Now that you’ve had a chance to witness the brick-based glory that isThe LEGO Batman Moviein theaters–andbigSPOILERwarning if you haven’t–you might be wondering just how many Easter eggs you missed during the film’s brisk 104-minute runtime. I’m willing to guess: quite a bit. The movie moves so fast from one joke to the next that it’s nearly impossible for any mere mortal to catch every amazing reference.
So with that in mind, we’ve put them together here for you in one convenient location. All the superheroes, supervillains, and Super Friends from the movie (as well as descriptions and background for each of these obscure references), along with nods to other movies and TV shows in theBatmanuniverse.The LEGO Batman Moviepulled no punches when it came to other movies in the DC Extended Universe or the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the jabs were in good humor and usually self-referential. I’m sure I missed a few, so feel free to share others in the comments below! (Big shout-outs toScreencrushandYahoo!for their most excellent round-ups, as well as our ownHaleigh Foutch!)
For more of our coverage onThe LEGO Batman Movie, be sure to check out these recent stories:
Here’s the official synopsis:
In the irreverent spirit of fun that made “The LEGO® Movie” a worldwide phenomenon, the self-described leading man of that ensemble—LEGO® Batman—stars in his own big-screen adventure.
But there are big changes brewing in Gotham City, and if he wants to save the city from The Joker’s hostile takeover, Batman may have to drop the lone vigilante thing, try to work with others and maybe, just maybe, learn to lighten up.
Obscure Villains
As you heard in the above scene fromThe LEGO Batman Movie, there are a LOT ofobscure villainsfeatured throughout the film. We’re not talking Joker, Harley Quinn, Catwoman, Bane, Scarecrow, Two-Face, The Riddler, Mr. Freeze or Poison Ivy (who are all in the movie); these are deeper cuts. Here’s the weirdest of the bunch in alphabetical order, with a lot of help fromLEGOthemselves:
The Calculator:Created byBob RozakisandMike Grelland first appearing in “Detective Comics” #463 in 1976, the design of Noah Kuttler’s nefarious alias was inspired by popular pocket calculators of the era. His costume had a keypad and an LED display, which he could use to make “hard light constructs” similar to the Green Lantern. Today, it would be like Batman having a foe named, The iPhone.
Calendar Man:Whenever a holiday rolls around, the Gotham City Police know that they’re going to have to deal with Calendar Man again. Wearing a cape made out of calendar pages, the date-obsessed villain commits crimes themed after holidays both big and small, leaving clues that make it pretty simple to track him down. No matter how many times he’s caught, though, Calendar Man swears that he’ll get his day to shine.
Bat-Fact: Really looking forward to Leap Year.
Catman:Originally a supervillain opposite Batman, this 1963 creation byBill FingerandJim Mooneyfirst appeared in “Detective Comics” #311. Originally a world-famous jungle cat trapper, Thomas Blake became a burglar using a costume inspired by Catwoman’s design. His weapons include steel claws and a razor-sharp “catarang.”
Clayface:Once an actor on the edge of obscurity, Basil Karlo was exposed to an experimental chemical compound that transformed him into the shape-changing Clayface. While his body may resemble a monstrous mass of mud-like clay, he can twist and reshape it to form weapons and other objects, and even imitate the appearances of other people. You never know when the ordinary minifigure next to you might be Clayface in disguise!
Bat-Fact: Once played every role in a production of Shakespeare’s “Macbrick”…badly.
Clock King:Originally appearing as a Green Arrow villain in 1960, created byFrance HerronandLee Elias, the master planner and strategist William Tockman ran afoul of the heroic archer while robbing a bank in order to pay for his terminally ill sister’s medical care. The character was recreated for the 90s animated series as Temple Fugate.
Condiment King:Bruce TimmandPaul Dinicreated this bonkers character forBatman: The Animated Seriesin 1994. Mitchell Mayo is heavy on the puns and is most often used as comic relief, though the risk of anaphylactic shock from his food-based weaponry was a cause for concern from some comic book heroes.
