Line #51 Main/WhatTheHellAreYou


1	->'''Carmine Falcone:''' ''[frantically loading his shotgun]'' What the hell are you?\
2	'''Batman:''' ''[breaks open the limo's sunroof and pulls Falcone out]'' I'm Characters/{{Batman\|TheCharacter}}.
3	-->-- ''Film/BatmanBegins''
4
5	What does it take to kill this guy? He's only human, right? [[TemptingFate Right]]?
6
7	Assumptions are dangerous. You assume that your foe is mortal and limited, that there are certain things they cannot do or [[NoOneCouldSurviveThat survive]]. When these assumptions break down, in their panic, [[StockPhrases many heroes or villains will ask]], "What the hell are you?"
8
9	This panic can be triggered by the character having an unusual appearance or abilities, stunning the person who assumed they were normal and could be easily beaten. Especially if the character in question comes back from something that should have incapacitated or killed a regular human several times over.
10
11	See also WhoAreYou and MuggingTheMonster. If the character asking this is especially powerful or fearsome, the trope overlaps with HorrifyingTheHorror.
12
13	----
14	!!Examples:
15	[[foldercontrol]]
16
17	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
18	* Subverted in ''Anime/TheBigO'' in the first encounter between Alan Gabriel and R. Dorothy Wayneright (in which Gabriel is serving Ms. Waynewright with a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown):
19	-->'''R. Dorothy Wayneright:''' What exactly are you? A human? An android just like me? I'm unable to determine what you are.\
20	'''Alan Gabriel:''' I'm the boogeyman!
21	** After the above exchange, Dorothy, who is ThreeLawsCompliant and couldn't have risked hurting a human, apparently concludes that Gabriel has just admitted to being non-human and [[CurbStompBattle ends him]].
22	* ''Manga/CallOfTheNight'': Azami asks this to Yamori after he [[spoiler:activates his half-vampire powers]]. He asks him again after he [[spoiler:[[DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength punches a hole through every floor in Nazuna's apartment building]] while fighting Susuki]].
23	* ''Anime/DragonBallZ'':
24	** Frieza has a moment after he realizes what a Super Saiyan is capable of. Frieza blasts Goku square in the face with one of his beams, sending his head reeling backwards. But [[TranquilFury Goku]] just [[NoSell slowly lowers his gaze back to normal like nothing happened]]. It's at that moment Frieza [[OhCrap realizes]] just what he's dealing with.
25	--->'''Frieza:''' You...you...''what are you''?!\
26	'''Goku:''' You haven't figured it out yet? I'm the Saiyan who came all the way from Earth for the sole purpose of beating you. I am the warrior you've heard of in legends, pure of heart and awakened by fury. That's what I am. I AM THE SUPER SAIYAN, SON GOKU!
27	** Vegeta has a similar moment in his fight with Cell. He's so drunk on his new-found power as an "Ascended Super Saiyan" that he lets Cell reach his Perfect form just so he'll have a worthy opponent. He doesn't realize this is a bad idea until Cell takes a full-power kick to the neck without even flinching.
28	--->'''Vegeta:''' What...''are'' you? I put everything I had into that attack. You should be dead!
29	** During Future Trunks' and Kogu's fight in ''Anime/DragonBallZBojackUnbound:''
30	--->'''Trunks:''' Whoa! What the hell are you?!\
31	'''Kogu:''' Someone not to be trifled with, ''boy.''
32	** In the original series King Piccolo has this reaction after Goku survived a blast that nuked an entire city.
33	--->'''King Piccolo:''' This can't be happening! This isn't supposed to happen! There's no way a mere human can stand on equal ground with King Piccolo!\
34	'''Goku:''' [[{{Foreshadowing}} I have a tail, you know. Maybe I'm not human, after all.]]
35	** In ''Anime/DragonBallGT'', after Super Saiyan 4 Goku absorbs Baby’s Death Ball, Baby gets terrified and asks him what he is.
36	--->'''Baby:''' You should be dead! What are you?!\
37	'''Goku:''' I am the answer, the answer to all that is evil.
38	** In ''Anime/DragonBallZResurrectionF'', Vegeta asks this of Whis when Whis reveals that not only is he far more powerful than the freaking God of Destruction, but [[spoiler:he has the ability to ''reverse time'']]. Whis's response can be summed up as "I am me."
39	** Vegeta, Goku and several other characters ask variations of this to Broly in ''Anime/DragonBallSuperBroly'' as even for a Saiyan he’s freakishly powerful and just plain freakish.
40	--->'''Vegeta:''' Where the hell did you come from?
41	* At the end of the first episode of ''Literature/{{Durarara}}'', the last human trafficker screams this when he runs down Celty, knocks off her helmet, and [[HeadlessHorseman notices she doesn't have a head]].
42	* One of Sousuke's more painful moments in ''Literature/FullMetalPanic'' is hearing this question from [[spoiler:Kaname's best friend, Kyoko Tokiwa,]] when she winds up in the crossfire of his mercenary double life. Kurama is happy to twist the knife further by volunteering a perfectly true answer.
43	-->'''Kurama:''' He's a professional murderer.
44	* ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex: Solid State Society'';
45	** A {{mook\|s}} asks this when Section 9 easily takes down his team of professional cyborg guards. Paz responds with IdTellYouButThenIdHaveToKillYou.
46	** Motoko asks the Puppeteer this, wanting to know who has both the amoral dedication and cyberskills shown by the BigBad. [[spoiler:She's shocked to find the answer is herself -- the BigBad has been created by her own unconsciousness interacting with the Net.]]
47	* In ''Anime/GingaDensetsuWeed'', Kamikiri and his dogs had nearly beaten Toube to death and leave his body there. But when Toube gets up, Kamikiri has a look of shock on his face, and he says this almost every word-for-word:
48	-->'''Kamikiri:''' What the hell is he?!?
49	* Said (in the English dub at least) by Luke Valentine to Alucard in ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}''. Notably, this is coming from ''another vampire''. Alucard's just that terrifying when he decides to [[IAmNotLeftHanded get]] [[EldritchAbomination serious]].
50	-->'''Luke Valentine:''' What are you? ''WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU?!''
51	* Said once in ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}'', surprisingly enough, to Kagome by [[MonsterOfTheWeek Yura of]] [[CombatTentacles the Hair]]. Her confusion came from the fact that every time she swung a sword at Kagome, it bounced off of Inuyasha's kimono rather than slicing off her limbs.
52	-->'''Yura:''' What are you? ''Why don't you bleed''?
53	* Nanoha Takamachi of ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' has gotten this a couple of times, on account of basically being a human [[Franchise/{{Gundam}} Gundam]].
54	-->'''[[{{Cyborg}} Dieci]]:''' ''[after getting [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomped]] in a BeamOWar]'' Is she really human?
55	* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'':
56	** This is an equivalent of OhCrap, usually uttered when the speaker realizes he has just attacked a Jinchuriki.
57	** ''Naruto himself'' makes that exclamation of Pain when's he's impaled by his chakra rods. The rods are channelled by Pain's own chakra, which allows him to mobilise his hosts — [[PeoplePuppets The Six Paths]], and disrupts Naruto's own once he stabs him with it. Ironically, in contrast to the above, Pain is fully aware he's going after a Jinchuriki and refers to Naruto as the demon inside him.
