Line #53 Main/MarkOfTheBeast


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7	[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/taboo_minamimoto.png]]]]
8	[[caption-width-right:350:"[[MadArtist This is my latest masterpiece!\
9	I call it: 'Myself'!]]"]]
10
11	->''"Pain, Agony, Suffering, Torment. When the Rune is invoked, even the earth shall resonate its anguish. Torment of the mind. Torment of the body. Torment of the soul. All will be made clear when the Circle is drawn."''
12	-->-- ''[[VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment Planescape: Torment]]''
13
14	A character who has made a DealWithTheDevil, released his SuperpoweredEvilSide or taken the PsychoSerum receives symbols, patterns or markings as a part of his EvilMakeover. They may only be FacialMarkings, or be all over the body. Occasionally, they will start in one area, such as the neck or face, and spread out further the more powerful or evil the person becomes.
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16	These are generally more minor than those to the OneWingedAngel, though there may be some overlap between the two. See also RedRightHand.
17
18	Not to be confused with MarkedChange, which should only include markings gained when a character powers up, not turning evil, or under any 'evil' influences. If demons or mind control is involved, or the powered-up version of the character is known as "Dark(Name)," it probably belongs here. The nicer version of this trope is PowerTattoo, MarkOfTheSupernatural, or BirthmarkOfDestiny. For a character marked by an entity that isn't turning them evil, see ClaimedByTheSupernatural.
19
20	This trope's namesake makes it OlderThanFeudalism. See also NumberOfTheBeast and TheCorruption.
21	----
22	!!Examples
23
24	[[foldercontrol]]
25
26	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
27	* Miu from ''Manga/AkumaNaEros'' gains one on the back of her shoulder after making a DealWithTheDevil.
28	* In ''Manga/AngelSanctuary'', the kiss of a Satan leaves the mark of said satan behind. It seems to give the Satan power over the victim [[spoiler:(as with Noise)]], but can also be a sign that someone made a deal with a Satan [[spoiler:(as with Arakune, who turns out to be a traitor)]].
29	* The Zebul Spell in ''Manga/{{Beelzebub}}''. It expands as Oga becomes more violent.
30	* Variant: those offered as a sacrifice to the Godhand by Behelit users in ''{{Manga/Berserk}}'' have the Mark of Sacrifice -- three crossed lines -- carved into some place on their body, signifying that they are food for demons and attract their attention. They bleed and cause pain as the demons near, and most don't survive the experience. The final strike is when they die, no matter how, the Mark condemns them to the lowest level of {{Hell}} that exists.
31	* Making a DealWithTheDevil in ''Manga/BlackButler'' involves having the demon's seal inscribed on your body. The more visible the spot you place the seal, the more power you are granted. Main character Ciel asked for as much power as he could possibly get, and ended up with the seal in one of his eyes.
32	* Wegs are seen as this by the public in ''Manga/BlackClover''. They are black horns that sprout from the heads of mages who have used Forbidden Magic or the power of devils. Although this doesn't necessarily mean people who have them are evil, this causes the Magic Parliament to condemn Asta and Nero.
33	* When it's your turn to pilot Zearth in ''Manga/{{Bokurano}}'', you'll get a mark on your body. They're often FacialMarkings (like [[spoiler:Ushiro]] and [[spoiler:Youko]]), but not always: Mako's marks are on her thighs, and Kirie's are on his stomach.
34	* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'':
35	** Guilmon and his evolved forms in ''Anime/DigimonTamers'' have the Digital Hazard symbol on their bodies, which resembles the biohazard symbol and indicates that they have the potential to be highly dangerous threats to both worlds. When he awakens to his SuperpoweredEvilSide Megidramon, the Digital World starts ''collapsing''.
36	** PlayedStraight with the BigRedDevil Digimon Phelesmon in ''Anime/DigimonGhostGame'', who has "666" marked on the side of his head.
