SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE Spoilers - Spectacular Easter Eggs You May Have Missed
With Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse about to swing into theaters, you're no doubt anxious to learn about how many Easter Eggs are included. Well, we have an in-depth breakdown which you can see here...
By now, you should be well aware that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is an incredible movie but with so many people declaring it perhaps the best Spidey movie to date, it surely has to be packed full of fan-pleasing Easter Eggs, right?
Thankfully, the answer is "Yes!" and Sony Pictures has really exceeded expectations by making sure this love letter to all thing Spidey is full of the sort of cameos, references, and Easter Eggs you would expect from a story that delves so deeply into what makes this character (well, multiple versions of him) so damn amazing.
From mentions of Spider-Man's comic adventures to unexpected character appearances and plenty of nods to the wall-crawler's big screen adventures, there's an awful lot to unpack here.
To check out this full list of Easter Eggs, though, all you have to do is hit the "View List" button!
The Comic Code Authority
An unexpected but still very cool Easter Egg, the Comic Code Authority (which has been defunct since it was finally abandoned by DC and Archie Comics in 2011) logo appears right at the very start.
Why? To tell us that Into the Spider-Verse has been "approved" by them and seeing as it was an issue of Amazing Spider-Man that first went against the rules set down by them, it's good to see that the wall-crawler is back on the straight and narrow! Seeing as this is such a comic book-y movie, it seems appropriate to include this here and is definitely a nice nod to the history of Marvel Comics.
Kissing In The Rain
As we get to see the origin story of the Spider-Man on Miles Morales' Earth play out in a very fast moving series of scenes, there's a moment which pays homage to Spider-Man in a very clever way.
Just like in that movie, Spider-Man and Mary Jane Watson share a kiss in the rain but this time, it's MJ who is upside down! It's a neat way to make it clear that this is a different universe where things don't necessarily play out in the way we expect or are used to.
"That's All, Folks!"
Spider-Ham is a cartoon character so when he leaves to return to his universe, he bids farewell to Miles and company by saying, "That's all, folks!"
That's a reference to Looney Toons and Peter B. Parker is quick to question whether it's legal for him to say that. It's a very funny moment from a character who delivers a lot of laughs here.
The Spider-Mobile
When we visit Peter Parker's lair, we get to see a number of familiar looking vehicles and devices that it will be fun to pore over when the Blu-ray is released next year. However, one which immediately jumped out at me is the Spider-Mobile. While we never get to see it in action here, it's about damn time that it grace the big screen and it's been faithfully recreated from page to screen.
Familiar Costumes
Look closely in the aforementioned lair and there are some great comic book costumes to be found! The Iron Spider suit from the Civil War comic book is there as is the new costume from the Spider-Man video game.
There are also a couple of different versions of the Spider-Amour and I'm sure I spotted the wall-crawler's Secret Wars suit too. The version with the cape that Miles points out to Peter doesn't have a basis in the source material as far as I can recall, however.
Some Spider-Man 2 References
Spider-Man 2 is widely considered the best Spider-Man movie to date (well, until this came along) and so it probably won't surprise you to learn that there are a number of references to the sequel.
We see Spidey catch a car flung through a window which is reminiscent of what happened when Doctor Octopus attacked in the 2004 movie, while the train scene is also included during this montage. It's great fun seeing these moments recreated and something fans should appreciate.
Peter Parker's Blonde Hair
When the Spider-Man on Miles' Earth is unmasked, we learn that he has blonde hair!
Weird, right? Well, while this is no doubt done to separate this version of Peter Parker from Peter B. Parker, it's also more than likely a reference to Ben Reilly. In the comics, he was the clone of Peter who moved out of New York City and dyed his hair to try and disguise his true identity.
Will an Into the Spider-Verse sequel reveal that the Peter who died was actually a clone?
A Spider-Man: Homecoming Nod
Much to the disappointment of many Spider-Man fans, Tom Holland's wall-crawler sadly doesn't make an appearance. However, there is a nod to the Marvel Studios movie as Spidey is depicted in a shot which is identical to the ferry scene in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
The difference here, however, is that he's trying to save two buses from going over the side of a bridge!
