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1[[quoteright:300:[[Manga/SaintSeiya https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/golden2.jpg]]]]
2[[caption-width-right:300: ...and absolute power glows absolutely.]]
3
4->'''Dr. Blitzmeyer:''' Hello! I see that my Anomalous Energy Enhancer has caught your eye!\
5'''Blackheart:''' Well, I do like green glowing things... What does it do?\
6'''Dr. Blitzmeyer:''' Well right now it... glows green.\
7'''Blackheart:''' That's it?\
8'''Dr. Blitzmeyer:''' It's a new technology.
9-->-- ''Webcomic/{{Nimona}}''
10
11[[TitleDrop Power glows.]] The more power, the more glow. So, anything that glows is [[PowerMakeover automatically presumed to be superior]] to otherwise identical things that don't glow, and more glow is better. This is closely related to the RuleOfCool because glowing is cool, so things that glow automatically get more WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief, allowing them to be more unrealistically powerful. They're often GoodColorsEvilColors, too. For example, evil glows bright red, good glows blue or gold, and [[SicklyGreenGlow radioactive materials glow green]].
12
13GlowingEyesOfDoom? Inherently superior to ordinary, everyday, garden-variety eyes of doom. Glowing BattleAura? Opponents who don't glow won't stand a chance! Any physical object that glows will also be powerful somehow. [[LaserBlade Glowing sword]] vs. boring sword? Glowing sword wins, every time. [[StuffBlowingUp Explodey things]] that emit a [[PreExplosionGlow glow first]] are bigger, louder and/or do more damage, and if they were SuckingInLines first, they're even more so. The most powerful magical potions will also glow to signify their superiority over ordinary, non-glowing magical potions. And don't forget the inherent awesomeness of the PillarOfLight, which is Glow going to Heaven just to show how overwhelming it is.
14
15Strangely enough, in real life glowing would usually indicate a wasting of energy, but it could still count as just the excess energy manifesting as light. A good example is in Mercedes Lackey's Velgarth series in which Gates and Portals only glow when energy is being used inefficiently.
16
17SuperTrope to the following:
18[[index]]
19* BattleAura
20* HolyHalo
21* PhosphorEssence
22* VolcanicVeins
23[[/index]]
24
25See also: PowerCrystal, PowerEchoes, PowerFloats, PowerMakesYourVoiceDeep, PureEnergy, HolyBacklight, BackgroundHalo and FamilyFriendlyFirearms. PreExplosionGlow, StarSpangledSpandex, ThroatLight, and SuckingInLines are special cases of this trope. In media with audio, this is commonly a WhiningLight. Very often overlaps with PowerupFullColorChange.
26
27If only certain people are aware of the glow you could be looking at EditorialSynaesthesia or even AuraVision. May be used as a FantasticLightSource as MundaneUtility.
28
29As one final note, [[JustForFun/TelevisionIsTryingToKillUs DO NOT rely on this trope to determine danger]] in RealLife. People have been killed from touching downed power lines that aren't glowing or sparking but still have enough charge to electrocute anyone who touches them, and permanently disabling to lethal levels of radiation can be present without any visual signs at all (which is why Geiger counters and dosimeters exist!)
30
31----
32!!Examples
33
34[[foldercontrol]]
35
36[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
37* In ''Manga/{{Akira}}'', at the moment of the greatest release of energy, everything is reduced to a bright white. Maximum glow for maximum power.
38* As the trope image shows, the holy Gold Clothes (armors) from ''Manga/SaintSeiya'' sometimes glow...very much so.
39* Gourry in ''Literature/{{Slayers}}'' has an extremely powerful Sword of Light, much better than any other regular swords. He can chop through ''trees'' with his sword, and we're not talkin' fist-width saplings, either. [[ShoutOut It also makes lightsaber noises]].
40* Everything that has some sort of spiritual nature in ''Anime/EarthMaidenArjuna'' gives off an awesome glow. Including Juna's MagicalGirl transformation, as well as her energy bow Gan Deeva.
41* ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'':
42** Excalibur, the "ultimate weapon of humanity", able to convert the user's {{Mana}} into light energy and fire it as a destructive wave. Since it takes in the user's own power, it also [[GoodColorsEvilColors changes color according to alignment]].
43** Ea, Gilgamesh's EX rank Noble Phantasm turns the winds it sends out red.
44* Some ''Manga/InitialD'' characters can tell roughly how good another driver is by the glowing aura around the driver and by extension, his car when the person is driving it.
45* ''Franchise/YuGiOh'':
46** ''Anime/YuGiOh'' does this for several reasons. Spell and Trap cards glow whenever their effects come into play as well as various monster attacks. Millennium Items often glow in order to show they are being activated. Noteworthy glows come from whoever is summoning God cards.
47** ''Anime/YuGiOhCapsuleMonsters'' have power glows whenever monsters perform powerful attacks, as well as when Yami Yugi merges with his monsters.
48** ''Anime/YuGiOh5Ds'' does this very frequently. Shooting Star Dragon is in constant glow mode and is only ever seen once without it. The final battle with ZONE has Yusei [[spoiler: tune all 5 of his friends' dragons into Shooting Quasar Dragon]], the most overly glowing transformation sequence in the series, as it involves Yusei and his D-wheel going fully gold. One might be able to guess it has a whole arsenal of effects ready to beat ZONE's [[TheJuggernaut Timelords]] like they were nothing.
49* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'':
50** Many attacks glow a certain color before making things explode and blast off (Iron Tail, Focus Punch, Bubble Beam, etc).
51** Psychic-type Pokémon often glow cyan while levitating.
52** In the movie ''Anime/Pokemon2000'', to save Lugia, the three legendary bird Pokémon, and resolve all conflict, Melody had to play a tune on what looked like some sort of ocarina. The stones she played it next to glowed depending on what note she used, and then glowing water came out from nowhere and entered into the sea.
53* The 2003 series of ''Anime/AstroBoy'' explains this by giving the titular robot a kind of [[AppliedPhlebotinum surge-protector that somehow converts excess electricity into photons]].
54* Used in the ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya'' Brigade-movie "The Adventures Of Mikuru Asahina", just like any other cliche-trope. When Koizumi's power is released, he glows blue-ish. Interestingly though, it does not appear to be the comically used SpecialEffectFailure, like with the Mikuru-Beam.
55* If you notice yourself being bathed in a soft, pink light in ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'', that is your signal to run fast, and run far, as that soft light won't stay soft for long for it comes from the massive pink glow that precedes Nanoha's [[WaveMotionGun Starlight Breaker]].
56** If you find yourself in a similar situation in ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', you're about to be blown up by Majin Buu. Generally speaking, soft, pink light is best avoided in Anime.
57* Performing alchemy causes stuff to glow in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''. This is actually used as a small plot point when Ed realizes that he and Al can't use alchemy to sneak into the fifth laboratory, as the guard would see the glow.
58* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' will sometimes use this trope to display the power upgrade the release of a Shinigami's Zanpakutou or an Arrancar's Resurrection may cause.
59* ''Manga/GetterRobo'' has this for Getter Rays use. Most designs of Getter-1 even include several clear panels on the face and some on the chest and limbs so they can light up when it's time to kick ass.
60* ''Franchise/DragonBall'' may not be the [[UrExample oldest example]], but it might be [[TropeCodifier the definitive one]].
61** Actually inverted in the Android saga of ''Anime/DragonBallZ''. The titular androids - cyborgs more powerful even than Frieza - are shown as extreme threats, despite their lack of any glow at all. In fact, Androids 17 and 18 are for a short time the two strongest beings in the DB universe, the latter totally trouncing the very glowy, newly Super-Saiyan Vegeta.
62*** This is because the glowing BattleAura is a product of [[KiManipulation ki energy]], the source of nearly all DBZ fighters' superhuman powers. All, that is, except the Androids. The fact that their power is so different in nature was part of what made them so dangerous: all of the heroes can sense powerful ki from miles away, but one of the Androids could be standing right behind them and they wouldn't even know it. [[spoiler:Which is exactly what happens to [[ButtMonkey Yamcha]]. The results include a fist-shaped hole from his back to his chest.]]
63** Inverted again in the Buu saga. When Gohan achieved a new level of power beyond the glowy Super-Saiyan or even the glowier and sparky Super-Saiyan 2, his hair remained black and had almost no battle aura to speak of.
64** In ''Anime/DragonballGT'', both Goku and Baby as Great Apes have a golden, glowy aura and fur. Seeing as this is basically Super Saiyan Great Ape, it makes sense.
65* The finale of the third arc of ''Anime/{{Robotech}}'' and during ''WesternAnimation/RobotechTheShadowChronicles'', where Ariel glows whenever she's using creepy Invid powers.
66* ''Manga/OnePiece'':
67** Luffy's Gear Second gives his body a bright pinkish glow. Yeah, it's high-pressure blood in his body but it's still glowing. Partially justified, because the idea of the attack is that he's heating up his leg with friction (without tearing his skin or clothes to shred). The heat then glows, like a toaster coil.
68** Sanji's Diable Jambe (Devil's Leg) makes his foot glow a bright red.
69** It should be noted, one of the most powerful Marines, Admiral Kizaru, literally turns into light.
70* The "Shining Finger!" attack from ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam''.
71** Not to mention all Shuffle Alliance members' [[SuperMode Hyper Modes]], which turn their HumongousMecha into glowing gold incarnations of ass-kicking.
72* ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Gundam 00]]'' has the Gundams glow red and pink when they activate their Trans-Am systems.
73* Both ''[[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Zeta Gundam]]'' and ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Gundam ZZ]]'' had effects from the pilots resonating with their titular Mobile Suits' main device, the Bio-Sensor, making them glow pink and allow them to do kick-ass stuff.
74* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack'', The Nu Gundam's Psycoframe gives off a green glow when Amuro's Newtype powers start to overload it.
75* The same happens in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn'': the full Psycoframe under the RX-0's armour glows whenever its NT-D is activated. Its colour depends on the strength of the Newtype's abilities. The Unicorn and Banshee have their own colors, but once the Newtype's power has awakened, they both turn green.
76* ''Anime/AfterWarGundamX'' 's titular mobile suit and later upgrade both exhibits this when using their Satellite Cannon.
77* ''Anime/GundamBuildFighters'' has the Star Build Strike's RG System, which turns its inner frame and parts of its outer frame a glowing blue color and is basically an amalgamation of the various glowing super modes in the Gundam franchise such as increased performance and enhanced power.
78** Similarly, the Gundam X Maoh and Amazing Exia both retain their original glowing frames when using their special attacks, namely the Satellite Cannon and Trans-AM respectively.
