History Main / PowerGlows

* ''Anime/DokiDokiPrecure'': Makoto's hair begins to glow brightly while singing her powerful song to convince Regina to have a HeelFaceTurn.

* ''ComicBook/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'': 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.

** Literally; in ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' graphic novel ''Endless Nights'', 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.

* In ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', the titular character, as well as his fellow [[SealedInsideAPersonShapedCan jinchuuriki]], are engulfed in a glowing aura of chakra when in their demon forms (except Gaara, he gets covered in sand). This [[DemonicPossession takes the form of the jinchuuriki's demon]] 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]]...

* Gourry in ''LightNovel/{{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]].

* Used in the ''LightNovel/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.

* ''Film/TheHobbit'': [[Characters/MiddleEarthFilmIndependentVillains Smaug]]. In addition to the GlowingEyesOfDoom, he has VolcanicVeins in his chest whenever he's charging up his [[BreathWeapon Fire Breath]].

* And God said, "Let there be light."

* 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

* In ''WesternAnimation/TransformersCybertron'', when using great amounts of power a character will glow. Used most dramatically in the FinalBattle of Optimus Prime and Galvatron.

* ''WesternAnimation/ReadyJetGo'': : Due to the sun's effects on him, Sunspot's tummy glows throughout the episode, “[[Recap/ReadyJetGoS2E16SunspotsSunspotOurSunIsAStar Sunspot’s Sunspot]]".

* 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. ]]

* ''Literature/TheMagicCottage'': 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. Eventually attuning to the "ethereal vitality" channelled by the titular cottage gives every object in the room a "blue-violet sheen."

* In ''Toku'', 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."
** ''Series/KamenRiderFaiz'' had an interesting spin on it: The five Riders' costumes were covered with "veins" through which pumped a glowing substance that to powered them. In nighttime scenes, the "veins" and visors would glow, and use of a FinishingMove would cause a bead of energy to run from the belt (the main power source) to the Rider's foot or sword or whatever they were going to use to kick butt.

** 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 BalefulPolymorph of bystanders.

* Inklings and Octolings in ''VideoGame/{{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 bubbles form at the top of their head, making them appear to be "boiling" with power.

* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'' example: [[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.
* ''Literature/UnlikelyEden'' example: [[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.
* In ''Literature/SpectralShadows'' we have Christine with her healing powers and her fur glows yellow when in use.

* ''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".

* During key battles in ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'' digimon will sometimes start glowing with holy power.

* 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 [[DropTheHammer Goldion Hammer]] results in the entire robot glowing gold. This is then taken UpToEleven in the OVA ''FINAL'', where 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]].

** ''VideoGame/FlyFF'' took this UpToEleven-- 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.

* Spells in ''Webcomic/{{Castoff}}'' are generally rather glowy, but when [[spoiler: Vector]] taps into his magical potential, it [[UpToEleven looks almost like a nuclear test]]. Besides a lot of light, it also gives off heat that burns people and ''scorches a wall''.

* ''Webcomic/MagIsa'': [[http://mag-isa.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/119792 Kyle]] glows after he [[HulkingOut Hulks out]].
* ''Webcomic/{{Darkbolt}}'': Everyone who is powered by demons or angels...

* As ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'' reveals, even [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=717 bourbon whisky will glow]] if [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=718 it's good enough]].

* Using cosmic powers seems to produce a purple glow in ''[[Webcomic/M9Girls M9 Girls!]]''

* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'': The river Dyne glows blue, of course this might be because it is Radioactive.

* ''Webcomic/TheDreamlandChronicles'': [[http://www.thedreamlandchronicles.com/the-dreamland-chronicles/chapter-08/page-508/ Why Felicity chose to steal the amulet]].

* ''Webcomic/BobAndGeorge'':
** [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/001229c The portal is very bright and portal-looking.]]
** [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/031213c Warning Dr. Wiley that he's about to lose his fortress. Again.]]

