Line #69 Main/HorrifyingHero


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4	%% For practicality's sake please do NOT list any VAMPIRES OR WEREWOLVES in the examples unless they particularly stand out from the norm.
5	%% Both are way too heavily romanticized in the usual incarnations of those creatures and taken for granted as HUMAN-LIKE by characters in stories in current media, thus disqualifying them from the trope. So please don't add any without making a good case. For instance, ALUCARD from ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'' would still count, despite being a vampire, he is NEVER treated as if he is human. Rather than merely being a vampire, OTHER VAMPIRES find him to be scary.
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9	[[quoteright:244:[[VideoGame/CthulhuSavesTheWorld https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/b152146a_3def_471c_97a6_6cc2d4e3c7fe.png]]]]
10	[[caption-width-right:244:He didn't actually need the sword, [[RuleOfCool he just likes swishing it around]].]]
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12	->''"With the slightest little effort of my ghostlike charms\
13	I have seen grown men give out a shriek\
14	With a wave of my hand and a well-placed moan\
15	I have swept the very bravest off their feet"''
16	-->-- '''Jack Skellington''', ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas''
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18	When the protagonist of the work is itself some horrific being that sends people screaming in its wake. They might never have been human, or possibly [[WasOnceAMan might have been once]], but now they are some inexplicable creature that has no place in this world. These Horrifying Heroes not only ''look'' frightening, they also have frightening abilities to match, and could just as easily be imagined as a bad guy in nearly any other story. They tend to be an AntiHero, or villains who have had a HeelFaceTurn; however, whether they are true heroes or just a VillainProtagonist (or anything in between), they still get to be the [[EvilVersusEvil effective]] [[EvilVersusOblivion hero]] of their story.
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20	Characters which qualify as a Horrifying Hero include the EldritchAbomination, {{Cthulhumanoid}}s, {{Humanoid Abomination}}s, StarfishAliens, a LivingShadow, a [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Demon]] and other such things which by their very nature are normally ObviouslyEvil. Characters which appear human part of the time ''can'' qualify, but only if their [[OneWingedAngel alternate form]] is such a thing, and is consistently described as NightmareFuel, not just weird or ugly in appearance, and they generally need the powers to match. After revealing the character's true nature, a person would have to be a NightmareFetishist and crazy to boot to find the character appealing.
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22	If there is a question of qualification on the basis of the character being scary but not exactly an EldritchAbomination, then the character instead may be a {{Monster Adventurer\|s}}. The differences between them can come down to portrayal. The Monster Adventurer is defined by being ugly or scary. The Horrifying Hero might be ugly and/or scary, but often he will also have frightening abilities. You are meant to feel bad for, and relate to, the Monster Adventurer, while the Horrifying Hero is a badass, and might be WishFulfillment.
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24	Subtrope of CreepyGood, which is when any character on the side of good (not just the hero) is perceived by those around them as creepy.
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26	Tropes which might be associated with a Horrifying Hero include DarkIsNotEvil, FaceOfAThug, WhatMeasureIsANonHuman, WhatMeasureIsANonCute, HunterOfHisOwnKind and StagesOfMonsterGrief. This type of hero is probably more likely than any other to induce a MookHorrorShow.
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28	As for characters which are scary but don't qualify for this trope, you will likely find them under ReluctantMonster, NonMaliciousMonster or UglyHeroGoodLookingVillain. For characters whose ''behavior'' is horrifying, see TerrorHero.
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30	----
31
32	!!Examples:
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34	[[foldercontrol]]
35
36	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
37	%%* Vincent Law/Ergo Proxy from ''Anime/ErgoProxy''.
38	* Kafka's {{Kaiju}} form in ''Manga/KaijuNumber8'' horrifies civilians who see it, since he looks like a being with a demon skull for a head and black muscles on the rest of his body. Emphasized at times with some panels giving very unflattering images.
39	* Alucard from ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'' is already a vampire in his ''least'' terrifying form; he can also turn into a roiling mass of shadows, hellhounds, eyeballs, {{Slasher Smile}}s and some kind of stampede of black knights that kill people on contact.
40	* Kudou Denji from Creator/TsutomuNihei's ''Manga/{{Abara}}'' who is a Gauna--which is some serious BodyHorror and a taste for human flesh.
41	* ''Manga/{{Devilman}}''. Anyone who sees him in his full demonic aspect is instantly '''horrified'''. Jun, the female counterpart in ''Manga/DevilmanLady'' fares little better.
42	* [[BadassPreacher Abel Nightroad]] from ''Literature/TrinityBlood'' is secretly a [[LovecraftianSuperpower Crusnik]], a technologically augmented monster that can [[FoodChainOfEvil feed on vampires the way vampires feed on humans]]. He looks human most of the time, but [[OneWingedAngel when it's time to get serious]]...
43	* Darkrai (a Pokemon that controls nightmares) was actually portrayed as one in the film ''Anime/PokemonTheRiseOfDarkrai''.
44	* ''Manga/FrankenFran'': Leading lady Madaraki Fran normally resembles a [[CuteMonsterGirl teenaged girl version]] of Frankenstein's monster, but at times she adopts her multi-armed [[BodyHorror "Operation]] Mode." While the precise value of [[BlueAndOrangeMorality "hero"]] may come into question, the "horrifying" very much definite.
45	** Her sister Veronica seems to be much closer to human morality and is genuinely nice person. But while Fran was designed as an ideal surgeon, Veronica was designed as an assassin, and a fairly good one.
46	* Kaiman from ''Manga/{{Dorohedoro}}'' is a man with a Caiman's head who tracks down every magic user (in search of the one who turn his head into a caiman). If they're not, he kills them, brutally. Also there is a guy who lives in his mouth and can tell whether the victim is the responsible or not. And yet he is the [[AntiHero hero]].
47	** Kaiman is actually [[spoiler:a human who became a brutal magic-user/gang leader (and currently trying to become a ''devil''); fortunately Kaiman is now his own person thanks to magic resurrection]] while the guy in his mouth is [[spoiler:the "Curse" of a [[MuggleBornOfMages seemingly non-magical magic-user]] "pre-Kaiman" betrayed and murdered (ditto on having his own body back)]].
48	** Pretty much every "heroic" character can be fairly horrifying given [[CrapsackWorld the setting]]. That kindly, enthusiastic doctor who's so much like [[Film/PacificRim Dr. Newt]]? He made a magic door out of ''magic-user body parts'' (magic-users are indistinguishable from normal humans except for [[spoiler:a tiny devil-shaped tumor in their brains]]).
49	* [[spoiler:Eren]] becomes this in this ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' after [[spoiler:gaining the ability to transform into a Titan]]. He may be on their side, but that doesn't stop most people from being terrified the first time around.
