History Main / ProstheticLimbReveal

* Many people who read ''{{Manga/Berserk}}'' know that Guts has a prosthetic arm from the outset, but for those watching the very first anime adaptation, the reveal that he has one comes when he is on the ropes against the Snake Lord, and he unloads the cannon built into the arm right into the demon's face. It isn't until the end of the Golden Age Arc, when the Eclipse goes down, that we learn [[LifeOrLimbDecision just how Guts lost that arm]].

* ''Anime/VioletEvergarden'' hides her artificial arms under long sleeved clothing and a pair of gloves, but she removes the gloves to type. Given that it is her job to type letters and other documents for various clients, the nature of her arms is revealed time and time again, almost once per episode in fact. However, others are almost always supportive and understanding once they see Violet's situation, and not much is made of them after the fact.

* ''ComicBook/{{Preacher}}'': When facing off against his former boss, the boss's badass bodyguard, and the man's AngryGuardDog, Starr appears to try to attack the bodyguard with a kick. The bodyguard contemptuously grabs the "kick" in mid air, and is caught by surprise when Starr's leg suddenly pops off in his hand, (Starr had only recently lost the leg under secret circumstances, so the bodyguard had no idea it was a prosthetic) causing him to stop and stare long enough that Starr is able to dispatch him and Starr's former boss. Unfortunately for Starr, the dog is still able to get him.

* ''Film/IRobot'': Detective Spooner was involved in a car crash some years back, but seems to have come out of it relatively unscathed until an NS-5 robot tries to bludgeon him to death, which he wards off with his arm, which does not break and is revealed to be mechanical with a flesh colored covering. Dr. Calvin doesn't even realize he has it until she sees him without his shirt. It's also how Spooner came to know the late Dr. Lanning, the leading mind in robotics, since Lanning had created the arm.

* ''[[{{Literature/Lensman}} Gray Lensman]]'': After Port Admiral Haynes undergoes an experimental regeneration treatment (and needs assistance because his prosthetics don't fit any more) Nurse Clarissa [=MacDougall=] is shocked to discover just how many prosthetic parts Haynes had.

* ''Series/MyNameIsEarl'': In the backstory, Earl once slept with a woman who only had one leg. He didn't know she only had one leg until the next morning when she got out of bed. It freaked him out and he ran away, leading to #86 on the list: "Stole a car from a one legged girl."

-->''"As a child I believed sharks were my friends." (Tears off glove) [[LargeHam "I know better now!"]]''

* In ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'', Dipper asks the public pool's boss if he can be hired as the assistant lifeguard. The boss says that he likes him, but emphasizes that it's not an easy job, ChewingTheScenery with his claim that it's "an anarchy out there". When Dipper looks at the pool and sees nothing unusual going on, he skeptically reassures the boss that he can handle this. The boss then responds by showing his artificial hand, claiming that he lost the real one to a pool filter.

* In ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon2'', Drago reveals to Hiccup that he lost his entire arm in a dragon attack, not to mention his whole family and his village. The arm was replaced with a metal one, which he detaches on Hiccup's eyes. It all serves as his FreudianExcuse to try dominating everyone so that he never has to fear anyone again.

* In ''YuGiOh5Ds'', Bommer's assassination attempt on Goodwin is thwarted by Yusei, but not before one of the wheel spikes of his chariot-type D-Wheel gets broken off and sent flying towards the Security director. Goodwin is able to save himself by catching the spike with his left hand, but the spike shreds his glove and reveals said hand to be made of metal. Jack, the only one close enough to see Goodwin's robot arm, is shocked, and Goodwin's metal arm proves important to his past as well as to the Signers.

* After ''Film/HappyGilmore'' tries hustling golfers at a driving range, Chubbs comes up to him and proposes to coach him at golf. He explains that he was poised for the PGA tour, but he never got a chance to play. Happy thinks it's because he's black, but Chubbs reveals it was because an alligator bit his hand off. He reveals this by showing him his prosthetic hand.

