History Main / HandBehindHead

** ''ComicBook/TheLegendOfWonderWoman2016'': When ComicBook/SteveTrevor literally runs into Diana and is recognized from the papers by Etta he sheepishly puts his hand on the back of his neck while trying to explain why he doesn't deserve nor want the fame he's gotten and apologize for running into them while still hoping to escape from the reporters hounding him.

* ''The Phantom Affair'', an arc of the ''ComicBook/XWingRogueSquadron'' comics drawn by Biukovic, Wedge Antilles does this at at least two points.
* After making what he realizes is a poor suggestion to [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick]] and [[ComicBook/{{Oracle}} Barbara]] [[ComicBook/Robin1993 Tim]] puts his hand behind his head as he realizes the impracticality of what he's just said.
-->'''ComicBook/{{Robin|1993}}:''' Why not tell him the truth?\\
'''ComicBook/{{Nightwing}}''': Such as?\\

* The Nohara males in ''Anime/CrayonShinChan''.

* Most Son males from ''Anime/DragonBallZ''.

* In one of the ''{{VideoGame/Pikmin}}'' shorts titled “Treasure in a Bottle”, after the Red Pikmin trapped in a bottle falls back into the bottle after the Yellow Pikmin’s bomb goes off, the three Pikmin trying to help the Red Pikmin find it dazed, and when the other Red Pikmin shrugs at the Yellow Pikmin, the Yellow Pikmin responds by doing this.

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'':
** Phoenix Wright and Apollo Justice often do this in the court scenes if they make a mistake. They also do it if they are unsure about something; like, for example, when bringing up a piece of evidence without knowing exactly what's going on, they'll do this while explaining their usually shaky logic.
** Dick Gumshoe does this pretty often too.
** Phoenix Wright does this as his victory pose in ''Ultimate VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3''.
* ''VisualNovel/{{Ever17}}'': Kuranari Takeshi's right hand is rarely (if ever) seen. It seems to be permanently fused with the back of his head.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* Franchise/SpiderMan does this in the ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' series and spiritual predecessors.

* After making what he realizes is a poor suggestion to [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick]] and [[ComicBook/{{Oracle}} Barbara]] [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim]] puts his hand behind his head as he realizes the impracticality of what he's just said.
-->'''ComicBook/{{Robin|Series}}:''' Why not tell him the truth?\\

* In one of the ''VideoGame/Pikmin'' shorts titled “Treasure in a Bottle”, after the Red Pikmin trapped in a bottle falls back into the bottle after the Yellow Pikmin’s bomb goes off, the three Pikmin trying to help the Red Pikmin find it dazed, and when the other Red Pikmin shrugs at the Yellow Pikmin, the Yellow Pikmin responds by doing this.

* In one of the ''VideoGame/Pikmin'' shorts titled “Treasure in a Bottle”, after the Red Pikmin trapped in a bottle falls back into the bottle after the Yellow Pikmin’s bomb goes off, the three Pikmin trying to help the Red Pikmin find it dazed, and when the other Red Pikmin glances at the Yellow Pikmin, it responds by doing this.

* ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'': Both Gourry and Xellos do this rather frequently, though with Xellos it's probably for more worrisome reasons.

* It’s everywhere in ''Webcomic/{{Rain}}''. Not only repeatedly used by almost everyone in the main cast, but once even the supporting character [[PunnyName Rand M. Guy]] got [[https://www.deviantart.com/jocelynsamara/art/RAIN-p-24-Reputation-194283500 frozen]] in it by a DeathGlare.

* ''LightNovel/BofuriIDontWantToGetHurtSoIllMaxOutMyDefense'': Maple demonstrates a bit of her new Machine God transformation by equipping it only on her left arm. She then blushes while getting compliments and tries to scratch her head with it. There's a loud metalic bonk, and she reflexively says ow. But thank's to her high defense stats she's unhurt and unfazed.

* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'': Seen often in the manga and the [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist 2003 anime]]. Havoc in particular does it frequently.

* Tenchi from ''Anime/TenchiMuyo''
* Ranma Saotome of ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' does this very frequently.
* Ja Wangnan from ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'', especially when drunk and praised.
* Negi in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi''. As well as most of the Baka Rangers, sometimes together.

* Seen often in the ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' manga and the [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist 2003 anime]]. Havoc in particular does it frequently.
* Mai in ''Anime/MyHime'', after Chie asks her about the "{{crop circle|s}}" she created when she arrived at school.
* Sasami in the ''Anime/PrettySammy'' series does this fairly frequently when she thinks people have figured out her identity.

