History Main / LateArrivalSpoiler

* ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'': In the second campaign, the fact that Caduceus exists and is played by Creator/TaliesinJaffe is a dead giveaway that Taliesin's first character, Mollymauk, dies just after the end of the first arc. Molly's death also ends up informing the plot of future arcs, and provides a massive turning point in Beau's character development.

* The ''Animation/SimpleSamosa'' episode "Spa Wars" features Amma and Appa Iddiyappam getting married after 11 minutes worth of the writers tricking you into believing they're rivals when they're just long-lost lovers. Later episodes have them already married with no problem, meaning that if you watch later episodes with Amma and Appa before "Spa Wars", the twist might catch you off-guard.

Sometimes, it is hard to avoid this in shows that feature major changes in setting and cast line-up that hinge on major plot twists in previous seasons. For example, the Season 1 big bad is [[HeelFaceTurn a major player on the good guys' side]] in Season 4. How exactly are you going to ''hide'' that in promos just for the sake of not spoiling the people who haven't watched Season 3 yet? Also a frequent problem in longrunners and multi-volumes where the story unfolds over a long period of time.

* Parodied in Wiki/{{Uncyclopedia}}: "This article contains spoilers. Wait, I should have told you earlier? My bad."

** The covers of the fourth novel and seventh and eigth comics each give away a different twist of the story.

* The End Times in ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'' spoiled a lot of the mysteries of the armies of the Old world. The lore merely hinted that the Green Knight was Gile Le Breton, but could equally be a daemon-esque construct of the Lady of the Lake, but two paragraphs in to the Bretonnian section in the first End Times book outright states that it was Gile. The third book likewise spoiled the eventual fate of the elves and their eternal war with the Dark Elves. The website also spoiled that Nagash would return to the old world, since they released a playable model of him as a preorder with the book and named the first book after him, despite the fact that the summoning ritual constitutes a good half of the book's lore.

Congratulations! After plenty of {{hype aversion}} and general laziness, you finally decided to check out that series everyone's talking about. You go to the store, buy the first season, set up your Blu-ray/DVD player, turn on the TV, crack open the case and...

->"The ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' trailer is about to play, but if you haven't seen ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' yet, stop watching because there's some serious spoilers about to come up. But if you have seen ''Avengers: Endgame'', enjoy the trailer!"

* ''[[Machinima/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers SMG4]]'':

** Meggy's [[HumanityEnsues human form]]. This was originally part of a shocking twist at the end of the Anime Arc in the video "Final Hours". However, since Meggy is a very [[SpotlightStealingSquad Spotlight Stealing]] character, this twist was going to get spoiled very easily. Not to mention that [[Machinima/MeggysDestinyAnSMG4Movie the first]] ''[[Machinima/MeggysDestinyAnSMG4Movie SMG4]]'' [[Machinima/MeggysDestinyAnSMG4Movie movie]] [[ADayInTheLimelight is about her]], in which her human form plays a very strong plot point.
* The DVD covers for ''Franchise/{{Halo}}''-based {{machinima}} series ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' have regularly done this.

** If you look closely on the cover of the [=SummerSlam=] cover described above, you can actually see Daniel Bryan brawling with Wrestling/JohnCena, Wrestling/ChrisJericho, Wrestling/{{Edge}}, Wrestling/WadeBarrett, and nine other Superstars. Presumably, most first-time viewers didn't look that carefully before they watched the show.

* At the end of ''WebVideo/{{lonelygirl15}}'' season one, [[spoiler:Bree Avery dies]]. This is spoiled 21 episodes into ''WebVideo/KateModern''. Similarly, the TwistEnding of "The Unthinkable Happened" was a huge shock when it was first shown, but is completely spoiled for anyone who knows that the following episode's title is "Bree's Dad is Dead"; the phrase "deader than Bree's dad" has since become a fan idiom. Also, anyone who so much as visits the site is likely to discover that Patient #11 survived the Hart Study, a major plot twist for the second series. Even the fact that the Hymn of One is evil was a huge revelation in the original series, but is now treated as the entire premise of the show. As one may surmise, ''lonelygirl15'' is fairly lax about keeping spoilers secret.

* ''Pinball/StrangerThings'' is full of spoilers for [[Series/StrangerThings its source material]]'s first two seasons. The existence of the [[DarkWorld Upside Down]] and [[ArcVillain the Demogorgon]]'s appearance are plot developments that take half the season to puzzle out, but here they're respectively a [[RandomEvent randomly-occurring mode]] and a bash toy placed in the center of the playfield. (The Demodogs, whose very existence is a twist in the second season, are similarly given their own set of modes.) Perhaps the most striking is "Where's Barb?", a mode based off of a plot thread that runs throughout the first season: finishing it unceremoniously displays a picture of her corpse, taken straight from the season's ''[[Recap/StrangerThingsS1E7ChapterSevenTheBathtub penultimate episode]]''.

** Spoilers are on many of the DVD covers, though always made somewhat vague - for instance, the back of the first season DVD mentions a ghost and a psychotic mercenary, who are introduced as twists halfway through the season, but don't reveal that the ghost is [[spoiler:a main character who is shockingly killed]], or that the mercenary [[spoiler:is his girlfriend]].
** The series' jump to ''Halo 2'' during season three was something of an [[TheUntwist Untwist]], as even though the moment was treated dramatically in-universe as a jump to the "future" as signified by the ArtShift, the creators told the fan community in advance that it would happen. But to anyone catching up and unaware, the DVD cover (and artwork on the website) ruined the surprise, by placing ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo 2'' versions of the same character side-by-side (as well as seasons four and five featuring only ''Halo 2'' imagery on their DVD covers). Even further, an actual twist the fandom didn't expect, that certain scenes would be filmed using ''VideoGame/{{Marathon}}'', is revealed by the ''Marathon'' version of the character appearing on the cover too. (The jump to ''Halo 3'', on the other hand, didn't receive any in-universe distinction, with some episodes using both ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'' during different scenes. Thus, it's not much of a spoiler that cover art features ''Halo 3'', ''4'' or ''5'' iterations)
** New characters are featured on DVD covers, most notably the Alien.
** Season 7's trailer makes it pretty obvious, to anybody who hasn't finished Season 6 yet, that [[spoiler:Church and Tex are dead]]... and also that [[spoiler:they're not going to stay that way]].
** Season 8 introduces CGI action sequences. The first moment of this comes as a surprise as the camera slowly moves away from the characters in the scene while the viewer thinks that they can't possibly do what the scene seems to be suggesting. [[spoiler:Then it happens. The Warthog crashes right through the wall!]] This moment is prominently featured on the DVD cover. There was also a commercial going around with focus on the CGI scenes in general.

** Season 11 has a major [[TheReveal Reveal]] that the planet that the Reds and Blues crashed on [[spoiler:is experiencing a CivilWar]]. The DVD trailer for Season 11 and the teaser for Season 12 don't make any attempt to hide this.
* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Volume 4 promotional artwork and merchandise shows the new costumes and physical states of the characters. For anyone who is new to the show and starting from the beginning, this spoils some of the key events that occur at the end of Volume 3. [[spoiler:The main one is the reveal that Yang lost her arm at the end of Volume 3.]] Apparently, this is of no concern to Creator/RoosterTeeth since a line of t-shirts released in early 2017 makes zero attempts to hide that spoiler.
* ''WebAnimation/MinilifeTV'': Those unaware of TheReveal of "[[Recap/MinilifeTVSeason4Episode14 A New Terror Arrives]]" may be surprised to see [[spoiler:Jack]] on the thumbnail of the ''Minilife Chronicles'' episode, "[[Recap/MinilifeChroniclesTheMayor The Mayor]]".

* At the end of ''WebVideo/{{lonelygirl15}}'' season one, [[spoiler:Bree Avery dies]]. This is spoiled 21 episodes into ''WebVideo/KateModern''. Similarly, the TwistEnding of "The Unthinkable Happened" was a huge shock when it was first shown, but is completely spoiled for anyone who knows that the following episode's title is [[spoiler:"Bree's Dad is Dead"]]; the phrase "[[spoiler:deader than Bree's dad]]" has since become a fan idiom. Also, anyone who so much as visits the site is likely to discover that [[spoiler:Patient #11 survived the Hart Study]], a major plot twist for the second series. Even the fact that the Hymn of One is evil was a huge revelation in the original series, but is now treated as the entire premise of the show. As one may surmise, ''lonelygirl15'' is fairly lax about keeping spoilers secret.

