Although there were many Marvel allusions and homages in Spider-Man: Homecoming, it appears that one DC character escaped our notice. In the 2017 flick starring Tom Holland as Peter Parker, an Easter egg as elusive as a superhero’s secret identity was cleverly tucked away by none other than Michael Keaton.
While embracing his role as the high-flying Vulture, Keaton delivered a subtle nod to his iconic portrayal of the caped crusader from Tim Burton’s Batman (1989). This hidden gem was discovered by an avid comic book enthusiast, who noticed that during a moonlit skirmish, Vulture’s winged silhouette briefly resembles Batman’s icon.
This fleeting moment might’ve been a conscious tribute or a happy coincidence, yet its existence is a delightful treat for those of us versed in the lore of both DC and Marvel.
Batman in the MCU? Decoding the Easter Egg in Spider-Man: Homecoming
When it comes to superhero flicks, there’s no disputing the rivalry between Marvel and DC fans. So when a subtle nod to the Caped Crusader pops up in a Marvel film, it certainly grabs our attention. That’s exactly what Reddit user deathstrokejt pointed out in a post, revealing a hidden Batman reference in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, helmed by Jon Watts.
In the film, Michael Keaton plays the villainous Adrian Toomes / Vulture, who has a notable showdown with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. During one of their epic battles, there’s a moment where Vulture flies in front of the moon, creating a striking silhouette that eerily resembles the Batsignal.
It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, but once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
What makes this reference even more delightful is the fact that Keaton famously portrayed Batman in Tim Burton’s iconic 1989 film, which also starred Jack Nicholson as The Joker. It’s a clever Easter egg that pays homage to Keaton’s superhero roots, adding an extra layer of nostalgia for fans of the Dark Knight.
But this isn’t the only nod to Batman in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Holland once disclosed a deleted scene in which Vulture mockingly referred to himself as Batman. The friendly rivalry between Marvel and DC’s most recognizable heroes is highlighted in this lighthearted exchange.
When Tom Holland Recalled Michael Keaton’s Legendary ‘I’m Batman’ Line
During a conversation with Short List Magazine, Tom Holland discussed a scene he shot with Michael Keaton in which the actor spontaneously cracked a Gotham Knight joke:
He’s a badass. We have a fight in the movie and I punch him. He turns around and says [in a deep voice], ‘I’m Batman’. He kept doing Batman quotes on set.
Holland added that he received some guidance on how to manage playing such a prominent superhero role:
We had a good conversation about how important it is to keep the superhero role grounded in reality.
Keaton does not appear to have a preference between the Marvel and DC universes, even though he has officially experimented with both of them. In an earlier appearance on The Ellen Show, the actor stated:
They’re really different in terms of how they’re made. You know think about what Tim did, Tim Burton, who to me is a just, there’s no one like him. He’s truly unique and an artist and I love working with him. The Marvel people are kind of amazing…You have no idea how many characters there are in the Marvel world that we haven’t even heard of yet.
Keaton reprised the character in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU) film Morbius (2022). Did you know, however, that John Leguizamo was on the verge of playing Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming? He told ComicBook, “I was supposed to be the Vulture”, adding:
We had negotiated and I was about to play him, and they said that Michael Keaton wanted it back and they asked me if I would give it up. I said, ‘Well, okay I guess’.
Well, as fans, we love to uncover these hidden references that connect our favorite superhero universes.
Whether intentional or not, these subtle nods add an extra layer of fun for eagle-eyed viewers. So look for more hidden gems that might have escaped your notice the next time you rewatch Spider-Man: Homecoming.
