Fictional character biography
The Mindscape is a dimension that borders on the minds of all intelligent beings and living things, inhabited by many strange creatures. Some of them are very dangerous, seeking to invade the sleeping minds of humans. The Sleepwalkers act as guardians to defend these minds and the Mindscape, apprehending the creatures. One such Sleepwalker was trapped in the mind of New York college student Rick Sheridan after being tricked by his archenemy Cobweb.[7][8][2][1] When Rick sleeps, Sleepwalker can materialize in reality or remain in Rick's mind and converse with him via his dreams. After he is informed that Sleepwalker is not malicious, Rick comes to an understanding with him, allowing Sleepwalker to battle crime at night.[7]
Sleepwalker is one of the few entities who remember the events of The Infinity Gauntlet storyline, during which he battled the villainous Chain Gang and rescued people from natural disasters. However, Nebula turns back time, neutralizing what he had gone through.[9] He considers his vague memories to be just a dream.
Sleepwalker plays an important role in the Infinity War, helping to defeat the Magus by channeling mental powers from Professor X, Jean Grey, Psylocke, and Moondragon through Rick Sheridan's mind. He also contributes to the battle against the evil clones of the superheroes Beast, Firestar, and Daredevil. Part of the fight against the evil doubles involved Sleepwalker impersonating his own evil clone.[10]
In the "Infinity Crusade" storyline, Sleepwalker is brainwashed by the Goddess and taken to her version of Counter-Earth. During the battle between the Goddess's forces and the rest of Earth's heroes, Sleepwalker subdues Darkhawk and the Human Torch by dragging them into the water with his shape-changing powers.
Sleepwalker is revealed to supposedly be the lead scout for the Mindspawn, an invading force from the Mindscape.[11] However, in actuality, Cobweb had put in motion a complicated plot to invade Earth and disrupt Rick's relationship with Sleepwalker. This involves disguising his minions as members of Sleepwalker's race and framing his archenemy as their leader. The plot is only partially successful; Sleepwalker and the Avengers thwart the initial attack, although Sleepwalker's reputation is ruined in the process.[12]
During the confrontation, Sleepwalker destroys Rick's mind as a means of protecting him from Cobweb's minions. Unfortunately, the authorities retrieve the "mindrake" weapon Sleepwalker had used to store Rick's mind, preventing him from recovering it, while gathering up one of Cobweb's demons that was left behind after the Avengers drove them away. The demon and the mindrake are taken to a federal prison and research facility, where serial killer Jeremy Roscoe is being held as part of a psychiatric experiment. Roscoe escapes from prison and fuses with the demon, transforming into a creature called Psyko. Psyko begins spreading mass insanity across New York until Sleepwalker manages to defeat him and retrieve the mindrake Psyko had taken with him.
Later, Sleepwalker thwarts Cobweb's second attack and banishes his archenemy once and for all, before seemingly dying to save Rick Sheridan's life.[13] Sleepwalker later turns up alive, still trapped in Rick's mind.
Sleepwalker is seen as having become a registered superhuman under the Initiative.[14] He then appears alongside Machine Man and Agent Sum as a member of Ms. Marvel's Operation: Lightning Storm.[15][16]
During the Fantastic Four's confrontation with the Quiet Man, they recruit Sleepwalker to neutralize the threat posed by the heroes from Counter-Earth. They reason that Sleepwalker is particularly suited to advise them on it, since Counter-Earth was Franklin Richards' dream.
Sleepwalker has made few appearances in modern comics. He received a self-titled miniseries that was a tie-in to the Infinity Wars event, and has had supporting roles in Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur and Hellcat.[17][18][19][20][21] In Infinity Wars, Rick Sheridan is one of countless individuals who are caught in Gamora's plan to appease the entity Devondra, causing him to be fused with an unspecified individual. After journeying into the Soul Gem to retrieve Rick, Sleepwalker learns that Rick has been fused with Nick Fury. Fury attempts to hunt Sleepwalker down, but Sleepwalker uses his warp gaze to separate Rick and Fury.[22]
