans quickly dubbed the weapon the "Thanoscopter Blade," treating it as a stealth acknowledgment of the meme by Marvel Studios.

The most significant official nod came on July 7, 2021, when episode five of the Disney+ series *Loki*, titled "Journey into Mystery," featured a decrepit, abandoned Thanoscopter sitting in the Void, a wasteland at the end of time where the TVA dumps pruned objects. The episode's production team deliberately seeded the Void with comic book Easter eggs, and the Thanoscopter was one of the most recognizable. Fans on Twitter reacted immediately. One user wrote, "These beautiful bastards actually found a way to bring the Thanoscopter into the MCU". Others joked that *Loki* was now the best show of all time purely because of the cameo. GamesRadar called it "arguably one of the oddest Easter eggs to ever grace a live-action Marvel adventure".

Marvel leaned into the joke commercially as well. An official remote-control ThanosCopter toy appeared on Walgreens shelves, retailing for $19.99. The toy matched the comic's design perfectly: Thanos piloting a bright yellow helicopter with "THANOS" on the side. Packaging noted it was for indoor use only, ages 8+, and "easy to fly". The toys started appearing on eBay resale markets almost immediately.

The comic book side kept the gag going too. In *Thanos* #2 by Christopher Cantwell and Luca Pizzari, Thanos replaced the helicopter with something even more absurd: a "Thanos-Convertible," a regular-sized truck with his head and shoulders sticking through the roof while his hands sat at 10 and 2 on the steering wheel. Screen Rant noted the visual was "like a Flintstone-esque cartoon character" and pointed out that while the original helicopter was at least proportioned correctly for Thanos, the truck was clearly way too small for him.

WhatCulture included the Thanoscopter in their list of moments that needed to appear in *Avengers: Infinity War*, humorously suggesting Thanos should "arrive in the Thanoscopter and fly away with Widow, Gamora, Scarlet Witch" while the male heroes stand around dumbfounded. The article noted that what makes the original comic so funny isn't just the helicopter itself but also Hellcat's reaction to dropping the Cosmic Cube: "No use crying over spilled milk".

ComicBook.com's retrospective on Thanos's greatest battles gave the *Spidey Super Stories* appearance an honorable mention, calling it "indisputably the most famous story" from the book's 57-issue run. The piece highlighted how Thanos had his name on the side of the helicopter "in case some other Marvel supervillain from Titan accidentally went to take what was rightfully Thanos's".

Fun Facts

The original comic was part of a series tied to Spider-Man's appearances on PBS's *The Electric Company*, making the Thanoscopter technically an educational TV tie-in product

Thanos being led away in handcuffs by regular NYPD officers at the end of the story prompted CBR to joke "That should totally be how Avengers 2 ends!"

James Gunn's joke about a "Hulkcopter vs. Thanoscopter aerial battle" in *Infinity War* got over 13,000 likes on Facebook

The Walgreens toy packaging specifically notes the helicopter is for "indoor use only," which is ironic for a vehicle belonging to a cosmic space tyrant

In the *Thanos* #2 replacement gag, Screen Rant pointed out that at least the original Thanoscopter was properly sized for Thanos, unlike the comically small truck

Derivatives & Variations

Thanoscopter Blade:

Fan nickname for Thanos's double-bladed sword in *Avengers: Endgame*, reportedly inspired by the helicopter's rotor blades according to Thanos creator Jim Starlin[3]

Thanos-Convertible:

A replacement vehicle from *Thanos* #2 (2024) where Thanos drives a regular truck with his body poking through the roof, positioned as the spiritual successor to the Thanoscopter[2]

LEGO Thanoscopter:

Playable vehicle in *LEGO Marvel's Avengers* (2016)[4]

Hot Wheels Thanoscopter:

Exclusive model released at 2016 San Diego Comic-Con[4]

Remote Control ThanosCopter:

Official Marvel toy sold at Walgreens for $19.99[3]

Loki Easter Egg:

Abandoned Thanoscopter visible in the Void during *Loki* Season 1, Episode 5[5]

Frequently Asked Questions

Thanoscopter

1979Comic panel / fan art / exploitableclassic

Also known as: Thanos-Copter · Thanos Helicopter

Thanoscopter is a bright yellow helicopter labeled 'THANOS' from 1979's *Spidey Super Stories* #39, piloted by the Marvel villain and revived as a beloved fandom in-joke during the MCU's Infinity Saga era.

The Thanoscopter is a bright yellow helicopter labeled "THANOS" on its tail, piloted by the Marvel villain Thanos in a 1979 children's comic book. What started as an absurd visual gag in *Spidey Super Stories* #39 became one of Marvel fandom's most beloved running jokes, exploding into meme territory during the MCU's Infinity Saga era when fans campaigned relentlessly for its on-screen appearance.

thanos memes marvel absurdist humor memes comic book panel memes delayed virality memes

Overview

The Thanoscopter is exactly what it sounds like: a helicopter with "THANOS" printed on the side, personally flown by the Mad Titan himself. The image of a cosmic-level supervillain capable of wiping out half the universe choosing to travel by labeled helicopter is inherently ridiculous, and that absurdity is the entire joke. The original comic panels show Thanos piloting the yellow chopper while battling street-level heroes, getting the Cosmic Cube knocked out of his hands, and ultimately being arrested by two regular NYPD cops. The meme uses these panels, fan art recreations, and petition campaigns to contrast Thanos's fearsome MCU reputation with his goofy comic book moment.

