This is the first time Keene Marlowe appears outside of the comics. This version of Marlow was Ben Parker's best friend and even worked with Richard & Mary Parker, Peter Parker's parents. In the comics, Marlow is known as the hero The Destroyer one of the first Super Heroes created by Marvel comics legend and Spider-Man co-creator Stan Lee.
This is the first appearance of Silver Sable and her Wild Pack outside of the comics.
This episode is based on "The Amazing Spider-Man" (Vol. 1) Annual #5, when Peter Parker finds out about his parents Richard & Mary Parker and was told by Aunt May that his parents were American operatives who were killed in a plane crash and were accused to be traitors.
Richard & Mary Parker died in a plane crash in Russia. In the comics, Richard & Mary Parker died in a plane crash in Algeria.
Peter Parker goes to Russia by convincing J. Jonah Jameson that Spider-Man is going to Russia to become a world power onto himself and the Daily Bugle needs to get a Scoop on the story. In "The Amazing Spider-Man" (Vol. 1) Annual #5, Peter Parker/ Spider-Man gets a ride to Algeria from Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic (the leader of the super hero team The Fantastic Four) in a two-man gyro-cruiser developed by Tony Stark's company.