WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Spider-Man: Homecoming
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The time for Spider-Man: Homecoming has arrived, and it wouldn't be a Marvel movie without Easter Eggs, comic book connections, and secrets for the future that only eagle-eyed fans will catch. With Spider-Man's promotion from Civil War backup to Tony Stark's newest protege, the Marvel attention is running higher than ever before. So it's a good thing that Homecoming recreates famous Spider-Man comics, more cameos from the extended Marvel Universe than could ever be caught in one viewing, and, of course, hints at which Spider-Man villains will return in sequels.
The exact deal and fictional links between Sony's Spider-Man and the MCU is still complicated, but it's a good sign to see Marvel history opened wide for filmmakers to pay tribute to famous comic creators, give over the top fan service details, and call on some of the most beloved villains (and heroes) in Homecoming's post-credits scenes. So let's get to breaking them all down.
Needless to say, there will be SPOILERS in our list of Spider-Man: Homecoming Easter Eggs & Marvel References.
RELATED: The Complete History of Marvel's Spider-Man
37. Familiar Tune
No time is wasted in reminding audiences what unique thrills and nostalgia are synonymous with Spider-Man, as the Marvel Studios logo is met with the classic theme song from the 1960s animated series. This time around it's composer Michael Giacchino who has crafted the unforgettable tune into a full-blown orchestral theme. And by now, movie fans have gotten their fill of it in the many Spider-Man relaunches and reboots.
Sam Raimi gets credit for being the first to adapt the tune to a live-action film, with buskers on New York's streets (and subways) belting out acoustic versions of their "Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man" in Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2. Spider-Man 3 played the music as a tribute to Spidey by a live band, and the theme is adapted to a cellphone ring in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. While no longer hard to miss, it's the kind of nostalgic jingle any superhero would kill for (figuratively).
36. Department of "Damage Control"
The story of the new Spidey begins with some amateur footage of Civil War captured by Peter Parker as he traveled to, fought in, and returned home from the events of the Iron Man/Cap battle. But before that, the fans are transported back in time to the fallout from the very first Avengers. It's here where Adrian Toomes's beef with big government truly begins, as his city contract to repair the damage from the Chitauri "incident" (and salvage their technology) is swooped out from under him. The culprit isn't a competitor, but the newly-formed United States Department of Damage Control.
Those words should sound familiar to those MCU fans following the reports of a proposed Damage Control TV show for ABC that has yet to move beyond the concept stage. Pitched as a comedy in keeping with the Marvel Comics version of Damage Control, it's unclear when, if ever, the show will be made. But thanks to Homecoming it's now officially shown to be a part of the MCU... with actress Tyne Daly even playing the group's infamous leader, Anne Marie Hoag.
35. The Peter Fan Theory Confirmed
It was easy to see why people spun some wild theories about the little boy whose admiration of Iron Man gave him the strength to stand against a Whiplash drone in Tony Stark's second solo movie. The fact the boy's face was covered, and the mystery of his meeting with Tony begged questions. Who was he if anyone at all? And could this be the most well known, webslinging New Yorker in the Marvel Universe?
No need to wonder anymore, since Tom Holland confirmed that's Peter Parker in Iron Man 2, was was confirmed to him by the studio authorities themselves. While that isn't technically an Easter Egg for THIS movie, the fact that the massive globe from the Stark Expo is focused on in the distance for a full second in Peter's amateur documentary most definitely is.
34. Tony's Wounds
The fact that Spider-Man had officially been made a branch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was driven home in marketing flush with Iron Man and Tony Stark appearances. As has been noted, not all of those Iron Man/Spidey team-ups actually appear in the movie, but the scene of Tony giving Peter some (lacking) words of advice before booting him out of his limousine did. It turns out to be a tragic scene once Peter drops from the heights of Avengers combat to being apparently forgotten, but fans shouldn't be as charmed by Stark as Peter - if they are, they might miss a great detail.
While it's true that Spider-Man has screwed up the MCU timeline in more than one way - through its use of specific dates and years that simply don't add up - that doesn't mean the makeup crew didn't get the message. Since the limousine scene follows hot on the heels of Spidey's debut in Civil War, Tony still hasn't had time to heal the shiner given to him by Bucky "The Winter Soldier" Barnes. The bruise has grown a bit more subdued, meaning fans should tip their hats to those responsible. It's a continuity detail few would have noticed were it missing, making the efforts even more admirable.
33. Howard Stark 'Cameo'
Once the action shifts from Civil War and Avengers fallout to the here and now of Peter Parker's daily life, the opportunity for more Easter Eggs skyrockets. Unfortunately, they'll be difficult for most audiences to spot, as director Jon Watts gives little encouragement for fans to focus on anything but the story. So it may be the second viewing where the Easter Eggs can really be discovered - starting with Peter's first steps into Midtown High.