58	* The Straw Hats got this a lot early in ''Manga/OnePiece'', both from whoever they're fighting and whoever happens to be watching.
59	** There's a ''mutual'' one of these between Franky and Nero during the leadup to Enies Lobby.
60	** In the case of Sanji, opponents and other people wondering what the hell he is serves as {{foreshadowing}} [[spoiler:of the fact that [[BioAugmentation he isn’t completely human]] after all]].
61	* ''Manga/PokemonAdventures:'' Red's sheer relentless determination even in the face of impossible odds freaks the living daylights out of Deoxsys.
62	* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaTheMovieRebellion'': [[spoiler:Kyubey, friggin' [[StarfishAlien KYUBEY]], screams this in regards to Sayaka and Nagisa, who have just revealed themselves to be [[OurAngelsAreDifferent agents of the Law of Cycles]]]].
63	* ''Literature/RebuildWorld'':
64	** There is a RunningGag of protagonist Akira being a PhraseCatcher for this, thanks to his PoweredArmor being moved like PeoplePuppets by his ArtificialIntelligence VirtualSidekick Alpha. Akira is mistaken for a {{Cyborg}}, MistakenForSpies, mistaken for a {{Tykebomb}}… The most subdued example comes when Lattice simply determines that Akira's [[AdventureGuild Hunter's Office]] level is fraudulently low, which is something Akira had gotten in trouble with before.
65	** Akira gets to deliver his own curse of this when fighting against an enemy that reattaches a limb he severed in mid-air due to having been injected with a {{Nanomachines}} SuperSerum.
66	* In ''Manga/{{Toriko}}'', after [[spoiler:Neo ''ate'' [[EarthShatteringKaboom a tiny supernova]] that Don Slime created as a last-ditch effort to [[TakingYouwithMe kill him along with himself and the rest of the planet]], Don]] suffers a [[HeroicBSOD full-blown mental breakdown]] and asks what the hell he is, while proclaiming that creatures like this simply can't exist.
67	** Happens again (although on a smaller scale) in the very next chapter. This time [[spoiler:NEWS]] asks [[spoiler:Jiro]] what he is, not believing that a human (or really any Earth creature besides the Eight Kings) can withstand his attack without injuries. In response to questions about the origin of his powers, [[spoiler:Jiro]] reveals that he [[spoiler:was [[RaisedByWolves raised by the Wolf King]], who would feed him [[HumanoidAbomination Red]] [[TheDreaded Nitros]] since he was a baby]].
68	--->'''[[spoiler:NEWS]]:''' That attack rocked the very planet's mantle... and he still stopped it?![[spoiler:Jiro]]!! What the hell are you?!
69	* ''Anime/YashahimePrincessHalfDemon'': A gang of delinquents with a grudge against Towa Higurashi kidnaps her family to goad her into a fight. Towa, who had previously held back in her previous fights, decides to demonstrate her SuperStrength and SuperSpeed to make quick work of them. The delinquents are shocked and ask what is she.
70	* In ''Anime/YuGiOh'', after Bakura defeats Pegasus, he gloats that Pegasus didn't stand a chance against someone who has been playing Shadow Games for centuries. Terrified, Pegasus exclaims, "You've lived for ''centuries''!? What sort of creature are you!?" Bakura replies that he is someone destined to get all seven Millennium Items and rule the world.
71	** ''Anime/YuGiOh5Ds has Yusei ask this of ZONE after the latter is revealed to look like a much older version of himself under his mask.
72	[[/folder]]
73
74	[[folder:Comic Books]]
75	* ''[[ComicBook/SpiderMan Amazing Spider-Man]]'' #328 parodies Franchise/{{Batman}}'s use of this line:
76	-->'''Terrorist:''' What are you?\
77	'''Spider-Man:''' I'm Bat--''[ahem]'' I'm ''Spider''-Man.
78	* ''ComicBook/DarthMaul''. This is the reaction of Jedi padawan Eldra when Maul turns up outside her cell, glares at her in silent rage, and then starts slashing at the ForcefieldDoor with a ''lightsaber'' (this is before the Jedi know the Sith have returned).
79	* In ''ComicBook/{{Supergod}}'' #3, Reddin recounts the time when he got very drunk and confronted Morrigan Lugus, asking it "What are you for?" Morrigan Lugus' response was a [[BreakThemByTalking Breaking Speech]] about the weakness of humanity and its need for an object of worship, concluding with the answer "I am your stash".
80	* In the Creator/AlexRoss story ''ComicBook/WonderWoman: Spirit of Truth'', while in China, Wonder Woman saves a girl from being run over by a tank by picking the tank up and throwing it. Having never seen or heard of superheroes before, the girl is [[TerrifyingRescuer terrified of her]] and asks, "What are you?" Wonder Woman says, "A friend and a woman just like you." The girl screams that she is not like her and runs away, causing Wonder Woman to be sad.
81	[[/folder]]
82
83	[[folder:Fan Works]]
84	* ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon'': [[Characters/AbraxasHrodvitnonHumans Susan Graham]] quotes this word-for-word [[spoiler:during her calamitous first encounter with Monster X in Chapter 12]].
85	** A couple non-canon posts by the author also have human versions of Madison Russell reacting this way to meeting monstrous alternate versions of herself from recursive [=AUs=] that were made by fans of the fic (a [[https://hrodvitnon.tumblr.com/post/701557250929688576/ Biollante version]] and a [[https://hrodvitnon.tumblr.com/post/729498582548348928/ Ghidorah version]] of her respectively).
86	* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'': At one point during the sequel, ''Ghosts of the Past'', Dracula asks this of Harry after smelling [[spoiler:the Phoenix]] in his blood.
87	-->'''Dracula:''' ''What. Are. You?''\
88	'''[[DeadpanSnarker Harry]]:''' Tell you what, I'll make you a deal: when I figure it out, I'll let you know.
89	* ''Fanfic/CodePrime'': Pretty much '''the entire world''' has this reaction to [[spoiler:the Autobots revealing themselves when Zero frees Suzaku]].
90	* ''Fanfic/TheDesertStorm'' series:
91	** In ''Lineage'', a member of the Death Watch asks this of Ben after witnessing Ben unleash a storm of lightning through the Force.
92	** When Mother Talzin meets Ben in ''Night'', she can sense that there's something deeply ''wrong'' about him. [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness This is enough to make her lose her composure]] and she has this reaction:
93	--->'''Mother Talzin:''' What foul harbinger are ''you''?
94	** Later on in the same fanfic, Ben asks this when he comes face to face with the [[EldritchAbomination Sleeper]] and sees it [[AFormYouAreComfortableWith take the form of]] a giant horned Nightsister surrounded by green fire.
95	** In ''Mirage'', when [[spoiler:Obi-Wan is [[DemonicPossession possessed]] by the Force entity responsible for Ben's time travel]], Ben asks it this after making sure that his Padawan was unharmed.
96	* In ''Fanfic/MyHeroAcademiaUnchainedPredator'', this is screamed out by the last Saber {{Mook}} before the Slayer blasts him to pieces with his Super Shotgun.
97	* ''Fanfic/Digimon02TheStoryWeNeverTold'': A shocked [=BlackWargreymon=] asks this of [[RealityWarper Oikawa]] after his attempt to kill him completely fails.
