History Main / XMarksTheHero

* Breaking glass, usually of the sort where it was forcefully stabled into someone, can make miniaturized versions of these types of wounds. In this case the shards breaking off an being forced outward cases a shape like this, although less or more than four "spokes" are also common. If the wound heals it can form a smaller version of this trope, though who is to say if they are heroic.
* X-shaped scars did and do apparently appear on the sorts of people who's living takes them in the path of people wielding blades of all descriptions. Tuns out a lot of people will instinctively try to cut the same area in rapid succession and back in the old days you had to focus on any vulnerable areas you could get. However the cheek is one of least likely for this to happen. I single swipe that connects with the cheek is likely to cut all the way through and a subsequent strike wouldn't make a clean line on the floppy dangling cheek bits after things were all stitched back together. You're welcome for that imagery.

[[caption-width-right:208:The scar from the past that redefined of who he is now.]]

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* Breaking glass, usually of the sort where it was forcefully stabled into someone, can make miniaturized versions of these types of wounds. In this case the shards breaking off an being forced outward cases a shape like this, although less or more than four "spokes" are also common. If the wound heals it can form a smaller version of this torpe, though who is to say if they are heroic.

How the hero got such a scar is usually not explained. [[FridgeLogic Part of our brain]] tells us that getting such a scar in battle is highly unlikely, if not impossible, unless they're deliberately inflicted, such as in torture. Another common possibility, rarely addressed, is that the two scars which form the X had been inflicted in different instances. Don't confuse with XMArksTheSpot, which is the phrase this trope was named after.

How the hero got such a scar is usually not explained. [[FridgeLogic Part of our brain]] tells us that getting such a scar in battle is highly unlikely, if not impossible, unless they're deliberately inflicted, such as in torture. Another common possibility, rarely addressed, is that the two scars which form the X had been inflicted in different instances.

** Tibarn, the [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority king]] of the [[NobleBirdOfPrey Hawk tribe]] [[{{Animorphism}} laguz]], from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance'' and ''Videogame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'' has a large one where the horizontal cut extends across his nose and onto his other cheek.

* Two of the protagonists in the SNES JRPG LiveALive have x-shaped scars on their cheek; Mecha Chapter protagonist [[PsychicPowers Akira Tadokoro]] and partymember/possible protagonist [[spoiler: provided she survives]] [[ActionGirl Li Kuugo]]. Akira's is easily seen in what official art of the game exists, but Li's only gets seen if [[spoiler: she's selected as the main character for the final chapter, in which case the player will be treated to a shot of her face after the credits]].

* Deus in ''Webcomic/GrrlPower'' has what looks like an X-shaped scar across his face. Being a MagnificentBastard villain rather than a hero, he makes it look good, ''and'' scores bonus points for making it part of a pun — he’s [[DeusExMavhina Deus, with an X, who runs Machina Industries]].

* [[Webcomic/HannaIsNotABoysName Hanna]] has an X-shaped scar, but it's not on his face, it's on the [[http://vert-is-ninja.deviantart.com/art/After-All-This-Time-155094756 sole of his foot]]. (He might have one on each foot, it's hard to tell.) X shapes are a motif of the comic in general and [[http://vert-is-ninja.deviantart.com/art/We-All-Float-On-Ok-136988866 Hanna in particular]]; it's anyone's guess how much of it is related to Hanna's MysteriousPast and how much is just because Tessa likes to draw cross shapes.

* Domon Kasshu from ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'' has such a scar, the origins of which are mostly unexplained. It's a quick indicator of his ten-year TrainingFromHell.

* Non-action-manga example: Sentarou from ''Manga/SakamichiNoApollon'' has a small X-shaped scar under his left eye to show that he used to get into a lot of fights.

* The [[TropeCodifier poster child]] of this trope is Kenshin Himura of ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' fame. The cross-shaped scar is associated with him so utterly that characters with this scar are regularly accused to ripping the idea from him, [[OlderThanTheyThink even if they predate him by years]]. Unlike many examples, Kenshin's scar proves to be [[spoiler: from two separate incidents. In the anime, the second one was deliberately inflicted so as to make it an X.]]

* Mikage from ''[[Manga/ZeroSevenGhost 07-Ghost]]'' in both incarnations.

** Tibarn, the [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority king]] of the [[BigBadassBirdOfPrey Hawk tribe]] [[{{Animorphism}} laguz]], from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance'' and ''Videogame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'' has a large one where the horizontal cut extends across his nose and onto his other cheek.

* ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'''s [[ChildSoldier Sousuke Sagara]] has had one of these since he was at most twelve-years old (and likely younger). It's origins have yet to pop up, but {{fanon}} suspects that they were inflicted during torture.
** Humorously, his Bonta-Kun costume has the same scar.

* Juumonji from ''Manga/{{Eyeshield 21}}'' sports one. He is a {{Delinquent}} JerkWithAHeartOfGold.
** His father has the same scar, though in a different place. Hero marks are apparently genetic in the Eyeshield 21 universe, though given everything else that is perfectly acceptable.

* Kittan in ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' is ''a'' hero, not ''[[TheHero the]]'' [[TheHero hero]], and has an X-shaped scar on his arm.

* Ginji from ''Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team'' is a boy with a large x-shaped scar on his forehead. He keeps this when he gets [[BalefulPolymorph turned into a Torchic]].

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* Notably averted with serial killer Charles Manson. Just before being put on trial for murder, he carved an X into his forehead (which he would later expand into a swastika), an act that was almost immediately copied by his supporters.
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** Tibarn, the [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority king]] of the [[NobleHawk Hawk tribe]] [[{{Animorphism}} laguz]], from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance'' and ''Videogame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'' has a large one where the horizontal cut extends across his nose and onto his other cheek.

** It seems to be popular with the mercenaries. Dieck from ''VideoGame/TheBindingBlade'' has one on his shoulder.

** Tibarn from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius'' has a large one where the horizontal cut extends across his nose and onto his other cheek.
** Og[[SpellMyNameWithAnS (u)]]ma from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia'' also has one.
** It seems to be popular with the mercenaries. Dieck from ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe Sword of Seals]]'' has one on his shoulder.
** The trend continues with Donnel in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'', who has his on his cheek.

Probably the most iconic and distinctive form of a {{Good Scar|sEvilScars}}, this scar consists of two clean, intersecting cuts that form a cross or X on the hero's face. Generally, it serves to imply that the hero has been through quite a few skirmishes while making them look {{Badass}}.

Probably the most iconic and distinctive form of a {{GoodScar|sEvilScars}}, this scar consists of two clean, intersecting cuts that form a cross or X on the hero's face. Generally, it serves to imply that the hero has been through quite a few skirmishes while making them look {{Badass}}.

Probably the most iconic and distinctive form of [[GoodScarsEvilScars Good Scar]], this scar consists of two clean, intersecting cuts that form a cross or X on the hero's face. Generally, it serves to imply that the hero has been through quite a few skirmishes while making them look {{Badass}}.

* [[InsistentTerminology Captain]] Jack Sparrow gets one on his cheekbone in time for the fourth ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'' movie, though we never get an explanation as to how he got it.