* ''Roleplay/SurvivalOfTheFittest'' examples rarely spoiler the fact that [[spoiler:Adam Dodd won v1]] and indeed it is commonly talked about on the boards as Members assume that everybody already knows about this. Even [[spoiler:Adam]]'s return is made flagrantly obvious by the fact the character has ''two'' pages on the SOTF wiki (one for each v1 and v3). There's also that, y'know, he's actively played on the board, and nobody isn't going to notice that a v3 character as the same name and ID number as a v1 character.

* The BigBad of the first in-story semester in the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'' was SmugSnake Don Sebastiano, because he had the power to psychically MindRape two powerful students and turn them into his mindslaves, and even the administration couldn't prove anything was done to them. Since the story ''Christmas Elves'' was released, it is common knowledge among the story characters (who talk it over) and on the forums that [[spoiler: he didn't do it. Hekate used incredibly dark Mythos magics to enslave them, and Don Sebastiano was implicitly taking the credit.]]

* [[spoiler:Main character Mac's death]] towards the end of Chapter One of ''Literature/AntlersColorado'' is immediately spoiled for anyone who starts Chapter Two out of context, or looks at almost any illustrations of [[spoiler:Mac]] from after that update.
* This is poked fun at by ''WebVideo/AfterHours'', when Soren blurts out "I'm ''glad'' [[spoiler: Dumbledore died]]!" Cue a background character reading ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheHalfbloodPrince'' turning around and complaining.

