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* ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'': "Ten Little Flintstones" has an alien ship landing in Bedrock and creating a series of Fred clones to learn about Earth prior to a pending invasion. The clones simply march around smiling vacantly and saying [[CatchPhrase "Yabba-Dabba-Doo"]] ad infinitum, and everyone thinks each is actually Fred.

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* ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'': "Ten Little Flintstones" has an alien ship landing in Bedrock and creating a series of Fred clones to learn about Earth prior to a pending invasion. The clones simply march around smiling vacantly and saying [[CatchPhrase [[CharacterCatchPhrase "Yabba-Dabba-Doo"]] ad infinitum, and everyone thinks each is actually Fred.
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* Every alien except Cole and Zin on ''Series/{{Tracker}}''.

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* Every alien except Cole and Zin on ''Series/{{Tracker}}''.''Series/Tracker2001''.
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Updating links


* In ''ComicBook/CleanRoom'' both Astrid and Chloe are able to see through the demons' stealth abilities. The demons respond by possessing human hosts without controlling them, which makes them indistinguishable from unaffected humans until they attack.

to:

* In ''ComicBook/CleanRoom'' both ''ComicBook/CleanRoom'': Both Astrid and Chloe are able to see through the demons' stealth abilities. The demons respond by possessing human hosts without controlling them, which makes them indistinguishable from unaffected humans until they attack.



* The Evronians from ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures'' have [[VoluntaryShapeShifter shapeshifting]] {{Super Soldier}}s just for this ''before'' arriving on Earth. They're used only three times, but each time they're devastating:

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* ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures'': The Evronians from ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures'' have [[VoluntaryShapeShifter shapeshifting]] {{Super Soldier}}s just for this ''before'' arriving on Earth. They're used only three times, but each time they're devastating:



* In ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' storyline "ComicBook/SupergirlsGreatestChallenge", the green-skinned, pointy-eared Chameleon Men shape-shift into human forms to destroy the ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes and infiltrate Earth.

to:

* ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'': In ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' the storyline "ComicBook/SupergirlsGreatestChallenge", the green-skinned, pointy-eared Chameleon Men shape-shift into human forms to destroy the ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes and infiltrate Earth.



* This was eventually used as part of the FantasticRacism angle in Marvel, to better justify the SupernaturalAngst of the ''Franchise/XMen''; mutants got a bad enough rep when they were all believed to be deformed and unsightly, but then the humans figured out that some mutants looked perfectly human whilst having superhuman powers...

to:

* This was eventually used as part of the FantasticRacism angle in Marvel, to better justify the SupernaturalAngst of the ''Franchise/XMen''; ''ComicBook/XMen''; mutants got a bad enough rep when they were all believed to be deformed and unsightly, but then the humans figured out that some mutants looked perfectly human whilst having superhuman powers...
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General clarification on works content


** "[[Recap/DoctorWho2013CSTheTimeOfTheDoctor The Time of the Doctor]]" revealed a new weapon in the Dalek arsenal: Dalek puppets. Dalek puppets are beings who had been taken by the Daleks and partially converted via nanogenes to serve them as slaves. The Dalek nanogenes automatically would convert any organism it came in contact with, living or dead, making them into a Dalek puppet. These slaves were used as sleeper agents. When activated, they would have a miniature Dalek eyestalk extend from their forehead and a miniature Dalek gunstick from the palm of their hand.

to:

** "[[Recap/DoctorWho2013CSTheTimeOfTheDoctor The Time "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E1AsylumOfTheDaleks Asylum of the Doctor]]" Daleks]]" revealed a new weapon in the Dalek arsenal: Dalek puppets. Dalek puppets are beings who had been taken by the Daleks and partially converted via nanogenes to serve them as slaves. The Dalek nanogenes automatically would convert any organism it came in contact with, living or dead, making them into a Dalek puppet. These slaves were used as sleeper agents. When activated, they would have a miniature Dalek eyestalk extend from their forehead and a miniature Dalek gunstick from the palm of their hand.
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* ''Literature/BooksOfTheRaksura'': The AlwaysChaoticEvil Fell can shift between a monstrous form and an ordinary-looking humanoid form at will, contributing to a general distrust of shapeshifters. The shapeshifting Raksura suffer from the preconception even though they don't share the Fell's habit of sadistically preying on their neighbors.
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* Referenced in ''Film/BackToTheFuture'', though of course Marty [=McFly=] is perfectly human.

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* Referenced in ''Film/BackToTheFuture'', ''Film/BackToTheFuture1'', though of course Marty [=McFly=] is perfectly human.
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* In ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'', during the [[RobotWar Contingency endgame crisis]] your affected Synthetic citizens will discover a way to upgrade themselves into RidiculouslyHumanRobots nearly indistinguishable from normal people, forcing you to find a way to detect them through their disguises before it's too late.

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* In the 1970s, the ''[[ComicBook/TheAvengers Avengers]]'' storyline ''[[ComicBook/TheKreeSkrullWar The Kree-Skrull War]]'' featured a major panic over this, which (among other things) led to the formation of the [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything Special Committee on Alien Activities]]. Ironically, it was not the shapeshifting Skrulls who were the main target, but their enemies the Kree--Who could still infiltrate Earth in human guise, because they were HumanAliens.

