History Main / SpoilerCover

** Volume 6's cover, the final tankoubon, spoils the ''TwistEnding'' where the main protagonists reach the highest layer which happens at the finale. The "Twist Ending" is heavily emphasised as the black sky and the barren, snowy and featureless land, as well as a shot of the black cube in the volume's table of contents all blatantly tell how their journey at the end is AllForNothing. ''[[LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt Way to go when the entire cover art spoils the manga's]]'' ''ShaggyDogStory'' ''[[LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt ending]]!''

** Volume 6's cover, the final tankoubon, spoils the ending where the main protagonists reach the highest layer which happens at the finale. If that is not blatant enough, the black sky and the barren, snowy and featureless land, as well as a shot of the black cube in the volume's table of contents will all tell how their journey at the end is AllForNothing. ''[[LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt Way to go when the entire cover art spoils the manga's]]'' ''ShaggyDogStory'' ''[[LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt ending]]!''

** Volume 6's cover, the final tankoubon, spoils the ending where the main protagonists reach the highest layer. If that is not blatant enough, the black sky and the barren, snowy and featureless land will tell how their journey at the end is AllForNothing. ''[[LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt Way to go when the entire cover art spoils the manga's]]'' ''ShaggyDogStory'' ''[[LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt ending]]!''

** Chapter 44's title cover is even more spoilery that it's so obvious on what is going to happen in this chapter. The cover depicts the Kettenkrad breaking down, which happens during the middle of the chapter, easily spoiling the WhamEpisode of the entire manga. It also has a ''[[MeaningfulName very meaningful]]'' SpoilerTitle as well, which is aptly titled Loss.

** Volume 6's cover, the final tankoubon, spoils the ending where the main protagonists reach the highest layer. If that is not blatant enough, the black sky and the barren, snowy and featureless land will tell how their journey at the end is AllForNothing. ''[[LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt Way to go when the entire cover art spoils the manga's]]'' ''ShaggyDogStory'' ''[[LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt ending]]''!

* ShimejiSimulation:

** Volume 6's cover, the final tankoubon, spoils the ending where the main protagonists reach the highest layer. If that is not blatant enough, the black sky and the barren, snowy and featureless land will tell how their journey at the end is AllForNothing. ''[[LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt When the entire cover art spoils the manga's]]'' ''ShaggyDogStory'' ''[[LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt ending]]''.

** Volume 6's cover, the final tankoubon, spoils the ending where the main protagonists reach the highest layer. If that is not blatant enough, the black sky and the barren, snowy and featureless land will tell how their journey at the end is AllForNothing. '''[[LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt When the entire cover art spoils the manga's]]''' ShaggyDogStory '''[[LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt ending]]'''.

** Volume 6's cover, the final tankoubon, spoils the ending where the main protagonists reach the highest layer. If that is not blatant enough, the black sky and the barren, snowy and featureless land will tell how their journey at the end is AllForNothing.

** Chapter 44's title cover is blatantly spoilery, where it depicts the Kettenkrad breaking down, which happens during the middle of the chapter. It also has a ''[[MeaningfulName very meaningful]]'' SpoilerTitle as well, which is aptly titled Loss.

** Chapter 44's title cover is blatantly spoilery, where it depicts the Kettenkrad breaking down, which happens during the middle of the chapter. It also has a SpoilerTitle as well, which is aptly titled Loss.

** Volume 6's cover, the final tankoubon, spoils the ending where the main protagonists reach the highest layer. If that is not blatant enough, the black sky and the barren, snowy land will tell how their journey at the end is AllForNothing.
** Chapter 44's title cover is blatantly spoilery, where it depicts the Kettenkrad breaking down, which happens during the middle of the chapter.
** Chapter 45's title cover shows a rotating stair, Chito and Yuuri holding hands together. It spoils the plot point of Chito and Yuuri ascending to the highest layer.

* The European cover of ''VideoGame/{{Solatorobo}}'' promises that players will "pilot a robot and uncover the mysterious origins of the world". For a good majority of the story there's no indication the world has a "mysterious origin" at all. Also, looking closely at the logo shows an image of Red's human form, though anyone who hasn't played the game won't realize what it is.

* ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan2'', as if the movie wasn't [[FourLinesAllWaiting messy]] enough, shows Dane [=DeHaan=]'s Harry Osborn as the Green Goblin on [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcQ1rfxKEoBnwhjZwMJ94FhQL3EF6c4RGa2Z1g&usqp=CAU a few of the posters]] alongside main antagonist Electro (if not the third, less proeminent villain Rhino too).

** Posters for ''Film/{{Pokemon}}'' films are usually released around February in Japan, with the actual movie being screened in July. This often means that either the main poster or the "Pikachu the Movie" one[[note]]The poster that shows Ash's Pikachu and part of the other Pokémon owned by Ash and pals plus Team Rocket's Meowth and Wobbuffet plus some random ones, that is made even when there is no short before the film[[/note]] will spoil every single change in the [[Anime/PokemonTheSeries teams of Ash and his friends in the next 5 months]].

