SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY Trailer Hides a Fantastic Hulk Easter Egg That Comics Fans Will Love
One of the best parts of any new Marvel trailer is watching fans pick apart every frame looking for hidden details. Sometimes those discoveries are major clues about the story. Other times they're clever nods to Marvel Comics history that reward longtime readers.
The final trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day happens to deliver one of those fun deep-cut references, and it involves the Hulk.
Sharp-eyed fans recently spotted an interesting detail connected to Bruce Banner in the latest footage. As shared on X by user A bit of Everything, Banner's inhibitor device, which helps keep the Hulk under control, features the marking “ASM-14.”
That little label isn't random.
It's a direct reference to The Amazing Spider-Man #14, one of the most significant Spider-Man comics ever published.
The issue marked the first meeting between Spider-Man and the Hulk, while also introducing the Green Goblin to readers for the very first time. That's a pretty important chapter in Spidey's history, making the Easter egg a great choice for Brand New Day.
While Peter Parker and Bruce Banner have technically existed in the same corners of the MCU for years, they've never actually shared meaningful screen time together. Both heroes appeared in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, and fought side by side during the Battle of Earth, but audiences never saw them interact.
That changes in Brand New Day. After spending so much of his superhero journey under the mentorship of Tony Stark, Peter now appears to be turning to another brilliant scientific mind for guidance.
Banner's role in the film seems poised to be much more personal, which gives extra meaning to the callback hidden on the inhibitor.
There's another layer to the reference that makes it especially fitting. In The Amazing Spider-Man #14, Spider-Man battles the Hulk inside a cave in California. While Brand New Day isn't taking Peter to the West Coast, the movie is building toward a major confrontation between Spider-Man and the MCU's Savage Hulk.
The latest trailer finally showcased the return of the more destructive version of Hulk, teasing what could become one of the film's biggest action sequences.
Unlike the comic, however, this conflict appears to carry real emotional weight. Peter isn't simply facing a rampaging monster. He's forming a connection with Bruce Banner first, which could make the eventual showdown much more complicated.
With mutating DNA playing a major role in the story, there's a good chance Peter's scientific abilities will become a key factor in helping Bruce regain control. It would be an interesting parallel to the comic if Spider-Man once again relies on his intelligence rather than pure strength to overcome the situation.
These kinds of Easter eggs are a big reason Marvel movies are so much fun to revisit. They're more than simple references tucked into the background. They serve as reminders of the comic book stories that laid the foundation for everything audiences are watching today.
The film’s stories and characters creates plenty of opportunities for director Destin Daniel Cretton and his creative team to dig deep into Marvel Comics lore and pack the film with even more surprises.
We'll find out just how many references they managed to sneak in when Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters next month.