[[quoteright:249: https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_reachinghands.png]]
[[caption-width-right:249: They're reaching for your money. [[note]]From top to bottom: ''Videogame/CastlevaniaDawnOfSorrow'', ''ComicBook/FlashpointDCComics'', ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''.[[/note]]]]

This is an instance where, on a cover, poster, or something of the sort, a character's arm is stretched out towards the audience, with the character's hand in full focus. Typically this is done to make the cover more action packed and intense, while also not requiring any form of real motion, explosions, or anything else that could potentially make it harder to read.

It's not enough for a character to simply have their hand slightly ahead in the picture. The hand needs to be either the dominant focus point, or one of the dominant focus points, of the image. Otherwise, it's just rather [[Administrivia/PeopleSitOnChairs inconsequential]].

A SisterTrope to SeanConneryIsAboutToShootYou. Can be related to an AssKickingPose, but not always. Compare FilmTheHand, which can use a similar pose, but functions very differently in the story.
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!!Examples:

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[[folder:Anime]]
* Certain promotional art for ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist2003'', as well as [[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist the manga on which it was based]] show Ed reaching for the Philosopher's Stone, a major goal of the Elric brothers early in the story.
* The poster of ''Anime/IronManRiseOfTechnovore''.
* With ''Anime/ProfessorLaytonAndTheEternalDiva'', both the DVD cover and the movie posters have Professor Layton pointing to the audience.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* Creator/JackKirby was famous for drawing characters with their hands outstretched toward the readers. Typically, if you're looking at a comic form the 60's or 70's and you see this, it's a good chance Kirby did it.
* ''ComicBook/SheHulk'': On the cover of [[http://www.comics.org/issue/382999/cover/4/ issue #22]] of the 2005 series, She-Hulk reaches out of the cover and pulls the reader's arm.
* ''[[ComicBook/{{Miracleman}} Marvelman Classic]]'': The [[http://www.comics.org/issue/937287/cover/4/ first issue]] of Creator/MarvelComics' reprint series shows MM floating in space, reaching a hand out towards the reader.
* One of the covers for ''[[ComicBook/LukeCage Cage Vol. 2 # 1]]'' is almost entirely his [[http://worldofblackheroes.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/cagemax1-cover.jpg fist.]]
* The cover for ''ComicBook/FlashpointDCComics'' #12 has the Flash running towards the cover, hand outstretched ahead.
* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' character art created in the Dreamwave house style was typically in a squatting pose with one arm outstretched toward the reader -- a pose known in the fandom as "_____ is about to snatch your purse".
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[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', the poster Abby has for the 4*Town concert features Robaire in this pose.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* The main promotional poster for ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' has Tony Stark's hand glowing in the foreground.
* The poster for ''Film/SpankingTheMonkey''.
* The poster for ''Film/{{Phenomenon}}'' has George reaching his hand out as if to aim his telekinetic ability.
* 2 of the 3 main posters for ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix'' have Harry or a group with Harry pointing their wands at the screen. One doubles as [[SeanConneryIsAboutToShootYou Harry Potter is about the shoot you]], while the other is just a foreground wand.
* ''Film/{{Hulk}}'' has most of the poster taken up by the Hulk's huge green hand [[TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou which is reaching directly for the viewer]].
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[[folder:Literature]]
* Creator/IsaacAsimov's ''Literature/TheCompleteRobot'': The only artwork on the Science Fiction Book Club cover merges with the title; a robotic claw coming from the side and forming the 'C' in "C[-OMPLETE-]".
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[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* The ''Series/DoctorWho'' promotional image for the 12th Doctor's outfit has his actor, Creator/PeterCapaldi, reaching towards the camera, exactly like this trope describes.
* Many official posters and DVD covers for ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}'' have Merlin's hand in the foreground, lighting up with magic.
* It's practically a rule at this point to have Eleven extending her hand in nearly every ''Series/StrangerThings'' poster or promotional image. {{Justified}} in that extending her hand is often how she uses her powers InUniverse.
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[[folder:Music]]
* Rea from Creator/{{Reamonn}} does this gesture in the music video for "Through the Eyes of a Child" when he sings the line "please take my hand".
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaDawnOfSorrow's'' box art. Played up even more in its promotional art.
* ''VideoGame/DevilSurvivor2'' has the protagonist extending his hand towards the audience on the cover. The UpdatedRerelease changed the cover, removing this aspect.
* The box art of ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongJungleBeat'' does it with Donkey Kong's fist instead of a palm.
* ''[[VideoGame/TraumaCenter Trauma Center: Under the Knife]]'s'' box art.
* ''Franchise/AceAttorney''
** The franchise frequently uses posters with the main character pointing into the screen. The franchises logo even has a disproportionately large pointing hand dominating it.
** And, as such, the box art for the crossover game ''VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonVsAceAttorney'' has both Phoenix Wright and Professor Layton pointing to the audience.
* ''VideoGame/GoldenSunDarkDawn'''s cover art.
* ''[[VideoGame/PunchOut Punch-Out!! Wii]]'''s cover art.
* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'': [[TheProtagonist Nero]] gets a SloMoBigAir with this kind of shot just after he was [[YouShallNotPass dogpiled]] by a bunch of [[EliteMooks Bianco]] [[AnimatedArmor Angelo]]. The one he was trying to reach for (with his [[RedRightHand Devil Bringer]], which made the shot even [[PowerGlows more impressive]]) is actually [[spoiler:[[LoveInterest Kyrie]], who was being taken by [[BigBad Sanctus]]]], but he was only able to grab [[spoiler:her]] pendant. This scene is featured prominently in the vanilla and ''Special Edition'' openings.
* Various covers of ''VideoGame/WarioLand3'' have Wario holding his hand towards the cover, with three fingers pointed up, forming a "W".
* ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' has the titular character reaching out with his Werehog hand.
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[[folder:Web Comics]]
* ''Webcomic/SleeplessDomain'': The [[https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/811DGwzPO2L.jpg cover]] of the first print volume, ''The Price of Magic'', features Undine Wells reaching out with one hand towards the audience, as she falls through the crumbling background and into a purple abyss.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Certain box art for ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''.
* One version of the movie poster for Creator/DonBluth's ''WesternAnimation/TitanAE'' has protagonist Cale Tucker reaching into the foreground with his right hand. Visible within the palm of that hand is the star map which will guide them to the ''Titan'', a world-building spacecraft built by Cale's father.
* The DVD art for ''WesternAnimation/BewareTheBatman''.
* ''WesternAnimation/SmilingFriends'': Mr. Peanut does this with both hands when gesturing about how Mr. Boss needs to do a "peanut-jig" of his own.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]
* Many military recruitment posters use this trope, such as [[UncleSamWantsYou the iconic "I Want You" Uncle Sam poster]], or others [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recruitment_poster#Recruitment_posters as seen here]].
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