Easter Eggs You Missed In Marvel's MODOK
Hulu's newest Marvel show is quite different from the programs viewers have been watching on Disney+, putting the focus on a villain and an even more unlikely leading man, MODOK. First appearing in 1967 in "Tales of Suspense" #93, he is a long-running antagonist whose name stands for Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing, which makes it a bit odd that he'd be the focus of a comedy — other than his general appearance, of course.
MODOK has been quite popular of late, appearing in the recent "Marvel's Avengers" game from Square Enix as the big bad while also receiving a new comic book, "Head Games," which was written by one of the show's writers and producers, Jordan Blum, as well as Patton Oswalt, the voice of the supervillain himself. The show is a different take on the character, one that doesn't have to match the MCU or any other continuity, letting the showrunners run wild — and boy did they.
The humor in "Marvel's MODOK" is outrageous, violent, and a bit raunchy, but grounds itself enough to push the plot along. The visuals and jokes will seem familiar to fans of "Robot Chicken," as Seth Green and his friends at Stoopid Buddy Stoodios are involved. Some of the story's finer points will also be familiar to longtime comics fans — but even for the hardcore faithful, some of these references are tough to spot. Here's a look at all the Easter eggs you missed in "Marvel's MODOK."
Carmilla, a supervillain's daughter
Monica Rappaccini is a name some viewers may not be familiar with, as she's a newer character in the comics, making her first appearance in 2005's "Amazing Fantasy Vol. 2" #7. Her recent appearance in the "Marvel's Avengers" video game was a great reintroduction; the version we see in "MODOK" is different in tone, but similar in her willingness to go to extremes. AIM's Scientist Supreme is brilliant, ruthless, and can hold a grudge for sure, but she's also a mother ... and a father. In an awkward conversation with her offspring, we find out that Monica actually cloned a male version of herself in order to procreate.
We see her daughter, Carmilla Black (Thasanee Rappaccini), in a couple of scenes throughout the season, mostly interacting with MODOK's son. Anyone unfamiliar with the character would be forgiven for not paying the design of her outfit much attention, as it goes with her goth attire, but this white scorpion is a hint to her future comics persona. Monica messed with her daughter's genetic makeup, which becomes apparent to the teenager when her toxin powers manifest and cause Carmilla to kill her boyfriend at their prom. She takes up the name Scorpion and looks to avenge the people she believed to be her parents, working for both sides and even being sent to track down her own mother at one point. It's an interesting relationship.
SHIELD's toybox
Early in the season, MODOK sets out to find "his" time machine. We learn that it was actually Monica who built it, but the device — or at least the Celestial Chrono Crystal that powers it — becomes a huge part of the show's plot. At some point, the device was apparently confiscated by SHIELD (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division) — which means MODOK must break onto a Helicarrier — one of SHIELD's flying command centers — to retrieve the time machine in an effort to save his relationship.
One not-so-clever disguise later and MODOK is looking through boxes in a SHIELD storage locker, finding all sorts of nifty things from across the Marvel universe. Doctor Strange's prescription pad from his time as a real doctor will be hard to miss, and Charles Xavier's headgear, Cerebro, isn't too hard to catch, but there is also mention of a little thing called the Ultimate Nullifier. That last one is most famous for being used by the Fantastic Four to convince Galactus not to mess with Earth, so it's kind of important. Later in the episode, MODOK also references the Cosmic Cube to round out the list of Marvel MacGuffins.
MODOK loves music
Reading the comics, MODOK's love for music just doesn't come across well when he's fighting the Avengers, but this show makes sure his taste in tunes is clear and present. The second episode has an entire plot that revolves around going back in time to catch a Third Eye Blind concert, and many other bands and performers get their names thrown around when MODOK isn't busy singing about his Black Hole gun to the tune of "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden. Hoobastank, Chumbawamba, Joy Division, and Carly Rae Jepsen are all mentioned, with the song "One Headlight" by the Wallflowers getting its own nod, but there are a couple of easily missed musical notations.
When MODOK and his daughter Melissa are having an argument, he reminds her that unlike him, her name isn't an acronym to show her savagery; instead, it's in honor of singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge. There's also an episode that takes place in Asgard, where we see a goblin character named Krawleen who shares some trademark features with one Dolly Parton and delivers an unforgettable performance. The name is, of course, a reference to Parton's song "Jolene."
It's always darkest before the pawn
Episode 4 leads MODOK to form a team for a heist, but first, they have to retrieve team member Tenpin's exploding pins. It's revealed that he unfortunately pawned them to donate money to PBS, even though he's illiterate, which takes the crew to Always Darkest Before the Pawn, which is one of the greatest names for a shop of this type ever crafted. The scene inside the establishment is humorous and leads to a big turn in the plot, but it's also a great setup for spotting familiar items from the Marvel Universe, like Ant-Man and Attuma's headpieces.