37	* ''Anime/DragonBallZ'': The stylized M on the forehead of every minion of Babidi, which Vegeta received after his FaceHeelTurn.
38	* The Homunculi in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' have an {{Ouroboros}} somewhere on their bodies (e.g., Lust by her collarbone, Gluttony on his tongue, etc.). The humans turned into homunculi also gain this mark upon ingesting [[spoiler:a Philosopher's Stone with Father's soul]] and it disappears when [[spoiler:the soul]] is removed. It's meant to represent their immortality, as the Ouroboros is a symbol for eternity. Originally, the Ouroboros symbolized how process and result are one thing (it devours itself and thus creates himself) -- and thus was a symbol for the Philosopher's Stone itself.
39	* Those who make a contract with Ai in ''Anime/HellGirl'' and send their tormentor to Hell gain a black fire mark on their chest to remind them always that they will be dragged to Hell upon their own death as payment for the deed.
40	* ''Manga/InuYasha'':
41	** The titular character gets facial stripes only when his demon blood takes over and he goes berserk.
42	** His full-blooded demon brother Sesshomaru has them all the time.
43	* In ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaAs'', when the Book of Darkness awakens [[spoiler:and takes over Hayate]], red lines spread all over her body. These lines disappear once the Book of Darkness is cleansed of its corrupted self-defense program.
44	* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'':
45	** The Curse mark on Sasuke, placed by Orochimaru. It spreads across Sasuke's body the stronger it becomes. When Sasuke unleashes the Curse Seal's full power, he actually transforms into a vaguely demonic creature, complete with two very large wings growing out of his back that look like giant webbed hands more than anything.
46	** Pretty much any unleashed Curse Seal. The Sound Four all turn into monsters. And the first bearer of the Curse Mark gets a PsychoPrototype treatment, as well as having a monster form.
47	** For that matter, Naruto has whisker-like lines on his cheeks that grow more pronounced as he draws on the power of the [[SealedEvilInACan Nine-Tailed Fox sealed in his belly]]. At least until he draws enough power that his ''skin'' peels off and he is [[OneWingedAngel completely covered in his own chakra-infused blood]].
48	* Human victims under a Witch's influence in ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', who experience crushing despair and are usually DrivenToSuicide, are marked by a Kiss that looks like a tattoo on their necks.
49	* Tsukune in ''Manga/RosarioPlusVampire'' when he first transforms into a ghoul. The markings are [[spoiler:Moka]]'s blood creeping through his body and taking over his mind.
50	* ''Anime/YuGiOh'':
51	** The odd stylized eye that appears on the forehead of the Yami (Name) Characters.
52	** A better example is the Seal of Orichalcos. Its users have the Seal appear on their foreheads and become obsessed with evil.
53	* ''Anime/YuGiOh5Ds'' has the Dark Signers with their red facial markings and their dark birthmarks. Likewise the Signers and their dragon birthmarks. Even the English dub calls it the Mark of the Dragon.
54	[[/folder]]
55
56	[[folder:Comic Books]]
57	* ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyGenerations'': Each of the three smooze-made ponies created by the witches has an unusual trait that sets them apart from natural ones -- Shadow Storm has [[ExoticEyeDesigns eyes with grey sclerae and quartered white irises]], Violet Shiver has jagged, lighter markings on her hooves, and Black Belle has a lightning bolt-shaped horn and black splotches around her eyes and hooves.
58	* ''ComicBook/{{Spawn}}'': A subplot has an army of vampires who decided to only eat unholy sinners; which of course meant anyone they disagreed with. A bit of magic 'marked' them with sigils only the monsters could see. Spawn managed to turn off the mark for all. They didn't know who to eat so couldn't risk eating anyone 'innocent'.
59	* ''ComicBook/UnderworldUnleashed'': In the final scene, in which many many supervillains made a DealWithTheDevil for increased power, the villain Major Disaster is shown gloating about how he got to keep his powers even though the BigBad was destroyed. Then he sees his reflection in a window, and sees the NumberOfTheBeast etched into his forehead...
