The S.H.I.E.L.D Helicarriers aren't the only places that the super-secret organization conducts business at. One of their most well-known headquarters actually got its beginnings in a universe other than that of the original Marvel Comics 616 universe. It actually first appeared in the Ultimate Marvel comics universe.
While this hidden base is brought up many times in each reality of Marvel nowadays, it actually has a lot going for it that many fans may not even know of. This list will be taking a look at some of the things many may have missed.
10 THE ORIGINAL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO FLY
Before the question even arose in the Ultimate universe the series already answered it. When the Triskelion first appeared it was revealed that it was supposed to be able to take to the skies, not unlike its sister base the Helicarrier. However, one thing stood in the way of that plan.
That sole obstacle wasn't enemies nor was it any government shenanigans. That obstacle was money, as a mobile Triskelion was a bit too expensive and the cost relegated the new base to be a grounded one.
9 THE TRISKELION WAS BROKEN INTO MANY TIMES IN THE ULTIMATE COMICS
While the Triskelion is supposed to be one of the most powerful bases in the history of Marvel, it has a huge history of being broken into and even partially destroyed. This is a plot-point that is featured tons of times in its original Ultimate Marvel universe.
It was almost destroyed for the first time by the Liberators, broken into during its repairs by the Green Goblin when he freed the Ultimate Six, almost destroyed again by suicide-bombing Multiple Man clones, and almost destroyed again by vampires.
8 THE TRISKELION DIDN'T APPEAR IN MAINLINE MARVEL UNTIL 2015
The Triskelion took quite some time to appear in the Ultimate universe's father verse, Earth 616. This super-base didn't show up in this universe until the All-New, All-Different Marvel branding era.
It served as an Alpha Flight Space Program ground crew quarters, a Wakandan Embassy, and the headquarters for the now universe-stranded Ultimates. It also hosts S.H.I.E.L.D personnel.
7 IT IMMEDIATELY SHOWED UP IN THE MCU
The Marvel Cinematic Universe takes quite a lot of inspiration from the world of the Marvel Ultimate comics. One of those pieces of inspiration was, of course, the Triskelion headquarters.
In this universe, the Triskelion serves as the main headquarters for S.H.I.E.L.D located in Washington D.C. and is over 20 stories tall.
6 IT WAS DESIGNED BY A REAL MAN
The Ulitmate Marvel universe was created with the intention of grounding the Marvel Comics universe even further into reality than the mainline universe was already. This meant using real-life people and events in the world of the comics.
This is shown with the creator of the Triskelion being the real-life British architect Norman Foster, the President of the Norman Foster Foundation.
5 IT WAS THE HEADQUARTERS OF HYDRA ONCE
In the MCU TV series, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, it is shown that the Triskelion is the headquarters of Hydra due to a little twist.
In the third pod of the fourth season of the show titled, "Agents of Hydra" the famous S.H.I.E.L.D. base is the main base of Hydra in a simulated reality called the Framework.
4 S.H.I.E.L.D. ACADEMY IS HOUSED INSIDE IT
In the Spider-Man cartoon series, Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors it is mentioned that the Triskelion is where S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy is hosted.
This little school for agents of the secret organization is taught by Robert "Whizzer" Frank and features guest teachers such as Captain America and Hawkeye.
3 IT WAS USED BY VULTURE IN THE MCU
Many fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe may have missed how important the Triskelion was in the plot of the film Spider-Man: Homecoming. In this film, it was shown that the headquarters was destroyed and Adrian Toomes along with his group showed up and put that destruction to good use.
The villains of the film took the rubble found in this destroyed base and found weapons hidden that were used to create the Vulture gear among other weapons and pieces of tech.
2 IT IS SO LARGE FOR A REASON
The Triskelion was said to be taller than any other building in the MCU Washington D.C. and even broke the rules of building height there. This wasn't done for no reason as Nate Moore, co-producer for Captain America: Winter Soldier and Civil War confirmed in an interview featured in the artbook, The Art of Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
"The Triskelion is sort of Pentagon-meets-a-modern-building, so it's not as low-hanging and dated as the Pentagon structure. It's taller than any building in D.C. We break the D.C. rules about height limits, so the Triskelion lords over the rest of the skyline. It is something that is of the city. And in the stonework, texturally, it feels like it's part of the Capitol and Smithsonian and all those structures-but it's newer, a little slicker, and a little more modern."
1 IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FEATURED IN AVENGERS: ENDGAME
The earlier takes of the Avengers: Endgame story actually gives the Triskelion a bit place in the story of the film during the big time heist subplot of the movie.
The Avengers were to go into the Triskelion and retrieve the Tesseract. Afterward, one Avenger was to get into a car and head to the Sanctum Sanctorum to meet Doctor Strange.