50	* From the anime ''Anime/HellGirl'', we have [[StringyHairedGhostGirl Ai Enma]], the titular Hell Girl. Her job is simple. She runs a website called Hell Correspondence. If you have been tormented and want to be avenged, you can visit her through this site and she'll offer to literally send your tormentor to Hell. Her way of doing this involves inflicting terrifying illusions on her victim before finally sending them to Hell. Is there a catch you ask? Oh, nothing grandiose. Just your own soul going to Hell when you die. That's not a problem is it?
51	* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'':
52	** The Skull Knight is an undead, skeletal knight riding a HellishHorse. His speech is rendered in the manga the same way as the speech of the demonic Apostles or the Godhand. More than one character who has met him has been absolutely terrified to be in his presence, and at least once he was mistaken for an avatar of Death itself. Despite all this, he is the closest thing the series has to a BigGood, and has been nothing but heroic in his deeds (at least, that the readers have seen). He also literally eats the resident [[ArtifactOfDoom Artifacts of Doom]] for breakfast.
53	** Guts himself is a monstrously large amputee with an even larger sword with a demonic wolf roosting in his psyche that gets let loose through Skull Knight's old armor, which has been retrofitted to its new host. It's implied that if he keeps down this path, Guts will become just like Skull Knight, an undead warrior in an endless battle against the Godhand's forces.
54	* There are a few in ''Manga/OnePunchMan''. [[BigEater Pig God]] is a gigantic obese man who literally [[EatingTheEnemy devours monsters whole]], [[RobotMaster Metal Knight's]] robots have been known to terrify even other heroes, Zombieman (who looks like a normal guy but when you see him [[GoodThingYouCanHeal regenerate]] in seconds from having his brains blown across the room, it can be quite unnerving). There are also the psychic sisters, who have been given the appellations [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast 'Blizzard of Hell' and 'Tornado of Terror']]. Their [[MsFanservice physical appearances]] don't qualify them for this trope, rather their [[DestructiveSaviour extreme methods]] and [[NominalHero ruthless attitudes]] towards [[TeamKiller even other heroes]].
55	* In ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'', [[spoiler:Izuku Midoriya himself]] ends up getting a rather horrifying new look during the Villain Hunt Arc: as shown in Chapter 317 of the manga, his costume is tattered and ragged, his eyes look pitch-black, his gloves and boots now look like claws, and he's caked in blood and dirt. Adding to the horror factor is the fact that [[spoiler:he's able to use multiple Quirks, which makes most people in this world think of [[BigBad All For One]]]]. Despite his disturbing appearance, he's just as set on helping civilians as he always is.
56	--> They say he appears without a sound. And that [[spoiler:he's got a whole mess of Quirks in him. That sounds like... All For One's ability, right? Or like a Nomu, even]]?! But apparently he goes around helping people. The rumors say he's caked in blood and filth, which cover up his many scars. Looking at him, you'd never guess he's a hero.
57	[[/folder]]
58
59	[[folder:Comic Books]]
60	* The eponymous character of ''ComicBook/{{Spawn}}'', as befits the most iconic NinetiesAntiHero to survive out of the '90s. First, there's the look; taller than a human and prone to towering ominously over others, with a [[BadassCape hugely collared, blood-red, shroud-like tattered cape]] framing a jet-black bodysuit adorned with SpikesOfVillainy and bedecked with writhing chains. Eerie green eyes that glow with {{hellfire}} stare out of a blank-featured mask, brooding at all before him, while fingers grow into razor-sharp claws. Then you see how he fights; using [[CombatTentacles chains]] and bare limbs to tear his opponents apart and rip off limbs, or emotionlessly [[SuperheroPackingHeat gunning them down]]. Then you find out he's a HumanoidAbomination; a walking, rotting, undead corpse with [[TheSymbiote a living demon]] serving as his ([[ClingyCostume fiercely protective]]) costume and with enough BlackMagic to wipe out armies singlehandedly.
61	* Also the eponymous character of ''ComicBook/GhostRider''; not much scarier than a leather-clad demonic biker with a {{Flaming Skull\|s}} for a head that can wield {{Hellfire}} and destroy any evil character just by looking into their eyes and visiting every ounce of pain they've inflicted upon the innocent onto them.
62	%%* ''Comicbook/SwampThing,'' definitely.
63	* ''Creator/{{Marvel\|Comics}}'s'' Comicbook/ManThing. Provoking fear is an explicit part of Man-Thing's powers: those that fear him burn at his touch.[[note]]To be more specific, he has intense empathetic abilities that cause him to be drawn to strong emotion, and if said emotion is negative and violent, it will provoke him to both attack and secrete an immensely potent acid. It is unclear how he would react if he ran into a normal person who had an expected, conventional fear response to his monstrous visage, but considering Man-Thing is generally a hero, one suspects his first response would not be 'Melt the poor schmuck'.[[/note]]
64	* ''ComicBook/{{Hellboy}}'' is the demon who was supposed to bring about the Apocalypse, and he probably would have become a straight EldritchAbomination if not for being raised like a human. He's personable enough that he isn't treated like the abomination he is, but underneath it all he was still by his very nature ''supposed'' to be evil.
65	* Although he can pass for human, the aptly-named Doc Horror from ''ComicBook/{{Nocturnals}}'' probably fits under this trope, being a creature from another dimension who escaped to our world. His teammates definitely qualify, as they include a wraith, a pyrokinetic swordsman, a [[FishPeople fish woman]], a flesh golem/gunfighter and [[CreepyChild his daughter]], who carries around a collection of [[CreepyDoll possessed toys]].
66	* The Tattered Man from the obscure one-shot comic of the same name is a [[OurDemonsAreDifferent spirit of vengeance]] whose body is composed of the tattered clothing worn by Jews who died in a concentration camp. The strands of clothing act as CombatTentacles that he uses to impale violent criminals.
67	* [[ComicBook/{{Venom}} Eddie Brock]], famous for wearing a carnivorous [[TheSymbiote alien symbiote]] with {{Lovecraftian superpower}}s as a costume, thinks of himself as being one of these. As Anti-Venom, he expresses shock that a {{Mook\|s}} is more terrified of [[DeadPersonImpersonation the Wraith]] than of him.
68	* During the ComicBook/{{AXIS}} event, ComicBook/{{Carnage}} was one of the villains affected by the inversion spell, which made heroes turn evil and villains turn good. While he is driven by an urge to do good, he's still brutally violent and is largely terrible at hero work.
