The Marvel Cinematic Universe is nearly 10 years old. We often focus all our attention on the superheroes who make up the Avengers and the Defenders. We may even remember some of the more notable villains these heroes have fought against. However, with all this content to peruse through, it can be easy to miss some of the characters that have appeared in Marvel’s overarching continuity.
It should be no surprise by now that the MCU is loaded with hidden easter eggs that give the most devoted comic book fans something to smile about.
It should be no surprise by now that the MCU is loaded with hidden easter eggs that give the most devoted comic book fans something to smile about.
HELLFIRE
Inhumans arc in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. introduced many new superpowered beings into the world. It also introduced us to some hidden comic book characters, but JT James, aka Hellfire, was right in front of us the whole time. He was brought to Afterlife before getting himself kicked out. James later gains his Inhuman abilities and picks up his comic book moniker.
THE MANDARIN
Marvel had hinted at the existence of the Mandarin since Iron Man first saw theaters in 2008. The Ten Rings terrorist organization is a direct reference to the character’s mystical rings. Jon Favreau even had plans to introduce him in Iron Man 3 before he left the franchise. When the character finally showed up, it turned out that Ben Kingsley was actually playing an English actor who was playing the Mandarin.
NIGHTHAWK
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has made multiple references to the superhero Nighthawk at this point. The first time was in the Marvel One-Shot All Hail the King, when a man calling himself Jack Norriss entered Seagate Prison to kidnap Trevor Slattery.
Kyle Richmond, the millionaire playboy who became the hero known as Nighthawk, was later name-checked in the first season of Daredevil. He was invited to Wilson Fisk’s gala but didn’t show up.
Kyle Richmond, the millionaire playboy who became the hero known as Nighthawk, was later name-checked in the first season of Daredevil. He was invited to Wilson Fisk’s gala but didn’t show up.
DOCTOR FAUSTUS
The first season of Agent Carter uses doctor Johann Fennhoff as the show’s main villain. He is a German scientist posing as a Russian doctor who wants revenge for what Howard Stark did during the war. As a gifted psychologist, Fennhoff has shown the ability to hypnotize people to get them to do what he wants.
Though his codename is never used, Fennhoff is actually the villain Doctor Faustus, a high-ranking official in HYDRA and a recurring enemy of Captain America. In the episode “Snafu,” he’s even seen reading Christopher Marlowe’s The Tragic Life of Doctor Faustus as a reference to his comic book counterpart. He was last seen in a prison cell next to Arnim Zola, and the two were seemingly plotting something bad.
COLDBLOOD
Iron Man 3 villain Aldrich Killian had a personal enforcer named Eric Savin, as played by James Badge Dale. Savin is an ex-soldier who steals the Iron Patriot armor for A.I.M. in order to kidnap the President of the United States. He later gains incredible abilities from his exposure to the Extremis drug before he is killed by Iron Man.
Though the movie never refers to him by his codename, Eric Savin is the real name of the cyborg known as Coldblood.
BLACKWING
Joseph Manfredi, the criminal known as Blackwing, has a history of involvement with several supervillain criminal organizations. His father Silvermane is a leader in the international crime syndicate known as the Maggia. He has also been a member of the Circus of Crime, Masters of Evil, the Red Skull’s Skeleton Crew and HYDRA.
It should then be no surprise that Manfredi appeared in Season 2 of Agent Carter as a crime boss working within the Maggia. It’s certainly several decades earlier than his comic book equivalent would appear, but it’s clear that the Manfredi family is in control of the organization even back then. Manfredi appears in several episodes where he is seen working alongside Whitney Frost, the TV equivalent of the comic book villain Madame Masque.
KID COLT
The MCU establishes Marvel’s Old West continuity from the comics in an episode of Agent Carter. In “Better Angels,” Howard Stark forms the film studio Stark Pictures in order to make a movie about the cowboy Kid Colt. He uses the in-universe comic book about the character as his reference.
Peggy questions his decision to make a film based on a comic (who could be so stupid!?), and he tells her that the comic was based on the real life Western hero. Kid Colt was one of Marvel’s longest running Western characters. If he has been confirmed as existing in the MCU, it’s interesting to wonder who else might have been out there with him. We need a time travel story in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to find out.
MAN THING
Believe it or not, the Marvel Cinematic Universe contains multiple references to the existence of Man-Thing. In Iron Man 3, Tony Stark fights Ellen Brandt, an agent of A.I.M. who has been infected with the Extremis virus. In the comics, Brandt is the wife of Man-Thing, aka Ted Sallis. The scar on her face is said to be a reference to his acid attack on her.
Man-Thing is directly name dropped by Maria Hill in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 episode “Nothing Personal.” She is seen leaving a Congressional hearing while discussing those who are under S.H.I.E.L.D. surveillance on a phone call with Pepper Potts. It was also recently discovered that Man-Thing’s face is visible on the Grandmaster’s palace in Thor: Ragnarok.
THE ORIGINAL HUMAN TORCH
Before Johnny Storm took up the name the Human Torch as a member of the Fantastic Four, there was the android Jim Hammond. The original Human Torch was one of Marvel’s first superheroes. He fought alongside Captain America and Namor in the World War II-era group known as the Invaders.
Though Marvel has a vast supply of World War II superheroes, we don’t see much of that in Captain America: The First Avenger. What we do see, though, is the Synthetic Man on display at the 1943 Stark Expo, created by Doctor Phineas Horton. In the comics, Horton built the Human Torch, making it clear who the Synthetic Man is supposed to be. It’s too bad we never got to see the android in action though.
Hope we may see them further....
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