Spider-Man: Brand New Day hides several clever references to Marvel villains that casual viewers may have missed completely. The Tom Holland-led film follows Peter Parker as he protects New York City while keeping close tabs on street-level threats. Central to this is Peter’s villain tracker board, a prop packed with Easter eggs documenting criminal profiles, abilities, and hideouts.
Production designer Will Dixon shared insights into the prop’s creation on social media, explaining that the tracker was designed to function as an authentic utility for Peter rather than a stereotypical Hollywood detective board with red string and newspaper clippings.
The prop incorporates real New York City crime heat maps and subway transit layouts, allowing Peter to track subterranean escape routes while quietly teasing villains who don’t physically appear on screen.
One of the most notable references is Scorpion. Dixon revealed that he wanted Mac Gargan’s image to look like a prison mugshot taken after his arrest in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Similarly, another hidden reference is Screwball, a Spider-Man villain who does not appear in the film. The board also contains references to other villains, including Foolkiller, Hypno-Hustler, and the Enforcers.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day adds another link to the X-Men reboot
Beyond its gallery teasers, the production shares a major behind-the-scenes connection to Marvel Studios’ upcoming X-Men reboot. According to @cosmic_marvel, veteran costume designer Sanja Milkovic Hays served as costume designer for Brand New Day and will transition directly into designing the outfits for the MCU’s mutant lineup.
Hays brings an extensive Marvel Studios resume to both projects, having previously designed costumes for Captain Marvel, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Thunderbolts, alongside blockbusters like Star Trek Beyond and the Fast & Furious franchise.
Her involvement brings a visually striking style that bridges Spider-Man’s corner of New York with the X-Men’s future appearance.
