2023’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania featured a few fun Easter Eggs for die-hard comic fans that further realized the mysterious Quantum Realm.
The following contains spoilers for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, now playing in theaters
Fans watching Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania heard a few in-universe Easter Eggs as Scott Lang read his new book to a captivated audience. However, comic book fans were also rewarded with a few deep-cut Easter Eggs in Quantamania that might have flown over the heads of some Marvel Cinematic Universe fans.
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Quantumania also rewarded MCU fans with a quick cameo from Jimmy Woo as he dined with Scott Lang. However, it was the more mysterious cameos, casual mentions, and comic references that really caught the eyes of readers. Quantumania’s exploration of the Quantum Realm revealed a few Microverse connections and comic book Easter Eggs as well.
CBR VIDEO OF THE DAYCassie Lang’s Signal Referenced Jan’s Rescue
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania kicked off a deep exploration of the Quantum Realm by accident. Cassie Lang designed a device that sent a signal to the Quantum Realm, which ultimately alerted the laughable Marvel villain M.O.D.O.K. to their presence.
It was a similar signal that alerted the Avengers to a problem in the Microverse in the comics. During Brian Michael Bendis, Brandon Peterson, and Mike Mayhew’s “End Times” storyline from Avengers #31 (December 2012), the Avengers headed to the Microverse. They rescued Wasp while getting involved in a war, similar to the events of Quantumania.
Kang’s Time Chair Referenced His Comic Debut
The MCU version of Kang the Conqueror was both incredibly serious and fairly comics-accurate. Quantumania fully realized his costume, his abilities, and the advanced technology that allowed him to travel through time before his exile to the Quantum Realm.
When Kang the Conqueror first met Jan van Dyne in the Quantum Realm, they worked together to reconstruct his unique ship. Once it was fully reassembled, comic fans quickly recognized it as Kang’s iconic time chair. He made his comics debut with the chair in Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s “Kang, The Conqueror!” from Avengers #8 (September 1964), when he attacked the Avengers.
Janet’s Mention Of Sub-Atomica Teased Psycho-Man
Ant-Man and the Avengers have each had their own adventures in the Microverse. However, the Fantastic Four was one of the first teams to shrink down to enter another realm. Quantumania even teased one of the FF’s greatest villains with a mention of his own home in the Microverse.
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Janet van Dyne tried to explain the makeup of the Quantum Realm to her curious husband Hank when they first arrived. She revealed the existence of another world called Sub-Atomica, which is actually the homeworld of the villainous being known as Psycho-Man. He has threatened the FF for years with his emotion-manipulating technology and powerful robotic body.
Kang’s Quantum Realm Citadel Resembled Chronopolis
After the Council of Kangs banished Kang the Conqueror to the Quantum Realm, he quickly rebuilt his technology and used it to take over new territory. A group of freedom fighters from the Quantum Realm opposed his expansion, but Kang still established his high-tech city base.
Kang’s massive city resembled another city that he created in the comics known as Chronopolis. In the comics, Kang constructed Chronopolis in the timeless realm of Limbo but connected it to the various eras he had conquered across the timeline. It was also connected to the city of Timely that Kang founded in his human identity of Victor Timely.
Quantum Freedom Fighters Reimagined The Micronauts
There weren’t many trips to the Microverse that didn’t feature the Micronauts, a comic team now known as Enigma Force. Rights issues have prevented further exploration of the Micronauts, though the MCU reimagined a few members for Quantumania. While the lack of further exploration was one of Quantumania‘s biggest disappointments, fans still enjoyed the new team.
Scott, Hope, and Cassie encountered a group of freedom fighters led by a powerful woman named Jentorra. In the comics, Jentorra is a member of the Micronauts, though she’s also the niece of Hulk’s former flame, Jirella. Quaz was a low-level telepath, much like Enigma Force’s leader Arcturus Rann. Veb filled a humorous role like Bug, while Xolum shared a similar powerset as Psyklops.
Hank Pym’s Evolved Ants Resembled The Giant Grottu
The original Ant-Man may have passed on his costume and legacy to Scott Lang, but he proved he still had what it took in Quantamania. Hank Pym invented an advanced race of ants that was also sucked into the Quantum Realm with “Team Pym.” They evolved thousands of years during that time, further advancing their own technology.
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The evolved sentient ants reconnected with Hank Pym and offered their assistance in the battle against Kang. He enlarged some of the ants with Pym Particles, causing them to resemble the monstrous ant Grottu. Grottu gained increased size and human intelligence from nuclear weapons tests in Marvel’s history before he attempted to take over Ant-Man’s mind.
Hank’s Ex “Linda” Could Tease His Daughter Nadia
Janet van Dyne’s time in the Quantum Realm was also explored in Quantumania. Hank Pym met Jan’s former lover Lord Krylar, which led him to somewhat jealously reveal his own romantic past. Hank mentioned a woman named Linda he met after Jan fell into the Quantum Realm during WWII.
The comic version of Hank Pym didn’t date anyone named Linda. However, he was married to a woman named Maria before he created his Ant-Man costumed identity. Russian agents from the Red Room killed her and secretly raised their daughter Nadia in the Red Room. She escaped and became the Unstoppable Wasp, which could tease a new addition to the MCU.
The Mention Of Incursions Teased The Secret War Event
The Council of Kangs teased another interesting Easter Egg from the comics in Quantumania’s end credits scenes. However, viewers of 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness might have recognized the term being used by the multiversal Illuminati as well.
The use of the term “incursions” is a reference to the huge Secret Wars comic event that ultimately destroyed the Marvel multiverse. Alternate realities fought each other for survival in an ongoing series of incursions that led to the birth of a new multiverse. 2026’s Avengers: Secret War will likely feature the end result of the devastating incursions headed to the MCU.
