The Ultimate Marvel Movies Trivia!
- by Andrew Pollard
- – on
- in Movies and TV
In some form or fashion, movies based around Marvel characters have been around for decades. From early serials, to the TV movies based around The Incredible Hulk and The Amazing Spider-Man shows, to Dolph Lundgren's Punisher, to serious game-changers such as Blade, X-Men, and Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, to where we are now with a whole host of Marvel heroes and villains battling it out on the big screen.
For comic book fans, there's never been a better time to head to the cinema than right now, with so many characters being brought to live-action silver screen life. Sure, there may have been the odd blip here and there, but generally the films have gotten to the point where you can usually expect to see something truly special playing out in front of your eyes.
Adding to the fun of many longtime fans, though, is the ever-geeky topic of Easter eggs, references, and random trivia that tie back to the comic book world, to other movies, or to ominous foreshadowing of what may lie ahead. As such, so many of us like to think that we know all that you could possibly know about the Easter eggs dotted throughout the Marvel pictures, but how well do you REALLY know your trivia?
Who Is This?
Throughout Marvel movies as a whole - not just the MCU output - there are an untold amount of Easter eggs and references to be seen, and the Captain America pictures are the same. In the first Cap movie, Captain America: The First Avenger, one scene sees Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes amongst the many who pay visit to the Stark Expo. It's there, in a brief shot, that we see an image who many comic book fans instantly recognised, but did you? Just who is this mystery figure?
Which Wrestler Played Bonesaw?
In Sam Raimi's 2002 Spider-Man, we got to see Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker start his journey to becoming a true superhero. Initially using his newfound powers to benefit himself, Peter decides to partake in an open challenge at a local wrestling event in order to win some dollars. Upon setting foot in the squared circle, Parker has to battle Bonesaw - a vicious grappler played by a legendary real-life wrestler. Which wrestler was it, though, who famously played the role of Bonesaw?
Which Film First Used The Flipping Pages Logo?
It's become a staple of any any all Marvel movies these days - whether they're Marvel Studios/Disney pictures, Sony efforts, or 20th Century Fox's Marvel output - to see the famous flipping pages logo at the start of the film. These flipping pages usually depict some of the greatest and most notable comic book moments of whichever hero or heroes are the focus of the particular movie in question. Which movie was it, though, which was the first to use the flipping pages logo?
Which Film Saw Lou Ferrigno Appear?
To many of a certain age, Lou Ferrigno is a huge part of their childhood. After all, this is the man who famously played the Green Goliath in the much-loved 1970s The Incredible Hulk show that's revered by so many. Since Marvel movies started to become big business, Stan Lee has had a cameo appearance in near-enough any and all Marvel-based effort over the past couple of decades, but in which Marvel movie did Lee appear alongside Ferrigno as a pair of security guards?
What Was Stan Lee's Fantastic Four Cameo?
Stan "The Man" Lee is one of the most consistent elements of any and all Marvel movies, with this most legendary of comic book names having appeared in near-enough every single big or small screen Marvel property. One of Lee's most fan-pleasing cameos came back in Tim Story's 2005 Fantastic Four picture - in which he actually played a character that he himself had created decades ago - but which character did Stan "The Man" cameo as in this FF feature?
Who Was Kevin Smith's Daredevil Character?
Back in 2003, Ben Affleck famously starred in Daredevil. Despite generally receiving a hammering both critically and financially, the movie did have some plus points, one of which was a nice cameo appearance from comic book nerd, Kevin Smith. Smith would turn up as a lab assistant in the movie, and his character was named in honor of a legendary comic book name. The question is, though, just what was the name given to Smith's character in this first (and, to date, only!) big screen outing for Daredevil?
Which Fan Favourite Character Is This?
In terms of Marvel movies overflowing with Easter eggs and references to comic book lore, James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy is right up there at the top of the tree. Part of the delight of Gunn's picture, and its recent follow-up, is that the director has so many nods and winks dropped in throughout the action. One such Easter egg is this beloved character, who appeared briefly in both Guardians movies so far, but what is this canine's name?
Which Spidey Villain Wasn't Referenced?