79** Parts of Qubeley Papillion's frame glow whenever the Embody system is utilized.
80* Once every 22 years in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'', the WorldTree in Mahora glows with a brilliant light. This is from the magical energy within accumulating to the point where it overflows. When it's like this, it could grant wishes of the heart, from something as simple as making someone fall in love with you to [[spoiler:[[TheUnmasquedWorld convincing the entire world that magic exists]]]].
81* The ''Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion'' movies introduce this in spades. The most obvious example is what happens to Unit-01 at the end of the second movie: it starts going berserk and gets the usual GlowingEyesOfDoom. But so does its pilot. And the mecha's fluorescent green parts start glowing sickly red. As well as the inside of its maw. [[spoiler: Then it rebuilds its amputated arm as a glowy, proteiform appendage, grows a halo, shoots EyeBeams left and right and loses its armour only to reveal glowing white patches beneath it. By the time the credits flash, it has become a giant glowing figure of pure white.]] Unsurprisingly, its opponent is [[CurbStompBattle unable to resist such a brilliant display]].
82* ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'' is rather fond of this trope. Contractors using their powers glow blue (identified as Cherenkov radiation), and their [[GlowingEyesOfDoom eyes]] start shining [[RedEyesTakeWarning red]]. Even more extreme when [[spoiler:Hei gets a bit upset near an AmplifierArtifact]], which makes the entire ''neighborhood'' glow.
83* In ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', the titular character, as well as his fellow [[SealedInsideAPersonShapedCan jinchuuriki]], are engulfed in a glowing aura of chakra when in their Tailed Beast forms (except Gaara, he gets covered in sand). This [[DemonicPossession takes the form of the jinchuuriki's Tailed Beast]] after the initial stage, at which point it is often time to [[UnstoppableRage run]] [[SuperpoweredEvilSide away.]] Of course, there IS a threshold past which the aura disappears in exchange [[BodyHorror for]] [[OneWingedAngel something far worse]]...
84** This is lampshaded when [[spoiler:Naruto's controlled form of the Nine-Tails' chakra]] is [[MundaneUtility used as a flashlight.]]
85** The Fourth Raikage (A)'s ''Raiton: Yoroi'' (Lightning Armor) covers his body in lightning.
86* In ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'', B Class and higher beings like Toguro, Yusuke, Bui, and Sensui often display bright auras when either manifesting their full power or when using a powerful attack. Especially powerful auras can cause adverse things to the wielder's surroundings: Toguro's can disintegrate anything drastically weaker than him, and the combined power of Sensui's [[spoiler:Sacred Energy]] and Yusuke's [[spoiler: new-found demonic power]] created massive earthquakes and twisters strong enough to kill A-Class beings in an instant.
87* Then there's the ultimate attacks of the titular SuperRobot in ''Anime/GaoGaiGar'': [[YinYangBomb Hell and Heaven]] has one fist glowing red and the other glowing yellow, while using the [[CarryABigStick Goldion Hammer]] results in the entire robot glowing gold. In the OVA ''FINAL'', they introduce [[spoiler: the world's biggest ban hammer that has a head several magnitudes larger than the handle and is made up of nothing but pure, glowing energy]].
88* The [[RuleOfCool Spiral Energy]] of ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann''. While the glowing energy powered by [[HotBlooded Fighting Spirit]] (aka. [[RatedMForManly Pure Manliness]]), is present from the first episode, it reaches new extremes nearly every other episode, until by the end, the main characters are piloting [[spoiler: a HumongousMecha 100 times the size of THE MILKY WAY GALAXY, which is not even actually a machine but a materialization of Spiral Energy. Its energy-based nature is shown by the fact that the torso of the mecha is mostly comprised of a flaming, glowing mass Spiral Energy. ]]
89* ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'': [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual NEXT]] glow blue when they use their powers. Except for the members of Ouroboros, who glow orange [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience because they're totally evil.]]
90* In ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', Madoka, as a MagicalGirl, glows brightly enough you could mistake her for the sun in a few scenes.
91* ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'': During key battles, digimon will sometimes start glowing with holy power.
92* {{Parodied|Trope}} in ''Manga/RisingXRydeen''. When the huge "Golden Lion King" unleashes a roar and starts radiating blinding light from his body, Takara panics, thinking [[BattleAura he's about to use a powerful attack]]... until MissionControl informs him that [[PaperTiger "glowing when he roars" is Golden Lion King's only power]].
93* ''Anime/VariableGeo'': Just as Yuka prepares to unleash her [[spoiler: [[{{shoryuken}} Soryu Gekki]]]], her body becomes enveloped in a pure white glow. Though she succeeds in saving Siritahi, she inadvertently kills [[spoiler: Damian]] with it [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67LaGzsjK5k (seen at 4:28-4:59).]]
94* In ''Manga/CastleTownDandelion'' activating a RoyaltySuperpower will make the user glow.
95* In ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'', Izuku's body glows gold with bright red VolcanicVeins in whatever limb he uses One For All in. While using One For All: Full Cowl, there is still a slight glow to his form and his deep green eyes glow neon green as he leaves TechnicolorLightning in his wake.
96* ''Anime/PrettyCure'':
97** ''Anime/DokiDokiPrecure'': Makoto's hair begins to glow brightly while singing her powerful song to convince Regina to have a HeelFaceTurn.
98** ''Anime/TropicalRougePrettyCure'': When [[spoiler:Laura]] first transforms into [[spoiler:Cure La Mer]], her ring starts to glow, then her shell pact, and then her entire body.
99* ''Manga/SleepyPrincessInTheDemonCastle'' parodies this when Princess Syalis steals the setting's InfinityPlusOneSword from the Demon Castle's armory... so she can [[NotTheIntendedUse use it as a lamp]].
100
101[[/folder]]
102
103[[folder:Comic Books]]
104* A common trope in comics, especially as regards PsychicPowers. One should apparently be able to spot a telepath with ease thanks to the glowing energy field that emanates from their heads and usually flows out from them around the heads of those that they are using their powers on. Telekinesis likewise tends to consist of a colored energy field surrounding the affected objects. This does however depend somewhat on the artistic preference of the creators.
105* This has become more and more common over the years in Creator/MarvelComics, to the point where virtually any use of a superpower will glow, even if the energy involved (magnetic, psionic, etc.) should not be visible to the naked eye. Justified due to RuleOfPerception (i.e. the glow is the visual cue to the reader that something is happening.)
106* ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'': Often Invisible Woman's force fields, which are supposed to be invisible, were drawn with dotted lines or shading so that the reader knew where they were, even while it was presumed that characters could not see them. This invisibility was used dramatically during John Byrne's run, where the identity of the super-villain Malice and her powers were a mystery as she systematically took down the members of the team using completely unseen forces. It is only when Daredevil, who "sees" via a radar sense, shows up and asks about the "amorphous blob" they are fighting that they realize that it is Sue and her invisible force fields, thus saving the team from another ReedRichardsIsUseless incident. More recent depictions, however, sometimes show Sue's power as a crackling energy field, not unlike those of other psionic characters.
107* ''ComicBook/XMen'': In the early years, the powers of characters like ComicBook/{{Magneto}}, ComicBook/JeanGrey and Professor-X were often depicted with wavy lines, implying that they were not visible to others characters. Now they cannot seem to use their powers without unleashing incredible amounts of glow. This has been especially true whenever Jean or her daughter ComicBook/RachelSummers is channeling the Phoenix Force. In that case just performing a simple mindlink will result in actual ''flames'' flowing between them and the other person (often ComicBook/{{Cyclops}} or ComicBook/{{Cable}}).
108* Inverted in some Creator/ValiantComics prior to the takeover by Acclaim. Powerful [[PsychicPowers psionics]] such as Toyo Harada and Peter Stanchek gave off no glow even when performing massive feats of power such as levitating large objects or ripping apart buildings. However, this trope was very much in force with [[PhysicalGod Solar and Mothergod]], whose power to manipulate all forms of energy was usually accompanied by geometric patterns of rainbow light.
109* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'':
110** ''[[ComicBook/Supergirl2011 Post-Flashpoint]]'' ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'s body often glows when she is super-charged with solar energy or is using her solar flare attack.
111** In ''ComicBook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'', her body gave off a golden glow after she took a literal sunbath.
112** ''Comicbook/DemonSpawn'': Villainous sorceress Nightflame's sword glows when she uses her powers, blasts flames or casts spells.
113** ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton2004'': Superman and Supergirl's bodies--or at least their eyes--often glow red when they fight during this story.
114** In ''ComicBook/SupergirlCosmicAdventuresInThe8thGrade'', the chunk of Kryptonite which empowers Streaky gives off a white glow.
115** In ''ComicBook/{{Bizarrogirl}}'', Dr. Kimiyo Hoshi -alias Dr. Light- glows when she creates constructs of solid white light.
116** In ''ComicBook/EscapeFromThePhantomZone'', the Tycho Eidolon machine creates a dimensional rift which gives off a blinding violet glow.
117** ''ComicBook/DeathAndTheFamily'': The seven magical heirlooms of [=McDougal=] Clan give a silver-blue glow when they are close to each other.
118** ''ComicBook/KryptonNoMore'', one-time villain Protector's body glows when he uses his powers and alters his molecules.
119** ''ComicBook/KryptoniteNevermore'':
120*** A kryptonite engine gives off a frightening green glow.
121*** After recovering his powers, Superman's spirit glows.
122** In ''ComicBook/TheGreatPhantomPeril'', Clark Kent's alien figurine stolen by Mr. Porter gives off a bright pink glow, a hint of the powerful dimensional energies stored inside.
123** In ''ComicBook/LastDaughterOfKrypton'', Supergirl's body gives off a golden glow when she heats up and releases stored sunlight. When visiting the ruins of Argo City, she uses her radiance's energy to power up a Kryptonian recording device.
124** In ''ComicBook/TheKillersOfKrypton'', Rogol Zaar's sentient ax gives a sinister, electrical red glow when it awakens.
125** ''ComicBook/Supergirl1984'': The matter-transmuting device Omegahedron gives off a blinding golden glow when someone taps into its power. When Kara is taking it back home, it lights up as a star.
126--->''Faster than the fastest jet, Supergirl streaks into the inky void of space, carrying the power source she searched for, fought for, and won! The Omegahedron glows intensely, as if to light her path back to her city, back to her parents, back to her heritage.''
127* ComicBook/DoctorStrange typically has a glow around his hands when spellcasting.