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* In general, the Cast and About pages of webcomics' sites, if they exist. Sometimes they just summarize what readers could figure out from an ArchiveBinge, but other times they're meant to be read first to give necessary backstory. But most of the time, the only way to really know is to read them first. And it's not uncommon in both cases for these pages to be updated as the strip progresses to touch on storylines from the strip's run, including plot twists.
** Even putting the latest strip on the home page runs the risk of doing this. Woe betide any reader who just happens to arrive right after a major plot twist.
** And if the site has a fan art section, avoid it like the plague until you've read the archives. Very often they depict not only characters but actual events from the strip's run.
* A lot of the advertising, merchandise, and fan artwork surrounding ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' involves Oasis. Enough so that someone who [[ArchiveBinge starts reading the series from the beginning]] will probably guess something's up when she "dies" at the end of her introductory story in 1999, although it's {{lampshade|Hanging}}d even then.
* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'': Ellen exists, and she doesn't stay a villain; Grace can shapeshift, and Tedd doesn't need glasses.
** Still, the comic gets an honorable mention for ([[AbandonedInfoPage initially at least]]) having a cast page split between "spoilers" and "not spoilers".
* Though ''Webcomic/AngelMoxie'' was good about this during its run, the website is not coy about such things now that the series is over and has rerun several times. The girls are shown in the powered-up forms they don't get until almost the end of the series, which also blows the revelation that all three girls are Legendary Heroes and not just the MagicalGirl. The site synopsis is also just one giant spoiler of every plot point in the series.
* ''Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures'': You ''do'' know Dan is an incubus, right?
* One especially JustForFun/{{egregious}} example is ''Webcomic/FamilyMan'' by Dylan Meconis. It is almost ubiquitously hailed as a superb [[spoiler:werewolf]] story ... and has been since before a single [[spoiler:werewolf]] appeared in the story, much less TheReveal. (The reason for this is obvious: the story is a semi-prequel to ''Webcomic/BiteMe'', in which [[spoiler:Luther was a werewolf]].)
* Parodied in ''Webcomic/AnsemRetort''. Someone yells at Marluxia for ruining the fact that [[spoiler: Qui-Gon Jinn dies]] in ''Film/ThePhantomMenace''. That someone? Darth Maul.
* ''Webcomic/KevinAndKell'': Lindesfarne and Danielle are both from the human world.
* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' books come with informative chapter introductions... that tell you bits of what is going to happen in the next chapter. And later chapters. And sometimes in later ''books''. The assumption seems to be that nobody will be reading the books without having first read every strip online.
** Though the first book does include a suggestion that you read the strips before the extra text.
** Not much of a spoiler, but someone who has not yet finished reading the strip may wonder why [[spoiler: Haley is holding a sign saying "I.O.Me: One big-ass diamond"]] on the cast page.
** This is especially true of the prequel books. The first book chronologically spoils almost every background twist for the first three mainline books and holds the payoff for a BrickJoke in the chronologically second book (which is still a prequel but released years earlier); the expectation seems to be that they'll be read in release order.
* ''Webcomic/ParadigmShift'': Every page has badge graphics for each act of the series. The badge for "Flight" makes it pretty clear what Kate's story is.
* ''Webcomic/{{Flipside}}'': [[BlitheSpirit Maytag]] and [[LadyOfWar Bernadette]] are lovers.
* ''Webcomic/OzyAndMillie'': Captain Locke is [[spoiler:[[LukeIAmYourFather Millie's father]]]]. It said so right on the Cast page, [[AbandonedInfoPage back when there still was one]].
* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'': Official shirts and songs, along with oodles of fanart, spoil the existence of the Troll cast who are introduced a good ways into the story and at first appear to be vague, otherworldly antagonists to the main four kids. This may actually have been a good thing because of how many new readers the extended cast helped bring in once they were given their own ADayInTheLimelight act. Said arc treats the facts that [[spoiler:Aradia is a ghost and that the trolls created the universe]] as surprises. Now, good luck finding a discussion on the trolls that doesn't mention either of these.
** To a lesser extent, the appearances of John's three friends (especially the long-delayed reveal of who gardenGnostic was; Homestuck started in April of 2009 and she did not make a physical appearance until October of the same year) and their guardians.
** The [[TheMerch What Pumpkin store]] [[http://whatpumpkin.com/godtier-hoodies.html spoils which characters have gone god-tier]]. However, that very concept wasn't introduced until well into the storyline, so you'd have to have read up until that point, stopped, and then gone there to be actually spoiled by it. Also, the store carries shirts for ''all'' the possible aspects, so you'd have to be looking at the 'as worn by' section to know which have actually been reached in canon so far.
** [[spoiler:The post-scratch session]]. Reading ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' regularly, it's almost hard to remember that some of the [[spoiler: post-scratch kids']] names and appearances, especially [[spoiler: Dirk]]'s, were major (and tantalizing) spoilers, especially when the logs on the left-hand side of the page regularly indicate their actions.
** [[spoiler:Lord English's identity and relation to Doc Scratch]], one of the greatest mysteries of the comic up until his introduction and even a little bit after, gets thrown about fairly casually.
** The album art pictures are occasionally spoilery, such as the art for Colours and Mayhem side A, which depicts [[spoiler:Eridan [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe cut in half]], Gamzee with Li'l Cal, Kanaya in Rainbow Drinker Mode and breaking a wand, Sollux as half dead, and Aradia and Vriska in God Tier outfits]]. Bam, plot points to half of the trolls have been revealed right there.
** Karkat's blood color, especially seeing as his [[spoiler:stand-in for the pre-scratch session]] wears a bright sweater in that color.
** Andrew Hussie spoils later plot twists in the commentary of the physical books pretty regularly, which is especially weird as he explicitly noted that one of the main reasons for making the books was to give people a different entry point for the series. In all fairness, however, he admits at one point that he occasionally just [[TrollingCreator makes shit up]], and some of the spoilers he says do [[ItMakesSenseInContext sound like jokes without context]], for example this slightly exaggerated claim:
--->Heh heh, John sure does irrationally hate Betty Crocker, the harmless baked goods corporation, doesn't he? Surely this is just a silly RunningGag and won't come back to haunt us in any significant way. Right? I mean... it just can't... could it? That would be blowing a gag way too far out of propor-oh fuck Crocker's gonna be the last boss, isn't she.
** Given Homestuck's ludicrous update rate and density of plot twists, the every single subpage about it on this wiki is now completely Administrivia/SpoilersOff because it was essentially impossible to decide what was a spoiler and what wasn't.
** One of the albums' title and art spoils the existence of [[spoiler:The Cherubim]], TheReveal of which was big enough at the time that Hussie produced a second, censored version of the page for use on {{the wiki|rule}} and other non-official sites.
* [[http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2005/12/05 This]] ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'' details this very phenomenon, regarding movies. Specifically ''Film/KingKong2005'' and ''Film/ThePassionOfTheChrist''. As Gabe puts it, there's a statute of limitations on this kind of thing.
* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'': The Secret Blueprints that were released at the same time as the first issue (back when it was released as comic books first) spoiled not only Agatha's identity, but also Adam and Lilith's.
* The seventh ''Webcomic/ElectricWonderland'' comic dramatically [[TheReveal revealed]] Lululu's mermaid tail. After Peter Paltridge wrote some character bios in June 2010, newcomers who clicked the "newbie? go here!" button on the Website/PlatypusComix home page could find out about her tail beforehand. The bios also spoil the fact that Natasha Wing, the seemingly random police girl who appeared at the end of the sixth comic, is actually friends with protagonist Trawn.
* A variation: Chapter 6 of ''Webcomic/{{Magellan}}'' carried a mild spoiler for ''Webcomic/{{Crossoverkill}}'': Hoodoo not only survives unscathed, but is pregnant with [[Webcomic/BadGuyHigh Captain Perfect's]] child. WordOfGod says this is due to ScheduleSlip on ''Crossoverkill'' - it was meant to be completed long before the ''Magellan'' story started.
* In the first issue of ''Webcomic/TheDemonMages'', the actress Ari passed off as a "human, reportedly". Not only is she referred and portrayed as a Gorgon everywhere else she appears (such as the Demon Mages' CharacterBlog and on her creators Website/DeviantArt page), the second issue simply outs her as one without much build-up.
* As ''[[Webcomic/LsEmpire L's Empire's]]'' profile page shows all of the authors, it's nigh impossible to not know about Dark Star and the fact that he becomes an author.
* ''Webcomic/DarthsAndDroids'' tries to avert this by having a separate cast page for each episode.
* ''Webcomic/ZebraGirl'': The cast page is not even trying to hide many key events of the story. Particularly the way Sandra eventually succumbs to her demonic urges and becomes a ruthless and cruel demon.
* ''Webcomic/SleeplessDomain'': Undine/Alchemical Water is the last active member of Team Alchemical. Sally/Alchemical Fire, Gwen/Alchemical Earth and Sylvia/Alchemical Air were killed in action and Undine was mortally wounded in the same battle. Tessa/Alchemical Aether saved Undine's life, but at the cost of her (Tessa's) powers.
* ''Webcomic/TwoKinds'': Flora (a [[FunnyAnimal Tiger Keidrian]]) is pregnant with Human Trace's child - something thought to be impossible, in-universe. Secondary character Raine has been a Human/Keidrian hybrid all along.
* The fact that ''Webcomic/ItHurts'' suddenly shifts from a SliceOfLife setting to a supernatural, sci-fi post-apocalypse is not kept secret by any aspect of the site. The banner image, for example, is occasionally a headshot of [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie Zombie!Allison]].
* ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'': Faye is a recovering alcoholic who may or may not have tried to kill herself (even she's not sure). Claire is a transwoman. Whether or not she's had reassignment surgery is [[ShrugOfGod intentionally never brought up.]]
* ''Webcomic/StandStillStaySilent'': The main character that dies during the first story arc is very obviously absent from illustrations made for the second arc that are supposed to include the entire main cast.
