Cultural references[]

• Plan 9 Comics is clearly a reference to the infamous movie Plan 9 from Outer Space, popularly believed to be the worst movie ever made, and, conversely, a favorite among those who are into "so-bad-it's-good"/camp cinema.
• When Comic Book Guy is demonstrating the soda-resistant properties of Radioactive Man #1000, the "lesser comics" to which he refers appear to be issues of the comic that started the career of Simpsons creator Matt Groening, Life in Hell (as evidenced by Binky, the star of Life in Hell, standing on a stage on the cover). The logo of Matt Groening's comic book publishing company, Bongo Comics, can be seen at the head of the cover, in place of a title, despite the fact that Life in Hell has never been published by Bongo Comics. This could suggest that the "lesser comics" line actually refers to all of Groening's comics.
• The name of the comic book hero, "Biclops," is a pun on the name of the X-Man "Cyclops".
• One of the Star Wars memorabilia that Martin Prince owned was a film reel that contained an alternate ending where Luke's father was revealed to be Chewbacca, referring to the secrecy of the plot twist that Darth Vader was Luke's father and the production team even tacking on some alternate dialogue to suggest someone else is Luke's father (e.g., Obi-Wan Kenobi) in order to ensure that Vader's identity as Luke's father isn't leaked.
• Bart's Transformer transforms into an ax. This may be a reference to the 80's version of Megatron which transformed into a gun.
• The events of Homer Simpson's first life-long ban were a reference to Gallagher's Sledge-O-Matic stunt (which Homer ruined by eating the watermelon).
• Tom Savini's disembodied hand look similar to Thing from The Addams Family.
• Bart tells Milhouse to put several Supergirl comics onto clearance alongside several Poochie merchandise.
  • On a similar note, when the Biclops comics were revealed to have a disastrous sales run, Kearney when confronting Milhouse over the comic proceeded to sarcastically ask if Biclops had a girlfriend named "Lois Lame", a play on words for Lois Lane, the girlfriend of Superman.
• One of the videos that Bart finds in Comic Book Guy's video vault is Godfather III: Good Version, a reference to the movie The Godfather: Part III, which is considered by people as the weakest film in the Godfather trilogy.
  • In yet another example of real life imitating The Simpsons, a "good version" of Godfather III does exist, called, The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone, which is a recut version of Godfather III.
• The song that plays over Comic Book Guy and Agnes' day out is "Puppy Love" by Paul Anka.
• Homer's antacid trip features recordings of quotes from Johnnie Cochran during the O.J. Simpson trial, Richard Nixon's resignation speech, and Neil Armstrong's flight to the Moon.
• The entrance to Comic Book Guy's stash of bootleg videos is hidden behind a She-Hulk poster.

Trivia[]

• In the script for the episode, Bart's order for Milhouse to put Poochie merchandise on clearance along with some Supergirl comics was originally him telling Milhouse to mark down the South Park merchandise until someone actually buys it.
• According to the DVD commentary, Al Jean regrets the joke about one of the illegal videos showing Mr. Rogers drunk and belligerent after meeting Mr. Rogers' wife years later and learning that she saw the episode.

Previous Episode References[]

• The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show and Saddlesore Galactica: Comic Book Guy's "Worst Episode Ever" catchphrase is used.
• My Sister, My Sitter:
  • A couple going out on a date at The Springfield Squid Port
  • Poochie merchandise is on clearance.
• Beyond Blunderdome:
  • Marge is embarrassed by flatulence (her own/the noise from the pancake squirt bottle)
  • Reference to Godfather III being a bad movie (the executive calls Mel Gibson's version of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington "worse than Godfather III"/one of the illegal videos Bart and Milhouse find is "Godfather III: Good Version")
  • Comic Book Guy gets thrown out of a public place (a movie theater/Moe's).
• El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer: Homer trips out after eating something (the insanity peppers/old baking soda).
• D'oh-in in The Wind: the background of Homer's "antacid trip" looks like the psychedelic background used during the end credits.
• Bart the Fink: Principal Skinner's mother dates someone, much to the chagrin of her son.
• Kamp Krusty: Martin Prince is sent to fat camp.
• Mayored to the Mob: The Comic Book Guy falls in love with a woman (the nerd girl interested in buying Diet Mr. Pibb-stained Little Lulu comics/Principal Skinner's mom).
  • Mr. Plow and Mayored to the Mob: Homer eats a watermelon, rind and all.
• Boy-Scoutz 'n The Hood: Bart and Milhouse go on a spending spree with very little money ($20 that Homer lost/$50 Bart won in a bet). Both episodes also have the Kwik-E-Mart as their first stop on their spending spree.
• Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment:
  • Underage kids looking at X-rated content (Bart watching Top Hat TV/Ralph wanting to go into the Adults Only section)
  • Bart charges kids admission to watch something illegal (a porn channel on a stolen cable hookup/pirated videos), then gets busted for it.
• Three Men and a Comic Book: Bart can't afford a special edition version of a Radioactive Man comic book.
  • Three Men and a Comic Book, Homer Defined, Radioactive Man, Marge Be Not Proud, and Bart's Friend Falls in Love: Bart's friendship with Milhouse becomes strained.
• A Fish Called Selma: Homer says, "I love the theater" (or something similar).
• Natural Born Kissers and The Old Man and the "C" Student: An alternate version of a classic movie exists (Casablanca with a happy ending and It's a Wonderful Life with a "killing spree" ending/an "edited for seniors" version of Gone with the Wind where all the war scenes are cut and Rhett's "Frankly, my dear. I don't give a damn" line is redubbed with "I love you. Let's get married"/an alternate ending to the original Star Wars trilogy where Luke Skywalker's father is actually Chewbacca and a "good version" of Godfather III).
• I Love Lisa: A kids' show character is drunk (Sideshow Mel "whacked out on wowie sauce"/the "Mr. Rogers Drunk" video).
• Missionary: Impossible: Mr. Rogers is depicted as being mean (chases Homer down and says, "It's a beautiful day to kick your ass!"/the "Mr. Rogers Drunk" video).
• Homer's Triple Bypass, The Old Man and the Lisa, and Bart Carny:
  • Reference to Homer having heart problems
  • An obese character (Homer/Comic Book Guy) has a heart attack.
• This Little Wiggy: Evidence and weapons from the Springfield Police Department are illegally available to civilians (the police reports, riot gear, and police master key/confession videos).