These 'GOTG Vol. 2' Easter Eggs Are Major

It is a truth universally acknowledged that the MCU is an extended universe which juggles a multitude of characters and storylines. What does this mean exactly? Well, for starters, it means that it's very easy to connect the dots between any two Marvel films because they are all occurring within the same universe and occasionally, characters, locations, or references from one story will pop in another story. Which may lead you to wonder whether the next big MCU release, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, has Marvel Easter eggs scattered throughout it. Well, friends, you're in luck because there are plenty of goodies for diehard Marvel fans and newcomers alike. Major spoilers ahead.

The MCU Easter eggs in GotG Vol. 2 are plentiful and major. There's a couple big ones that arrive during the five post-credits scenes in the film, so you're going to want to make sure to sit tight once the film ends to catch them. The others seem to reference on the more mystical or cosmic elements of the MCU. For instance, with the introduction of Peter Quill's dad, the planet Ego, we learn more about the otherworldly beings of the MCU.

Read on for more info:

1. The Celestials

When we meet Ego, we also learn about the Celestials. In the MCU, the Celestials are a group of god-like beings who have been around since the birth of the universe. Trippy, right? Apparently, this isn't the last we've seen of the Celestials either, because Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi posted an Instagram that shows him wearing a Celestial's headpiece.

2. New Worlds Like Contraxia And Berhert

The Guardians land on a number of new and super cool worlds which exist within the comics, including the planets Contraxia and Berhert. MCU fans may know that Contraxia is home to an Avenger named Jack of Hearts. Very interesting.

3. Peter Quill's T-Shirt Slogan

One funny in-joke that also doubles as an Easter egg is Peter Quill's T-shirt slogan in GotG Vol. 2. One keen observer decoded the mysterious language on his shirt and the translation reads thus: "Gears Shift. Dust, cement, stone, ash. A Teneyck Galaxy Invention." Teneyck refers to one of the MCU's regular graphic designers, Karen TenEyck.

4. Howard The Duck

Did you really think that you were done seeing lowkey MCU favorite Howard The Duck? Howie's back in GotG Vol. 2, appearing during the Contraxia sequence.

5. Starlord And Eternity

At one point in GotG Vol. 2, Peter falls under the powerful influence of his father, Ego. It's then that we see his eyes look they they are filled with the cosmos as he mutters the word, "Eternity." This is actually a sly reference to an MCU character called Eternity, a character depicted as the literal cosmos.

6. Nebula's Backstory

In GotG Vol. 2, we actually get to learn about Nebula's creation and in the process, we get a hint at a major Marvel comics storyline. In the film, Nebula describes to Gamora what it was like when Thanos, their adoptive father, created her. As MoviePilot recounts, Nebula states that "he pulled out my eye, pulled out my brain, pulled off my arm." Yikes. But that line refers back to the Infinity Gauntlet storyline in the comics, wherein Nebula once claimed to be Thanos' granddaughter. She was proven to be a liar, so Thanos gruesomely tore her apart and pieced her back together as proof he was the literal worst. Double yikes.

7. The Grandmaster

The credits of GotG Vol. 2 feature a bunch of dancing characters including the Grandmaster from Thor: Ragnarok. Keep your eyes peeled for the MCU crossover.

8. Stakar Ogord And The Original Guardians

A major Easter egg involves Yondu, father figure to Peter Quill, and his former teammate Stakar Ogord, who shows up in a post-credits scene. Both men were part of the first generation of the Guardians of the Galaxy. In the post-credits scene, Stakar Ogord tells his team — the Ravagers — that they must reunite which, as Den of Geek points out, could hint at their appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy 3.

9. Ayesha And Adam Warlock

In one post-credits scene, we watch GotG Vol. 2 villain Ayesha look at a pod containing Adam Warlock. For those in the MCU know, Adam Warlock is a messiah-like figure who is charged with guardian of the Infinity Stones, which means he'll no doubt show up in Avengers: Infinity War.

10. Stan Lee And The Watchers

In the final post-credits scene, Stan Lee makes another cameo. He appears to a group called The Watchers, insisting he has stories to tell them. While it may be just for laughs, Lee's connection to The Watchers (a group who compiles information about various peoples and events in the universe without interrupting) has led people to wonder whether Lee's previous MCU cameos confirm he is a Watcher, too.

11. Super-Ego

It's revealed in GotG Vol. 2 that Ego, much like villain Ayesha, isn't so much of a good guy. Ego's got a master plan called "The Expansion," which involves (contrary to the name of the plan) involves bringing together all the planets in the universe. Now, I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound like it bodes well for the citizens of the galaxy.

12. David Hasselhoff, Is That You?

Hasselhoff not only contributes a song to the GotG Vol. 2 soundtrack, but he appears as a beautiful alien in the film. Right on, Hoffmeister.

Alright, so I may have just dropped some major reveals on you, but trust me: you should go see GotG Vol. 2 anyway just so you can experience the magic yourself.