Crazy Quilt:This 1946 creation ofJack Kirbywas a former painter who also dabbled as a master thief. Blinded during a robbery, he underwent an experimental operation in prison that restored his sight, but only in a blinding array of colors. This clearly drove him insane to the point that he took on the moniker of Crazy Quilt. Among his special abilities are an unmatched bitterness and stick-wielding, so that’s fun.
Egghead:Created for the 1966BatmanTV series and played as well as could be expected byVincent Price, this character believed himself to be “the world’s smartest criminal.” He had a penchant for egg-related crimes, weapons, and puns, of course. Egghead, created alongside King Tut, Shame, The Siren, Chandell, the Bookworm, and Louie the Lilac forBatman, eventually made it into the comics.
The Eraser:A.K.A. Lenny Fiasco, The Eraser was a former college classmate of Bruce Wayne who went on to work for criminals by covering their tracks, for a 20% fee. Not a bad gig, except for the pencil-themed costume complete with pencil-point shoe-blades and an eraser-topped helmet that can wipe away trace evidence at crime scenes.
Gentleman Ghost:This 1947 creation from byRobert KanigherandJoe Kubertwas a gypsy-cursed, 19th century highwayman and thief named Jim Craddock who made his way to America, got lynched, and rose again as a phantom. His fate is tied into that of his killers, the reincarnated forms of Hawkman and Hawkgirl, whose existence keep him in phantom form.
Kabuki Twins:Silent, mysterious and seemingly identical, the masked Kabuki Twins are employed as bodyguards and enforcers by the Penguin (unusually for him, they are neither bird- nor umbrella-themed). Their martial arts abilities, coordinated attacks and razor-sharp finger-blades make them a dangerous double threat to anyone who wants to reach their squawking boss in one piece.
Bat-Fact: Unlike other twins, have never been known to finish each other’s sentences.
Killer Moth:Known for his hideous costume, this longtime adversary of Batman first appeared in 1951 as a creation ofBill Finger,Dick Sprang, andLew Schwartz. The anti-Batman originally helped criminals evade capture and even made himself a “Mothcave” in which he kept his “Mothmobile” and no, I’m not making this up.
King Tut:Another creation for the 1966Batmanseries, Tut was a Yale professor of Egyptology who ended up being knocked unconscious when a rock hit him in the head during a student protest. He woke up believing himself to be the reincarnation of King Tut and set his sights on ruling the city of Thebes, er … Gotham.
Kite-Man:Kite Man calls himself the master of kites. He wears a picture of a kite on his costume, uses kites for all of his super-villain tools and weapons, and even flies with the help of a giant kite when committing minor robberies and being a general nuisance. Although he’s surprisingly nimble in the air, it’s usually pretty easy to defeat him by just poking a hole in his kite.
Bat-Fact: Once beat Batman. Batman doesn’t like to talk about it.
Magpie:Margaret Pye has always loved shiny things, especially ones that belong to other people. That’s why she became the villain Magpie and dedicated herself to stealing anything shiny that caught her eye. Whether it’s valuable or junk, she wants it all to decorate her glittery nest of a lair. Watch out for her explosive temper if you get between Magpie and her latest prize!
Bat-Fact: Loves diamonds almost as much as balls of tin foil.
Man-Bat:Well-meaning zoologist Dr. Kirk Langstrom was trying to cure deafness when he gave himself an injection of bat DNA. Instead, the experimental serum transformed him into a creature that was half-bat and half-minifigure, giving him wings and extra strength, but the mind and instincts of a wild animal. When on the loose, he can still be a real pest to Batman and the citizens of Gotham City.
Bat-Fact: Batman has some concerns about brand-name confusion.
March Harriet:Harriet Pratt, the 2008 creation ofPaul DiniandDustin Nguyen, was an escort, grifter, and rabbit-themed criminal who teamed up with the Wonderland Gang as their new March Hare.