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* In the 1970s, the ''[[ComicBook/TheAvengers Avengers]]'' storyline ''[[ComicBook/TheKreeSkrullWar The Kree-Skrull War]]'' ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'': "ComicBook/TheKreeSkrullWar" featured a major panic over this, which (among other things) led to the formation of the [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything Special Committee on Alien Activities]].Activities. Ironically, it was not the shapeshifting Skrulls who were the main target, but their enemies the Kree--Who could still infiltrate Earth in human guise, because they were HumanAliens.



* Malicious Durlans have used their shapeshifting abilities to infiltrate human society, as they did in ''[[Comicbook/InvasionDCComics Invasion!]]''. Luckily for the DCU most Durlans are very against the idea of leaving Durla, meaning large scale invasions by the shape-shiftering aliens are not a major concern.

to:

* Malicious Durlans have used their shapeshifting abilities to infiltrate human society, as they did in ''[[Comicbook/InvasionDCComics Invasion!]]''."ComicBook/{{Invasion|DC Comics}}". Luckily for the DCU most Durlans are very against the idea of leaving Durla, meaning large scale invasions by the shape-shiftering aliens are not a major concern.



*** The 2014 continuation "Might and Power" shows how devastating Grrodon could have been: he broke out of jail and ''built an Evronian army from scratch under everyone's nose''. Had an intervention from the future not forewarned Paperinik, he would have conquered Earth in a month from the start of the attack.
** in the reboot, a two-parter starts with a group of shape-shifting Evronians infiltrating a military base. Late in the two-parter the Evronians are invading Earth en-masse and we suddenly find out that ''every single military force on Earth has been incapacitated'', and thus Pk is the only resistance.
* Also, the now-gone Dire Wraiths from ''ComicBook/RomSpaceknight''.

to:

*** ** The 2014 continuation "Might and Power" shows how devastating Grrodon could have been: he broke out of jail and ''built an Evronian army from scratch under everyone's nose''. Had an intervention from the future not forewarned Paperinik, he would have conquered Earth in a month from the start of the attack.
** in In the reboot, a two-parter starts with a group of shape-shifting Evronians infiltrating a military base. Late in the two-parter the Evronians are invading Earth en-masse and we suddenly find out that ''every single military force on Earth has been incapacitated'', and thus Pk is the only resistance.
* Also, the now-gone ''ComicBook/RomSpaceknight'': The Dire Wraiths from ''ComicBook/RomSpaceknight''.Wraiths.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' storyline "ComicBook/SupergirlsGreatestChallenge", the green-skinned, pointy-eared Chameleon Men shape-shift into human forms to destroy the ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes and infiltrate Earth.
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* ''Series/TheOuterLimits1995'': The nine-foot tall, eight-hundred-pound Reptilian monsters with whom humanity fights a losing war in a couple of episodes manage to pull this off by surgically altering their (much smaller) females.

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* ''Series/TheOuterLimits1995'': The nine-foot tall, eight-hundred-pound Reptilian reptilian monsters with whom humanity fights a losing war in a couple "[[Recap/TheOuterLimits1995S1E14QualityOfMercy Quality of episodes Mercy]]" and "[[Recap/TheOuterLimits1995S2E18TheLightBrigade The Light Brigade]]" manage to pull this off by surgically altering their (much smaller) females.
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* This is by far the most significant difference between the ''Literature/TheWarOfTheWorlds'' film/radio show/whatever and the later [[Series/WarOfTheWorlds1988 TV show]] -- in the latter, the Martians are able to [[KillAndReplace posess human bodies at will]].

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* This is by far the most significant difference between the ''Literature/TheWarOfTheWorlds'' ''Franchise/TheWarOfTheWorlds'' film/radio show/whatever and the later [[Series/WarOfTheWorlds1988 TV show]] -- in the latter, the Martians are able to [[KillAndReplace posess human bodies at will]].
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** "[[Recap/DoctorWho2013CSTheTimeOfTheDoctor The Time of the Doctor" revealed a new weapon in the Dalek arsenal: Dalek puppets. Dalek puppets are beings who had been taken by the Daleks and partially converted via nanogenes to serve them as slaves. The Dalek nanogenes automatically would convert any organism it came in contact with, living or dead, making them into a Dalek puppet. These slaves were used as sleeper agents. When activated, they would have a miniature Dalek eyestalk extend from their forehead and a miniature Dalek gunstick from the palm of their hand.

to:

** "[[Recap/DoctorWho2013CSTheTimeOfTheDoctor The Time of the Doctor" Doctor]]" revealed a new weapon in the Dalek arsenal: Dalek puppets. Dalek puppets are beings who had been taken by the Daleks and partially converted via nanogenes to serve them as slaves. The Dalek nanogenes automatically would convert any organism it came in contact with, living or dead, making them into a Dalek puppet. These slaves were used as sleeper agents. When activated, they would have a miniature Dalek eyestalk extend from their forehead and a miniature Dalek gunstick from the palm of their hand.