69	* As a spirit of vengeance who could teach even ComicBook/GhostRider a thing or two, ComicBook/TheSpectre hunts down evildoers who [[KarmaHoudini escaped justice]] and uses his vast magical powers to inflict nightmarish deaths and [[FateWorseThanDeath worse-than-deaths]]. Turning a villain's body into cheese but [[AndIMustScream leaving his mind intact]] and then loosing the villain's trained rats to have dinner? ''That was in the LighterAndSofter ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'' cartoon series.'' When he gets ''serious,'' he's even more cruel.
70	* Aside from facing [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything general hatred just for how they were born]], many of the {{mutants}} in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse have either powers or an appearance that terrify anyone not on their team (and even some that are). A lot of these end up becoming Morlocks, living in sewers and such, and the go-to targets for the latest "test" of a mutant genocide without wiping out a bunch of beloved main and secondary characters.
71	* ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'': The Thing started off like this, but after a few decades of CharacterDevelopment, the public have gotten used to an orange, rocky hero, and they ''love'' him. InUniverse, the Thing is considered the most beloved Marvel hero, tied only with ComicBook/CaptainAmerica ([[DependingOnTheWriter in some versions]], this is because the Fantastic Four is secretly Reed Richards's wildly successful PR campaign. He may not have been able to undo mutating his family, but he could rebrand them as heroes instead of freaks).
72	* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' mainstay The Hanged Man definitely qualifies, being a silent black spectre whose only features are a burlap sack on his head and a noose around his neck.
73	* ''ComicBook/TwoThousandAD'':
74	** ''ComicBook/NemesisTheWarlock'': Nemesis is a powerful demonic alien with BizarreAlienBiology. He is a BloodKnight AntiHero as well, but he's positively heroic compared to his genocidal arch-enemy Torquemada, leader of TheEmpire.
75	** ''ComicBook/{{Shakara}}'': Shakara is a menacing KillerRobot with glowing red eyes, chains and spikes all over his body, and weapons for hands. In most other stories, he'd probably be either the villain himself or a robot mook for the hero to defeat, but he's simply the instrument of revenge against the evil aliens who wiped out his creators.
76	* DC's ''ComicBook/CreatureCommandos'' include Frankenstein's monster, a werewolf, a (pseudo)vampire, and a woman with snakes for hair, and occasionally a possibly sapient combat robot. The robot is the least creepy of the lot.
77	* ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk is an unfortunate victim of this trope, due to his traditionally low intelligence and bad temper. He has a tendency to lash out in incredibly destructive rampages whenever anything angers him, which is pretty much anything. It doesn't help that he's subject to a smear campaign by the U.S military, who make him look even more bestial than he really is, and follow him around to try and capture him even when he seeks out solitude.
78	* ComicBook/TheDarkness is the living embodiment of primal darkness and chaos with the power to summon demons and tendrils that can tear humans in a variety of ways. Typically, it has sought criminals and warlords to serve as vessels so it can remain in position of powers, though its current host Jackie Estacado is a NobleDemon mobster that tries to do good in his way (preventing his power from falling into ''worse'' hands).
79	* ''ComicBook/UltimateXMen'': For the same reasons as regular Nightcrawler, only with the addition that not only does Kurt look like a devil, he also breaths out smoke whenever he teleports, making him look even ''more'' sinister.
80	* ''ComicBook/{{Hillbilly}}'' has a downplayed example in its main character, Rondel, a grim WitchHunter with unnerving [[BlackEyesOfEvil pitch-black eyes]]. His weapon of choice is a gigantic butcher knife taken from the Devil's own kitchen.
81	[[/folder]]
82
83	[[folder:Fan Works]]
84	* [[Characters/AbraxasHrodvitnonMonsterX Monster X]] (a [[TwoBeingsOneBody merged San and Vivienne Graham]]) in the ''[[Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019 Godzilla: King of the Monsters]]'' fanfiction ''[[Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon Abraxas]]''. Their [[BodyHorror first]] and [[MonstrousHumanoid final]] hybridized forms look like something straight out of a fever nightmare, and they're a bit of a ReluctantPsycho with extremely violent rage due to their half-[[AxCrazy Ghidorah]] biology. Despite that, Monster X is firmly on humanity's side, and is concerned about protecting innocent people (thanks to Vivienne's influence) as well as their loved ones.
85	* In ''Fanfic/TheBridge'', say you're an [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Equestrian native]]. You see a giant PillarOfLight shoot out in front of your capital city and a forty story tall, razor clawed, multi-fanged, [[{{Franchise/Godzilla}} giant dinosaur]] with sharp spines down its back appears from the light and promptly starts mauling another giant creature that was on the attack. Congrats, the dino is the good guy.
86	* [[WebAnimation/{{RWBY}} Ruby]] in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11083953/4/Of-Red-Petals-and-Black-Feathers Of Red Petals and Black Feathers]]''. She merged with [[VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends Fiddlesticks]], a fear demon, when she was young, and now she barely shows emotion, has the ability to [[SupernaturalFearInducer induce fear in others]] (and just generally has an aura of creepiness even when she isn't using her powers), has trouble speaking (eventually revealed to be the result of brain damage caused by the merger), has NoSocialSkills, can summon hordes of crows to tear enemies apart, and has a crow that follows her around. However, she is still a good person who wants to help others, only uses her powers against bullies, monsters, and criminals, and genuinely wants to be friends with people.
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89	* The protagonists of ''Fanfic/TheReturn'', since they are all fascistic, cannibalistic-demons, in various stages of devolving into {{Humanoid Abomination}}s. And they are our world's best hope for survival against a true EldritchAbomination which might in fact be a whole 'nother universe in itself.
90	* In ''FanFic/TheDarknessSeries'' Franchise/{{Harry\|Potter}} in his [[ScaledUp snake form]] saves Fleur from the Grindylows.
91	* [[Literature/{{Worm}} Taylor]] in ''Fanfic/StarryEyes'' is this oh so very much. This is mostly due to the fact that her body is its own PocketDimension to another realm, hosting a couple of [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch Abominations]] who allow her to use their many multi-tentacled appendages to her will. Half of the heroes who see her mistake her for a villain simply because she is so mindbogglingly terrifying.
92	* In the story ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3789240/1/Real-Life "Real Life" by Cordria]]'' this is the reason for [[WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom Danny's]] [[HeroWithBadPublicity bad publicity]]; he triggers an instinctive fear response in humans whether he wants to or not.
93	* [[VideoGame/HaloReach Noble Six]] in ''Fanfic/WolvesThatWalkAlone'' does not waste time when it comes to cleaning up Remnant's seedy underbelly, which can result in some truly horrifying scenes after he finishes the job. The results of his raid at the White Fang hideout in Mountain Glenn are grisly enough to terrify Team RWBY and traumatizes Ruby and Yang while his second confrontation with the Branwen tribe results in widespread {{Gorn}} in the ensuing carnage.
94	[[/folder]]
95
96	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
97	* ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'' stars HalloweenTown's local hero, Jack Skellington the Pumpkin King.