** Posters for ''Film/{{Pokemon}}'' films are usually released around February in Japan, with the actual movie being screened in July. This often means that either the main poster or the "Pikachu the Movie" one[[note]]The poster that shows Ash's Pikachu and part of the other Pokémon owned by Ash and pals plus Team Rocket's Meowth and Wobbuffet plus some random ones, that is made even when there is no short before the film[[/note]] will spoil every single change in the teams of Ash and his friends in the next 5 months.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokémon}}''

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}

* Posters for ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' films are usually released around February in Japan, with the actual movie being screened in July. This often means that either the main poster or the "Pikachu the Movie" one[[note]]The poster that shows Ash's Pikachu and part of the other Pokémon owned by Ash and pals plus Team Rocket's Meowth and Wobbuffet plus some random ones, that is made even when there is no short before the film[[/note]] will spoil every single change in the teams of Ash and his friends in the next 5 months.
* One of the ''Manga/PokemonDiamondAndPearlAdventure'' volumes featured a prominent spoiler on one of the covers the volume after it was revealed. It clearly showed Mitsumi as a Team Galactic member, so to anyone who saw that cover early... You're spoilered about her backstory and her being forced back into Galactic.

* The cover of Volume 14 of ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' shows Erwin [[spoiler:missing an arm]]. While he doesn't [[spoiler:lose his arm]] in that volume, it does come as a spoiler to anyone new to the series.

** The back of the third volume for shows Charles [[spoiler:with a code mark on his hand]], as well as [[spoiler:a dying V.V.]].
** The fourth volume shows pictures of [[spoiler:Nunnally]], who was assumed to be dead, including one with [[spoiler:her eyes open]], and also includes a SpoilerTitle for Episode 22: [[spoiler:Emperor Lelouch]].
* The final volume of ''Manga/CodeGeassNightmareOfNunnally'' shows [[spoiler:Nunnally standing up alongside Alice; granted, her eyes are still closed, but so are Alice]]'s, and also makes a reference to [[spoiler:Euphemia becoming Empress]].

* In Chapter 10 of ''Manga/DrStone'', [[spoiler:Senku]] is seemingly killed. Given that he's on the cover of almost every volume after that, one can presume he gets better. Especially since [[spoiler:he's the '''[[LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt MAIN CHARACTER]]''']].

* Similarly, the final tankobon of ''Manga/LoveHina'' has [[spoiler:Keitaro and Naru]]'s wedding on it.
* While not the cover for the movie itself, the artwork for the soundtrack of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaReflection'' spoils [[spoiler:Nanoha's Mode F]], something that only happens at the very end of the movie.
* The DVD cover for anthology film ''Anime/{{Memories}}'' spoils a plot point from ''Magnetic Rose'' by showing [[spoiler: the mummified corpse of Eva]].

* The ''Anime/OjamajoDoremi Dokka~n!'' DVD box features [[spoiler: the middle school versions of the girls]] on the back of the DVD set, something which doesn't happen until the end of the series.

* Posters for ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' films are usually released around February in Japan, with the actual movie being screened in July. This often means that either the main poster or the "Pikachu the Movie" one[[note]]The poster that shows Ash's Pikachu and part of the other Pokémon owned by Ash and pals plus Team Rocket's Meowth and Wobbuffet plus some random ones, that is made even when there is no short before the film[[/note]] will spoil every single change in the teams of Ash and his friends in the next 5 months.
* One of the ''Manga/PokemonDiamondAndPearlAdventure'' volumes featured a prominent spoiler on one of the covers the volume after it was revealed. It clearly showed [[spoiler:Mitsumi]] as a Team Galactic member, so to anyone who saw that cover early... You're spoilered about her backstory and her [[spoiler:being forced back into Galactic]].
%%* This cover for ''Literature/{{Shiki}}''. [[spoiler:Look at his eyes.]] %%Can't, because the link is broken. That's why Administrivia/WebLinksAreNotExamples.
* The fourth volume of ''Manga/YuriIsMyJob'' shows Kanoko and Sumika on the cover, [[spoiler:both wearing the kreusz on their Liebe uniforms, apparently signifying that they have become schwestern]].

* The cover for ''Comicbook/OneHundredBullets'' volume 11 gives away the volume's big twist death, that being [[spoiler:Wylie "The Point Man" Times, one of the [[BlackAndGrayMorality few genuinely moral characters]] in the story]].
* The cover for the Italian fumetti comic ''Anima'' by Serpieri spoils the last-page reveal that the main character is actually [[spoiler:ComicBook/{{Druuna}} in a blonde wig]].
* In ''ComicBook/{{Annihilation}}: Conquest'', the fact that the Phalanx is actually being lead by [[spoiler:Ultron]] comes as a big PlotTwist... But not to those who first read the omnibus edition, as [[spoiler:Ultron]] is the only character shown on the cover.