60	* ''ComicBook/XMen'': Rachel Summers used to have facial tattoos from her grim and nasty future as a mutant hunter, which she could conceal until stressed or using her powers.
61	[[/folder]]
62
63	[[folder:Fan Fiction]]
64	* In the ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries'', when a pony turns into a [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Nightmare,]] their cutie mark's colors are inverted. For example, [[spoiler:Fluttershy's cutie mark is three butterflies with pink wings and blue bodies, while Nightmare Whisper's is three butterflies with blue wings and pink bodies.]]
65	[[/folder]]
66
67	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
68	* The demonic taint in Ashitaka's body in ''Anime/PrincessMononoke''.
69	[[/folder]]
70
71	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
72	%%* A number of direct-to-video Christian-produced movies that take place in an [[TheAntichrist Antichrist]]-ruled world TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture take the verse from Revelations literally. Citizens in this world are required to have a highly visible mark (usually the number 666 or some arcane symbol) to even walk around in public, else be forcibly implanted with one (in public or private) or face execution.%%This example has been commented out for not identifying the work from which it originates. Do not uncomment it without adding the work.
73	* In the ''Film/{{Apocalypse}}'' film series, those who receive the MarkOfTheBeast may also experience miraculous healings, such as the blind woman in ''Revelation'' receiving her sight, the wheelchair-bound man in the same movie being able to walk, and the one-armed man in the hospital in ''Tribulation'' receiving his right arm again. There's also the BlessedWithSuck element of the recipients being blessed with limited telekinetic and telepathic powers, as featured in the movie ''Tribulation''.
74	* In the ''Film/BladeTrilogy'', [[TheRenfield those humans who submit to a vampire master]] get a tattoo (usually) on the back of the neck; this tells other vampires "Don't eat me".
75	* When Guerrero makes his DealWithTheDevil in ''Film/DeadInTombstone'', Satan brands his chest with an inverted cross.
76	* In ''Film/DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness'', the [[TomeOfEldritchLore Darkhold]] leaves a visible mark on anyone who uses it. [[spoiler:838-Strange and 616-Wanda]] both have their fingertips turn black while [[spoiler:Sinister Strange and 616-Strange]] both develop a ThirdEye.
77	* In ''Film/HoodOfHorror'', Devon gets a stylized [=HoH=] on the back of his neck when he [[DealWithTheDevil sells his soul]], and agrees to become the Hound of Horror to bring his sister back from the dead.
78	* In ''Film/TheOmen1976'', it is revealed that Damien has the "666" mark, but up above his hairline where you'd never see it unless you specifically searched for it.
79	* Francis Dollarhyde, the titular ''Film/RedDragon'' has a tattoo based on the painting "The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun" by Creator/WilliamBlake that covers his entire backside from neck down, which symbolizes to him the transformation he believes he is undergoing through his murder spree.
80	* ''Film/SixTheMarkUnleashed'' calls it The Holy Implant.
81	* In the series that begins with ''Film/AThiefInTheNight'', citizens must be tattooed with 666 (disguised as digital code) and must have it scanned at all supermarkets before they can buy food. Those who refuse this mark are sent to the guillotine.
82	[[/folder]]
83
84	[[folder:Literature]]
85	* In the framing story for the ''Books of Blood'' by Creator/CliveBarker, a young man who'd made light of communication with the dead is marked all over his body -- even his genitals and eyelids -- by the irate words of outraged spirits, who carved them directly into his skin.
86	* In the ''Literature/ChristCloneTrilogy'', this is done in the form of "communion" injections of Christopher Goodman's blood to willing recipients, while also accompanied by a physical mark on the forehead or the right hand.
87	* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfAncientDarkness'': Each of the [[EvilSorcerer Soul Eaters]] has a trident tattoo on their chest, representing the tool they use to catch stray souls. In the third book, [[spoiler:Torak]] is forcibly tattooed by the Soul Eaters, and the plot of the next book is driven by everyone else's reactions when they find out, and his efforts to remove it.
