The hugely interconnected world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has led not only to countless character crossovers and team-ups but also to the consistent presence of inside references and Easter eggs, which allude to other details of the superhero world playing out in the background of stories.
From the reappearance of surprising characters to direct adaptation of comic book s, the best Easter eggs of the MCU strike a careful balance between being recognizable and secret. Finding these subtle nods to the wider world of Marvel is rewarding for fans, and keeps audiences paying close attention with every new release.
Abomination In Shang-Chi
Emil Blomsky, the man who would become Hulk villain the Abomination, made his first MCU appearance in 2008's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
In Shang-Chi, Abomination's appearance had drastically changed from his first MCU outing, altered to be more in keeping with his comic book design, and though his role in the movie was minimal (he fights Wong in Xialing's Macau fight club) it did reintroduce audiences to the character, setting up his appearance for the She-Hulk show.
What Happened In Budapest
One of The Avengers, which included a memorable scene where Natasha compared the Battle of New York to a mission they had in Budapest.
Clint replied that they have very different memories of Budapest, raising numerous theories as to the mission's purpose. Questions sparked by this line went unanswered for years until Black Widow was released in 2020. Natasha's solo movie revealed that they were in Budapest to kill Dreykov and shut down the Red Room, but the complicated operation had repercussions years later.
The Big Hero 6 Connection
The MCU has not been Disney's only venture into adapting Marvel comic book characters for the screen, as they also did so in the animated movie Big Hero 6, released in 2014.
Just a year later, eagle-eyed fans spotted a reference to Big Hero 6 character Tadashi, the creator of the robot Baymax, in Avengers: Age Of Ultron. After JARVIS is incorporated into the Vision, Tony searches through his A.I. chips for a new assistant before selecting FRIDAY. As he does so, though, a chip labeled Tadashi can be seen on his desk, referring to this other inventor.
Kate Bishop's Comic Book Outfits
There are many things that Hawkeye got right about Kate Bishop, including the way that the character was dressed, a decision which helped transfer her personality from page to screen.
Among these outfits is a shirt which references Laika, a dog used in early space exploration, the design of which is a direct copy of a shirt Kate wore in the 2012 Hawkeye comic book series by Matt Fraction and David Aja. While it's a small detail, this Easter egg imparts a certain comics aesthetic to the show.
'Quicksilver' In WandaVision
While no single theory about WandaVision.
Peters had played a version of the hero in the X-Men movie series, and his role in WandaVision seemed to hint at the Mutants' debut in the MCU. While this was disproven when the character was revealed as an unrelated citizen manipulated by Agatha Harkness, it remains a nod to Peters' earlier portrayal of the character.
Captain America Hails Hydra?
During the chaos of the Avengers' Time Heist in Avengers: Endgame, Captain America found himself in trouble when confronted with Jasper Sitwell and other secret HYDRA agents.
In order to acquire Loki's scepter and the Infinity Stone within it from the agent, Captain America whispered 'Hail HYDRA' to him, pretending to be allied with their cause. This moment is a parallel to the events of the Captain America: Steve Rogers comic written by Nick Spencer, in which an alternate version of Steve d with HYDRA replaces the hero, causing havoc and confusion in the process.
Cap's Shield In Iron Man 2
Before Captain America made his MCU debut in Iron Man 2.
When Tony Stark is using some of his dad's old equipment in his experiments, the supervising Agent Phil Coulson picks up the shield with wonder, asking if Tony knows what it is. Tony is dismissive and uses the piece of history to prop something up instead. This funny moment foreshadows not only Cap's appearance and his rocky relationship with Tony but also established Coulson as a Captain America fan.
Wakanda In Iron Man 2
Years before Black Panther made his first MCU appearance in Captain America: Civil War, the character's homeland of Wakanda was referenced in Iron Man 2.
At the movie's conclusion, as Nick Fury talked to Tony about his heroic initiative, a map displaying places and people of interest to SHIELD could be seen in the background. This map included nods to Thor and the Hulk, but it also had a marker pointing to Wakanda, suggesting that Fury was aware of superhero activity in the nation even then.
Miles Morales
There are many ways that Spider-Man: Homecoming.
The uncle to the Miles iteration of Spider-Man, Aaron played an important role in the hero's comic book development, and the pair's connection was explored onscreen in Sony's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Aaron referenced his nephew in Homecoming, establishing that Miles exists in the MCU, and hinting at a future live-action appearance.
Stan Lee's Cameos Explained
Comic book legend Stan Lee is famous for his MCU movie cameos, but they seemed at first to be unconnected to one another.
This was rectified in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which showed Stan Lee talking to the Watchers, a group of cosmic beings who observe all that happens in the universe and beyond. Credited in this movie as a Watcher Informant, Stan Lee's cameo here confirmed that all his prior appearances were as the same character, with his duty being to observe strange goings-on down on Earth and report them.