* While it updated regularly, ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'' had a general fansite[=/=]fan group policy of 'Wait 48-72 hours to mention '''anything''' (including audience reaction, in some cases), but with the foreshadowing and callbacks, you could really find a late arrival spoiler in something mentioned from ''15 years previous''. [[spoiler:Including Laz'R'Us tech, the importance of the core generator, the fact that there are two Kevyn's, Ennesby being able to jump between and control different computer systems...]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'':
** Creator/FUNimation and its predecessor [[Creator/{{Geneon}} Geneon Entertainment]], as well as the original Japanese trailers (plus openings if you count the original sound novels), spare no detail when it comes to the anime adaptation of the game -- from the characters' dark pasts to the not-so-secret actual plot to the ''ending'' of the main series.
** The manga takes it even further, since it shows Hanyuu and Shion in omake before they appear, leading people who have never played the sound novels or watched the anime to wonder why Mion's hair is down (you could just think it's a fanservice omake thing, though) and who that girl with the horns is.
** The GaidenGame ''Daybreak Portable'''s [[SpoilerOpening opening theme]] contains a shot of [[ShrinkingViolet Natsumi]] [[spoiler:wielding a butcher knife and bearing a very lovely SlasherSmile]]. Sure hope you've seen all the way through either Onisarashi-hen or Someutsushi-hen.
** The 2020 anime was marketed as a remake of the 2006 anime, so a newcomer would be excused for thinking it was a good way to get started with the series. However, in the second episode the anime turns out to be a StealthSequel, with a brand new arc--and the beginning of the episode outright reveals [[spoiler:Hanyuu's existence and the fact that Rika's stuck in a GroundhogDayLoop of murders]], a very major plot twist which in the original series isn't revealed until the second half of the story.
* The fandom of ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'' doesn't hide the fact that there is a GroundhogDayLoop going on (since it's revealed that there is one fairly early on), as well as the magical beings that keep appearing per arc. The [=PS3=] version is even worse, where they blatantly show all the magical beings that appear in future arcs (until episode 4) ''in the opening'', nonetheless. This was invoked by [=Ryukishi07=] himself, since in an interview he admitted he didn't wanted to outright show the answer to the murders since he knew this would happen.
* Nowadays, whenever someone starts to watch the ''VisualNovel/SchoolDays'' anime, they will almost certainly go into it already knowing that, at the utmost minimum, that at least ''one'' of the girls involved is a {{Yandere}}. You can [[MoralGuardians thank]] the [[MemeticMutation Nice Boat meme]] for that.[[note]]The first time that it was supposed to air, the final episode of the ''VisualNovel/SchoolDays'' anime was deemed too close to home due to violent incidents in the news, and was replaced with [[RelaxOVision thirty minutes of peaceful landscape scenery, including a boat on a lake.]][[/note]]
* ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' generally tries to avoid this whenever possible, but there are still a few examples:
** A major subplot of the first game, ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'' is Miles Edgeworth's gradual HeelFaceTurn. The fact that he has [[VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigationsMilesEdgeworth his own spinoff]] turns this into a ForegoneConclusion.
** A major subplot of ''Justice For All'' is Phoenix (and by extension, the player) believing Edgeworth to be dead, apparently having committed suicide, only for him to turn up alive and well in the game's final chapter. Once again, the fact that he has his own spinoff game, which chronologically occurs after this one, spoils this. However, it was always more of a case of LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt anyway, and he [[SpoilerCover appears on the cover of the DS version]], so it's not too much of a spoiler.
** In the final episode of ''[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney Phoenix Wright: Justice For All]]'', [[spoiler:Maya Fey]] gets into a truly life-threatening situation. The box art for the following game features her on the front cover, spoiling that she survives.
** Averted in ''VisualNovel/{{Ace Attorney Investigations|MilesEdgeworth}}''. Edgeworth never actually mentions why [[spoiler:he stopped following the path of Manfred von Karma]] and someone playing the game first might assume it was due to soul-searching and personal moral decisions. They would be unaware that in the first game Edgeworth discovered that [[spoiler:Von Karma murdered his father and raised him as a heartless prosecutor as revenge for Edgeworth's father giving him a penalty in court.]] In fact, most of the big spoilery events of the earlier games are either not mentioned or referred to so lightly (such as [[spoiler: Franziska being shot]]) a newbie might think they're talking about a NoodleIncident.
** [[spoiler:Simon Blackquill]] appears as a free man in the fourth case of ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneySpiritOfJustice'', spoiling the fact that he was exculpated of his murder charge in [[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies the previous game]].
* ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'':
** Gilgamesh's presence (and his class, though this is because unlike most Servants he doesn't bother to hide his identity) is usually not hidden at all by promotional materials or other sources, and Fate/Unlimited Codes has both him and [[spoiler: Dark Sakura]] as playable characters from the get-go.
** The fact that [[SinisterMinister Kotomine]] is, in fact, the BigBad, as well as the above mentioned Servant's Master, and not merely a {{Jerkass}} comes as a surprise late in the [[RoadCone first route]] / [[TheAnimeOfTheGame anime]] to anyone who wasn't spoiled, which is practically no-one, thanks in part to Fate/Unlimited Codes and the fandom in general.
** While many of the Servants' identities are more or less well-known these days, Saber's identity as [[spoiler:a [[GenderFlip gender-flipped]] Myth/KingArthur]] is probably the most famous. ''Literature/FateZero'' doesn't bother to hide this and establishes it early on. Much of this can owe to the fact that, with other iterations of the franchise, just saying "Saber" described a variety of characters. For a while, they could get away with adjectives ("Blue Saber" for the original, "Red Saber" for Nero, for instance). ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'' quashed that by introducing ''dozens'' of Sabers, many of whom make up her supporting cast in the lore of that game, so now she's generally only called "Saber" in the context of ''exclusively'' talking about ''stay/Night'''s cast.
** Likewise ''Literature/FateZero'' also spoils the fact that [[spoiler:Rin and Sakura are sisters]] early on.
** The [[SpoilerOpening openings]] of [[UpdatedReRelease the Realta Nua]] version feature several plot points that would ordinarily not be revealed into much later in the route, such as [[spoiler:Shirou gaining Archer's arm, Saber's corruption, and Ilya during her sacrifice]] in the Heaven's Feel opening.
** ''Grand Order'' does this a lot to the ''VideoGame/FateExtra'' games, by way of SequelDisplacement (one was a PSP game series so obscure its second entry suffered from NoExportForYou, the other is mobile). It had very little hope of concealing anyone's identities, so it just presented them upfront. Considering that ''Grand Order'''s first year of its story had major scenes involving Elizabeth, Tamamo, Altera, Gawain, and Robin Hood, and entire arcs centered on Nero and Drake, and entire ''seasonal events'' centered around Nero and Elizabeth, most people nowadays would get into the ''Extra'' games specifically because they want to know where Nero, Elizabeth, and Tamamo come from. Deeply ironic when one considers the entire purpose of Nero's IdenticalStranger status was to misdirect people who thought she was that ''other'' Saber.
** One of the biggest is probably Archer's identity: [[spoiler: a possible alternate future self of Shirou]]. It's overall difficult to even talk about the Unlimited Blade Works route without mentioning it, and in most places it gets mentioned without spoiler tags or warnings. Part of this is due to the [[MemeticMutation highly prolific]] status of the Unlimited Blade Works chant on the Internet... and the fact that [[spoiler:both Archer's and Shirou's version are used]] make it border on ItWasHisSled for those that haven't played the game yet. ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'' doesn't even bother to hide it, as multiple Servants in-game just call him [[spoiler:Emiya]] and one of his playable looks with his hair down [[spoiler:is almost impossible to mistake for anyone other than a tanned, white-haired Shirou]].
* ''VisualNovel/LittleBusters'': If the game's general trend towards RousseauWasRight didn't give you the idea that Kanata isn't nearly as much of a {{Jerkass}} deep down as she acts towards Haruka, the fact that she is a well-advertised love interest in Ecstasy surely would.
* The official Steam release of the original ''VisualNovel/MuvLuv'' trilogy makes no effort to hide that [[spoiler:Shirogane Takeru gets abruptly transported to a post-apocalyptic timeline in ''VisualNovel/MuvLuvUnlimited''. Furthermore, promotional material for ''VisualNovel/MuvLuvAlternative'' clearly spells out the premise of him becoming a GroundhogPeggySue out to SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong. Lastly, once the ''Altered Fable'' epilogue was localized for the international ''photonmelodies'' release, the marketing clearly spoils the fact that it's set in ''Final Extra'', a world that was created ''at the very end of Alternative''.]]
* ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'':
** ''Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair'' has a rather unusual example. The game's cover and store screenshots prominently show Byakuya Togami from the first game among the participants (although much fatter), thus apparently spoiling that he survives the events of the first ''Danganronpa''. However, it turns out that [[spoiler:although Byakuya ''did'' survive, the person shown on the cover is actually the Ultimate Imposter disguised as him]].
** The first trailer of ''VideoGame/DanganronpaAnotherEpisodeUltraDespairGirls'' shows all six survivors of the first game as they're leaving the academy in the first few seconds (the game's final scene before cutting to credits). It's impossible to even describe the game's premise without spoiling that the series takes place AfterTheEnd, that Toko Fukawa survives the first game, and that she has a SplitPersonality in the form of SerialKiller Genocide Jack (or Jill). And that's before [[spoiler:Junko Enoshima's role in the game]] is revealed at the end of the second chapter.
** Taken to absurd levels in the Ultimate Talent Development Plan bonus mode of ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaV3KillingHarmony'' where characters from all three main games are playable, including {{Walking Spoiler}}s such as Mukuro Ikusaba, [[spoiler:the real Junko Enoshima]], and Izuru Kamukura. It also casually spoils things such as [[spoiler:Chihiro Fujisaki's gender, Kyoko Kirigiri being the Ultimate Detective, Hajime Hinata being a Reserve Course student without an Ultimate talent, and the Byakuya Togami in ''Danganronpa 2'' actually being the Ultimate Imposter]] just to name a few.
** VisualNovel/DanganronpaSUltimateSummerCamp features [[spoiler: the real Junko Enoshima]] ''[[UpToEleven on the cover of the game]]''. Other spoilers include [[spoiler:the existance of the Neo World Program and Monaca's affiliation with the Towa Group]].
* ''VisualNovel/{{Sunrider}} Liberation Day''’s opening cinematic casually gives away two major twists from the previous game, ''Mask of Arcadius'': the fact that Asaga Oakrun’s real name is Asaga di Ryuvia (and is thus related in some way to Sola di Ryuvia); and the fact that Chigara Ashada bears an uncanny resemblance to the BigBad. For that matter, the character profiles on the game’s official website don’t even try to hide the fact that Asaga [[spoiler:is a princess]] or that the BigBad [[spoiler:is a persona shared by a bunch of hive-minded clones called the Prototypes]].