88	* In ''Literature/DeltoraQuest'', [[VoluntaryShapeshifting Ols]] always have the Shadow Lord's mark somewhere on their body, [[GlamourFailure no matter what form they take]].
89	* The Denarians of ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' have the Sigil of the Fallen possessing them somewhere on their body. Their SuperpoweredEvilSide also has a second pair of GlowingEyesOfDoom on their brow, above the normal ones.
90	* Everyone in ''Literature/TheGreatControversy'' who hasn't got the Seal of God and goes to church on Sunday (rather than Saturday) to avoid persecution and pacify the Pope.
91	* Lord Voldemort from ''Literature/HarryPotter'' isn't a devil, merely a very powerful and evil human wizard, but the way he has his followers brand the Dark Mark (a skull with a snake coming out of the mouth) onto their forearms is strongly suggestive of this trope. It's a rare example of a [[PlotCouponThatDoesSomething Mark with some practical purpose]]. LV uses it to summon his minions to him and, apparently, to track down renegades.
92	* The "chahk'morg" in ''Literature/TheHauntingOfAlaizabelCray''. It's a mark shaped like a Franchise/{{Cthulhu\|Mythos}}-esque demon that is placed on those marked for sacrifice. The bad guys also use it to summon all of hell by [[spoiler:killing people all over London such that the spots they died will form a chahk'morg when you connect them. Don't ask]].
93	* The ''Literature/LeftBehind'' series, of course. In a strange variant, each mark comes with a numerical designation that represents a mathematical equation for [[NumberOfTheBeast three sixes]] where the operations are interchangeable (e.g., 216 (6 x 6 x 6), 30 (6 x 6 - 6), 18 (6 + 6 + 6), etc.). Interestingly, the book series goes with both the King James version interpretation of the mark being ''in'' the right hand (via the biochip) and the modern translations' interpretation of the mark being ''on'' the right hand or forehead (via the number or name of the Beast).
94	* Everyone in ''Literature/QuantumDevilSagaAvatarTuner'' gets a brand somewhere on their body after being infected with the Atma Virus, which allows them to [[VoluntaryShapeshifting transform into demons]] at the cost of [[HorrorHunger having to eat other humans and demons]] to avoid going into a HeroicRROD. In fact, the marks are seperated in two categories: the unique demons have more complex marks (Higher Atma), and everyone else has common forms and simpler marks (Lower Atma).
95	* [[RightWingMilitiaFanatic Randy "Hawkeye" Morrison]] from ''Literature/StarTrekTheEugenicsWars'' views his avian eyes as the mark of the beast. Subverted in that the beast he fears does not actually exist. However, it does contribute significantly to his paranoia.
96	[[/folder]]
97
98	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
99	* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
100	** Willow gets dark hair and black veins become visible all over her face when she starts getting possessed by dark magic. The Scoobies eventually start referring to the process of Willow becoming possessed as "going all veiny".
101	** Followers of Eyghon the Sleepwalker have the Mark of Eyghon.
102	* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
103	** In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS24E4Dragonfire Dragonfire]]", Kane freeze-brands the hands of all his workers with a super-chilled coin.
104	** In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E8TheImpossiblePlanet The Impossible Planet]]"/"[[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E9TheSatanPit The Satan Pit]]", the character who gets [[HumanNotepad covered in the untranslated language]] and [[RedEyesTakeWarning glowing red eyes]] when he is possessed by the villainous MonsterOfTheWeek truly exemplifies this trope.
105	* In ''Series/{{Hex}}'', those who have their wishes granted by Malachi and become incubi or succubi are marked on their neck as his property, and in some cases get [[GlowingEyesOfDoom Glowing Eyes of Doom]].
