10 Best Easter Eggs In The Batman

WARNING: Major SPOILERS for The Batman are discussed in this article.

Batman’s stories have been told time in and time out across comics, video games, animated shows, and now again in live-action. Matt Reeves took all that came before him, mixed it together with some external inspirations, and made the cinematic powerhouse that is The Batman.

As such, this movie is rich with references and hidden details just waiting to be found by keen and invested viewers. Whether they are references to past iterations of Batman or possible teases for the future of the Reeves’ Batverse, these Easter eggs stand out above the rest.

Greeting Cards From Hell

Ever since the first images of Paul Dano’s Riddler were revealed, Matt Reeves has acknowledged that he gleaned the characterization and styling from the Zodiac killer and David Fincher’s Zodiac. Just like the real-life serial killer, the Riddler goaded Batman and the police by leaving enigmatic greeting cards with each victim.

They are crucial to the Riddler’s intricate scheme, yet there is more to them than the riddles written in them. Each is a possible reference to other members of Batman’s iconic rogues gallery: the Court of Owls; Hugo Strange; Poison Ivy; Mad Hatter; and the Ventriloquist and Scarface.

“I am Vengeance”

Viewers were gifted an unexpected beginning to The Batman, with the first scene not showcasing the protagonist, but the villain and his first victim. Then they established the grip that Batman holds over Gotham, even only after two years – criminals fearing a light in the sky and the darkness around them. Eventually, he emerges to quarrel with a group of thugs and utters his first line, “I am vengeance.”

Naturally, this is his quintessential motto, but in this context, it perfectly encapsulates this Batman’s mission and tenet in Gotham. This harkens back to the Batman: The Animated Series episode, “Nothing To Fear” wherein Kevin Conroy’s Batman resists the Scarecrow’s fear toxin, yet here the line is used in order to elicit fear.

“Riddle Me This…”

Many fans might not recognize the Riddler from Dano’s darker portrayal, as he has usually been depicted as far more spirited and playful. Of course, this interpretation fits in with the world Reeves crafted for The Batman. He is a violent and sadistic person, yet strangely eager to make change for the betterment of Gotham.

However, near the end of the film, a mysterious fellow prisoner – since confirmed to be the Joker played by Eternals’ Barry Keoghan – made an exciting comment. He said the famous catchphrase of Frank Gorshin’s version of the Riddler from the 1960s Batman TV series, “Riddle me this..” Intriguingly, this could signal a more traditional Riddler reemerging in a future installment.

“The World’s Greatest Detective”

This film differs from other previous Batman adaptations as it is not only a superhero movie but also a detective noir. Drawing inspiration from several important comics in Batman’s archive, such as The Long Halloween and Year One, and utilizing the Riddler as the method for dispersing the mystery, this film explores Batman’s credentials as the world’s greatest detective.

Although he is inexperienced, he still proves that he is worthy of such a title. Colin Farrell’s Penguin is the one to grant him this moniker in The Batman. This is an important aspect of Batman’s history that has been lacking in some regard from previous portrayals, and it looks like viewers could expect to see this Batman as more of a sleuth in the proposed sequels.

Hush!

While Dano’s performance could be viewed as unorthodox, it is not completely unprecedented. In fact, the characterization is eerily similar to another one of Batman’s foes, Thomas Elliot AKA Hush. This character is explicitly referenced in the Riddler’s video detailing the Waynes’ shadowy misdeeds – the word flashes across the screen as he talks about a reporter intriguingly named Edward Elliot.

Hush was first created for Batman: Hush in 2002 by Jeph Loeb, who interestingly enough was one of Reeve’s screenwriting professors in college. It is clear Loeb’s teaching – along with his tenure with Batman – left an impression on Reeves, so his influence is fortunately felt throughout The Batman. For example, the reveal of Selina Kyle’s parentage draws from Loeb’s Dark Victory run in 1999.

Sal Maroni

The Riddler’s plan is to essentially uproot the corruption that plagues Gotham, though using evil and deadly methods. Part of said corruption stems from the shady hands that secretly hold power, the mob, and it all leads back to one person: Carmine Falcone, played by John Turturro. As “la rata alada,” Falcone essentially runs the city from his nice penthouse atop the Iceberg Lounge.

He is assisted by numerous thugs, crooked cops, and fellow mobsters, such as the Penguin and Sal Maroni. While he doesn’t appear in The Batman, Maroni is referenced to have been arrested. This could still bode ill for a Gotham DA, Harvey Dent, as Maroni throws acid on Dent and is thus responsible for creating the legendary villain, Two-Face.

The Wayne Orphanage

Another distinction between The Batman and previous films is the placement of Bruce Wayne in Gotham. Traditionally, Bruce is raised in Wayne manor outside the main city, yet here Reeves adapts Wayne towers into his living quarters, though it still retains its archaic atmosphere. While this does reflect how the city is an important part of Bruce Wayne and Batman’s identity, it does open the question of what happened to the manor.

In fact, it plays a crucial role, as it is was transitioned into the orphanage that the Riddler grew up in, consequently linking Bruce and Edward Nashton inextricably together. This too could be an acknowledgment of Christopher Nolan’s trilogy, where at the end of The Dark Knight Rises the manor became an orphanage.

Shakespeare and the Bat

A further connection to the past in Wayne towers might seem simple, but it has great meaning. In the background of several shots throughout Wayne tower, a bust of William Shakespeare is seen. Of course, this blends in well with the surroundings and décor, but fans of the 1960s Batman TV series will know its importance.

In the show, Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) use a button hidden in the head of a Shakespearean bust to open the passage to the Batcave. Though it plays no role, so far, in the story, the inclusion of this statue shows reverence and appreciation for all the projects that proceeded it.

Was That Venom?

In the film’s final act, although his enemy is locked away in Arkham, Batman must still endure against the Riddler’s machinations, this time in the form of his sycophants. These followers are clad in the Riddler’s garb like a uniform and are terrifyingly armed for war on the innocent bystanders in Gotham. Thankfully, Batman and Catwoman are willing to resist.

They are formidable fighters, yet vastly outnumbered. While Batman was briefly dazed, Selina was pinned down by a Riddler devotee and almost killed. In an act of desperation, Batman injects himself with a mysterious liquid that energizes him to save her and pummel him to a pulp. Many instantly recognized that as venom – a chemical intrinsically linked with Bane – and whether it indicates a future appearance or just a reference, it was certainly an unexpected little twist.

Blüdhaven

After the last part of the Riddler’s plan was thwarted and Batman reevaluates to serve the good and inspire hope in Gotham, he and Catwoman tragically separated. She decides to start anew upstate – though the exact state is never actually defined in this film – in Blüdhaven. It is to Gotham as Jersey City is to New York City, and it is an important location in the DC Universe.

Batman has an even more important connection to Blüdhaven than Catwoman living there now, as it is where Dick Grayson aka the first Robin AKA Nightwing operates. With hopes high for Grayson to appear in the future installments, and talks underway for a Catwoman HBO Max show, it is practically guaranteed viewers will travel to this dark city.

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