Specifically, the large mural painted over the front stair case, filling most of the frame as Peter and Ned discuss their plans to construct a massive LEGO Death Star. It's Albert Einstein whose face dominates the right half of the mural, but look to the left, and you'll see the unmistakable likeness of Howard Stark. Given the school's designation and student body, having such a titan of scientific discovery on their wall makes sense (while doubling down on the themes of father figures). For those looking, the image depicts Howard after he transformed from actor Dominic Cooper to John Slattery.
32. Dr. Abraham Erskine Returns
When searching for the elder Stark, let your eyes drift down and to the right ever so slightly (before students obscure the view altogether), and you'll also spot the face of Dr. Abraham Erskine, played by actor Stanley Tucci. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe's World War II history, it was Dr. Erskine who cracked the secret of the Super Soldier Serum Adolf Hitler hoped to use to create a race of superior men. After being forced to improve Red Skull (with horrifying side effects), Erskine was recruited by Agent Peggy Carter to continue his work for the Allies under SSR leadership.
Enter Steve Rogers, the most promising subject of Project Rebirth. Both Erskine and Stark prove invaluable to the war effort in Captain America: The First Avenger, so there's no question Erskine's work earns him accolades alongside his more... indulgent colleague. Add in the fact that Erskine gave Steve something of his own "with great power comes great responsibility" speech, and seeing Erskine's face on Peter Parker's high school wall makes us miss Uncle Ben just a little bit less.
31. Peter's Locker Number
When Peter actually arrives at his locker in the school hallway, fans are on high alert for some numerical shout-outs. Unfortunately the lock combination isn't shown in full, and any hopes of getting a Star Wars/George Lucas Easter Egg for the serious fans are dashed by the locker being number 1184, not 1138. But if you take that number as a date, then November 1984 actually was a key one in Spider-Man comics. Not necessarily for what it revealed about Peter Parker... but what it introduced about the VENOM symbiote soon to get its own movie.
The storyline preceding the issue (with #252) is probably known by many fans, since it bears the name "HOMECOMING" and features Peter returning to Earth with his strange, apparently alien fabric suit. But in Issue #258 a few months later, Peter decided to head to the Fantastic Four's headquarters and discover the truth. Reed Richards revealed that the Black Suit was really an alien symbiote, and helped Peter separate from it.
It was then that Peter made his famous debut in an extra Fantastic Four uniform and paper bag over his head to hide his identity. And the Venom suit was shown to be plotting something wicked in its containment tube...
30. Liz Allan
As much as Spider-Man fans might expect Pete Parker to spend his solo movie gaga over Mary Jane Watson, or even Gwen Stacy, it's Liz Allan (Laura Harrier) who has his attention this time around. That might seem like a transparent attempt to put some distance between this version of the hero and the others still fresh in the fans' minds, but Liz Allan's place in Spider-Man history goes back to the very beginning. As in Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962), when Spider-Man made his comic book debut. She wasn't actually named until Amazing Spider-Man#4 a year later, but she made up for it in the years to come.
In the comics, Liz played a similar role as the film's version, pinballing between the affection of Peter Parker, Flash Thompson, and Spider-Man. In the end it was Harry Osborn who caught her eye, with the two marrying and having a son, Normie Osborn. Throw in Liz's stepbrother battling Spidey as the Molten Man, and her later romance with Daredevil's legal partner Foggy Nelson, and being the daughter of a supervillain is actually small potatoes (and totally original for the film).
29. Cindy Moon
It isn't just the starring characters and teenagers who owe their origins to the pages of Marvel Comics - and fans will be shocked to learn just how many of Peter's peers have superheroics, or supervillainy in their future (or families). With that in mind, we've got a bombshell for Spider-Man fans who haven't kept up on the modern lore. As it turns out, that radioactive spider that bit Peter Parker - blessing him with all his superhuman abilities - also bit one of his classmates attending the same demonstration. The girl's name is Cindy Moon, imbued with her spider powers as a boost to her own genius, eidetic memory.
Some incredible mystic threats would soon give her a story of her own, ultimately ending with her return to the world to find Peter a full-blown superhero, willing to help her find her parents (and master her abilities). She would eventually take the name "Silk" for her heroic identity. And even if that tale isn't destined for the MCU, Liz's friend Cindy (Tiffany Espensen) is a clear nod from the filmmakers. And hey, who knows? Few would have predicted Sony would make a Black Cat/Silver Sable movie, either.
28. Midtown High, Since 1962
The mural of great scientific minds shows that Midtown Science High School has been a place of specialized learning through much of the Atomic Age, but fans don't need to do detective work to find out exactly when it was founded. Visible on the school crest on students' t-shirts and coats is the confirmation that Midtown was "Established in 1962." Which, for fans of Marvel Comics history, sounds just right.
That's the same year that Spider-Man made his debut in Amazing Fantasy #15, a debut that defied the odds from the very start. To that point, the comic had been released with the title of Amazing Adult Fantasy, aiming at older readers with its tagline describing it as "the magazine that respects your intelligence." Since the comic was failing and due for cancelation, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (with a cover by Jack Kirby) gave Spider-Man a shot. He proved worthy of his own title, and carrying part of the title over to his own book, the Amazing Spider-Man was born.