106	* The hero of ''Series/TheInvisibleMan'' has a circular snake tattoo (not ''quite'' an ouroboros) that turns red bit by bit, counting down how soon he'll go AxCrazy from the quicksilver in his system.
107	* ''Series/PowerRangersLightspeedRescue'' had the SixthRanger receive a snake tattoo from the BigBad that slowly grew and shortened his life every time he used his powers. However, it turned out to be linked to an ''[[MonsterOfTheWeek actual]]'' beast, and by defeating it, the tattoo was destroyed.
108	* In ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', anyone under Darkseid's control has an omega symbol somewhere on their body.
109	* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1985'': In "[[Recap/TheTwilightZone1985S1E6 A Message from Charity]]", Squire Jonas Hacker tells Charity Payne to strip so that he can search her body for the Devil's mark. She immediately realizes that Hacker [[AttemptedRape intends to rape her]] as Faith Tanner was extremely upset when he subjected her to the same search the previous year.
110	[[/folder]]
111
112	[[folder:Multiple Media]]
113	* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'': The Sith often (though not always) use distinctive tattoos as a symbol of membership and/or rank (most prominently, Darth Maul's full-body tattoos, which [[ComicBook/StarWarsLegacy the One Sith]] later also adopt). Though not actually demons, they ''are'' a certified ReligionOfEvil and the most powerful and persistant evil faction in the setting.
114	[[/folder]]
115
116	[[folder:Mythology & Religion]]
117	* The {{Trope Namer\|s}} is in the Literature/BookOfRevelation in Literature/TheBible. All must accept the Mark of the Beast "in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark". Turns out not to be a good deal:
118	-->''And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.''
119	** One could argue that the Mark of the Beast is not an actual "mark" on the body per se, but more like an identifier to the Beast, probably a ritual blessing. This is in contrast with the Mark of the Lamb, as in the identifier for allegiance with Jesus Christ (possibly by making the sign of the cross). This is best explained in Revelation 13:16-18:
120	--->''Those who bear in their foreheads the name of the Lamb and of his Father have the "mark" of the Lamb. They are deliberately contrasted with the people who bear, on the right arm or the forehead, the "mark" of the beast.''
121	* According to [[http://www.zerotime.com/night/detect.htm Zerotime.com]], werewolves have a pentagram "birthmark" somewhere on their bodies, often on the palm or chest. In folklore, this kind of mark was said to be given to witches by {{Satan}}. Any kind of birthmark could be interpreted as a "witch mark" by zealous [[TheWitchHunter witch hunters]]. Keep in mind that in many folk tales, [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent witches were werewolves]].
122	[[/folder]]
123
124	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
125	* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'':
126	** Most of the Exalted have the effect of generating a BattleAura as a side effect of using [[KiManipulation Essence]]. One bit of this is the Caste Mark, a representation of your Caste that appears on your forehead. For Solars and Lunars, it's a golden/silver shining disk; for Sidereals, it's the astrological sign of the Maiden they were chosen by. Then you have the [[OmnicidalManiac Abyssals]]. Their Caste Marks ''bleed'' out of their forehead.
127	** The [[DealWithTheDevil Infernals]] get a similar deal -- they bear modified Solar Caste Marks that burn with the green fire of Ligier, Hell's sun. Each has its own special adornment based on the Caste's [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Yozi]] patron and the Fiend Caste (chosen of the Ebon Dragon) get a special mark -- a solid disk of such utter darkness that it hurts mortals to look upon it.
128	* Liliana Vess of ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' is covered from head to toe in glowing lines, resulting from her deal with four demons.
129	* The vampires of clan Gangrel in ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'' will receive what's actually called "the Beast Mark" each time they give in to the Frenzy. What it is differs depending on the circumstances.
130	* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' and ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' occasionally have marks of Chaos appearing on mortal worshippers. One mildly unnerving piece of art from one edition of ''Warhammer'' depicted a pair of eyes with the pupils turned into eight-pointed stars.