128* In the ''ComicBook/{{Doom}}'' comic: "[[MightMakesRight Might makes]] light." '''''BLAM!''''' ''CLA-CLACK'' "And I feel mighty!" '''''BLAM!'''''
129* ''ComicBook/IronFist'': the titular character's fist glows when he summons his chi.
130* The constructs of the ''Franchise/{{Green Lantern}}s'' are all made of glow.
131* In ''ComicBook/TheSandmanEndlessNights'', an Oan precursor of the Guardians of the Universe manipulates a primitive form of Green Lantern energy which she calls "the Glow". Her name? Killalla of the Glow.
132* In ''ComicBook/PowerPack'', Katie's (Energizer) power causes her to glow when she absorbs... just about anything; she's also able to shoot energy balls. The brighter the glow, the more power she has stored up.
133* Played for laugh in the French comic ''Dungeon Zenith vol. 2: The Barbarian Princess'': the hero asks its speaking sword whether it has special powers. Yes: it glows in the dark. Enough to make him a target, not enough to be used as a light.
134* In ''ComicBook/AllFallDown'', Siphon exhibits this to a blinding degree [[spoiler:shortly before she dies]].
135* ComicBook/TheSentry is not called 'The Golden Guardian of Good' for nothing.
136* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'':
137** ComicBook/WonderWoman's Lasso of Truth traditionally glows to an extent and when in use glows brighter, to the point that some artists draw it as though it is made of light when she's using it to force someone to confront the truth.
138** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': In ''ComicBook/JudgmentInInfinity'', the Adjudicator is always seen holding a glowing, multifaceted crystal ball which every so often sends "rays of polychromatic light in all directions".
139** ''ComicBook/TheLegendOfWonderWoman2016'' the items empowered by the gods all glow until Zeus strips them of their magical properties. The gods' champions' eyes glow when they're tapping into the power the gods granted them with their contracts.
140** In ''ComicBook/WonderWomanAndTheStarRiders'' the Star Rider gal's Star Jewels all glow, as does the cap of Ice's MagicStaff and [[WingedUnicorn Nightshine]]'s horn.
141* ''ComicBook/YoungAvengers:'' Wiccan's powers ''always'' come with a distinctive light blue glow, whether the spell is offensive, supportive, or completely unintended. The amount of glowing he's doing is usually a good indication of how much you've pissed him off and/or whether or not he's still in control of his powers.
142* ''ComicBook/ZodiacStarforce'': The Starforce girls' weapons glow to the point that they seem to be made of light.
143* ''ComicBook/{{Amulet}}'': All eponymous trinkets seem to glow with a different color.
144* ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'': Very prevalent in ''ComicBook/TheGreatDarknessSaga''. Every mystical relic stolen by the Servants of Darkness gives off some kind of glowing radiance. Darkseid is constantly enshrouded in blazes or tendrils of crackling energy, and his eyes glow white every time he's about to fire his eye beams... or simply when he gets annoyed.
145* ''ComicBook/SuperMetroid'': Samus' repowered suit glows white as she puts it on in the final chapter.
146* ''ComicBook/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast1992'': To help expedite things, Link doesn't need the Book of Mudora to translate the glyphs himself. When Link reaches the Desert of Mystery, the book flies out of his hands and hovers over the Hylian script, casting a swath of light from its pages. This automatically unlocks the Pendant of Power.
147* In ''ComicBook/{{Batgirl}}'' story ''ComicBook/TheAttackOfTheAnnihilator'', the alien rock found by the titular villain gives off an eerie red glow. When he is exposed and mutated by the rock's hidden energies, his body also becomes surrounded by a red aura.
148[[/folder]]
149
150[[folder:Fan Works]]
151* ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon'': Monster X's lightning powers can produce a VolcanicVeins effect merely by either of its two heads ([[TwoBeingsOneBody San or Vivienne]]) feeling strong emotions, and there's how their powers are, well, ''ShockAndAwe'' powers. It also turns out [[spoiler:the "shed skin" version of Ni/Elder Brother that's utilizing the Many]] can produce this effect as part of an intimidation display, similar to Ghidorah and other Titans.
152* The fact that the protagonist of ''Franchise/DragonAge'' fanfiction ''Fanfic/DragonAgeTheCrownOfThorns'' gets his magic [[spoiler:from a fairly unstable tear in the Veil, which he has in his body,]] means, among other things, that he starts glowing white whenever he does something unusual, either just from the eyes or his whole body, up to looking like a [[Series/StargateSG1 Stargate ascended ancient]].
153* In ''Fanfic/KeepersOfTheElements'', magical beings often glow when casting spells. In the case of Keepers, these glows are typically {{colour coded|for your convenience}} according to [[ColorCodedElements the Keeper's Element]].
154* In ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'', this trope is enforced as Harry's powers start to come through, and is later reflected by the various psychics (though usually only when they're warming up to do something big).
155* ''Fanfic/AdviceAndTrust'': When Kaworu makes Rei angry, she taps her power subconsciously, and she starts glowing red.
156* In ''Fanfic/ChildrenOfAnElderGod'', Asuka gives off an orange glow when she uses her pyrokinesis. [[spoiler:Yui]] also glowed white when she used her powers during the FinalBattle.
157* In the final chapters of ''Fanfic/ThousandShinji'', Shinji's body gives off a radiant, electrical blue glow when he uses his PsychicPowers.
158* ''Fanfic/{{Quicken}}'': When Emma kills Cricket, she gets struck by a thunderbolt. Her body gave off a blue electric haze and lightning bolts surrounded her as Cricket’s power, knowledge and memories were transferred to her.
159* Mostly avoided in ''Fanfic/WithStringsAttached'' and ''Fanfic/TheKeysStandAlone'', but played straight when the four come across a white key—a 6-foot staff glowing with power. This turns out to be annoying, because the thing is incredibly noticeable, everyone wants it and will cheerfully kill for it, and George is unable to put it [[BagOfHolding in his closet]]. They end up trying to mask the glow by covering the staff with cloth, but it still glows through the cloth.
160* ''Fanfic/AnimaExMachina'': Most Ixodida gain an aura of one color or another when using one of their elemental powers.
161* In ''Fanfic/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesOutOfTheShadows'', Hisako's Psychic Powers are often manifested as a sort-of green energy, and when she's truly angry, her eyes glow bright green. When April's powers unlock, her glow is yellow.
162* In ''Fanfic/HellsisterTrilogy'', ComicBook/{{Darkseid}}'s whole body glows black when he uses his Omega power on ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}.
163* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' fanfiction ''Fanfic/TheLegacyOfHyrule'' has Azurewrath, though its glow disappeared when in contact with Lieutenant Aleph's arm.
164* ''Fanfic/PokemonMaster'': All pokemon masters gain differently-colored auras when they use their powers, even Shadow Master Ash.
165* In ''Fanfic/TheDresdenFillies'', Harry's aura as a unicorn is red-orange. Makes sense considering how much he likes fire.
166* In ''Fanfic/AmazingFantasy'', the Prowler's [[GravityMaster anti-gravity Quirk]] makes whatever it's used on glow purple. Her WolverineClaws gloves also glow green when activated.
167* ''Fanfic/GuysBeingDudes'': After Spark does something that [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane might be]] activating ShockAndAwe powers to save Arlo, his hair glows.
168[[/folder]]
169
170[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
171* ''WesternAnimation/BarbiePrincessCharmSchool'': Gardania's magical crown will glow when it is placed on the head of its rightful owner. It glows when placed on Blair's head because she's the lost princess Sophia and the only survivor of the royal family; if it were placed on Delancy's head, it would've not glowed, because Delancy is not the true heir to the throne due to the fact Princess Sophia is still around.
172* ''WesternAnimation/{{Coco}}'':
173** While the skeletons are visiting the living world, they are glowing and semitransparent.
174** When Imelda is preparing her blessing to send Miguel home, the marigold petal in her hand glows brightly, with the glow becoming brighter when conditions are added. Ernesto's does not however, either because he isn't related to Miguel in the first place or because he didn't finish saying the word "blessing" before being interrupted.
175** Skeletons flash red and yellow and feel pain when they're in danger of being forgotten.
176* This happens to Cartman in ''WesternAnimation/SouthParkBiggerLongerAndUncut'' once he harnesses the power of his malfunctioning V-chip.
177* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}'', Rapunzel's golden hair glows whenever she uses its powers of healing and immortality. She manages to take advantage of this when she and Flynn get trapped in a flooding cave and need to find a way out.
178-->''Flower, gleam and glow\
179Let your power shine.''
180* In ''WesternAnimation/WallE'', not only does EVE glow very faintly (the better to invoke a GaussianGirl), her presence and touch cause electrical lights to glow as well.
181* The Gods (save for Hades) in ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'' glow. Hercules did glow as a baby but lost that when he was turned mortal, he regains his godly glow at the end.
182* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', the chalk circle used in the red moon ritual glows when it is powered up.
183* ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie'': The Super Star glows like a lantern when Bowser approaches it. The star's light is bright enough to completely engulf him in light moments later. Later in the film, [[spoiler:Mario and Luigi prove its power by using it to obliterate Bowser's entire army, and Bowser himself]].
184[[/folder]]
185
186[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
187* ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'':
188** [[Characters/GodzillaTheGodzillas Godzilla]]'s dorsal fins flash or glow (depending on the film) when he's preparing to unleash his [[BreathWeapon atomic ray]]. In the rare event where he goes Burning Godzilla, his body is covered in a bright, orange-red molten glow.
189** Mothra when using her God Rays.
190** Some incarnations of [[Characters/GodzillaTheGhidorahs King Ghidorah]] have this. The Heisei and Showa incarnations have light-up ''horns'' in ''Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee'' and ''Godzilla: Save the Earth''. With the [[Characters/MonsterVerseKingGhidorah MonsterVerse incarnation]], his three necks glow with light while charging up their [[BreathWeapon Gravity Beams]] (think [[Film/TheHobbitTheDesolationOfSmaug Smaug]] but with lightning instead of fire), and it fits with how Godzilla and Mothra also light up in various ways when charging their built-in energy weapons.
191** There's also [[Characters/MonsterVerseKaiju Mokele-Mbembe]] in the {{novelization}} of ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019'', whose horn pulses with a very faint green light.
192* ''Film/TheHobbit'': [[Characters/MiddleEarthFilmSmaug Smaug]]. In addition to the GlowingEyesOfDoom, he has VolcanicVeins in his chest whenever he's charging up his [[BreathWeapon Fire Breath]].
193* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing'': When [[Characters/MiddleEarthFilmElves Galadriel]] enters her wraith-like form, she emits a powerful white glow.
