# Thanoscopter
> 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.
## Origin
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 Esposito[1].
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[1]. 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[7].
- **Platform:** *Spidey Super Stories* #39 (source material), Reddit / Twitter (meme spread)
- **Creator:** Nick Sullivan, Michael Siporin, Jim Salicrup (writers), Win Mortimer, Mike Esposito (artists)
- **Date:** 1979 (comic origin), 2015–2019 (meme peak)
## 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[1]. The meme uses these panels, fan art recreations, and petition campaigns to contrast Thanos's fearsome MCU reputation with his goofy comic book moment.
## 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[1]. 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[4]. On April 8, 2015, the Thanoscopter made a canon comics comeback in the 250th issue of *Deadpool*[4]. 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*[4]. 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[4].
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[4]. The meme got another boost in September 2018 when it overlapped with the viral Thanos Car trend[4]. On February 4, 2019, a Change.org petition demanding the Thanoscopter's inclusion in *Avengers: Endgame* collected over 11,200 signatures[4]. A Reddit meme posted on April 4, 2019, just weeks before *Endgame*'s premiere, pulled in over 23,300 upvotes[4].
## How to Use
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[4]. The Change.org petition and multiple high-upvote Reddit campaigns showed genuine community organizing around the bit[4].
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[5]. 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[3].
## 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[3]
- 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!"[1]
- James Gunn's joke about a "Hulkcopter vs. Thanoscopter aerial battle" in *Infinity War* got over 13,000 likes on Facebook[4]
- 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[3]
- 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[2]
## Frequently Asked Questions
### What is the Thanoscopter?
The Thanoscopter is a yellow helicopter with "THANOS" written on its tail, flown by the Marvel villain Thanos in a 1979 issue of *Spidey Super Stories*. It became a widely shared meme during the MCU era[1].
### Where did the Thanoscopter come from?
It first appeared in *Spidey Super Stories* #39, published in March 1979 by Marvel Comics. The story was written by Nick Sullivan, Michael Siporin, and Jim Salicrup with art by Win Mortimer and Mike Esposito[1].
### What does the Thanoscopter mean as a meme?
The meme plays on the contrast between Thanos as a terrifying cosmic villain in the MCU and his ridiculous appearance piloting a labeled yellow helicopter in a children's comic, where he's ultimately arrested by regular police[7].
### How do you use the Thanoscopter meme?
Most commonly by sharing the original comic panels, creating fan art of Thanos in the helicopter, or making humorous petitions and campaigns for the Thanoscopter to appear in Marvel movies[4].
### Is the Thanoscopter still popular?
The meme peaked around 2018-2019 during the *Avengers: Endgame* hype cycle and got a significant revival in 2021 when it appeared in the *Loki* Disney+ series[5]. It's a well-established classic within Marvel meme culture.
### Did the Thanoscopter appear in the MCU?
Yes. A wrecked, abandoned version appeared in the Void during *Loki* Season 1, Episode 5, "Journey into Mystery," which aired on July 7, 2021[5].
### Who is James Gunn's connection to the Thanoscopter meme?
*Guardians of the Galaxy* director James Gunn tweeted about wanting to see the Thanoscopter in the MCU in January 2015 and later joked about requesting a Hulkcopter vs. Thanoscopter battle for *Infinity War* in a May 2016 Facebook post[4].
### Is there an official Thanoscopter toy?
Yes. Marvel released an official remote-control ThanosCopter at Walgreens for $19.99, featuring the classic yellow design with Thanos piloting[3].
### What is the Thanoscopter Blade?
A fan nickname for the double-bladed sword Thanos uses in *Avengers: Endgame*. According to Thanos creator Jim Starlin, the weapon's design was inspired by the Thanoscopter's rotor blades[3].
### What replaced the Thanoscopter in comics?
In *Thanos* #2 by Christopher Cantwell and Luca Pizzari, Thanos switched to a "Thanos-Convertible," a regular truck with his head and shoulders poking through the roof[2].
## References
1. [I Love Ya But You're Strange - The Birth of the Thanos-Copter!]()
2. [After All the Memes, Thanos Finally Replaces the Thanos-Copter with Something Even Wilder]()
3. [Marvel Selling Official ThanosCopter at Walgreens - ComicBook.com]()
4. [Thanoscopter - Know Your Meme]()
5. [Features of the Marvel Cinematic Universe]()
6. [Thanoscopter - Urban Dictionary]()
7. [Journey into Mystery (Loki)]()
8. [Journey into Mystery (Loki) - Wikipedia]()
9. [Loki Easter egg brings in one of Marvel's weirdest comic moments: the Thanoscopter | GamesRadar+]()
10. [5 Greatest Thanos Throwdowns - ComicBook.com]()
11. [9 Awesome Thanos Moments That Need To Be In Avengers: Infinity War – Page 5]()
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Source: https://meme.com/memes/thanoscopter
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