Avengers: Endgame is a breathtaking experience. It’s almost too much to put into words but I think what we can all definitely agree on is that at its heart, Endgame is a love letter to both MCU and Marvel Comic fans. This love shines through in huge and tiny ways and I think all of these are important. That being said here’s some of Avengers: Endgame’s smaller moment’s and references that prove just how much love the people behind this movie have not just for the property but for us fans. One last time MAJOR MOVIE SPOILERS AHEAD. You have been warned.
A plot built on Character
After the events of Infinity War, many were quick to notice the likes of Cap and Natasha wernt exactly in the limelight a whole bunch. We were promised more of them in Endgame and boy did we get it. This entire movie is built on the foundation of our original six Avengers. War Machine, Nebula, Rocket, and Scott are all key players but this film makes the effort to spend time with our first six Avengers and its all the better for it. From Natasha crying when Rhodey tells her about Clint to them referencing Budapest one last time or Cap finally showing how worthy he is wielding Mjolnir after it was hinted at all the way back in Age of Ultron and has been shown many times in the comics, this film pays homage to the heroes that started it all. Sure what I’ve just described isn’t exactly “little details” but they are constant throughout the film. When the action starts and there are hundreds of millions of CGI monsters battling it out with Asgardian’s and Wizards this film does not let you forget where it all started and whose story this is.
Easter Eggs and References
MCU films are famous for there hidden easter eggs and references but never have they meant so much than here in Endgame. There’s way too many to list them all so here are some that stood out the most to me.
Infinity Gauntlet 1991
For non-comic book nerds, Infinity War and Endgame are loosely based of the 1991 Infinity Gauntlet comic storyline which is heavily references in both films. Most noticeably at the end of Infinity War and the Start of Endgame, we see Thanos doing what he said he would…relaxing and smiling on a grateful universe. His job his done. He hangs up his armor to act as a scarecrow and settles down for a quiet life of farming. It’s a fairly small moment but to longtime comic fans it once again just shows the love and attention to detail that went into this film.
Another moment which I felt was ripped straight out of the comic was when Cap stands alone against Thanos. Marching up to him and staring him down ready to go toe to toe with the Mad Titan even though it is certain death.
Whilst the film stops just short of giving us Caps famous speech it was a nice nod that only readers of the 1991 comic would pick up on.
Super-Daughters
Ant-Man, Hawkeye and, Iron-man. All of them are spectacular superheroes who just so happen to have daughters in Endgame. No, it’s not a coincidence, well not really considering they have some merit from the comics themselves. Cassie Lang in the comics is a hero herself named Stature who similarly shifts her size and is a member of the Young Avengers.
We see in Endgame’s opening moments Clint Barton training a young girl, we soon to find out to be his daughter, in archery. Many thought this could be Kate Bishop who goes by the name Hawkeye in the comics and whilst it isn’t this could be the MCU’s own version or their take on the Kate Bishop Character.
Last but certainly not least we have Morgan Stark. No she doesn’t hail from Winterfell and no she’s not like Morgan Stark from the comics whos Tony’s evil cousin, instead, she is Tony’s own daughter. Tony isn’t the only one in the comics to don the Iron-Man armor. Maybe we’ll see Morgan take on a Riri Williams type character in the future? Who knows.
Outfit changes
There’s plenty of references to past MCU movies and Marvel comics as a whole through various characters outfits. We have Cap wearing his original suit from 2012 as well as his more modern tactical suit in the final battle, Clint goes full-on Ronan with the new black and gold look, Captain Marvel rocks a new short hairstyle which is not too dissimilar to her current look in the comics and, Rocket is wearing a rather similar blue and red suit which we’ve seen the Guardians wear in the comics many times before.
There’s also a very quick glimpse at the original Ant-Man helmet when Tony and Cap time travel back to the ’70s which I absolutely adored.
So. Many. Cameos.
One thing, among many, that shocked me about Endgame was the sheer amount of cameo appearances that were in the film. We saw Robert Redford and Frank Grillo reprise their roles from Winter Soldier during the 2012 Battle for New York which also referenced back the elevator scene from Winter Soldier and the infamous cap saying “Hail Hydra” moment from the comics.
Natalie Portman and Rene Russo show up as Jane Foster and Frigga as well as a couple of surprise appearances from Tom Hiddleston as Loki here and there. We also got a killer cameo from Tilda Swinton as the Ancient One defending the Sanctum Sanctorum in 2012’s battle for New York. Eagle-eyed viewers will also notice Howard the Duck in the films climatic battle.
Having so many old faces show up, even for a second and showing us some previously unseen sides of previous films perfectly demonstrates the love behind this film and the love for the fans. This movie is brimming with details ranging from huge fan service moments to tiny missable details and I sure as hell haven’t even scratched the service listing the ones that stood out to me so let me know down below or over on Twitter what were your favorite small details or callbacks in Avengers: Endgame?
