History Main / TheWorseningCurseMark

* [[spoiler: Tomoe]] from ''Manga/KamisamaKiss'' has them appear all over his body thanks to a DealWiththeDevil.

* In ''PowerRangersLightspeedRescue'', once Ryan the Titanium Ranger [[HeelFaceTurn joins the good guys]], Diabolico inflicts him with a snake tattoo; every time he morphs it'll climb up his back until it reaches his neck and kills him.
* PlayedForComedy in {{NewsRadio}}. An imposter once performed an appendectomy on Max. When the imposter shows up at the station, Max proclaims the scar "knows he's near."

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'', a l'Cie's brand indicates how much time he has to complete his Focus before becoming a [[BodyHorror Cie'th]]. Fang's brand is white and blurry, indicating that [[spoiler:she's not on a timer. This happens to the brands on the rest of the cast at the end, and the brands disappear entirely after defeating the final boss]].

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'', a l'Cie's brand indicates how much time he has to complete hisFocus before becoming a Cie'th. Fang's brand is white and blurry, indicating that [[spoiler:she's not on a timer. This happens to the brands on the rest of the cast at the end, and the brands disappear entirely after defeating the final boss]].

* In ''FinalFantasyXIII'', a l'Cie's brand indicates how much time he has to complete hisFocus before becoming a Cie'th. Fang's brand is white and blurry, indicating that [[spoiler:she's not on a timer. This happens to the brands on the rest of the cast at the end, and the brands disappear entirely after defeating the final boss]].

* Aang's arrow tattoos in ''AvatarTheLastAirbender''. They glow when he has entered the Avatar State. The arrows also indicate a MarkedChange.

* The titular character's scar in Robin [=McKinley's=] book ''Sunshine''. After Sunshine defeats the vampire who gave it to her, it disappears completely.

* In an episode of ''StarTrekEnterprise'', Hoshi Sato is worried that the transporter altered her structural integrity on a molecular level. She cites a mole that moved an inch lower on her face after her transportation as proof. Oh, and she ends up being right.

* In ''TheDresdenFiles,'' a [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Red Court vampire]] doesn't fully turn the moment they're infected, but the first time they kill through feeding; they can still drink blood to heal and "recharge" otherwise without turning. The Order of St. Giles, a group of these half-vampires, have tattoos that help control their bloodlust. By default, they're invisible, turn black when the half-vampire's using their enhanced abilities and getting hungry, and bright red when those urges are getting out of their control.

* Aang's arrow tattoos in ''AvatarTheLastAirbender''. They glow when he has entered the Avatar State. The arrows also indicate a ''MarkedChange''.

A birthmark, scar, subcutaneous pigmentation, magical tattoo, or otherwise permanent/semi-permanent mark on a character that somehow ends up being significant to the plot BY A CHANGE IN IT or something unusual that it does; it can't just be there indicating something. Disappearance of the mark, the stoppage of its unusual function or a discovery that the mark was never real is part of this trope. Normal healing of a wound to a scar does not count; a wound that does not heal due to magic or poison may, as long is it does more than just not heal (i.e., bleeds excessively when the inflicter of the wound is near, etc.). Subtrope of DistinguishingMark. With examples, please include the noteworthy change in the mark.

A birthmark, scar, subcutaneous pigmentation or otherwise permanent natural (not a tattoo) mark on a character that somehow ends up being significant to the plot BY A CHANGE IN IT or something unusual that it does; it can't just be there indicating something. Disappearance of the mark, the stoppage of its unusual function or a discovery that the mark was never real is part of this trope. Normal healing of a wound to a scar does not count; a wound that does not heal due to magic or poison may, as long is it does more than just not heal (i.e., bleeds excessively when the inflicter of the wound is near, etc.). Subtrope of DistinguishingMark. With examples, please include the noteworthy change in the mark.