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** "The time of the Doctor" revealed a new weapon in the Dalek arsenal: Dalek puppets. Dalek puppets are beings who had been taken by the Daleks and partially converted via nanogenes to serve them as slaves. The Dalek nanogenes automatically would convert any organism it came in contact with, living or dead, making them into a Dalek puppet. These slaves were used as sleeper agents. When activated, they would have a miniature Dalek eyestalk extend from their forehead and a miniature Dalek gunstick from the palm of their hand.

to:

** "The time "[[Recap/DoctorWho2013CSTheTimeOfTheDoctor The Time of the Doctor" revealed a new weapon in the Dalek arsenal: Dalek puppets. Dalek puppets are beings who had been taken by the Daleks and partially converted via nanogenes to serve them as slaves. The Dalek nanogenes automatically would convert any organism it came in contact with, living or dead, making them into a Dalek puppet. These slaves were used as sleeper agents. When activated, they would have a miniature Dalek eyestalk extend from their forehead and a miniature Dalek gunstick from the palm of their hand.hand.
* ''Series/FirstWave'': While we have no idea what the Gua normally look like (a DVD box cover gives then a [[TheGreys Grey]]-like appearance), they use genetic engineering to grow Gua/human hybrid bodies called husks, into which they then download the minds of Gua individuals. It's implied that the Gua are naturally much stronger than humans.
* ''Series/LogansRun'': In "Stargate", the aliens have a machine that allows them to assume the appearance of a given person. Everyone in the community except for Timon was subjected to it and died as a result. The early stage of the process was used on Logan and Jessica but they managed to kill their partially formed duplicates before it was completed.



* On both ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' and ''Franchise/SuperSentai'', Major Villains, MonstersOfTheWeek, and even {{Mooks}} occasionally take on human form for a disguise. Usually reverting to [[PeopleInRubberSuits Monster]] form when a fight scene commences.







* A comedy sketch on ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook'' depicts a Replidroid (robots out to destroy all human life) named "Colin". They are considered to be indistinguishable from humans. Despite Colin saying "Does not compute", "Must eat electric" and "Must destroy humans, putting oil on his food rather than gravy, and being obviously made of metal, the crew are completely oblivious.
* ''Series/FirstWave'': While we have no idea what the Gua normally look like (a DVD box cover gives then a [[TheGreys Grey]]-like appearance), they use genetic engineering to grow Gua/human hybrid bodies called husks, into which they then download the minds of Gua individuals. It's implied that the Gua are naturally much stronger than humans.
* ''Series/LogansRun'': In "Stargate", the aliens have a machine that allows them to assume the appearance of a given person. Everyone in the community except for Timon was subjected to it and died as a result. The early stage of the process was used on Logan and Jessica but they managed to kill their partially formed duplicates before it was completed.

* On both ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' and ''Franchise/SuperSentai'', Major Villains, MonstersOfTheWeek, and even {{Mooks}} occasionally take on human form for a disguise. Usually reverting to [[PeopleInRubberSuits Monster]] form when a fight scene commences.



* ''VideoGame/{{Carrion}}'': [[spoiler:The very final upgrade lets the Creature shapeshift into a human, which it uses to escape the facility and onto society.]]
* In ''VideoGame/CityOfVillains'' you can contact Kelly Uqua, who is working for [[MegaCorp Crey Industries]]. There's a nasty rumor floating around that the real Uqua is dead, and a Rikti alien can alter its form to match hers. Kelly wants you to enter one of Crey's warehouses and delete this report. Kelly also occasionally slips into the Rikti's VerbalTic while talking to you. A separate ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'' mission has you finding a Rikti who was posing as Kelly, whose [[GlamourFailure transformation machinery has broken down]].
* In ''VideoGame/Fallout4'', the Institute has reached a point in its work on autonomous androids that their current Generation Three Synths are functionally human, to the point the only way you can tell if someone is a Synth is to kill them.
* Midway through ''VideoGame/{{Marathon}}'', the Pfhor begin fielding ActionBomb simulacra that blend in with the [[RedShirt Green Shirts]]... Except for their (mostly) [[WordSaladHorror strange exclamations]] and AlienBlood.



* Midway through ''VideoGame/{{Marathon}}'', the Pfhor begin fielding ActionBomb simulacra that blend in with the [[RedShirt Green Shirts]]... Except for their (mostly) [[WordSaladHorror strange exclamations]] and AlienBlood.
* In ''VideoGame/CityOfVillains'' you can contact Kelly Uqua, who is working for [[MegaCorp Crey Industries]]. There's a nasty rumor floating around that the real Uqua is dead, and a Rikti alien can alter its form to match hers. Kelly wants you to enter one of Crey's warehouses and delete this report. Kelly also occasionally slips into the Rikti's VerbalTic while talking to you. A separate ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'' mission has you finding a Rikti who was posing as Kelly, whose [[GlamourFailure transformation machinery has broken down]].

to:

* Midway through ''VideoGame/{{Marathon}}'', the Pfhor begin fielding ActionBomb simulacra ''VideoGame/TheThing2002'' has this as a gameplay mechanic. By using a syringe and a chemical that blend in with the [[RedShirt Green Shirts]]... Except for their (mostly) [[WordSaladHorror strange exclamations]] and AlienBlood.
* In ''VideoGame/CityOfVillains''
reacts to blood by releasing heat, you can contact Kelly Uqua, who is working test your party members for [[MegaCorp Crey Industries]]. There's a nasty rumor floating around that infection. If the real Uqua is dead, syringe changes from red to brown, they're A-O-K, but if the syringe breaks, fry him, he's an alien, and a Rikti alien can alter its form to match hers. Kelly wants you to enter one of Crey's warehouses and delete this report. Kelly also occasionally slips mutating into the Rikti's VerbalTic while talking to you. A separate ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'' mission has you finding a Rikti who was posing beastie as Kelly, whose [[GlamourFailure transformation machinery has broken down]].we speak.