131	[[/folder]]
132
133	[[folder:Video Games]]
134	* In ''VideoGame/BioShockInfinite'', Booker [=DeWitt=] bears the mark AD on the back of his right hand, which according to Zachary Comstock's teachings in Columbia marks him as the "False Shepherd". [[spoiler:It turns out that AD was a MarkOfShame that he put on his right hand when he had sold off his daughter Anna, who in an alternate reality became Comstock's daughter Elizabeth.]] The mark also appears on [[spoiler:the alternate version of Comstock]] in the DLC ''[[VideoGame/BioShockInfiniteBurialAtSea Burial at Sea]] - Episode 1'', albeit as a tattoo rather than a brand.
135	* In ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'', those who are branded with the Darksign are doomed to return to life after death while slowly losing their sanity, eventually becoming a mindless Hollow.
136	* Eliphas of ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar'': ''Retribution'' can equip literal Marks of the Beast, the Marks of the Chaos Gods. These special marks indicate worship of a particular Chaos God, and in turn grant worshipping Cultists different benefits to other units: [[WarGod Khorne]]'s Mark gives all units greater damage and speed, [[PlagueMaster Nurgle]]'s Mark gives better health regeneration and reinforcement of depleted units, and [[TheChessmaster Tzeentch]]'s Mark gives a stealth cloak. If you have the DLC, you can also get the Mark of Chaos Undivided, which [[InfinityPlusOneSword allows all the described abilities]].
137	* Evil characters in the ''VideoGame/{{Fable}}'' series develop livid red cracks running across their skin.
138	* The l'Cie of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' are marked with a brand somewhere on their bodies; it functions both as a symbol of their CursedWithAwesome status and a timer [[DeathsHourglass indicating how long they have to fulfill their Focus]] before they [[FateWorseThanDeath turn into horrifying Cie'th monsters]].
139	* Grima's Mark or The Brand of Defile in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'', first seen on the {{Player Character}}'s right hand. [[spoiler:If you choose to sacrifice yourself to kill Grima permanently, your character is reformed sometime later without the mark, signifying that Grima is truly dead and gone this time.]]
140	* Kratos of the ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'' series was branded with the Blades of Chaos [[spoiler:after making his deal with Ares]].
141	* Samus' Phazon corruption in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption'' gradually worsens, causing her suit (and, on those occasions when her face is visible, her skin) to develop glowing blue veins. Eventually one of her eyes begins to glow blue as well.
142	* ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'' has the Mark of Torment, its description quoted on the top of the page, on The Nameless One's left shoulder. Where exactly The Nameless One obtained it is never revealed; it is implied [[spoiler:that it appeared as a result of the combined torment his incarnations accrued over the years]]. If you take the proper steps [[spoiler:and relearn the Nameless One's true name, he sloughs off his torment, and the Mark of Torment peels off of his body and flutters away with the breeze.]]
143	* ''Franchise/PrinceOfPersia'':
144	** The Dark Prince in ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheTwoThrones''. Black skin with red tattoos seems to be quite popular.
145	** In ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia2008'', the Corrupted are people who made a [[DealWithTheDevil pact with Ahirman]], and were thus infected with his essence, transforming them into what seems to be physical darkness. [[spoiler:No clue if the Prince gets this after the DownerEnding...]]
146	* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'':
147	** Everyone infected with the [[VoluntaryShapeshifting Atma Virus]] in ''VideoGame/DigitalDevilSaga''. Especially since the package includes a [[HorrorHunger cannibalistic diet]].
148	** ''VideoGame/Persona2 Eternal Punishment''
149	*** Tatsuya Suou is branded with a black monstrous hand wrapped around his own. The BigBad left it on him to remind him on his failures, and side material implies that it affects his control over his emotions to some degree.
150	*** The BigBad also left a mark on [[spoiler:Takahisa Kandori]] in the form of BlackEyesOfEvil and excessive scarring. It is a mark that [[spoiler:he was brought BackFromTheDead to be a puppet]]. [[InhumanEyeConcealers He hides his eyes behind sunglasses.]]
