Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse: Every Easter Egg And Reference In The Movie
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It will shock absolutely no one to hear that a movie like Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse is absolutely packed from floor to ceiling with Easter Eggs and references--it would be impossible to make a movie this comic book-y without carrying on that time honored tradition. It's just to be expected at this point. But what you might not expect is the fact that winks and nods in the Spider-Verse are far from limited to just comics. Miles' alternate reality is just different enough from our own to allow for some hidden shout-outs to comedians, tv shows, movies and more.
It goes without saying but there are spoilers from the Spider-Verse from here on out, so please proceed with caution if you haven't seen the movie yet.
We've compiled a list of every nod and reference we could find--but did we catch them all? Let us know what you spotted in the comments below.
Ganke Lee
Miles' finishes out the movie saying he finally got to know his roommate at Visions Academy. The roommate, while sadly going unnamed (and without any real speaking lines) for the actual story will be pretty recognizable to fans of Miles' comics. It's Ganke Lee, fan-favorite supporting character and Miles' best friend (and major inspiration for Homecoming's Ned Leeds--which is a whole other, way more complicated story.)
The Comics Code Authority
One of the first things displayed on screen after the cavalcade of glitched out studio logos is a seal that looks a bit like a postage stamp: Approved By The Comics Code Authority. This is an actual, historical emblem you'll find on just about every comic published between the mid 1950s to the late 1990s and revolves around a specific period of time in which comics were censored by a self-policing agency known as--you guessed it--The Comics Code Authority. Sort of like the comic book version of the MPAA, the CCA was a group of people who, after a completely absurd moral panic about the virtue of kids being corrupted by violent comics, began ensuring that no published comic violated an ever changing doctrine of purity laws. No violence, no sex, no implications of homosexuality, no terror or peril, etc, etc. In the modern era, however, with the CCA defunct, their seal has come to represent something else entirely for comic book fans: a sense of historical weight and respect for the past, as well as a slightly tongue-in-cheek wink at exactly how absurd comics can be.
Spider-Man popsicles
Part meme, part incredibly specific dig at childhood nostalgia, Peter explains that he was a "so-so popsicle" in his montage, showing an actual, real-life photo of what can be universally recognized as an ice cream truck Spider-Man pop, smeared and blurred and horribly deformed with gumballs for eyes. These Spider-pops were, very, very real and always very, very disappointing.
"I think it's a Banksy"
At one point, a group of onlookers comments about a multiverse-warped lightpost, springing out like a technicolor tree from one of Brooklyn's sidewalks. One says "yeah, I think it's a Banksy" before walking away, a reference to the infamously anonymous street artist who is known for dropping public installations in major cities without warning or announcement.
Spider-Man 2099
Into The Spider-Verse introduced a brand new Spider-character with its post credits scene--but it's ones fans of '90s Marvel will recognize immediately. Miguel O'Hara, aka Spider-Man 2099, is very much a real thing in Marvel comics and he and his holographic assistant Lyla are apparently very much apart of the animated universe as well.
That Spider-Meme
Miguel's plan to jump back to "the beginning" features him recreating one of the most iconic Spider-memes of all time: the moment from the 1967 cartoon where there are two Spider-Men pointing at each other which was, unsurprisingly, a very real and very genuine scene from the cartoon before it became a meme.
PS4 Spider-Man
Comics and cartoons weren't the only source material mind for the Spider-Verse. Within Peter's base, a display of cases showcasing different Spider-costumes can be seen in the background of multiple scenes--and one of them just so happens to be the immediately recognizable Velocity suit from the PS4 Spider-Man game, released this year.
Tombstone
Though he's never named and only given a few words of dialogue, Kingpin's loyal right-hand man in the Spider-Verse is none other than Tombstone, a B-List villain from Marvel's history who has fought against characters like Spider-Man and Daredevil and is known for his easily distinguishable, squared off look and greyish skin.
