WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Spider-Man: Homecoming

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The time for Spider-Man: Homecoming has arrived, and it wouldn't be a Marvel movie without Easter Eggs, comic book connections, and secrets for the future that only eagle-eyed fans will catch. With Spider-Man's promotion from Civil War backup to Tony Stark's newest protege, the Marvel attention is running higher than ever before. So it's a good thing that Homecoming recreates famous Spider-Man comics, more cameos from the extended Marvel Universe than could ever be caught in one viewing, and, of course, hints at which Spider-Man villains will return in sequels.

The exact deal and fictional links between Sony's Spider-Man and the MCU is still complicated, but it's a good sign to see Marvel history opened wide for filmmakers to pay tribute to famous comic creators, give over the top fan service details, and call on some of the most beloved villains (and heroes) in Homecoming's post-credits scenes. So let's get to breaking them all down.

Needless to say, there will be SPOILERS in our list of Spider-Man: Homecoming Easter Eggs & Marvel References.

37. Familiar Tune

No time is wasted in reminding audiences what unique thrills and nostalgia are synonymous with Spider-Man, as the Marvel Studios logo is met with the classic theme song from the 1960s animated series. This time around it's composer Michael Giacchino who has crafted the unforgettable tune into a full-blown orchestral theme. And by now, movie fans have gotten their fill of it in the many Spider-Man relaunches and reboots.

Sam Raimi gets credit for being the first to adapt the tune to a live-action film, with buskers on New York's streets (and subways) belting out acoustic versions of their "Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man" in Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2Spider-Man 3 played the music as a tribute to Spidey by a live band, and the theme is adapted to a cellphone ring in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. While no longer hard to miss, it's the kind of nostalgic jingle any superhero would kill for (figuratively).

36. Department of "Damage Control"

Damage Control TV Series

The story of the new Spidey begins with some amateur footage of Civil War captured by Peter Parker as he traveled to, fought in, and returned home from the events of the Iron Man/Cap battle. But before that, the fans are transported back in time to the fallout from the very first Avengers. It's here where Adrian Toomes's beef with big government truly begins, as his city contract to repair the damage from the Chitauri "incident" (and salvage their technology) is swooped out from under him. The culprit isn't a competitor, but the newly-formed United States Department of Damage Control.

Those words should sound familiar to those MCU fans following the reports of a proposed Damage Control TV show for ABC that has yet to move beyond the concept stage. Pitched as a comedy in keeping with the Marvel Comics version of Damage Control, it's unclear when, if ever, the show will be made. But thanks to Homecoming it's now officially shown to be a part of the MCU... with actress Tyne Daly even playing the group's infamous leader, Anne Marie Hoag.

35. The Peter Fan Theory Confirmed

It was easy to see why people spun some wild theories about the little boy whose admiration of Iron Man gave him the strength to stand against a Whiplash drone in Tony Stark's second solo movie. The fact the boy's face was covered, and the mystery of his meeting with Tony begged questions. Who was he if anyone at all? And could this be the most well known, webslinging New Yorker in the Marvel Universe?

No need to wonder anymore, since Tom Holland confirmed that's Peter Parker in Iron Man 2, was was confirmed to him by the studio authorities themselves. While that isn't technically an Easter Egg for THIS movie, the fact that the massive globe from the Stark Expo is focused on in the distance for a full second in Peter's amateur documentary most definitely is.

34. Tony's Wounds

Peter and Tony talk in the back of the car in Spider-Man: Homecoming

The fact that Spider-Man had officially been made a branch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was driven home in marketing flush with Iron Man and Tony Stark appearances. As has been noted, not all of those Iron Man/Spidey team-ups actually appear in the movie, but the scene of Tony giving Peter some (lacking) words of advice before booting him out of his limousine did. It turns out to be a tragic scene once Peter drops from the heights of Avengers combat to being apparently forgotten, but fans shouldn't be as charmed by Stark as Peter - if they are, they might miss a great detail.

While it's true that Spider-Man has screwed up the MCU timeline in more than one way - through its use of specific dates and years that simply don't add up - that doesn't mean the makeup crew didn't get the message. Since the limousine scene follows hot on the heels of Spidey's debut in Civil War, Tony still hasn't had time to heal the shiner given to him by Bucky "The Winter Soldier" Barnes. The bruise has grown a bit more subdued, meaning fans should tip their hats to those responsible. It's a continuity detail few would have noticed were it missing, making the efforts even more admirable.

33. Howard Stark 'Cameo'

John Slattery as Howard Stark in Iron Man 2

Once the action shifts from Civil War and Avengers fallout to the here and now of Peter Parker's daily life, the opportunity for more Easter Eggs skyrockets. Unfortunately, they'll be difficult for most audiences to spot, as director Jon Watts gives little encouragement for fans to focus on anything but the story. So it may be the second viewing where the Easter Eggs can really be discovered - starting with Peter's first steps into Midtown High.