* ''VideoGame/TheThing2002'' has this as a gameplay mechanic. By using a syringe and a chemical that reacts to blood by releasing heat, you can test your party members for infection. If the syringe changes from red to brown, they're A-O-K, but if the syringe breaks, fry him, he's an alien, and mutating into a beastie as we speak.



* In ''VideoGame/Fallout4'', the Institute has reached a point in its work on autonomous androids that their current Generation Three Synths are functionally human, to the point the only way you can tell if someone is a Synth is to kill them.
* ''VideoGame/{{Carrion}}'': [[spoiler:The very final upgrade lets the Creature shapeshift into a human, which it uses to escape the facility and onto society.]]



* In ''Webcomic/StickInTheMud'' monsters usually take human forms when visiting human world, Rod's bar in particular.



* In ''Webcomic/StickInTheMud'' monsters usually take human forms when visiting human world, Rod's bar in particular.



* ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'': "Ten Little Flintstones" has an alien ship landing in Bedrock and creating a series of Fred clones to learn about Earth prior to a pending invasion. The clones simply march around smiling vacantly and saying [[CatchPhrase "Yabba-Dabba-Doo"]] ad infinitum, and everyone thinks each is actually Fred.
* Doubly Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'', in which the titular alien wears a PaperThinDisguise consisting of a pair of contact lenses and a wig. Of course, except for a few people, [[HumansAreMorons it works just fine]].[[spoiler: Tak's disguise, on the other hand, is near flawless, and even fools Dib.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/RoughnecksStarshipTroopersChronicles'' had the Imposter Bugs (a subspecies that could fit inside the Mobile Infantry's PoweredArmor to evade detection), and later the Infiltrator Bugs (full-on shapeshifting in and out of human form).



* ''WesternAnimation/TomTerrific'': The story arc "Million Manfred Mystery" dealt with some impressionable aliens who mistake Mighty Manfred the Wonder Dog to be Tom (he's wearing Tom's funnel cap while he's off at the store), so they make a plan sheet of Manfred and the entire alien race duplicate themselves as Manfred. The base reason is that Tom is so likeable that the aliens want to be just like him so Earth people will like them as well.



* ''WesternAnimation/RoughnecksStarshipTroopersChronicles'' had the Imposter Bugs (a subspecies that could fit inside the Mobile Infantry's PoweredArmor to evade detection), and later the Infiltrator Bugs (full-on shapeshifting in and out of human form).
* ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'': "Ten Little Flintstones" has an alien ship landing in Bedrock and creating a series of Fred clones to learn about Earth prior to a pending invasion. The clones simply march around smiling vacantly and saying [[CatchPhrase "Yabba-Dabba-Doo"]] ad infinitum, and everyone thinks each is actually Fred.
* ''WesternAnimation/TomTerrific'': The story arc "Million Manfred Mystery" dealt with some impressionable aliens who mistake Mighty Manfred the Wonder Dog to be Tom (he's wearing Tom's funnel cap while he's off at the store), so they make a plan sheet of Manfred and the entire alien race duplicate themselves as Manfred. The base reason is that Tom is so likeable that the aliens want to be just like him so Earth people will like them as well.
* Doubly Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'', in which the titular alien wears a PaperThinDisguise consisting of a pair of contact lenses and a wig. Of course, except for a few people, [[HumansAreMorons it works just fine]].[[spoiler: Tak's disguise, on the other hand, is near flawless, and even fools Dib.]]

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* The formless JAM in ''Literature/SentouYouseiYukikaze''. In the anime, they start by copying Earth's technology (namely weapons and aircraft) before later moving onto human beings themselves. As it turns out, this is how [[spoiler:the JAM see Rei and Yukikaze]].



* The formless JAM in ''Literature/SentouYouseiYukikaze''. In the anime, they start by copying Earth's technology (namely weapons and aircraft) before later moving onto human beings themselves. As it turns out, this is how [[spoiler:the JAM see Rei and Yukikaze]].



* This has always been the approach of the [[VoluntaryShapeshifting Skrulls]], the antagonistic alien race found in Creator/MarvelComics, but most of all in the ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion'' CrisisCrossover.
* Malicious Durlans have used their shapeshifting abilities to infiltrate human society, as they did in ''[[Comicbook/InvasionDCComics Invasion!]]''. Luckily for the DCU most Durlans are very against the idea of leaving Durla, meaning large scale invasions by the shape-shiftering aliens are not a major concern.
* Also, the now-gone Dire Wraiths from ''ComicBook/RomSpaceknight''.



