[WARNING: This article contains spoilers for X-Men: Apocalypse]
There was a time when some fans might have thought that the days of the X-Men movie series had seen their best, but with X-Men: Apocalypse finally bringing the showdown between the mutant heroes and their greatest foe, Fox and director Bryan Singer clearly have more to give. And aside from mutant superpowers, world-ending carnage and hero-making battles, that means plenty of comic book easter eggs to enjoy as well.
Some may have been easy to spot, but require a deep understanding of the comic book history behind the "X-Men," "Wolverine," and even the animated series following the heroes and their villain onto the small screen. To make sure no nod, reference or easter egg would be missed, we've done our best to break them all down here (and keep adding as more are revealed).
Needless to say, there will be SPOILERS in our list of Every X-Men: Apocalypse Easter Egg & Secret Detail.
27. That Old Gag
Apocalypse keeps the trend alive for the opening title cards, as the 20th Century Fox logo goes through its usual show, but keeps the "x" lit for a moment longer on the fade to black (an easter egg created for the very first X-Men film from Bryan Singer). Not only that, but the classic music concludes with the patented X-Men musical sting.
26. Land of The Pharoahs
The movie in question might not be familiar to most audiences, but director Bryan Singer has confirmed that the opening scenes of Apocalypse - the ones set in ancient Egypt, and introducing Apocalypse and his Horseman - are heavily inspired by the classic Land of the Pharaohs (1955). It's reminiscent of one scene in particular, also set at the Great Pyramids of Egypt, with sliding stone blocks, collapsing structures -and more than one death.
25. Apocalypse's Transference
A quick look online might tell movie fans that swapping his consciousness from body to body isn't usually in Apocalypse's repertoire, but comic readers have seen something similar before. During the 1990s are "The Twelve" Apocalypse rounded up a dozen mutants to channel their powers into his new form - transferring his essence into the body of Nate Grey, since his former one had deteriorated. His body may not be so badly aged when he tried to do the same to Charles Xavier, but the same basic idea is at work.
24. The Celestials
The cosmic side of the Marvel Universe may he kept to the fringes of the film, but it's obvious that the ancient Egyptian followers weren't the ones who cracked or created the technology that fuels the transference of Apocalypse from his old form to that of actor Oscar Isaac's character. From the first details of the film, comic fans saw the links between Apocalypse and the Celestials, the ancient alien race whose technology helped the villain become even more powerful on the original comics. We'll have to see if such an answer is offered in future films (but fans shouldn't hold their breath, all the same).
23. The Blob
When Mystique first happens upon the mutants Angel and Nightcrawler, they're being forced to fight in an underground cage match. Angel is obviously the favorite, having dispatched over a dozen mutants forced to face him - the most recent being a massively obese man. In an X-Men story, that's almost always likely to be The Blob - the character previously seen fighting as part of Stryker's mutant strike team in X-Men Origins: Wolverine - and it's no different here. In fact, the character's costume from the comics is even carried over perfectly.
22. The Once & Future King
When we first meet Charles Xavier this time around, he's in the middle of class, reading a passage from T. H. White's "The Once and Future King" - a book that should be memorable for any fan of the films. Not only is Magneto seen reading it in The second of Bryan Singer's mutant blockbusters, but it's mentioned in another lesson by Xavier in the same movie. For those unfamiliar, the title hails from the (alleged) headstone marking the grave of King Arthur. In the comics, it's claimed to be Xavier's favorite books, although he has always viewed himself as Merlin, not Arthur (he trains and mentors the heroes). We can't help but think that Magneto would see his own quest for power reflected in the Star of the piece.
21. The Six Million Dollar Man
Quicksilver returns to give not just one more superspeed sequence, but plenty more pop culture references (even if he is still living in his mother's basement). Among them is his choice of shirt, sporting a nod to The Six Million Dollar Man of the classic TV show. It's not random, either: Bryan Singer is also a fan, since he was reported to be developing a live-action film adaptation as recently as 2011 with Leonardo DiCaprio Rumored for the lead.
20. Who Mourns For Adonais?
When Apocalypse is ushered into Storm's home, he begins the (brief) process of learning what the world has become, including its many languages. He does it by pressing his hand to a TV set and tapping into the world's satellites - but pay attention to what's on the screen when he enters. It's another episode of the original Star Trek series (after one also appeared in Days of Future Past), this time, "Who Mourns For Adonais" follows yet another self-proclaimed god, referring to the crew of the Enterprise as "his beloved children." Who knows how much of an impersonation Apocalypse was doing for the rest of the film...
19. Storm, 'The Goddess'
Before Apocalypse begins to transform Storm from a street urchin to a white-haired Horseman, he refers to her as "goddess." It may play into the overall themes of godhood among mutants, but it's also a job to the comics, in which Storm really does end up worshipped as a weather goddess. As the latest in a long line of powerful mutants with mastery of the weather, Storm's ancestors were viewed as sorcerers in their African home.
18. Caliban, The Morlock
He may not play the same role as he did in the original Apocalypse storyline of the comics, but the mutant Caliban makes an appearance all the same. Re-imagined here as as an information broker and document forger, the mutant Caliban actually adapts the visuals of the character faithfully. But the Morlocks to whom he belongs are nowhere to be seen (which may or may not be for the best).