98	* ''Fanfic/JauneArcLordOfHunger'': [[HumanoidAbomination Nihilus]] prompts a couple Remnantian characters who catch glimpses or the full brunt of his sorcerous powers in the Dark Side of the Force (powers which the inhabitants of Remnant are naturally [[OutsideContextProblem very unfamiliar with]]) to ask his face (or mask) what the hell he is. A particularly notable case is when Nihilus, after regaining physical form near the climax, utterly defeats Cinder and slaughters her direct minions, prompting a stunned Cinder (who thought Nihilus nothing more than one of her mistress Salem's Grimm gone rogue) to ask this of him.
99	* ''Fanfic/ShenVsKai'': In a call-back to Kai's WhoAreYou in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda3'', [[spoiler:Hei Yinying]] can only say the following when both Shen and Kai [[spoiler:gain a new mastery of chi on par with Po's in canon]]:
100	-->"'''''WHAT ARE YOU?!'''''"
101	* ''Fanfic/WhiteSheepRWBY'': Vernal doesn't think anything of Jaune when she encounters him in the "fight" at Haven. Then Jaune transforms into his hybrid Grimm form in front of her, and she asks what the hell he is. Jaune's response? "Yang's boyfriend, but that's not important."
102
103	* ''Fanfic/AshesOfThePast'': Mewtwo asks this about Ash when Ash decides to fight him [[spoiler:[[EmpoweredBadassNormal himself]], using BloodMagic to generate Ghost-type attacks]].
104	-->'''Mewtwo''': ''What are you?''\
105	'''Ash''': Just a kid trying to fill some very big boots.
106	* In the ''Film/{{Beetlejuice}}''/''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' {{crossover}} story, ''FanFic/SayItThrice'', this is essentially Betelgeuse and [[{{Poltergeist}} Sanduleak's]] reactions when they first see Danny. Though they end up being more confused than afraid.
107	* ''The Sanctuary Telepath'': Ranna, when she realizes the extent of Janine's telepathic powers:
108	-->'''Ranna:''' What the hell are you?!\
109	'''Janine:''' Very good question.
110
111	* ''Fanfic/RWBYEpicOfRemnant'': Ozpin twice asks Angra Mainyu what he is when he witnesses him use Verg Avesta, which makes him briefly turn into a shadowy wolfman that resembles a Beowulf. The first time, he dodges the question by pointing out Gudako needs medical attention. The second time, he says he's just an Avenger, nothing more.
112	* ''Fanfic/TheRedDragonsSaber'': When Artoria Pendragon starts kicking their asses, the Fallen Angels ask this several times. She doesn't answer.
113	[[/folder]]
114
115	[[folder:Film — Animation]]
116	* ''WesternAnimation/Beowulf2007''. After Beowulf gets the better of him, Grendel calls out this (in Old English) and Beowulf responds with a BadassBoast.
117	-->'''Grendel:''' What are you?!!!
118	-->'''Beowulf:''' I am ripper! Tearer! Slasher! Gouger! I am the teeth in the darkness, the talons in the night. Mine is STRENGTH... and LUST... and POWER! [[PunctuatedForEmphasis I! AM! BEOWULF!]] ''(severs Grendel's arm)''
119	* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueThroneOfAtlantis'': A thug asks this when he tries to stab Arthur Curry in the chest, only for his knife to shatter. Arthur, who at this point doesn't know his Atlantean origins, tosses the man into the water and says, "I wish I knew, pal."
120	[[/folder]]
121
122	[[folder:Film — Live-Action]]
123	* ''Film/Batman1989'':
124	-->'''Batman:''' I'm not going to kill you. I want you to do me a favor: I want you to [[TerrorHero tell all your friends about me]].\
125	'''Nic:''' '''''WHAT ARE YOU?!'''''\
126	'''Batman:''' [[MyNameIsInigoMontoya ...I'm Batman]].
127	* ''Film/TheBirds'': After a chaotic, destructive gull attack on the town, Melanie finds a group of people huddled in a cafe. One customer outright accuses her of being responsible for the birds' aggressive hostility, her voice rising in hysteria as she shouts "Who ''are'' you? ''WHAT'' are you??"
128	* ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'':
129	** ''Film/BatmanBegins'': Falcone meets Batman, violence ensues. See the page quote above for details.
130	** ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'' does it when Daggett confronts Bane:
131	--->'''John Daggett:''' I paid you a small fortune!\
132	'''Bane:''' [[MoneyIsNotPower And this gives you power over me]]?\
133	'''John Daggett:''' What is this?\
134	'''Bane:''' Your money and infrastructure have been important... [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness 'til now]]!\
135	'''John Daggett:''' [[MeaningfulEcho What are you]]?\
136	'''Bane:''' [[EvilCounterpart I'm Gotham's reckoning]]. Here to end the borrowed time you've all been living on!\
137	'''John Daggett:''' You're pure evil!\
138	'''Bane:''' I'm ''necessary'' evil. [[spoiler:''[breaks Daggett's neck]'']]
139	* ''Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse'':
140	** ''Film/WonderWoman2017'': General Ludendorff asks this of Diana after she deflects a bullet back into his gun with her bracelets. She replies "You will soon find out!"; Ludendorff inhales his SuperSerum gas and a fight ensues.
141	** In ''Film/JusticeLeague2017'', a terrorist opens fire at full-auto on a group of hostages, only to find that Wonder Woman has blocked or pushed the hostages away from ''every single round''.
142	--->'''Black Clad Alpha:''' I don't believe it! What ''are'' you?
143	--->'''Wonder Woman:''' [[IronicEcho A believer.]] ''[ShockwaveClap]''
144	* ''Film/JackFrost1997'' (the horror film): The title character is a serial killer transformed into a snowman.
145	-->'''Tommy:''' What the hell are you?\
146	'''Jack Frost:''' The world's most pissed-off snow cone!
147	* ''Film/{{Jumper}}'': Mixed in with WhoAreYou. Although the latter is Mark's exact words, he's also clearly thinking this after witnessing David's teleportation abilities (and getting arrested for an alleged bank heist for them) when he sees David again.
148	* ''Film/TheLastStand'':
149	-->'''Burrell''': Who the hell are you?\
150	''(Burrell draws his gun, but [[BoomHeadshot Sheriff Ray Owens shoots him in the head first]])''\
151	'''Ray Owens''': I'm the sheriff.
152	* In ''Film/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'', one of the [[BigBad Fantom]]'s {{Mooks}} unloads a submachinegun clip into [[Literature/ThePictureOfDorianGray Dorian Gray]]. Instead of dying, Dorian gives his formerly nice suit an annoyed look and proceeds to remove the Mook's plate armor with his sword. This conversation takes place.
153	-->'''Mook:''' ''[horrified]'' What are you?\
154	'''Dorian Gray:''' ''[stabbing him, annoyed]'' I'm complicated.
155	* ''Film/{{Leprechaun}}'':
156	-->'''The Leprechaun:''' Is that me gold?\
157	'''Tory:''' What the hell are you?\
158	'''The Leprechaun:''' I'm a leprechaun, m'dear.