* This was eventually used as part of the FantasticRacism angle in Marvel, to better justify the SupernaturalAngst of the ''Franchise/XMen''; mutants got a bad enough rep when they were all believed to be deformed and unsightly, but then the humans figured out that some mutants looked perfectly human whilst having superhuman powers...

to:

* This was eventually used as part of In ''ComicBook/CleanRoom'' both Astrid and Chloe are able to see through the FantasticRacism angle in Marvel, to better justify the SupernaturalAngst of the ''Franchise/XMen''; mutants got a bad enough rep when they were all believed to be deformed and unsightly, but then the demons' stealth abilities. The demons respond by possessing human hosts without controlling them, which makes them indistinguishable from unaffected humans figured out that some mutants looked perfectly until they attack.
* Malicious Durlans have used their shapeshifting abilities to infiltrate
human whilst having superhuman powers...society, as they did in ''[[Comicbook/InvasionDCComics Invasion!]]''. Luckily for the DCU most Durlans are very against the idea of leaving Durla, meaning large scale invasions by the shape-shiftering aliens are not a major concern.



* In ''ComicBook/CleanRoom'' both Astrid and Chloe are able to see through the demons' stealth abilities. The demons respond by possessing human hosts without controlling them, which makes them indistinguishable from unaffected humans until they attack.

to:

* In ''ComicBook/CleanRoom'' both Astrid and Chloe are able to see through Also, the demons' stealth abilities. The demons respond by possessing human hosts without controlling them, which makes them indistinguishable now-gone Dire Wraiths from unaffected ''ComicBook/RomSpaceknight''.
* This has always been the approach of the [[VoluntaryShapeshifting Skrulls]], the antagonistic alien race found in Creator/MarvelComics, but most of all in the ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion'' CrisisCrossover.
* This was eventually used as part of the FantasticRacism angle in Marvel, to better justify the SupernaturalAngst of the ''Franchise/XMen''; mutants got a bad enough rep when they were all believed to be deformed and unsightly, but then the
humans until they attack.figured out that some mutants looked perfectly human whilst having superhuman powers...



* In ''Fanfic/MassEffectHumanRevolution'' [[spoiler:the Geth Infiltrator]] disguises itself as a human in order to get into Noveria.



* In ''Fanfic/MassEffectHumanRevolution'' [[spoiler:the Geth Infiltrator]] disguises itself as a human in order to get into Noveria.
* In Creator/{{Vathara}}'s ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2698347/1/Walk-Through-the-Valley Walk Through the Valley]]'' has a rare heroic version. Hiko's people, the Confederacy, are at war with TheFederation, which insists on tearing its women and children screaming from their homes, battering them and turning them over to the [[HumanSubSpecies merrows]] for a form of MindRape called conditioning, which [[GettingSmiliesPaintedOnYourSoul leaves you]] [[HappinessInSlavery happy to do and be whatever the Federation wants you to be]]. It's implied that it leaves you without compassion. The reason they take slaves is to restore the genetic diversity they lost when they became chronically inbred because they were such a small, isolated population. They tell themselves that these gene donors are willing. They also do it to Confederate soldiers, who are dropped back into the units they were pulled from to wreak havoc on their comrades. The only way to prevent yourself from becoming conditioned is to temporarily become a LittleBitBeastly with the help of LegoGenetics, which entails government-approved DNA sequences and extremely complicated life-support equipment that no one uses for anything else. Using claws, etc., means modifying the brain. Ensuring that alterants know when to use them means adding instincts from the species used as a source of DNA. This makes alterants easy to spot, no matter how well the alterations are hidden. They cannot make alterants in mind only; volunteers go mad in weeks. This is where the ookamimoya alterants come in. The ''ookamimoya'' are a species of [[{{EMP}} EM]]-sensitive, lupine predators that live very long lives, have few offspring, which they cherish, a pack with which they share a PsychicLink, extreme distrust of outsiders, incredibly durable bodies, InnateNightVision, AlienHair in the form of sensory tendrils with which they pick up emotions and which move on their own; pelt tendrils that don't; and hidden claws. Ookamimoya ''alterants'' will have sensory tendrils on the scalp the thickness of human hair, eyebrows and eyelashes with tendencies of both pelt and sensory tendrils, zero hair or not-hair elsewhere, Eyes with exotic colors that [[EyeColorChange shift to golden/amber at night/low light conditions]], the ability to sense ''ki'', lack of aging, hidden claws and a strong killer instinct that drive them to kill the conditioned.



