There are numerous MCU Easter eggs and references in the first episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Marvel Studios’ cinematic universe is rapidly growing. The She-Hulk, played by Tatiana Maslany, is Bruce Banner’s cousin and a lawyer who gets her own Hulk abilities after being involved in a car accident in the newest Disney+ MCU TV series.
It’s deliciously ironic that contract law gave rise to one of Marvel’s best superhero attorneys. Marvel Comics executives were concerned that CBS would produce a She-Hulk for their broadcast in 1980 as the Incredible Hulk TV series was becoming popular on the network. If they did, Marvel wouldn’t have to pay them a thing because they would own the character’s rights and be able to utilize her. Together with the artist John Buscema, Stan Lee created the Marvel character She-Hulk, which would be the last character he would create for many years.
The first episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is a typical origin story, but one with several side stories going into Bruce Banner’s post-Endgame backstory. She-Hulk is introduced as a force to compete with (and possibly surpass) her more well-known cousin in the script’s attempt to strike a balance between introducing a new hero and situating her in the MCU. Here are all the references and Easter eggs from MCU She-Hulk Episode 1.
Here are the She-Hulk Season 1 Episode 1 Easter Eggs:
The Hulk Controlling Machine
In the post-credits scene of Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings, Bruce Banner, played by Mark Ruffalo, made his Phase 4 comeback after reverting to his human form. Given that the Hulk had transformed into Professor Hulk in Avengers: Endgame, a permanent Hulk with Bruce Banner’s mind, this came as a bit of a surprise and represented a significant change in the Hulk’s status quo. The post-credits scenes of Shang-Chi are finally explained because it appears Bruce just created another device to help in his change back. If you look closely, you can see that he is actually wearing it in the post-credits scene; his sleeves are rolled up, so you can see the green glow around his arm.
Spider-Man’s Catchphrase
The first episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law begins with Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany) practicing a closing argument for an upcoming court case. The speech parodies Spider-famous Man’s “power and responsibility” line in a way that has become a hallmark of Marvel since Agents of SHIELD season 1, episode 1 debuted in 2013 and featured Chloe Bennet’s hacker Skye saying a superhuman, “With great power comes a ton of crazy garbage that you are not equipped to deal with.” After being teased for eight years, Spider-Man’s genuine “power and responsibility” line was eventually incorporated into the MCU in No Way Home. Marvel appears to want to keep the joke going.
Breaking The Fourth Wall
She-Hulk actually broke the fourth wall first in the comics, making Deadpool the second Marvel character to do so. Throughout episode 1, She-Hulk often breaks the fourth wall by speaking directly to the audience. The comedy is especially entertaining when all the other characters react to her with confusion, with one hilarious incident in which the Hulk is obviously annoyed by his cousin’s remarks “to herself.” It will be fascinating to see how Marvel pulls this off over the entire series and even in the team movies.
Hulk’s Lab And Tony’s Visit
The opening scene of She-Hulk quickly shifts to the Hulk’s Gamma laboratory in Mexico. In Avengers: Endgame, Banner made reference to this by saying that he spent a year in a gamma lab figuring out how to combine brains and muscle. The fact that Banner gave Jen a Led Zeppelin T-shirt that likely belonged to him suggests that Tony Stark, who helped build Bruce’s lab for him and appeared to have visited him frequently while he was there, was involved in the project. Tony also appears to have left some of his clothes in the lab.
Also Read:She-Hulk Season 1 Episode 2 Release Time: Jennifer Will Take The Case On Titania
Hulk’s Son
The MCU modifies She-Hulk’s origin story by having Bruce Banner and She-Hulk’s blood combine together after a car accident. This is brought on by the appearance of a very recognized spaceship; it is Sakaarian, indicating that the people of Sakaar are seeking for the Hulk, their former champion. In the comics, the Hulk gave birth to a kid while he was trapped on Sakaar, and there have been rumors that the Hulk’s son from Sakaar may soon make an appearance in the MCU. Sakaar has a different notion of time; hence he may have easily aged significantly since his birth. The She-Hulk alien spaceship appears to be a significant setup for both the Hulk’s and the MCU’s futures.