The real treat in this shop is all of the X-Men memorabilia. The Nightcrawler plushie is cute and easy to spot, but keen-eyed viewers will also notice a mask on the counter belonging to a Hellfire Club soldier, Magik's Soul Sword mounted on the wall, and Dazzler's silver skates from her performing days. (It seems the mutants have fallen on hard times in this universe, or maybe someone stole their stuff.) Jordan Blum is a fan of the X-Men and says he wants more of the characters in the show. He even slipped in a mention of Lila Cheney — a little-known intergalactic teleporter — in the first episode, and Storm gets a shout from Whirlwind as well.
Flying on the Foom
Fin Fang Foom is a bit of a silly character in the eyes of most fans, but he's also one that's been around for quite a long time: A product of the 1960s, he debuted in "Strange Tales" #89. This shape-shifting alien's most widely known form resembles that of a Chinese dragon, helping him on a mission to conquer Earth. He's had battles with top-shelf heroes like Iron Man and Hulk, and even helped save Christmas once. It isn't odd to see him used as a joke here, as the show seems to be willing to dunk on anyone — and Foom hasn't been viewed as a serious major villain in a while.
The characters end up eating at Fin Fang Farm to Table, where he cooks the food with his fire breath. This may seem like a simple joke using his name and dragon-like abilities, but it's also a reference to a comics story in "Giant-Size Avengers Vol. 2" #1, where Foom reforms and becomes a chef, working inside the Fantastic Four's Baxter Building. In another episode, MODOK has a dream about flying on Foom and cheering, looking down at his utopian city. This is a reference to 1984's "The Neverending Story" and it's a moment that will stir some major nostalgia for people who grew up with it — at least until MODOK's dream ends abruptly and we see the state his life is in. Well, at least Foom got to make an extra appearance doubling as Falkor.
MODOK, not made for flying
We know from MODOK's name that he was made for killing — even though the K in his name was originally a C, which stood for computing — but one thing he wasn't made to do expertly was falling. The fact that this is even an issue for him, someone sporting a hoverchair, seems odd, but he doesn't actually use it much during "Marvel's MODOK." However, it's easy to imagine that tumbling through a trash can portal into Asgard would throw anyone off guard. This inelegant faceplant is followed up by a fun reference to a couple of real-world figures that may go unnoticed while laughing at his slapstick.
The two individuals MODOK tells to eat their hearts out based on how poor his landing was are Sully Sullenberger and Kerri Strug. That first name is famous for saving 153 lives, as well as himself and his co-pilot, by successfully performing an emergency landing in the Hudson River, while the second name is that of an Olympic gymnast who won a gold medal with an injured ankle. Minor achievements when compared to MODOK, of course. But we do have to assume he truly loves gymnastics, as another performer gets a mention in an earlier episode when he humbly claims to be "the Gabby Douglas of mental gymnastics."
The bar with no name
Even MODOK loves to socialize and drink with his fellow villainous scum, but the big names — like Kang the Conqueror, Madame Masque, the Leader, and Mister Sinister — aren't down for partying with him. These bona fide bad guys all make an appearance when MODOK tries to get into the Soho Lair, which sounds like a swanky club with an appropriate name for high-class criminals. It seems there's an issue over some unpaid dues; the Leader informs MODOK he can get back in when he performs an almost impossible task, which leaves him dejected and looking for another underworld drinking establishment.
This brings him to the Bar With No Name, a joint that has become rather infamous in the comics — not just because of its clientele, but for the violence that has occurred in its various locations. Usually, this particular haven acts as a safe spot, but that doesn't always work out. For the version viewers are shown in "Marvel's MODOK," we get quite the array of B-list villain guest stars. Armadillo, Melter, Angar the Screamer, Poundcakes, and Tenpin all play into the plot, while Whirlwind makes an appearance and Orb acts as the bartender. It's an amusing introduction to a list of usually forgettable characters whose hijinks eventually lead the audience to also see Mandrill — and much more of him than most probably wanted to.
The Thing and his Yancy St. gang
The Thing is a founding member of the Fantastic Four, someone who has helped save the world his fair share of times, but many out there feel ol' Ben Grimm has never truly received the respect he deserves. "Marvel's MODOK" only gives him the smallest of nods as part of a commercial advertising alcohol with Wolverine. It's a tiny part, incredibly quick, and the shot only captures his hand with a little bit of that familiar rock-like skin. It's unfortunate, but if you look closely, the Thing also gets one other brief nod.
