Kevin Smith has returned his Captain Marvel shout-out via the forthcoming Jay & Silent Bob Reboot. The first female-fronted solo movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has rapidly become a critical and commercial success, with Brie Larson's turn as Carol Danvers proving to be another hit for the superhero franchise. As dictated by Marvel tradition, the film included a cameo from the one-and-only Stan Lee, who plays a bus passenger Larson's Captain Marvel comes across while hunting a rogue Skrull. Of course, Lee sadly passed away during the film's production and the scene was slightly reworked to act as a tribute to the comic book great.

In a gloriously meta moment, Lee's cameo saw him trying to memorize his lines from Kevin Smith's 1995 comedy Mallrats while on the bus. So, that's Stan Lee practicing for a movie cameo...within another movie cameo 24 years apart. Lee's appearance in the movie marked his first major big screen cameo appearance, and saw Jason Lee's Brodie go full-fanboy over Stan's many iconic comic creations, while also receiving some sage romantic advice in return. Of course, the industry legend would go on to amass a catalogue of hilarious movie appearances from the "Tony Stank" delivery man to a strip club MC.

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Kevin Smith's love for comic books is no secret and the director/writer/actor was understandably pleased, and somewhat emotional, about his Captain Marvel mention. Smith has now revealed via his official Twitter account that he will be returning the favor in Jay & Silent Bob Reboot, posting a production still of Brodie in his Secret Stash comic book store, reaching out for a Captain Marvel #1 title.

Comic book fans usually appreciate a good on-screen reference to another movie and followers of the View Askewniverse will no doubt feel the same. As such, Jay & Silent Bob's reply to Captain Marvel's shout out is sure to bring a smile to both sets of fans, leaving casual moviegoers none the wiser. The nature of Smith's reply also feels incredibly fitting, as it harks back to the scene between Brodie and Stan Lee in the original Mallrats and feels like an extension of Captain Marvel's tribute to the man, as well as to the success of the latest MCU entry.

It's also fantastic to see a director of Kevin Smith's standing, who unlike some directors has always been unashamed about his love for comic books, get a mention in the MCU. Smith has regularly dropped references to superheroes and movies in his own work and Captain Marvel's 1990s setting provided the perfect opportunity for the comic world to return the favor.

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Source: Kevin Smith/Twitter