* In ''Manga/{{Mahoraba}}'', it appears Shiratori's hand is glued back there.
* Both Gourry and Xellos of ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'' do this rather frequently, though with Xellos it's probably for more worrisome reasons.
* ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'': While Tomo does this more (in the anime) than all the rest of the main and supporting cast combined, the following have also done it: Kagura (the distant second), Chiyo (twice), Yomi, Chihiro, Yukari, and Minamo (once each).
* It's common for many of the ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' characters to do this, but specifically:

* ''Manga/ManabiStraight'': The eponymous Manabi does this during the reflection meeting in the last episode.
* Matsuda of ''Manga/DeathNote'' does this several times, being the bumbling ButtMonkey.
* The Nohara males in ''Anime/CrayonShinChan''.
* Inspector Takayama does this early on in the ''Manga/{{Domu}}: A Child's Dream'', embarrassingly asking about supernatural phenomena to a shaman who can tell he's skeptical.
* Ichigo from ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' scratches the nape of his neck whenever he's feeling awkward.
* ''Manga/CaseClosed'': Conan does this occasionally. Kogoro does it a few times too because he's the CluelessDetective and he's receiving the credit for Conan's cases. [[http://www.detectiveconanworld.com/wiki/File:Mirapolisgameplay1.png Exhibit A here]].
* Hitoshi Shinso from ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' does it a lot too.
* ''Manga/DrStone'': One of Senku's {{Character Tic}}s is rubbing the back of his neck while irritated. This turns out to be [[BatmanGambit surprisingly important]]. [[spoiler:He rubs his neck while in the presence of [[WorldsStrongestMan Tsukasa]] so that when Tsukasa inevitably betrays him, he'll unconsciously choose "shatter Senku's neck" as the best way of giving him a quick death. This is because the back of Senku's neck is still [[TakenForGranite petrified]], and he's seen the de-petrification formula restore even cracked statues to healthy flesh.]]
* ''LightNovel/BofuriIDontWantToGetHurtSoIllMaxOutMyDefense'': Maple demonstrates a bit of her new Machine God transformation by equipping it only on her left arm. She then blushes while getting compliments and tries to scratch her head with it. There's a loud metalic bonk, and she reflexively says ow. But thank's to her high defense stats she's unhurt and unfazed.

* ''WesternAnimation/KappaMikey'', naturally, in a parody of anime. Guano, Lily and Mitsuki do this on occasion, but the real offender is Gonard!

* In the ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode [[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS3E8SupermansPal "Superman's Pal"]], ComicBook/JimmyOlsen does one, of the uncomfortable variety, when Angela Chen is pumping him for information about his relationship with Superman.
* Seen in the ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "Chinpokomon" when the boys watch the Chinpokomon anime, the Ash Ketchum parody character does this at one point.
* In ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'', Dipper does this when around Wendy. It's known as a 'nervous around girls gesture' [[spoiler:as Stanford, the family member Dipper takes after the most, did this too]].
* Happens a lot in ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'', an {{animesque}} show, with the titular character being the most prone to it.

* ''Manga/DetectiveConan'': Conan does this occasionally. Kogoro does it a few times too because he's the CluelessDetective and he's receiving the credit for Conan's cases. [[http://www.detectiveconanworld.com/wiki/File:Mirapolisgameplay1.png Exhibit A here]].

* It takes a while to notice, but note how many times George Bailey does this in ''Film/It'saWonderfulLife'', it almost gets to the point of a nervous tic for George.

* It takes a while to notice, but note how many times George Bailey does this in ''Film/It'sAWonderfulLife'', it almost gets to the point of a nervous tic for George.

* It takes a while to notice, but note how many times George Bailey does this in ''Film/It'sAWonderfulLife''. It almost gets to the point of a nervous tic for George.

** When Agatha orders Higgs to dress up as a Jagermonster along with a troop of actors to facilitate him dancing whit Zeetha without breaking cover he starts second guessing himself and embarrassedly puts a hand behind his head while claiming it was a stupid idea, only for Zeetha to [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20200907 throw herself into his arms.]]

* Various characters in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''.

* Negi in ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima''. As well as most of the Baka Rangers, sometimes together.

* Mai in ''Anime/MaiHime'', after Chie asks her about the "{{crop circle|s}}" she created when she arrived at school.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''ComicBook/TheLegendOfWonderWoman2016'': When ComicBook/SteveTrevor literally runs into Diana and is recognized from the papers by Etta he sheepishly puts his hand on the back of his neck while trying to explain why he doesn't deserve nor want the fame he's gotten and apologize for running into them while still hoping to escape from the reporters hounding him.

* Disney heroes, most notably Disney/{{Aladdin}} and Disney/{{Hercules}}, tend to do this when confronted with attractive and aggressive women. The Beast in ''Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast'' does it when he's ashamed of himself or frustrated.