In the Marvel Comics Marc Scarlotti is known as the villain Whiplash. In this episode he is renamed Marcus Scarlotti, and is a Hydra Agent who wields a whip-like weapon in battle.
This episode was supposed to be the debut of the Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) trailer, but it leaked first. However, new footage was released together with the trailer.
Senator Ward unveils his anti-S.H.I.E.L.D. plan on WHiH News, the network that covered the 2011 Stark Expo in Iron Man 2 (2010) and the battle at Culver University in The Incredible Hulk (2008). This fictional news network later became a web series serving to promote the latest entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: WHIH News Front (2015).
The relationship between Grant and Christian Ward on the show is similar to the relationship of Simon and Eric Williams in the comics. Simon inherits the family corporation and is loved by everyone around him just like Christian Ward. Eric becomes the evil brother who then gains the super villain name Grim Reaper.
In the safehouse in Bruges, Hunter offers a 'Straffe Hendrik'; a local brew he found in the area. Straffe Hendrik is indeed one of the many brews Bruges has to offer and has been exported to different countries for years. Its original brewery is still there, which means, if Hunter was telling the truth, the safehouse is located in the center of Bruges close to the river Reie.