The Thanoscopter first appeared in March 1979 in issue #39 of *Spidey Super Stories*, a Marvel Comics series aimed at children ages 6-10 that tied into Spider-Man's appearances on PBS's *The Electric Company*. The story, "The Cat and the Cosmic Cube," was written by Nick Sullivan, Michael Siporin, and Jim Salicrup with art by Win Mortimer and Mike Esposito.

In the story, a child finds the Cosmic Cube and Thanos arrives in his name-branded helicopter to steal it. He battles The Cat (the kid-friendly version of Hellcat) and Spider-Man over the Cube. The story ends with Thanos being defeated, handcuffed, and led away to jail by ordinary police officers. As ComicBook.com put it, the idea that someone "strong enough to regard the Hulk's punch as insignificant as a mosquito bite" could be stopped by two cops made the whole thing laughably iconic.

Origin & Background

Platform
*Spidey Super Stories* #39 (source material), Reddit / Twitter (meme spread)
Key People
Nick Sullivan, Michael Siporin, Jim Salicrup, Win Mortimer, Mike Esposito
Date
1979 (comic origin), 2015–2019 (meme peak)

The Thanoscopter first appeared in March 1979 in issue #39 of *Spidey Super Stories*, a Marvel Comics series aimed at children ages 6-10 that tied into Spider-Man's appearances on PBS's *The Electric Company*. The story, "The Cat and the Cosmic Cube," was written by Nick Sullivan, Michael Siporin, and Jim Salicrup with art by Win Mortimer and Mike Esposito.

In the story, a child finds the Cosmic Cube and Thanos arrives in his name-branded helicopter to steal it. He battles The Cat (the kid-friendly version of Hellcat) and Spider-Man over the Cube. The story ends with Thanos being defeated, handcuffed, and led away to jail by ordinary police officers. As ComicBook.com put it, the idea that someone "strong enough to regard the Hulk's punch as insignificant as a mosquito bite" could be stopped by two cops made the whole thing laughably iconic.

How It Spread

The Thanoscopter stayed buried in comic book obscurity for decades until CBR.com spotlighted it on June 14, 2010, in an article titled "I Love Ya But You're Strange – The Birth of the Thanos-Copter!" that showcased the original panels. This article introduced the helicopter to a wider audience of Marvel fans online.

Interest spiked once Thanos became the MCU's central villain. On January 26, 2015, *Guardians of the Galaxy* director James Gunn tweeted "Whoa! Can't wait to see the Thanos-copter in the MCU!", picking up over 330 retweets and 630 likes. On April 8, 2015, the Thanoscopter made a canon comics comeback in the 250th issue of *Deadpool*. Gunn doubled down on May 28, 2016, with a Facebook post claiming he'd asked Marvel to include a 20-minute aerial battle between the Hulkcopter and the Thanoscopter in *Avengers: Infinity War*. That post got over 13,000 likes and 1,100 shares.

The helicopter also appeared as a selectable vehicle in the 2016 video game *LEGO Marvel's Avengers* and as an exclusive Hot Wheels model at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con.

As the Infinity Saga built toward its climax, Thanoscopter memes flooded Reddit and Twitter. On July 6, 2018, Redditor Ogopogo-Stick posted "Petition to get the Thanoscopter to appear in Avengers 4," earning over 12,900 upvotes. The meme got another boost in September 2018 when it overlapped with the viral Thanos Car trend. On February 4, 2019, a Change.org petition demanding the Thanoscopter's inclusion in *Avengers: Endgame* collected over 11,200 signatures. A Reddit meme posted on April 4, 2019, just weeks before *Endgame*'s premiere, pulled in over 23,300 upvotes.

How to Use This Meme

Thanoscopter memes typically work in a few ways:

- Direct panel sharing: Post the original comic panels showing Thanos in his labeled helicopter, usually to contrast with his intimidating MCU portrayal - Petition format: Frame a campaign or demand for the Thanoscopter to appear in something, played for laughs - Fan art: Draw Thanos in the helicopter in MCU-style settings or crossover scenarios - Comparison humor: Place the Thanoscopter alongside Thanos's MCU vehicles (like Sanctuary II) to highlight the absurd downgrade - Reaction image: Use the panel of handcuffed Thanos being led to jail as a reaction to someone's plans falling apart

The core joke always hinges on the gap between Thanos as a universe-threatening villain and Thanos as a guy who flies a labeled yellow helicopter and gets arrested by beat cops.