* The penultimate issue of ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'' ends with a shocking scene where [[spoiler:Batman]] has (seemingly) died, and Superman is carrying his charred corpse. Said scene is depicted on the cover of the hardcover book collecting the series.

* ''ComicBook/MarvelTeamUp:'' The cover for issue #100 has a blurb revealing that the mystery villain is a "she", something the story inside doesn't give until halfway through. Of course, this isn't the only reveal about her. [[spoiler:For one, "she" is a teenager. And not actually a villain.]]

[[folder:Films — Animation]]

* One poster for ''WesternAnimation/{{Coco}}'' shows the entire Rivera family, with the spirits of their dead relatives in the background. [[spoiler:Héctor is included among them, while Ernesto is not. This spoils the film's big reveal.]]

[[folder:Films — Live-Action]]

* One of the sketches in the movie ''Bad People'' involves a couple being interviewed by a social worker to see if they're eligible to adopt a child. The movie's poster shows an image of [[spoiler: the social worker tied up with a strip of duct tape across her mouth, spoiling the ending, where the couple kidnap her after the interview goes horribly wrong]].
* Various posters of the original 1999 ''Film/BangkokDangerous'' shows the scene where [[spoiler:Kong holds his gun to his temple to kill himself]], which occurs a minute before the credits. Averted in the 2008 remake.
* ''Literature/{{Carrie}}''. The posters for [[Film/Carrie1976 all]] [[Film/Carrie2002 three]] [[Film/Carrie2013 adaptations]] spoil the end where Carrie has blood dunked on her and she goes nuts and kills everyone. Sure, it's a terrifying and iconic moment, but that's not a free pass to spoil it on every goddamn film cover. Although to be fair to the film adaptations, [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcSeD4s30jKVrmct8AMOvisrYxuYMcK0qOulKw&usqp=CAU most]] [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcT_rBu2EOhwf65SXPjH3_8vh0M6xbzWCsQFYg&usqp=CAU covers]] [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRtbjyuTPOZqNPYkUm3tFTK38c6R4VC9bAxvA&usqp=CAU to]] the [[Literature/{{Carrie}} book]] weren't exactly subtle either, save for the very first published book cover.

* The VHS release of ''Film/Camille1936'' shows [[spoiler: Marguerite lying on her deathbed with Armand by her side]], while the back cover mentions [[spoiler: "her last gasp [[DiedInYourArmsTonight in the arms]] of her broken-hearted lover."]] Then again, that ending is arguably a case of ItWasHisSled.
* The Blu-ray and DVD releases of ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'' show the Winter Soldier unmasked right on the back cover, showing that [[spoiler:he's Bucky Barnes]]. This is hardly a revelation to comic fans, but might still come as a surprise to viewers who hadn't read the source material.

* The poster for the 2013 film ''Crush'' reveals that [[spoiler:Creator/CaitrionaBalfe's character]] is the antagonist. This is intended to be the main twist of the film, as much focus is spent on the RedHerringSuspect, [[spoiler:Creator/CrystalReed's character,]] before the real antagonist is unveiled.

* One DVD release of the 1932 film of ''Film/AFarewellToArms'' asks on the back cover if Frederic and Catherine will find happiness together or are doomed to tragedy... yet all the screenshots on that same back cover [[spoiler: are from Catherine's death scene, including one of Frederic carrying her limp, clearly dead body in his arms.]]

* ''Film/HighTension'' has the big and hard to believe reveal that TheHero [[spoiler: is actually the SerialKiller]] and while the movie does its best to hide the twist, the posters [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hightensionposter1_7646.jpg didn't]] [[https://static.rogerebert.com/uploads/movie/movie_poster/high-tension-2005/large_lJTuNoSWagIUltKUkOc5LbMD6bK.jpg share]] this idea.

* ''Film/TheLivesOfOthers'' re-release covers show the [[spoiler:red fingerprint and HGW XX/7]] that becomes TheReveal at the end of the film.
* ''Film/LoneSurvivor'' is about a crack team of Navy Seals fighting the Taliban but are overwhelmed and gradually reduced to one survivor... I wonder who that will be? [[http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcScjXYp5MbyDO78-AWMYL2_DYlwHoYQzrt3-DIfkxN0OQQpW0mI Oh]] it's Mark Wahlberg nevermind.
* ''Film/MadMax1'': In video releases, the packaging revealed that [[spoiler:Max's family are killed]] in the first film, and [[spoiler:the fuel was in the bus, not the tanker]] in the second film. Both events happen late in the films.
* The poster and box art for ''Film/TheMansion'' shows the cast as human heads mounted on a wall. [[spoiler:Most of them show up in this scenario as part of a dying hallucination by the killer]].
* ''Film/MeetTheFeebles'' shows Heidi carrying a large gun. [[spoiler:This spoils the climax of the film, where she goes on a murderous rampage and kills nearly everyone.]]
* ''Film/TheNightFlier'': Seeing how it's on [[http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/horrormovies/images/0/0c/The_Night_Flier.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150901032817 the front cover]], TheReveal of Dwight's face hardly comes as a surprise to anyone but [[spoiler:Dees]].
* ''Film/PhoneBooth'''s poster and a DVD cover throws subtlety out the window and shows Kiefer Sutherland in suspect position right next the main character's head.