194* The lightsabers in ''Franchise/StarWars'' are the logical conclusion of this phenomenon. No other weapon can beat a sword that's actually ''made'' out of glow!
195* ''Film/BuddhasPalm'': Martial artists imbued with the titular skill will have their chi emanating from their bodies, in the form of a powerful red aura enveloping them.
196* In the 1985 film ''Film/TheLastDragon'', there is The Glow: when a fighter's hands glow, he is among the best in the world - when his entire body glows, he IS the best. Sho'Nuff, the Shogun of Harlem, demonstrates the former towards the end of the movie, but Leroy "Bruce Leroy" Green demonstrates the latter after a beatdown.
197* ''Film/FiveFingersOfDeath'' has an example that doesn't involve weapons. Whenever the protagonist, Hao, uses the titular DangerousForbiddenTechnique, his palms glow visibly with an intense red aura; in this state his kung fu skills are multipled, at one point chopping a katana in half with his bare hands!
198* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:''
199** Tony Stark's arc reactor in the ''Film/IronMan'' movies glows ''very'' blue. Very vaguely justified in that it is producing electrical energy, and that whatever reaction happens in it might give off Cherenkov radiation. As for the repulsors... the workings of a palm-sized rocket/energy weapon are anyone's guess.
200** The [[MacGuffin Tesseract]] from ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger''. At the start of the film, Johann Schmidt comes across the artifact buried in the tomb of a Norwegian warrior, but we know it's fake because it ''doesn't'' glow. The ''real'' one, on the other hand, is like a small star. The glow extends to Arnim Zola's Tesseract-powered weapons as well, all of which carry luminous blue power packs.
201* In ''Film/PulpFiction'', the contents of the [[MacGuffin briefcase]] is never shown, but whatever it is [[PowerGlows glows]].
202* ''Franchise/IndianaJones'':
203** Played straight in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'' with the stones of power that glow when they are together. (And get very hot, by the way)
204** Inverted in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'', where the actual Holy Grail is the most mundane-looking wooden cup yet the gold-colored lining of the True Grail makes it appear to glow from the inside.
205* The reagent in ''Film/ReAnimator'' is not only a fine example of TechnicolorScience, but also glows.
206* In the film of ''Film/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone'', a glow surrounds Harry when his wand chooses him. (A slightly different thing happened in the book.)
207* In ''Film/{{Stardust}}'', [[spoiler: Yvanne defeats Lamia when she glows blinding whilst hugging Tristan]]
208* In ''Film/{{Contact}}'', the Machine glows when it's turned on to demonstrate that Crazy Alien Technology Stuff Is Happening. The glow increases as the machine picks up speed.
209* In ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'', everything Gambit charges glows pink.
210* ''Film/GodToldMeTo'': [[spoiler:Powerful HalfHumanHybrid Phillips glows so brightly that Pete has trouble looking at him. His alien parent is shown only as a bright light that blinds the women it impregnates.]]
211[[/folder]]
212
213[[folder:Literature]]
214* In ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfThomasCovenant'' magical glowing, ColorCodedElements.
215* Creator/JRRTolkien's ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': orc-hating elvish swords and the entire tower of Minas Morgul. Though in the case of the elvish swords, the glow seems to have been a deliberate design feature (it indicates the presence of orcs) rather than a side effect of the magic.
216** Gandalf invokes this trope when he adds lighting to [[HandWave explain]] the disappearance of Bilbo in his Birthday party. After Gandalf's [[spoiler:resurrection]], his increased power makes him emit illusory sunlight.
217* Mocked in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' when Stannis gets Lightbringer, a literal glowing sword, but despises it because it doesn't do anything else better than most swords.
218** It is speculated that this is because it isn't the true Lightbringer, which would probably glow, but would actually be hot as well. So PowerGlows, but so does a cheap glamour. Although it's worth noting that so far none of the actually superior swords have glowed.
219** Played straight with Melisandre's ruby. Whenever she causes weird magical stuff to happen, her ruby choker is said to glow intensely. [[FridgeBrilliance Probably because she's the priestess of a fire god.]]
220* Literature/TheBrightestShadow: Subverted, as visible power is generally a sign of wasted energy.
221* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' Harry more than once makes his staff/blasting rod glow, usually when he is about to smash something into the water table.
222** Also his much-abused amulet, which glows whenever he uses it as a light/silver bullet against superpowered werewolves.
223** Then we have the Swords of the Cross, all of which glow with varying intensities depending on the wielder and situation. For instance Amoracchius once shines so brightly that it chargrills much light-hating hobs from 20 feet away. Similarly, when Murphy [[spoiler: draws Fidelacchius]] it glows brightly enough to scare off Deirdre.
224** Any time Harry uses Soulfire or Hellfire.
225** When Harry [[spoiler:starts training Molly to use her magic she]] had a tendency to glow when excited. This was fixed after the first few weeks of training
226* Subverted several times in the Literature/{{Discworld}} series. Because of the world's narrative causality, mundane items wielded with true conviction are often stronger than fancy magic weapons.
227** Justified in the case of Death's scythe and sword, since these are so sharp, they cut up the air molecules that happen to bump against them. This, of course, causes lightning-like ionization.
228* In Creator/JamesSwallow's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} novel ''[[Literature/BloodAngels Deus Encarmine]]'', the Spear of Telesto. And Isskvan the Hated glows with anger.
229** And then the tomb of Sanguinius in ''Red Fury''.
230* In Literature/TheCosmere, "Live Investiture" that is being unused tends to glow a bright white, to wit:
231** All magic produces bright glows in ''Literature/{{Elantris}}'', because it is the sign of the power of the Dor breaking in to the physical world. The most powerful practitioners of magic, the [[PhysicalGod Elantrians]] actually glow non-stop, but other magic-users produce light with their powers as well.
232** Interestingly the glowing caused extra problems when the [[TheMagicGoesAway magic went away]] because [[spoiler: the glow attracted a fungus which fed on and enhanced the light. When the magic failed and the glow disappeared the fungus died and rotted, coating all of the surfaces of Elantris in slime.]] This slime is partially responsible for why the city looks so much more decrepit than it should be.
233** Stormlight, the primary magic power of ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'', glows, as one might expect from the name. A slight subversion in that most people use the glow more than the power itself, though it can be used to run {{Magitek}}. Also, [[spoiler: living Shardblades have slightly glowing TronLines on them in the colour associated with the Radiant's order.]]
234** In ''Literature/TheBandsOfMourning'', any user of the titular bands starts glowing and shedding mist when active.
235* In Creator/RobertEHoward's Literature/ConanTheBarbarian story "Literature/BeyondTheBlackRiver", the forest demon glows.
236* Katherine Kurtz's Literature/{{Deryni}} can produce spheres of cool light (called Hand Fire), and they can manifest glowing auras around their bodies. Ritual circles (and dueling circles) appear as glowing light. Colours tend to be hereditary (Haldane red, Corwyn green), and certain colours (green, silver, gold) are associated with Healing ability.
237* Deconstructed and PlayedForDrama in Jessica Amanda Salmonson's ''The Golden Naginata'': Unless it has been [[AppliedPhlebotinum used]] to [[UnholyHolySword wound]] the ''[[{{Unicorn}} kirin]]'' who guards it within the past month, the titular weapon's glow is so bright that it blinds anyone who sees it.
238* More powerful Wizards like Septimus and Marcia in ''Literature/SeptimusHeap'' get enveloped in a purple aura when they are spellcasting.
239* Invoked in ''Literature/DreamPark'', as holographic auras of appropriate intensity are overlaid on Gamers' bodies when they activate their characters' magic.
240* ''Literature/WildCards'' has the [[SuperStrength Golden]] [[NighInvulnerable Boy]] Jack Braun, whose body is surrounded by a golden aura whenever he uses his abilities or is under attack. Surprisingly, the field activates whenever there is a threat to Jack, even if he doesn't know about it, or in mundane situations like if his razor were to slip while shaving.
241* In ''Literature/TheTrialsOfApollo'', this is revealed to be an ability Will Solace has as a son of Apollo. To the point where [[FrogMen the Troglodytes]] make him [[LampshadeWearing wear a lampshade as a hat]].
242* Many of the spells in {{Literature/Harry Potter}} take the form of beams of light, and many more glow.
243* Played straight in ''Literature/TheElenium'' and its sequel ''Literature/TheTamuli''. Several spells that the Knights and Sephrenia use create a light, but none are on par with Xanetia, whose ''entire body'' glows when she unleashes her power. Toyed on the spiritual level, as Xanetia's power comes from a curse that renders her dark and undetectable, while the magic the others are blessed with shines and rings out for others to notice.
244* Nicolae Carpathia in the Literature/LeftBehind book ''Armageddon'' gives off a burnt-orange glow while he and most of his Global Community cabinet are stuck in New Babylon during the Fifth Bowl Judgment that causes complete darkness throughout the whole city.
245** Jesus Himself, as He is "the Light of the world".
246* ''Literature/TheMagicCottage'':
247** In a room designed to harness cosmic energy, doing so gives [[{{Cult}} Synergist]] leader Eldritch P. Mycroft an uncanny lucidity, and then a "spectrum aura," which grows to fill the room.
248** [[spoiler: Protagonist Mike]]'s eventually attuning to the "ethereal vitality" channelled by the titular cottage gives every object in the room a "blue-violet sheen."
249* The seraph blades, the angels and Magnus' hands all glow in ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments''.
250* The [[GreenRocks starstuff]] in the ''Literature/PeterAndTheStarcatchers'' series is practically nothing ''but'' glow.
251* In ''Literature/TheGirlFromTheMiraclesDistrict'', the runes Nikita's using to keep her berserk in check glow when they're engaged.
252* In ''Literature/PrincessesOfThePizzaParlor'', the carvings on Selvi's dragonbone talisman glow when its effects are engaged.
253* In ''Literature/WarlocksOfTheSigil'', warlocks are all given special tattoos that glow in this way.
254* One of the "species" of "unnaturals" in ''Literature/MarketOfMonsters'' is aurs -- people whose only power is glowing in the dark. Far from being targets of unnatural traffickers like other species, they're relatively popular and unfeared, with one even being a pop star who incorporates her ability into her shows.
255* In ''Literature/TheThebaid'', Amphiaraus's helmet shines like the sun just as Phoebus gifts him with divine power. Its a good sign of the gods' gift and it also helps blind the enemies Amphiaraus is trying to slaughter.
