Sweet dreams

[stubbleupdate]

The not-so-recent-actually teaser for Spider-man: Infested, the prologue to Spider-Island followed on the theme of one of Marvel's favourite cover gimmicks - Sleepy Avengers



Siege: Dark Avengers

Mighty Avengers 7

New Avengers 53

New Avengers 55

New Avengers 56

Civil War 7
I'm sure that there's been one of these for World War Hulk, but I couldn't find it. If you know of any that I missed out, please post them in the comments.

Comments

[cypherfdp]

Hey, even the World's Greatest Heroes need their nap time.

[sir_mikael]

Otherwise they get cranky. In that Civil War pic Tony and Steve are the only one's staying up. Which explains the War.

[shadowpsykie]

Ianto knows best :D

[featheredserpent]

"Anthony! Steven! If you aren't going to have nap time, there will be NO milk and cookies later!"

[icon_uk]

It's not exactly a new trend, consider The Fall of the Mutants back in 1988

[nezchan]

I like how Wolverine has decided to kip out in the middle of Warlock.

[icon_uk]

Warlock's the only one who doesn't mind his snoring.

Of course, that poster always pissed me off because the one mutant who DID actually fall (rather than sort of fake it thanks to Roma's spell) isn't even on it! (See icon for clue as to who I mean)

[skyblade]

I think that's his chest Psylocke is resting on.

[icon_uk]

Could be... :)

[baxter2814]

And of course The Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe from 1995:



It really looks like Frank is yelling "WAKE THE %$@& UP YOU LAZY IDIOTS! GALACTUS IS ATTACKING!" (Also, Tony Stark looks like he has a massive hangover.)

[icon_uk]

I'm partial to this one, Tim looks like he just needs a teddy bear, and Dick is just all tuckered out.

[julian]

...Who's that guy with no clothes on? (I don't normally care that much, but he rather stood out.)

[pyrotwilight]

Looks like it's Shift, Metamorpho's "brother".

[icon_uk]

Yup, that's the one.

[skyblade]

Who's the one with onions tied to her belt (Which was the fashion at the time)?

[icon_uk]

Dani Moonstar/Mirage of the New Mutants, she always wore a personalised version of the X-Men-in-training costume.

[misterbug]

I love Luke in that New Avengers - "Hey, can you guys take care of the Hood? I was up all night changing diapers, Imma take a nap now."

[blackruzsa]

Even happened with alternate Avengers, didn't it? All that work they do, I'd be surprised if the people of the world haven't lined their pavements with cushions.

[screamsheet.wordpress.com]

Dunno about World War Hulk, but they did one for Fall of the Hulks.

[20thcenturyvole]

Forgive my ignorance - who's face is that buried in Carol's crotch in the first image?

[icon_uk]

Firestar, I think.

[baxter2814]

Ah yes, the always-classic "tons of heroes sprawled on the ground" thing. I actually forgot that it was a Marvel-only gimmick (not that DC hasn't used it too, but not nearly as much).

There's totally a reason it's a such a well-used trope though — it's a really good gimmick. It tells a lot with one very simple, easy-to-understand image and always packs a good punch, just like the multitudes of Crisis On Infinite Earths #7 ripoffs that still never get old or lose their edge. IMHO this cover design, like the COIE one, finished its progression from design -> gimmick -> cliche -> immortal metaphor quite a while ago.

[crabby_lioness]

Even the immortals can be overused in the short term. They need to rest and rejuvenate so we can all say, "Oh look! They haven't used that device since ASM 659!"

[baxter2814]

True. Also, if they decided to say "okay, we won't use classic gimmicks A through R for the next year" it will force them to get creative, which is always a good thing :)

[crabby_lioness]

Yes. I was proud of PAD for an interview he gave last year laying out which classic tropes he refused to use in upcoming storylines.

[thandrak]

There's the classic Fall of the Mutants teaser.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d8/Fallofmutants.jpg
Which was parodied in What Th'!?, but I don't have a copy of that. I think it was a beach gag.

[plague_rabbit]

In that first image, it looks like Spidey's doing that 3 Stooges move where they run on the ground lying down.

[glprime]

"Everyone's a Spider-Man now? Woop woop woop woop woop woop!"

[theaesthete]

It's very sweet how the Avengers like to sleep all curled up together in a pile. They're like kittens!

[ilmari]

This is weirdly esoteric (so fits right in with this forum), but I can't get it out of my head that Moonknight's doing the 'This is it' dance routine from Looney Tunes in the lower right corner of the first image - he's even holding an imaginary cane:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-t8PngHgWY&feature=related

[autumn_lily]

Things that completely distracted me from the first cover:

Luke half lying on an overturned car - ouch

Iron Fist's face looks like what I imagine it must feel like to fall over on a guy totally made of metal (Vision)

I can think of no innocent context for Mr. Fantastic being the only one covered in a 'sticky white substance'

Iron Man is sleeping with his fists balled up in Thor's cape like a blankie

Cyclops (I guess that's him?) has fallen on his own fist - in his crotch

Hulk's ass is up in the air.....

Oh, and in the last cover:

[autumn_lily]

Seems as though Daredevil and Spiderman passed out in the middle of 'something'

[selke]

Yeah, the Ms. Marvel and redhead pose in the first one gives bad thoughts.

[meatwhichdreams]

All I can see is lady-butts, tralala.

[halloweenjack]

Byrne did something similar back in the eighties when he had Gladiator meet the FF; he's reused the layout a time or two again, such as when Superman met the Legion.

[proteus_lives]

I still dig the Civil War one.

C'mon guys

[01d55]

You know that these "team naps" are the only sleep Wolverine gets these days! The poor guy works so hard so I don't think giving him a little accommodation is too much to ask.