The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for pulling deep from the comic book archives, sometimes sneaking in obscure references that only the most dedicated fans will recognize. While the MCU timeline often highlights iconic heroes and well-known storylines, it has also included subtle nods to lesser-known characters, relics, and events from Marvel’s extensive history. Some of these elements may have seemed inconsequential at first, but they hint at a broader and more complex universe waiting to be explored.
Marvel Comics has a history spanning over eight decades, filled with countless characters, artifacts, and locations. While some elements of this universe are well known to mainstream audiences, such as Spider-Man’s origin or Captain America’s shield, others have been buried under layers of comic book history. The MCU movies have done an impressive job of incorporating these lesser-known details, often using them as Easter eggs or future storytelling seeds. Whether it’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Easter egg or a surprising reveal, these hidden details are proof of how much the MCU respects its source material.
10
The Grandmaster’s Former Champions
Thor: Ragnarok
In Thor: Ragnarok, the Grandmaster’s palace on Sakaar features mᴀssive statues of previous champions of the Contest of Champions. Among them are some surprising faces from Marvel Comics history: Beta Ray Bill, Bi-Beast, Dark-Crawler, Man-Thing, and Ares. These characters are largely unknown to casual viewers, but each has a significant history in Marvel Comics.
Beta Ray Bill, for instance, is a fan-favorite character who once wielded Mjolnir and later obtained his own hammer, Stormbreaker. Man-Thing, Marvel’s equivalent to DC’s Swamp Thing, has deep ties to the multiverse. Bi-Beast is an obscure android villain created by the Bird People, while Dark-Crawler is a creature from the Darkforce Dimension. Ares, the Greek god of war, has long been a foe of Thor. These statues not only add depth to the Grandmaster’s history but also serve as a fun nod to longtime Marvel fans.
9
Pip The Troll
Eternals
A deep-cut character from Marvel’s cosmic side, Pip the Troll made his surprise MCU debut in the mid-credits scene of Eternals, voiced by Patton Oswalt. Pip originated in Strange Tales #179 (1975) and is best known for his ᴀssociation with Adam Warlock and the Infinity Watch. A hard-drinking, crude, but fiercely loyal ally, Pip has played significant roles in various cosmic storylines, including battles against Thanos.
Pip’s inclusion in Eternals hints at a larger cosmic narrative forming in the MCU, especially with Adam Warlock’s introduction in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. While Pip’s comedic and mischievous nature makes him a perfect fit for the MCU’s tone, his deep history in the comics makes him one of the more surprising additions. His appearance suggests that Marvel Studios is willing to lean further into its weirder, more obscure cosmic characters.
8
The Black Knight’s Ebony Blade
Eternals
One of the most unexpected teases in Eternals was the brief appearance of the Ebony Blade, the signature weapon of the Black Knight. While Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman doesn’t fully take up the mantle, the film sets up his transformation with a post-credits scene featuring the blade and a mysterious voice (revealed to be Blade, played by Mahershala Ali). The Black Knight is an old-school Marvel character with ties to Arthurian legends and medieval fantasy, which is largely unexplored in the MCU.
The Ebony Blade, a cursed weapon forged by Merlin, grants its wielder immense power at the cost of corrupting their soul. This tease suggests that the MCU may soon introduce a more mystical and medieval element, incorporating the themes of Camelot and British mythology. For comic readers, the Ebony Blade’s introduction was an exciting sign of what’s to come.
7
The Original Human Torch
Captain America: The First Avengers
One of the earliest Marvel superheroes, the Original Human Torch, appeared as a hidden Easter egg in Captain America: The First Avenger. In a brief scene at the 1943 Stark Expo, a glᴀss display case houses a red-suited android labeled “Dr. Phineas Horton’s Synthetic Man.” This is a direct reference to the Original Human Torch, who first appeared in Marvel Comics #1 (1939).
Unlike Johnny Storm of the Fantastic Four, this Human Torch was an android capable of bursting into flames and played a crucial role in early Marvel history. He even fought alongside Captain America and Namor during World War II as part of the Invaders. While the character hasn’t been fully explored in the MCU, this small nod was a clever way to acknowledge Marvel’s Golden Age roots. Whether he will ever play a larger role remains to be seen, but his brief appearance was a treat for dedicated fans.
6
Howard The Duck
Guardians Of The Galaxy
Howard the Duck is one of Marvel’s strangest and most obscure characters, yet he has made multiple cameos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Originally created by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerik in 1973, Howard is an anthropomorphic duck from Duckworld, a parallel universe where intelligent ducks evolved instead of humans. He became a cult favorite due to his satirical and absurdist comic book adventures.
