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| Sleepwalker | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Sleepwalker. Art byScott Kolins. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Sleepwalker #1 (June 1991) |
| Created by | Bob Budiansky andBret Blevins |
| In-story information | |
| Team affiliations | S.H.I.E.L.D. Secret Defenders Sleepwalkers Mindscape Operation: Lightning Storm |
| Notable aliases | Sleepy |
| Abilities | Superhuman strength, durability and visual acuity Enhanced speed, agility, stamina and reflexes Flotation-like flight Substance altering eyebeams Immunity to sleep Resistance to mental attacks Use of Imaginator device Infinity circuit enhancement |
Sleepwalker is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Created byBob Budiansky andBret Blevins, he first appeared inSleepwalker #1 (June 1991).[1][2] The character is named after his race and is the star of a self-titled comic book which ran for 33 issues, from June 1991 to February 1994, with oneHoliday Special. All but two of the issues were written by Budiansky, withTom Brevoort and Mike Kanterovich writing theHoliday Special and one fill-in issue.Dan Slott also contributed a humorous side story in issue #25.
Bob Budiansky spoke on the creation of the character saying,
The idea what would become Sleepwalker first sparked within me during one of the weekly editorial meetings I attended when I was a Marvel editor and which were chaired by former Marvel Editor-in-ChiefJim Shooter... Among the things talked about was how, in the real world,Superman would be treated by the nations of earth if he actually existed. He said that rather than being welcomed by most nations of the earth as a hero because of his good deeds and good looks, nations would instead unite to figure out how to defend themselves against and, if necessary, defeat this near-omnipotent alien being... And so the thought occurred to me that simply because Superman happens to look like the stereotypical all-American male of that era, people have no hesitation to accept him as the hero he is despite the fact that it's common knowledge he's an alien. But what if he is still heroic and looks like a true alien - a creature that doesn't look like us, and, in fact, appears repellant to us? How would humans react to him if that's how Superman looks? So Sleepwalker began as the anti-Superman, instead of an alien who just happens to look like the perfect human. I made him an alien who is a green-skinned bug-eyed monster, at least to our eyes. And he's heroic. At first, I wanted to name my character Alien. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Alien was a poor choice because it had already been used for the 1979movie of the same name, which is probably the reason others mistakenly think I came up with the [Sleepwalker] idea in the 1970s".[3]In regard to his idea of the concept of Sleepwalker, Budiansky stated "I came up with the name Sleepwalker and tied his origin and abilities to dreams, which was an interest of mine. Instead of coming from an alien planet, like Superman, Sleepwalker would come from an alien dimension. I began writing the backstory for Sleepwalker and sketching out his look probably around 1989.[4]
A second Sleepwalker character was planned to receive a self-titled series byRobert Kirkman in 2004, but instead debuted in the 2004Epic Anthology, which was cancelled after one issue. The original Sleepwalker's next appearance was inMarvel Team-Up vol. 3 #15, nearly a decade after his original cancellation.
At the end of 2018, a four-issue Sleepwalker miniseries was released as a tie-in to theInfinity Wars event. The series is written by Chad Bowers and Chris Sims, with artwork byTodd Nauck.[5]
In 2017,Rich Johnston ofBleeding Cool addressed persistent rumors that Marvel editor-in-chiefTom DeFalco had described Sleepwalker as "Sandman done right". After researching the phrase, the most Johnston was able to find was "mention of a press release that described[Sleepwalker] as'Sandman done the Marvel way;'" however, this was "only a reference, never an actual quoted piece". Johnston posited that the rumor's source may have been a parody of earlier Marvel editor-in-chiefJim Shooter.[6]
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The Mindscape is a dimension that borders on the minds of all intelligent beings and living things, inhabited by many strange creatures. Some of them are very dangerous, seeking to invade the sleeping minds of humans. The Sleepwalkers act as guardians to defend these minds and the Mindscape, apprehending the creatures. One such Sleepwalker was trapped in the mind of New York college student Rick Sheridan after being tricked by his archenemy Cobweb.[7][8][2][1] When Rick sleeps, Sleepwalker can materialize in reality or remain in Rick's mind and converse with him via his dreams. After he is informed that Sleepwalker is not malicious, Rick comes to an understanding with him, allowing Sleepwalker to battle crime at night.[7]
Sleepwalker is one of the few entities who remember the events ofThe Infinity Gauntlet storyline, during which he battled the villainous Chain Gang and rescued people from natural disasters. However,Nebula turns back time, neutralizing what he had gone through.[9] He considers his vague memories to be just a dream.[volume & issue needed]
Sleepwalker plays an important role in theInfinity War, helping to defeat theMagus by channeling mental powers fromProfessor X,Jean Grey,Psylocke, andMoondragon through Rick Sheridan's mind. He also contributes to the battle against the evil clones of the superheroesBeast,Firestar, andDaredevil. Part of the fight against the evil doubles involved Sleepwalker impersonating his own evil clone.[10]
In the "Infinity Crusade" storyline, Sleepwalker is brainwashed by theGoddess and taken to her version ofCounter-Earth.[volume & issue needed] During the battle between the Goddess's forces and the rest of Earth's heroes, Sleepwalker subduesDarkhawk and theHuman Torch by dragging them into the water with his shape-changing powers.[volume & issue needed]