256* In Creator/NnediOkorafor's ''Literature/RemoteControl'', an alien artifact grants Sankofa the power to project an aura that kills or outright incinerates every living being near her, which makes her skin glow deep green while it's active.
257* In ''Literature/TheBrotherhoodOfTheConch'', most people see the conch as an ordinary shell, but Anand sees it as breathtakingly beautiful and as glowing white.
258* ''Literature/TheHandsOfTheEmperor'': Whenever the emperor does magic, his eyes glow golden, and sometimes he is also accompanied by a golden glow. The eyes of other wizards, such as the Mother of the Mountain, may glow in different colors, e.g. silver. Also, in the days of the empire, all the magic of the lands connected to the emperor and made him or her quite literally blinding to look at.
259* ''Literature/Tempest2011'': Merpeople and selkies have natural tattoos on their backs and shoulders that give off a phosphorescent glow deep underwater, but also sometimes glow when a person uses magic.
260[[/folder]]
261
262[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
263* In tokusatsu, a basic rule is "if you make your [[Franchise/SuperSentai sword]] or [[Franchise/KamenRider foot]] glow, it will gain the power to explode rubber monsters."
264** ''Series/KamenRider555'' had an interesting spin on it: the five Riders' costumes are covered with "veins" through which pumps a glowing substance that powers them. In nighttime scenes, the "veins" and visors glow, and use of a FinishingMove causes a bead of energy to run from the belt (the main power source) to the Rider's foot or sword or whatever they're going to use. The same series started a trend of a Rider's eyes glowing for a bit after they're done transforming, in order to signify that the process is done.
265----
266* In ''Series/BabylonFive'', when Delenn and the White Stars take on the Drakh, the Drakh weapons systems glow brighter and brighter to build up the tension as they prepare to fire.
267* When a magical ChekhovsGun is found in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' the following conversation is held:
268--> '''Giles:''' It appears to be paranormal in origin.\
269'''Willow:''' How can you tell?\
270'''Giles:''' Well, it's so shiny.
271* When someone glows on ''Series/DoctorWho'', something badass is about to happen. Cases in point, the [[Recap/DoctorWhoS27E13ThePartingOfTheWays Bad Wolf]] and [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E13LastOfTheTimeLords psychic supercharged Doctor]].
272* In ''Series/MadanSenkiRyukendo'', the Ultimate form of the title hero is ridiculously shiny, and his final attack even moreso.
273* In ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', the usage of some meteor powers cause glowing, but [[spoiler:Chloe's [[EmpathicHealer healing powers]]]] is most notable. "Fracture" shows that [[LightIsGood pure white light]] is literally shone on everything in the mind world of whoever she is healing, while most meteor powers glow [[GreenRocks green]].
274* ''Series/StargateSG1'':
275** The glowiness of a power source is directly proportional to how powerful it is. The most powerful, Project Arcturus, creates a giant glowy ball of pure energy.
276** Lampshaded in a later episode where determining whether a super powerful artifact is safe to handle amounts to "Well, it's not glowing anymore, so..."
277* In ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', the Warp Core of the ''Enterprise'' has a band of glow running down it. The faster the Warpspeed, the faster-moving the glow. ''Franchise/StarTrek'' does this a lot to show that things have power behind them.
278* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}''
279** The [[Characters/SupernaturalDjinn djinn's]] hands or eyes glow blue when they use their powers.
280** [[Characters/SupernaturalAngels Angels']] eyes often glow blue when they use their powers, and their smite is bright white. If an angel is injured, sometimes we get a glimpse of their Grace, which is also bright white.
281** [[OurSoulsAreDifferent Human souls]] glow pure white, and are used as a source of energy by angels and demons alike. One episode also involved a human using his soul to power a spell, surprising Sam and Dean, and another involved a pagan deity draining human souls to fuel his [[spoiler: time-traveling powers.]]
282* In the pilot for ''Series/TerminatorTheSarahConnorChronicles'', the crude EnergyWeapon Cameron assembles in the safe of the bank only has enough power to kill Cromartie when the "isotope" powering it begins to glow.
283* The ''Series/WonderWoman1975'' TV series: There is always one of those just when [[SecretIdentity Diana Prince]] [[SpectacularSpinning spins]] [[ChangingClothesIsAFreeAction to change clothes into]] Franchise/WonderWoman. (Notice that there wasn't any AudibleGleam nor PowerGlows in "The Feminum Mystique Part 1", the only episode in the series where Wonder Woman changes back into Diana Prince.
284* PlayedForLaughs in ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'', in the episode where Will gives up his [[TheCasanova skirt-chasing]] ways to enter a relationship with Lisa. To demonstrate that he's a one-woman man now, he gives his "Chicktionary" (the little black book with girls' phone numbers) to Carlton; as soon as the book drops into his hands it starts glowing, then the glow slowly spreads to Carlton's entire body.
285-->'''Carlton:''' I can feel it...[[LargeHam I can feel the power!]] [[BigYes Yes! YES!!]]
286[[/folder]]
287
288[[folder:Magazine]]
289* ''{{Magazine/Analog}}'': The [[Recap/Analog1942 June 1942]] cover has two characters glowing with a blue aura, and a reddish-yellow aura around glass.
290[[/folder]]
291
292[[folder:Music Videos]]
293* Music/{{Radiohead}}'s "There There" video has Thom Yorke obtain a pair of SprintShoes, which glow as brightly as gold when their powers of either attraction or SuperSpeed kick in.
294[[/folder]]
295
296[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
297* After returning from Mt. Sinai after his first meeting with God, Moses was said to be glowing with beams of light emiting from his head. A mistranslation from Greek to Latin caused Donatello to sculpt him with horns.
298* In Myth/CelticMythology, [[TheHero Cú]] [[PrettyBoy Chulainn's]] [[SuperpoweredEvilSide ríastrad]] (lit. "[[TransformationHorror Distortion]]" or "[[PainfulTransformation Torque]]"; more popularly translated as "[[BuffySpeak Warp Spasm]]") is BodyHorror incarnate, complete with [[EyeScream one eye popping out of its socket]] and [[MadEye the other shrinking to the size of a needle eye]], [[GrowingMusclesSequence his muscles swelling like bladders]] until he looks more like a [[TheOldGods Fomorian]] [[OurGiantsAreBigger giant]] than [[HumanoidAbomination a man]], [[RubberMan horrific body contortions]], [[EvilIsVisceral his organs being partially vomited up]], fire and blood spurting everywhere, [[NightmareFace his face ripping open]] into a GlasgowGrin with MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily, and AnimeHair ([[URExample seriously!]]). However, the real clincher was his "[[LightIsNotGood hero light]]"--which refers to both the [[BattleAura nuclear-hot fire that engulfs his body]] and a [[HornsOfVillainy fist-sized horn]] made of HardLight that jutted from his forehead, signaling that he was about to [[UnstoppableRage go on a rampage]].
299[[/folder]]
300
301[[folder:Pinball]]
302* During the buildup to the [[WizardMode "Final Adventure"]] in ''Pinball/IndianaJonesStern'', TheArkOfTheCovenant starts to glow red.
303* In ''Pinball/DungeonsAndDragons1987,'' the Wizard's hands and the party's weapons are shown glowing with power.
304* The mercurial sphere in ''Pinball/SilverballMania'' glows as newly-formed people rise from its surface.
305* The cryogenic machine of ''Pinball/{{Centigrade 37}}'' is covered with glowing auras of energy.
306* The golem in ''Pinball/MagicGirl'' has glowing green power marks on its body.
307[[/folder]]
308
309[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
310* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':
311** In third edition, magic weapons have a 30% chance of glowing with light equivalent to that of a torch.
312** In fourth edition, if you don't want to have a bunch of (potentially handy) secondary effects, you can get a Fire, Ice, Poison, etc. enchantment. Activating the enchantment [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin changes your next attack into the specific element type]], nothing more. Except the Sunblade enchantment, which gives radiant damage and illuminates a large area around the sword itself. Great for slaying undead and certain types of abominations; NOT so great for doing so stealthily. Oddly enough, there's only a total of about five or six weapon enchantments that will ''mechanically'' give off light, although flavor text varies wildly.
313** White slaadi, the second most powerful variety of their kind, are marked by a soft white glow that emanates from every part of their bodies.
314* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' puts this principle to good use: the more Essence you draw into your Charms over a scene (i.e. the more powerful you make your superpowered attacks), the more glow, or Anima (in the parlance of the game), you produce. It begins with your Caste mark faintly appearing on your forehead, progresses into a glowing field or effect which physically envelopes you in various ways[[note]](brilliant golden glows for Solars, sickly green lights for Infernals, silver tattoos lighting up across Lunars' skin, elemental environmental effects for Dragon-Blooded, spiritual auras and halos for Sidereals, bleeding necrotic Essence for Abyssals, and industrial or technoscientific effects such as electric discharges and arcs, billowing steam, and even chemical or molten metal secretions from Alchemicals' skins)[[/note]], and culminates in your [[BattleAura Anima Banner]] unfurling in some spectacular fashion. Once those Charms get about 16+ Essence pumped through them during a fight, a couple of battling Exalted can be seen unmistakably for miles around, and can even approximate daylight visibility conditions during the night.
315** Which might seem like a horrible disadvantage to the cause of stealth, except that an Exalted with 16+ Essence running through their Charms is more or less a PersonOfMassDestruction at any rate, and not to be fucked with.
316* TabletopGame/{{Pokemon}}: Holographic cards are generally considered to be powerful, or at least rarer than their non-holographic counterparts.
317* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000''
318** Necron technology has a SicklyGreenGlow and accounts for some of the most powerful weapons in the universe. Even their basic foot soldiers have guns that can destroy tanks and punch through heavy armor.
319** The God-Emperor of Mankind has bright golden plate armor, a flowing mane of hair, and a FlamingSword. Oh, and he's the most powerful psychic the galaxy has to offer. His entire body visibly glows from his immense power.
320** The Thousand Sons Chaos Space Marines have all been sealed inside their armor and now exist as magical golem style soldiers. Any gaps that appear in the armor (typically from incoming fire that damages the armor) reveals that the interior of their suits now glow. [[http://static.flickr.com/92/240958422_fa4140eb11.jpg Some people have even brought this to the table]].
321** The ancient [[MachineWorship Adeptus Mechanicus]] power axe [[NamedWeapon Petre Cog-Tooth]][[note]]introduced during 8th Edition of the game[[/note]], is said to be the [[SuperPrototype first and most powerful Omnissian power axes ever created]] and its blade glows with an aura of power. Some less devout minds claim this glow could actually be due to extreme radiation saturation.