Whilst Spider-Man has been the crown jewel of Marvel Comics for as long as we can all remember, ol' Web-head has had a mixed time of it when it comes to the big screen. At the bottom of the pile for cinematic Spidey shenanigans is Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man 2. A film that lost its focus by doing too much set-up work for what lay ahead, that sequel at least gave us a glimpse at the costumes of several classic Spider-Man rogues during its closing moments - but which classic villain WASN'T teased during that scene?
When Did We First Hear About Doctor Strange?
These days, Benedict Cumberbatch is known as the Master of the Mystic Arts, the Sorcerer Supreme, the only and only Doctor Strange. Cumberbatch debuted as the character in 2016, and he's set to have a huge role to play in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, continuing with 2018's Avengers: Infinity War. Now whilst Strange first physically appeared last year, Stephen Strange was actually name-dropped in an earlier Marvel Studios movie, but in which film was it that we first heard mention of this iconic character?
Which Avenger Made A Cameo In Thor?
It feels like an age ago that the first Thor movie hit the big screen back in 2011, and that film introduced us all to Chris Hemsworth's take on the famed Thunder God. Now while that picture saw Thor banished to Earth, it also saw him at one point on a mission to retrieve his iconic weapon of choice, Mjolnir. It was during this particular part of the film that a future Avengers teammate of Thor's would make a cameo appearance, but which of Earth's Mightiest Heroes was it that made said cameo?
Rhodey's ringtone is actually a version of the theme tune from the 1966 Iron Man cartoon?
With the way Marvel Studios and Disney have set up their shared Marvel Cinematic Universe, references, nods and winks to other heroes and to the past are commonplace. One such film that is overflowing with fan-pleasing Easter eggs is, of course, Jon Favreau's first Iron Man film - the film that was used as the launching pad for the MCU. Is it true or false, though, that when Tony Stark rings James Rhodes in that movie, Rhodey's ringtone is actually a version of the theme tune from the 1966 Iron Man cartoon?
When Do We First See The Sentinels?
One of the most fan favourite villains of the X-Men comic book world are the nefarious Sentinels. Whilst these hulking mutant-hunting robots have long been a staple of the comic book realm, they were given even more time to shine in the much-loved X-Men cartoon series of the 1990s. So, when the Sentinels were dropped in as an awesome Easter egg in one of 20th Century Fox's X-Men movies, many longtime fans couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear. But which X-film is it the features that first brief look at the Sentinels?
Which Marvel role was it, though, that Johansson so nearly landed before her involvement as Black Widow?
Scarlett Johansson has made a huge mark on the Marvel world as the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Black Widow. That character first appeared in Iron Man 2, and has since gone on to become a key part of The Avengers and the MCU in general. Before landing the Black Widow gig, however, Johansson was close to landing a different role in a Marvel movie before ultimately losing out in that race. Which Marvel role was it, though, that Johansson so nearly landed before her involvement as Black Widow?
What race was this brute whom Hemsworth's Thor bested in The Dark World's opening moments?
When Chris Hemsworth returned as the God of Thunder for Thor: The Dark World, one of the first things we see the Son of Odin do is battle a huge, hulking rock monster. This particular beastie was a nice nod to the comic book realm, with this rock-like humanoid race actually appearing in Thor's first ever comic book appearance in Journey Into Mystery #83 way, way back in 1952. But what race was this brute who Hemsworth's Thor bested in The Dark World's opening moments?
What Is Pepper's Heroic Alter-Ego?
Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts has played a vital part in all three Iron Man movies to date, and her role in Iron Man 3 saw her step up to a whole new level of importance. It's in that film that she finds herself inside an Iron Man suit and even has to help save the day. Some saw this as a nod to the time in the comics where Pepper was given an Iron Man suit and would become her own superhero. What hero name did she go by in the comics during that run, though?
Ivan Vanko's False Passport?
Mickey Rourke famously played the villain of the piece when Iron Man 2 hit the silver screen. As Ivan Vanko, Rourke played a cinematic take on the comic book Whiplash character, and in the movie the rogue had a personal grudge against Tony Stark and all that he represents. At one point in Iron Man 2, we actually get to see Vanko's passport. On it, there's the false name of Boris Turgenev, which is actually the name of which other comic book villain?
How Deep Is Nicolas Cage's Love For Ghost Rider?
