Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D./Trivia

References to the Marvel Cinematic Universe

 * Some characters from the movies have appeared in a recurring or guest roles, such as Phil Coulson Maria Hill, Nick Fury, Tyler, Blake, Jasper Sitwell, and Sif.
 * Stan Lee, one of the main Marvel comics writers, and the creator of S.H.I.E.L.D. in Marvel Comics, has appeared in a small part in the series after having appeared in many Marvel productions before.
 * References to previous films in the franchise, especially The Avengers are made through the show, naming the Avengers as a team, members Iron Man, Thor, Captain America]] and Hulk, and agents Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff.
 * Phil Coulson's Cellist former girlfriend from The Avengers is referenced both by Coulson and Raina.
 * The Centipede Device is said to be a mix of all previous known sources of super-powers, mixing the Super Soldier Serum (that gave Captain America his powers), Gamma Radiation (that gave Hulk his powers), and Extremis (that gave Aldrich Killian and other A.I.M. members their powers), all in blood injector made from Chitauri metal.
 * The Pick-Lock Decive used by Phil Coulson in episode 1.05: Girl in the Flower Dress is a reference to the Iron Man film, as Coulson uses the device in exactly the same way: He asks for the device to one of his subordinates just raising his hand, and after pressing the button, he waits for the explosion with his arms folded across his chest.
 * The walls in the interrogation room in The Bus are built from a silicon-carbide Vibranium alloy. Vibranium is the same material used to create Captain America's Shield.

References to Marvel Comics

 * Some of the characters from Marvel Comics adapted into the show are Michael Peterson, Franklin Hall, Victoria Hand, Donnie Gill, John Garrett, and Lorelei.
 * Although Chan Ho Yin is an original character, the codename "Scorch" has been frequently used in the comics by characters with powers similar to Chan's.
 * The Overkill Device first appeared in the comics as the Overkill Horn
 * The Bus official designation as "S.H.I.E.L.D. 6-1-6" is a reference to the main Marvel Comics continuity, called Earth-616.

References to Disney
As The Walt Disney Company is also the owner of Marvel Studios, some references to previous Disney works are made in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
 * Each of the D.W.A.R.F. Drones used by agents Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons are named after one of the Seven Dwarfs from the 1937 Disney film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
 * Agent Mack's name and role as a trucker is an homage to the character Mack, an animated truck in the Disney film Cars.

References to Joss Whedon's previous works

 * Actor J. August Richards previously worked with Joss Whedon portraying Charles Gunn in the series Angel.
 * Actor Ron Glass previously worked with Joss Whedon portraying Shepard Book in the series Firefly.
 * The weapon used by Grant Ward in episode 1.02: 0-8-4 first appeared in the movie Serenity, written and directed by Joss Whedon.
 * The final scene from episode 1.08: The Well references Joss Whedon's series Dollhouse. The question "Did I fall asleep?" that Phil Coulson asks, and the answer "For a little while" by his masseuse, are a direct quote from Dollhouse, where this is said to the actives every time they are wiped. This also foreshadows Coulson's implanted memories about Tahiti.