One of the trademarks of the recent big screen Marvel renaissance is that the filmmakers have gone to excruciating lengths to be as accurate to the comic books as possible. Things like the costumes, villains, and plots make it seem as if Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, Incredible Hulk, and Captain America: The First Avenger were literally ripped from the pages of the books themselves.

Not all of the dedication to the comics has been as obvious, though. Along the way, the writers and directors of these movies have added hidden Easter eggs and comic book references that only hardcore fans have been able to pick up on; some of these nods and winks at the audience are purely in the background and don’t get in the way of the plot, while others are a bit more obvious. It seems like with each additional viewing there's more to explore.

And with The Avengers finally arriving in theaters today, we’re positive that there will be plenty of subtle references and bonuses that dedicated geeks everywhere can spot and enjoy. So to help you get ready, we’re counting down The 10 Best Easter Eggs in Marvel Movies.

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