Marvel Cinematic Universe: Definitive Guide To Easter Eggs, In-Jokes And Foreshadowing

The Incredible Hulk

8. Jack McGee And Jim Wilson Interviewed

Two college students interviewed about Hulk's campus battle are Jack McGee and Jim Wilson, references to two important Hulk characters. McGee was a news reporter on the live-action TV show, while Wilson was a close friend of Bruce Banner and nephew of Sam Wilson aka Falcon in the comics. Whether that familial connection will be carried over the MCU is unclear, but given the disregard for The Incredible Hulk and Jim's obscurity, it's unlikely.

7. An Email Tracked By S.H.I.E.L.D.

The military eventually track down Bruce Banner with a little help from S.H.I.E.L.D., who intercept some communication between the fugitive and Mr. Blue (Samuel Sterns). This doesn't just serve as a cross-movie reference though - it sets up some of the organisations more questionable practices. It wasn't until Captain America: The Winter Soldier that the nefarious actions of S.H.I.E.L.D. were fully exposed, but you can get a taste for their NSA-like morals as early as here.

6. Samuel Sterns Coins Abomination

As in Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk shies away from the villain giving themselves their own grandiose title, once again going for a grounded tone. Like with the Iron Monger, Abomination still gets name-checked though; when Emil Blonsky is pleading with Samuel Sterns to turn him in a "God", the scientist worries that mixing what's already in Blonsky's blood with Banner's could lead to an "abomination". He was right.

5. Leader Foreshadowing

After Blonsky transforms into Abomination and trashes the lab, an injured Sterns has some of Banner's blood drip into an open head wound, quickly setting up Leader, a major Hulk villain, for an appearance in a later film. This is yet to be paid of in the MCU and, as another stand-alone Hulk movie still isn't on the cards, it is unlikely to be.