History Main / MarkOfTheBeast

* In ''Manga/AngelSanctuary'', the kiss of a Satan leaves the mark of said satan behind. It seems to give the Satan power over the victim [[spoiler: as with Noise]], but can also be a sign that someone made a deal with a Satan [[spoiler: Arakune who turns out to be a traitor.]]

* When it's your turn to pilot Zearth in ''Manga/{{Bokurano}}'', you'll get a mark on your body. They're often FacialMarkings (like [[spoiler: Ushiro]] and [[spoiler: Youko]]), but not always: Mako's marks were on her thighs, and Kirie's were on his stomach.

* The Homunculi in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' have an ouroboros somewhere on their bodies (e.g. Lust by her collarbone, Gluttony on his tongue, etc.). The humans turned into homunculi also gain this mark upon ingesting [[spoiler:a philosopher's stone with Father's soul]] and it disappears when [[spoiler:the soul]] is removed. It's meant to represent their immortality, as the ouroboros is a symbol for eternity. Originally the Ouroboros symbolized how process and result are one thing (it devours itself and thus creates himself) - and thus was a symbol for the Philosopher's stone itself.

* In ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaAs'', when the Book of Darkness awakens [[spoiler: and takes over Hayate]], red lines spread all over her body. These lines disappear once the Book of Darkness is cleansed of its corrupted self-defense program.
* The Curse mark on Sasuke of ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', placed by Orochimaru. It spreads across Sasuke's body the stronger it becomes.
** When Sasuke unleashes the Curse Seal's full power, he actually transforms into a vaguely demonic creature, complete with two very large wings growing out of his back that look like giant webbed hands more than anything.
*** Pretty much any unleashed Curse Seal. The Sound Four all turn into monsters. And the first bearer of the Curse Mark gets a PsychoPrototype treatment, as well as having a monster form.
** For that matter, the title character has whisker-like lines on his cheeks that grow more pronounced as he draws on the power of the [[SealedEvilInACan Nine-Tailed Fox sealed in his belly]]. At least until he draws enough power that his ''skin'' peels off and he is [[OneWingedAngel completely covered in his own chakra-infused blood]].
* The demonic taint in Ashitaka's body in ''Anime/PrincessMononoke''.
* Tsukune in ''Manga/RosarioPlusVampire'' when he first transforms into a ghoul. The markings are [[spoiler: Moka]]'s blood creeping through his body and taking over his mind.

[[folder:Fanfiction]]
* In the ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries,'' when a pony turns into a [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Nightmare,]] their cutie mark's colors are inverted. For example, [[spoiler:Fluttershy's cutie mark is three butterflies with pink wings and blue bodies, while Nightmare Whisper's is three butterflies with blue wings and pink bodies.]]

[[folder:Films -- Live Action]]
* A number of direct-to-video Christian-produced movies that take place in an [[TheAntichrist Antichrist]]-ruled world TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture take the verse from Revelations literally. Citizens in this world are required to have a highly visible mark (usually the number 666 or some arcane symbol) to even walk around in public, else be forcibly implanted with one (in public or private) or face execution.
* In the Film/{{Apocalypse}} film series, those who receive the MarkOfTheBeast may also experience miraculous healings, such as the blind woman in ''Revelation'' receiving her sight, the wheelchair-bound man in the same movie being able to walk, and the one-armed man in the hospital in ''Tribulation'' receiving his right arm again. There's also the BlessedWithSuck element of the recipients being blessed with limited telekinetic and telepathic powers, as featured in the movie ''Tribulation''.
* The ''Film/BladeTrilogy'' movies. Those humans who submit to a vampire master get a tattoo (usually) on the back of the neck; this tells other vampires "Don't eat me".
* When Guerrero makes his DealWithTheDevil in ''Film/DeadInTombstone'', Satan brands his chest with an inverted cross.
* In ''Film/DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness'', the [[TomeOfEldritchLore Darkhold]] leaves a visible mark on anyone who uses it. [[spoiler:838-Strange and 616-Wanda]] both have their fingertips turn black while [[spoiler:Sinister Strange and 616-Strange]] both develop a ThirdEye.
* In Music/SnoopDogg's ''Film/HoodOfHorror'', Devon gets a stylized [=HoH=] on the back of his neck when he [[DealWithTheDevil sells his soul,]] and agrees to become the Hound of Horror to bring his sister back from the dead.
* In ''Film/TheOmen1976'', it is revealed that Damien has the "666" mark, but up above his hairline where you'd never see it unless you specifically searched for it.
* ''Film/SixTheMarkUnleashed'' calls it The Holy Implant.
* The series that begins with ''Film/AThiefInTheNight'', in which citizens must be tattooed with 666 (disguised as digital code) and must have it scanned at all supermarkets before they can buy food. Those who refuse this mark are sent to the guillotine.