** The same webpage also assumes that you’ve played the HighSchoolAU DatingSim SpinOff ''Sunrider Academy'', as Sola’s profile casually gives away her route’s big reveal that [[spoiler:Academy!Sola’s very existence is a by-product of the main Sunrider universe’s Sola travelling through time]].
* The opening illustration for ''VisualNovel/YourTurnToDie'''s manga adaptation not only gives away the entire existence of the Convict, but also the death of the SacrificialLion.
* Merely seeing the full title of the ''VisualNovel/PurrfectApawcalypse'' series's third game spoils the identity of the BigBad in the first and second games, and reading the synopsis for it spoils a lot of major events that occurred in the second game's GoldenEnding.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films — Animation]]
* The 2004 Platinum edition of [[Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon Disney's]] ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' starts with several movie trailers before you reach the main DVD menu. Including the trailer for ''[[WesternAnimation/AladdinTheReturnOfJafar The Return of Jafar]]''. Where he, you know, ''{{re|vengeOfTheSequel}}turns''. As a genie.
** And Heaven forbid anyone watch the ''[[{{WesternAnimation/AladdinTheSeries}} Aladdin]]'' TV show before seeing that Iago did a HeelFaceTurn in ''The Return of Jafar''. The Creator/DisneyChannel aired several episodes in April 1994 before the company's video department released that sequel in May, and thus Iago was inexplicably being friends with the crew, perching harmlessly on Jasmine's shoulder, etc.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'':
** The plot twist where Syndrome kidnaps Jack-Jack overlaps with the ''WesternAnimation/JackJackAttack'' short, and it seems everyone is perfectly willing to discuss it openly.
** Several people called the Kari phone calls and subsequent Jack-Jack and Syndrome scene a bonus materials deleted scene for the DVD on first viewing of the film. Lo and behold...
* The trailers for ''WesternAnimation/Incredibles2'' show [[spoiler:that Jack-Jack has superpowers]], something that was supposed to be an unexpected surprise in the first film released 14 years earlier.
* On the 2012 Diamond edition of ''WesternAnimation/LadyAndTheTramp'' (both on the DVD ''and'' Blu-ray discs), it's best to start the movie immediately if you don't want to know that [[spoiler: Lady and Tramp have kids]], [[spoiler:Tramp gets taken in by the Darlings for his effort in protecting the baby]] ''and'' that [[spoiler:Trusty [[DisneyDeath survives]] after getting hit by the dogcatcher's wagon]], as the main menu shows a clip of the final scene in the movie, which spoils all three. The former spoiler even comes ''less than a '''minute''' into it!''
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime'': Want to know if the heroes made it to the Great Valley in the end of the first film? Don't watch any of the 14 sequels then.
* Trailers and merchandise for the ''Franchise/{{Shrek}}'' movies after [[WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}} the first one]] both obviously and inevitably spoil what was a huge surprise in the first movie: Fiona turns into an ogre. "Why is Fiona fat and green?! Wait! NOOOO!"
** Merchandise for ''WesternAnimation/ShrekTheThird'', released before the movie, included a toy set of the [[spoiler: ogre triplets]], who don't appear until the VERY end of the film.
* The official ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'' coloring book goes through the entire story, spoiling ''everything''. The [[UsefulNotes/NintendoWii Wii]], [[UsefulNotes/NintendoDS DS]] and [[UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS 3DS]] tie-in games came out a week before the film. Since they were set post-movie, most of the major twists were spoiled, [[spoiler:mainly the true identities of Vanellope and King Candy.]]
** The true identity of [[spoiler: Vanellope]] is referenced a few times in [[WesternAnimation/RalphBreaksTheInternet the sequel]], which may be confusing to viewers who haven't seen the original film. There's even an entire scene devoted to [[spoiler: the [[DisneyPrincess Disney Princesses]] thinking that Vanellope is a princess,]] which was shown in many of the trailers.
* The closing credits of ''WesternAnimation/WinnieThePooh2011'' credit Huell Howser as the Backson, spoiling TheStinger in which it is revealed that he isn't just a figment of the 100 Acre Wood gang's imagination.
* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersUniversity'', a prequel to ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'' made several years after the original, revolves around Mike enrolling in college in order to become a scarer. If you've already seen ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'', you know [[ForegoneConclusion Mike never gets to be a Scarer]]. On the other hand, if you watch ''WesternAnimation/MonstersUniversity'' before watching ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'', you will have one of the latter movie's plot twists spoiled for you, namely [[spoiler:Roz actually being a CDA agent]].
* In their October mailings, the Disney Movie Club advertises their movies by the villain. This can spoil movies where who the villain is is a big twist, including ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Up}}'', and ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'', as well as the true name of [[WesternAnimation/MeetTheRobinsons Bowler Hat Guy]].
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}:'' In the commercials during the Latin American TV premiere, the music video of the song "You're The Glow" was shown, which contained shots of [[spoiler:sun rays coming from Flynn's body]] and [[spoiler:a short-haired Rapunzel kissing Flynn]].
* If you had never seen ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' before watching Season 4 of ''Series/OnceUponATime'', then it wasn't long before the plot twist that [[spoiler:Hans is the villain]] was spoiled. ''WesternAnimation/FrozenII'' similarly never tries to hide said plot twist either.
* ''Franchise/DisneyFairies'' had [[spoiler: Vidia reform]] by the end of ''Great Fairy Rescue'' and make her a member of the core group, unofficial second in command at that.
* The "Women of Inside Out" video in the ''WesternAnimation/InsideOut'' Blu-ray spoils [[spoiler: Joy allowing Sadness to touch the core memories at the end.]]
* Franchise/{{Lego}} clearly didn't mind spoiling the 2003 ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'' movie ''Mask of Light'', as the promotional stills seen in the building manuals of several 2004 toys are taken from the end of the film, when Takua puts on the mask and ''becomes'' the Seventh Toa he had spent the movie searching for.
* In order to establish the canonicity of [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTheMovie2017 the movie]], Season 8 of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' spoils several of its events and the fate of one of the characters ''within the first few lines''.
* A mural within the Pixar Pier at [[Ride/{{Disneyland}} Disney California Adventure]] depicts a scene that gives away the ending of ''WesternAnimation/{{Coco}}''; [[spoiler: It depicts Miguel standing proudly with the (both living and deceased) members of his family, dressed in full mariachi garb and guitar in hand, suggesting that the Rivera clan's music ban will be lifted at the movie's end. It also shows Mama Coco as a spirit, spoiling her eventual passing, while the inclusion of Hector among Miguel's deceased relatives risks spoiling the twist of him being Miguel's great-great-grandfather -- who gets spared a Second Death by the time the movie ends, and instead finally acquires permission to revisit the Land of the Living on Dia de los Muertos. In turn, Ernesto de la Cruz is not on the mural, potentially spoiling the fact that he is ''not'' Miguel's great-great-great-grandfather, as Miguel starts off the movie believing.]]
* Most ''WesternAnimation/{{Trolls}}'' merchandise, and the [[WesternAnimation/TrollsTheBeatGoesOn animated series based on it]], shows [[spoiler: Branch with blue hair and green skin]], which happens in the actual movie [[spoiler: after he sings to save the lives of the other trolls]].
* The plot of ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie2TheSecondPart'' relies a lot on the context of [[spoiler:Finn and his sister playing with the LEGO toys]], while [[spoiler:the entire live action world]] was a climactic reveal in [[WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie the first movie.]] Since the sequel picks up right where the first movie left off, it also spoils the surprise of the SequelHook. This movie also consistently calls Wyldstyle by [[spoiler:Lucy]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* Fan fiction in general can be a late-arrival spoiler. If someone new to the fandom starts looking, they may be surprised by summaries that give away important plot points.
* A sequel to any story could also have this effect if the author includes spoilers in the summary.
* ''Fanfic/BlackbirdArrow'': By Chapter Three, most of the readers have guessed that the "terrible choice" Dinah made was trading Laurel to the League of Assassins in exchange for Sara's freedom.
* The title of the second installment in the Blueblood series, ''Blueblood's Redemption'', implies Blueblood ''wasn't'' redeemed in the first, ''Fanfic/BluebloodReturns'', essentially spoiling its ending that his HeelFaceTurn wasn't genuine. Unfortunately, anyone looking up the fic now is likely to find it listed along with the sequel.
* ''Fanfic/BrendansPokemonAdventure'' has spoilers for the next few chapters, and has a page exclusively for spoilers.
* A {{flashback}} from ''Fanfic/CalvinAndHobbesTheSeries'' spoils the ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo''-esque twist of ''FanFic/AttackOfTheTeacherCreature''. [[spoiler:It doesn't mention the ''later'' twist about the monster actually existing, thankfully.]]
* In ''Fanfic/BlizzardOfTheRedCastle'', [[VideoGame/KanColle Akagi]] being Fubuki's mother, and Fubuki's ignorance of that, is the core source of drama, and it's revealed to the audience at the end of the first chapter.
* ''Fanfic/CodePrime'': The first chapter reveals that the boy we see with Charles in ''Code Geass'' is his young brother, V.V.....[[AccidentallyCorrectWriting and also correctly predicted his name to be Victor...]]
* ''FanFic/DeathNoteIITheHiddenNote''. As a {{Continuation}} of the original ''Manga/DeathNote'', the first chapter spoils what happens at the end of the original story. Which ends up becoming a plot point.
* In ''Fanfic/DreamingOfSunshine'', it's hard to hide that Shikako replaces Sakura on Team 7, making the latter DemotedToExtra.
* ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi'' assumes the reader has finished the first [[Videogame/DungeonKeeper Dungeon Keeper]] and at least played the sequel, as many events from the story take place in the same scenarios where the first game was played and the differences in gameplay from the two games become an integral part of the plot.