Howard first appeared in the MCU in the post-credits scene of Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), sitting in the Collector’s ruined museum. Voiced by Seth Green, he later appeared briefly in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and even fought in Avengers: Endgame’s climactic battle. While his appearances have been small, his inclusion in the MCU is a surprising nod to his bizarre Marvel history, which even includes a 1986 live-action film that bombed spectacularly.
5
The Jocasta Program
Avengers: Age Of Ultron
During Avengers: Age of Ultron, Tony Stark searches for an artificial intelligence replacement after J.A.R.V.I.S. is merged into the Vision. As he flips through a selection of A.I. chips, one of them is labeled “J.O.C.A.S.T.A.”, a deep-cut reference to an important Marvel Comics character. In the comics, Jocasta was created by Ultron, much like Vision, but was designed to be his robotic bride. Named after Oedipus’ mother, she was given the brain patterns of Janet Van Dyne, the Wasp.
However, she developed independent thought and turned against Ultron, becoming an Avenger in her own right. Her presence in Age of Ultron suggests that Stark may have experimented with her programming at some point, though he ultimately chose F.R.I.D.A.Y. instead. While she has yet to appear as a full-fledged character, the Easter egg teases her potential future in the MCU.
4
The Original Guardians Of The Galaxy
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2
When Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 introduced Sylvester Stallone as Stakar Ogord, it subtly referenced the original Guardians of the Galaxy team from the comics. Unlike the more famous Star-Lord-led team, the first Guardians debuted in 1969, featuring a different lineup of intergalactic heroes from the 31st century. In the MCU, Stakar is joined by characters like Martinex (Michael Rosenbaum), Charlie-27 (Ving Rhames), Aleta Ogord (Michelle Yeoh), Krugarr, and Mainframe (voiced by Miley Cyrus).
These names might be unfamiliar to casual audiences, but they were the core members of the original team. While their presence in the film was brief, their inclusion was a fun way to pay tribute to Marvel’s history. The scene hints that this classic Guardians lineup may have had their own adventures in the past, potentially setting them up for future MCU appearances.
3
Thor’s Umbrella
Thor: Ragnarok
In Thor: Ragnarok, Thor disguises Mjolnir as an umbrella while on Earth, a humorous nod to his classic comic book alias, Donald Blake. In the early Thor comics, Dr. Donald Blake was a physically frail doctor who discovered a walking stick that transformed into Mjolnir, revealing his true idenтιтy as the Norse god of thunder. This enchanted disguise allowed Thor to live incognito among humans when necessary.
The MCU largely ignored this aspect of Thor’s origin, but Ragnarok briefly referenced it when he visited Earth with Loki. While Blake himself never appeared in the films, the visual gag of Thor tapping his umbrella on the ground to summon Mjolnir was a direct homage to how Blake transformed in the comics. It was a small but meaningful way to acknowledge an obscure yet significant part of Thor’s Marvel history.
2
Garrett Morris’s Ant-Man Cameo
Ant-Man
When Scott Lang first dons the Ant-Man suit in Ant-Man (2015), he accidentally shrinks and falls onto a car, startling a confused driver. That driver, played by comedian Garrett Morris, might seem like a random cameo, but he has a unique connection to Ant-Man’s history. In 1979, Saturday Night Live featured a Marvel-themed sketch where John Belushi played the Hulk, Bill Murray was Superman, and Garrett Morris portrayed Ant-Man.
At the time, Ant-Man was far from a household name, and Morris’ portrayal poked fun at the character’s then-limited popularity. Decades later, his cameo in Ant-Man was a clever callback, giving him a small but fitting place in the character’s cinematic debut. While it may have gone over the heads of most viewers, longtime Marvel fans recognized it as a hilarious Easter egg honoring Ant-Man’s earliest live-action appearance.
1
The Thanoscopter
Loki
Perhaps the most bizarre Marvel Comics reference to appear in the MCU, the infamous Thanoscopter made a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in Loki (2021). Originally appearing in Spidey Super Stories #39 (1979), the Thanoscopter was a bright yellow helicopter with “THANOS” written on the side, piloted by none other than the Mad тιтan himself. Unlike his usual cosmic conquests, this version of Thanos was bizarrely grounded, even being arrested by regular police officers.
While the comic was a lighthearted take on Marvel characters, the Thanoscopter became a joke among fans due to how ridiculous it was. Loki embraced this obscure deep cut when a wrecked Thanoscopter appeared in the Void, the dimension where pruned variants end up. Seeing this goofy relic of Marvel history in the same universe as Avengers: Infinity War’s terrifying Thanos was a surreal but delightful MCU Easter egg.
Upcoming MCU Movies
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Thunderbolts*
- Release Date
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May 2, 2025
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
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July 25, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
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MCU Spider-Man 4
- Release Date
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July 24, 2026
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Avengers: Secret Wars
- Release Date
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May 7, 2027
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