Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Marvels!

Summary

• The Marvels includes a multitude of Easter eggs and MCU references, from comic locations to returning veterans and nods to Disney+ shows.
• The movie focuses heavily on Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan, featuring footage from their respective stories to highlight the three leading ladies.
• There are connections to previous MCU films, such as the use of Skrull technology by Carol to regain her memories, and references to Monica's relationship with Carol in WandaVision.

The Marvels contains plenty of Easter eggs connected to the comics and references to the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe, ranging from obvious cameos to smaller details that are easy to miss. The long-awaited sequel to Captain Marvel is entirely focused on Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), and Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani) working together to stop the Kree leader Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton) from destroying various planets, and potentially the universe. While The Marvels' ending keeps its major storylines at the forefront, the journey to the finale and the contents of it include some great Easter eggs and hidden details.

Easter eggs and MCU references have become something that viewers are now trained to look for and expect to see on some level. Thanks to decades of comic history and 40 MCU movies and shows over the last 15 years to pull from, there is no shortage of opportunities for Marvel Studios at this point to reference themselves and the source material. For the third Phase 5 movie, there are special details and cameos to catch from the time it begins until The Marvels' mid-credits scene is seen. This includes comic locations, MCU veterans returning, references to Disney+ shows, and much more.

29 A The Marvels' Focused Marvel Studios Intro

Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, & Kamala Khan Are Heavily Featured

Every MCU movie begins with a version of the typical Marvel Studios logo and fanfare, but The Marvels makes a subtle change to the usual approach. Instead of highlighting the full history of the franchise and adding in a few new clips each time, The Marvels primarily uses footage of Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan. This includes footage from Captain Marvel, WandaVision, Ms. Marvel, and more, which allows the movie to immediately put the spotlight on its three leading ladies.

28 Kamala Khan Writing A Comic Connects To Iman Vellani's Real-Life

They Both Write Ms. Marvel Comics

The very beginning of The Marvels includes a fun connection between Kamala Khan and Iman Vellani's real life, as the young superhero is shown writing and drawing her own Ms. Marvel comics. The decision not only gives the movie a chance to have an animated sequence early on, but it also connects to Iman Vellani writing Ms. Marvel comics for Marvel in reality. The actress wrote the limited series Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant in 2023, which incorporated the MCU's origin change to make Kamala Khan a mutant in the comics too.

27 Skrull Memory Technology From Captain Marvel Returns

Carol Uses The Device To Regain Her Memories

Carol Danvers' introduction in The Marvels includes an Easter egg from Captain Marvel by her using familiar Skrull technology. The Skrulls used this technology in Captain Marvel to search Carol's memories and locate Mar-Vell, but it was also a bit of a torture device. Now, Carol uses a refined version of the tech to try and help her regain the memories of her life on Earth from before the Kree took her and wiped her mind.

26 Monica & Carol's Rocky Relationship References WandaVision

Monica Was Noticeably Agitated By References To Captain Marvel

The Marvels is the first time Monica Rambeau and Carol Danvers have interacted in roughly 30 years, but the rocky relationship status between them connects to Monica's prior appearance in WandaVision. During the Disney+ series, Monica acted noticeably different when Captain Marvel was mentioned by Jimmy Woo and Darcy Lewis. This provided the setup for them to not be on the best during The Marvels. Why Monica doesn't want to talk to Carol early on is only clarified as the story progresses.

25 The Skrull Planet Tarnax Has Major Comic Connections

Tarnax IV Was Created By Stan Lee & Jack Kirby

One of the planets that Carol, Monica, and Kamala visit in The Marvels is Tarnax, a Skrull Refuge Colony. Although the planet and the colony are new to the MCU, it could be familiar for comic readers. It was introduced in the pages of Fantastic Four #18 in 1963 as the capital of the Skrull Empire. Tarnax IV, also known as Throneworld, has been featured in storylines including the Fantastic Four, Captain Marvel, the Illuminati, the X-Men, Galactus, and many more characters. Galactus, not Dar-Benn, is responsible for destroying Tarnax in the comics.

24 Captain Marvel's Annihilator Name Connects To A Cosmic Marvel Team

The Annihilators Were Created In 2011

Carol Danvers has a new name given to her by the Kree in The Marvels, as they refer to Captain Marvel as the Annihilator. While this is due to Carol's role in the collapse of the Kree planet Hala, there is a comic connection as well. The Annihilators is the name of a powerful cosmic team in the comics who serve the galaxy in defeating major threats. The team has included Silver Surfer, Beta Ray Bill, and more, including Ronan the Acc, a member of the Kree.

23 Kamala Khan Saving Jersey City Put Her On The Map

Kamala Saved The City In Ms. Marvel's Finale

Kamala Khan's heroic acts in Ms. Marvel's ending have a direct connection to her role in The Marvels. This is because her saving Jersey City and standing up to Damage Control put her on Saber's radar. Nick Fury's secret organization began a file for her after this event, allowing them to already have some idea of who Kamala Khan is by the time she and Monica Rambeau first swap places as part of their powers being entangled.

22 Carol Danvers Still Calls Monica Rambeau Lieutenant Trouble

The Nickname Returns From Captain Marvel

Carol and Monica's first true interaction in The Marvels includes a reference back to Captain Marvel with a mention of Lieutenant Trouble. The nickname for Monica as a young girl is repeated by Carol all these years later and is used to try and get them back on good . However, Monica quickly corrects her "aunt" by stating that she is now Captain Rambeau, leaving the lighthearted nickname in the past.

21 Monica's Witch Hexes Refer To WandaVision

Monica Rambeau Got Her Powers From Scarlet Witch's Hex

There are multiple references to WandaVision included throughout The Marvels thanks to Monica's role. She specifically mentions witch hexes as being responsible for the source of her relatively new powers. Anyone who did not watch Monica's transformation into a superhero in WandaVision is sure to be as surprised by Monica's powers as Carol is.

20 Skrull Emperor Dro'ge Connects To Super-Skrulls

Dro'ge Has A Small Role In The Marvels

The Marvels has little connection to Secret Invasion, but the introduction of Emperor Dro'ge on Tarnax does hold some relevance for the comics. The character Dro'ge Fenu Edu is "Head Priests of the Sciences" of the Skrull Imperial Court. He is ultimately responsible for the creation of Super-Skrulls in the comics and worked for Queen Veranke in the Secret Invasion comic storyline. With neither of these elements utilized for the Disney+ series, Dro'ge is promoted to Emperor of the refugee colony and likely has no knowledge that Super-Skrulls exist in the MCU.