Professor Hulk Or Smart Hulk
In comic books, Banner and the Hulk are often referred to as “Professor Hulk.” It’s now official that the Marvel Cinematic Universe prefers the nickname “Smart Hulk.” Bruce Banner says he didn’t choose the nickname, but it’s obvious he doesn’t, and She-Hulk spends a lot of time making fun of him for it. The Hulk’s ego now stands in for his anger as his greatest vulnerability.
Hulk Recalls His Past
The Hulk recalls some of the past methods he’s used to control his transformations, most memorably Black Widow’s lullaby from Avengers: Age of Ultron. Bruce Banner believes that the common thread is being unconscious. The romance between the Hulk and Black Widow isn’t brought up here, although, to be fair, that’s probably a little too private to discuss with his cousin. Between Age of Ultron and Thor: Ragnarok, he also recalls spending two years trapped as the Hulk and living on Sakaar.
Ironman’s Helmet As A Memorial
Bruce Banner is continuing to keep what seems to be a sort of memorial to Tony Stark, a cracked Iron Man helmet. Since it is one of the Iron Legion helmets from Age of Ultron, it may be a clue that Tony placed it there on purpose so the two of them can grieve over previous mistakes. Given that Tony Stark was Bruce Banner’s closest friend, it feels like one of his prized things.
The MCU’s Timeline Mess
The Hulk then reveals how she became a Hulk to Jennifer Walters and the audience in a subsequent conversation. Hulk makes several references to timelines during the conversation, which sadly shows that the MCU’s history is still a bit of a mess. Bruce Banner says that he has been battling the Hulk for “15 years, give or take.” That would mesh with the present day since the MCU’s Hulk was made in 2005. The Disney+ timeline places She-Hulk directly before Ms. Marvel, which means it should be set in 2025. Unfortunately, the MCU sped forward five years in Avengers: Endgame. Hulk should have said “twenty years” instead of “15 years,” assuming the Disney+ MCU timeline is accurate.
The Banner DNA Is Unique
The Hulk says that he and his cousin have a unique genetic structure that enables their bodies to produce gamma radiation. Bruce Banner appears to have a secret ability, one that is truly responsible for the Hulk’s creation, as without it, his reckless super-soldier experiments would likely have resulted in his death. Given that Ms. Marvel is the MCU’s first recognized mutant and that her abilities appear to be a combination of genetic characteristics and radiation, there is undoubtedly a comparison. The intriguing question is if this implies that Jennifer Walters and Bruce Banner are mutants in the MCU. However, it appears that Banner and Walters differ in some way because the Hulk used She-Hulk’s blood to repair his arm.
The Hulk Thunderclap
The majority of She-Hulk episode 1 is devoted to Bruce Banner’s belief that his cousin requires the guidance of a more knowledgeable mentor. This naturally leads to a fight, and the Hulk appears fairly arrogant when he proves he can still do the Thunderclap, which was his signature move in The Incredible Hulk and hasn’t been seen on the big screen since. Then, though, She-Hulk uses a different version of the same trick.
Titania Vs She-Hulk
In She-Hulk episode 1, Titania, played by Jameela Jamil, makes her MCU debut. Titania is a well-known Marvel villain that serves as She-Hulk’s greatest villain in the comics. She was designed by Doctor Doom to be a brawler. Since it is unlikely that Doctor Doom will be introduced in She-Hulk, her origin story has probably been changed for the show. In a sense, she serves as Jennifer Walters’ chance to publicly showcase her She-Hulk abilities. She’ll undoubtedly discover that her cousin’s warning that heroes don’t get to select their names was true.
Captain America’s Virginity
In the first episode of She-Hulk, there is an admittedly illogical subplot about Captain America’s virginity that is resolved in the post-credits scene. The Hulk, who has been worn down by his cousin, admits that Captain America was not a virgin and that, in 1943, prior to going to the front lines, he had intercourse with a woman while on a USO tour. Of course, it’s also possible that Steve Rogers made this story to silence Tony Stark since Iron Man relished making fun of his friend’s ignorance. In the post-credits scene, She-Hulk makes another reference to “America’s ass” and uses a fade-out F-bomb similar to those in Homecoming and Far From Home. The first episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is genuinely packed full of Easter eggs.
Also Read: She-Hulk Season 1 Episode 2 Spoilers: Is Titania The Main Villain?
