Swinging onto the silver screen in 2002, the amazing Spider-Man’s cinematic adventure has been a rocky one, with a trilogy that started great and went downhill, to a contentious reboot and a remarkable rebending inside the MCU.
With the rocketing success of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and all the talk about No Way Home, we’re looking back at the Web-Head’s big screen-run to see what clues and secrets have been hidden for the eagle-eyed viewer.
Here are 29 super-cool Spider-Man Easter Eggs…
1. The Stingray Nod
Movie: Spider-Man
Deep in the montage of costume ideas that Peter plays with in Spider-Man, we see what looks like a wingsuit. This is in fact a reference to the aquatic superhero, Stingray, who uses a pair of giant fins attached to his sides to glide through water. He’s not the most popular superhero, but his mere mention is a great early example of what would become a Marvel staple.
2. Shazam and Superman References
Movie: Spider-Man
There’s always been a special trick to sending webbing out of the hand – among the various attempts include “up, up and away, web!” and “shazam!” The second might easily be recognised as the catchphrase of DC’s Captain Marvel who calls it out to summon or desummon his powers. The other one, “up up and away!” was a classic line Superman would use before flying into the air. Oh yeah, and these words were ad-libbed. Tobey Maguire came up with them.
3. Lucy Lawless Cameo
Movie: Spider-Man
You might miss her but Xena: Warrior Princess actress, Lucy Lawless makes a hidden celebrity cameo in Spider-Man. During a scene when New Yorkers give their opinions on the new spider-hero, Lawless claims that a “guy with eight hands sounds hot”. The actress likely did this for director, Sam Raimi, who was also a producer for the Xena: Warrior Princess series she starred in.
4. Doctor Strange Shout-Out
Movie: Spider-Man 2
Marvel Easter Eggs are always expected but we certainly weren’t expecting this name-drop. When JJJ is discussing the possible names for what to call the now renegade, Otto Octavius, they drop “Doctor Strange” as a good name that happens to be taken. We’re not given any more than that, but more than likely, the Bugle doesn’t want to confuse the new supervillain with a celebrity neurosurgeon.
5. Tobey Maguire’s Brothers Cameo
Movie: Spider-Man 2
You wouldn’t have known this unless you’re, of course, a family member of Tobey’s. Remember that train scene in Spider-Man 2? Well, the boys looking over Spidey, telling him they “won’t tell nobody” about his identity are none other than Tobey Maguire’s younger half-brothers. It’s a family affair no one knew about!
6. Steve Ditko Hint
Movie: Spider-Man 2
The name “Ditkovitch” should be very familiar, especially if you read the Spider-Man comics. Steve Ditko was one of the power trio alongside Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in creating modern Marvel. Ditko was an important man behind Spider-Man in particular as co-creator alongside Stan Lee. He wasn’t one for the spotlight so even if his name does go to a grumpy landlord in Spider-Man 2, this was a loving tribute.
7. Spider-Man Theme
Movie: Spider-Man 2
Here’s a fun Easter Egg in Spider-Man 2 that you might already have hunted down. While waiting for Mary Jane at the theatre, Peter comes across a woman who starts playing a tune on her violin. She’s a bit tone-deaf, but she’s quite clearly singing and plucking the classic 1960’s theme tune to the Web-head. Spider-Man, Spider-Man! Does whatever a spider can! Spins a web, any size! Catches thieves, just like flies. Look out! Here comes the Spider-Man!
8. Dr. Curt Connors’ Role
Movie: Spider-Man 2 / 3
Dr. Connors appeared in the Sam Raimi trilogy before becoming a principal character in The Amazing Spider-Man reboot. Instead of a man obsessed with using lizard genetics to regrow his arm, he’s Peter’s physics professor and the man Peter goes to in order to understand the Symbiote. Not too far-fetched as Peter has been friends with Connors in the comics – when he’s not a gigantic reptile, of course.
9. Hobgoblin Tease
Movie: Spider-Man 3
In Harry Osborn’s montage in continuing his father’s legacy, we see a silver version of the goblin mask. This is commonly thought to be an allusion to Hobgoblin, a supervillain copycat to the Green Goblin, right down to the enhancing formula. It seems the movie decided to stick to Harry becoming a new version of the Green Goblin. Shame really.