Cultural Impact

The Thanoscopter broke out of niche comic fandom into mainstream awareness during the MCU's Infinity Saga. Director James Gunn's public endorsement gave it legitimacy as an in-joke even Marvel insiders found funny. The Change.org petition and multiple high-upvote Reddit campaigns showed genuine community organizing around the bit.

Marvel's decision to include the Thanoscopter in *Loki* was widely covered by entertainment press, with outlets like GamesRadar, Screen Rant, and ComicBook.com all running dedicated articles about the Easter egg. The *Loki* cameo validated years of fan campaigning and meme-making.

The official Walgreens toy turned the meme into a physical product, completing the loop from obscure comic panel to mass-market merchandise.

Full History

While the Thanoscopter didn't make a literal appearance in *Avengers: Endgame*, Thanos creator Jim Starlin revealed that the double-bladed sword Thanos wields in the film was actually inspired by the Thanoscopter's rotor blades. Fans quickly dubbed the weapon the "Thanoscopter Blade," treating it as a stealth acknowledgment of the meme by Marvel Studios.

The most significant official nod came on July 7, 2021, when episode five of the Disney+ series *Loki*, titled "Journey into Mystery," featured a decrepit, abandoned Thanoscopter sitting in the Void, a wasteland at the end of time where the TVA dumps pruned objects. The episode's production team deliberately seeded the Void with comic book Easter eggs, and the Thanoscopter was one of the most recognizable. Fans on Twitter reacted immediately. One user wrote, "These beautiful bastards actually found a way to bring the Thanoscopter into the MCU". Others joked that *Loki* was now the best show of all time purely because of the cameo. GamesRadar called it "arguably one of the oddest Easter eggs to ever grace a live-action Marvel adventure".

Marvel leaned into the joke commercially as well. An official remote-control ThanosCopter toy appeared on Walgreens shelves, retailing for $19.99. The toy matched the comic's design perfectly: Thanos piloting a bright yellow helicopter with "THANOS" on the side. Packaging noted it was for indoor use only, ages 8+, and "easy to fly". The toys started appearing on eBay resale markets almost immediately.

The comic book side kept the gag going too. In *Thanos* #2 by Christopher Cantwell and Luca Pizzari, Thanos replaced the helicopter with something even more absurd: a "Thanos-Convertible," a regular-sized truck with his head and shoulders sticking through the roof while his hands sat at 10 and 2 on the steering wheel. Screen Rant noted the visual was "like a Flintstone-esque cartoon character" and pointed out that while the original helicopter was at least proportioned correctly for Thanos, the truck was clearly way too small for him.

WhatCulture included the Thanoscopter in their list of moments that needed to appear in *Avengers: Infinity War*, humorously suggesting Thanos should "arrive in the Thanoscopter and fly away with Widow, Gamora, Scarlet Witch" while the male heroes stand around dumbfounded. The article noted that what makes the original comic so funny isn't just the helicopter itself but also Hellcat's reaction to dropping the Cosmic Cube: "No use crying over spilled milk".

ComicBook.com's retrospective on Thanos's greatest battles gave the *Spidey Super Stories* appearance an honorable mention, calling it "indisputably the most famous story" from the book's 57-issue run. The piece highlighted how Thanos had his name on the side of the helicopter "in case some other Marvel supervillain from Titan accidentally went to take what was rightfully Thanos's".

Fun Facts

The original comic was part of a series tied to Spider-Man's appearances on PBS's *The Electric Company*, making the Thanoscopter technically an educational TV tie-in product

Thanos being led away in handcuffs by regular NYPD officers at the end of the story prompted CBR to joke "That should totally be how Avengers 2 ends!"

James Gunn's joke about a "Hulkcopter vs. Thanoscopter aerial battle" in *Infinity War* got over 13,000 likes on Facebook

The Walgreens toy packaging specifically notes the helicopter is for "indoor use only," which is ironic for a vehicle belonging to a cosmic space tyrant

In the *Thanos* #2 replacement gag, Screen Rant pointed out that at least the original Thanoscopter was properly sized for Thanos, unlike the comically small truck

Derivatives & Variations

Thanoscopter Blade:

Fan nickname for Thanos's double-bladed sword in *Avengers: Endgame*, reportedly inspired by the helicopter's rotor blades according to Thanos creator Jim Starlin[3]

Thanos-Convertible:

A replacement vehicle from *Thanos* #2 (2024) where Thanos drives a regular truck with his body poking through the roof, positioned as the spiritual successor to the Thanoscopter[2]

LEGO Thanoscopter:

Playable vehicle in *LEGO Marvel's Avengers* (2016)[4]

Hot Wheels Thanoscopter:

Exclusive model released at 2016 San Diego Comic-Con[4]

Remote Control ThanosCopter:

Official Marvel toy sold at Walgreens for $19.99[3]

Loki Easter Egg:

Abandoned Thanoscopter visible in the Void during *Loki* Season 1, Episode 5[5]

Frequently Asked Questions