Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has a multiverse full of Marvel Easter eggs, goodies and MCU references. We’ve broken down some of the best ones.
There is so much about the newly released Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse that makes the installation of the web-slinging superhero a worthy sequel to the Oscar-winning Into the Spider-Verse.
The film — which sees Miles Morales’ Spider-Man go head-to-head against The Spot as well as at odds with the Spider-Society over trying to save his dad Jefferson, which would destabilize the Spider-Verse — introduces an impressive assortment of characters
As such, one of the many things that work well about the film is the abundance of Marvel easter eggs, nostalgic nods, and references to previous films that will delight any Spider-Man and MCU fan. With that in mind, we’re going to break down all the easter eggs and references that fans might have seen — or alternatively, might have missed — during Miles’ life-changing journey as Spider-Man.
Warning: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse spoilers ahead!
Donald Glover’s Aaron Davis/The Prowler is seen
Donald Glover was first introduced as Aaron Davis in the 2017 MCU film Spider-Man: Homecoming. Though he only appeared as a low-level criminal, any fan would know from the comics and from Into the Spider-Verse that Davis would end up becoming the Prowler.
In Homecoming, Davis references his nephew, hinting that Miles exists in the MCU. Though we’ve only seen Glover as Davis in the 2017 film, that changed when a version of the character popped up in Across the Spider-Verse. He’s seen trapped in a prison inside the Spider-Society’s HQ in Nueva York, where he is all decked out in his Prowler gear. Let’s hope that Glover’s Davis gets the chance to use his Prowler gear in an upcoming MCU film.
The Vulture makes an appearance
The first villain to appear in the film is none other than the Vulture. The last time we saw the iconic villain on screen was, also, in Spider-Man: Homecoming. This iteration is an Italian version of the villain from a Renaissance-inspired universe. At the start of the film, he finds himself in Earth-65, Gwen’s universe, where he immediately attacks the Guggenheim and battles Gwen, Miguel, and Jess.
Across the Spider-Verse shouts out to the MCU
When Miguel, Gwen, and Jess take down the bird-brained villain, Miguel laments about how he doesn’t like disruptions in the Spider-Man multiverse, specifically commenting about “Doctor Strange and that little nerd back on Earth-199999.” Of course, this is a direct reference to how Dr. Strange’s spell ended up summoning heroes and villains from other universes to the MCU in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Across the Spider-Verse’s canon events include traumatic moments from previous films
As Miguel lectures Miles about the need to preserve “canon events,” some of these events are seen by both Miles and viewers. They include moments from previous films such as the tragic deaths of Uncle Ben from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man and of Captain George Stacy from Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man.
Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield can be seen (sort of)
The crew behind Across the Spider-Verse teased us as to the possibility of the live-action Spider-Men actors appearing in the film. Although Tom Holland doesn’t make an appearance, the film does include brief scenes from Sam Raimi’s trilogy and The Amazing Spider-Man films, where we get a glimpse of, respectively, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield.
J.K. Simmons’ J. Jonah Jameson is the ultimate universe-hopping character
There’s perhaps no greater constant across the multiverse than J. K Simmons’ consistent presence as J. Jonah Jameson. Introduced in Sam Raimi’s trilogy, he then reappeared in the MCU Spider-Man films Far From Home and No Way Home. Finally, he pops up again in Across the Spider-Verse. Though versions of him appear in numerous dimensions, including a LEGO universe, that doesn’t stop his usual news broadcasts in which he declares Spider-Man (and Spider-Woman as well this time) a public menace.
The Sinister Six
Speaking of Jameson, his last voice appearance in the film is when he’s heard in a newscast on Earth 42, where he introduces a criminal organization known as “The Sinister Six Cartel.” This, of course, is a reference to the Sinister Six, a group of iconic Spider-Man villains. Though the group has gone through variations, it usually features Doc Ock, the Vulture, Sandman, Electro, Mysterio, and Kraven the Hunter.
He’s no “guy in the chair”
After Miles’ battle with the “villain of the week” the Spot, he returns back to his dorm room where his roommate, Ganke, is seen on his bed playing a video game. Ganke refuses to help Miles in his superhero antics, proclaiming that he’s not his “guy in the chair.” Of course, this is a direct reversal to MCU’s Ned Leeds, who is known for being Peter Parker’s guy in the chair.
Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock pops in to say “Hello Peter”
Another big cameo in the film comes from Alfred Molina who is of course known for playing Doc Ock in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 and the MCU film No Way Home. As Miles is chased by the other Spider-Man variants, he runs through a training facility filled with pop-outs of several Spider-Man villains. One of these villains is Molina’s Doc Ock who utters his brief, but iconic voice line.
The Spot enters the Venom verse
After battling it out with Spider-Man, the Spot starts to test out his universe-hopping abilities. He proceeds to visit a couple of dimensions, including the Lego universe, before arriving in one universe with a surprising twist. He lands in a bodega owned by someone who fans might recognize as Mrs. Chen from Sony’s Venom films.
Gwen Stacy seems to know about the fates of other Gwen Stacys
Although Gwen and Miles are ecstatic to be reunited when Gwen returns to Miles’ universe, there is bittersweet news associated with Gwen’s multiversal adventures. During the film, she references the fact that some variants of Gwen aren’t as lucky. This can undoubtedly be a nod to Gwen’s tragic demise in Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
Across the Spider-Verse includes the famous “Spider-Men pointing” meme
When Miguel alerts all the Spider-Men in the Spider-Society HQ to prevent Miles from escaping the facility, this leads to perhaps one of the greatest moments of the film as Miles must escape from a wide assortment of Spider-Man variants. As Miguel calls upon the variants to “stop Spider-Man!,” this leads to a re-creation of the famous internet meme in which three versions of Spider-Man are seen pointing at each other.
“With great powder comes great responsibility”
In a hilarious homage to one of the Spider-Man films’ most iconic lines, Miles talks about what he’s been up to in between movies during his introduction, in which he references a baby powder commercial with the tagline “With great powder comes great responsibility.” This, of course, is a nod to the famous quote from Uncle Ben that gave the inspiration for Peter Parker to become the web-slinging superhero.
Watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, still in the theaters now, to see all the Marvel easter eggs, references, and goodies throughout the film.