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10. The Belltower Reference
Movie: Spider-Man 3
If you know your comics, then this Easter Egg in Spider-Man 3 might be familiar to you. The scene where Peter removes the Symbiote within a church belltower, with Eddie Brock down below, is a clear reference to the most common imagining of how the Venom symbiote bonds with Eddie. This scene was iconic enough in the comics that when the 1992 Spider-Man TV show introduced Venom, they recreated it to a T.
11. Flash Thompson at the Funeral
Movie: Spider-Man 3
Were you eagle-eyed enough to spot this Spider-Man Easter Egg? Among the guests attending Harry Osborn’s funeral is a surprising appearance by Flash Thompson. Most viewers might remember him as Peter’s resident high school bully in Spider-Man 1. In the comics, the two actually patched up and became friends when they went on to University, so maybe that’s what happened here.
12. The Rhino Foreshadowing
Movie: The Amazing Spider-Man
Among the creatures we see Curt Connors looking into splicing DNA with, one of the samples is a hologram of a rhinoceros. While they don’t have what he’s looking for, this seems like a rather on-the-nose reference to the brick-dumb juggernaut known as the Rhino. It’s ultimately a red herring, since the next movie reveals the mech-like Ultimate version of the character. But cool allusion nonetheless.
13. Electro Foreshadowing
Movie: The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man teases what was coming in the next Spider-Man instalment with a typical Marvel-style end-credits scene featuring Curt Connors in prison. Seeing a shadowy man appear and disappear to the cue of a lightning bolt might have seemed overly dramatic, but if you know your comics, it can only be one guy this was referring to – Electro.
14. Electro’s Electric Birthday Cake
Movie: Amazing Spider-Man 2
One of the big departures from the comics was ditching Electro’s yellow-green Christmas tree comic-look for a black getup. Despite the disappointment, the production team still left a nod in Amazing Spider-Man 2. Max Dillon’s birthday cake, which had green frosting and yellow lightning-bolt detailing is surely a reference to his classic electric costume.
15. The Incy Wincy Spider
Movie: Amazing Spider-Man 2
Listen closely during Electro and Spider-Man’s final battle and you might hear the riff to Incy Wincy Spider playing with every hit Spidey takes. The Green Goblin also sang the song as he was flying about blowing things up way back in the first Raimi movie. So when a knocked-about Spidey complains “I hate this song” in TASM2, we feel him; it’s brought him nothing but grief.
16. That Famous Upside Down Kiss
Movie: Spider-Man Homecoming
Original Spider-Man fans were treated to a humorous nod during Homecoming, one that pays direct tribute to that infamous kiss with Mary-Jane. When Spidey is hanging upside down in front of his crush, Liz, his suit’s AI, Karen, says “This is your chance Peter. Kiss her!”
17. “The Amazing Spider-Man” #33
Movie: Spider-Man Homecoming
Comic references are always the most fun of Easter Eggs. Just when Spider-Man is feeling helpless and injured after a confrontation with The Vulture, he manages to pull through and push all rubble off of himself. This is said to be a direct tribute to one of the best Spider-Man arcs of all time, “The Amazing Spider-Man #33”. Fans also saw it as a way to honor legendary comics artist and creator, Steve Ditko.
18. Star Wars Feature
Movie: Spider-Man Homecoming
Marvel and Star Wars sure like to connect their movies in the coolest of ways. The influential franchise was also sneakily incorporated in Homecoming, too! Not only were several Star Wars figures spotted in Peter’s room, but Ned was also seen holding a LEGO Death Star model. Let’s just say, Peter and his bestie sure have good taste.
19. The Comics Code Authority
Movie: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
A little humor for comic book fans of the past! Into the Spider-Verse begins with a little stamp that reads “approved by the Comics Code Authority.” That badge was a staple not just of Marvel, but of all comics between the 1940’s and the 1990’s. The authority itself, which made all kinds of rules on what comics were and were not allowed to include, lost a lot of influence and was all but gone by the 1980’s. But the stamp would not completely disappear until the early 2000’s.