151	** ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne'' (or ''Lucifer's Call'' in Europe) has the main character receive insta-tattoos all over his body when he initially receives superpowers from a demonic parasite. (Technically, that would make it a ''symbiote'', but the game calls it a parasite and there are oodles of negative effects so...) [[spoiler:This makes it a literal Mark of the Beast, due to the [[LouisCypher true identity]] of the boy who forces the parasite on you.]]
152	** ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIVApocalypse'' has the protagonist receive similar glowing tattoos on his face and left hand after making a DealWithTheDevil.
153	* In ''Franchise/{{Tekken}} 3'' and forward, Jin Kazama gains more and more black tattoos as his 'Devil Jin' mode awakens.
154	* In ''VideoGame/VagrantStory'', there is the Blood Sin, which controls the Gran Grimoire. Whoever acquires it has control of Lea Monde. [[spoiler:Sydney already has it. Everyone else wants it, and Guildenstern cuts the tattoo from Sydney's back to graft onto his own.]]
155	* In ''VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt'', making [[DealWithTheDevil a deal]] with a certain "GOD" ([[LeonineContract not that you have a choice]]) will have you branded with one to mark the pact. Other characters who are versed in the arcane would note that it's ancient, powerful magic, and that you're dealing with [[SatanicArchetype a particularly dangerous entity]].
156	* [[spoiler:Taboo Minamimoto]] from ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou''.
157	[[/folder]]
158
159	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
160	* ''VisualNovel/DramaticalMurder'' features [[spoiler:Koujaku]], whose tattoos grow exponentially when his SuperPoweredEvilSide takes over.
161	* [[spoiler:Sakura]] in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' gets spiky black lines that creep over her body at irregular points and then retract again [[FreakOut after she goes into]] full-fledged psychotic {{Yandere}} mode. Also, her hair turns entirely white.
162	[[/folder]]
163
164	[[folder:Webcomics]]
165	* In ''Webcomic/DangerouslyChloe'', Teddy acquires a pentacle on the back of the left hand with which he touched the demon statue. After the [[DealWithTheDevil blood pact]] is sealed, this mark fades out of sight.
166	* ''Webcomic/{{Darken}}'': Gort gains an intricate flame-like tattoo when he [[DealWithTheDevil agrees]] to come BackFromTheDead as a powerful servant of the [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Archdevil]] Mephistopheles. Komiyan, a Mephistopheles worshiper himself, explains that the tattoos usually only symbolize claiming strength from one's victims, but suggests that, since Gort was resurrected through mass HumanSacrifice and is now TheNeedless, the meaning is entirely literal for him.
167	* In ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'', selling your soul to a demon will result in a random part of your body turning translucent, marking you as the demon's property and telling other demons not to interfere with you. Biscuit's lips and hair are see-through as a result of such a bargain, [[spoiler:and Dies-Horribly's ears become so after tries to sell himself to a demoness]].
168	* Inverted in ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'': It is the ''demon'' Reynardine who bears the mark of, and is therefore controlled by the heroine and human Antimony. %%Please don't put spoilers not necessary to understanding the trope in the Gunnerkrigg Court entry.
169	* ''Webcomic/{{Phantomarine}}'': Seaghosts possessed by Cheth display his characteristic black band tattoos on their arms, and a long line of fishbone tattoos on their backs.
170	[[/folder]]
171
172	[[folder:Web Original]]
173	* Inverted completely in the ''Dead Gods'' universe. Heralds are granted brands that gradually cover their whole bodies, but those brands were specifically created to be not repulsive by the patron deities. They also allow the Heralds to conjure incredible powers, including communing with the local demons, none of whom are anything but benevolent.
174	* In ''WebAnimation/MysterySkullsAnimated'', green starts creeping up Arthur's arm after it's touched by a glowing green spirit that is quickly gaining control of his body as it possesses him.
