Spider-Man Just Paid Homage to Seinfeld?!

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What’s the background story on Easter eggs? I mean, it’s not Easter, and it’s not an egg… but did you notice the Seinfeld reference in The Amazing Spider-Man? You might be aware that the sitcom Seinfeld, which is set in New York and features comedian Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, mentioned Spider-Man a few times – such as in the third season episode “The Cafe” and the ninth season episode “The Voice”. Additionally, the Spider-Man movie trilogy starring Tom Holland used titles for their films that were based on Seinfeld, with “Homecoming” (2017) being named “Summer of George”, “Far From Home” (2019) being named “Fall of George”, and “No Way Home” (2021) being named “Serenity Now”.

In the fresh reboot of “The Amazing Spider-Man” #1, the Spider-Man/Seinfeld link is deepened as our friendly neighborhood hero pays a visit to Jerry Seinfeld’s apartment – but it’s actually inhabited by Aleksei Sytsevich, also known as the Rhino. After wreaking havoc on New York streets, the horn-headed supervillain suffers a heart attack and collapses. Intrigued, Spider-Man decides to investigate further, breaking and entering into Aleksei’s apartment.

The Rhino’s apartment mirrors Jerry Seinfeld’s in every detail, from the arrangement of furniture to the peculiar lampshade, which raises questions like “Why do we need shade for a lamp?” There are no Superman statues or uninvited guests on the entertainment shelf, but everything else is an uncanny duplicate.

In contrast to the series that revolves around nothing, the fresh “Amazing Spider-Man” #1, penned by Joe Kelly (known for “Ben 10” and “Deadpool”) and illustrated by Pepe Larraz (acclaimed for “X-Men: Fall of the House of X” and “Blood Hunt”), focuses on Peter Parker’s job hunt. During an interview for a Supervising Engineer of Cooperative Disciplines position at Rand Enterprises, the infamous Parker Luck rears its head once more, leading Peter to don his Spider-Man suit and control the rampaging Rhino (who has been semi-reformed in recent times). However, it is later revealed that the Rhino’s attack was orchestrated by Roderick Kingsley, also known as the Hobgoblin, and an enigmatic figure known only as Hellgate.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast penning this down, I couldn’t help but draw a connection between my favorite comic book series, The Amazing Spider-Man, and the groundbreaking TV show, Seinfeld. In an exclusive letter to fans enclosed in issue #1, the Spain-born artist Larraz openly acknowledged his inspiration from two influential American comic creators of the 90s – Todd McFarlane and Erik Larsen. Given this creative lineage, it seems only fitting that another icon of the ’90s, Seinfeld, would also inspire me in some way.

McFarlane and Larsen’s Spider-Man comic, devoid of adjectives, left me utterly astounded, as Larraz expressed. The process of creating American comics seemed so distant and nearly legendary that it bordered on mythical. It was virtually inconceivable for me to illustrate American comics.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at the trailblazing Spanish comic book artists who have left an indelible mark on American comics. Names like Carlos Pacheco, Salvador Larroca, and Pasqual Ferry opened doors that were previously unimaginable for us, the aspiring creators across the Atlantic. They paved the way, enabling a Spaniard to illustrate American comic books.

However, when I was given the opportunity to join this industry and witness its inner workings, I realized that what I had seen was merely the foot of the mountain. The realization hit me that I was still far from reaching the pinnacle – drawing the iconic Amazing Spider-Man. It was a lofty goal, a summit that seemed almost unattainable for a novice like myself. And yet, here we are.

The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (2025) is on sale now from Marvel Comics.

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2025-04-15 20:10