* In Creator/{{Vathara}}'s ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2698347/1/Walk-Through-the-Valley Walk Through the Valley]]'' has a rare heroic version. Hiko's people, the Confederacy, are at war with TheFederation, which insists on tearing its women and children screaming from their homes, battering them and turning them over to the [[HumanSubSpecies merrows]] for a form of MindRape called conditioning, which [[GettingSmiliesPaintedOnYourSoul leaves you]] [[HappinessInSlavery happy to do and be whatever the Federation wants you to be]]. It's implied that it leaves you without compassion. The reason they take slaves is to restore the genetic diversity they lost when they became chronically inbred because they were such a small, isolated population. They tell themselves that these gene donors are willing. They also do it to Confederate soldiers, who are dropped back into the units they were pulled from to wreak havoc on their comrades. The only way to prevent yourself from becoming conditioned is to temporarily become a LittleBitBeastly with the help of LegoGenetics, which entails government-approved DNA sequences and extremely complicated life-support equipment that no one uses for anything else. Using claws, etc., means modifying the brain. Ensuring that alterants know when to use them means adding instincts from the species used as a source of DNA. This makes alterants easy to spot, no matter how well the alterations are hidden. They cannot make alterants in mind only; volunteers go mad in weeks. This is where the ookamimoya alterants come in. The ''ookamimoya'' are a species of [[{{EMP}} EM]]-sensitive, lupine predators that live very long lives, have few offspring, which they cherish, a pack with which they share a PsychicLink, extreme distrust of outsiders, incredibly durable bodies, InnateNightVision, AlienHair in the form of sensory tendrils with which they pick up emotions and which move on their own; pelt tendrils that don't; and hidden claws. Ookamimoya ''alterants'' will have sensory tendrils on the scalp the thickness of human hair, eyebrows and eyelashes with tendencies of both pelt and sensory tendrils, zero hair or not-hair elsewhere, Eyes with exotic colors that [[EyeColorChange shift to golden/amber at night/low light conditions]], the ability to sense ''ki'', lack of aging, hidden claws and a strong killer instinct that drive them to kill the conditioned.



[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

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[[folder:Films [[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]Live-Action]]
* Referenced in ''Film/BackToTheFuture'', though of course Marty [=McFly=] is perfectly human.
-->"It's already mutated into human form!"
* Inverted in ''Film/District9'', when the young alien remarks that [[spoiler:Wikus, in the process of transforming into an alien]], "looks the same" as him.
* Agents in ''Film/TheMatrix'' take on human forms but are easy to spot due to their choice of attire. Also, in Film/TheMatrixReloaded, [[spoiler:Smith downloads his programming into a human mind in the real world, making him even closer to being human.]]



* ''Film/{{Mimic}}'' was basically about this -- the giant mantis/termite hybrids may not have a perfect disguise, but if you're in poor lighting and not paying attention, they look a ''lot'' like a tall man in a trenchcoat.
* Parodied in ''Film/ScaryMovie3''. President Harris worries that the aliens may have started impersonating human beings, then mistakes people with disabilities for the aliens during a memorial ceremony and punches them, throwing the entire event into chaos.



* The titular beings in ''Film/StrangeInvaders'' operate in this fashion, concealing their monstrous forms under a human-looking outer covering. They are even able to birth [[HalfHumanHybrid Half-Human Hybrids]] while in this form. Unfortunately, as the decades pass the aliens don't bother keeping up with changing human language and culture, making them very conspicuous and odd despite their camouflaged appearance.



* The {{alien inva|sion}}ders in ''Film/TheyLive'' use a [[{{Glamour}} cloaking satellite]] to disguise themselves as humans.
* ''Film/TheyLookLikePeople'' is about a man who is either having paranoid delusions or is one of the few people to know about "monsters" who pass themselves as humans.
* The entire premise of ''Film/TheThing1982'' and ''Film/TheThing2011'', played for all the ParanoiaFuel it's worth.
* ''Film/TimeRunner'': The aliens infiltrate human society for several decades before launching an [[AlienInvasion all-out invasion]]. Their number even includes [[spoiler:the [[PresidentEvil World President]]]].



* Inverted in ''Film/District9'', when the young alien remarks that [[spoiler:Wikus, in the process of transforming into an alien]], "looks the same" as him.
* ''Film/{{Mimic}}'' was basically about this -- the giant mantis/termite hybrids may not have a perfect disguise, but if you're in poor lighting and not paying attention, they look a ''lot'' like a tall man in a trenchcoat.
* Referenced in ''Film/BackToTheFuture'', though of course Marty [=McFly=] is perfectly human.
-->"It's already mutated into human form!"
* The entire premise of ''Film/TheThing1982'' and ''Film/TheThing2011'', played for all the ParanoiaFuel it's worth.
* Agents in Film/TheMatrix take on human forms but are easy to spot due to their choice of attire. Also, in Film/TheMatrixReloaded, [[spoiler:Smith downloads his programming into a human mind in the real world, making him even closer to being human.]]
* The {{alien inva|sion}}ders in ''Film/TheyLive'' use a [[{{Glamour}} cloaking satellite]] to disguise themselves as humans.
* ''Film/TimeRunner'': The aliens infiltrate human society for several decades before launching an [[AlienInvasion all-out invasion]]. Their number even includes [[spoiler:the [[PresidentEvil World President]]]].
* ''Film/TheyLookLikePeople'' is about a man who is either having paranoid delusions or is one of the few people to know about "monsters" who pass themselves as humans.
* The titular beings in ''Film/StrangeInvaders'' operate in this fashion, concealing their monstrous forms under a human-looking outer covering. They are even able to birth [[HalfHumanHybrid Half-Human Hybrids]] while in this form. Unfortunately, as the decades pass the aliens don't bother keeping up with changing human language and culture, making them very conspicuous and odd despite their camouflaged appearance.
* Parodied in ''Film/ScaryMovie3''. President Harris worries that the aliens may have started impersonating human beings, then mistakes people with disabilities for the aliens during a memorial ceremony and punches them, throwing the entire event into chaos.