322* In the 3[[superscript:rd]]-party ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' sourcebook ''TabletopGame/SpheresOfPower'', this is a possible manifestation of the Magical Signs drawback.
323[[/folder]]
324
325[[folder:Theatre]]
326* In ''Theatre/{{Parsifal}}'', the unveiled Grail glows with a brilliant light. (This was one of the earliest applications of electric lighting in theatrical history.)
327[[/folder]]
328
329[[folder:Video Games]]
330* In ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath'', all deities glow with power, and their glowing is ColorCodedForYourConvenience.
331* Inklings and Octolings in ''Franchise/{{Splatoon}}'' have a unique effect to show that their [[LimitBreak special weapon]] is fully charged. The tentacles on their head glow brightly and give off sparks while being coated in ink bubbles, making them appear to be "boiling" with power.
332* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'':
333** From ''Brawl'' onwards, characters will obtain a [[BattleAura glowing aura]], along with [[GlowingEyesOfDoom yellow eyes]] when they break a Smash Ball, an item that gives them the ability to perform a powerful [[LimitBreak Final Smash]].
334** Lucario has a constant blue glow around his hands, representing his Aura powers. And he glows more as he takes damage, [[CriticalStatusBuff representing increased power]].
335** Shulk, after activating one of his [[StanceSystem Monado Arts]], has a part of him glow [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience with the art's respective color]]. For example, "Jump" makes his feet glow green, "Shield" makes his body glow yellow, and "Smash" makes his hands and the Monado glow red.
336* In ''VideoGame/UltimaVI'' and ''[[VideoGame/UltimaVII VII]]'', every single magical item glows brightly, using palette cycling. This is spoofed in various fanfics.
337* In ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'' magical weapons are also good light sources.
338** In [[VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2 the sequel]], magic weapons have various glows depending on the enchantment. ''Holy'' glows, ''fire'' is flame-wreathed, and ''thundering'' has little puffs of ... ''something''.
339** Ammon Jerro's PowerTattoo glows.
340** In ''Storm of Zehir'', +1, +2 and so forth weapons glow in a way that looks like the devs [[WildMassGuessing wanted to simulate light glinting off a shiny surface]], but [[SpecialEffectsFailure couldn't make the graphics engine do the job]].
341* The player of ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' gets a glowing nano-sword. It is otherwise perfect for sneaky silent kills, but the bright glow tends to draw attention.
342* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'':
343** Enchanters can put a glow on any weapon. Typically, the more powerful enchants glow brighter, and the type of enchantment determines the color of the glow.
344** ''Burning Crusade'' expansion basically had "glowing stuff is awesome" as a secondary theme. Glowing locations? A lot, often [[PlaceOfPower places of power]] of various sorts. Gear glowing even when not enchanted? Starting with just high-level quests, constant in heroics and raids. Two new races? Glowing eyes for both! Blizzard one-upped themselves by enabling enchanters to apply a glow to weapons that's actually a complex graphical animation rather than a simple glow. The Mongoose enchant causes your entire weapon to crackle with lighting, while the Savagery enchant makes your weapon drip blood.
345** Further expansions continued the trends of glowing gear in raids, glowing eyes for every race with the new Death Knight class and elaborate pattern enchantments thorough. Notable stand-outs include Shaman set pauldrons that summon ghostly mammoth heads, Rogue pauldrons that lash out with scythes of bloody shadows, Warlock helmet that makes the user sprout demonic wings and the Power Torrent enchant, which shifts through the colors of the rainbow periodically ''and'' was the best-in-slot enchant for all raiding casters through the ''Cataclysm''.
346* In ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'', Once a character reaches maximum tension, that character will glow until they attack or use magic that has a quantifiable effect, be it damage, healing or a stat buff. They'll also stop glowing if a boss nullifies their tension with a [[StatusBuffDispel wave of ice]].
347* In ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'', any place with a constant glow to it (such as the Mako Reactors in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' and Bahamut's hideout in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'') is very important place with lots of either magical or technological power hidden from mortals. Party members tend to glow when using special abilities, and {{Limit Break}}s always glow brightly.
348** An interesting example is in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', where Kefka is surrounded by a pyramid of magic before the final fight. In addition to showing his immense magical powers, it reflects his emotions: when he's taunting the party and laughing, it's blue, then turns purple as he laments the futility of life, green when the party members declare he's wrong, then red when he gets angry. Emotion Glows too.
349* ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'', pretty much every character gets an aura of some sort when they enter EX Mode.
350* ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'' (And [[VideoGame/CityOfVillains Villains]]) doesn't shy from this, either. By hitting Level 30, characters gain the ability to attach an Aura of his choice to every costume. Most of these simply Glow (although some get creative and ''crumble'' instead), and none of them does anything other than ''being awesome''.
351** Even without the lvl 30 auras, most melee characters have a set of glowy auras from a variety of defensive powers (and even being able to run fast causes your feet to glow)
352* In ''VideoGame/{{Fable}}'', your tattoos and hands glow with high enough magic levels.
353* The ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'':
354** In ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'', when characters go into [[SuperMode Over Limit]], they get a black aura around them.
355** Likewise in ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'', characters gain an aura when entering Over Limit.
356* The ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork'' series:
357** In ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork1'' game, Mega Man glows when [[spoiler:his program is being rewritten after Hub.bat is installed.]]
358** The ''Anime/MegaManNTWarrior'' anime also does this with [[WaveMotionGun Program Advances]]. Especially the first few times they're used.
359** Later games in the series, such as ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork4RedSunAndBlueMoon'', implement [[{{Synchronization}} Full Synchro]] as an effect you can get in battle if you're skilled. It's depicted by Rock glowing (his color becomes light) and a pink halo spinning about his body. Very powerful [=NPCs=] and enemies in cutscenes also flash with light, notably Gospel in ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork2'', Proto (Alpha) in the ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork3WhiteAndBlue'' and the Cyber Beasts in ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork6CybeastGregarAndCybeastFalzar''.
360** Every version of Mega Man who can charge up usually glows while doing so. ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' was the first to glow different colors depending on how much he's charged. With the double-shot and Zero's Z-Saber in ''X3'', he glows blue, yellow, pink, and finally green to indicate he can fire two fully-charged shots and the Z-Saber. Zero glows these same colors when he charges up his Z-Buster, but ''X3'' is the last game where Zero can use his Buster the same way, and X one-ups him for once by launching an energy wave when he swings the Z-Saber, assuming he has the double-shot.
361* Early ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'' games had Mega Man get PowerGlows when charging the Mega Buster. Because of the way NES graphics worked, the powerups scattered around levels would exhibit the same pattern in time with his. Later games added SuckingInLines.
362** [[VideoGame/MegaManZero Omega Zero]] has a white aura around him, so you know he's not to be taken lightly.
363** This was carried over from Virus Infected Zero in ''X5'', who was surrounded by a ominous purple aura.
364* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
365** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'' Downplays it. Enchanted items have a magical luminous sheen, but it's not bright enough to provide useful illumination.
366** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'' also Downplays it, though in a different fashion. Enchanted items having a more subtle glow.
367** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'':
368*** ''Skyrim'' mixes the Downplayed versions from the previous installments in the series, where enchanted weapons have faintly glowing swirls and whorls like ''Morrowind'' while armor and jewelry uses the ''Oblivion'' glowy outline.
369*** The ''Dragonborn'' expansion introduces the [[SuperMode Dragon Aspect]] Shout, which surrounds the user with a set of glowing, draconic armor, playing the trope straight.
370* Entering Ripper Mode in ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'' causes Raiden to glow blood-red.
371* The old Magic Knight game ''Spellbound'' for the ZX Spectrum featured the spell Armouris Photonicus, which if cast in the right place would make your armour glow sufficiently to traverse two darkened rooms safely, making this OlderThanTheNes.
372* ''VideoGame/{{Zork}}'': "Your sword is blowing glue! Wait, let me try that again."
373* ''VideoGame/DragonBallZBudokaiTenkaichi 2'': low-ranking characters might glow faintly when summoning ki; high-ranking characters glow with intense brightness at all times, and even the simplest moves look like a fireworks display crashing into a laser light show.
374* Any ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' character with a [[SuperMode super form]] when in said form.
375* ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI''. And ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' is even worse. Everything sparkles, lights, shines, flares, and so on... MY EYES!!
376* ''VideoGame/CustomRobo'': Soulboost causes this, although the best the graphics engine could do with it is turn the robo's model gold.
377* ''Franchise/MassEffect'''s biotics have glowing energy about them when they use their [[MindOverMatter biotic powers]], especially when using a powerful biotic move. Samara is a really good example, especially when she fights [[spoiler:her daughter Morinth]] to the death.
378** [[MinovskyParticle Element Zero]], though rarely seen directly, apparently has quite an energetic glow about it. This makes [[FridgeBrilliance perfect sense]] when you consider that it actually constitutes [[GeniusBonus exotic matter]] under certain conditions.
379* The Soar Star in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' gives Mario a white glow around his hands, along with a pair of red trails as he flies along.
380* ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'': Marle can ''heal'' people with her glow.
381* In Richard Bartle's original MUD, swords ''inherently'' glow. If you use your wizardly powers to create a wooden sword that falls apart after one hit, it'll still glow purely by virtue of being a sword.
382* The eponymous race of ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles'' are said to [[spoiler:and do]] glow with an otherworldly blue flame, as well as RedEyesTakeWarning, when using their powers.
383* Many {{MMORPG}}s have weapons that glow when they're enhanced. So what does a newbie typically ask of the wielder of such a weapon?
384** "What kind of weapon is that?" Nope.
385** "Where did you get that?" Not even close.
386** "How do you make your weapon glow?" Bingo!
387** In ''VideoGame/FlyFF'', every piece of equipment could be upgraded... and L10 Enhancements created awesome blue glows. If you had Level 120 Equipment with L10 Enhancements in every slot, [[PowerGivesYouWings you got glowing blue wings]] as well as a pulsing blue BattleAura. That said, you had to be very rich to obtain that gear.
388** Inverted in ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline''. The common, weak weapons are all photon based, as opposed to some rare, high-end weapons, which are non-glowing real guns and swords. Presumably, photon-based weapons are cheaper to make than a properly tempered steel katana or a finely machined kinetic firearm.
389* ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'':
390** Ragna, Hakumen and Bang glow when their {{Super Mode}}s are active. For the first two, having the SuperMode permanently switched on is part of their [[SNKBoss Unlimited]] package.
391** Rachel is surrounded by an ominous purple glow when in her [[SNKBoss Unlimited]] mode.
392* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'':
393** ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'': The Charge Beam, Speed Booster, Screw Attack, and Hyper Beam all make Samus glow to varying degrees and are easily some of her most powerful abilities. Especially the Hyper Beam, where Samus starts glowing for several seconds after acquiring it to let you know that shit just got real.
394** In ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'', anything even vaguely related to phazon is always glowing. In the rest of the series, all powerups glow.
395* In ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'', critical projectiles glow your team's color, as do weapons when under an effect that will give them crits. In addition, an Ubercharge makes you glow your team's color while giving you invincibility for ten seconds.
396** While not exactly a glow, the "unusual" hats give off a special aura when worn.
397* In the ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' series there is a type of ghoul called Glowing Ones. As their name suggests, they are brightly [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin glowing ghouls]]. They are a stronger type of the regular ghoul with special powers directly related to their heavy irradiation, including a burst attack where the entire area around them briefly becomes irradiated, too.
398* ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors: Strikeforce''. ''All'' characters glow when they enter their SuperMode.
399* A rule of thumb in ''VideoGame/{{Rift}}''. Any monsters nearby when one of the titular [[HellGate rifts]] opens will become "touched" by that rift's element. [[CastingAShadow Shadetouched]] monsters glow purple, [[GreenThumb fae]][[LightEmUp touched]] monsters glow pale green, [[BlowYouAway windtouched]] ones glow deep blue, [[DishingOutDirt stonetouched]] ones glow tan, [[MakingASplash tidetouched]] ones glow teal, and [[PlayingWithFire flametouched]] ones glow red. And they all get a buff to their damage and a [[ElementalRockPaperScissors weakness]] to their opposite element.
400* Irenicus in ''VideoGame/BaldursGateII'' is an obscenely powerful mage, and glows faintly at all times. Also, a lot of enhancing spells cause their recipients to light up like Christmas trees.
401* In ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'', enchanted tools and armor glow purple. While not necessarily more ''powerful'', enchanted items all have some sort of beneficial affect.
402* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'':
403** Most of the games in the series from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem'' onward are strong proponents of this - whenever a unit attacks with an InfinityPlusOneSword, the weapon will give off a bright split-second AudibleGleam which covers the entire screen. The exception is [[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance the Tellius]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn duology]], which, for whatever reason, doesn't do this.
404** The mobile spin-off game ''VideoGame/FireEmblemHeroes'' covers the most powerful summoned units, five-star units, in a soft golden glow. While it's visible around the units in question in combat, it's much more evident on the unit status screen, behind a full image of the character. Four-star units are also surrounded in battle and on the status screen by more subdued silver sparkles.
405* All enchanted weapons in DarkMessiah glow in their enchantment's [[ColorCodedWizardry respective color]]. Escpecially lightning-enchanted weapons glow so bright that in dim lighting conditions it becomes hard for the player to see anything else (such as enemies, for example...).
406* In the online game ''Bearbarians'', warriors who begin to rack up a combo damage bonus begin to glow, unless you've turned off particles.
407* ''VideoGame/PlaystationAllStarsBattleRoyale'' uses this effect to distinguish "All-Star Power" (AP) both in-game and in-story, where the winner in each character ending can be seen glowing with Blue (having defeated Polygon Man, the apparent source of AP). Characters will glow slightly when able to use a Level 1 Super, become brighter at Level 2 and be almost completely illuminated when using their Level 3.
408* ''VideoGame/JoeDeversLoneWolf'': Lone Wolf's eyes glow when he uses a Kai power or the Summerswerd. The Summerswerd itself glows when in use. As do regular weapons empowered by Lone Wolf's Weapon Mastery discipline.
409* In ''VideoGame/RagnarokOnline'' players that have reached the level cap gain a glowing aura under their feet. Some communities refer to proud owners of those as "lightbulbs". Additionally, a few buffs add their own glows, such as a Mage class ''Energy Coat'' (blue glow) and High Priest's ''Assumptio' (white radiance) defensive boosts.
410* In ''VideoGame/{{Kritika}}'', a weapon that has been enhanced to level 5 would start to emit light. Every additional 5 levels of upgrade would increase the intensity of the light.
411* The Monsters of ''VideoGame/{{Evolve}}''. The higher their [[RegeneratingShieldStaticHealth armor]] the brighter they glow, with the color of the glow depending on the monster. This serves the dual purpose of warning hunter players if the monster has high armor and letting low armor monster players hide better.
412* In ''VideoGame/DragonsDogma'', various spells and buffs glow brighter the stronger they are, and the [[spoiler:Seneschal, who is essentially God,]] is incredibly glowy.
413* Invoked in ''VideoGame/SaintsRowIV''. You have to board and sabotage an enemy ship but because the resident tech guys are out of action, the characters don't know where to place their bomb. So they decide to just find the "biggest and glowingest" thing inside. Naturally, it works.
414* ''VideoGame/Persona5'': Personas, [[GuardianEntity Guardian Entities]] that allow you to use FunctionalMagic, are covered in a glowing blue aura of flames when summoned.
415* In ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriorsAgeOfCalamity'', [[spoiler:Zelda's Bow of Light moveset has her wielding [[LightEmUp sacred light magic]], and its unique action allows her to enter a SuperMode wherein she can spam her strong attacks with impunity. Not only does she glow and [[PowerFloats hover]] while it's active, the actual name of the form is "Luminescent".]]
416* ''Videogame/JurassicWorldAlive'' has Apex creatures, the most powerful in the game, which often have glowing markings or body parts.
417* ''VideoGame/TheHeartPumpsClay'': Certain items, such as some rings:
418** Enchanted Ring:
419---> Sometimes the magical energy circling through this ring causes the ruby to flash.
420** Gold Ring:
421---> A long-forgotten runic inscription glows when you wear this.
422[[/folder]]
423
424[[folder:Web Animation]]
425* ''WebAnimation/PowerStar'': Devil Mario acquires a red aura once he gains the titular power-up. [[spoiler:After gaining several of them, said aura turns into a crimson flame that is at least a head taller than Mario himself is]].
426[[/folder]]
427
428[[folder:Webcomics]]
429%%* ''Webcomic/{{Darkbolt}}'': Everyone who is powered by demons or angels...
430* ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'' has mocked this trope a few times. The alien Fructose Riboflavin once remarked that when you want to impress someone from a primitive planet, you just land your spaceship and switch on the highbeams on on your headlights. Much later, when the [[CosmicEntity Cosmic Entities]] Gosh and Coney leave at the end of their story arc, they do so abruptly and anticlimactically; Molly complains that, as per every movie ever made with such a scene, there should be a fancy lightshow to accompany it. The [[SpacePolice spacecops]] accompanying her decide to indulge her, and fire off every weapon on their ship at once, making a fancy lightshow that makes her very happy.
431* In ''Webcomic/SequentialArt'', Art asks, "Why is it that big, ominous tomes always glow so bright?!" [[http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=298 Good question.]]
432* ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'': One of Eglamore's {{BFS}}es glows; presumably this makes it more effective against Shadow men. Also, antigravity glows [[TechnicolorScience purple]].
433%%* Using cosmic powers seems to produce a purple glow in ''[[Webcomic/M9Girls M9 Girls!]]''
434* As demonstrated [[http://www.rhjunior.com/NT/00474.html here]] in ''Webcomic/NipAndTuck'', particularly sexy lingerie glows, too. (Obviously a reference to the ''Film/PulpFiction'' example mentioned above.)
435* ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'':
436** Gwynn tends to glow and [[PowerFloats float]] when she starts really channeling her witchy powers.
437** Also happens to Horribus when he's getting ready for his grudge match with Torg. And, of course, Torg's sword glowing is the sign that it's awakened its sentient, kill-anything-in-one-strike mode.
438* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' takes this to its logical conclusion; if one high-level spellcaster's power glows, then the combined effects of ''[[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0634.html four]]'' of them glow even more.
439* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', magic and Ki users can glow to indicate that they are using their powers. For Nanase's Fairy doll spell, this has practical uses. For martial arts, it's RuleOfCool.
440* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'': The river Dyne glows blue -- though of course, this might be because it's radioactive.
441* Magical things in ''Webcomic/TheWayOfTheMetagamer''. Particularly the [[{{BFG}} Rob of Za-Boom]].
442* Magic items glow in ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'' when being used. Some of them also "smoke" light. They actually channel the users' aura, which changes color and effect (i.e., "smoking" light) depending on the individual. This is why when someone loots a magic weapon, it glows differently than whoever was just using it.
443* In ''Webcomic/{{Harkovast}}'', magic is generally represented as glowing. This is most evident on the [[http://www.harkovast.com/index.php?id=22 Darsai]] energy weapons.
444* A few of the more powerful player characters in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' do this. Aradia and Sollux both glow when using their [[MindOverMatter telekinetic abilities]] (white and red/blue, respectively). Rose, on the other hand, glows ''black'' when tapping into TheDarkArts.
445** [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Rainbow Drinkers]] have glowing skin.
446** John glows bright blue when using his Heir of Breath awesomeness, known in-universe as The Windy Thing.
447* In ''Webcomic/TheRifters'', Tobi's gained some kind of ability that activates when he clenches. He glows when he clenches!
448* Graham's 'mark' in ''Webcomic/WizardSchool'' is an ordinary tattoo placed while our 'hero' was in a drunken haze - which [[http://www.meetmyminion.com/?p=1141 glows because the Big Bad infused it with magic.]]
449* Parodied in ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'', where [[http://xkcd.com/1114/ a sword glows because it's radioactive, and will give you cancer.]]
450* Shinsu, the AppliedPhlebotinum in ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'', glows when it is used in its most basic form. That means, [[ZigZaggedTrope the more advanced and dangerous a technique is, the less it glows]].
451* In ''Webcomic/{{Godslave}}'', Anpu starts to glow red whenever he's angry or about to use his powers.
452* To the surprise of no-one, the Stone Clock, a powerful artifact [[spoiler: possibly left behind by Time Lords]] found in the [[UsefulNotes/AncientEgypt pyramid]] by Howard and Daisy in ''Webcomic/DoctorWhoRegenerated'' glows bright, electric blue.
453* Spells in ''Webcomic/{{Castoff}}'' are generally rather glowy, but when [[spoiler: Vector]] taps into his magical potential, it looks almost like a nuclear test. Besides a lot of light, it also gives off heat that burns people and ''scorches a wall''.
454* The rabbit spirit from ''[[Webcomic/FifteenMinds Blue Moon Blossom]]'' is constantly glowing even when dormant, and it has several magical abilities that are seen nowhere else.
