Every Marvel Easter Egg In Sony’s Madame Web

When it comes to adaptations of superhero properties, fans always look out for Easter eggs that pay homage to the source material. It doesn’t matter if it’s DC, Marvel or indie franchises, or if it’s TV shows or movies. This has become a staple of the genre and S.J. Clarkson’s Madame Web is no different.

Eagle-eyed fans would definitely be locked in given the fact that Sony has been making Spider-Man movies since 2002, not to mention, new tales featuring Miles Morales. On top of that, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has kept the stories of Peter Parker going, helping keep the hero in the pulse of pop culture. Madame Web does honor the lore, not just for Spider-Man, but Marvel on the whole, with some clever nods here and there.

10 Mattie Franklin Namedrops a Jonah in Madame Web

In Madame Web, the sinister Ezekiel Sims uses his dark Spider-Man powers to hunt down Mattie Franklin, Anya Corazón and Julia Cornwall. When the girls are on the run, Mattie mentions she can call her uncle “Jonah” for assistance. She doesn’t specify how, but she is adamant he is capable. This is a callback to J. Jonah Jameson, the editor of the Daily Bugle who caused Peter Parker so much stress across many mediums.

Created in 1963 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Jonah kept trying to expose Spider-Man’s identity. He went on to date Aunt May and became Peter’s ally, although he became incensed when he learned Peter duped him for years. While J.K. Simmons played Jonah in the movies, fans don’t see who this Jonah is in this pocket of the Sony Spider-Man Universe.

9 Mattie Franklin Remixes an Iconic Hulk Line in Madame Web

When the girls hide out in the woods outside New York, they decide to sneak away to a diner to grab some food. It’s inadvisable because Sims is tracking them relentlessly. However, the stubborn Maddie makes it clear the others won’t “like me when I’m hangry!”

This is a play on the iconic line David Banner used in The Incredible Hulk TV show, warning people he would turn into a destructive Jade Giant. There, it was, “You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry!” This line would also be used in various cartoons and, of course, in the MCU when Mark Ruffalo took on the role of Bruce Banner and the Green Goliath alter ego.

8 Peter Parker’s 4 Star Diner Appears in Madame Web

The diner Mattie Franklin, Anya Corazón and Julia Cornwall hang out at before Sims attacks is called the 4 Star Diner. This homages the diner Peter Parker used to hang out at in college. It was introduced in 2001 by J. Michael Straczynski, John Romita Jr., Scott Hanna, Dan Kemp, Avalon Studios, Richard Starkings and Wes Abbott.

But rather than be a spot to grab a bite, Sims arrives and thrashes the place as he tries to murder the girls. Luckily, Cassie rams a car into him and flees with her charges. It makes the diner a lot more chaotic than the comics.

7 Uncle Ben Silently Honors Aunt May in Madame Web

Adam Scott plays Uncle Ben. In Madame Web, he is a middle-aged version of Spider-Man’s uncle, rather than the old man who dies and inspires Peter to greatness. He is now a paramedic working in New York.

When his colleague, Dakota Johnson’s Cassandra “Cassie” Webb, chats with him about family life, Ben admits he has a hot date. He is very coy, blushing, smitten and, clearly, in love. He doesn’t name the woman, but it is definitely May — the signature guardian who would care for Peter when Ben dies.

6 Spider-Man’s Mother Makes an Appearance

The reason why it’s safe to assume Ben is secretly dating May off-screen is that MadameWeb builds up the Parker legacy outside of Ben. Ben’s sister-in-law, Mary (created by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber in 1968), is in the movie pregnant and nervous as she says the baby is “leaping around” inside her.

Passionate fans would know this is Peter’s mother from the source material and that she is foreshadowing him becoming the webhead. Mary does have the baby boy in MadameWeb’s ending, but she doesn’t name him. The film does poke fun at the idea of a name, though, with Cassie being asked to guess the name at a baby shower earlier.

Richard (Peter’s father) is mentioned but not seen in the film. Mary says he is off on business, admitting she doesn’t know what he does. All she knows is he is frequently gone.

This nods to Richard and Mary working for Nick Fury and the CIA in the comics. That led to a plane crash that killed them. It is something Marc Webb’s movies were addressing before Sony canceled that series. This Easter egg would resonate with fans of the 1990s Spider-Man cartoon deeply, as this spy angle was explored in detail.

4 ‘With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility’ Is Tweaked

When Uncle Ben died in the comics, he reminded Peter that with “great power comes great responsibility.” This is the mantra that drives Peter. Many movies, cartoons and video games use this line, as it is emblematic of Spider-Man. Cassie is told a different version of this when she gets to Peru to research Sims’ powers. The shaman of Las Arañas tribe, Santiago, tells her that when she “takes on the responsibility, great power will come.”

He is referring to her destiny as Madame Web, someone whose mother passed powers on from a spider-bite at that same location. Anya also mentions them needing to be “more responsible” moving forward when they visit a recovering Cassie at the hospital. Julia even jokes how Ben wants “all the fun and none of the responsibility” of being an uncle, which Cassie knows (via her precognition) will change when Ben has to become a tragic father to Peter.

3 Madame Web Nods to the Spider-Verse

Santiago tells Cassie that once she harnesses her powers, she will be able to be in two places at once. It comes to fruition in the finale when Cassie uses astral projection to make copies of herself and rescue the girls from Ezekiel Sims. However, Santiago’s words nod to the very idea of the Spider-Verse.

In the comics, Madame Web traversed the Spider-Verse, helping Peter, other variants, and assembling a heroic Spider-legion, which the 1990s cartoon leaned into. She did so using portals to different realities. With the Spider-Verse movies having portals that lop Miles around various worlds, and with Sony having various characters going to and from the MCU, Santiago may have been foreshadowing Cassie doing the same someday. However, Madame Web’s box office intake and the reviews suggest a sequel might not happen to expand on all these threads spun.

2 Cassie Gets Her Madame Web Gear

In the comics, the blind Madame Web is clad in red, sits on a unique wheelchair, and either has a blindfold or red shades on. The cartoons followed this route. Cassie takes some time in this movie, but in the end, she rocks this look.

Cassie is blinded and paralyzed after the final war where she kills Ezekiel Sims. She has her wheelchair and shades on. But in one final vision to end the movie, she has a sleeker, superhero-savvy red suit and the futuristic red goggles affiliated with the character. Cassie is very much in her final form, with her Spider-Women next to her, ready for battle down the line.

1 Madame Web Honors the Danny Elfman Spider-Man Soundbed

Cassie’s final vision has familiar musical notes heard in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies. There, Raimi ended the first two films with a rousing orchestral tone as Peter swung through New York. It was composed by Danny Eflman.

As Cassie sees the future, Madame Web’s composer, Johan Söderqvist, puts his own twist on the score. It is equally triumphant, aspirational and emotional. It has its own identity, though, despite the similarities. But the homage is very much apparent to those who loved the Raimi films.

Madame Web is currently playing in theaters.