175	[[/folder]]
176
177	[[folder:Western Animation]]
178	* In ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'', the Eye of XANA is used in this manner with the possessed William, displayed on his forehead, chest and sword.
179	* In the ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' episode "[[Recap/GravityFallsS2E4SockOpera Sock Opera]]", [[spoiler:Dipper]]'s eyes turn a shade of yellow and his pupils slit when [[spoiler:Bill Cipher takes control over his body]]. Of course, this being Gravity Falls, [[WeirdnessCensor every single character fails to notice this]].
180	* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'' when Billy is given a cursed tricycle that is sentient and violently attacks anyone that wrongs him (a la ''Literature/{{Christine}}'') and Grim confirms that it's cursed with the Mark of the Beast. As it turns out, the mark of the beast is actually a ''brand name'' by a company that specialises in making cursed products.
181	* In ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'', anyone who drew the mark of [[BigBad Tarakudo]] [[CastingAShadow on their body]] would gain demonic powers and slowly turn evil (said mark was on an archive book the [[BigBadDuumvirate Demon]] [[SorcerousOverlord Sorcerer]] [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Clan]] created). Also, the mark ''doesn't come off'', regardless of how it was made, without a spell. It is implied that the mark actually turns the victim into one of the Shadowkhan.
182	* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': [[spoiler:Coven Sigils are a very Literature/{{Book of Revelation}}esque interpretation of this trope, being a special tattoo that everyone is required to get on their right wrist or be marked as a criminal by [[TheAntichrist Emperor Belos]]' fascist regime. They also pretty much doom anyone that gets them, as they are used as a targeting system for the [[FinalSolution Draining Spell]] in Belos' Day of Unity plot.]]
183	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In the opening to "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS31E4TreehouseOfHorrorXXX Treehouse of Horror XXX]]", Ned tries to kill Maggie because she bears the mark of the beast. He parts her hair to reveal a WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse head (referencing the Disney/Fox merger) before realizing his error and reveals she also has a [[NumberOfTheBeast "666"]] mark on her head. It then turns out the mark is actually a message saying that this is "Episode 666, or 667 if Creator/{{Fox}} changes the schedule".
184	* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'' with the "Mark of Hekapoo", which is the result of an ancient and powerful demon sorceress delivering a DopeSlap that burns the hair off the back of your head.
185	* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'':
186	** Raven gets some in the "all over the body" variety in season 4, apparently heralding the end of the world.
187	** More interestingly, when [[spoiler:Slade]] comes back, he's got a glowing sigil in his forehead, to go with his new, fire-based powers and infernal army. When he loses the powers, the sigil disappears as well...
188	* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'', [[spoiler:Qilby]] gets this along with a PowerUpFullColorChange when he [[spoiler:merges with the Eliacube]] and reveals his villainous nature. He still retains faded-out discolored versions of the markings after [[spoiler:the Eliacube is forcibly removed from him.]]
189	* In ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'', [[spoiler:Mystique, Magneto, Xavier, and Storm]] receive markings similar to those of Apocalypse when he "recruits" them as his horsemen.
190	[[/folder]]
191
192	[[folder:Real Life]]
193	* Many organized crime syndicates such as TheMafiya and {{Yakuza}} have a complete system of symbolic tattoos.
194	** The Russian Mob is supposedly so up on symbolic tattoos that one who knows what the symbols mean can learn a guy's entire history (birth year and/or date, first "job", affiliations, current rank, specialties, etc) ''just by looking at his arm''.
195	* Cult leader UsefulNotes/CharlesManson, after being arrested for the Tate-[=LaBianca=] murders first carved an X on his forehead, and encouraged his followers to do the same to "X them out" from society, as well as mark his followers in the incoming race war. He later modified the X into a Swastika.
196	* Members of the Nazi SS could be identified after the war from a tattoo marking their blood group.
197	[[/folder]]
198

Context Main / MarkOfTheBeast