Specifically, the large mural painted over the front stair case, filling most of the frame as Peter and Ned discuss their plans to construct a massive LEGO Death Star. It's Albert Einstein whose face dominates the right half of the mural, but look to the left, and you'll see the unmistakable likeness of Howard Stark. Given the school's designation and student body, having such a titan of scientific discovery on their wall makes sense (while doubling down on the themes of father figures). For those looking, the image depicts Howard after he transformed from actor Dominic Cooper to John Slattery.

32. Dr. Abraham Erskine Returns

Stanley Tucci - Marvel Movie Breakout Stars

When searching for the elder Stark, let your eyes drift down and to the right ever so slightly (before students obscure the view altogether), and you'll also spot the face of Dr. Abraham Erskine, played by actor Stanley Tucci. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe's World War II history, it was Dr. Erskine who cracked the secret of the Super Soldier Serum Adolf Hitler hoped to use to create a race of superior men. After being forced to improve Red Skull (with horrifying side effects), Erskine was recruited by Agent Peggy Carter to continue his work for the Allies under SSR leadership.

Enter Steve Rogers, the most promising subject of Project Rebirth. Both Erskine and Stark prove invaluable to the war effort in Captain America: The First Avenger, so there's no question Erskine's work earns him accolades alongside his more... indulgent colleague. Add in the fact that Erskine gave Steve something of his own "with great power comes great responsibility" speech, and seeing Erskine's face on Peter Parker's high school wall makes us miss Uncle Ben just a little bit less.

31. Peter's Locker Number

When Peter actually arrives at his locker in the school hallway, fans are on high alert for some numerical shout-outs. Unfortunately the lock combination isn't shown in full, and any hopes of getting a Star Wars/George Lucas Easter Egg for the serious fans are dashed by the locker being number 1184, not 1138. But if you take that number as a date, then November 1984 actually was a key one in Spider-Man comics. Not necessarily for what it revealed about Peter Parker... but what it introduced about the VENOM symbiote soon to get its own movie.

The storyline preceding the issue (with #252) is probably known by many fans, since it bears the name "HOMECOMING" and features Peter returning to Earth with his strange, apparently alien fabric suit. But in Issue #258 a few months later, Peter decided to head to the Fantastic Four's headquarters and discover the truth. Reed Richards revealed that the Black Suit was really an alien symbiote, and helped Peter separate from it.

It was then that Peter made his famous debut in an extra Fantastic Four uniform and paper bag over his head to hide his identity. And the Venom suit was shown to be plotting something wicked in its containment tube...

30. Liz Allan

Liz tells Peter she'll go to Homecoming with him

As much as Spider-Man fans might expect Pete Parker to spend his solo movie gaga over Mary Jane Watson, or even Gwen Stacy, it's Liz Allan (Laura Harrier) who has his attention this time around. That might seem like a transparent attempt to put some distance between this version of the hero and the others still fresh in the fans' minds, but Liz Allan's place in Spider-Man history goes back to the very beginning. As in Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962), when Spider-Man made his comic book debut. She wasn't actually named until Amazing Spider-Man#4 a year later, but she made up for it in the years to come.

In the comics, Liz played a similar role as the film's version, pinballing between the affection of Peter Parker, Flash Thompson, and Spider-Man. In the end it was Harry Osborn who caught her eye, with the two marrying and having a son, Normie Osborn. Throw in Liz's stepbrother battling Spidey as the Molten Man, and her later romance with Daredevil's legal partner Foggy Nelson, and being the daughter of a supervillain is actually small potatoes (and totally original for the film).

29. Cindy Moon

Cindy Moon aka Silk hanging on webs

It isn't just the starring characters and teenagers who owe their origins to the pages of Marvel Comics - and fans will be shocked to learn just how many of Peter's peers have superheroics, or supervillainy in their future (or families). With that in mind, we've got a bombshell for Spider-Man fans who haven't kept up on the modern lore. As it turns out, that radioactive spider that bit Peter Parker - blessing him with all his superhuman abilities - also bit one of his classmates attending the same demonstration. The girl's name is Cindy Moon, imbued with her spider powers as a boost to her own genius, eidetic memory.

Some incredible mystic threats would soon give her a story of her own, ultimately ending with her return to the world to find Peter a full-blown superhero, willing to help her find her parents (and master her abilities). She would eventually take the name "Silk" for her heroic identity. And even if that tale isn't destined for the MCU, Liz's friend Cindy (Tiffany Espensen) is a clear nod from the filmmakers. And hey, who knows? Few would have predicted Sony would make a Black Cat/Silver Sable movie, either.