159	* In ''Film/LiveAndLetDie'', Sheriff J.W. Pepper says to Film/JamesBond:
160	-->'''Sheriff J.W. Pepper:''' What are you?! Some kind of doomsday machine, boy?!
161	* ''Film/ManiacCop'':
162	-->'''Mugger 2:''' ''[to the title character]'' What the hell ARE you?
163	* ''Film/MenInBlack'': Agent J saw the Cephalopoid climb up a wall and has now cornered him at the edge of the roof.
164	-->'''Cephalopoid:''' ''[[[GlamourFailure blinks his eye gills]]]''\
165	'''Jay:''' What the hell are you?
166	* ''Film/NightAtTheMuseumBattleOfTheSmithsonian'':
167	-->'''Kahmunrah:''' What are you?\
168	'''Larry:''' [[PreMortemOneLiner I'm the night guard.]] ''[shoves Kahmunrah into the underworld]''
169	* In ''Film/OrcaTheKillerWhale'', at the end of the movie, when Nolan and the orca are staring each other down, after everything the orca's done throughout the movie to destroy his life, his friends, and his boat, and with a harpoon lodged deep inside its body, all Nolan can do is scream in frustration and fear ''"What the bloody hell are you?!"'' at his cetacean nemesis.
170	* ''Film/TheOtherGuys'':
171	-->'''Terry:''' When you were a kid growing up, didn't you play Cops and Robbers?\
172	'''Allen:''' I'll tell you what I did as a kid: I went to school, I made my bed, and at age 11, I audited my parents. Now believe me, there were some discrepancies. And I was grounded.\
173	'''Terry:''' What the hell are you?
174	* ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMenTellNoTales'': Asked when [[GhostPirate Capitán Salazar]] first appears.
175	-->'''Captain Toms:''' What are you? ''[is [[NeckLift lifted from the throat]] by Salazar]''\
176	'''Salazar:''' Death. ''[[[NeckSnap twists the neck]] of Toms]''
177	* ''Film/{{Predator}}'' is arguably the {{Trope Namer\|s}}, with Dutch saying it word for word at the end as he inspects the incapacitated alien.
178	-->'''Dutch:''' What the hell are you?...\
179	'''Predator:''' Whaaat... the hell... are ''[[WorthyOpponent you]]''?
180	** ''Film/{{Predators}}'':
181	--->'''Royce:''' What the [[PrecisionFStrike fuck]] are you?\
182	'''Noland:''' ''removes mask'' I'm alive.
183	** Which is used for a MythologyGag in ''Film/ThePredator''.
184	--->'''Quinn:''' What are you?\
185	'''Predator:''' ''Gurgles something''\
186	'''Quinn:''' [[PrecisionFStrike Shut the fuck up.]] ''Riddles the Predator's head with bullets''
187	* ''Film/RacingStripes'' provides a non-antagonistic example. When a zebra foal finds shelter in an American farmhouse, the other animals are understandably curious.
188	-->'''Franny:''' What exactly ''are'' you?\
189	'''Stripes:''' I don't know.\
190	'''Tucker:''' [[DeadpanSnarker Okay, we can rule out "genius"]].
191	* ''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIII'': [[BigBad Walker]] asks the Turtles this.
192	-->'''Walker:''' What kind of demons are you?\
193	'''Leo:''' We are Turtles, friend!\
194	'''Don:''' Of the [[TitleDrop Teenage Mutant Ninja]] variety, sleezeball!
195	* ''Film/Venom2018'' has a thug asking this to Eddie Brock. Eddie's response?
196	-->'''Eddie:''' [[IAmLegion We...]] '''[[EvilSoundsDeep are Venom]]'''.
197	* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'':
198	** In ''Film/XMenFirstClass'', we have the following conversation:
199	--->'''Former [[ThoseWackyNazis Nazi Officer]]:''' ''[in German]'' Who--''what'' are you?\
200	'''Erik:''' ''[in English]'' Let's just say I'm FrankensteinsMonster, and I'm looking for my creator.
201	** ''Film/TheWolverine'': Shingen Yashida attacks Logan with katanas, only to be shocked when his HealingFactor fixes him up.
202	--->'''Shingen:''' What kind of monster are you!?\
203	'''Logan:''' The Wolverine. ''[kills him]''
204	** ''Film/{{Logan}}'': Wolverine asks this of Laura after TheReveal that she's a mutant. As most mutants have died out, the fact that a brand-new mutant has appeared on the scene makes this a very important question, let alone one with the [[DistaffCounterpart exact same abilities as Wolverine]].
205	--->'''Wolverine:''' You. Who the hell are you? ''(Laura [[CuteMute doesn't respond]])'' Hey, I asked you a question! WhoAreYou\
206	'''Xavier:''' You know who she is, Logan.
207	[[/folder]]
208
209	[[folder:Literature]]
210	* ''Literature/TheNameOfTheRose'': When having sex with a peasant girl, Adso fears she might be a [[SuccubiAndIncubi succubus]] sent to corrupt him and steal his soul, which they apparently do at the moment of ecstasy when the victim cries out, "Who are you?" She isn't, as it turns out, but as Adso is (was) a virgin and a novice monk, [[SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny he's no less disturbed]].
211	* ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'':
212	** Shows up multiple times regarding Szeth's Surgebinding, a magic that hasn't been seen for thousands of years.
213	--->'''Guard:''' What are you? [[ElementalEmbodiment Spren]] or man?\
214	'''Szeth:''' What am I? ...[[ApologeticAttacker I am sorry]].
215	** Compare to Szeth's answer later in the book, [[SanitySlippage after he's killed thousands of people]] and just finished off a massive ambush.
216	--->'''King:''' What are you?\
217	'''Szeth:''' Death.
218	* Shows up in the ''Literature/SweetValleyHigh'' series in book #100 ''The Evil Twin''.
219	-->'''James:''' Who are you? What are you?\
220	'''Margo:''' ''[switch from an angry look to a sweet, innocent one]'' I'm exactly what I appear to be.
221	* ''Literature/FateStrangeFake'': Even though Ayaka Sajyou seems to be a completely ordinary girl with no powers or knowledge of magecraft, she is somehow able to supply Saber with more than enough mana to fight effectively, something even first rate magi struggle with. Hansa Cervantes asks her what is she. She can't answer, then he apologizes.
222	* In ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'', though he doesn't ask [[{{Dracula}} the Count]] directly, Jonathan Harker poses a similar question in his journal after seeing Dracula [[WallCrawl crawl face-first down a sheer castle wall]]:
223	-->"What manner of man is this, or what manner of creature in the semblance of a man?"
224	* ''Literature/TheMurderbotDiaries''. Murderbot tends to get this, as few humans can recognise a [=SecUnit=] with [[RogueDrone its armor removed]]. In one novel it responds, "I'm a Shut Up or Get Your Head Smashed."
225	[[/folder]]
226
227	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
228	* ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'': Lucio is an Inhuman with a petrifying gaze. He is captured by HYDRA and taken before Hive. Hive orders Lucio's glasses (which block his powers) removed. Lucio paralyzes everyone in the room... [[NoSell and then Hive just continues moving anyway]].