98	* James P. "Sulley" Sullivan and Mike Wazowski from the ''Franchise/MonstersInc'' movies are monsters whose job it is to scare children, though Sulley is more talented at it (while Mike [[AwesomenessByAnalysis understands the principles of scaring]] but isn't good at doing it himself).
99	* Though not horrifying to the audience, the hulking green ogre ''Franchise/{{Shrek}}'' certainly is to the humans he meets. He enjoys acting the stereotype of a foul man-eating monster to scare people, and he does a good job of it. He causes a panic wherever he goes, and nearby human warriors spend a good deal of time trying to slay him like heroes in stories usually do to ogres. His main motive in scaring people away is peace and quiet, and once he starts to come out of his shell, everyone gets to know him and [[TheTamingOfTheGrue becomes less afraid of him]]. In fact, one of his frustrations in [[WesternAnimation/ShrekForeverAfter the fourth movie]] is that he's undergone BadassDecay: he's a BumblingDad and a beloved member of the community, and he longs for the days when everyone used to be afraid of him.
100	[[/folder]]
101
102	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
103	* In ''Film/{{The Avengers\|2012}}'', the Hulk may ultimately fight against the villains, but he is very much a monster that strikes terror into the bravest of men. Even the normally [[TheStoic expressionless]] Black Widow trembles in fear whenever the Hulk threatens to come out, and when Bruce first hulks out, he's [[TransformationHorror writhing in pain as it sounds like his bones are breaking while a monster takes over his body]].
104	* ''Film/FaustLoveOfTheDamned'': John Jaspers' superhero form, in true FaustianRebellion style, is a giant winged demon with WolverineClaws. You would be forgiven for mistaking the character featured on the cover for the villain.
105	* Franchise/{{Godzilla}} himself, particularly in his most anti-heroic incarnations. He's a gigantic, mutant dinosaur who shoots atomic fire from his maw, yet he's nowhere as dangerous as beings like King Ghidorah or Space Godzilla. Downplayed, though, as his more heroic incarnations usually stress his awe-inspiring dinosaurian majesty, while the most overtly horrific versions of the character -- such as ''Film/GodzillaMothraKingGhidorahGiantMonstersAllOutAttack'' and especially ''Film/ShinGodzilla'' -- also present him as unambiguously evil.
106	* All cinematic versions of ''ComicBook/{{Hellboy}}'', a BigRedDevil who was raised by humans to be good. The posters for ''Film/Hellboy2004'' and ''Film/HellboyIITheGoldenArmy'' both stress the "Believe it or not, he's the good guy" angle.
107	* ''Film/{{Phenomena}}'' stars a teenage Creator/JenniferConnelly as a CreepyChild with [[PestController psychic command over all insects]]. She uses her gift to try to track down a SerialKiller who has been terrorizing her school, and she's unambiguously heroic -- but the movie also emphasizes just how unsettling her powers, and even her general demeanor, are to [[AllOfTheOtherReindeer the people]] around her.
108	* Cameron Vale, the hero of ''Film/{{Scanners}}'', is a socially maladjusted telepath who speaks in a CreepyMonotone voice. Even as the stakes of the story become increasingly personal to him, he seems to barely care, and is really just going along with everything because it's something to do. The heroine of the movie even describes him as "barely human" at one point.
109	* A nebbishy janitor is transformed into a hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength after falling into a vat of nuclear waste. Though a monster, he realizes that with his newfound power, he can clean up the crime and corruption that has overtaken his city. Thus Film/TheToxicAvenger is born.
110	* ''Film/{{Venom\|2018}}'' has the titular symbiote, a BlobMonster alien that binds to hosts and gives them monstrous BioArmor and HorrorHunger. Thankfully, it likes its host Eddie Brock, and Eddie wants to do the right thing.
111	* Lou Garou, the main character of ''Film/{{Wolfcop}}''. He's a small town cop transformed into a WolfMan via a dark magic ritual. Although he's definitely savage and has a habit of tearing apart his opponents, becoming a werewolf actually makes [[TheAlcoholic Lou]] into a better cop who starts cleaning up his WretchedHive of a town.
112	[[/folder]]
113
114	[[folder:Gamebooks]]
115	* The titular creature in ''Literature/CreatureOfHavoc'' is a scaly, spiny MonstrousHumanoid powerhouse who enjoys a spot of casual cannibalism. He can also risk his life to protect a helpless victim from a mob and ultimately rid the world of a depraved SorcerousOverlord. [[spoiler:The book's ending reveals he WasOnceAMan, subjected to the aforementioned overlord's experimentations; banishing said overlord to another dimension reverts his curse and turns him human again]].
116	[[/folder]]
117
118	[[folder:Literature]]
119	* The protagonist in ''Literature/EverybodyLovesLargeChests'' evolves from a humble dungeon mimic to a flesh-devouring tentacled abomination.
120	* Creator/EvaIbbotson likes to play with this trope. Some of her heroes are beings that ''should'' be horrifying, but actually aren't. For example the ghost whose ectoplasm is, unfortunately, of a bright pink. His brother is a screaming skull, and his sister has done something horrible and has to wash her bloody hands regularly. No one knows what's wrong with him. He'd still be a horrible sight to anyone who fears everything supernatural. Or the little witch, whose sisters look terrible, with clawlike fingernails and such, but the only thing strange about ''her'' is that she has a blue tooth. Sadly, it's not one of the front teeth. Played straight with others, such as the (ghost of a) man who has a rat eating his heart. People run away screaming when they see him, but he's one of the good guys.
121	* Shrek, from William Steig's original picture book of the same name, may be even more of a Horrifying Hero than he is in TheFilmOfTheBook, since he doesn't have a hidden nice-guy side to him and the entire story is about how foul and scary he is.
122	* The eponymous character of ''Literature/SkulduggeryPleasant'' is a living skeleton. The cover of the American edition of the first book had a picture of him and a blurb saying "And he's the good guy!"
123	* Once he's in mourning, [[Creator/DanteAlighieri the poet]] of the ''Literature/LaVitaNuova'' scares off all men who see him because his face is as dead as a ghost's. Dante alludes to the fact that in his mourning he was not quite alive and that only [[WorldsMostBeautifulWoman the lady]] he mourned could restore him, with no confirmation as to exactly what he was in that time.
124	* Invoked in ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' by Skitter, a teenage girl with total control over every insect in a massive radius. She regularly covers herself in insects to give herself the appearance of TheWormThatWalks and normal battle tactics involve stuffing insects down people's throats. It's no wonder that the first superhero she runs into thinks that she's a supervillain!