The Purple Man
Another blink-and-you'll-miss-it villain cameo is The Purple Man, an infamous Jessica Jones and Daredevil baddie who can be seen, very briefly, as a photo on the wall of Kingpin's associated. He's the one with the purple skin, if you needed a hint.
Spider-Man 3's Dance Scene
During Peter's first opening montage, he (reluctantly) admits that a very specific, very embarrassing public dance sequence is something that happened in his past--even though he doesn't like talking about it. This is, of course, a shout-out to Spider-Man 3's now infamous dance scene in which a symbiote infected Tobey MaGuire shimmies around New York.
Earth 67
Miguel charts a course for a specific part of the multiverse--Earth-67--which is actually the real number of the official Marvel Earth on which the 1967 cartoon took place. There have even been comics which have brought the cartoon version of Spidey into the mix and yes, he does always look that weird.
Olivia Octavius
Though Olivia Octavius is a totally original invention for Into The Spider-Verse, she's clearly an alternate version of the famous villain Otto Octavius. They're both Doc Ock, after all. In fact, when Olivia is being introduced at the Fisk headquarters, the male scientist Peter pegs as the lead has a suspiciously familiar look with a bowl cut and round glasses. Isn't the multiverse a crazy place?
Those Comics Covers
Each of the comic book cover showcased during the character introductions in the movie is real and can actually be purchased--though, by now, some of them might cost you a pretty penny.
Spider-Cave
The Peter Parker of Miles' universe had a high tech base beneath Aunt May's backyard, complete with vehicles and costume display cases. While this may seem like an obvious nod to the Batcave, Peter did have his very own "Spider-Cave" in the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon.
Spider-Mobile
In the background of the Spider-Cave, an even more classic shout-out can be spotted--a Jeep-like vehicle painted in Spider-Man's motif. The Spider-Mobile actually dates back to the early '70s when Pete was given his very own car to tool around town.
Miles' Web Shooters
When Miles finally decides he's ready for action, his first stop is back at Aunt May's to "borrow" one of Pete's unused costumes and get a little gift from May herself. She hands him a set of web shooters she engineered, expecting Miles would return. This moment mirrors the actual comics when May and Mary Jane give Miles Peter's old web shooters once he takes over the role.
Stan Lee(s)
Stan Lee actually has multiple cameos in the movie. The most obvious of which is as the store clerk when Miles buys his first costume, but if you keep your eyes peeled, you'll be able to spot Stan all around New York, in the background of scenes for the entire movie. Specifically keep an eye on the person who first steps over the crumpled pile of Peter and Miles after they're drug around by the subway car--he'll probably look a little familiar.
"That's all folks!"
It's pretty obvious that Spider-Ham is based on the Looney Toons, but just in case you didn't get it right away, he actually gets to drop Porky Pig's iconic "that's all folks!" catch phrase which, hilariously, Miles and Gwen seem to doubt the legality of.
A-List Cameos
They're both relatively brief but two of the alternate Spider-people actually have some surprising A-list talent bringing them to life. Peter "A." Parker--the Peter of Miles' universe--is voiced by Chris Pine, meaning he has officially crossed the Marvel and DC streams, and Migel O'Hara in the post-credits scene is voiced by Oscar Issac.
"From Dusk Til Shaun"
The Time Square of Miles' universe is jam packed with ads for crazy alternate-reality versions of some recognizable favorites. The first that's likely to catch your eye is "From Dusk Till Shaun," an alternate version of Edgar Wright's cult classic Shaun of the Dead.
"Hi, Hello"
Spider-Ham himself, John Mulaney was also able to get in on the slightly-askew reference gig with a playful nod to he and Nick Kroll's own "Oh, Hello" show, which has now become "Hi, Hello" for Miles' universe.
Clone College
Producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller got in a nod to their own work this time around. Look closely and you'll see a poster for Clone College, an imaginary follow up to Lord and Miller's early cartoon series, Clone High.