Guardians Of The Galaxy Easter Eggs And References
By Steve Lam
Marvel Characters Who Could be in Future Films
Howard the Duck
This is one cameo that appeared in spades. Originally rumored to only be referenced via a comic book Peter Quill is reading, Howard the Duck makes a live appearance as one of the specimens kept by The Collector. He makes a speaking appearance during the post-credits scene of Guardians of the Galaxy. James Gunn and Kevin Feige have no plans for a Howard the Duck film, but that could all change from fan reaction.
Cosmo the Spacedog
Cosmo was another of The Collector’s housed specimens. In the comics, he originated as a test animal of the Soviet Space Program. After being lost in space, Cosmo mutates into a highly intelligent being with telepathic abilities. He later becomes the Head of Security for Knowhere. In Guardians of the Galaxy, Knowhere is the location of the Collector’s gallery and home. After the Power Stone explodes, Cosmo is freed from his cell. In the post-credits scene, you can see him licking the face of The Collector and then running off — probably to go head up security.
Adam Warlock a.k.a. Him
If you got distracted by the duck, then you probably missed this biggie. Originally referenced as a cocoon in the post-credits scene of Thor: The Dark World (yes, that pesky scene again — there’s just so much going on in that small timeframe), we see the cocoon broken apart in the post-credits scene of Guardians of the Galaxy. The cocoon is behind Howard the Duck.
Could this mean that an Adam Warlock movie is on its way? It would only make sense since everything is leading up to the Infinity Gauntlet storyline and Warlock will eventually come into possession of the Soul Gem.
The Nova Corps
The Nova Corps in Guardians of the Galaxy are the policing force for the planet Xandar. A few things differ from the comic books. Here, Irani Rael (Glenn Close) is no longer a Rigellian Nova Centurion. She has been upgraded to be Nova Prime. Also, there are rumors that Richard Rider’s scenes were cut in the final edit of the film. But you can be sure that the Nova Corps and its most famous members will be major players in the future installments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
J’Son a.k.a. Jason a.k.a. Peter Quill’s Father
Peter Quill’s absent father, known as Jason on Earth, should’ve set off the audience’s references radar. In one of the final scenes of Guardians of the Galaxy, Nova Prime gives Peter the results of his DNA scan — Peter is only half human and his father is not — he’s something ancient that the galaxy has not scene for a long time. I won’t go into the details of J’Son because my editor Nick has written a great article about him. But needless to say, this guy will probably make an appearance in future movies.
Out with the Badoon and In with the Sakaarans
What can I say? It has to do with the movie rights again. The Badoon were major characters in the Guardians of the Galaxy comic books, but they couldn’t be used because they first appeared in Silver Surfer Vol. 1 #2. Due to 20th Century Fox owning the rights to the Silver Surfer, Guardians of the Galaxy, a Marvel Studios property, needed to go with the Sakaarans. Interestingly, the Sakaarans played a major role in the Planet Hulk storyline. And this is what started rumors of a Planet Hulk movie of which James Gunn has already shot down.
Pip the Troll
At the end of Guardians of the Galaxy, we find out that Peter Quill has deceived Yondu Udonta with a troll doll. It seems that there might be two meanings to that reference. The first, of course, refers to something culturally popular in the 1980s. The second, may have only been caught by hardcore Marvel fans — a reference to Pip the Troll. Pip the Troll made his first appearance in Strange Tales Vol. 2 #179 as a comedic antagonist for Adam Warlock.
Originally Prince Gofern of the planet Laxidazia, he was mutated into a degenerate troll by a type of ale he drank. Pip is later captured by the Universal Church of Truth and set for execution. On the prison ship, he meets Adam Warlock, and the two escape together. Pip then later meets Gamora and Thanos. The three, together with Warlock, battle the Magus and the Universal Church. Again, even for a minor character, Marvel has given him a complicated history. What you do need to know is that eventually he is helped my Warlock and his Soul Gem. Yep, if you’re hearing the words “Warlock” and “Soul Gem”, you know Pip might make an appearance in future installments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Beta Ray Bill
Whoa, is that Thor with his back to us? The shape of his head is strange and he seems totally jaundiced out? Contrary to what many and I have been thinking, that ain’t no duck — it’s Beta Ray Bill. In Guardians of the Galaxy, you can see him in one of The Collector’s glass cells. He has his back to us, but his horse-shaped head, muscular arms, and red cape are no doubt the features of Beta Ray Bill. If you don’t pay attention, you’ll miss him. During the first meeting between our beloved Guardians with The Collector, you can catch him on the right side of the screen. His posture indicates that he doesn’t feel so well. Shame on you Taneleer.
Beta Ray Bill first appeared in November of 1983 in Thor #337 as an alien of the Korbinite race. When a fleet of ships enters the solar system, Nick Fury sends Thor to investigate. Reaching one of the ships named Skuttlebutt, Thor is scanned. Seeing him as a threat, Skuttlebutt, which is actually sentient, awakens Beta Ray Bill who’s in suspended animation. As the two battle, Thor loses Mjolnir (his hammer), and due to a previous enchantment that prevents Thor from being apart from Mjolnir for more than sixty seconds, Thor reverts back to his human alter ego — Donald Blake. Mjolnir also becomes a cane as a disguise. Bill, not knowing any better, is able to wield Mjolnir and strikes the cane, receiving Thor’s powers.
Thinking that Bill was Thor, Odin transports him back to Asgard. After settling the confusion, Odin also transports Thor back home. It is finally revealed that Bill’s race, the Korbinites, are almost extinct and that the reason Skuttlebutt attacked Thor, initially, was because Asgardian magic was detected as being similar to a former enemy of the Korbinites. Bill’s physical appearance was due to him being augmented via Korbinite science, so that he could gain the stamina and strength of one of his planet’s species.
Because Bill was able to lift the hammer, Odin proposes a fight to the death between Thor and Bill to see who can be the sole wielder of Mjolnir. Fighting in the fires of Skartheim, both prove virtually equal in strength, but Bill recovers faster due to his resistance to heat. Bill is finally declared the winner and also saves Thor’s life — Bill thought Thor was too worthy to die. Because Bill still needed Mjolnir to protect what remains of his race, Odin orders the creation of another hammer equal in power to Mjolnir — Stormbreaker. With the same powers as Thor, Bill allied himself with the Asgards.
After the destruction of The Collector’s gallery, we can assume that many species have escaped — along with Beta Ray Bill. It would be extremely interesting to see where Bill could appear next. Maybe Thor 3?
The Celestials and Eson the Searcher
Knowhere is the base of operations for the Collector, but what non-comic book fans don’t know is that Knowhere is actually the severed head of a Celestial (yes, they’re that big). During the Collector’s holographic history lesson to the Guardians, we also get a glimpse of one of the Celestials — Eson the Searcher.
That’s it! Those are the things I was able to catch on my premiere night viewing of Guardians of the Galaxy. I’m sure I missed a few and I would love to be corrected. This movie is like an endless Christmas — surprises everywhere! Please comment below if you discover anything interesting.
If you haven’t seen them, check out some more Guardians of the Galaxy Easter eggs and references: