History Main / SkeletonMotif

* ''Series/ThePunisher2017'' has the title character wearing his skull motif for his HesBack motifs, but ''Series/Daredevil2015'' shows where he got it from--the X-Ray of Frank Castle's skull from when he was in a coma. Likewise his chest insignia also shows the damage to the side of the skull from the [[TisOnlyABulletInTheBrain bullet that put in in said coma]].

* ''Series/ThePunisher2017'' has the title character wearing his skull motif for his HesBack motifs, but ''Series/Daredevil2015'' shows where he got it from--the X-Ray of Frank Castle's skull from when he was in a coma. Likewise his chest insignia also shows the damage to the side of the skull from the [[IsOnlyABulletToTheBrain bullet that put in in said coma]].

* When [[Comicbook/{{Aquaman}} Aquaman]] and Mera briefly wind up stranded in Comicbook/TheWarlord's realm of Skartaris, the titular Warlord quickly talks them into helping him fight the VillainOfTheWeek, an evil wizard. En route, Mera asks her husband if they should be taking the word of someone they just met that another person is, well, evil. Just then, they arrive at their destination, take a look at his evil lair, and Arthur answers her succinctly that the wizard ''lives in a skull.'' Mera can't contest the logic of that.

* ''VideoGame/StreetFighter'':

** The [[RobotWar Necrons]] are a SkeleBot9000 races.

** [[TheEmpire The Imperium of Man]], a bloated, oppressive, warmongering regime distinguished chiefly by its pervasive blind zealotry and rampant xenophobia and by the horrid living conditions of the faceless masses of its citizens, makes extensive use of skull iconography. Almost every Imperial ship, building and set of PowerArmor of any importance can be expected to be lavishly decorated with gilded skulls.
** Khorne, the god of war, slaughter and general disorganized bloodshed, sits on a throne made out of every skull his followers have claimed in his name.

* The Nazi SS had tiny skulls on their uniform insignia, which were based off an older Prussian tradition of using [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totenkopf headwear with skull symbols]] in the Hussar regiments.

->'''Erich:''' Hans, have you noticed that our caps actually have little pictures of skulls on them? [...]\\
'''Hans:''' Well -- maybe they're the skulls of our enemies!\\
'''Erich:''' Maybe. But is that how it comes across? I mean, it doesn't say next to the skull, y'know, "Yeah, we killed him, but trust us, this guy was horrid"!\\
'''Hans:''' Well, no, but--\\
'''Erich:''' I mean, what do skulls make you think of? Death. Cannibals. Beheading. Erm... pirates...\\
'''Hans:''' ''(brightening)'' Pirates are fun!\\
'''Erich:''' I didn't say we weren't fun, but, fun or not, pirates are still the baddies. I just can't think of anything good about a skull!
-->-- Two nazis starts to [[HeelRealization realize their role in the narrative]], ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook''

* DemBones: an {{undead}} creature made entirely of bone.

* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'': Skulls show up repeatedly as decorations, accessories, markings and tattoos on Digimon based on sinister, demonic, monstrous or simply thuggish themes and beings. More overt examples exist in the form of Digimon with the Skull- suffix before their names, such as the skeletal [=SkullGreymon=], which are typically evil or corrupt versions of their prior selves.

* On ''Series/RedDwarf'', the Inquisitors' helmet. It's not quite shaped like a human skull, though.

* In ''VideoGame/{{720 Degrees}}'', one of the SynchronizedSwarming formations of the [[StalkedByTheBell "Skate Or Die!]]" [[ScaryStingingSwarm bee swarm]] is a skull & crossbones.

* In ''VideoGame/720Degrees'', one of the SynchronizedSwarming formations of the [[StalkedByTheBell "Skate Or Die!]]" [[ScaryStingingSwarm bee swarm]] is a skull & crossbones.

For obvious reasons, this kind of imagery is very commonly used by {{necromancer}}s, TheGrimReaper, gods of the underworld and other "deathly" folks, and is likewise associated with places and events that have to do with death and the dead. More generally, skull and skeletal symbols commonly accompany evil, villainous or at least dangerous places and characters even if they have nothing in particular to do with death or necromancy.

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': Even though it's already well established that Capt. Storm is a bloodthirsty pirate the treasure chest containing his loot has Jolly-Rodgers carved into the ends, just to give it a little more skeletal piratey shorthand.

On the other hand, many {{Antihero}}es also use a Skeleton Motif as part of a DarkIsNotEvil or GoodIsNotNice persona. Characters alluding to the Day of The Dead and La Calavera Catrina also use a Skeleton or {{Calaca |s}} Motif.

On the other hand, many {{Antihero}}es also use a Skeleton Motif as part of a DarkIsNotEvil or GoodIsNotNice persona.

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'''Hans:''' ''(brighting)'' Pirates are fun!\\