** It also assumes the reader has at least finished the first arc of [[Manga/SailorMoon Sailor Moon]] for the sake of some characters; like [[spoiler:Jadeite being locked into Eternal Sleep by Queen Beryl.]]
* Very early on in ''FanFic/EddwardWrightAceAttorney'', minor spoilers to the ending of ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7861246 Port-Ed 2]]'' exist, such as the Eds still having their [=ASHPDs=] and Edd having his CompanionCube. The latter plot point may not be as surprising for those who finished ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}'', but the first one is. ''Port-Ed 2'' wasn't even halfway finished when ''Eddward Wright'' started.
* ''Fanfic/EquestriasFirstHuman'': The askblog based around the fic, as well as the author's Website/DeviantArt page, make it pretty obvious that [[spoiler: Connor becomes a pony]].
* ''Manga/{{Evangelion 303}}'': If someone checks Grummancat's page before reading all chapters in order, that person will get spoiled that: Jessika was in love with Asuka, Unit-04 crashes and Jessika dies, Asuka falls in a coma but it only lasts several months, Asuka's suicide attempt fails, Shinji and Asuka got engaged and Mari Makinami is the Sixth Child.
* ''Fanfic/FacingTheFutureSeries'': Anyone who reads ahead in the series will learn [[spoiler:Danielle has been adopted by the Fentons.]]
* The summary and first couple of chapters of ''The Legacy of the Fire Empire'' (the sequel to ''FanFic/TheFallOfTheFireEmpire'') spoil both the ending of the first story, as well as the major plot point of [[spoiler:Aang still being alive, after waking from the coma-like state that the Fire Empire's actions kept him in]].
* ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainBoilingPoint'' takes place after "Wing It Like Witches" so it doesn't bother to keep Amity's crush on Luz a secret. And like the fic below, it doesn't keep the Apex's existence a secret.
* ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainBlossomingTrail'' spoils a few things in regards to how Ash is now the Alola League Champion (as it takes place during ''Pokémon Journeys'') but its prequel, ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainKnightOfTheOrangeLily'' spoils many of the twists of the Nihilego arc (namely that it's Faba's fault for the entire mess) and that it starts on the night before Professor Kukui and Burnet's wedding. And on the Infinity Train side of things, the events of Book 1 and 2 are spoiled, alongside Book 3 since it takes place at the same time.
* ''Fanfic/KarmaInRetrograde'' assumes the reader is caught up with the manga, giving away details like All Might's retirement and Overhaul's defeat.
* ''Fanfic/LifeInManehattan'': It's revealed about halfway through the first story in the series that museum curator Honey Do is actually the real life Daring Do, whose exploits are the inspiration for the popular book series, but she keeps this a secret so that no one will treat her like her brash fictional counterpart.
* ''Fanfic/MyBravePonyStarfleetMagic'' has a rather infamous moment when [[spoiler:Twilight Sparkle, the usual protagonist of ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Friendship is Magic]]'', dies to one of season 3's main villains]]. And unlike most examples of this, [[Creator/DakariKingMykan the author]] makes no attempt to hide it from first-time viewers; blogs and comments of his casually mention [[spoiler:her death]] as if it's something to be proud of. On that note, if you're reading ''Fanfic/FallOfStarfleetRebirthOfFriendship'' or ''Fanfic/MyBravePonyStarfleetNemesis'', just remember that the above event is canon in those universes as well. Two original characters bare a striking resemblance to [[spoiler:Twilight]] in the former, and a main character of the latter is a clone.
* This is a huge problem with ''Fanfic/TheNextFrontier'', because TheReveal that [[spoiler:it's a ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' crossover]] is set up to be a huge twist.
* ''Fanfic/TheNewAdventuresOfInvaderZim'': Season 2 assumes that readers will already be familiar with the fact that [[spoiler: Zim is organizing a rebellion against the Tallest]], a plot point which doesn't come up until near the end of Season 1.
* ''Fanfic/RedSadie'':
** The second work in the series, ''Ruby Stars'', spoils the twist from the first work in its synopsis and features the repercussions as a major plot point.
** Later chapters casually incorporate [[WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse the show]]'s reveal of [[spoiler:Rose Quartz being Pink Diamond]], which took years and a curveball before it was revealed.
* Back in ''Fanfic/TheSecondTry'', the existence of a little girl named Aki was [[WalkingSpoiler an enormous spoiler]]. She's the main character in the [[Webcomic/AkiChansLife sequel webmanga]].
* ''Fanfic/UsAndThem'': Reading ''Life Renewed, Love Renewed'' or any of the side stories will spoil Aeris and Sephiroth's fates.
* ''Fanfic/AVoiceAmongTheStrangers'' reveals towards the end that [[spoiler:Ebony has been the new Changeling queen for some time now, and is also named Chrysalis]]. The first chapter of the POVSequel ''A Stranger Among the Voices'', is from Ebony's point of view and begins some time before the first story. As such, it does not attempt to keep the secret.
* ''FanFic/{{Webwork}}'': A major plot point is Jade's further transformation from a Shadowkhan into a [[SpiderPeople Jorogumo]]. This happens just late enough to spoil things for new readers, but early enough to essentially drive the whole plot.
* While not nearly as egregious as some examples, in ''FanFic/WinterWar'', Byakuya's survival is one of these. The series index lists the chapters by name and POV character. Byakuya is MIA at the start of the fic, his death apparently confirmed several chapters later... and then we get a chapter titled "Byakuya: Necessity." So if you started reading late, and looked at the chapter index, you probably knew he wasn't really dead even before you got to the point where Hanatarou remembers seeing him apparently die.
* The first half of season three of ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'' is called [[spoiler:''The Cancelled Series'']], which is advertised as such and, therefore, spoils what happens at the end of season two.
* ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'': Due to the amount of ExpandedUniverse sidestories, several of these follow certain plotlines and might spoil events that happened in others previously written. Examples include:
** The Ghosts of Maiden's Peak Interlude already takes into account that [[spoiler:Agatha's Gengar is actually her younger brother Tony, who was killed and had his soul turned into a Gastly]] during the events of the Agatha & Sam Gaiden.
** Butterfree's two interludes as well. The first one has him go in search for the Pink Butterfree [[spoiler:and finding out that she found herself another mate]], while the second one deals with him still dwelling on the aftermath of that.
* ''Fanfic/PeaceOfMindPieceOfHeart'': Don't read this fic if you didn't finish watching ''She-Ra (2018)'' and ''Steven Universe Future''. TheReveal at the end of ''Infinity Train'' Book 1 is also immediately spoiled.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':
** A popular arc of featured a warped and bizarre Metropolis in which the villainous Superman every night busted out and had to be brought back to jail by the resident superhero, Bizarro. The reason behind this sudden change and the entity responsible? The mystery was tightly kept during the original release, but the fact that the paperback collection was titled ''ComicBook/EmperorJoker'' ruined the big surprise.
** Given the fact that ''ComicBook/KryptonNoMore'' was published in 1976 and the fact that Krypton is still a part of the lore, the fact that titular event is a lie devised by Supergirl and the citizens of Kandor as a (really fucked-up) way to get Superman to stop stressing out when he starts veering close to eco-terrorism.
* The second issue of Marvel's ''Comicbook/{{Thunderbolts}}'' comic had a retailer's incentive alternate cover that showed the team [[spoiler:in their original Masters of Evil guises]]. This cover was also used as the cover of the first collected edition, which also explains the situation in the back cover blurb, and has a foreword by Creator/KurtBusiek which begins "[[DoNotSpoilThisEnding The trickiest part of the whole thing was maintaining the surprise.]] [[LampshadeHanging Not that we're doing so any more.]]"
* The trade paperback for one ''{{Transformers}}'' story was called ''Transformers: [[spoiler:Legacy of Unicron]]''. This was a big deal when the comic was first published: the title was blanked in the table of contents.
* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'':
** When Mary Jane first appeared, she was initially TheFaceless, and the fact that she was a complete fox instead of just plain was a huge surprise to Peter Parker as well as his friends ([[TheReveal "Face it, tiger; You just hit the jackpot"]]). Now that the cat's been out of the bag for years, it's virtually impossible to view this as a surprise thanks to her immense popularity as well as her countless depictions in the media.[[note]]Although Spider-Man #42 was the first time Peter--and the readers--saw Mary Jane's face, other characters had previously remarked that she was gorgeous. Still, she was first mentioned in Amazing Spider-Man #15 and the first indication that she was pretty came ten issues later, with another 17 issues before Peter and the readers met her.[[/note]]
** The Green Goblin's identity was a secret for over two years (in real time). He debuted in Amazing Spider-Man #14 and wouldn't be revealed as Norman Osborn until #39. Now everyone with more than a passing knowledge of Spider-Man knows Norman is the Green Goblin.
* The trade paperback for ''ComicBook/{{Marvel 1602}}'' has a foreword by a critic. While it doesn't quite spoil the ending it does a large part of the middle; [[spoiler:namely, the death of Queen Elizabeth, and that the heroes end up in America.]]
* There's something about Creator/NeilGaiman and spoileriffic forewords.
** Frank [=McConnell's=] foreword to the ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' trade paperback "The Kindly Ones" actually features the line, [[spoiler:"Dream dies at the end."]] Not only that, but [=McConnell=] is utterly unapologetic about spoiling it for people who haven't read the comic yet: "Sorry to bust your bubble, but [[spoiler:this is a tragedy, or at least, as classically tragedy has been written in a long time,]] so you should know at the outset how it's going to end." Thanks, Frank, but if Neil Gaiman felt that way, he probably would have started with that scene and flashed back, or had a Greek chorus tell us how the arc would end, or ''do anything but tell the story in a chronological fashion''.
** There is a clue in an earlier comic: Destiny looks in his book and sees an image of [[spoiler:"Dream, clothed all in white and with white hair."]]. There's also the scene that closes the arc immediately before the Kindly Ones, at the Inn At World's End. After all the travelers have told their stories, all the characters are distracted by a literally massive funeral procession dominating the horizon. [[spoiler:In that procession are all of Dream's family and many recognizable faces from previous stories, including characters that only exist because of their ties to Dream, such as Melvyn Pumpkinhead, Nuala, et al. If you look - not even carefully, if you just ''look'', it becomes swiftly impossible not to notice that ALL of these characters are closely tied to Dream... and Dream is the only character not present in the procession. The sequence ends with an image of Death, crying. The sequence did not so much 'heavily foreshadow' Dream's death as much as it ''outright told you it was going to happen.'']]
** This isn't limited to the Kindly Ones. Every trade except the first volume contains an introduction and while some warn, all of them outright spoil the stories contained inside.
* The title of the first post-''Comicbook/CivilWar'' Comicbook/CaptainAmerica TPB? Captain America: [[spoiler:''ComicBook/TheDeathOfCaptainAmerica''.]] While yes, there was a huge media blitz about it when it happened, it kind of sucks for new readers, or people in other countries who didn't get that hype.
