Marvel: 10 Hidden Details In Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man Films

Although The Amazing Spider-Man franchise isn’t very popular among Marvel fans, they should give credit to the films’ cinematographers and editors. Not only are there easter eggs and comic book references littered throughout the scenes but they have also included hidden gags that hardly get mentioned.

With nearly 5 hours of footage, it would take forever for a fan to go frame by frame looking for the minuscule details. However, it’s key to know that everything the director and editors include in the final cut plays an important part in the story. Take these 10 hidden details for an example – if you managed to spot them all, you’ll be a web-slinger expert.

10 Foreshadowing Gwen Stacy’s Death (ASM 1)

Back in 2012, the film’s Animator Supervisor, David Schaub, hinted to fans that they should go rewatch the final shots of the film because there was an easter egg. He wouldn’t elaborate further on it because it foreshadowed what was going to happen in the next film.

Turns out, they were foreshadowing Gwen Stacy’s death. In the final sequence, after Spider-Man slings himself out of the crane, the shot slows down. Here, the viewers can see the George Washington Bridge. Some fans may not be aware of its significance but this where Gwen Stacy fell to her death in the comic books.

9 Electro v Spiderman Comic Book Reference (ASM 2)

In the second installment, Webb made another subtle reference to the comic books with Spider-Man and Electro’s first confrontation. Remember the scene where the web-slinger takes Electro out with the fire hose? After Max starts destroying Times Square?

This was an indirect reference to Electro and Spider-Man’s first confrontation in The Amazing Spider-Man #9. In this comic, Spider-Man is almost killed when he comes into contact with the villain. However, as in the film, the superhero manages to defeat Electro when he short-circuits him with the fire hose. A great parallel for them to include.

8 Spider-Man Symbol On Skateboard (ASM 1)

This next hidden detail is one that most people would have missed because it only appeared for a fraction of a second. To spot this one, fans will have to go back to the first film. To the scene where Peter is asleep on the train and there is a gang messing around.

As Peter feels his DNA changing because of the bite, the Spider-Man insignia flashes on the skateboard. It may look random but for those who are unfamiliar with the web-slinger, this symbol marks the introduction of his powers.

7 The Clock Tower (ASM 2)

Although she may not have been killed on the Washington Bridge, Webb did leave another comic book reference to Gwen Stacy’s death. When Gwen was falling to her death, fans may remember the scene cuts to the hands on the clock spinning out of control. Some viewers made nothing of it but, as aforementioned, every scene is important.

In this case, the easter egg arrives at the moment the hands stop at 01:21. For those who aren’t as familiar with the comics, this is a reference to the ASM issue #121 – otherwise known as “The Night Gwen Stacy Died.” As soon as the hands stop, that was the director telling everyone to prepare the tissues…

6 Nods To Rhino, Vermin, And Shathra? (ASM 1)

Back in 2012, Webb also told the fans to go back to the first film and look for the easter egg in Gwen’s Oscorp tour. To spot this one, fans will have to look carefully at the cross-species tree of life, where they will spot several hologram animals. Among them are a rhino and a wasp.

Here, the director may be alluding to the web-slinger’s enemies, Rhino and Shathra. It is also possible that Webb was referring to the Spidey villain, Vermin, when one of the rats turned cannibalistic.

5 Did Homecoming Honor Amazing Spider-Man 2?

Despite this being the last installment, the ending of Amazing Spider-Man 2 did give fans a subtle hint of what would have been in store for the next film. With Doc Ock and the Vulture’s costumes making an appearance, it seemed that Webb was foreshadowing Spider-Man’s conflict with the Sinister Six.

Since the third film was scrapped, fans will never know what was planned. However, did the MCU writers decide to honor the franchise by including the Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming? It does feel like a nice segue…

4 Rear Window Film Poster (ASM 1)

Although it has no direct relation to the comic books, did anyone else spot the Rear Window poster on Peter’s wall? While most people would be looking out for comic book references, they may not have realized that the poster was a metaphor for Peter’s backstory.

As many film fanatics know, Rear Window is about a news photographer who spends most of his time observing his neighbors. When he suspects one of them has been murdered, he makes it his sworn duty to catch the killer. Sound familiar?

3 J.J. Jameson’s References (ASM 2)

Would a Spider-Man film even be the same without the inclusion of J. Jonah Jameson? Although fans don’t get to see him in person, Webb ensured that he wasn’t far from the fans’ minds. The first hint of the web-slinging hater could be seen when Peter and May complained about him not paying the photographer a fair wage.

Webb further alluded to the Editor-in-Chief when Peter was seen to send an email to him, requesting he ease up on Spider-Man. If fans look closer at his email account, they will also be able to see Jameson offering him $10 for a set of photos. Even though he never appears, it’s weird that fans can still feel his presence.

2 Wrestling & The Birth Of Spider-Man (ASM 1)

To the average filmgoer, the scene where Peter falls through the roof and into the wrestling ring wouldn’t mean anything. However, there is another comic book reference included here – one that largely goes unnoticed.

At the point where Peter spots the Lucha Libre banner and starts making his costume, this was Webb making a subtle reference to Spider-Man’s first story in 1962. In Amazing Fantasy #15, the web-slinger made his comic debut, which saw Peter participate in an amateur wrestling competition. The only thing he had to conceal his identity was a mask so it’s neat that Webb paralleled the birth of Garfield’s Spider-Man with his first appearance.

1 Aunt May Eggs Gag (ASM 1 & 2)

In the first film, fans may remember there was a gag between May and Peter about him forgetting to pick up eggs. Peter was seen to completely forget about them until the end of the film, bringing her a carton of eggs after his fight with the Lizard. Well, the writers decided to continue this joke and put it in the sequel too.

Can’t remember it? Fear not, it’s another one of those blink-and-you-miss-it moments. If fans go back to the scene where Peter was sending emails, they would see a message from May asking him not to forget the eggs. Maybe she should try texting him…

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