* In the framing story for the ''Books of Blood'', by Creator/CliveBarker, a young man who'd made light of communication with the dead is marked all over his body -- even his genitals and eyelids -- by the irate words of outraged spirits, who carved them directly into his skin.

* The "chahk'morg" in ''Literature/TheHauntingOfAlaizabelCray''. It's a mark shaped like a Cthulhu-esque demon that is placed on those marked for sacrifice. The bad guys also use it to summon all of hell by [[spoiler: killing people all over London such that the spots they died will form a chahk'morg when you connect them. Don't ask.]]

* [[RightWingMilitiaFanatic Randy "Hawkeye" Morrison]] from ''Literature/StarTrekTheEugenicsWars'' views his avian eyes as the mark of the beast. Subverted in that the beast he fears does not actually exist. However it does contribute significantly to his paranoia.
* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'': The Sith often (though not always) use distinctive tattoos as a symbol of membership and/or rank (most prominently, Darth Maul's full-body tattoos, which [[ComicBook/StarWarsLegacy the One Sith]] later also adopt). Though not actually demons, they ''are'' a certified ReligionOfEvil and the most powerful and persistant evil faction in the setting.
* Everyone in ''Literature/TheGreatControversy'' who hasn't got the Seal of God and goes to church on Sunday (rather than Saturday) to avoid persecution and pacify the Pope.
* ''Literature/ChroniclesOfAncientDarkness'': Each of the [[EvilSorcerer Soul Eaters]] has a trident tattoo on their chest, representing the tool they use to catch stray souls. In the third book, [[spoiler:Torak]] is forcibly tattooed by the Soul Eaters and the plot of the next book is driven by everyone else's reactions when they find out, and his efforts to remove it.

** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E8TheImpossiblePlanet "The Impossible Planet"]]/[[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E9TheSatanPit "The Satan Pit"]], the character who gets [[HumanNotepad covered in the untranslated language]] and [[RedEyesTakeWarning glowing red eyes]] when he is possessed by the villainous MonsterOfTheWeek truly exemplifies this trope.
** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS24E4Dragonfire "Dragonfire"]], Kane freeze-brands the hands of all his workers with a super-chilled coin.

* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1985'': In "A Message from Charity", Squire Jonas Hacker tells Charity Payne to strip so that he can search her body for the Devil's mark. She immediately realizes that Hacker [[AttemptedRape intends to rape her]] as Faith Tanner was extremely upset when he subjected her to the same search the previous year.
* In ''Series/{{Hex}}'', those who have their wishes granted by Malachi and become incubi or succubi are marked on their neck as his property, and in some cases get [[GlowingEyesOfDoom Glowing Eyes of Doom]].

* The TropeNamer is in the Literature/BookOfRevelation in Literature/TheBible. All must accept the Mark of the Beast "in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark". Turns out not to be a good deal:

-->''Those who bear in their foreheads the name of the Lamb and of his Father have the "mark" of the Lamb. They are deliberately contrasted with the people who bear, on the right arm or the forehead, the "mark" of the beast.''
* According to [[http://www.zerotime.com/night/detect.htm Zerotime.com]], werewolves have a pentagram "birthmark" somewhere on their bodies, often on the palm or chest.
** In folklore, this kind of mark was said to be given to witches by {{Satan}}. Any kind of birthmark could be interpreted as a "witch mark" by zealous [[TheWitchHunter witch hunters]]. Keep in mind that in many folk tales, [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent witches were werewolves]].

* Most of the TabletopGame/{{Exalted}} have, as a side effect of using [[KiManipulation Essence]], the effect of generating a BattleAura. One bit of this is the Caste Mark, a representation of your Caste that appears on your forehead. For Solars and Lunars, it's a golden/silver shining disk; for Sidereals, it's the astrological sign of the Maiden they were chosen by. Then you have the [[OmnicidalManiac Abyssals]]. Their Caste Marks ''bleed'' out of their forehead.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' and ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' occasionally have marks of Chaos appearing on mortal worshippers. One mildly unnerving piece of art from one edition of ''Warhammer'' depicted a pair of eyes with the pupils turned into eight-pointed stars.

* In ''VideoGame/BioShockInfinite'', Booker [=DeWitt=] bears the mark AD on the back of his right hand, which according to Zachary Comstock's teachings in Columbia marks him as the "False Shepherd". [[spoiler:It turns out that AD was a MarkOfShame that he put on his right hand when he had sold off his daughter Anna, who in an alternate reality became Comstock's daughter Elizabeth.]]
** The mark also appears on [[spoiler:the alternate version of Comstock]] in the DLC ''Burial at Sea - Episode 1'', albeit as a tattoo rather than a brand.