** Then it happened again, only in reverse. With the delays on [[spoiler:''Captain America: Reborn'']], he appeared in at least four books before the big event had actually happened.
** And '''then''': Cap was revealed to have been a Hydra agent all along, via Red Skull manipulating a sapient, but juvenille Cosmic Cube into making it so. Though it isn't clear whether or not Kobik changed Cap's memories (With Red Skull giving the other Hydra agents the heads up) or changed the actual timeline.
* The ComicBook/{{Robin|1993}} trade paperback that features the [[spoiler:return of Spoiler]] has this plastered on everywhere. The [[spoiler:Spoiler alert tag itself]] is a spoiler. [[spoiler:Spoiler]] is on the cover. Then inside, the reader discovers very quickly [[spoiler: that without doubt it is Stephanie Brown]]. So it is more about Robin's reaction to and refusal to believe it.
* ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' storyline, ''The Great Darkness Saga'' featured Darkseid as the main antagonist. His appearance intended as a surprise is blown to anyone who picks up the trade (as he appears on the cover).
* The back cover of the paperback collection ''{{ComicBook/Annihilation}} Conquest: Book Two'' refers to "the previously unknown mastermind of the Phalanx invasion -- a revelation that will have longtime Marvel fans' jaws on the floor!" The illustration immediately below this text plainly shows [[spoiler:the evil robot Ultron]].
* Back in the 1960s in Comicbook/TheAvengers, a new character called "Yellowjacket" appeared, claimed that he had killed Henry Pym, kidnapped the Wasp, and to everybody's surprise, when they returned the Wasp organized a wedding with him. It was revealed that end of the story that Yellowjacket ''is'' Henry Pym, with a SplitPersonality. Still, after being cured from the split personality problem, he kept being "Yellowjacket" as his superhero identity (or at least, one of the several he had over the years). For this reason, hardly any modern reader of the Avengers will read the TPB and not realize what was really going on long before the reveal.
* For some reason, the first ''[[ComicBook/XWingRogueSquadron Star Wars Omnibus: X-Wing Rogue Squadron]]'' already includes the ''Handbook'' for the series, spoiling the stories in later volumes.
* When ''ComicBook/{{NYX}}'' was originally released, ComicBook/{{X 23}} was unknown in the comics and had thus far only appeared in two episodes of ''X-Men: Evolution'', making it a legitimate surprise when she is revealed as the identity of the prostitute who appears in issue #3. Now, that ''NYX'' was her comics debut is about the only thing ''anyone'' actually remembers about the series. The trade paperback collection even plasters her quite prominently right on the cover, even though Kiden Nixon is the main character and the number of times Laura actually has lines can be counted on one hand (though she ''does'' ultimately drive the plot in the second half of the story).
* When ''ComicBook/TheJudasContract'' of the ComicBook/TeenTitans was first published, nobody suspected that Terra, the NaiveNewcomer, would actually be an [[TheMole evil spy]]. Nowadays, her betrayal has been a recurring past plot for the Titans, and any betrayal (real or supposed) is compared with Terra's. Even more, there was a clone of Terra some years later, always living under the shadow of the actions of the original one. It is unlikely that a modern reader would read the story without knowing in advance what was going to happen.
* ''Comicbook/XMen'':
** In one story, the X-Men find themselves in the Savage Land, in the company of a white-haired but not-too-old-looking man. Eventually he puts on [[spoiler: a certain familiar helmet.]] At the time it was a major shocker, because we'd never seen [[spoiler: Comicbook/{{Magneto}}]] unmasked or ''not'' acting like the dramatic EvilIsHammy wa-ha-ha BigBad that was his then-current portrayal. It was a ''very'' effective disguise. Of course, now, we know [[spoiler: Erik's face]] as well as his costume (even DependingOnTheArtist doesn't change his most distinctive aspects to the point of him being hard to recognize, just like there's no not knowing Wolverine no matter who's drawing.) to the point that a much later story where he went incognito had him dramatically unmasked with his ''real'' face, no costume needed. It isn't just not a surprise; you'll spend the whole story ''confused'' that nobody's reacting like they should until you get to TheReveal and realize this is the first time they saw him.
** Similarly, Jason Wyngarde from Comicbook/TheDarkPhoenixSaga. This mysterious behind-the-scenes player has a long-term scheme unfolding over ''many'' issues (this is before the DecompressedComic; several issues meant several stories.) Then we discover he's part of a group called the Hellfire Club, and we meet Emma Frost and the Club wants the then-newly-encountered Comicbook/KittyPryde and it's only when the Hellfire Club arc is in full swing that we get TheReveal that the mastermind of their plan was... [[spoiler: well, Mastermind. Their loooooooong-unseen old enemy used his MasterOfIllusion powers to take on a posh appearance and a new alter ego.]] Of course, as with the above example, we've known who he is for so long that it's impossible to not know who he is from the beginning of the story. In fact, any time they've run into him ''since'' then, someone will always say "remember when you [[spoiler: did that thing to Phoenix that resulted in her going apocalyptically nutso]]?! You're going down for that!"
** And for that matter, spoiler alert: [[spoiler: Comicbook/JeanGrey is going to get supercharged and become Phoenix. Then she's gonna go apocalyptically nutso. And die. And get better.]] ''Each'' of those things was a surprise at the time, ''each'' a major game-changer and a milestone moment for the franchise.
* ''ComicBook/TransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye'' got hit with this ''hard'' when Megatron joined the Lost Light crew at the start of season 2. Not only did ''IDW itself'' spoil him joining the crew through solicitations, but the cover for volume 6 prominently displays Megatron with an Autobot symbol. Just to make it worse IDW spoiled this ''before the story it occurs in was over''. [[Wiki/TVTropes This Very Wiki]] has this problem. The pages for MTMTE were blanking out Megatron's joining with spoiler tags, but his role was so big and [[ItWasHisSled he was so thoroughly spoiled]] that it was decided there was no point in blanking out everything.
* ''ComicBook/TheAvengersJonathanHickman'' featured Comicbook/TheIlluminati trying to stop 'Incursions', the collision of alternate universe Earths, the result of which is the destruction of both universes that the Earths belonged to. We are told that the only way to avert this is to destroy one of the parallel Earths, which spares both universes. The Illuminati set out to stop these Incursions without having to destroy another Earth. However, the explicit premise of ''ComicBook/SecretWars2015'', also by Hickman, is that the Incursions were not stopped in time, and that the fragments of the destroyed Multiverse were forged into Battleworld by Comicbook/DoctorDoom. Not only that, but a ''Secret Wars'' #0 was given away for free on Free Comic Book Day, and it gave the premise of ''Secret Wars (2015)'' away in order to make it friendlier to newer readers, meaning even the most casual of readers knew the Illuminati would fail.
* Related to that, due to some rather ridiculous ScheduleSlip, ''Secret Wars'' was delayed long enough that parts of the ending were already spoiled by the ''Comicbook/AllNewAllDifferentMarvel'' relaunch. The ''All-New, All-Different Avengers'' preview given out on Free Comic Book Day already spoiled that certain characters would survive and that [[Comicbook/UltimateSpiderMan Miles Morales]] would be joining the MarvelUniverse, but the first issue of the new ''Comicbook/IronMan'' took it even further by spoiling that [[spoiler: Doctor Doom survived the events of ''Secret Wars'', and has healed his face to boot!]]
* The ''Comicbook/MetalGearSolid2'' graphic novel adaptation casually spoils the reveal that Raiden used to be the legendary child soldier Jack the Ripper in Raiden's introductory scene. It also spoils The Sorrow being Ocelot's father, though it's not particularly clear why this is significant to someone who doesn't know [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3 the sequel]].
* A GoldenAge [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]] serial featured the monster society of evil, and their mysterious leader, Mister Mind. The story ran for two years, being the first superhero story to ever be divided in more than one book. When it was revealed Mister Mind was actually a silly-looking worm, it was a comical twist. Now, it's the first thing known about the character.
* ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvel'':
** When "Ultimate Nightmare" was first released, it was not marketed as a story about Galactus in any way. As a result, when the Vision says what was it all about, it was a genuine surprise for the audience. Now, with the miniseries and the two following ones being sold as the "ComicBook/UltimateGalactusTrilogy", it is no surprise that it involves Galactus.
** [[http://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/1/10/Ultimate_Comics_Fallout_Vol_1_4.jpg The cover for]] ''ComicBook/{{Ultimate|Marvel}} Fallout'' #4 keeps ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan's unmasked face obscured, leaving it ambiguous if it's Peter Parker BackFromTheDead, or [[LegacyCharacter a successor]]. [[http://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/c/cb/Ultimate_Comics_Fallout_Vol_1_4_Second_Printing_Bagley_Variant.jpg The version for the second printing]] tosses that ambiguity into the trash and shows him to be ComicBook/MilesMorales.
** For ''ComicBook/{{Ultimatum}}'', there's two:
*** First is that the events of the first issue are caused by ComicBook/{{Magneto}}, making good as his vow of revenge at the end of ''ComicBook/TheUltimates3''.
*** Secondly, also related to ''Ultimates 3'', is the Blob making good on his threat to [[ImAHumanitarian eat]] ComicBook/TheWasp.
** In the first ''ComicBook/UltimateDoomsday'' series, ''Ultimate Enemy'', it was a mystery about who was targeting the universe's smartest scienists, with [[ComicBook/UltimateFantasticFour Mr. Fantastic]] being among those presumed dead. It isn't until the second series ''Ultimate Mystery'' that it's revealed Mr. Fantastic was FakingTheDead [[FaceHeelTurn while on his way to becoming the picture for]] [[AdaptationalVillainy/UltimateMarvel this universe's subpage for]] AdaptationalVillainy, [[FallenHero the Maker]].
* The second arc of ''ComicBook/RatQueens'' has a major reveal when Hannah takes down her hair, showing the stubs of her demon horns. By the fourth arc cover artwork routinely shows her horns.
* ''ComicBook/BatmanJamesTynionIV'':
** Part of the run is the aftermath of ''ComicBook/BatmanTomKing'' and how it's effecting Batman -- including Bane's murder of Alfred.
** For the rest of the run, there's how ''ComicBook/TheJokerWar'' effected Bruce: the Joker stealing the majority of Bruce's money and gear, and Lucius Fox's family disowning Bruce and being in control of Wayne Enterprises (the latter being part of the premise of ''ComicBook/TheNextBatmanSecondSon'' and ''ComicBook/IAmBatman'').
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film — Animation]]