* Creator/PhilipKDick did several straight versions of the premise (''Screamers'', mentioned above, is based on one of his stories), as well as a parody: in "The War with the Fnools", the Fnools are capable of an almost-perfect human disguise, but are still pretty easy to spot, because (a) they usually travel about in groups, all wearing the same disguise, and (b) they're only two feet tall.
* Creator/TerryPratchett has the Auditors do this in ''Literature/ThiefOfTime'': one takes the form of a woman much of the time in order to ensure the building of a glass clock that will stop time (and thereby make their job much tidier). When she starts acting too human, teams of other Auditors join her to ensure that it gets completed and started -- while keeping her, and each other, under control.
* Clifford D. Simak has a group of aliens ''buying'' the Earth in his novel ''They Walked Like Men.'' The aliens were shape-shifters, capable of becoming anything at all -- a human, an automobile, a pile of paper currency... Their default shape? Bowling balls. (Well, they ''looked'' like bowling balls, anyway.) To shift into something larger than their natural size, multiple aliens merged and changed shape.
* ''[[Literature/{{Goosebumps}} Calling All Creeps]]'' is pretty much based around this concept.



* ''[[Literature/{{Goosebumps}} Calling All Creeps]]'' is pretty much based around this concept.
* Clifford D. Simak has a group of aliens ''buying'' the Earth in his novel ''They Walked Like Men.'' The aliens were shape-shifters, capable of becoming anything at all -- a human, an automobile, a pile of paper currency... Their default shape? Bowling balls. (Well, they ''looked'' like bowling balls, anyway.) To shift into something larger than their natural size, multiple aliens merged and changed shape.
* Creator/TerryPratchett has the Auditors do this in ''Literature/ThiefOfTime'': one takes the form of a woman much of the time in order to ensure the building of a glass clock that will stop time (and thereby make their job much tidier). When she starts acting too human, teams of other Auditors join her to ensure that it gets completed and started -- while keeping her, and each other, under control.



* Creator/PhilipKDick did several straight versions of the premise (''Screamers'', mentioned above, is based on one of his stories), as well as a parody: in "The War with the Fnools", the Fnools are capable of an almost-perfect human disguise, but are still pretty easy to spot, because (a) they usually travel about in groups, all wearing the same disguise, and (b) they're only two feet tall.



* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** Autons are essentially life-sized plastic dummies, automatons animated by the Nestene Consciousness, an extraterrestrial, disembodied gestalt intelligence which first arrived on Earth in hollow plastic meteorites. The typical Auton does not look particularly realistic, resembling a mannequin, being robotic in its movements and mute. However, more sophisticated Autons can be created, which look and act human except for a slight plastic sheen to the skin and a flat-sounding voice. In Series 5 of the relaunched series, they are shown as being able to create fully lifelike human replicas, able to fool other humans.
** The Zygons have shape-shifting abilities, allowing them to replicate the appearance of another being. Limited by the small size of their force, they rely on shape-shifting and their organic space craft to conceal their numbers and seize power on Earth.
** "The time of the Doctor" revealed a new weapon in the Dalek arsenal: Dalek puppets. Dalek puppets are beings who had been taken by the Daleks and partially converted via nanogenes to serve them as slaves. The Dalek nanogenes automatically would convert any organism it came in contact with, living or dead, making them into a Dalek puppet. These slaves were used as sleeper agents. When activated, they would have a miniature Dalek eyestalk extend from their forehead and a miniature Dalek gunstick from the palm of their hand.
* ''Series/TheOuterLimits1995'': The nine-foot tall, eight-hundred-pound Reptilian monsters with whom humanity fights a losing war in a couple of episodes manage to pull this off by surgically altering their (much smaller) females.
* The human-form Replicators in ''Series/StargateSG1''. A different group of bad guys try to invoke this with a friendly species that create illusions and fake memories in the minds of potential hostiles as a self defense mechanism.



* The human-form Replicators in ''Series/StargateSG1''. A different group of bad guys try to invoke this with a friendly species that create illusions and fake memories in the minds of potential hostiles as a self defense mechanism.

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* The human-form Replicators Parodied (with particular nods to ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'') in ''Series/StargateSG1''. A different group a sketch on ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook''. In the midst of bad guys try to invoke this with a friendly species RobotWar, a rumour spreads that create illusions robots have infiltrated the space station, and fake memories in are supposedly indistinguishable from humans. Cut to a particularly clunky TinCanRobot, talking to several other people (in textbook RoboSpeak) who seem to be under the minds impression he's human. Even when a slice of potential hostiles as a self defense mechanism.toast pops out of him.
* Every alien except Cole and Zin on ''Series/{{Tracker}}''.



