Wiki
Homage is the public expression of respect to someone or something to whom or to which one feels indebted, as through an honor, tribute, reference, or citation. In traditional usage it is analogous to “praise”; one properly speaks of “homage” or “the homage”.
So what are the pitfalls of making an Homage, don’t make it a parody. Don’t just replicate or rehash a previous work.
more from wiki
An hommage typically repeats a recognizable scene or stylistic element from the other work. An hommage can be similar to a parody, except that parodies typically exaggerate characteristics of target works for comedic effect. Hommagesmay occasionally be perceived negatively by critics as techniques often associated with amateur creators. The use of hommages may be regarded as fannish or as an excuse for lack of originality.
So no exaggeration for comedic effect, not too hard.
Not fannish make it original – this is possibly the line my initial ideas may have crossed.
It all needs more thought.