125	* ''Literature/CreatureOfHavoc'': The titular creature is a hulking, spiny, fanged, [[ImAHumanitarian cannibalistic]] powerhouse of a MonstrousHumanoid, [[spoiler:[[ReforgedIntoAMinion created from a human captive]] by the BigBad via ForcedTransformation]]. All the same, it becomes instrumental in saving the land from a depraved SorcerousOverlord and can do some good for bewildered citizens along the way.
126	* Creator/NKJemisin's ''Literature/InheritanceTrilogy'': Lil, a goddess of hunger, manifests as a sickly-looking humanoid whose jaw hangs down to her knees and is filled with [[MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily rows of fangs]] that rotate like chainsaw teeth. Still, she's quite pleasant in her own way, helps out the heroes out of kindness, once acts as TheCavalry [[spoiler:and forces the book's BigBad to flee]], and ends up [[spoiler:serving as guardian to a group of {{Street Urchin}}s]]. She also makes amazing omelettes.
127	* In Roger Zelazny's ''Literature/ANightInTheLonesomeOctober'', various supernatural creatures and horror villains draw battle lines about whether to complete a ritual that will allow [[EldritchAbomination certain creatures]] entry into our world (Openers wish to allow them through, Closers wish to stop them). The [[HumanoidAbomination protagonist]], strongly implied to be [[spoiler:Jack the Ripper]], isn't the viewpoint character; instead, the story is narrated by his dog to avoid humanizing him. He's a Closer. [[spoiler:So is Count Dracula, to everyone's utter shock, who spends most of the story as TheDreaded and never receives ''any'' humanization.]]
128	[[/folder]]
129
130	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
131	* Some of the various heroes of the ''Franchise/KamenRider'' franchise could easily be confused for villains:
132	** The original hero of ''Series/KamenRider'', Takeshi Hongo is an undeniably righteous person. Starting as a genius college student, bike enthusiast, and [[TheCastShowOff Judo black belt]], he is abducted by [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Shocker]], who turn him into a cyborg bioweapon with [[RedEyesTakeWarning insectoid red eyes]] and a skull-like face. He escapes before he can be reprogrammed into a murderous killing machine and uses his new powers to fight Shocker's troops and other monsters, often with merciless and enthusiastic vigor.
133	** The original Series/KamenRiderAmazon had a more insect-like design than even the original, and rather than having a cybernetic suit materialize from a belt, used an Incan curse to physically change his body. While Daisuke himself is normally a forgiving person, once forced into combat [[TheBerserker he doesn't hold back]].
134	** [[Film/ShinKamenRiderPrologue Kamen Rider Shin]] was DarkerAndEdgier {{Deconstruction}} of the franchise's heroes, being much more organic and frightening in appearance than they already were. The film was much more brutal than anything that had come before, and wouldn't be outdone for years until the aforementioned ''Amazons''. The movie was considered too frightening and the series it was supposed to pilot was cancelled.
135	** Tsukasa Kadoya of ''Series/KamenRiderDecade'' was born with a fragment of the immortal essence of the Great Leader of Shocker within him, and is even implied to be his direct reincarnation. He ''starts out'' as a world conquering villain, now leading the multi-dimensional Dai-Shocker organization. However, he ultimately ends up losing his memory while traveling to a new universe, which he agrees to protect. As a Kamen Rider, his task is to seek out alternate realities and decide whether or not they need to be [[ApocalypseHow destroyed]] ForTheGreaterGood. Otherwise, he has to resolve the conflicts that exist in those worlds so that their threat to the greater multiverse can be stopped. Tsukasa shows little hesitation or remorse, even when he ends up in the [[Series/KamenRiderZiO world of Zi-O]] years later.
136	** Sougo Tokiwa of ''Series/KamenRiderZiO'' in 2018 is an ordinary high-school student with a childish dream of becoming king. However, he would become the Demon King [[TinTyrant Oma Zi-O]] in 2068 and rule the world with an iron fist, with the power of ''every'' Rider at his command. Throughout the series, Sougo tries to change the BadFuture by vowing to become the most benevolent Demon King and fighting as a hero, but his sheer potential and growth in strength leaves his fellow Riders quite wary of him.
137	** ''Series/KamenRiderAmazons'' is a horror series specifically aimed at adult fans of the show, particularly middle aged fans who grew up with the early ''Amazon''. When the ''hero'', who has undeniably good intentions, has a kill-or-be-killed attitude and a CannibalismSuperpower where he literally ''eats'' his opponents, themselves all [[WasOnceAMan biologically augmented humans beings]], it's hard not to be terrified. The hero of the second season, Amazon Neo, is much the same but also able to better control the monster cells in his body. [[spoiler:They're father and son.]]
138	* Series/UltramanGeed is the son of [[SatanicArchetype Ultraman]] [[BigBad Belial]] and looks a lot like his demonically twisted father. This is rather problematic, as it means 75% of the population is scared of him and uncertain of whether or not he's a good guy, despite him being TheCape personality wise. [[spoiler:It takes kicking his old man's butt in front of all of Japan for them to finally realize he's the good guy.]]
139	[[/folder]]
140
141	[[folder:Music]]
142	* Music/{{The Rolling Stones\|Band}}' "Sympathy for the Devil" subverts this. The singer is {{Satan}}, but he probably represents humanity. As it turns out, [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters we're the really horrifying ones]].
143	-->After all, it was you and me.
144	* Music/StephenLynch's "Beelz," also from {{Satan}}'s viewpoint, subverts this one too. Lynch's voice starts out deep and guttural, presenting Satan as an ancient and sinister presence, but then it abruptly shifts several octaves higher and acquires a feminine lisp. The rest of the song presents Satan as a LaughablyEvil FlamingDevil.
145	[[/folder]]
146
147	[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
148	* In Literature/TheBible, when angels aren't disguising themselves as humans, anyone they appear to tends to react in fear. Their descriptions by the prophets [[Literature/BookOfDaniel Daniel]] and [[Literature/BookOfEzekiel Ezekiel]] involve strange descriptors like "faces made of lightning" or "fiery interlocking chariot wheels". Despite all this, one of the first things an angel usually says is "Do not be afraid", and they are after all the messengers and soldiers of {{Heaven}}, and are definitely on the side of good.
149	* Cú Chulainn, the young hero of the Ulster Cycle of Myth/CelticMythology, particularly of the ''Literature/TheCattleRaidOfCooley''. Though he is portrayed as being as {{Bishonen}} as a teenaged [[FightingIrish Irish]] [[FieryRedhead ginger]] can be, he is a descendant of either the [[TheFairFolk Tuatha Dé Danann]] Lugh or the Fomorians, a monstrous race from the mythic prehistory era of Ireland. Though he is heroic and stalwart, and generally perceived as a good guy, his defining mystical characteristic is his ability to transform into various disfigured superpowered abominations through the use of his warp-spasm. After [[YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry he transforms]], he becomes an [[HumanoidAbomination utterly horrifying]] [[TheBerserker berserker]] that slaughters anything in his path, friend and foe alike. Even ''out'' of his warp spasm, he is described in the '' Táin'' as having multi-colored hair, four multicolored dimples in each cheek, seven pupils in each eye, and seven clawed fingers and toes on each hand/foot. (Interestingly, though this all sounds rather disturbing to the modern reader, the narrator of the '' Táin'' seems to have intended these features to make him more beautiful.)