* ''Series/TheOuterLimits1995'': The nine-foot tall, eight-hundred-pound Reptilian monsters with whom humanity fights a losing war in a couple of episodes manage to pull this off by surgically altering their (much smaller) females.
* Every alien except Cole and Zin on ''Series/{{Tracker}}''
* Parodied (with particular nods to ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'') in a sketch on ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook''. In the midst of a RobotWar, a rumour spreads that robots have infiltrated the space station, and are supposedly indistinguishable from humans. Cut to a particularly clunky TinCanRobot, talking to several other people (in textbook RoboSpeak) who seem to be under the impression he's human. Even when a slice of toast pops out of him.
* This is the stock in trade of the Zygons on ''Series/DoctorWho''.

to:

* ''Series/TheOuterLimits1995'': The nine-foot tall, eight-hundred-pound Reptilian monsters with whom humanity fights a losing war in a couple of episodes manage to pull this off by surgically altering their (much smaller) females.
* Every alien except Cole and Zin on ''Series/{{Tracker}}''
* Parodied (with particular nods to ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'') in a sketch on ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook''. In the midst of a RobotWar, a rumour spreads that robots have infiltrated the space station, and are supposedly indistinguishable from humans. Cut to a particularly clunky TinCanRobot, talking to several other people (in textbook RoboSpeak) who seem to be under the impression he's human. Even when a slice of toast pops out of him.
* This is the stock in trade of the Zygons on ''Series/DoctorWho''.



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Updating Link


* Malicious Durlans have used their shapeshifting abilities to infiltrate human society, as they did in ''ComicBook/{{Invasion}}''. Luckily for the DCU most Durlans are very against the idea of leaving Durla, meaning large scale invasions by the shape-shiftering aliens are not a major concern.

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* Malicious Durlans have used their shapeshifting abilities to infiltrate human society, as they did in ''ComicBook/{{Invasion}}''.''[[Comicbook/InvasionDCComics Invasion!]]''. Luckily for the DCU most Durlans are very against the idea of leaving Durla, meaning large scale invasions by the shape-shiftering aliens are not a major concern.
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* ''V'' (both [[Series/V2009 2009]] and [[Series/{{V1983}} the original]]) has reptilian aliens.

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* ''V'' (both [[Series/V2009 [[Series/{{V2009}} 2009]] and [[Series/{{V1983}} the original]]) has reptilian aliens.
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* ''Series/{{V|2009}}'' (both 2009 and [[Series/{{V1983}} the original]]) has reptilian aliens.

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* ''Series/{{V|2009}}'' ''V'' (both 2009 [[Series/V2009 2009]] and [[Series/{{V1983}} the original]]) has reptilian aliens.



* ''Series/TheOuterLimits1995'': The nine foot tall, eight hundred pound Reptilian monsters with whom Humanity fights a losing war in a couple of episodes manage to pull this off by surgically-altering their (much smaller) females.

to:

* ''Series/TheOuterLimits1995'': The nine foot nine-foot tall, eight hundred pound eight-hundred-pound Reptilian monsters with whom Humanity humanity fights a losing war in a couple of episodes manage to pull this off by surgically-altering surgically altering their (much smaller) females.



* On both Franchise/PowerRangers and Franchise/SuperSentai, Major Villains, MonstersOfTheWeek, and even {{Mooks}} occasionally take on human form for a disguise. Usually reverting to [[PeopleInRubberSuits Monster]] form when a fight scene commences.

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* On both Franchise/PowerRangers ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' and Franchise/SuperSentai, ''Franchise/SuperSentai'', Major Villains, MonstersOfTheWeek, and even {{Mooks}} occasionally take on human form for a disguise. Usually reverting to [[PeopleInRubberSuits Monster]] form when a fight scene commences.
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* Midway through ''VideoGame/{{Marathon}}'', the Pfhor begin fielding ActionBomb simulacra that blend in with the [[RedShirt Green Shirts]]... Except for their (mostly) [[CloudCuckooLander strange exclamations]] and AlienBlood.

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* Midway through ''VideoGame/{{Marathon}}'', the Pfhor begin fielding ActionBomb simulacra that blend in with the [[RedShirt Green Shirts]]... Except for their (mostly) [[CloudCuckooLander [[WordSaladHorror strange exclamations]] and AlienBlood.
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Dewicking Disambig


* {{Witch|Species}}es in Creator/RoaldDahl's ''Literature/TheWitches'' conceal their physical peculiarities to look like ordinary women, but there are still a few [[RedRightHand telltale signs]] including oddly colored eyes, oversized nostrils, blue saliva, and gloves to cover their claws.

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* {{Witch|Species}}es Witches in Creator/RoaldDahl's ''Literature/TheWitches'' conceal their physical peculiarities to look like ordinary women, but there are still a few [[RedRightHand telltale signs]] including oddly colored eyes, oversized nostrils, blue saliva, and gloves to cover their claws.
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* On both Franchise/PowerRangers and Franchise/SuperSentai, Major Villains, MonstersOfTheWeek, and even Mooks occasionally take on human form for a disguise. Usually reverting to [[PeopleInRubberSuits Monster]] form when a fight scene commences.

to:

* On both Franchise/PowerRangers and Franchise/SuperSentai, Major Villains, MonstersOfTheWeek, and even Mooks {{Mooks}} occasionally take on human form for a disguise. Usually reverting to [[PeopleInRubberSuits Monster]] form when a fight scene commences.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:


*On both Franchise/PowerRangers and Franchise/SuperSentai, Major Villains, MonstersOfTheWeek, and even Mooks occasionally take on human form for a disguise. Usually reverting to [[PeopleInRubberSuits Monster]] form when a fight scene commences.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* ''VideoGame/{{Carrion}}'': [[spoiler:The very final upgrade lets the Creature shapeshift into a human, which it uses to escape the facility and onto society.]]

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