* ''Webcomic/{{Strays}}'': [[http://www.straysonline.com/comic/76.htm Feral's blade]]
* ''Webcomic/{{Memoria}}'': [[http://memoria.valice.net/?p=243 His hand]]
* ''Webcomic/WoodenRose'': [[http://www.woodenrosecomic.com/comic/comic.html Reviving a woman from the bed where she just had a C-section]].
* In ''Webcomic/{{Roza}}'', [[ThePowerOfBlood her blood is magical]]. [[http://www.junglestudio.com/roza/?date=2007-05-03 It glows.]]
* [[http://whatsshakincomic.com/2011/01/17/page-20/ Ell]] from ''Webcomic/WhatsShakin'' has a power up moment with a golden glow.
* In ''Webcomic/ImpureBlood'', even the MundaneUtility of unlocking the door [[http://www.impurebloodwebcomic.com/Pages/Chapter003/ib017.html glows]].
* In ''Webcomic/{{Endstone}}'', the ArtifactOfDoom, [[http://endstone.net/2011/06/23/6-04/ the Banestone]], can really glow.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}'', [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=3162 zapping the devil book to subdue it glows]].

* In ''Webcomic/RustyAndCo'', [[http://rustyandco.com/comic/level-6-49/ The Python of Merrssshaulk glows on its own.]]

-->-- ''ComicBook/{{Nimona}}''

** ''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 guess it has whole arsenal of effects ready to beat ZONE's [[TheJuggernaut Timelords]] like they were nothing.

** 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.

* ''Anime/AfterWarGundamX'' 's titular mobile suit and later upgrade both exhibit this when using their Satellite Cannon.

* 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 starts 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 lose 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]].

* 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 artistic preference of the creators.
* This has become more and more common over the years in Creator/MarvelComics, to the point where virtually any use of a super power 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.)

** In ''ComicBook/TheKillersOfKrypton'', Rogol Zaar's sentient axe gives a sinister, electrical red glow when it awakens.

** ''ComicBook/TheLegendOfWonderWoman2016'' the items enpowered 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.

* The Starforce girls' weapons in ''ComicBook/ZodiacStarforce'', which glow to the point that they seem to be made of light.

** [[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 ina bright, orange-red molten glow.

* ''Film/FiveFingersOfDeath'' has an example that doesn't involve weapons. Whenever the protagonist, Hao, uses the titular DangerousForbiddenTechnique, his palms glows visibly with an intense red aura; in this state his kung fu skills are multipled, at one point chopping a katana into half with his bare hands!

* The reagent in ''Film/ReAnimator'' is not only a fine example of TechnicolorScience, but also glowy.

* Creator/JRRTolkien's ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': orc-hating elvish swords and 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.

** Also his much abused amulet, which glows whenever he uses it as a light/silver bullet against superpowered werewolves.
** 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 many light hating hobs from 20 feet away. Similarly, when Murphy [[spoiler: draws Fidelacchius]] it glows brightly enough to scare off Deirdre.

** 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 couse, causes lightning-like ionization.

* 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 with 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 shine and ring out for others to notice.

* 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.

** 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 because photon based weapons are cheaper to make than a properly tempered steel katana or a finely machined kinetic firearm.

** [[Characters/{{Wakfu}} Nox]] costantly glows of a teal-colored wakfu light, which depends on the armor he's currently wearing. The more Wakfu he employs, the bigger the aura.

* ''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]].

* Light is a form of energy, and flow of energy is power. Light cannot be created from nothing, so power is required to make anything glow, even a tiny LED.
* Incandescence is what causes really hot things 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.

* 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 its new meaning. Oxidising white phosphorus, also quite nasty material, glows green too.

* In ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfThomasCovenant'' magical PowerGlows ColourCodedElements.

* ''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 every weapon on their ship at once, making a fancy lightshow that makes her very happy.

* ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'' has mocked this trope a few times. The alien Fructose Riboflavin once reflects that when you want to impress someone from a primitive planet, you just land your spaceship and turn 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 every weapon on their ship at once, making a fancy lightshow that makes her very happy.