150	* Kali, the Hindu goddess of destruction. She wears a skirt made of arms and a necklace of skulls, carries a severed head and a bloodstained sword and is a grade-A BloodKnight with matted black hair, black skin and a lolling tongue. [[ArsonMurderAndLifesaving She also happens to be a slayer of demons and protector of widows.]]
151	[[/folder]]
152
153	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
154	* When played as heroes, the [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Abyssal]] ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' can exhibit this sort of behavior, due to some being hideous pseudo-undead monstrosities. The (probably more common) darkly beautiful variety aren't such good examples, though their [[BattleAura anima]] still sends mortals fleeing in terror.
155	** [[VoluntaryShapeshifting Lunar Exalted]], too. Their most common battle tactic is "turn into an 8-foot-tall animalistic monstrosity", after all.
156	** [[HumanoidAbomination Infernal]] Exalted on the other hand are basically turning into Primordials (beings with hundreds of souls and are the creators of the world), and are [[FaustianRebellion supposed to be]] helping their masters bring about [[HellOnEarth the Reclamation]].
157	*** Many Infernal powers were directly conceived as being very evil and scary in special effects but not actually mandatory-evil in execution...for a sufficiently [[PayEvilUntoEvil lenient]] definition of "evil" anyway.
158	** Hell, the [[OurAngelsAreDifferent Solar]] Exalted are the targets of a massive smear campaign from the [[CorruptChurch dominant]] [[ScamReligion faith]] and as such, even if they save the day and convince a few people they really aren't so bad, if they want to avoid witch hunts and fate ninjas they tend to move on very [[WalkingTheEarth quickly]].
159	** If a [[TheFairFolk Raksha]] decided to play hero it would be most likely the definition of this Trope. As pretty as they are, they're still an [[EldritchAbomination Alien Intelligence]] from the [[WorldOfChaos Wyld]] and all.
160	* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' has a slight lack of personalities who could reasonably be described as heroic. Inasmuch as they're technically "good guys", the Legion of the Damned probably qualify as they are silent warriors whose black armour is adorned with chilling images of bone and fire, and they basically will appear out of nowhere and completely slaughter a losing imperial force's foes and then disappear.
161	** [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Mephiston, Lord of Death]] is generally considered a hero, but he's certainly a bit more... odd looking than the usual [[ManlyMan appearance]] of Space Marines.
162	** It is mentioned that the Primarch Vulkan and his Salamanders would often terrify those they came to save, what with their obsidian-black skin with the texture of rock, glowing red eyes, and penchant for burning everything in their path. Despite this, Vulkan was known as one of the kindest and most caring of all the Primarchs, and the Salamanders uphold his legacy of doing their utmost to protect the Imperium's citizens, and do not ignore those in need of help.
163	** From the point of view of the "bad guys", pretty much every Chaotic, Tyrannid or Necron "hero" counts.
164	* [[WorldHalfEmpty It's a slim chance that anyone can be a truly heroic character]] in any of TabletopGame/TheWorldOfDarkness gamelines, but [[TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse both versions]] of [[TabletopGame/WerewolfTheForsaken Werewolves]] have a form of WeirdnessCensor that force normal people to flee in terror when they are, uh, [[VoluntaryShapeshifting being werewolves]].
165	** [[TabletopGame/GeistTheSinEaters Sin-Eaters]], as far as supernatural beings go, usually are fairly benevolent, being essentially mediums trying to help ghosts move on in the afterlife. But since they are ex-dead people who were brought back to life by disturbing ghost-like creatures who then share their bodies, and use multiple ghost-like abilities, they tend to be seen as not exactly reassuring. One of the texts in ''TabletopGame/HunterTheVigil'' supplement ''Mortal Remains'' describes a group of them fighting as seen from a regular joe's perspective; the description is absolutely horrifying, and insists on the fact the soldiers they had come to save end up almost just as traumatized as their enemies.
166	* Some PlayerCharacter races in ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' are weird enough, although rarely to the point that they can't function socially. But some sourcebooks allow you to either [[HollywoodEvolution evolve]] yourself into an EldritchAbomination, implant EldritchAbomination flesh into yourself, or just plain be an EldritchAbomination -- one sourcebook has a ''Good [[BrainFood Illithid]]''. Either way, the result is... disturbing. There is the Dragon disciple class which allows you turn yourself into a half dragon. 4e allows you to play as a war golem, living mass of crystals or Minotaur.
167	* ''TabletopGame/SentinelsOfTheMultiverse'': Writhe is easily the creepiest person to have a hero deck. The majority of villain decks are actually less creepy. Once a scientist whose experiment with shadow energy [[GoneHorriblyWrong went awry]], as he moves into his Void Guard incarnation and starts wearing an [=OblivAeon shard=] on his forehead, he moves from "shadowy dude in a trenchcoat and hat" to "vaguely humanoid shadow creature that regularly sprouts tentacles, fights like a [[Franchise/{{Alien}} xenomorph]] and creates nightmare inventions". His deck has cards where he [[TerrorHero intimidates guards]] by throwing his voice, sucks people into dark vortices, creates shadowy reflections of his opponents, shrouds the sky in darkness, and drops from the ceiling to prey on his foes, and one of his Ongoings actually forces his opponents to take psychic damage when they hurt him.
168	-->'''Writhe:''' Shhh, no more yelling. The dark is a place of quiet. And stillness.
169	[[/folder]]
170
171	[[folder:Video Games]]
172	* ''VideoGame/{{Prototype}}'''s Alex Mercer is a [[HumanoidAbomination living pile of general-purpose biomass]] sporting a multitude of {{Shapeshifter Weapon}}s, CombatTentacles, as well as the [[YouAreWhoYouEat ability to perfectly mimic any person]] and [[BrainFood assume their memories and knowledge]] by ''[[ImAHumanitarian eating them.]]'' He's also the player character, and the one person who stands a chance at defeating an equally-horrifying personification of a different strain of TheVirus.\
173	\
174	The same goes for James Heller of ''VideoGame/{{Prototype 2}}''. Fits all of the criteria above, along with being a ScaryBlackMan who can not only summon up tendrils to tether enemies to each other but [[WhyAmITicking infest them with a biological bomb of sorts]] as well as [[TheBeastmaster control]] EliteMooks to some extent. It's really shown in the finale, where [[spoiler:his daughter is too terrified of him to approach him at first]].