28. Midtown High, Since 1962

First Spider-Man Cover

The mural of great scientific minds shows that Midtown Science High School has been a place of specialized learning through much of the Atomic Age, but fans don't need to do detective work to find out exactly when it was founded. Visible on the school crest on students' t-shirts and coats is the confirmation that Midtown was "Established in 1962." Which, for fans of Marvel Comics history, sounds just right.

That's the same year that Spider-Man made his debut in Amazing Fantasy #15, a debut that defied the odds from the very start. To that point, the comic had been released with the title of Amazing Adult Fantasy, aiming at older readers with its tagline describing it as "the magazine that respects your intelligence." Since the comic was failing and due for cancelation, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (with a cover by Jack Kirby) gave Spider-Man a shot. He proved worthy of his own title, and carrying part of the title over to his own book, the Amazing Spider-Man was born.

27. Of Human Bondage

Tom Holland as Peter Parker and Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds in Spider-Man Homecoming

Through most of the movie, it's hard to imagine that Michelle (Zendaya) actually has any interest in Peter at all... or interest in anything, really. But her taste in books shows that Michelle's investigation of Peter's reality is deeper than it seems, or that director Jon Watts is getting downright cheeky about the themes in his film. We're referring to the scene in gym class, where Michelle is far more interested in the book she's reading: Somerset Maugham's 1915 novel On Human Bondage.

The novel tells the semi-autobiographical tale of Philip Carey, an orphaned boy sent to live with his aunt and uncle, and soon takes an interest in books and higher education - sound familiar? If you draw out the parallel, the story concludes with Philip having his great ambitions laid out in front of him... but finds himself drawn to a lover, marriage, and children instead. One interpretation is that Philip spent his life searching for happiness, but found it in front of him. Since that's where Peter's own story goes by the movie's final scene, it's a nice touch for those who catch it.

26. Bruce Banner 'Cameo'

Spider-Man Homecoming - Bruce Banner Easter egg

It's a little unfortunate that out of all the Avengers on hand to welcome Peter Parker into the superhero community, perhaps his most kindred spirit was noticeably absent. Sure, having noted super genius Tony Stark as a (distant) mentor is great and all, but for a mind like Peter Parker's, it really seems like Dr. Bruce Banner would have been able to give some insight. Thankfully, Bruce Banner does make a cameo in Homecoming... sort of.

In Peter's chemistry class (the one he spends much of watching his own heroic exploits on YouTube) a long line of scientific giants can be seen above the whiteboard. Beginning with Charles Darwin, the line includes famed thinkers like Sir Isaac Newton, Nikola Tesla, Albert Einstein, and Marie Curie. But the latest in the line is none other than a photo of actor Mark Ruffalo, showing his Marvel hero is still treasured for his contributions to the non-superheroic world.

25. Betty Brant 2.0

Some of the most unexpected laughs of the movie come courtesy of Midtown's own student news team, featuring actress Angourie Rice as 'Betty Brant.' If that name rings a bell among Spider-Man fans, it definitely should. Most will still recall hearing Betty's name-- excuse us, 'Miss Brant' shouted by the Daily Bugle's editor J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi's trilogy of films. Then played by Elizabeth Banks, it was the original version of Betty being brought to life as a Daily Bugle secretary.

In Homecoming, it seems that the more modern version of Betty Brant is being suggested, since "Brand New Day" saw Betty become an accomplished investigative journalist in her own rite. We can't say fans should expect to see that journey take place in real time, but it's a safer route than the original comic book version. You know, the one that saw her fall in love with Peter, then suspect he liked Liz, and eventually wind up marrying Peter's friend Ned.

24. From Computer Nerd to Teacher

If a comedy set in the halls of high school with mathletes and science geeks as the stars gives you flashbacks to Freaks and Geeks, then seeing actor Martin Starr may knock you off your feet. Appearing here as Mr. Harrington, the coach of Peter's academic decathlon team, Starr actually makes a bit of a wrinkle in the complicated, interwoven fabric of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Why? Because he already appeared opposite Dr. Bruce Banner in The Incredible Hulk (2008).

Banner - who was played by Edward Norton, not Mark Ruffalo at the time - negotiated his way past Starr's 'Computer Nerd' to use the Culver University computers in the film, giving Starr a memorable grin from ear to ear in appreciation. Technically his role was unnamed, meaning fans can tell themselves he simply graduated from a University nerd to a High School teacher... even though the novelization of the movie revealed his character to be Amadeus Cho, Marvel's Totally Awesome Hulk.

23. Abraham Brown

The academic decathlon team may be filled with smart students, one rises above the others for his sense of humor. That's "Abe" played by actor Abraham Attah, a Ghanaian actor best known for his role in Beasts of No Nation (2015). He's mainly used to drop some humor at Flash Thompson's expense (playing the usual kind of bully he does in the comics), but his character has a rich history of his own. His full name, for the record, is Abraham Brown. As in Marvel's Black Tiger, one of the Sons of the Tiger.