* Many people who read ''{{Manga/Berserk}}'' know that Guts has a prosthetic arm from the outset, but for those watching the very first anime adaptation, the reveal that he has one comes when he is on the ropes against the Snake Lord, and he unloads the cannon built into the arm right into the demon's face.

* [[ImpliedTrope Implied]] with TheEngineer in ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''. He normally wears a glove on his right hand at all times, but equipping the Gunslinger replaces it with a robotic prosthetic and allows building Mini-Sentry guns, and equipping the Short Circuit allows the glove to transform into a LightningGun for destroying projectiles (and dealing mild damage). It's not been canonically stated whether or not his hand is always a prosthetic under the glove, and either option is possible thanks to [[TheMedic the Medic's [[HealingShiv Medigun]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'': Kasen Ibaraki has one arm wraped entirely in bandages... which it turns out is holding nothing but black smoke.

* ''ComicBook/{{Preacher}}'': When facing off against his former employer, his dog and his bodyguard, Starr holds his leg out in front of him. The bodyguard contemptuously grabs it, and is surprised long enough that it comes off that Starr is able to dispatch him. Unfortunately for Starr, the dog is still able to get him.
--> Starr: My cock is in the bitch's mouth. And not in a good way.

* At the beginning of ''FullmetalAlchemist'', Cornello has his chimeras try to bite off Edward Elric's right arm, only for him to rip off his shirt and reveal that it is made of metal.

* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': Peridot has a rather geometric design, with [[FloatingLimbs free-floating fingers]], [[RobotHair triangular hair]], and numerous devices that seem integrated into her body. This left viewers [[AmbiguousRobots wondering if she was some kind of robot]]. The answer? [[RoboticReveal The arms and legs are robotic.]] [[UnroboticReveal She is not (nor is her hair).]] Peridot's has fully-functional arms and legs underneath the prosthetics, they're just a way to store equipment while compensating for her [[FunSize very short height]], hence why she calls them "limb enhancers".

* ''Website/NotAlwaysRight'': [[http://notalwaysright.com/how-to-disarm-volatile-customers/29372 This customer]] used a joke about his prosthetic arm to shut up someone demanding a discount.

This trope refers to any situation where a character who, at the first glance, looks perfectly fine and you wouldn't expect them to be handicapped in any way, but then they suddenly reveals that they have an [[ArtificialLimbs Artificial Limb]] - much to the audience and other characters' surprise.

* On ''Series/{{Friends}}'', Chandler learns his girlfriend has a prosthetic leg in the worst possible way - by accidentally throwing it in the fireplace.

This trope refers to any situation where a character who, at the first glance, looks perfectly fine and you wouldn't expect them to be handicapped in any way, suddenly reveals that he has an [[ArtificialLimbs Artificial Limb]] - much to the audience and other characters' surprise.

One of the common ways in which this occurs is when another character asks the disabled character why is he so serious about something; the latter responds by showing his artificial limb, emphasizing that the thing in question is not a laughing matter, and also providing some backstory for himself.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" Part 2" we learn that Jasper Beardly has a wooden leg when Smithers confesses to shooting him. Jasper didn't even know he'd been shot. "You shot who in the what now?"

* In ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'', when Antimony's father Anthony finally appears in person after years of absence, Annie is shocked to discover that one of the things that's changed about him is a prosthetic right hand, which she hadn't noticed until she spoke to him in private. He shuts down her attempts to question him about it immediately after.

* Downplayed in ''[[{{Literature/Lensman}} Gray Lensman]]''. After Port Admiral Haynes undergoes an experimental regeneration treatment (and needs assistance because his prosthetics don't fit any more) Nurse Clarissa [=MacDougall=] is shocked to discover just how many prosthetic parts Haynes had.

* ''Series/TheSimpsons'': In "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" Part 2" we learn that Jasper Beardly has a wooden leg when Smithers confesses to shooting him. Jasper didn't even know he'd been shot. "You shot who in the what now?"

Indices: AutonomousAndArtificialAppendageIndex, DisabilityTropes, MedicalHorror