42
If you're at all familiar with Miles Morales' comic book origins, you'll know that the Oscorp spider that bit him was branded with the number "42." The same thing happened in the recently released Spider-Man video game and while Alchemax is now the company responsible for creating it, the creepy crawly that gives the youngster his superpowers does indeed have this number on its back.
Stan Lee's Cameo
Stan "The Man " Lee makes a cameo appearance as a store owner who is cashing in on Spidey's demise by selling replica costumes. When Miles asks what will happen if it doesn't fit, Lee promises that they always fit...because he has a no refunds and no returns policy! It's very funny and a touching little tribute to the comic book creator and one of his most amusing cameos to date.
Spider-Man 3 Dance Scene
If you've been keeping a close eye on the TV spots for Into the Spider-Verse, you've probably already seen this but what an awesome Easter Egg! In a throwback to one of Spider-Man 3's most ridiculed scenes, the wall-crawler dances through the street copying the exact same moves that Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker pulled off in the threequel and it actually looks quite cool in animation.
Spider-Man 2099
During the movie's after-credits scene, we pay a visit to the year 2099 and are introduced to Spider-Man 2099 (voiced by Oscar Isaac). He has a device very similar to the ones used in comic book events like Spider-Geddon which allows him to travel between dimensions and it's then that he decides to travel to "where it all began."
That's Earth-67 and it's home to a Spider-Man most of us probably didn't expect to see here...
The 1960s Animated Series
Into the Spider-Verse is an animated movie so it makes sense that "where it all began" is actually the original cartoon featuring the wall-crawler! Miguel O'Hara ends up in the episode which has since become a meme for the two Spider-Men pointing at each other and while this is played for laughs, Spider-Man 2099 will no doubt have a key role to play in the sequel when it's inevitably released.
Yellow Boxes
When Miles' thoughts start popping up on screen, they're in yellow boxes. Now, this could be a total coincidence but something tells me that this may be a reference to Deadpool, a character the filmmakers no doubt would have loved to include here given his storied history with the wall-crawler.
Tonally, the movies aren't all that different so that may be another reason why they're used.
Miles' School
Just like in the comics, Miles goes to a charter school and while his roommate never speaks, he bears an uncanny resemblance to Ganke (a character Marvel Studios has based Ned Leeds on in their Spider-Man movies). Everything about Miles bears a resemblance to the source material, though, including the fact that his Uncle Aaron is later revealed to be The Prowler.
Something that's totally new is Miles interest in graffiti which later inspires his costume's appearance.
The Web Of Life And Destiny
If you're at all familiar with the "Spider-Verse" comic book events, you'll no doubt be all too familiar with the Web of Life and Destiny. It's played a pivotal role in a number of events and while it's only glimpsed briefly here, it could be an indication that the sequel is going to put the spotlight on the villainous Inheritors (which means characters like Morlun and the Master Weaver could be coming).
"With Great Power..."
We obviously hear the classic "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility" line in this movie but Miles' dad has a slightly different take on that when he's discussing Spider-Man with his son.
He's not the biggest fans of the wall-crawler and says that "With Great Power Comes Great Accountability." Luckily, by the time all is said and done, he appears to be a fan of the webbed hero.
Clone High
Long before Phil Lord and Chris Miller released The LEGO Movie, the duo worked on a popular animated series on MTV known as Clone High. Despite being cancelled on our Earth way back in 2003, it was clearly a hit on Miles' because a Times Square billboard reveals that a spinoff movie titled Clone College is being released. Fans of this show no doubt which they could move universes now...
Earth Designations
When all the different spider heroes are brought to Miles' Earth, we very briefly get to see the names of the worlds they're from. It's hard to catch them all but it seems as if Miles is from Earth-1610 (which is the Ultimate Universe in the comics) and Peter B. Parker is actually from Earth 616!
That means he's the one, true Spider-Man and it seems as if Sony decided to give us a glimpse into his future, something no other movie has done and a topic even the comics rarely touch on. Perhaps this means we'll get to meet May Parker in the follow-up, especially as Peter is planning to get back together with his ex-wife, Mary Jane Watson!
A Nod To Miles' Creators
When Miles is scrolling through his phone, two names immediately jump out. Those are Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli, the writer/artist team that created the character shortly after the Ultimate Universe's Peter Parker was killed off. These two were obviously pivotal in making Miles the massively popular hero he is today, so it's nice to see them get a mention in this way.