[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]

''For obvious reasons, all examples may contain spoilers for some people, as described.''

* [[LateArrivalSpoiler/LiveActionFilms Film — Live-Action]]
** LateArrivalSpoiler/MarvelCinematicUniverse
** LateArrivalSpoiler/StarWars

* Jonathan Hickman's run on ''ComicBook/NewAvengers'' featured Comicbook/TheIlluminati trying to stop 'Incursions', the collision of alternate universe Earths, the result of which is the destruction of both universes that the Earths belonged to. We are told that the only way to avert this is to destroy one of the parallel Earths, which spares both universes. The Illuminati set out to stop these Incursions without having to destroy another Earth. However, the explicit premise of ''ComicBook/SecretWars2015'', also by Hickman, is that the Incursions were not stopped in time, and that the fragments of the destroyed Multiverse were forged into Battleworld by Comicbook/DoctorDoom. Not only that, but a ''Secret Wars'' #0 was given away for free on Free Comic Book Day, and it gave the premise of ''Secret Wars (2015)'' away in order to make it friendlier to newer readers, meaning even the most casual of readers knew the Illuminati would fail.

** The first ''ComicBook/UltimateDoomsday'' series, ''Ultimate Enemy'', it was a mystery about who was targeting the universe's smartest scienists, with [[ComicBook/UltimateFantasticFour Mr. Fantastic]] being among those presumed dead. It isn't until the second series ''Ultimate Mystery'' that it's revealed Mr. Fantastic was FakingTheDead [[FaceHeelTurn was on his way to becoming the picture for]] [[AdaptationalVillainy/UltimateMarvel this universe's subpage for]] AdaptationalVillainy, [[FallenHero the Maker]].

** The first ''ComicBook/UltimateDoomsday'' series, ''Ultimate Enemy'', it was a mystery about who was targeting the universe's smartest scienists, with [[ComicBook/UltimateFantasticFour Mr. Fantastic]] being among those presumed dead. It isn't until the second series ''Ultimate Mystery'' that it's revealed Mr. Fantastic was FakingTheDead [[FaceHeelTurn was on his way to becoming the picture for]] [[AdaptationalVillainy this universe's subpage for]] AdaptationalVillainy, [[FallenHero the Maker]].

*** The first ''ComicBook/UltimateDoomsday'' series, ''Ultimate Enemy'', it was a mystery about who was targeting the universe's smartest scienists, with [[ComicBook/UltimateFantasticFour Mr. Fantastic]] being among those presumed dead. It isn't until the second series ''Ultimate Mystery'' that it's revealed Mr. Fantastic was FakingTheDead [[FaceHeelTurn was on his way to becoming the picture for]] [[AdaptationalVillainy this universe's subpage for]] AdaptationalVillainy, [[FallenHero the Maker]].

** [[http://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/1/10/Ultimate_Comics_Fallout_Vol_1_4.jpg The cover for]] ''ComicBook/{{Ultimate|Marvel}} Fallout'' #4 keeps ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan's unmasked face obscured, leaving it ambiguous if it's Peter Parker BackFromTheDead, or [[LegacyCharacter a successor]]. [[http://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/c/cb/Ultimate_Comics_Fallout_Vol_1_4_Second_Printing_Bagley_Variant.jpg The version for the second printing]] tosses that ambiguity into the trash and shows him to be ComicBook/MilesMorales.

* When "Ultimate Nightmare" was first released, it was not marketed as a story about Galactus in any way. As a result, when the Vision says what was it all about, it was a genuine surprise for the audience. Now, with the miniseries and the two following ones being sold as the "ComicBook/UltimateGalactusTrilogy", it is no surprise that it involves Galactus.

* For ''ComicBook/{{Ultimatum}}'', there's two:
** First is that the events of the first issue are caused by ComicBook/{{Magneto}}, making good as his vow of revenge at the end of ''ComicBook/TheUltimates3''.
** Secondly, also related to ''Ultimates 3'', is the Blob making good on his threat to [[ImAHumanitarian eat]] ComicBook/TheWasp.

* ''Manga/{{Evangelion 303}}'': If someone checks Grummancat page before reading all chapters in order, that person will get spoiled that: Jessika was in love with Asuka, Unit-04 crashes and Jessika dies, Asuka falls in a coma but it only lasts several months, Asuka's suicide attempt fails, Shinji and Asuka got engaged and Mari Makinami is the Sixth Child.
* ''Fanfic/FacingTheFutureSeries'': Anyone who reads ahead in the series will learn [[spoiler: Danielle has been adopted by the Fentons.]]
* The summary and first couple of chapters of ''The Legacy of the Fire Empire'' (the sequel to ''FanFic/TheFallOfTheFireEmpire'') spoil both the ending of the first story, as well as the major plot point of [[spoiler: Aang still being alive, after waking from the coma-like state that the Fire Empire's actions kept him in]].