Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse continues to entertain audiences across the world as its twists and turns are laid bare. But the movie also hides plenty of references to the comics in plain sight. It's a love letter to the Spider-Man source material and relies on some truly deep cuts that only hardcore fans might recognize.
These Spider-Man easter eggs and nods are so obscure that mainstream audiences aren't likely to spot them straight away. But with each new reference comes an extra layer that has resulted in an interconnected tapestry of lore. Altogether, this clearly celebrates the web-slinger and his world of supporting characters like Scarlet Spider-, Spider-Gwen, and more.
10 The Mary Janes
Across the Spider-Verse ranks highly on the scale of comic book accuracy. Every scene ensures that the decisions made truly adhere to the source material. For example, Gwen Stacy's band is called the Mary Janes in both the comics and on-screen.
Across the Spider-Verse opens with a fantastic sequence that features Stacy letting go of her emotions through her music. As the drummer of the Mary Janes, she holds the exact same role as she does in the comics. Although the dynamic between Gwen and the lead singer, Mary Jane Watson, was barely touched upon, that relationship is a lot more important on the page.
9 Spider Variants
With so many Spider-People featured in Across the Spider-Verse, it's no surprise that audiences will be nostalgic for plenty of the appearing Spider-People. The movie doesn't hold back on its cameos, with heavy-hitters like Hobie Brown and Pavitr Prabhakar making appearances.
However, Across the Spider-Verse's most obscure cameos pay reference to the Spider-Verse narratives of the comics. Characters like Sun-Spider and Peter Parkedcar have been included in the major comic events that inspired the movie's name. Although mainstream audiences might not know them at first glance, readers will be aware of their contributions on the page in stories like End of the Spider-Verse.
8 Scarlet Spider's Art Style
Scarlet Spider has become one of the most talked about elements of Across the Spider-Verse. While the movie decided to bring a comedic edge to the character and focus on his melodrama, the very design of Scarlet Spider also made reference to the comics.
Scarlet Spider made his debut in the 90s, which is a period that's well-known for its distinctly graphic art style. That 90s imagery is very much present in the animation used for the character. While other Spider-People like Hobie are influenced by pop culture, Scarlet Spider is very much defined by his look on the page from his debut in the 90s with an emphasis on heavily inked shading and bulging muscles.
7 Peter Parker's Canon Events
One of the major plot points of Across the Spider-Verse featured the canon events that have come to define every Spider-Person in the multiverse. The death of Uncle Ben, the murder of Gwen Stacy, and the loss of Captain Stacy are just a couple of variations of a canon event.
Across the Spider-Verse paid homage to the comics with a number of massive and obscure references to events that had played out on the page. The movie featured panels from Spidey's history that were relevant to the discussion. Although the focus was certainly put on the cinematic reenactments of those moments, comic fans will immediately spot those tragic events.
6 The Web Of Life & Destiny
The Web of Life and Destiny is at the very heart of the multiverse. It's known as the Spider-Verse and represents the threads that connect the different Spider-People together. Each Spider-Verse event in the comics has used the Web as a base, with heroes like Madame Web overseeing its wellbeing.
Although Across the Spider-Verse doesn't go into too much detail about the Web of Life and Destiny, it does get mentioned a handful of times. This obscure reference to the comics acts as a little bit of lore-building, as Miguel O'Hara attempts to explain to Miles his place in the Spider-Verse. The imagery of the comics is also reflected in the film's visual representation of the Web.
5 Spider-Verse Vampires
Miguel O'Hara has vampire qualities. His spider-powers have manifested in different forms and in Across the Spider-Verse this has included fangs. Gwen Stacy refers to Spider-Man 2099 as a vampire, although it's assumed that this is a joke rather than an actual diagnosis of his condition.
The Spider-Man 2099 of the comics also has fangs, and he is not a Vampire. But the vampiric references are an interesting inclusion in the Across the Spider-Verse because they offer an obscure nod to the comics. The Spider-Verse events have often involved Morlun, who is a vampire of sorts. His destructive capabilities and the threat he poses to Spider-People certainly parallel what Miguel claims could happen to each Earth in the Spider-Verse, if Miles were to continue to be an anomaly. The idea of vampires in this context certainly doesn't seem like an accident.
4 The Ultimate Anomaly
Miles Morales is one of the strongest Spider-Man variants in the multiverse. But with the character getting bitten by a spider from Earth-42 in Across the Spider-Verse, Miles is very much treated like an anomaly. Like he doesn't actually fit in his universe and whose origins can be traced to a different reality.
Miles' status as a spider caught between worlds is a subtle and obscure nod to his comic book narrative. Miles was originally the Ultimate Spider-Man and his core story will forever be linked to that alternate universe. But after Secret Wars he now calls Earth-616 his home, a place that he technically doesn't belong in. This is a fascinating way to reframe a story about multiple dimensions colliding.
3 The Comic Earths
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse hasn't shied away from making reference to the specific Earths that each Spider-Person is from. Miles visits Earth-42 for example, while Peter B. Parker is supposedly from Earth-616. Each time a reality is mentioned, it's a direct nod to the comics.
From Spider-Man 2099's Earth-928 to Pavitr Prabhakar's Earth-50101, each origin location reflects the reality of the comics. However, there is a small difference on the big screen. These realities don't claim to be the original Earths. Earth-616 in Across the Spider-Verse is actually Earth-616B for example. Each is another interpretation, meaning that these worlds do not overrule the comic continuity.
2 The Animal Villains
Some of the greatest villains from Spider-Man's rogues gallery are also based on animals. This has become somewhat of a running joke in Marvel Comics, with the likes of Vulture, Scorpion, Doc Ock, and Lizard acting as just a few examples. Spider-Verse didn't shy away from playing on that roster of foes.
Across the Spider-Verse attempts to pack in as many of these animal classics as possible, with Vulture becoming the prime reference. However, as a little nod and a wink to the animal trope, a brief action sequence features Armadillo. The obscure villain is yet another animal-themed character from the comics, although one that has often been the subject of many jokes.
1 Videoman Back In Animation
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse includes a strange cameo from Videoman. The character certainly isn't an antagonist that most viewers are familiar with. He can be found in one of the multiversal holding cells at Spider-Man 2099's base. But the video game-style character made his debut in animation.
Videoman first appeared in the TV show Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. However, the comic Spider-Man Family Featuring Amazing Friends cemented the strange villain on the page. Videoman's appearance in Across the Spider-Verse takes him back to his animation roots while still nodding to the obscure comic appearance. This bizarre reference has so many dimensions!