Sony has once again hit the jackpot with their latest installment in the Spider-Verse franchise. Five years after Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse slung into cinema’s worldwide, the sequel has landed at a $208 million worldwide opening weekend at the box office.
The abundance of Marvel references has become a prominent topic of discussion surrounding the latest installment. With numerous nods scattered throughout the film, let’s delve into the significant Across the Spider-Verse easter eggs that may have eluded your attention.
*Warning: Spoilers ahead for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse*
Comics Code Authority approved
We’re delivered our first of the Across The Spider-Verse easter eggs early on, when the movie receives the golden stamp of approval from the Comics Code Authority (CCA). This same seal can be seen in Into The Spider-Verse as well. Formed in 1954, the CCA gave comic publishers the ability to self-regulate comic book content in the United States. After some censorship issues with an edition of X-Force in 2001, Marvel stopped submitting their work to the CCA. Between 2010 and 2011 Bongo Comics, DC Comics and Archie Comics all followed suit rendering in The CCA defunct.
Earth-199999
Our second of the Across the Spider-Verse easter eggs is seen early in the movie when Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac) references the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home. While speaking about changes in the multiverse, he says “Don’t get me started on Doctor Strange and the little nerd on Earth-199999.” We know that MCU canon states the main Marvel Universe is Earth 616. I wonder what Kevin Feige thinks about this?
The Venom-Verse
When the Spot (Jason Schwartzman) begins to explore different worlds, he sticks his head into a live-action convenience store. This store looks extremely familiar at first glance, and when the camera pans to the shop owner, it’s none other than the beloved Mrs. Chen (Peggy Lu) from the Venom franchise. Did anybody else hope to hear Tom Hardy‘s voice in the background during that cameo?
J.K. Simmons
In a movie containing multiversal characters and cameos from different actors who have played different roles in the Spider-Man franchise over the years, there is always one constant: J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson. Simmons has played many different iterations of this character, this time appearing in three more universes. On Earth-65 he speaks about Spider-Woman (Hailee Steinfeld) being a menace to society. He then appears in the Lego universe, and finally on Earth-42 talking about The Sinister Six Cartel.
The guy in the chair
One of the funny Across The Spider-Verse easter eggs comes when Miles (Shameik Moore) is talking to Ganke (Peter Sohn). He asks if he can make a call to the police to let them know the Spot was captured. Ganke, playing video games, doesn’t want to; saying he’s not Miles’ “guy in the chair”. This is a direct reference to Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon) being the guy in the chair to Tom Holland‘s Spider-Man in the MCU.
Insomniac Spider-Man
While in the Spider Society HQ, Insomniac’s Spider-Man makes an appearance as one of Spider-People. This is a cool easter egg for the fans of the games, but there is one other Insomniac Spider-Man easter egg that has a blink-and-you-might-miss-it appearance. When Miles is talking to Ganke in their dorm room, Ganke is playing a video game. Which game is it you ask? None other than Insomniac’s Spider-Man. How’s that for a meta easter egg?
Aaron Davis as the Prowler
As Miles wanders around Spider Society HQ, he comes face to face with variants of different villains. The one that caught everyone’s eye? Aaron Davis, kitted out in full Prowler threads, played by Donald Glover. Glover portrays Aaron Davis in Spider-Man: Homecoming where he mentions his nephew to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man.
The OG Spider-Verse team
The last of the Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse easter eggs comes during one of the movie’s final shots when Gwen assembles a new Spider-Team. Into The Spider-Verse characters Peni Parker, Spider-Ham, Spider-Byte, Spider-Man Noir and Peter B. Parker join Gwen, Spider-Punk and Spider-Man India to form a new team to find and help Miles.
Which of the Across the Spider-Verse easter eggs did you manage to find?
In a multiversal mashup of iconic locations and character variants, there are countless references to Marvel and Spider-Man media throughout. After each watch, we’ll undoubtedly find more Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse easter eggs.
Did you spot any that were not mentioned above? Let us know on the Agents of Fandom socials, and keep it locked for more Across The Spider-Verse coverage!