Over the years, it's been made known that Nicolas Cage is a huge comic book fan. As well as nearly playing the Man of Steel in Tim Burton's Superman Lives and the Green Goblin in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, the actor took the stage name of Cage from Marvel's Luke Cage and even named his son Kal-El in honor of Superman. When Cage finally did fully land a comic book role, it was Ghost Rider. But true or false, Cage had a Ghost Rider tattoo done years prior to that movie?
Who Is Samuel Sterns?
After Ang Lee's Hulk was deemed too slow and with not enough 'Hulk Smash!', Louis Letterier's The Incredible Hulk took a slightly different approach to its predecessor. With Edward Norton on board as Bruce Banner, that film amped up the action while lacing the picture with delicate character beats, overall delivering a film that very much felt like a comic book come to life. One character who appears and helps out Banner is Samuel Sterns, but which longtime Hulk villain does Sterns become in the comics?
Which Of These Didn't Appear In X-Men Origins: Wolverine?
In the pantheon of Marvel-driven movies out there nowadays, one of the true undeniable stinkers is X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Sure, it may be a guilty pleasure of sorts, and seeing Deadpool and Gambit brought to life was cool to see for the most part, but the film as a whole is such a mess. One thing it did have, however, was a whole host of cameo appearances, such as several younger takes on famed mutants during the film's final act. Which of these mutants DIDN'T appear in some fashion, however?
Which mutant ISN'T referenced in this scene?
X-Men: Days of Future Past is one of those movies that certainly split opinion upon its release, with some fans absolutely loving it, whilst others detested it. Undeniably, though, Michael Fassbender was and is fantastic as Magneto in the film and the X-series as a whole. When we see this metal-manipulating character on a mission to reclaim his prized helmet, alongside his headgear we see display cases that reference several other mutants who are believed to be dead by this point of the timeline. But which mutant ISN'T referenced in this scene?
The Bank Appeared In Which Other Movie?
A slightly more bizarre and tricky piece of Easter egg hunting trivia here for you, but the bank seen in Spider-Man 2 was also famously used in another movie that saw a bank job play out. In Sam Raimi's Spidey sequel, the bank scene in question saw Tobey Maguire's Wall-crawler ultimately battling Alfred Molina's Doctor Octopus while also trying to save Aunt May. Which other movie - which, to be clear, is a non-Marvel movie - also featured the same bank for one of its pivotal scenes?
X-Men: Apocalypse's Post-Credits Tease?
During X-Men: Apocalypse's post-credits scene, many eagle-eyed longtime comic book fans got all kinds of excited as an Easter egg designed to make you think of one of the X-Men's coolest and most badass villains. A group of official sorts managed to nab a sample of Wolverine's blood, which set fanboys' tongues wagging. Ultimately, we've yet to see this character come out of the shadows just yet, but just who was it that the Apocalypse post-credits scene made reference to?
'Armless Fun?
With their Phase 2 of films, Marvel Studios decided to use every movie to pay homage to The Empire Strikes Back. How did they do that? Why, they decided to have a character in each picture lose an arm/hand in reference to Luke Skywalker having his hand lopped off by Darth Vader in that second Star Wars picture. The tradition has now seemingly carried forward in to Marvel's Phase 3 of films, but which one of these characters has yet to lose an arm or hand at some point?
Who Is John Jameson?
Daniel Gillies appeared in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2 as John Jameson, the astronaut son of Daily Bugle head honcho J. Jonah Jameson and, in this world, a love interest of Mary Jane Watson's. In the comic book realm, John tragically becomes a supervillain, which is something many fans thought might happen in the movie world. Ultimately, the cinematic John Jameson WOULDN'T follow his comic book counterpart and become a villain, but just which villainous moniker does the comic book John take on?
Who Did George Buza Voice?
Veteran character actor George Buza had a small cameo as a trucker in the very first X-Men movie back in 2000, but this wasn't Buza's first experience of the X-Men and their unique world. You see, way back during FOX's hugely popular X-Men cartoon series in the 1990s, Buza actually provided the vocals for one the show's characters. Just who was it, though, that the talented actor lent his dulcet tones to in that much-loved and fan favourite animated effort?