Sleepwalker is revealed to supposedly be the lead scout for the Mindspawn, an invading force from the Mindscape.[11] However, in actuality, Cobweb had put in motion a complicated plot to invade Earth and disrupt Rick's relationship with Sleepwalker. This involves disguising his minions as members of Sleepwalker's race and framing his archenemy as their leader. The plot is only partially successful; Sleepwalker and theAvengers thwart the initial attack, although Sleepwalker's reputation is ruined in the process.[12]
During the confrontation, Sleepwalker destroys Rick's mind as a means of protecting him from Cobweb's minions. Unfortunately, the authorities retrieve the "mindrake" weapon Sleepwalker had used to store Rick's mind, preventing him from recovering it, while gathering up one of Cobweb's demons that was left behind after the Avengers drove them away. The demon and the mindrake are taken to a federal prison and research facility, where serial killer Jeremy Roscoe is being held as part of a psychiatric experiment. Roscoe escapes from prison and fuses with the demon, transforming into a creature called Psyko. Psyko begins spreading mass insanity across New York until Sleepwalker manages to defeat him and retrieve the mindrake Psyko had taken with him.[volume & issue needed]
Later, Sleepwalker thwarts Cobweb's second attack and banishes his archenemy once and for all, before seemingly dying to save Rick Sheridan's life.[13] Sleepwalker later turns up alive, still trapped in Rick's mind.[volume & issue needed]
Sleepwalker is seen as having become a registered superhuman under theInitiative.[14] He then appears alongsideMachine Man and Agent Sum as a member ofMs. Marvel's Operation: Lightning Storm.[15][16]
During theFantastic Four's confrontation with the Quiet Man, they recruit Sleepwalker to neutralize the threat posed by the heroes from Counter-Earth. They reason that Sleepwalker is particularly suited to advise them on it, since Counter-Earth wasFranklin Richards' dream.[volume & issue needed]
Sleepwalker has made few appearances in modern comics. He received a self-titled miniseries that was a tie-in to theInfinity Wars event, and has had supporting roles inMoon Girl And Devil Dinosaur andHellcat.[17][18][19][20][21] InInfinity Wars, Rick Sheridan is one of countless individuals who are caught inGamora's plan to appease the entity Devondra, causing him to be fused with an unspecified individual. After journeying into the Soul Gem to retrieve Rick, Sleepwalker learns that Rick has been fused withNick Fury. Fury attempts to hunt Sleepwalker down, but Sleepwalker uses his warp gaze to separate Rick and Fury.[22]
Sleepwalker possesses superhuman strength, durabilty, and the ability to levitate. His only offensive power is his "warp gaze", which allows him to alter the shape of physical objects within his line of sight and twist them to his purposes. He can also modify the physical characteristics of the objects he affects, making them harder or softer, for example. Owing to an oath sworn by all members of his race due to the great physical and mental pain it could cause, Sleepwalker usually avoids using his warp beams on living entities.[8][23]
As an alien resident of the Mindscape, Sleepwalker has exceptional visual abilities, being able to see over a much farther distance than an average human, as well as being able to see and follow energy trails, and see wavelength colors invisible to human eyes. His training as a warrior of the Mindscape makes him skilled tracker and an expert in the combat use of his powers, and also gives him a certain amount of knowledge about various supernatural entities and the workings of the mind. Sleepwalker's presence strengthens the powers of psychic powers and mind-related magic, enhancing the mental abilities ofProfessor X,Moondragon,Jean Grey andPsylocke. Similarly, Sleepwalker's mere presence increased the power ofDoctor Strange's mental spells and enabled him to imprison a mental demon released from a woman's mind byNightmare.[volume & issue needed] Continuing his supernatural 'expertise', Sleepwalker's nature also allows him to be aware of souls, allowing him to confirm that the natives of Counter-Earth did not have souls as they were nothing more than psychic manifestations created by Franklin Richards; he was also able to confirm thatJim Hammond had a soul despite his artificial origin.[24]
Sleepwalker has several weaknesses. The first is his bond to Rick Sheridan—whenever Rick awakens, Sleepwalker automatically disappears from the physical plane and returns to Rick's mind.[23] In theInfinity Wars storyline, Rick is shown to have mastered a form of meditation that allows him to summon Sleepwalker while he is awake.[25]
Sleepwalker's strength is related to his connection with the ground and the Earth—he is strongest while directly in contact with the ground and weakens the higher he floats off the ground. Similarly, Sleepwalker is weakened if he does not return to the mental plane or Rick's mind to renew his energy.[volume & issue needed]
Sleepwalker used the Imaginator, an amulet-like device that can teleport himself and others, before it was stolen by Cobweb. After recovering the Imaginator, Sleepwalker was forced to use it to exile him far from Earth.[volume & issue needed]
InInfinity Wars, Sleepwalker discovers that he can harness the power of theInfinity Gems without having to use them directly, as the Mindscape is connected to the Mind Gem.[22]
Sleepwalker possessed a colorful gallery of mostly original villains, with a new one introduced each issue during the title's beginnings. They include:
An alternate universe version of Sleepwalker appears inMarvel Team-Up (vol. 3) as a member of the "League of Losers" alongsideDarkhawk,Dagger,Araña,X-23,Gravity, andTerror.
An alternate universe version of Sleepwalker from Earth-2149 makes a cameo appearance inMarvel Zombies: Dead Days.[36]
An alternate universe version of the Sleepwalkers from Earth-1610 appear inUltimate X-Men #89.[37]
| Title | Material collected | Published date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infinity Wars: Sleepwalker | Infinity Wars: Sleepwalker #1-4,Sleepwalker #1 | March 2019 | 978-1302915841 |