229	-->'''Lucio:''' What are you?\
230	'''Hive:''' What are '''we'''. ''[[[HiveMind infects him with spores]]]''
231	* ''Series/{{Barry}}'': After [[ProfessionalKiller a hit]] goes very wrong, Barry finds himself having to track down a witness in the form of the mark's pre-teen daughter... who knows karate and repeatedly wipes the floor with both him and his handler, until they start [[https://web.archive.org/web/20190515135938/https://kane52630.tumblr.com/post/184549657489/barry-s02e05-ronnylily questioning]] if she's even "of this world."
232	-->'''Fuches:''' WHAT ARE YOOOOOOOU?!?
233	* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
234	** When Riley Finn discovers the little blonde college girl he's dating is a HunterOfMonsters with SuperStrength and HealingFactor, his first question (once he has a chance to ask one) is "What [[[WhoAreYou not who]]] are you?" Buffy, picking up the WhatMeasureIsANonHuman subtext, is not amused.
235	--->'''Buffy:''' [[SarcasmMode Capricorn on the cusp of Aquarius]]. And you?
236	** Mild version -- in "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS1E8IRobotYouJane I Robot, You Jane]]", Giles finds that Jenny's aware and knowledgeable of supernatural forces, so he asks, "You don't seem particularly surprised by... who ''are'' you?"
237	* ''Series/TheCrowStairwayToHeaven'' episode "Solitude's Revenge":
238	-->'''Kessler:''' What the hell are you?\
239	'''The Crow:''' Death without parole.
240	* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
241	** Played for laughs in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E7TheUnicornAndTheWasp "The Unicorn and the Wasp"]]. The Doctor is fatally poisoned with cyanide, but survives by scarfing down various ingredients and then giving his system a shock — at which point he exhales the poison as a cloud of smoke. Creator/AgathaChristie, who sees the whole thing, is naturally stunned.
242	--->'''Agatha:''' Doctor. You are ''impossible.''\
243	'''The Doctor:''' ''[clicks teeth, runs off]''\
244	'''Agatha:''' What are you?!
245	** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E11TurnLeft "Turn Left"]], Donna Noble is suckered into rewriting part of her life. The ensuing alternate universe is already overkill, but it ends up nearly destroying the whole universe before Donna (with help from Rose) undoes it all. The fortune teller who did it freaks out and uses this trope.
246	--->"You were so strong. What are you? What will you be? What will you be?!"
247	** The Doctor meets a woman named Oswin Oswald in a [[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E1AsylumOfTheDaleks Dalek asylum]] in the far future, and she dies. Then he meets the same woman (now named Clara) in [[Recap/DoctorWho2012CSTheSnowmen Victorian London]], and she dies. Baffled as to how this could have happened, he seeks her out and encounters ''another'' incarnation of her in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E6TheBellsOfSaintJohn modern times]], and adopts her as his new companion to figure this out. He avoids confronting her directly about this until [[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E10JourneyToTheCentreOfTheTARDIS several adventures in]], when it seems they are both going to die. He demands to know just what the hell she actually is, but Clara is just a normal woman and has no idea what he's talking about. It later turns out that [[spoiler:this Clara ''is'' a normal woman, and the ''original''; she winds up entering the Doctor's personal timeline in order to thwart a villain who had done the same, causing multiple incarnations of her to appear throughout his life]].
248	* ''Series/ForeverKnight''. In a flashback to when Nick Knight woke up on Dr Natalie Lambert's autopsy table, she does the "Who are you/what are you" version. He answers the [[OurVampiresAreDifferent "what" by grabbing a bag of blood plasma and feeding off it]].
249	-->'''Nicholas:''' Someone very different from you.
250	* ''Series/InterviewWithTheVampire2022'': In "[[Recap/InterviewWithTheVampire2022S1E3IsMyVeryNatureThatOfADevil Is My Very Nature That of a Devil]]", after Alderman Fenwick discovers that Louis de Pointe du Lac is ImmuneToBullets and can [[EarAche slice off his whole ear]] with just his [[AbsurdlySharpClaws fingernails]], he recognizes that Louis can't possibly be human.
251	-->'''Fenwick''': ''(terrified)'' What -- what are you?!\
252	'''Louis''': I'm a vampire.
253	* ''Series/LukeCage2016'': Claire Temple is trying to treat Luke but finds herself stymied by his [[NighInvulnerability Nigh-Invulnerable]] skin which makes conventional surgery impossible. She asks, "WhoAreYou" but then adds that this trope would be more appropriate.
254	* ''Series/ShadowAndBone''. This is the first question that General Kirigan asks Alina when she's brought before him after her TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening. (Alina makes a CallBack to this in the Season One finale when using her full power as the Sun Summoner for the first time.)
255	-->'''Kirigan:''' Well? What are you?
256	-->'''Alina:''' Alina Starkov, assistant cartographer, Royal Corp of Surveyors. [[EverybodysDeadDave They're all gone.]] It's my fault...that's why I'm here isn't it?
257	-->'''Kirigan:''' Answer the question. ''What'' are you?
258	* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' is rife with this. Clark gets this all the time, but more commonly "how did you do that?" as he is completely unafraid of using his powers in plain sight of villains. There are at least two examples directed towards other characters:
259	** "Arctic": Brainiac thinks Chloe Sullivan is a normal human. When he pierces her head with his finger tendrils, she unleashes her healing powers in defense, weakening him to the point where he had difficultly burning through a fence with his heat vision. One of the very rare, if not the only, instances in which you see him staggering and panting.
260	--->'''Brainiac:''' What the hell are you?
261	** "Phantom": Bizarro has just been rejuvenated from kryptonite instead of harmed, and knocks Lionel Luthor against a wall.
262	--->'''Clark Kent:''' What the hell are you?\
263	'''Bizarro:''' I'm you, only a little more bizarre.
264	* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'':
265	** When Dean first meets [[OurAngelsAreDifferent Castiel]], he assumes Castiel is a demon. Then the angel [[NoSell shrugs off the demon-killing knife]], prompting this exchange:
266	--->'''Dean:''' Who are you?\
267	'''Castiel:''' [[MathematiciansAnswer Castiel]].\
268	'''Dean:''' Yeah, I figured that much, I mean what are you?
269	** In the tenth season episode "Reichenbach", a man named Cole tries to kill Dean to avenge his father who Dean killed ten years earlier (Cole was unaware that his father was a monster). Unfortunately for Cole, Dean is a [[FaceHeelTurn demon]] at this point in time and [[CurbStompBattle brutally beats Cole in response]].
270	--->'''Dean:''' You have no idea what you walked into here, do you? None.\
271	'''Cole:''' What are you?\
272	'''Dean:''' I'm a demon. ''([[BlackEyesOfEvil Dean's eyes turn black]])''
273	[[/folder]]
274
275	[[folder:Theatre]]
276	* In ''Theatre/PeerGynt'', Peer finds an {{Invisible Monster\|s}} that blocks his path while refusing to provide a straight answer to the question, "Who are you?" When Peer changes the question from "who" to "what", it replies coherently. In a sense:
277	-->'''Peer:''' Stuff that stupid answer, it doesn't make things clearer. ''What'' are you?\
278	'''Boyg:''' The Great Boyg.\
279	'''Peer:''' Ah. Until now, the riddle was black, now it seems grey...