20. Real Spider-Man Adventures
Movie: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Peppered across the story are various issues that get called “True-Life stories of Spider-Man”, and how true they are – if we’re talking comic continuity, that is. Plenty of real Spider-Man issues such as “Amazing Fantasy No 15” and “Amazing Spider-Man #7” get snuck in at various points in the story.
21. Stan Lee Cameo
Movie: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse
Marvel’s no stranger to featuring Stan Lee in their movies. Other than the MCU, our favorite old guy also happened to star in Into the Spider-Verse as a cheeky Easter Egg. The animated version of the Marvel mogul serves Miles a Spidey costume behind the cashier – “I’m going to miss him,” the old man says, we were friends, you know.”
22. Green Goblin’s Appearance
Movie: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse
Remember that big green hulking monster that the Spider faces? Hard to believe, but that is indeed the Green Goblin. More precisely, it’s the Ultimate Spider-Man continuity version but with classic Goblin’s purple hat. This version is a supersoldier attempt called the Oz Formula that transformed Norman Osborn into a giant hulking green beast that can throw around and summon fire.
23. Spider-Ham’s Cameo
Movie: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse
We’re including this one precisely because there’s a bit of a misconception that The Simpsons invented the pig-version of Spider-Man. This pig’s first appearance is actually from the limited series, Marvel Tails Starring Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham way back in 1983. Like Marvel Pets (think the Amazing Throg), he lives in a universe where everyone is an animal person. Although not the best Spider-Man, still one of the coolest.
24. Uncle Ben’s Feature
Movie: Spider-Man: Far From Home
We haven’t heard of Uncle Ben since The Amazing Spider-Man saga, so when he featured as an Easter Egg in Far From Home (well, kinda), fans were super stoked. As Peter packs his bag for a trip across Europe, imprinted on his suitcase are the initials “BFP”. Could it be that the bag belonged to his late uncle? We’d like to think so. Plus, it was about time the MCU touched upon Uncle Ben!
25. Peter Parker’s Birthday
Movie: Spider-Man: Far From Home
During Far From Home, we get a glimpse of Peter’s funny passport. But it has more significance to it than you think. Peter’s birthday is listed as August 10th – turns out, this is the same date as the day the first ever Spider-Man comic book was released, AKA “Amazing Fantasy #15”!
26. MJ’s Fall
Movie: Spider-Man: No Way Home
It’s hard to forget the agonizing moment Peter was unable to save his love, Gwen Stacy from falling to her death in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. In fact, her death scars him to this very day. Well, Andrew Garfield’s Spidey gets some sort of redemption in No Way Home when he saves MJ from falling off the scaffolding. A heroic moment, indeed.
27. Dum-E
Movie: Spider-Man: No Way Home
There’s no Spider-Man movie without an Iron Man reference, right? In No Way Home, one of Tony Stark’s assistant robotic arms, Dum-E is spotted in the background of Happy’s condo. Ah, what a way to remember the legend…
28. The ‘Amazing’ Spider-Man
Movie: Spider-Man: No Way Home
Tobey Maguire’s Spidey gives a sneaky little nod to The Amazing Spider-Man franchise during some cheeky dialogue with Andrew Garfield’s Peter. When Garfield’s Spidey feels less impressive after the others reveal they’ve fought aliens in the past, Tobey’s Spidey tells him, “You are amazing”, clearly alluding to the actor’s Marvel instalments.
29. That Pointing Meme
Movie: Spider-Man: No Way Home
They just had to do it, didn’t they? Indeed, No Way Home featured an epic and funny reference to the iconic Spider-Man pointing meme. When Ned asks for Peter while assembling a science experiment to help fix the villains, all three Peter Parkers point at themselves and then each other, questioning which Peter Ned is asking for. Hilarious.
It seems his penchant for dropping hints and subtle nods is as frequent as his use of terrible jokes. What Spider-Man Easter Eggs have you picked up throughout the years? Were there any in the Web-Head’s movies that we missed? Let us know in the comments section!
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