It's for the best that most of Abe's backstory seems to exist mainly as fan service, but his history goes all the way back to Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1 (1974), where the martial artist from Harlem teamed up with Lin Sum to become the aforementioned "Sons." When uniting his amulet with two others, he and his allies increased their strength... but if it's all the same, Attah's version of 'Abe' seems to be firing just fine without superpowers.

22. Stan Lee Cameo

Stan and Joan Lee X-Men Apocalypse

It just wouldn't be a Marvel films without an appearance from Stan Lee, and this time around he's actually treated as an everyday citizen of New York. There were some who wondered if Lee's cameos would undergo a change of form after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 revealed his appearances next to major happenings was no coincidence. Stan Lee is an informant for The Watchers, the extraterrestrial cosmic beings who stand apart from sentient civilization and... well, watch.

If that's truly his task in the MCU, as the studio has now explicitly confirmed, then it seems he's also living a normal life in Queens, New York. This time around, he responds to the ruckus caused by Peter foiling a false alarm car theft, as the rightful owner apparently tries to get into his locked car without keys. Officially credited as 'Gary,' it would seem conspiracy theorists now know the name Lee operates under when not reporting in to his cosmic superiors.

21. The New Church of Asgard

The arrival of the Avengers on the global stage changed things for adults and teens - a point perfectly demonstrated by Peter and Ned overhearing their classmates playing a game of "F***, Marry, Kill" with Earth's Mightiest Heroes. But not every Avengers is treated as such a celebrity by all segments of society. Apparently, as was spotted and shared on Reddit, some of Earth's residents have taken the nature of Thor to be that of a literal god. When Peter and his Aunt May head out to enjoy some Thai food, a quick glance at the window next door confirms the existence of the "Korean Church of Asgard" in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

It's clearly intended as a one-note joke for those fast enough to catch it, but it's not hard to see why some would view Thor, Loki, and any other Asgardian to have set foot on Earth as a type of deity or 'angelic' visitor (whether in the Thor films, The Avengers, or even Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.). Unfortunately, we don't expect the masses to find out exactly what a service in the Church of Asgard looks like any time soon.

20. Avengers Hold-Up

One of Peter's first chances to show off his superhero alter ego comes when he stumbles across a group of men robbing a bank after hours. He takes a moment to craft his perfect one-liners in response to their Avengers-themes masks, but this joke was actually in development for longer than fans would know. Homecoming isn't the first time that men wearing the masks of Captain America or Iron Man have teamed up to fill their pockets in Queens. That honor goes to Ultimate Spider-Man #42 (2003).

In the story by Brian Michael Bendis and artist Mark Bagley (remember that name), Peter Parker comes a cross a similar group committing an armed robbery. As an added bonus, the comic featured one of the men in a Batman mask, which the movie didn't emulate for... obvious reasons.

19. Thor Gets His Payback

Spider-Man Homecoming - Fake Avengers

Once Peter actually makes his presence known to the thieves, the fight gets out of hand fast, thanks to some alien weaponry. It's worth noticing that the colors of the bank brochures - red, blue, yellow and green - are cleverly encompassing each of the Avengers' paint schemes, but it's what happens when Peter actually starts to fight that's the real treat for Marvel fans. After using Iron Man's shotgun to knock him out, it leaves the other three to be dealt with.

Thor tries his best to elbow Peter in the face - which quickly goes wrong. Peter is fast enough to grab that elbow himself, and slam the thief's fist directly into Hulk's face, sending the latter reeling. In the process, delivering the payback that's been coming ever since Hulk knocked Thor completely out of frame after the pair took down a Chitauri Leviathan in The Avengers. It should be fresh in the mind of every viewer, since that very same creature returns in Homecoming's opening scene.

18. Thor's Magic Belt

When Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) finally decides to actually accept a call from Peter, he's got bigger things on his mind. Mainly, the move of the Avengers operation from downtown Manhattan to the the upstate New York facility seen in Avengers: Age of UltronCivil War and Ant-Man. And that really does include moving absolutely everything, from suits of Tony's leftover in storage to "Meg--... Meg--... Thor's magic belt."

For those completely unfamiliar with either Marvel lore or Norse mythology, the line may sound like Thor actually forgot a piece of clothing in his room at Avengers Tower. But the word Happy was searching for is Megingjörð, the name given to, well, Thor's magic belt. In both versions of Thor's mythology, the belt is a gift from Odin imbued with the power to double the strength of the god of thunder in times of great peril. Will he use it to battle Thanos in Infinity War as he did in the comics? Only time will tell.