The Mime:Orphaned when her parents were killed in a fireworks factory explosion, Camilla Ortin opted for a life of silence, practicing the art of miming, and thievery, as you do.
The Mutant Leader:This was the boss of the Mutant Gang fromFrank Miller’s 1986 classic comic book arc,Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.He’s a rare villain who nearly kills the Batman.
Orca:Debuting in 2000, this Gotham Game college marine biologist and bio-medicine grad who is one of the most selfless people ever to grace the pages of the comics. But an accident leaves her paralyzed, so her ill-conceived research involving Orca spinal cord tissue inevitably leads to her transforming into a killer whale-like humanoid with enhanced strength and incredible swimming abilities.
Polka-Dot Man:I’m sorry,MisterPolka-Dot, or Abner Krill as he’s also known,
Red Hood:This alias belongs to a number of hoodlums, and played a big part in the origin story for the Joker, which was expanded upon inAlan Moore’s “Batman: The Killing Joke.” Jason Todd, the resurrected Robin, also took on the mantle.
Doctor Phosphorous:It’s tough to miss the glowing skeleton of Alexander Sartorious, a.k.a. Doctor Phosphorus.Steve Englehart’s 1977 creation saw the not-so-good doctor receiving “five million slivers of red-hot (radioactive) sand” when a nuclear reactor core cracked. In addition to possessing burning skin, he also emits toxins and can control radiation.
Professor Hugo Strange:One of Batman’s earliest recurring adversaries (yes, even earlier than the Joker and Catwoman) was this creation of Bill Finger and Bob Kane, who also became the first to discover Batman’s secret identity.
Tarantula:This lady is no itsy-bitsy spider! A former FBI agent, Catalina Flores took up the mantle of an old-timey hero to become the new Tarantula. Although her plan was to be a Super Hero, her extreme methods have often made her walk the fine line between vigilante and all-out villain. She may not have super powers, but Tarantula’s twin blades and formidable fighting skills make her a capable adversary.
Bat-Fact: Despite name, still just has two legs.
Zebra-Man:He may look a little silly, but this super-villain’s powers pack a real kick! Zebra-Man’s body was irradiated by super-science, giving him both a wild pattern of stripes and the ability of diamagnetism. Now he can use his control belt to attract and repel any non-metallic objects without touching them, giving him what could literally be described as animal magnetism! (And also wood magnetism, plastic magnetism, water magnetism…)
Bat-Fact: When a whole herd of zebras are standing together, their stripes make them difficult to count.
Zodiac Master:This 1960s villain is essentially a conman, one with a gimmick based on astrological signs. He wears a onesie decorated with Zodiac symbols and “predicts” disasters (that he secretly orchestrates) to dupe people into paying for his consulting services.
Justice League Superheroes
Other than the usual suspects like Superman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, and Wonder Woman, some other members of the Justice League or much-malignedSuper Friendscartoon series also appeared in the movie.
Aaron Cash:You have to be gruff, rough and tough to make it as a security guard at Arkham Asylum, and Aaron Cash is one of the gruffest, roughest and toughest there is. He doesn’t take any nonsense from the asylum’s many super-villain inmates, no matter how big and bad they may be – even after the unfortunate lunchtime incident with Killer Croc that left him with a hook for a hand!
Bat-Fact: Actually thinks the hook makes him look pretty cool.
Apache Chief:A Native American superhero from theSuper Friendscartoon, Apache Chief was added to the show to increase the number of non-White superheroes on the team. His abilities included growing to a gigantic size, tracking skills, talking to animals, and appearing onHarvey Birdman.“Inukchuk!”
Black Vulcan:This African-American superhero with the ability to manipulate electricity was totally different from DC Comics' Black Lightning, an African-American superhero with the ability to manipulate electricitywho’s coming to The CW!
El Dorado:This Hispanic “Super Friend” conjures up powers through his Mexican and ancient Aztec heritage, granting him super-strength, illusion generation, and teleportation with the aid of his magic cape.