455* In ''Webcomic/YourThrone'' whenever Psyche uses her power of divinity to heal, there is a golden glow [[spoiler:or red, when she uses it to harm someone]].
456* {{Subverted}} in ''WebComic/TwoGuysAndGuy'' when Wayne is glowing all over and talks about the power he has gained. Turns out the "power" Frank gave him was bioluminescence, so it's more just a case of "glow glows."
457[[/folder]]
458
459[[folder:Web Original]]
460* ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'': In a world of magic like D&D, many active magical effects are naturally accompanied by "flickers of arcane energy", or "glowing radiant energy".
461* ''WebVideo/EmpiresSMP Season 2'': Magical items and beings emit differently-coloured glows, but the glow is only visible to a certain few with supernatural AuraVision abilities.
462* In ''Roleplay/TheGamersAlliance'', all gods glow when they manifest in their corporeal form.
463* In ''Literature/{{Phaeton}}'' this happens when Trayen energises, Teliha levitates and when Sam shapeshifts, there are probably other powers that do this too but it just hasn't been mentioned yet.
464* In ''Literature/SpectralShadows'' we have Christine with her healing powers and her fur glows yellow when in use.
465* ''Literature/UnlikelyEden'': [[BadassAdorable Heather's]] axe starts of as just strangely blurry, but later, as her Preferred Weapon Effect kicks in it attains full glow. Additionally, the eyes of all [[SuperSoldiers Coalition soldiers]] and [[SuperSoldiers Ourkind]] bioluminesce when their abilities are activated.
466* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'': [[PersonOfMassDestruction Tennyo's]] sword glows a brilliant blue, and can cut through pretty much ''anything'' since it's made of some sort of anti-matter. Tennyo herself does the glowy bit when she gets really amped up, complete with RedEyesTakeWarning. Several Energizers like Golden Girl also do the full-body glow when they kick in their powers.
467[[/folder]]
468
469[[folder:Western Animation]]
470* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': The episode "Time Sandwich" did this with a ''sandwich'' that Jake makes, which is so delicious it starts floating and glowing the moment he puts the bread over top.
471* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Aang's eyes, mouth and [[MarkedChange tattoos]] do this when he activates the [[UnstoppableRage Avatar State]], as do that of all his past lives.
472* In ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'', Ms Marvel glows yellow when she is using her energy absorption powers. Combined with PowerFloats, this is also the first indication that she has gained superpowers.
473* In ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'', Sparks glow, which makes sense because they are powerful. So do many of the things belonging to the aliens.
474* In some of the ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'' movies, the characters' [[MaskOfPower masks]] glow while being used.
475* In the earlier episodes of ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'', Shego had clawed gloves that glowed with a green light when she fought; the glow was implied to amplify the force of her attacks. In the second season, she began displaying the ability to use the glow as a projectile attack, throwing blasts of energy, and it was retconned into a superpower called the "Go Team Glow", which she and her brothers obtained as children when they were exposed to an alien meteorite. Basically, her hands are surrounded by green energy with KirbyDots.
476** A fair amount of the {{Doomsday Device}}s and {{McGuffin}}s in the show glow too.
477** Ron's Monkey Power
478* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
479** The show applies this to, well, magic, which arguably qualifies as this trope. In the premieres of both the first and second seasons, for example, Twilight's eyes (and the second time, those of her friends too) glow when she and her friends unleash their CareBearStare.
480** Also happens in her exam flashback in "The Cutiemark Chronicles" when the Sonic Rainboom triggers her innate magic and makes it go out of control. Complete with PowerFloats and a few (thankfully temporary) cases of ForcedTransformation of bystanders.
481** During Twilight's [[spoiler: transformation into an alicorn]] she gets surrounded by a bright purple light in the shape of her cutie-mark. Earlier in the episode, that very same power glows makes it look as if it burned Twilight into a pile of ash, much to her friends' terror.
482** ''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E26TwilightsKingdomPart2 Twilight's Kingdom Part 2]]'':
483*** Twilight sparks with electricity occasionally as a result of being supercharged by the other Princesses.
484*** When Twilight first receives the combined power, as well as when she tries to lower the moon and raise the sun, her body glows and her hair turns more ethereal, with a glow about her. Basically, she comes to look more like Celestia and Luna, and is visibly reining in the transformation with force of will (she was given the power to hide it from a magic-eating villain, so turning into a double-size pony with hair made of energy like her godlike mentor wasn't the plan.)
485*** The Rainbow Power is very glowy indeed, which wears off once it's done its job.
486* ''WesternAnimation/{{Sealab 2021}}'': "You see this, you see how my body's glowing like that? Yeah, a lot of people can't do that."
487* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSecretSaturdays'', the human members of the titular Saturday family each have a weapon with some sort of glow, and then Zak's eyes glow when he uses his powers.
488* In ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseFuture'', [[spoiler:whenever Steven uses his [[SuperMode super mode]], his entire body glows bright pink.]]
489* In ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'', the [=AllSpark=] glows. So do all its pieces, and Sari's key when it's near them.
490* In ''Anime/TransformersCybertron'', when using great amounts of power a character will glow. Used most dramatically in the FinalBattle of Optimus Prime and Galvatron.
491* ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}''
492** [[Characters/{{Wakfu}} Nox]] constantly glows with a teal-colored wakfu light, which depends on the armor he's currently wearing. The more Wakfu he employs, the bigger the aura.
493** [[Characters/WakfuBrotherhoodOfTheForgotten Oropo]]. After removing his robes and absorbing Yugo, his body glows of a green Wakfu light.
494* The titular sword of ''WesternAnimation/{{Xcalibur}}'' does this.
495* [[PhysicalGod Apocalypse]] in his ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'' incarnation does this. It makes him seem invincible.
496* In ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010'', Aqualad has [[PowerTattoo eel tattoos]] on his arms that glow light blue when he's using his [[MakingASplash hydrokinesis]] powers.
497* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'': When channeling especially powerful magic (such as [[spoiler:to overpower Toffee's AntiMagic prison in "Storm the Castle" and to cast magic without her wand in "My New Wand!"]]), Star Butterfly's [[GlowingEyes eyes]] and [[BlushStickers heart-shaped cheek marks]] glow bright blue, and her entire body is surrounded by a glowing blue aura. In the latter example, she also [[PowerFloats floats about 20 feet in the air]].
498* The Trollhunter's armor and Sword of Daylight from ''WesternAnimation/{{Trollhunters}}'', as well as the Amulet of Daylight, glow and shimmer with an ethereal blue aura. When all of the Triumbric Stones are added to the Amulet, it glows an ominous dark red aura instead, before a new incantation dons Jim with a dark gold and black version of his normal armor, complete with red highlights. His new sword also emanates that same eerie blood-red color.
499* ''WesternAnimation/PJMasks'': Whenever the hero's use their special powers, parts of their costumes light up.
500* ''WesternAnimation/ReadyJetGo'': Due to the sun's effects on him, Sunspot's tummy glows throughout the episode, “[[Recap/ReadyJetGoS2E16SunspotsSunspotOurSunIsAStar Sunspot’s Sunspot]]".
501* ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'': The She-Ra form glows like an eight-foot humanoid sun, [[LogicalWeakness making it useless for stealth]]. Other princesses glow occasionally while using their powers, particularly [[LightEmUp Glimmer]] and [[spoiler:eventually, [[ShockAndAwe Scorpia]]]], but since Adora's power ''is'' turning into She-Ra, she glows constantly in that form. During the season 1 finale, the episode "The Frozen Forest", [[spoiler:and the season 4 finale]], when the princesses are properly aligned, they all light up in appropriate shades; oddly, Bow's [[TheHeart heart]] [[ChestInsignia insignia]] also lights up during the same sequence of the season 1 finale, even though he's TheTeamNormal, but nothing has ever really been done with this.
502[[/folder]]
503
504[[folder:Real Life]]
505* Light is a form of energy, and the flow of energy is power. Light cannot be created from nothing, so power is required to make anything glow, even a tiny LED.
506* Incandescence is what causes really hot things to glow, and hotter things to glow more. It is the underpinning of this trope, and its cultural ubiquity comes from the two most primal sources of glowing power: the sun and fire. Both glow with incandescence. Light bulbs, lava and molten metal get an honorable mention.
507** Lightning glows by a slightly different way, wherein the electricity ionizes the air. But like incandescence, the light is emitted by an electron dropping back to a stable position.
508** Averted when electricity travels through a wire. Invoked by this [[http://gizmodo.com/5880893/resistance-is-futile-you-will-buy-this-animated-light-iphoneipad-charger-too USB cable]], which "visibly shows the electrical current" (if you're in a dark room that is).
509* Unlike the ones in TV, real nuclear reactors glow [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherenkov_radiation blue]]. Pretty, but for the record, if you see Cherenkov radiation in air, you have basically several minutes left to live.
510** If what's separating you from the core is not air but water, you're probably fine at only a few meters away. Pool-type research reactors (used for irradiating stuff for various reasons, not for generating power) are basically deep swimming pools with the core at the bottom, and it's often possible to look directly at the core (through ten meters or so of water) and actually see the Cerenkov radiation.
511** The second [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demon_core "demon core"]] accident produced such a blue flash.
512* The popular idea of green radioactivity dates back to radium paint, which was used for clock dials and glow-in-the-dark signs in 1920s. Later when the hazardous effects of radiation were discovered, the green glow got a new meaning. Oxidising white phosphorus, also quite nasty material, glows green too.
513** It's worth making a distinction here: radium does not normally glow. Mix it with a phosphorescent or fluorescent material, though ... the particular one used for watch dials ''etc.'' glowed green, and so in the popular imagination, ''all'' radioactive materials glow green.
514** Tritium, a hydrogen isotope, has replaced radium in all applications of RealLife PowerGlow. It is still radioactive, but emits relatively harmless beta particles, turning into helium-3.
515*** The tritium isn't glowing in itself - so you put it into a glass vial covered with phosphorus, and it's the ''phosphorus'' that's glowing because it's reacting to the beta radiation. Depending on the chemical composition of the phosphor (not the element, but a term meaning ''substance that glows when energetically excited''), you can get different colors. It's a self-powered fluorescent light.
516** Another is that the presence of uranium or uranium compounds during the production process can turn glass and diamonds yellow-green or green (with higher uranium concentrations making the color more brilliant green), which then glow under a black light.
517** [[http://msnwllc.com/ MSNW]], a company building a fusion rocket engine, has some photos on their webpage of some things that are ostensibly fusion or plasma related glowing nicely.
518[[/folder]]

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