* The poster for ''Film/TheQuietEarth'' outright ''spoils'' the MindScrew ending [[spoiler:of the protagonist being transported to an alien moon (of Saturn?).]]
* Multiple VHS covers and the DVD's back cover for ''Film/RomeoAndJuliet1968'' show [[spoiler:Juliet's suicide, with Romeo's dead body on the floor in front of her.]] Still, the ending of ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet'' is arguably ItWasHisSled and a ForegoneConclusion explicitly stated in the opening prologue.
* The back cover for the 1998 BMovie ''Recoil'' outright mentions the deaths of Ray Morgan's wife and children in its plot synopsis.
* ''Film/RurouniKenshinTheBeginning'''s main poster shows Kenshin [[spoiler:holding a dying Tomoe [[PietaPlagiarism in his arms]]]], which happens at the end of the movie.

* Some DVD covers for ''Film/TheSixthSense'' show a [[spoiler:ghostly-looking Creator/BruceWillis]].

* ''Film/TheThirteenthFloor'': The poster spoils the major reveal of the film, namely that the main character and everyone he knows [[spoiler:are living InsideAComputerSystem.]]
* A few posters for ''Film/TragedyGirls'', as well as the DVD cover, depict [[spoiler:the girls burning down the gym with the entire senior class inside.]] This is one of the final scenes of the film.
* The poster for ''Film/WhatWeBecome'' shows [[spoiler:a zombified Maj.]]

* Although the trailer for ''Film/WorldsGreatestDad'' presents the film as a standard disconnected father/uninterested son plot, the first words on the back cover are: [[spoiler:After his son dies in an embarrassing accident...]]

* The cover of ''Astounding Science Fiction'' (Oct. 1945) gave away TheReveal that in its lead story, Creator/ABertramChandler's "Giant Killer", [[spoiler:the "Giants" are human astronauts and the warring tribes are mutated rats]].

** On the Harper-Torch edition of ''Literature/GuardsGuards'', the cover art depicts [[spoiler:the dragon wearing a crown]], which is a surprise plot development occurring late in the book.
** The cover of ''Literature/TheWeeFreeMen'' shows Feegles armed with glowing swords around the Toad. [[spoiler:Feegles' swords glow in the presence of a lawyer.]]
** The Josh Kirby cover of ''Literature/SmallGods'' deserves some sort of prize for showing the climax of the novel: [[spoiler:Brutha is about to be roasted alive on the iron turtle when [[DeusExMachina the Great God Om manifests and saves him]].]]
** There is some dispute amongst fans about whether the image of someone wielding the Gonne on the back of Josh Kirby's ''Literature/MenAtArms'' cover (or the even clearer images of the Gonne itself on other editions) constitute a spoiler or not. The argument against is that, while the nature of the Gonne is a mystery to the ''characters'', the readers will probably figure it out pretty quickly, image or not, due to their greater familiarity with such things.

** The cover of the [=HarperCollins=] printing of ''Literature/TheCaseOfTheConstantSuicides'' features a dog carrier with strange fumes rising out of it. [[spoiler:This essentially gives away the murder method used in the book -- a block of dry ice hidden in a dog carrier that releases carbon dioxide gas as it sublimates.]]

* The UK cover for the ''Literature/{{Goosebumps}}'' book ''Literature/PianoLessonsCanBeMurder'' shows a picture of Mr. Shreek, the new piano teacher...[[spoiler: with part of his human face gone, revealing a robot underneath. This is as much a spoiler cover as it is a [[CoversAlwaysLie misleading]] one, the latter of which the series is quite notorious for; while Shreek ''is'' revealed to be a robot in the story's climax, he never loses human flesh]].
* The cat on ''Literature/GuardianCatsAndTheLostBooksOfAlexandria'' is not the protagonist Marco (an orange tabby) or his mentor Cicero (who is spotted). It's actually Bait, though this isn't noticeable until a late chapter describes him as having yellow eyes (instead of the standard green eyes of a Russian Blue). This cover signifies that Bait isn't just another side character. He's actually [[spoiler:Cicero's previous student and failed successor. Bait is bitter over being barred from what he thinks should be his, so he turns traitorous and becomes the second major antagonist]].

