The Batman Easter Eggs, References, And Hidden Details
Director Matt Reeves and star Robert Pattinson bring a fresh take on the Dark Knight and Gotham City to DC Comics fans in The Batman. New versions of rogues such as Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), Penguin (Colin Farrell), the Riddler (Paul Dano), and Carmine Falcone are also included (John Turturro). The Batman also features legendary actor Jeffrey Wright as Detective Jim Gordon, who is perhaps the definitive rendition of the character.
All of these characters bring decades of DC history with them. As you might expect, Reeves’ film is full of Easter eggs, interesting references, and homages to iconic Batman moments from the comics. This version of the Riddler alludes to some of Hollywood’s finest films and some real-life grisly events.
This article was originally published on absolutelyconnected.com and has been republished here with permission.
Bruce, Is That You?
The film’s opening scene incorporates several classic Batman visual gags. A little boy wearing a ninja costume is seen having fun with his father. It is difficult not to think this is Bruce Wayne. Do we get to meet him and the Wayne family before their disastrous movie night?
The fact that he is dressed like a ninja is a tribute to Bruce’s complicated background with martial arts, as well as his ties to the League of Assassins and Ra’s al Ghul. Naturally, we quickly discover it is Mayor Don Mitchell’s kid who is set to meet a gruesome fate.
Boss Maroni
This Easter egg/clue was one of the first that observant fans noticed in The Batman’s initial teaser. A newspaper celebrating a massive drug raid on “Maroni” hangs on the wall of Don Mitchell’s home. Fans of the Caped Crusader will be familiar with Boss Maroni, one of his long-time opponents.
Maroni first appeared in Detective Comics #66 in 1942, and he was instrumental in the creation of another well-known Batman villain, Two-Face. Harvey Kent (née Dent) is the District Attorney in charge of prosecuting Moroni (née Maroni), who throws acid in Harvey’s face and triggers his wicked alter ego.
A Self-Aware Batman
One of our favorite types of references is this small occurrence. As Bruce Wayne recounts his early days as Batman, he recognizes a harsh reality: things have only gotten worse since he assumed the mantle.
The number of crimes and murders is on the rise. Poverty is also on the rise. It is a wonderful acknowledgment of one of the most important and ongoing discussions about Batman. Is it true that he improves things? Or Is his presence a catalyst for increased crime and disorder? This Batman seems to be more self-aware about his influence than the previous ones.
Mutant Gang, Come Out to Play
Early in the film, one of the major Batman action scenes takes place. A swarm of face-painted teenagers pursues a man as he exits a train. They corner their victim to attempt to initiate a new gang member into their team. But revenge emerges from the shadows.
The Warriors, a legendary street gang film directed by Walter Hill, comes to mind when you see the gang. But that is not the only thing they have in common. The Mutant Gangs from Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, and Lynn Varley’s epic The Dark Knight Returns are similarly reminiscent of the criminal gang.