Samurai:Japanese “Super Friend” Toshio Eto upheld the code of Bushido (of course) while also fighting supervillains with the ability to manipulate fire and wind, turn invisible, and cast illusions.
Wonder Twins and Gleek the Monkey:Zan and Jayna, shape-shifting alien teens, could transform themselves into anything related to water and animals respectively. When their parents died in a plague, they were raised by the owner of a Space Circus who put them on display in a sideshow attraction. The kindly circus-man also gifted them the space monkey, Gleek.
Wonder Dog:The canine companion for theSuper Friendshuman teen duo Wendy and Marvin once became a vicious killer in the “Teen Titans” comics. We prefer him as a DJ for Superman’s Justice League party.
‘Batman’ Movie and TV References
Commissioner Gordon’s partner is named O’Hara, which is a nod to the 60sBatmanseries' character, Chief O’Hara, played byStafford Repp.
Killer Croc says, “I did something!” in the movie, possibly referencingAdewale Akinnuoye-Agbajeportrayal of the relatively unused character inSuicide Squad.
Doug Bensonvoices Bane in a take inspired byThe Dark Knight Rises, a performance he frequently impersonates on his podcast,Doug Loves Movies.
The Joker’s line“Wanna get nuts?”referencesMichael Keaton’s similar line of dialogue in 1989’sBatman.
Batman’s #1 bad guy? Superman. Clearly a nod toBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
ABatman Foreversign pops up, referencing the 1995 film.
Gotham City’s downtown includes Shreck’s Department Store fromBatman Returns.
A quick flashback montage of “phases” from Batman’s life conjure up iconic images from the Dark Knight’s history, including the animatedSuper FriendsTV series, the originalBatmanfilm serial from 1943,Batman: The Animated Series, and more.
Superman’s Fortress of Solitude inThe LEGO Batman Movieis modeled after the design ofRichard Donner’sSupermanmovies.
The Fortress' doorbell also playsJohn Williams’Supermantheme.
Upon activating the Fortress of Solitude’s Kryptonian crystals, Superman’s father, Jor-El, relays a message. He’s modeled afterMarlon Brando’s character from the 1978Supermanmovie.
There’s a magazine ad for “Barris Automotive”, a nod toGeorge Barris, the man who designed the iconic 60s TV series' Batmobile.
Dick Grayson’s attire (a red sweater with a white-collared shirt) was a common outfit forBurt Ward’s character on on the 1960sBatmanshow.
On display in the Batcave is the infamous Bat-Shark Repellent, referencing a rather silly gag in the 1966BatmanTV series' inspired film. It actually works in this movie, however.
There are a bunch of Easter eggs in Batman’s rack of costumes, including the suit worn by Terry McGinnis inBatman Beyond.
Alfred dons a Batman costume modeled after Adam West’s own 1960s Batsuit.
Upon entering the Batmobile, the Batcomputer says, “Atomic batteries to power, turbines to speed." Robin said the same thing in the 60s series. Every. Time.
Arkham Asylum’s X-ray machine resembles the X-ray puzzles in theLEGO Batmanvideo games; Batman solves these by putting on his “Sensor Suit.”
During the Arkham Asylum sequence, Batman says the idea of using criminals to fight criminals is a dumb idea, another dig atSuicide Squad.
The Joker mentions Batman’s “wonderful toys”, a reference to Jack Nicholson’s Joker line,“Where does he get those wonderful toys?”
The final fight ofThe LEGO BatmanMovieoffers up a dose of 60sBatmannods as sound effects likeBam!andPow!pop into the air during the fisticuffs. The Bat-Shark Repellant makes another appearance.
LEGO Two-Face is voiced byBilly Dee Williams, who played Harvey Dent in a small supporting role inTim Burton’s 1989Batmanbefore the role was recast and played byTommy Lee Jones. Almost 30 years later, Williams gets to play Two-Face at long last.
Batman has a heart-to-heart talk with Robin, during which he removes his mask. Bruce Wayne does something similar at the end ofBatman Returnswith Selina Kyle.
