Did you spot the comic-book clues hiding in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe?

If you have been following Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, it may be worth paying closer attention to the comic books in Stuart’s shop. The The Big Bang Theory spin-off has been packed with small references for fans but the fourth episode takes things a step further by using the comics themselves to hint at what is coming.

The deeper comic-book references

Titled Spoiler: Stuart Makes A Wallet, the episode follows Stuart and his friends as they find themselves in an alternate universe that is not quite what it appears to be. By the end, the story takes a major turn that brings to mind The Matrix.

The show, however, had already been dropping hints in the background.

One of the comics visible on the wall is The Dreaming. Its title fits nicely with the episode’s focus on a reality that may not be real at all. Another is an issue of Supergirl showing multiple versions of the character inside pods, echoing the episode’s themes of alternate realities and different versions of the same people.

Some of the other comics offer more subtle clues.

Firestorm, whose superhero identity is formed by two people, fits a story that keeps playing with different versions of reality. There is also DC’s Kismet, a character associated with changing reality, while Psycho Pirate has abilities connected to emotions, illusions and alternate versions of people.

The references continue with Future’s End and Convergence, two DC stories that deal with the multiverse. A variant cover of Marvel’s Avengers Forever, featuring different versions of Scarlet Witch, adds another nod to the episode’s focus on alternate realities.

It is a clever touch for a series built around the world of The Big Bang Theory. Stuart Fails to Save the Universe takes a familiar character and places him inside a much bigger science-fiction story, where alternate universes and different versions of characters are now part of the plot.

That also makes Stuart’s comic-book shop the perfect place to hide clues. You might not notice them while watching the episode, but once you know what to look for, the background starts to feel like part of the story.

So, the next time Stuart is behind the counter, take a second look at those shelves. You might find that the comics are telling you more than you think.

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