** Many covers of ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets'' spoil the fact that the monster is a giant snake, which Harry doesn't find out until quite late in the book. The cover of the original American edition also shows Harry, Ron, and Ginny Weasley flying through the Chamber--with Hermione nowhere to be seen-- suggesting that Hermione will be somehow incapacitated. Once people -- and specifically muggle-borns -- start being petrified, [[spoiler:it's relatively easy to guess what will happen to her]].
** [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/harrypotter/images/f/f0/HP7_Scholastic_Full.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20090722164848 The American cover]] of ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows'' shows Harry and Voldemort personally dueling on the grounds of Hogwarts as the sun rises in the background, giving away the fact that [[spoiler:Harry [[DisneyDeath comes back from the dead]] after Voldemort manages to kill him the previous night]]. Once you've read the book, it's also pretty clear that the cover depicts Harry [[spoiler:grabbing Voldemort's wand, giving away how he defeats him]].
* Creator/AlanDeanFoster's ''Literature/HumanxCommonwealth'' novel ''Cachalot'' is set on a world almost entirely covered by ocean, a planet to which all terrestrial cetaceans have been transplanted after they've been administered a serum which makes them as intelligent as, or more intelligent, than humans. The plot opens with the mysterious destruction of several human habitats and the arrival of a team of specialist investigators who attempt to discover what has happened. Possible candidates are the highly intelligent but aloof toothed whales, the dumb but inoffensive baleen whales, or some indigenous but unknown form of life. Except... the cover of the first UK paperback edition clearly showed [[spoiler:a bunch of baleen whales smashing up a town.]] Cheers, cover artist.
* The covers of every edition of Alvin Schwartz's ''In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories'' show the monsters and ghosts from all the stories, and they include [[spoiler: Jenny from ''The Green Ribbon'' carrying her severed head]] and [[spoiler: the pirate ghost from "The Pirate", who doesn't turn out to be RealAfterAll until the end.]]
* ''[[Literature/CAugusteDupin The Murders in the Rue Morgue]] and Other Tales of Horror'', a 1932 collection of short stories by Creator/EdgarAllanPoe, has a lurid cover with a monstrous ape looming over a fainted woman. Of course, in the titular mystery story, the revelation that the killer is an ape is a twist only revealed near the end.
* ''Literature/NightmareHour'': The illustration for "Alien Candy" gives away the twist that [[spoiler:the kids of the sci-fi club are really aliens.]]

* The first half of Harry Harrison's ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Rebel_in_Time A Rebel in Time]]'' consists of Troy Harmon trying to figure out Wesley [=McCulloch=]'s plan. In at least the first US paperback edition, it's not very suspenseful for the reader--the fact that [=McCulloch=] has [[spoiler:traveled back in time to try to change the outcome of the Civil War]] is in the blurb on the back cover.
* ''Literature/{{Safehold}}'': Book 7, ''Like a Mighty Army'', prominently features WalkingSpoiler new character [[spoiler:Nimue Chwaeriau]] in the cover artwork. And the context doesn't make it at all difficult to deduce her identity.
* The [[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nPwQjaGsks/UV8aDNhqp1I/AAAAAAAAJdI/oEQiDuZeyAc/s1600/stephen+king+salem%27s+lot+signet+1976+pb.JPG first paperback edition]] of Creator/StephenKing's ''Literature/SalemsLot'' gave away the twist that [[spoiler:the eponymous town is infested by vampires,]] something that isn't revealed until about a third of the way into the novel.
* Perhaps even more egregious than the ''Salem’s Lot'' cover is the cover to Stephen King’s ''Literature/{{Misery}}'' which [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTQmE64icc3qz8vqShCgCvLHukDgJpPj2ge0g&usqp=CAU pictures]] Paul Sheldon the protagonist sitting helplessly by the window in a wheelchair while the massive murderous shadow of Anne Wilkes looms over him holding an axe. Though that’s nothing compared to the omnibus version which also contains Carrie and The Shining, as the cover [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcSS-ZckmvFTM1FA9ahnSrNK0BXOmD92O13T9w&usqp=CAU brazenly depicts]] Anne swinging the axe down on the bedridden Paul’s leg.
* Creator/AlanDeanFoster's ''Literature/{{Spellsinger}}'': The front cover art of ''The Moment of the Magician'' spoils what is clearly written to be a surprise, [[spoiler:that the new evil magician in town is a kid's party magician who stumbled in from our own world, and now his lame magic works]].

