Lockheed (comics)

Lockheed
Lockheed, as illustrated by his co-creator, Paul Smith
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	The Uncanny X-Men #166 (Feb 1983)
Created by	Chris Claremont (Writer) Paul Smith (Artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Lockheed
Species	Dragon
Team affiliations	S.W.O.R.D. Pet Avengers X-Men Xavier Institute Excalibur The Flock Jean Grey School
Abilities	Fire projection Flight Empathy

Lockheed is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character appears most commonly in association with the X-Men. He is an alien dragon that is the longtime companion of Shadowcat (Kitty Pryde), a member of the X-Men and Excalibur.

Lockheed was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Paul Smith and first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #166 (February 1983).

In Uncanny X-Men No. 153, "Kitty's Fairy Tale", Kitty Pryde, the teenaged member of the X-Men, told a bedtime story to young Illyana Rasputin, who was living with the X-Men at the time. The story recast the X-Men, including the recently deceased Jean Grey, in the roles of fairy tale characters. One such character was a giant black dragon named "Lockheed", who was based on the modified Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird jet aircraft used by the team. Subsequently, the X-Men's Blackbird was named "Kitty's Dragon", with the name embossed in gold under the pilot's side window.

Not long thereafter, the X-Men were kidnapped into outer space by the alien race the Brood and taken to a Brood-colonized planet. Here, Kitty met a cat-sized purple dragon who resembled the creature from her fairy tale, which she named "Lockheed." Lockheed is actually a member of a highly advanced dragon-like extraterrestrial race, who are capable of traveling through space via special astral ships which transport their essences. Their society is similar to insect hives, with the individual being only part of the "Flock". Lockheed had been celebrated by his people as a brave fighter and hero against the Brood, but has demonstrated individual attitudes and wishes which were realized only when he encountered the X-Men.

Lockheed saved Kitty from the Brood and then departed with her. She tried to hide his presence from Professor X and her teammates, but he was revealed back on Earth when he again saved her life, this time from a nest of alien Sidrian hunter hatchlings. The X-Men accepted his presence in the X-Mansion, and Lockheed has since been Kitty's longtime companion.