The Coolest, Weirdest Easter Eggs You Missed In Supergirl

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 19 seconds ago

One of the reasons that it’s hard to make a modern superhero film is that you have to please two very different audiences. The first is made up of hardcore comics fans who will be scrutinizing the movie to see how well the writer and director knew their comic book lore. The second audience is made up of general moviegoers who have never so much as cracked an issue and just want to be entertained for a couple of hours. Recently, Supergirl tried its hand at pleasing both groups at once.

The results were somewhat mixed. Judging by its relatively modest opening weekend and equally modest Rotten Tomatoes score, Supergirl didn’t really have mass appeal with general audiences. However, it really resonated with comics fans who are impressed at just how many references and homages are stuffed into this short film. Fortunately, you don’t need laser eyes to uncover them; just keep reading to discover the coolest and downright weirdest Easter eggs you missed in Supergirl!

Everyone Thinks Jor-El Is A Weirdo

One of the major canon changes in last year’s Superman was the revelation that Superman’s parents sent him to Earth to be a conqueror. When this news breaks out, it instantly tanks the Man of Steel’s reputation. Considering that the message from his parents was translated by Lex Luthor, many fans believed that it was a lie and that Superman’s parents were essentially good people. This was despite everyone from Mr. Terrific to James Gunn confirming that the message was authentic.

In a flashback, however, Supergirl revealed that Jor-El really did want his son to go conquer the Earth. Interestingly, though, the movie also emphasizes how Jor-El is seen as a bit of a weirdo by those who know his plan. Specifically, we see Supergirl’s mother disdainfully refer to Jor-El’s plan to turn his “sweet little boy” into a “conqueror of worlds.” It’s a brief moment, but one that verifies Jor-El’s sinister nature while clarifying that not all Kryptonians share his barbaric mentality.

Supergirl, The Pop Culture Fiend

In Supergirl, the title character is celebrating her 23rd birthday. We learn that she spends a lot of her time partying off-planet, and it’s not made explicitly clear how much time she’s actually spent on Earth. However, based on her dialogue and clothing, we have one answer: she’s been on the planet long enough to absorb the pop culture! One example of this is when she orders a band to keep playing during a barfight because “it’s like the Titanic.” This means she’s familiar with Earth’s most famously doomed ship, most likely from watching James Cameron’s Titanic.

Additionally, she calls one of the many ugly aliens in the film “Squidward,” confirming that she’s a fan of (or at least, aware of) SpongeBob SquarePants. Speaking of fandoms, Supergirl spends most of the movie wearing a Blondie shirt, signifying her love of the musician. She’s probably also a fan of Jimmy Eat World, as a slowed-down version of their iconic song “In the Middle” plays during the climactic final fight scene. If Supergirl does like that band, it’s probably her cousin’s influence; previously, James Gunn added the song to Clark Kent’s official playlist on Spotify.

Homages To Star-Lord

While James Gunn directed last year’s Superman, Supergirl was helmed by Craig Gillespie. Watching the film, though, it’s clear that Gillespie cribbed more than a bit from Gunn’s previous work on Guardians of the Galaxy. You can see that in many surface-level aspects, including the snarky characters, exotic aliens, and colorful worlds on display. Beyond that, though, there are some more specific homages. For example, Supergirl spends much of the movie listening to music on her orange headphones. This is very similar to Star-Lord, who uses orange headphones to listen to his beloved cassette music from Earth.

Additionally, Supergirl tries to reassure her kid sidekick at one point by saying, “I have a plan…kind of.” This may be a stretch, but it’s hard to hear this and not think about Star-Lord in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie. When Rocket questions whether Star-Lord actually has a plan, the Earthman responds, “I have part of a plan.” When pressed to answer what percentage of a plan he has, Star-Lord responds, “12 percent.” Fortunately, Supergirl has something else in common with this Marvel hero: even when her plans are half-baked, they usually work. 

Secretly Introducing A Notorious Villain

My favorite Supergirl Easter egg occurred near the end of the film, when our titular hero is talking to Superman. He doesn’t yet know the specifics of her most recent adventure, but he knows that it started out as a birthday celebration that went sideways. In an attempt to commiserate with her, Superman tells his cousin how his own birthdays have been tricky, but doesn’t really go into any details.

Now, this could mean all sorts of things. As a longtime comic nerd, though, I believe it’s a reference to Mongul, a powerful alien villain that Superman has tangled with before. In the iconic comic story “For the Man Who Has Everything” (written by Watchmen creator Alan Moore), the villain breaks into the Fortress of Solitude and attacks Superman with a plant called “The Black Mercy,” which puts him into a coma of pleasant dreams. Fortunately, he is ultimately freed by Batman, Robin, and Wonder Woman, all of whom came by to wish him a happy birthday. If this Supergirl quote was referencing Mongul, here’s hoping we see him and Superman throw down in a future movie!