280	* From ''Theatre/JasperInDeadland'', when Agnes meets the supervisor of Lethe's NightmarishFactory:
281	-->'''Agnes:''' ''What are you?''\
282	'''Little Lu:''' I'm [[LouisCypher Little Lu]]. And if you can believe it, I was an angel once. That's right, [[TermsOfEndangerment pretty kitty]], ''an angel''.
283	[[/folder]]
284
285	[[folder:Video Games]]
286	* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'':
287	** In ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum Arkham Asylum]]'', Scarecrow asks this of Batman after he has had '''ten times''' the normal dose of fear toxin and is still alive and sane.
288	** In ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity Arkham City]]'', terrified mooks will demand this of Characters/{{Batman\|TheCharacter}}, Characters/{{Robin}}, and/or Characters/{{Nightwing\|DickGrayson}} after their mook buddies begin dropping like flies during [[StealthExpert Predator]] mode.
289	** ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins Arkham Origins]]'' repeats this trend with Deathstroke. Given that the world's greatest assassin has just had his ass kicked by a previously unknown vigilante dressed like a flying rodent, his shock is more or less validated. Copperhead also has a similar reaction when Batman, [[ImplacableMan despite having been poisoned by her, continues to fight on]].
290	* ''VideoGame/CaveStory'': After [[RecurringBoss the second fight against Balrog]], as Balrog is retreating:
291	-->'''Balrog:''' What ARE you?\
292	'''Player character:''' [[HeroicMime ...]]
293	* In ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'', [[spoiler:Junko Enoshima]] has this reaction after Makoto is able to bring hope to the remaining surviving Ultimate students; she's incensed that he's eventually christened the Ultimate Hope, which is the opposite to Junko's Ultimate Despair title]].
294	* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'':
295	** In the [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry1 first game]] when Phantom meets Dante:
296	--->'''Phantom:''' You, you're not just any ordinary human. What are you?\
297	''[Dante says nothing, but Phantom briefly sees an image of Sparda in Dante's place]''\
298	'''Phantom:''' [[OhCrap The legendary Sparda!?]] [[ThisCannotBe It can't be...]]\
299	'''Dante:''' Close. I'm his son!
300	** This exchange in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening'' after Dante beats [[WakeUpCallBoss Cerberus]]:
301	--->'''Cerberus:''' You are not human, are you?\
302	'''Dante:''' Who knows? I'm not even sure myself!
303	** This is asked twice in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'':
304	*** In Mission 1, Nero could only ask this question to Dante after the man in red survives all that's just happened, including [[OncePerEpisode getting impaled in the chest]].
305	---->'''Nero:''' You aren't human, are you?
306	*** After Nero defeats Berial:
307	---->'''Berial:''' Your [[RedRightHand arm]]... [[OhCrap you're not human!]]\
308	'''Nero:''' [[NoodleIncident Don't ask.]] [[CursedWithAwesome Damn thing drives me crazy, though.]]
309	** This is asked word-for-word by Nero to V in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'', especially because the latter knows too much about the Qliphoth tree that damaged the city, and because he has just summoned a demonic familiar.
310	--->'''Nero:''' V... What the hell are you?
311	* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'':
312	** Knight-Commander Meredith has this reaction towards a Mage!Hawke for taking down the Arishok in honourable single-combat, which leads to the rest of the Qunari peacefully leaving and ends the siege of Kirkwall without further incident.
313	** Fenris will also act this way towards Flemeth, remarking that he has met abominations, demons, and blood mages before, and Flemeth is none of those things. Anders is similarly perturbed that even ''Justice'' doesn't know what she is!
314	* ''VideoGame/EternalDarkness'': A cutscene combines it with GlamourFailure when the "liche" Pius Augustus posing as a warlord confronts a defeated enemy.
315	-->'''Soldier:''' Who are you?\
316	'''Pius Augustus:''' I am your lord and conqueror!\
317	'''Soldier:''' What manner of forsaken being are you?\
318	'''Pius Augustus:''' ''[shifts to his skeletal form]'' So, you can see me in my true form...
319	* In ''VideoGame/Fallout4'', the Sole Survivor can ask Nick Valentine this after the former rescues him due to his being a synth missing the rubber skin. This is probably because the synths the Sole Survivor may have encountered thus far are [[KillerRobot Killer Robots]] unlike the robot-bodied, human-acting Nick.
320	-->'''Sole Survivor:''' Just...what are you, Nick?\
321	'''Nick:''' You really don't know? I'm a synth. Synthetic man. All the parts, [[DeadpanSnarker minus a few red blood cells]].
322	* TheEmperor in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyII'' has this reaction when the heroes defeat him [[spoiler:after his return from Hell as a demon]].
323	--> '''The Emperor:''' "Unbelievable... Defeated by...insects like you...not once, but twice! Who...are...you? Ungaahhhh!"
324	* ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'': [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyII Firion]] to [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]] at the start of a fight.
325	-->'''Firion:''' You make me shiver... What are you!?
326	* Sephiroth himself actually utters “What the hell are you?” word for word towards Cloud in ''Anime/LastOrderFinalFantasyVII''. With good reason, too, as Cloud had [[NoSell no selled]] [[PullYourselfDownTheSpear getting impaled]] and lifted Sephiroth up by his own Masamune, which shouldn’t be possible for anyone who isn’t a SuperSoldier, let alone a rookie grunt like Cloud. In the original game and ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'', he just exclaims ThisCannotBe; regardless, it’s one of the very few times we ever see him lose his cool and show fear.
327	* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'':
328	** The final boss of ''Heavensward'' asks this of [[PlayerCharacter the Warrior of Light]]. [[spoiler:Archbishop Thordan became a primal via using an ArtifactOfDoom and a millennium of prayers, powered himself up with Nidhogg and Ratatoskr's eyes on top of that, then hit the Warrior with an attack called Ultimate End, which was a "divine reckoning" that used a massive amount of aether from Thordan and all of his Knights Twelve at the same time. And yet, all of that power is only enough to barely scratch the Warrior of Light. Upon seeing the Warrior of Light largely unfazed by what was as much power as he was ever going to muster, Thordan enters into a VillainousBreakdown where [[ThisCannotBe he desperately tries to convince himself that the Warrior can't possibly be standing]] as he flails his sword without any technique, completely ignoring enmity and muttering to himself that he's better than this. After losing here, Thordan looks up at the Warrior, and says "Who... ''What'' are you?!" to them before Thordan DisappearsIntoLight, along with his Knights Twelve.]]
329	** The FinalBoss of patch 5.3 also asks this of the [[PlayerCharacter Warrior Of Darkness]] just before the fight starts. Not in rage or terror, but with ''genuine wonder and curiosity'', as the WOD just did something so unusual that it amazes even a millennia-old individual like the Boss. It ''almost'' gets him to back down, until [[IgnoredEpiphany his desire to destroy anyone in his way reasserts itself]].
330	* In ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic V'', Nicolai asks this of Agrael when the demon lord resists the power of Nicolai's Amulet [[spoiler:that has the power to send demons back to Sheogh]]. This is the first hint that Agrael [[spoiler:isn't actually a demon. He's really a Dark Elf]].
331	* ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories'':
332	** After Zexion barely escapes from Riku, he screams, "What is he? No-one's ever worn the darkness the way he does. It's impossible!"
333	** After Vexen fades away to nothingness upon his death, Sora can only respond with this to the remaining members of the Organization. Not even Axel -- the Organization member who killed Vexen -- can give him an honest answer.