* The l'Cie of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' are marked with a brand somewhere on their bodies; it functions both as a symbol of their CursedWithAwesome status and a timer [[DeathsHourglass indicating how long they have to fulfill their Focus before]] [[FateWorseThanDeath they turn into horrifying Cie'th monsters.]]
* Kratos of the ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'' series was branded with the Blades of Chaos [[spoiler:after making his deal with Ares.]]

* The Mark of Torment, its description quoted on the top of the page, on The Nameless One's left shoulder in ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment''. Where exactly The Nameless One obtained it is never revealed; it is implied [[spoiler:that it appeared as a result of the combined torment his incarnations accrued over the years]]. If you take the proper steps [[spoiler:and relearn the Nameless One's true name, he sloughs off his torment, and the Mark of Torment peels off of his body and flutters away with the breeze.]]

* In ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}} 3''-and-forwards, Jin Kazama gains more and more black tattoos as his 'Devil Jin' mode awakens.
* In ''VideoGame/VagrantStory'', there is the Blood Sin, which controls the Gran Grimoire. Whoever acquires it has control of Lea Monde. [[spoiler: Sydney already has it. Everyone else wants it, and Guildenstern cuts the tattoo from Sydney's back to graft onto his own.]]

* Grima's Mark or The Brand of Defile in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'', first seen on the {{Player Character}}'s right hand. [[spoiler:If you choose to sacrifice yourself to kill Grima permanently, your character is reformed sometime later without the mark, signifying that Grima is truly dead and gone this time.]]
* In ''VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt'', making [[DealWithTheDevil a deal]] with a certain "GOD" [[LeonineContract (not that you have a choice)]] will have you branded with one to mark the pact. Other characters who are versed in the arcane would note that it's ancient, powerful magic, and that you're dealing with [[SatanicArchetype a particularly dangerous entity.]]
* In ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'', those who are branded with the Darksign are doomed to return to life after death while slowly losing their sanity, eventually becoming a mindless Hollow.

* [[spoiler:Sakura]] in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' gets spiky black lines that creep over her body at irregular points and then retract again [[FreakOut after she goes]] into full fledged psychotic {{Yandere}} mode. Also, her hair turns entirely white.

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* In ''WebAnimation/MysterySkullsAnimated'' green starts creeping up Arthur's arm after it's touched by a glowing green spirit that is quickly gaining control of his body as it possesses him.
[[/folder]]

* Teddy in ''Webcomic/DangerouslyChloe'', acquires a pentacle on the back of the left hand, with which he touched the demon statue. After the [[DealWithTheDevil blood pact]] is sealed, this mark fades out of sight.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'', selling your soul to a demon will result in a random part of your body turning translucent, marking you as the demon's property and telling other demons not to interfere with you. Biscuit's lips and hair are see-through as a result of such a bargain, [[spoiler:and Dies-Horribly's ears become so after tries to sell himself to a demoness.]]

* ''{{Webcomic/Phantomarine}}'': Seaghosts possessed by Cheth display his characteristic black band tattoos on their arms, and a long line of fishbone tattoos on their backs.

* In ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'', [[spoiler:Dipper]]'s eyes turn a shade of yellow and his pupils slit when [[spoiler:Bill Cipher takes control over his body]]. Of course, this being Gravity Falls, [[WeirdnessCensor every single character fails to notice this]].
* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'', when Billy is given a cursed tricycle that is sentient and violently attacks anyone that wrongs him (a la Literature/{{Christine}}) Grim confirms that it's cursed with the Mark of the Beast. As it turns out, the mark of the beast is actually a ''brand name'' by a company that specialises in making cursed products.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': [[spoiler:Coven Sigils are a very {{Literature/Book of Revelation}}esque interpretation of this trope, being a special tattoo that everyone is required to get on their right wrist or be marked as a criminal by [[TheAntichrist Emperor Belos']] fascist regime. They also pretty much doom anyone that gets them, as they are used as a targeting system for the [[FinalSolution Draining Spell]] in Belos' Day of Unity plot.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In the opening to "Treehouse of Horror XXX", Ned tries to kill Maggie because she bears the mark of the beast. He parts her hair to reveal a WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse head (referencing the Disney/Fox merger) before realizing his error and reveals she also has a [[NumberOfTheBeast "666"]] mark on her head. It then turns out the mark is actually a message saying that this is "Episode 666, or 667 if Creator/{{Fox}} changes the schedule".