When MODOK and his group are riding the subway, some graffiti plastered above them reads "Yancy Street Gang Rules." This is a reference to a local group from Ben's old neighborhood who are not necessarily criminals, but more mischief-makers and serial harassers against people who deserve it (and, of course, the Thing himself). Grimm was a part of the gang at a young age but left that area of the city, so now he's ridiculed for it: The group throws things at him, slings insults, and even sends prank packages. The Thing is their target, though — the gang's protective of him when anyone else, like villains, acts against him. Grimm and the gang make peace eventually in the comics, but it's doubtful that's happened in this universe.
The bit brawl
A fight between MODOK and Monica is bound to happen, and when it does, the brawl is a spectacular exercise in creative scientific combat. At one point, it looks as if Monica has forged a hand grenade that will banish MODOK to the digital world, making him flat and looking very 16-bit, but some quick thinking and one spear later forces her to fight him on the same level. This change in reality gives way to some classic action.
During the fight on the 2D plane, the two frenemies exchange blows and even land a couple of combos, most of which will seem quite familiar to fans of the "Street Fighter" franchise. We see a solid Shoryuken (uppercut), a move that resembles Guile's Flash Kick, which looks odd coming from someone in a hover chair, and Cammy's Spiral Arrow closes things out after we see a random energy blast from Monica. MODOK's a playable character in the "Marvel vs. Capcom" series, so seeing him do moves from Capcom's most popular fighter isn't too jarring. Not only does this battle look good, but the arcade-like sounds and fight music help sell the moment. That isn't the only video game shoutout, either: the two engage in a knockoff Pokemon duel right afterward.
The elegant Whirlwind
David Cannon is a mutant supervillain better known as Whirlwind. He pops up a couple of times in the show wearing all green armor with sawblades, but he doesn't have much to do with the overall narrative of "Marvel's MODOK." Whirlwind comes across as a bit weird when he's seen getting beaten up in one scene and in another is talking about stalking several of Marvel's female superheroes. This conversation with Melissa, MODOK's daughter, ends on a good note as she realizes that her father cares about her, even if it gets real awkward before that.
Just before Melissa wrenches Whirlwind's arm and slams his face onto the bar, he's trying to congratulate her on a great triple axel she pulled off. MODOK's daughter is quite the figure skater with the accolades to back it up, but that's not just a way for Cannon to try and hit on her (hopefully). Formerly known as the Human Top, Whirlwind was also a figure skater at one point, back when his criminal exploits were just beginning to blossom. It's a small detail about the character that is easily forgotten and makes for a fun Easter egg that ties into the plot neatly.
For the love of movie references
The creative team behind "Marvel's MODOK" loves themselves some movie references and isn't ashamed to force them in for a good joke, no matter how ridiculous. There are the obvious ones, like the overdramatic Loaf Knight representing "Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade" warning that people should "choose their loaf wisely," while Austin and his dog Sherlock are fused together in a pod that looks straight out of "The Fly."
We see a fun "Total Recall" reference when MODOK's faceplate explodes, and there are a few other smaller references sprinkled in, like bringing up the Monstars from "Space Jam" and a specific character in "The Goonies," but some of the scenes are just pleasantly reminiscent of older movies. The one nod that could go completely unnoticed to those who aren't diehard fans is simply a quote from a film that sounds like it's a part of the story: "This is a UNIX system. I know this." MODOK drops this "Jurassic Park" reference while he's hacking, making a tense scene even more awesome, all while showing his love for incredible cinema.
Additional characters and colorful cameos
"Marvel's MODOK" is full of guest stars, fun cameos, and brief sightings that aren't necessarily hard to spot, but not all of these are exactly well-known characters, even for fans of the comics. When Wonder Man shows up to handle Tatterdemalion, he's at least identified later in the episode, but that isn't true for a lot of the others. Hip Hop, a literal cyborg kangaroo, is seen on a billboard, but at least his name is visible if anyone wants to look him up and see if he's a real character that time has forgotten.
A few more cameos come in a scene when MODOK is going through a list of various portal dimensions, showing the Skrulls, one of the Shi'ar that looks a lot like Lilandra, a Watcher, and the Brood, who makes an appearance later in the episode. But what about Mr. Waffles the bunny, a character from the '40s better known as Super Rabbit, who's also a shoeshine boy? That's definitely a weird and well-hidden reference. There's also a brief scene with a demonic talk show host who has two baby demons for hands: hardcore fans will know that's Master Pandemonium, and those weird hands are definitely from the comics.