334	* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'', Ghirahim is outraged that Link actually managed to beat him. This doesn't deter him from taunting Link, though.
335	-->'''Ghirahim:''' [[VillainousBreakdown This... This is preposterous. Driven to my knees by a simple child of man? Laughable! No matter how many times we clash, I can't prevail! You think I can't defeat you? You think I can't win?!]] Boy... what ''are'' you?
336	* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
337	** After Commander Shepard defeated Sovereign, it's implied that part of the reason the [[EldritchAbomination Reapers]] turned their attention to Humanity is due to desperately trying to understand how [[HumansAreAverage an average species]] with no special mental or physical attributes, somehow managed to produce a ''single'' individual who is [[TheDreaded so incredibly disruptive to their plans]].
338	** In the ''Leviathan'' {{D\|ownloadableContent}}LC, [[spoiler:even the ''[[EldritchAbomination Leviathan]]'' have this reaction to Shepard, referring to them as "An Anomaly" that has never manifested before in any previous Cycle. They too are ''very'' curious why Shepard is the first thing that the Reapers have ever shown ''[[HorrifyingTheHorror fear]]'' towards]].
339	--->'''[[spoiler:Leviathan]]:''' [[spoiler:None have possessed the strength in [[YouCantFightFate previous Cycles]]. Your own species could be destroyed with a [[PunyEarthlings single thought]]. But ''[[TheChosenOne you]]'' are different. I have witnessed your actions in this Cycle: the [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu destruction of Sovereign]]; the [[AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs fall of the Collectors]]. The Reapers perceive [[WorthyOpponent you]] as [[TheDreaded a threat]]. And I ''must'' understand '''why!''']]
340	* ''VideoGame/MarkOfTheNinja'': When the player character terrorizes the {{Mook\|s}} guards, one of things they'll mutter as they stumble backwards is "What ''is'' this guy...?"
341	* ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance:'' When [[CorruptPolitician Senator Armstrong]] steps up to the plate and reveals his full power, both Raiden and Jetstream Sam ask him this word-for-word.
342	* In ''VideoGame/OctopathTravelerII'', Ageha asks this of Oboro [[spoiler:just before Oboro kills him with the Darkblood Blade. Oboro has been eerily calmly going on about his nihilistic ideals and need to douse the Sacred Flames for the Moonshade Order, which require a Darkblood artifact and a human sacrifice. Given everything Oboro had to do to get his hands on the Darkblood Blade]], this shows that Oboro was ''not'' the simple tactician Ageha thought he was.
343	* ''VideoGame/Persona4'' has Yosuke saying this line after his attempt to unmask Teddie shows there's nothing inside.
344	* A humorous, non-villainous example in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonExplorers Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky]]'': in the BonusEpisode detailing [[TheDitz Wiggly]][[BigGood tuff's]] origins, as an Igglybuff, he was taken under the wing of a local recluse and former explorer Armaldo. As the two progress through one particular dungeon, Armaldo points out all the traps in the area, including the [[PitTrap concealed pit]], [[TheWallsAreClosingIn spiked walls]], and numerous other traps waiting to deter hopeful explorers. Igglybuff ignores all this, and just uses his unknown power to ''break the door down''. This leaves Armaldo wondering:
345	-->'''Armaldo:''' What in the world IS this kid?!
346	* In ''VideoGame/RemnantFromTheAshes'', one of the bosses that can be fought in [[HungryJungle Corsus]] is the Thrall. It has no relation to the Corsus storyline or the Root invading the multiverse, making it a GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere. The in-game mission to kill it is called "What The Hell Are You?"
347	* In the beginning of ''VideoGame/{{Rosenkreuzstilette}} Grollschwert'', Grolla has happened to overhear [[spoiler:Iris' plans to have RKS fight against the Empire for her own twisted amusement]]. Immediately afterwards, [[spoiler:Iris]], followed by an OhCrap moment of [[spoiler:hers]] that she recovers from quickly followed by Grolla's YoureInsane lecture towards [[spoiler:her]], attacks her with [[spoiler:her magic]], which critically wounds her and takes her by surprise. Shocked by the fact that [[spoiler:Iris had such powerful magic]], Grolla, in an injured, shaken tone, asks [[spoiler:her]] just what the hell [[spoiler:she]] is.
348	-->[[spoiler:'''Iris''']]: Oh, what a bother. I suppose I'll have to start the show early and kill you now! (attacks and severely wounds Grolla with her magic)\
349	'''Grolla''': What in the...!? How did she obtain such powerful magic? [[spoiler:Iris]], what ARE you!?\
350	[[spoiler:'''Iris''']]: Heheheh. Why, I am myself, of course. I don't expect a commoner to understand my genius.
351	* ''VideoGame/RuneScape'': During the Extinction quest, Kerapac asks the player how they can stand next to the [[CosmicFlaw Shadow Breach]] in Freneskae without suffering any ill effects. For reference, the Shadow Breach leads to [[EldritchLocation Erebus]], a dark universe of entropy and death; as such, it constantly leaks [[ToxicPhlebotinum shadow anima]], a substance incredibly toxic to any and all forms of life, upon the "main" universe. The only thing keeping the player safe is their World Guardian powers, which grant their soul protection from shadow anima. But Kerapac doesn't know any of this, so from his point of view the player is nothing short of an abomination for pulling off this feat.
352	-->'''Kerapac:''' What are you, World Guardian? What shadow-souled monstrosity could survive this onslaught? I am bound to [[TimeMaster the Needle]]. While it remains whole, I live, but you have no such power. You stand here on the brink of Erebus [[NoSell like it means nothing]]! Like it's not even touching you! What ARE you?
353	* Shadow asks this of Sonic in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' after the eponymous blue hedgehog survives being [[spoiler:''ejected into space'']]. Though in this case, it's out of genuine curiosity rather than panic.
354	-->'''Shadow:''' So, there's more to you than just looking like me. What are you, anyway?\
355	'''Sonic:''' What you see is what you get: just a guy who loves adventure. I'm Sonic the Hedgehog!
356	* From ''VideoGame/{{StarCraft\|I}}'', Zeratul to Duran: "Who...what are you?" ''VideoGame/StarCraftII'' expansion has everyone wondering just what the hell Kerrigan is. She was [[spoiler:de-infested at the end of ''Wings of Liberty'', and seems to have little-to-no memory of the time she spent infested, yet still can control the swarm and still has Zerg features about her]]. Is she really redeemed this time, or is she just trying to pull her MagnificentBastard act again?
357	* In ''VideoGame/{{Subnautica}}'', Ryley's first contact with [[spoiler:the Sea Emperor Leviathan]] comes in the form of this question. In this case, it's asked more out of curiosity (perhaps even hope) than fear, though the manner in which it happens is likely to inspire a moment of panic in the ''player''.
358	* ''VideoGame/SystemShock'': Destroying the first security node prompts a terrified SHODAN to wonder who or what the Hacker is...[[LetsGetDangerous and she then resolves to step up her game.]]
359	* ''VideoGame/TombRaiderUnderworld'':
360	-->'''Lara Croft:''' Tell me this: what the hell are you?\
361	'''Lara's Doppelganger:''' I am you with the flaws removed!