175	* Raziel of the ''VideoGame/LegacyOfKain'' series is basically the ghost of a vampire. His blue skin, glowing yellow eyes, clawed hands and feet, tattered wings, and lack of a lower jaw leave him looking more like a demon than anything else, although in the first ''Soul Reaver'' game he can convince humans that he's on their side by not killing them. His sire Kain may qualify as well, even if he straddles the line between AntiHero and VillainProtagonist. Although he looks mostly human, people's reactions in the first game (when he's not using disguise magic) make it clear that he's recognizable as a vampire on sight.
176	* Wolf Link from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' is a wolf with mysterious powers of darkness, ridden by Midna, a creepy imp with strange markings and a [[ArtifactOfDoom Fused Shadow helmet]]. Wolf Link and Midna aren't really horrifying to the player, but in-game, the two of them cause a general panic wherever they go. (The only people who aren't scared of them are the lady who operates a canoe minigame, and her brother who is more scared of her than he is of Wolf Link and Midna.) But they're definitely on the side of good.
177	* ''VideoGame/StarCraftIIHeartOfTheSwarm'' gives us Sarah Kerrigan, formerly known as the [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Queen of Blades]] and the self-proclaimed ''[[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Queen]] [[MagnificentBastard Bitch]] [[MemeticMutation of the Universe]]'', as the protagonist. Kerrigan has been a BrainwashedAndCrazy FallenHero and OmnicidalManiac for most of ''VideoGame/{{StarCraft\|I}}'' and all of ''Brood War'', who only got recently turned back to normal in [[VideoGame/StarCraftIIWingsOfLiberty Wings of Liberty]]. She leads a HordeOfAlienLocusts, possess creepy psychic powers and is motivated by a RoaringRampageOfRevenge. Over the course of the game, she gets an upgraded but just as creepy version of the powers she had as a villain, basically turning into a HumanoidAbomination PhysicalGod. And yet, while she is on a thin line between AntiHero and VillainProtagonist, she still is a better person than [[BigBad Arcturus Mengsk]], the [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters perfectly human]] VillainWithGoodPublicity who she wants to make pay. She has also dropped the habit of backstabbing allies and executing rivals, and even goes out of her way to minimize collateral damage; things that Mengsk has done in the past without a shred of remorse.
178	* A high-[[KarmaMeter Humanity]] Nosferatu player character in ''VideoGame/VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines'' is a [[LooksLikeOrlok hideous]] undead monstrosity who can do quite a lot of good around town. Some humans can be quite vocally grateful for their help. Others [[BrownNote drop dead from the sight of them]].
179	* The image above comes from ''VideoGame/CthulhuSavesTheWorld'', where it's PlayedForLaughs.
180	* Vincent Valentine of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII''. He fights by invoking mutations in his body to turn him into monstrous creatures, which include: Galian Beast, a werewolf-gargoyle hybrid; Death Gigas, a hulking FrankensteinsMonster; Hell Masker, a HockeyMaskAndChainsaw freak; and Chaos, [[SuperpoweredEvilSide a demonic entity based on himself]]. He also invokes the image of a vampire, as the heroes find him sleeping in a coffin in the basement of a creepy haunted mansion, but they can recruit him to the party and it turns out he's a pretty decent guy, if a little [[TheAtoner broody]] and [[NoSocialSkills unsociable]]. Oh, [[EnsembleDarkhorse and he was so popular]] that [[VideoGame/DirgeOfCerberus he managed to get his own game]].
181	%%* Beatrix from ''VideoGame/{{Battleborn}}'' is one of the more disturbingly creepy characters among the heroic Battleborn. It's best shown in a number of her taunts which make her look like something from a horror movie.%%How so?%%
182	* Krieg the Psycho, the second DLC character in ''VideoGame/Borderlands2''. As if looking like a slasher movie villain and having the most agressive style and most gruesomely disturbing abilities of all Vault Hunters weren't enough, [[TalkativeLoon he doesn't really help his case when he tries talking.]] While driven by bloodlust, his original personality is still present if passive and does his best to steer his murderous side away from the innocent and unarmed. Even his crazy side actively helps the Vault Hunters by fighting alongside them, and is even ready to put his life at risk for his allies -- best emphasized by some of his quotes when reviving teammates ("You're in my spot !") and his ability Redeem The Soul that instantly revives an ally at the cost of downing him ("You don't die, I DIE !"). The dormant sane fragment of his mind even threatens to take over them and kill their body should someone undeserving be hurt in their rampage.
183	* The Hunter from ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'' is somewhere between an EmpoweredBadassNormal, a [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampire]], a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolf]], and a HumanoidAbomination. They're still mostly good, depending on player choice.
184	* The [[VideoGame/DarkSouls1 Chosen Undead]], [[VideoGame/DarkSouls2 Bearer of the Curse]], and [[VideoGame/DarkSouls3 Ashen One]] from the ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' series are all undead revenants who have been brought back in a half-living [[CameBackStrong but powerful]] state in order to decide the fate of the First Flame in their respective eras. Their normal states of appearance range from "walking beef jerky" to "normal if a bit splotchy" to "terrifying burning engine of death". Regardless, each is a HumanoidAbomination ''at best'' due to gaining life from the unregulated Humanity ([[spoiler:which comes from the Dark Soul itself]]) in their bodies[[note]]The Dark Sign is a ring composed of a fragment of the First Flame to keep host of the Dark Soul from becoming too powerful, and because humans were created from the Dark Soul itself, this sign is what makes them mortal in the first place until the Flame beings to die[[/note]], but can become even more horrifying by choosing to have a bug burrow into their head, change into a gaunt humanoid dragon, or use any number of Dark-element spells and items to warp their body into unnatural forms. The character is as heroic or not as the player wants them to be, meaning one can use the hollowed out hand of a wraith to steal living essence from their enemies while also [[Heartwarming/DarkSouls telling funny stories to Yorshka]].
185	* ''VideoGame/DemonSkin'' have you playing as a purple-skinned demonic HumanoidAbomination who rips apart monsters with ease. You're actually trying to locate the Demon Queen responsible for your predicament before the start of the game.
186	* Yuri Hyuuga, the Harmonixer, from the ''VideoGame/ShadowHearts'' games. While most of the time he's a handsome young man, he mainly fights by transforming into demonic beasts and harnessing their powers. Particularly notable in the opening of ''Shadow Hearts Covenant'' where he's protecting the French town of Domremy where he's residing from the advance of the WWI German army using the demon form of Amon, Lord of Destruction; the opening FMV of the game sees him putting on a full-blown MookHorrorShow as he terrorises the German infantry. The cutscene is called "The Demon of Domremy".