* In ''TheDresdenFiles,'' a [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Red Court vampire]] doesn't become evil the moment they're turned, but the first time they feed (a powerful urge but not a requirement for survival until they've finally crossed the line.) A group of these pre-vampires have marks (given by the order, not the turning) that shows they're approaching the edge by becoming visible and finally brighter and brighter red.

* The curse mark on Sasuke's neck in ''{{Naruto}}''; the circle around it indicates that it has been contained.

* HarryPotter's scar counts; not only is his scar an indication that he survived the Killing Curse, but it twinges whenever Voldemort is feeling something particularly strong.

* In ''PowerRangersLightspeedRescue'', once Ryan becomes the Titanium Ranger Diabolico inflicts him with a snake tattoo; every time he morphs it'll climb up his back until it reaches his neck and kills him.

See also PowerTattoo for marks that grant or indicate the character's powers.

A birthmark, scar, subcutaneous pigmentation or otherwise permanent natural (not a tattoo) mark on a character that somehow ends up being significant to the plot BY A CHANGE IN IT or something unusual that it does; it can't just be there indicating something. Disappearance of the mark, the stoppage of its unusual function or a discovery that the mark was never real is part of this trope. Normal healing of a wound to a scar does not count; a wound that does not heal due to magic or poison may, as long is it does more than just not heal (i.e., bleed excessively when the inflicter of the wound is near, etc.). Subtrope of DistinguishingMark. With examples, please include the noteworthy change in the mark.

A birthmark, scar, subcutaneous pigmentation or otherwise permanent natural (not a tattoo) mark on a character that somehow ends up being significant to the plot BY A CHANGE IN IT or something unusual that it does; it can't just be there indicating something. Disappearance of the mark, the stoppage of its unusual function or a discovery that the mark was never real is part of this trope. Normal healing of a wound to a scar does not count; a wound that does not heal due to magic or poison may. Subtrope of DistinguishingMark. With examples, please include the noteworthy change in the mark.

* The curse mark on Sasuke's neck in {{Naruto}}; the circle around it indicates that it has been contained.

* Ashitaka's curse mark in PrincessMononoke; the worse it gets, the worse the curse is. Now the TropeCodifier as HarryPotter's scar is better known as a DistinguishingMark and/or BirthmarkOfDestiny.
* Jack Sparrow's "Black Spot" in the PiratesOfTheCaribbean: Dead Man's Chest. It disappears and reappears as his debt to Jones is settled or still needs to be satisfied.

* HarryPotter's scar counts; not only is his scar an indication that he survived the Killing Curse, it twinges whenever Voldemort is feeling something particularly strong.
* The titular character's scar in Robin McKinley's book Sunshine. After she defeats the vampire who gave it to her, it disappears completely.

* In an episode of Star Trek: Enterprise, Hoshi Sato is worried that the transporter altered her structural integrity on a molecular level. She cites a mole that moved an inch lower on her face after her transportation as proof. Oh, and she ends up being right.

* In ''FinalFantasyXIII'', a l'Cie's brand indicates how much time they have to complete his/her Focus before becoming a Cie'th. Fang's brand is white and blurry, indicating [[spoiler:she's not on a timer. This happens to the brands on the rest of the cast at the end, and the brands disappear entirely after defeating the final boss.]]

* Invoked in the short-lived children's series Sagwa. In one episode, Sheegwa, Sagwa's younger sister, is discovered to have a star-shaped marking on her fur that is "the mark of the princess", indicating that Sheegwa is actually a princess. Unfortunately, the mark turns out to be dirt.

* In ''FinalFantasyXIII'', a l'Cie's mark indicates how much time they have to complete his/her Focus before becoming a Cie'th. Fang's mark is blue and blurry, indicating [[spoiler:she's not on a timer. This happens to the marks on the rest of the cast at the end, and the marks disappear entirely after defeating the final boss.]]

* Invoked in the short-lived children's series Sagwa. In one episode, Sheegwa, Sagwa's younger sister, is discovered to have a star-shaped marking on her fur that is "the mark of the princess", indicating that Sheegwa is actually a princess. Unfortunately, the mark turns out to be dirt.