362	[[/folder]]
363
364	[[folder:Webcomics]]
365	* ''Webcomic/{{Unsounded}}'':
366	** [[http://www.casualvillain.com/Unsounded/comic/ch04/ch04_10.html Chapter 4, page 10]].
367	--->'''Lawman:''' And Elka ''isn't'' crazy... you ''do'' have a mule's tail! [[OhMyGods Twin's mercy]], and those ''teeth!'' What are you?\
368	'''Sette:''' ''Awesome.''
369	** In [[http://www.casualvillain.com/Unsounded/comic/ch05/ch05_13.html Chapter 5]], Ephsephin gets a glimpse of what's under [[OurZombiesAreDifferent Duane's]] hood.
370	--->'''Ephsephin:''' ''Gods, you—'' W-what the ''fuck'' are you under this?!
371	** In [[https://www.casualvillain.com/Unsounded/comic/ch17/ch17_22.html Chapter 17]], Elka and Quigley are both shocked when Sette tears ghosts out of the Fist Materials they're possessing with her bare hands, and Duane's non-reaction does not settle them.
372	--->'''Elka:''' Man, I ''knew'' something was ''weird'' about you! ''Other'' than everything that's weird about you!\
373	'''Quigley:''' Personally, I've never felt the tail's been adequately addressed.\
374	[...]\
375	'''Duane:'''Sette appears to have some influence upon the khert. Is it so strange? Quigley's kind are well known for their natural power and ameliorative natures.\
376	'''Quigley:''' Duane, you will ''not'' equate that ''freak'' with ''plats''.\
377	'''Elka:''' Plats are ''plats''. Everyone knows what plats are. But there was ''nothing'' natural about ''that!''
378	* Bam in ''WebComic/TowerOfGod'' is an Irregular, an OutsideContextProblem practically by definition, with a host of unusual abilities and a fundamental ability to break the rules of the Tower. Thus, he gets this reaction all the time, whether posed as a question or not. The first time is when Lero Ro tests all the Regulars for their ability to withstand [[MagicByAnyOtherName Shinsu]]; he starts off by pushing them back with a wave of Shinsu before they have to push through a wall of it -- so the wave pushes back even those who will easily pass through the wall later -- but Bam is completely unaffected in the first place. Lero Ro doesn't say anything, but mentally labels him a "monster".
379	[[/folder]]
380
381	[[folder:Web Original]]
382	* Like the original version, ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'' contains such a moment during the Goku-Frieza fight. Unlike the original, however, Freeza's brain suffers temporary shutdown on glimpsing just how profoundly stupid Goku is.
383	-->'''Frieza:''' How do you ''function''?!
384	* In the Sonic fan animation ''WebAnimation/NazoUnleashed'', much like the example with Vegeta and Cell (which it draws inspiration from), Shadow quips this to Nazo after his ultimate attack fails to even scratch him.
385	-->'''Shadow:''' Just... who are you!?!\
386	'''Nazo:''' '' I'm '' the Ultimate Lifeform!
387	* In the alternate ending for the ''WebVideo/SuperPowerBeatDown'' with Franchise/{{Batman}} vs. [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Vader]], the former manages to best the latter not through science or by fighting like a CombatPragmatist, but by planning ahead and using all the tools at his disposal, including [[spoiler:Franchise/{{Superman}}, the one he came to rescue in the first place]]. Even the Sith Lord has to wonder how a seemingly ordinary human managed to overcome his Force advantage.
388	-->'''Darth Vader:''' ''[wheezing]'' What are you?\
389	'''Batman:''' ...I'm Batman.
390	* The ''DIO vs. Alucard'' ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'' sees the former ask this after the latter turns into a tidal wave of blood and souls.
391	-->'''DIO:''' [[HorrifyingTheHorror What the hell are you?!]]\
392	'''Alucard:''' ''[[WebVideo/HellsingUltimateAbridged A real FUCKING vampire!]]''
393	* In ''Franchise/{{RWBY}}'', [[spoiler:Volume 9 has this an an important plot point, with many characters of the Ever After asking Team RWBY what they are]].
394	[[/folder]]
395
396	[[folder:Western Animation]]
397	* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': In [[Recap/AdventureTimeS9E14ThreeBuckets "Three Buckets"]], Finn is shocked when [[spoiler:Fern's eyes become the same as the Grass Demon's]] and asks "What ''are'' you?"
398	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'': When Batman meets Spellbinder for the first time, he's shocked by Spellbinder's unusual appearance (he wears an orange suit that seamlessly covers his entire body, [[TheBlank even his face]]) and asks, "What the heck are you!?"
399	* ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'': In "Visitors From Earth", an astronaut named Mark Blaze crash lands on Eternia and is captured by Skeletor. Shocked by seeing a man with a SkullForAHead, Mark asks, "Who are you!? ''What'' are you!?" Skeletor answers, "You'll find out who and what I am soon enough. The question is 'who are ''you'''?"
400	* ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'': Jackie makes this question in the 1st season's finale to the released [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Shendu]], who answers with an IAmTheNoun BadassBoast.
401	-->'''Jackie:''' Who... ''what'' are you?!\
402	'''Shendu:''' I ''am'' the keeper of the Talismans. I ''am'' the apocalypse of which legend speaks! And I ''am'', for once and for all, your executioner!
403	* ''WesternAnimation/KipoAndTheAgeOfWonderbeasts'': In "[[Recap/KipoAndTheAgeOfWonderbeastsS1E09MuteEatMuteWorld Mute-Eat-Mute World]]", when Kipo reveals to a startled Jamack she is [[spoiler:part-human and part-mutant]], he asks her what kind of a freak she is.
404	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'': [[BigBadWannabe Tarrlok]] asks this of [[BigBad Amon]] after he [[spoiler: powers through Tarrlok's bloodbending, a technique that has rendered two different Avatars helpless]]. The answer he gets is "[[CreepyMonotone I am]] [[IAmTheNoun the solution.]]" [[spoiler:He's actually Tarrlok's older brother Noatak, an ''even more powerful'' Bloodbender.]]
405	* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'': Zig-zag -- the Devil himself asks WesternAnimation/YosemiteSam "Who the hell are you?" when he lands in Hell in the cartoon "Satan's Waitin'".
406	* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': In [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS3E19ZeroHour "Zero]] [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS3E20ZeroHourPartII Hour"]], Thrawn and his Death Troopers approach the wounded Bendu.
407	-->'''Thrawn:''' What manner of creature are you?\
408	'''Bendu:''' [[BadassBoast One beyond your power to destroy.]]\
409	'''Thrawn:''' [[DeadpanSnarker It would]] [[KillTheGod not seem so.]]\
410	'''Bendu:''' You cannot see... [[{{Seers}} but I can]].\
411	'''Thrawn''': What? What do you see?\
412	'''Bendu:''' I see your defeat... [[{{foreshadowing}} like many arms surrounding you in a cold embrace]].\
413	''[Thrawn, visibly unnerved, [[ShootTheMessenger shoots him]], only for Bendu to disappear, laughing]''
414	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Teen Titans\|2003}}'': Robin asks "What are you?" to Slade when [[spoiler:Slade's mask comes off to reveal a SkullForAHead]].
415	[[/folder]]

Context Main / WhatTheHellAreYou