* ''Literature/SurvivorDogs'': The cover for ''The Broken Path'' depicts Twitch [[spoiler:missing a leg]]. It's revealed in the book that [[spoiler:he chewed his leg off]]. However, grass is strategically placed over [[spoiler:his leg]] so that it's difficult to see [[spoiler:his missing leg]] unless you look very closely.
* The original cover of ''Literature/TailchasersSong'' features Tailchaser alongside a pure white cat and a black cat with a spotted underbelly and red claws. These two characters aren't relevant until late into the book. One is Whitewind, who only briefly appears in the intro and doesn't become important until [[spoiler:Pouncequick meets him]] near the end, and the other is Scratchnail, a villain who doesn't appear until over halfway through the book.
* In ''The Rings of Saturn'' (part of the CYOA ''Literature/TimeMachineSeries''), the plot of the book is finding out the source of mysterious signals from Saturn. At the end, it turns out it was [[spoiler:a crashed alien spaceship. The pilot is still living in suspended animation and the protagonist wakes him up.]] Except the cover for the book shows [[spoiler:the alien in all his glory]], though, admittedly, until the end you're likely to not realize that it was something from the actual book and not just a random, sci-fi themed picture.

* The ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' season 6 DVD has [[spoiler:Dark Willow]] on the cover, and, even more inexplicably, on the ''first disc''.

** The video and DVD covers of [[Recap/DoctorWhoS14E4TheFaceOfEvil "The Face of Evil"]] feature the gigantic stone carving of the eponymous face. However, the reveal that the face was that of [[spoiler:the Doctor]] was the dramatic cliffhanger of one episode.

*** The DVD and VHS covers feature both the [[spoiler:Cyberleader]] and [[spoiler:Adric]] on the cover, spoiling the surprise return of [[spoiler:the Cybermen]] in Part One and [[spoiler:Adric's death at the climax of Part Four.]]
*** [[spoiler:The VHS cover is even worse than the DVD, as it also features Adric's broken badge prominently. The Doctor uses the gold plating to incapacitate the Cyberleader.]]
*** Ironically, at the time of broadcast, showrunner John Nathan-Turner went to great lengths to prevent both twists from being spoiled by the promotional material in the ''Magazine/RadioTimes'', listing the villains as simply "Leader", "Lieutenant", etc., and [[spoiler: including a scene involving an illusion of Adric in the next serial, [[Recap/DoctorWhoS19E7TimeFlight "Time-Flight"]], so his demise wouldn't be spoiled by the cast list.]] He even turned down what could have been ''Doctor Who''[='s=] first ''Radio Times'' cover spot in years.
** In a second-order example, the issue of the ''Magazine/RadioTimes'' covering the week that [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E5EvolutionOfTheDaleks "Evolution of the Daleks"]] was broadcast had the [[spoiler:human-Dalek hybrid version of Dalek Sec]] on the cover, despite being published before the previous episode, to which the reveal of the character's alteration was the cliffhanger, was broadcast. Creator/RussellTDavies said following the controversy that he didn't mind.

* The Website/YouTube thumbnail for the second episode of ''Series/TheOutsider'' is of [[spoiler:Terry Maitland immediately after being shot]].
* ''Series/{{Roswell}}'': The third season DVD spoils [[spoiler: Alex's death]] on the back of the box, even though it doesn't happen until midway through the second season.
* ''Series/SixFeetUnder'' went through this on the DVD sleeve example in the UK - the final series' boxset not only shows a wedding photo of [[spoiler:Nate and Brenda]] on the back, but the entire cast at a funeral with [[spoiler:Nate]] conspicuously missing.

* In ''Series/SwampThing2019'', it's treated as a major [[TheReveal Reveal]] when the title character learns in the penultimate episode that [[spoiler: [[TomatoInTheMirror he's]] ''[[TomatoInTheMirror not]]'' [[TomatoInTheMirror a mutated Alec Holland]], and that the real Alec has been DeadAllAlong]]. This twist would've been more shocking had it not been for an early promo poster that showed [[spoiler: Swamp Thing holding Alec's badly decayed skeleton]].
* ''Series/YouMeHer'': The screencap used for Season 5 on the Amazon Prime streaming service spoiled that [[spoiler:Izzy has a baby, showing her in a hospital bed holding it alongside Jack and Emma.]]

* The original poster for ''Theatre/LittleShopOfHorrors'', which also serves as the cover of the original cast album, shows a [[DeadHandShot man's hand]] sticking out from Audrey II's jaws, giving away the twist that the plant becomes a people-eater. Although since the show is based on [[Film/TheLittleShopOfHorrors an earlier movie]], this could be a case of ItWasHisSled. It also shows [[spoiler: Audrey's limp body]] at the base of Audrey II's pot – ''not'' an ItWasHisSled, because [[spoiler: Audrey survives in the 1960 film and her fate in the musical is DeathByAdaptation.]]

