25 Easter Eggs And Marvel References In Nicolas Cage’s Spider-Noir Series

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Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Spider-Noir episodes 1-8

Amazon’s new series, Spider-Noir, is full of fun hidden details and nods to other works. The show is set in 1930s New York and stars Nicolas Cage as a live-action version of the Spider-Man private detective character. Cage previously voiced this black-and-white version of Spider-Man in the animated Spider-Verse films.

Spider-Noir is full of hidden references to Spider-Man, some easy to spot and others more subtle – like background details and quick lines of dialogue. These details make the game feel like a loving tribute to the entire Spider-Man history, even as it creatively reworks the familiar stories for its 1930s setting.

The new Spider-Man Noir series isn’t just based on the original comics—it also includes references to the Spider-Verse animated films, previous live-action Spider-Man movies with Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland, and a wider range of Marvel comic book history. The series reimagines characters like Silvermane, Tombstone, Sandman, and Black Cat, and is packed with hidden details. Here are 25 of the biggest Easter eggs, Marvel references, and other cool nods we spotted in the Sony and Amazon series.

The Biggest And Best Easter Eggs & Marvel References in Spider-Noir

I was immediately hooked by the first episode of “The Only Universe I Know Of,” which introduces Spider-Noir. It starts with Ben Reilly narrating as he swings through the city – honestly, it reminded me so much of Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man! And it quickly makes one thing clear: this Spider-Noir is a totally different character from the awesome Nicolas Cage version we saw in the Spider-Verse films. It’s great to know this is a fresh take on the character.

Years ago, someone asked me what universe we were in. It was a peculiar question, and I’ve remembered it ever since. All I could honestly say was that it was the only one I’d ever experienced, and that remains true today.

Instead of the famous Spider-Man quote from Uncle Ben, Ben Reilly lives by the motto “With No Power, Comes No Responsibility.” This reflects his cynical outlook and the fact that he’s been retired from being Spider-Man for five years, ever since he lost the person he loved.

According to Spider-Noir, the Daily Bugle newspaper exists in this world. Lamorne Morris, who plays Robbie Robertson, has a history with the paper – he used to report on the original Spider-Man before retiring.

For fans who’ve followed Spider-Man for a while, the name Ben Reilly will ring a bell. He was originally created as a clone of Peter Parker during the ‘Clone Saga’ and later became the Scarlet Spider. In the new series, it’s revealed that ‘Ben Reilly’ is actually a nickname The Spider used after getting his powers and returning from war. This hints that his true identity might be Peter Parker, just like in the original comics, though the series never explicitly states it.

In the new Amazon series, Cage’s Spider momentarily uses a pistol, a detail that echoes Spider-Man Noir from the comics. Noir is unique among Spider-Man variations because he’s one of the few willing to use guns and deadly force if the situation demands it.

Ben Reilly was a skilled photographer who often managed to capture photos of Spider-Man. This mirrors Peter Parker’s early career, where he famously photographed Spider-Man for the Daily Bugle.

Silvermane’s backstory differs between the original comics and Spider-Noir. In the comics, he’s known as Silvio Manfredi and has ties to the Italian Mafia and the Maggia. However, in the Spider-Noir universe, Silvermane is Finbar Byrne, a powerful gangster who controls all organized crime in New York City. He wields influence over politicians and illegally distributes alcohol during the Prohibition era.

Robbie Robertson is established as a close friend of Ben Reilly, a connection that first appeared in the Spider-Man Noir comics. He also develops a friendship with Lonnie Lincoln, also known as Tombstone, mirroring their shared history from the original Marvel comics. At the conclusion of Spider-Noir, Robbie chooses to leave his job at the Daily Bugle, even after being reinstated, to become the head of The Harlem Herald, a move that reflects his roots, as Harlem is where he was raised in the comics.

Frankie is a resourceful street kid who often helps Ben Reilly, the Spider-Man clone. He’s connected to the world of Spider-Man Noir comics, where Spider-Man in the 1930s depended on children for important information.

Ben Reilly mentions the 1931 film Frankenstein, starring Boris Karloff. This is a relevant reference given the time period the story is set in.

The Orpheum Theater appears in the background of several scenes. Originally founded in 1886, the Orpheum Circuit was a nationwide chain of vaudeville and movie theaters that operated until 1927. It then became part of the Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO) corporation, which went on to produce classic films like Citizen Kane, It’s A Wonderful Life, and King Kong.

The unique webs featured in “The Spider’s” storyline aren’t just a nod to the Spider-Man Noir comics; they also connect to the Spider-Man portrayed by Tobey Maguire, and will soon tie into the version played by Tom Holland in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day (releasing later this year).

In a scene from 1936, Ben Reilly is shown watching the movie Great Guy and flawlessly reciting all the dialogue. This ties into a later reveal: Ben explains that watching movies was crucial in helping him relearn how to behave like a normal person after gaining his powers from a genetically altered soldier.

The classic 1933 film Below The Sea, starring Ralph Bellamy and Fay Wray, makes a brief appearance with its movie posters featured in some background shots.

In a pivotal moment, Cat Hardy deliberately falls from a window to test if Ben Reilly is truly Spider-Man. Unlike Peter Parker, who only used one web line to try and save Gwen Stacy, Ben shoots two, successfully catching Cat and preventing a tragedy. This highlights a key difference between the two Spider-Men.

Ben Reilly, also known as Spider-Man, explains that becoming a spider-human wasn’t easy. After being bitten, he initially felt more like a spider than a person and had to learn how to control his instincts. This is a compelling story that echoes a previous storyline, ‘The Other,’ where Peter Parker faced a similar struggle after gaining new and powerful abilities.

The term “failed Super Soldier Program” describes the unsuccessful attempts by the Germans during World War II to create super-powered soldiers through experiments on prisoners of war. In the Marvel Universe, successful super soldier programs are often exemplified by the story of Captain America.

In a scene referencing Erich Maria Remarque’s classic novel, All Quiet on the Western Front (originally published in 1928), a nurse is shown reading it. Comically, another character, Robbie, reveals how the story ends, spoiling it for her.

I’ve noticed something really cool about Megawatt – he’s always running lines from movies and plays! It’s a neat detail because it actually ties back to the original comic book villain, who was an actor before he got his powers. It’s a clever nod to the source material and makes his character even more interesting, honestly.

Ben Reilly hoped to start a new life with Cat Hardy, leaving New York and giving up his crime-fighting days as Spider-Man. This idea strongly resembles the famous “Spider-Man No More” story from the original comic books.

Initially, people thought the blood of The Spider held the key to saving superpowered prisoners of war who were slowly dying because of their abilities. This idea is similar to a plot point in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, where Harry Osborn believed Spider-Man’s blood could cure his illness. However, it was eventually discovered that the cure actually came from Ben Reilly’s liver, not his blood.

Dr. Faber mentions King Kong, which is fitting since the original film came out in 1933.

In a dream while under sedation by Dr. Faber, Ben Reilly experiences a terrifying scenario: he shrinks down to the size of a spider. This echoes a similar nightmare experienced by Peter Parker in the animated series, The Amazing Spider-Man.

During the climactic fight against Megawatt and Sandman, Spider-Man’s mask is torn, revealing his face underneath. This is a signature moment for Spider-Man in any intense battle.

At the end of the Spider-Noir story, Cat Hardy (Black Cat) admits to Ben Reilly that she might have chosen to run away with him in another reality. This is a nod to the main Marvel comic book universe, where Black Cat and Spider-Man have a complicated, but recurring, romantic relationship.

All episodes of Spider-Noir are now streaming on MGM+ and Prime Video.

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2026-05-28 03:31