There’s a line to the effect of “That time with Prince and the Parade” referring tothis delightful sequenceinBatman.
Harley Quinn’s shirt reads “Smylex” which is the name of theJoker’s venom and toxic gas.
‘Batman’ Lore and Comic Book Mythology
There are multiple references toFerris Airin the movie, a nod to the company that employs Hal Jordan / Green Lantern, and is owned by Carol Ferris.
The vast, expansive Batcave includes many comic-book references like the giant T. Rex from the 1946 Batman comic set on “Dinosaur Island.”
Batman’s picture of parents Thomas and Martha shows them outside theMonarch Theater, the site of the comic-book Waynes’ murders. You’ll also notice the street sign reading “Crime Alley.”
Rosario Dawson’s Barbara Gordon made her mark cleaning up the streets ofBlüdhaven, a sister city to Gotham City.
There’s a laundry truck with the sign “Operated by Quinzel”, referring to Harley Quinn’s alter ego, Dr. Harleen Quinzel.
Robin’s getup strongly resemble Carrie Kelly, the future Robin fromFrank Miller’s “The Dark Knight Returns.”
The “57th Annual Justice League Anniversary Party” banner is a nod to the Justice League’s first appearance inThe Brave and the Bold#28 from 1960.
Gotham City signs:
The theme of the “Batman Family” is used throughout the film; “Batman Family” has been the name of several actual DC Comics runs starting in 1975.
Similar sequences to the “Hall of Mirrors” fight appear inOrson Welles’The Lady from Shanghaiand theBruce LeeclassicEnter the Dragon,though this is probably a nod to the scene in Frank Miller’s “The Dark Knight Returns.”
Robin’s Nightwing is a double Easter egg: When Dick Grayson graduated from sidekick status in the 1980s, he took on the codename Nightwing. However, this Nightwing costume is a nod to theoriginalNightwing, which actually Superman’s codename during his 1960s adventures with Jimmy Olsen in the Kryptonian city of Kandor.
General References
In the film’s cold open, a hijacked plane belongs to “MacGuffin Airlines,” a reference to the famous film term referencing a plot device that only serves to further the story but is meaningless within it.
Robin has to skateboard his way through the Fortress of Solitude’s security and Batman says,“Now you’re gleaming the cube,”which is the title of an amazing(ly bad) 1989 skateboarding movie starringChristian Slater.
Joker recruits various villains from the Phantom Zone including Universal Monsters King Kong and a supersized Creature from the Black Lagoon, alongside Warner Bros.' Sauron fromLord of the Rings, and Voldemort from theHarry Potterseries. Voldemort is voiced byEddie Izzard, since his live-action counterpartRalph Fiennesvoices Alfred inThe LEGO Batman Movie.
Batman remains a “Master Builder” in this movie, continuing his prestigious status fromTheLEGO Movieas a character who can create anything out of LEGO blocks.
When Gremlins tear apart the wings of Batman’s plane, it’s actually a clever homage to the famousTwilight Zoneepisode “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet”whereWilliam Shatner’s airline passenger character becomes convinced there’s a “gremlin” trying to bring down the plane.
Robin’s boast that he knows gymkata, the “gymnastics-based martial art”, is a nod to the movieGymkata, where Olympic gymnastKurt Thomasplays a character who practices gymnastics-based martial arts on behalf of the U.S. government. (Reboot this, please.)
Batman’s password to enter the Batcave is “Iron Man Sucks.”
There’s also a reference to theFox Force Five, part ofQuentin Tarantino’s shared movie-verse.
There are several shots of a “Luigi’s” sign in Gotham City. “Luigi’s Restaurant” currently plays a part in the plot ofThe Flashon The CW, and may also be a nod to Luigi “Big Lou” Maroni, the Maroni Family crime boss in “Batman: The Long Halloween.”
If you noticed any other Easter eggs that we missed, be sure to let us know in the comments!