** More interestingly, when [[spoiler: Slade]] comes back, he's got a glowing sigil in his forehead, to go with his new, fire-based powers and infernal army. When he loses the powers, the sigil disappears as well...

* In ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'', [[spoiler: Mystique, Magneto, Xavier, and Storm]] receive markings similar to those of Apocalypse when he "recruits" them as his horsemen.

* In Snoop Dogg's ''Hood of Horror'', Devon gets a stylized [=HoH=] on the back of his neck when he [[DealWithTheDevil sells his soul,]] and agrees to become the Hound of Horror to bring his sister back from the dead.

* The series that begins with ''A Thief in the Night'', in which citizens must be tattooed with 666 (disguised as digital code) and must have it scanned at all supermarkets before they can buy food. Those who refuse this mark are sent to the guillotine.

* The Mark of Torment, its description quoted on the top of the page, on The Nameless One's left shoulder in ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment''. Where exactly The Nameless One obtained it is never revealed; it is implied [[spoiler:that it appeared as a result of the combined torment his incarnations accrued over the years]].

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E8TheImpossiblePlanet "The Impossible Planet"]]/[[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E9TheSatanPit "The Satan Pit"]], the character who gets [[HumanNotepad covered in the untranslated language]] and [[RedEyesTakeWarning glowing red eyes]] when he is possessed by the UltimateEvil truly exemplifies this trope.

-->''Those who bear in their foreheads the name of the Lamb and of his Father have the "mark" of the Lamb. They are deliberately contrasted with the people who bear, on the right arm or the forehead, the "mark of the beast.''

** One could argue that the Mark of the Beast is not an actual "mark" on the body per se, but more like an identifier to the Beast, probably a ritual blessing. This is in contrast with the Mark of the Lamb, as in the identifier for allegiance with Jesus Christ (most likely by making the sign of the cross). This is best explained in Revelation 13:16-18:

* Guilmon and his evolved forms in ''Anime/DigimonTamers'' have the Digital Hazard symbol on their bodies, which resembles the biohazard symbol and indicates that they have the potential to be highly dangerous threats to both worlds. When he awakens to his SuperpoweredEvilSide Megidramon, the Digital World starts ''collapsing''.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'':

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Mythology]]

[[folder:Religion]]
* The TropeNamer is in the Literature/BookOfRevelation in Literature/TheBible. All must accept the Mark of the Beast "in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark". Turns out not to be a good deal:
-->''And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.''

* The TropeNamer is in the Literature/BookOfRevelation in Literature/TheBible. All must accept the Mark of the Beast "in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark". Turns out not to be a good deal:
-->''And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.''

* The TropeNamer is in the Book of Revelation in Literature/TheBible. All must accept the Mark of the Beast "in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark". Turns out not to be a good deal:

Not to be confused with MarkedChange, which should only include markings gained when a character powers up, not turning evil, or under any 'evil' influences. If demons or mind control is involved, or the powered-up version of the character is known as "Dark(Name)," it probably belongs here. The nicer version of this trope is PowerTattoo or BirthmarkOfDestiny. For a character marked by an entity that isn't turning them evil, see ClaimedByTheSupernatural.

* ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyGenerations'': Each of the four smooze-made ponies created by the witches has an unusual trait that sets them apart from natural ones -- Shadow Storm has [[ExoticEyeDesigns eyes with grey sclerae and quartered white irises]], Violet Shiver has jagged, lighter markings on her hooves, and Black Belle has a lightning bolt-shaped horn and black splotches around her eyes and hooves.

* ComicBook/RachelSummers used to have facial tattoos from her grim and nasty future as a mutant hunter, which she could conceal until stressed or using her powers.
* A subplot in ''ComicBook/{{Spawn}}'' comics had an army of vampires who decided to only eat unholy sinners; which of course meant anyone they disagreed with. A bit of magic 'marked' them with sigils only the monsters could see. Spawn managed to turn off the mark for all. They didn't know who to eat so couldn't risk eating anyone 'innocent'.
* In the final scene of Franchise/TheDCU's ''ComicBook/UnderworldUnleashed'' CrisisCrossover, in which many many supervillains made a DealWithTheDevil for increased power, the villain Major Disaster is shown gloating about how he got to keep his powers even though the BigBad was destroyed. Then he sees his reflection in a window, and sees the NumberOfTheBeast etched into his forehead...

* Tsukune in ''Manga/RosarioToVampire'' when he first transforms into a ghoul. The markings are [[spoiler: Moka]]'s blood creeping through his body and taking over his mind.

This trope's namesake makes it OlderThanFeudalism. See also NumberOfTheBeast.