187	* ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' has Kai'Sa, a HeroicHost to a [[EldritchAbomination Voidspawn]] symbiote who uses the powers it gives her to hunt down other, more dangerous Voidspawn that threaten humanity. She actually is a fairly ([[BeautyIsNeverTarnished and somewhat inexplicably]]) attractive young woman, but as her symbiote manifests effectively as [[BioArmor a bodysuit of Void matter]], it's not surprising that normal humans think she's one of them and reject her.
188	* ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSinII'': The playable character Fane or a custom undead PC is a walking skeleton who has to [[HideYourOtherness hide their body]] to avoid being attacked on sight, and who wields the [[BanOnMagic dreaded]] Source magic to boot. Despite this, they can save the world, do a lot of good along the way, and earn the title of Hero in-game.
189	* ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'': a PlayerCharacter who is a werewolf or a [[LooksLikeOrlok Vampire Lord]] gains access to gruesome-looking transformations into OneWingedAngel forms that can tear enemies limb by limb with razor-sharp claws and fangs (as well as fearsome BloodMagic for the latter). Transforming into either of these forms in public will net you a massive bounty (equivalent to killing someone!), but a Dragonborn wielding such powers is far from guaranteed to be a villain. You become a werewolf by joining the ranks of The Companions, an association of mercenaries that values honor above all, and it's also entirely possible to be a FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire Lord, especially if you're turned by [[DefectorFromDecadence Serana]] and not [[BigBad Harkon]].
190	[[/folder]]
191
192	[[folder:Web Comics]]
193	* Duane from ''Webcomic/{{Unsounded}}'' is a sentient skeleton with a zombie's perpetual predatory drive who occasionally grave-robs to replace broken limbs. He's also one of the most noble, lawful, moral characters in the story.
194	[[/folder]]
195
196	[[folder:Web Original]]
197	* Cody Giles in ''Literature/AngelOfDeath'' is a [[OurLichesAreDifferent lich]] which, in his universe, entails [[YourSoulIsMine devouring human souls]]. He smells like a noxious corpse, and his powers include smelling fear, surrounding himself with a dark shadowy cloud by draining light out of the area, and inflicting any disease or injury on anyone with a mere touch. He is extremely moral, and is always very concerned about hurting as few people as possible.
198	* The two fairies in ''CD-I Super Guns Fight'' are based off of ''Left 4 Dead'' witches, which proves to be horrific for anyone that encounters them whose not on their side. In the first appearance, they brutally murder Lupay and her entire squad, though in the former's case she almost escapes... minus one arm. However, they're aligned with the good team instead of the evil team.
199	* In the early runs of ''WebVideo/TwitchPlaysPokemon'', some interpretations of [[WebVideo/TwitchPlaysPokemonRed Red]] had him as a [[OurLichesAreDifferent lich]] controlled by a very large number of bickering spirits. Later protagonist [[WebVideo/TwitchPlaysPokemonHeartGold Ao]] would be a walking anomaly that glitched the world around her, and it was speculated that her presence in Johto was the reason why Pokemon in the area didn't act the way they usually did.
200	[[/folder]]
201
202	[[folder:Western Animation]]
203	* The trio of ''WesternAnimation/AaahhRealMonsters'', who attend a monster school at the dump and are assigned by their teacher, The Gromble, to scare the living daylights out of every human at the city out of surprise to show via viewfinder at the school.
204	* In ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama Revenge Of The Island'', [[spoiler:Dakota becomes this after her mutation. Although Sam likes her better that way]].
205	* From ''WesternAnimation/GodzillaTheSeries'', the titular Franchise/{{Godzilla}} is over 200 feet tall, looks like a cross between an iguana and a UsefulNotes/TyrannosaurusRex, and [[BreathWeapon breathes a stream of atomic fire]]. The citizens of New York are quite justifiably terrified of him. That being said, Godzilla protects his adoptive father, Nick Tatopalous, [[NeverHurtAnInnocent avoids hurting civilians]], and focuses his attacks on other dangerous {{Kaiju}}. He's even hailed as a hero among the survivors of a BadFuture for fighting the [[HeroKiller D.R.A.G.M.A.s]] to [[HeroicSacrifice his last breath]], saving thousands of lives in the process.
206	* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong'': Jake is a human most of the time, but can turn into a... [[{{Weredragon}} well, guess]]. Still, he's not bad look transformed.
207	* Surprisingly averted with the mutant "Muckman" in ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012''; After his mutation, his body becomes [[BodyHorror a mass of slime and tumours, with exposed bones (and even a gaping hole in his torso, leaving his organs and spinal cord clearly visible)]]. When he saves a man from being mugged, the man reacts with gratitude rather than horror, even pointing out to an understandably freaked-out woman that Muckman is a hero. Muckman soon gains a legion of fans who follow him wherever he goes (to his chagrin).
208	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' features this in an episode entitled "Heroes." The eponymous Heroes consist of a man with lava powers, a woman with ice powers and a man that can alter his shape. They call themselves the Terrific Trio and resorted to performing heroic acts after a lab accident granted them superpowers. When Magma rescues a small child from death, she's too horrified by his appearance to even notice and keeps shrieking that he's a monster.
209	* Season 3 of ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'' has Kevin Levin get stuck covered in an amalgam of different hard materials when his absorption powers malfunction. Although the people around him treat him the same, he frequently broods over his condition and views himself as a monster.
210	* In ''WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse'' we get the debut of Toepick. An alien whose primary power is that behind his cage mask is something nearly every character in the series is afraid of. Other Anur system aliens Ben has access to could also count, as they look like different Horror monsters like a Werewolf or a Mummy, but they always do good when Ben turns into them.
211	* [[OurGargoylesRock The titular race]] of ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}''. They are a heroic but hideous race of protectors who inspired the monstrosities decorating castles and cathedrals all over Europe.
212	* Played for laughs in ''WesternAnimation/{{Fangface}}'' with the title character, a dim-witted werewolf who routinely attempts to eat his best friend Puggsy, TheChewToy of the show (almost literally). It's never presented as a serious threat, however, as he can be dissuaded pretty easily by [[CooldownHug rubbing his foot]] or simply [[SwiperNoSwiping reminding him not to]].
213	* ''WesternAnimation/StreetSharks'': Granted, the Street Sharks are actually pretty nice, but they still look like oversized, very threatening sharks on legs who can [[ExtremeOmnivore eat steel and concrete]], are superhumanly strong, and have some anger issues, so they tend to scare everyone in sight. Really, it's not ''that'' surprising Paradigm has so little trouble convincing people that they're a threat.
214
215	[[/folder]]

Context Main / HorrifyingHero