** The cover of ''VideoGame/BlasterMasterZeroIII'' shows two [=MAs=] on either side, one meant to represent normal space and one meant to represent super-dimensional space. The trouble is, while one's clearly the GAIA-SOPHIA SV, the other ''isn't'' Kane Gardner's, the classic Metal Attacker. [[spoiler: It's the [[SuperPrototype SOPHIA-J1]], the MA Jason only pilots for the TrueFinalBoss battle.]]
** [[https://limitedrungames.com/products/switch-limited-run-109-blaster-master-zero-3-collectors-edition The cover art for the Collector's Edition]] of ''Zero III'' shows Jason and Eve sharing a hug. [[spoiler:No guessing as to what happens in the GoldenEnding.]]
** [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Evr8friUUAIvRp6?format=jpg&name=large This]] promotional artwork that became the cover art of ''Blaster Master Zero Trilogy'' features [[spoiler:Jason and Eve as they appear at the end of the third game, including both wearing their wedding rings.]]. More subtly, [[spoiler:on the left side of the art, you can see Kane Gardner and the other allied MA pilots...along with a person with their back turned, with long hair, a feminine figure, and fox ears. While you might think it to be an original character, it turns out that it's none other than Leibniz. The only hint of it being her (other than the fact that Leibniz is otherwise nowhere to be seen) is the fact that she's holding her helmet that you're more familiar with, though due to the yellow color filter, the small size of the image, and the fact that she's holding it by the "horn", it can be difficult to tell.]]
** Done subtly in the [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E8hDyLcVUAUIFLP?format=jpg soundtrack cover]]. [[spoiler:Leibniz is shown unmasked, but because she's wearing casual (and feminine) clothes, you wouldn't know this unless you'd actually beaten the game and seen Leibniz without her helmet. The only hint that it's her is the fact that she's wearing the same jacket as she does when fully armored, and that her unused support animal, Jao, sits atop her hat. The other two characters are Jason and Eve's children, Roddy and Elfie, looking to be in their teens.]]

* In ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'', it's treated as a [[WalkingSpoiler massive deal]] that [[spoiler:Vergil]] has finally returned in the series' present canon since ''[[VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening DMC3]]'' (which was a {{prequel}}) and ''[[VideoGame/DevilMayCry1 DMC1]]'' (where [[spoiler:he was still Nelo Angelo]]). However, the cover of the ''[[UpdatedRerelease Special Edition]]'' [[https://www.gamespot.com/a/uploads/original/1601/16018044/3742054-dmc5%281%29.jpg boldly displays]] [[spoiler:Vergil]] behind Dante and Nero.
* The cover for the physical Switch copy of ''VideoGame/DiceyDungeons'' shows [[spoiler:the Jester as a dice]], spoiling the fact that they're PromotedToPlayable.

* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'': In the Manga Gamer re-release of the series, the Steam store covers for the games depict various major characters, usually the ones which have a significant role in the given installment. The cover for the 7th installment (Minagoroshi) prominently depicts Hanyuu, who isn't seen until that episode, hinting to new players that there's a major character they haven't yet met ([[spoiler:and, if you notice her horns, that she isn't exactly human]]). Meanwhile, the cover for [[spoiler:part 8 (Matsuribayashi)]] depicts [[spoiler:Takano (who throughout most of the series is just a secondary character), hinting that she plays a major role in the finale]].

* ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot'': The CD release of the official soundtrack features disc art depicting [[spoiler:Access Ark on disc one and Star Dream's Nova form on disc two]], thereby giving away the game's biggest twist.

** Both the American and Japanese covers of the UsefulNotes/WiiU remaster of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' shows both [[spoiler:[[HijackedByGanon Ganondorf, who hijacks Zant toward the end,]]]] and [[spoiler:Midna's true form]] (the latter was also on promotional art for the original release). Frustratingly, they don't even show Zant himself.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' has Link holding the Master Sword. "Link gets the Master Sword at some point" ordinarily wouldn't be much of a spoiler, but [[spoiler:Fi is tied to the Goddess Sword, and it would be awkward to suddenly cast her aside when the Master Sword enters the story. Instead, the Goddess Sword becomes the Master Sword]].

* ''VideoGame/NeoTheWorldEndsWithYou'' has six characters on the title screen: new protagonist Rindo, his best friend Fret, Minamimoto, Nagi, a hooded figure ([[spoiler:Beat from the previous game]]) and Shoka. If you pay attention to the pattern, you will notice that all of them are party members, which means that Shoka will do a HeelFaceTurn and join the party.
* ''VideoGame/PerfectDark'' sports a surprisingly subtle one on an already subtle box. It initially looks like a simple image of Joanna's face in nearly-complete shadow, revealing only her eye and her weapon. [[spoiler:However, when one peers directly into her eye, they can see the face of Elvis, a major character whose appearance marks the sharp turn from being a cyberpunk-style espionage story and dive straight into full-on science fiction.]]

* The boxart of ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonGatesToInfinity'' features all the members of game's exploration team in formation together... along with Hydreigon, who's almost immediately introduced as an antagonistic Pokémon. While Munna, the one who asks to be rescued from him, isn't there. [[spoiler:No guesses as to who ends up actually being a good guy.]]
** Virizion at one point of point of the game talks about Keldeo, a former friend that coldly betrayed her friendship. Because Keldeo is also in the boxart, you can guess that [[spoiler:he had well-intentioned reasons to do what he did, and that he will join the exploration team]].
* The boxart of ''VideoGame/PokemonRanger: Shadows of Almia'' does this big time by featuring Lucario, Heatran, Cresslia on the cover who are the three Gem Guardians. It even shows [[spoiler:Darkrai at the top, who ends up being the true BigBad and final boss of the game]].

* The [[https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/4/0/4/96404_front.jpg Japanese boxart]] for ''VideoGame/SandsOfDestruction'' shows all the main characters lined up, facing the same direction as if they are a team, despite Naja being antagonistic. [[spoiler:Naturally, he joins your party later.]]

* The European cover of ''VideoGame/{{Solatorobo}}'' promises that players will "pilot a robot and uncover the mysterious origins of the world". For a good majority of the story there's no indication the world has a "mysterious origin" at all. Also, looking closely at the logo shows an image of [[spoiler: Red's human form]], though anyone who hasn't played the game won't realize what it is.
* ''VideoGame/StarshipTitanic'' had a strange twist on this: one particular puzzle, in the Music Room, can be easily solved by looking at the back of the game box, where the screenshot of that room shows the puzzle completed. However, this isn't a spoiler... it's the correct, and ''only'', way to complete the puzzle.

* The Japanese cover of ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV]]'' shows [[spoiler:Crow]] alongside the other party members, a character who seemingly died earlier in the series and was an antagonist. The English version averts this by removing this character from the cover.
* ''VideoGame/WolfensteinIITheNewColossus'' not only spoils [[spoiler:BJ's survival from Deathshead's TakingYouWithMe moment at the end of the previous game]], but [[spoiler:the cover itself shows that BJ's new body is that of an [[SuperSoldier Ubersoldat]].]] It doesn't help that ''VideoGame/QuakeChampions'' also included a "Terror Billy" skin that [[spoiler:shows him in the Ubersoldat body]].
* The collector's edition boxart of ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'' features Morag, Vandham, and Zeke alongside Rex, Nia, and Tora [[spoiler:which hints that despite their initially antagonistic appearances, they end up becoming a part of the gang down the line]].

* ''WebVideo/EpicRapBattlesOfHistory'': The Website/YouTube thumbnail for "Creator/GeorgeCarlin vs. Creator/RichardPryor" shows [[spoiler:three more participants: Creator/BillCosby, Creator/JoanRivers and Creator/RobinWilliams.]]

* The Hulu preview thumbnail for the ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' episode "The Mural Of The Story" shows [[spoiler:the [[BodyHorror absolutely gruesome aftermath]] of Stan's botched "plastic surgery" on Hayley's face.]]
* Some Netflix thumbnails for ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman'' show scenes with [=BoJack=] in the outfit from the second half of the final season. The reason this stands out is because [[spoiler:[=BoJack=] changing his old outfit and letting his hair go gray represents his change in demeanor instead of living in the past all the time]].
* The Netflix poster for ''WesternAnimation/{{Castlevania}}'' Season 4 while more subtle than other examples still [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EzB2He4VIAI8611?format=jpg&name=4096x4096 faintly displays]] [[spoiler:Death's skull]] in the EvilOverlooker position above Trevor clueing anyone who spots him into who the HiddenVillain will be. There's also Dracula and Lisa embracing in the foreground, despite the fact they're both dead at this point [[spoiler: spoiling the fact they'll be brought back.]]
* Some Netflix thumbnails for ''WesternAnimation/{{Centaurworld}}'' shows off [[spoiler:Horse's complete transformation into [[FisherKingdom her more cartoonish form]]]], which doesn't happen until near the end of season 1.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'': [[spoiler:The destruction of Republic City and a creation of a new spirit portal in said city]] are one of the last things to happen in the entire series, but are clearly shown behind Korra on the Book 4 DVD package.
* The DVD cover for ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerbStarWars'' blatantly shows off [[spoiler:Darth Ferb]], who doesn't appear until the final act.
* The back cover of the ''WesternAnimation/SouthParkPostCOVID'' duology DVD depicts [[spoiler:the homeless Cartman from the new altered timeline]], which is the last scene of the duology.

* The ''Anime/OjamajoDoremi Dokka~n!'' DVD box features [[spoiler: the middle school versions of the girls]] on the back of the DVD set, something which doesn't happen until the end of the series.

* ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'': The cover of ''Literature/WordsOfRadiance'' shows Kaladin about to face Szeth, with an Everstorm brewing behind them. While readers of the previous book ''Literature/TheWayOfKings'' probably expected something like this to happen, there are moments within this book that play with the possibility of this outcome.

%%* This cover for ''Manga/{{Shiki}}''. [[spoiler:Look at his eyes.]] %%Can't, because the link is broken. That's why Administrivia/WebLinksAreNotExamples.