History Main / CoveredWithScars

* Kelsier from Mistborn is known for the horrific scarring on his arms resulting from his time in the Pits of Hathsin. Centuries later his followers are still scarring themselves in emulation and 'Survivor's Scars' is a common curse on Scadrial. The scars are so associated with him that they're used to identify him to readers TWICE: once at the end of [[spoiler: The Bands of Mourning, where he's revealed to be the Sovereign]] and once in [[spoiler: Rhythm of War, when Thaidakar is referred to as 'the Lord of Scars', revealing him to be Kelsier.]]

* ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'': [[spoiler:"OOPS" reveals that Blitzo and Fizzaroli are actually covered in burn scars (or at least, make-up that covers them up) due to a fire that Blitzo causes on accident on Fizzaroli's birthday, thus leading to their friendship disintegrating.]]

** [[VillainProtagonist Kazuya]] is no slouch in the scar department after being tossed into volcano in ''2'' and returning in ''4''. In the beginning he simply had just one RuggedScar.

** [[ VillainProtagonist Kazuya]] is no slouch in the scar department after being tossed into volcano in ''2'' and returning in ''4''.

* ''Film/{{Pilgrimage}}'': The Mute's upper body is covered in scars, and he also has a large cross tattooed to his back. This is quite odd given his status as a lay brother in an Irish monastery. It's implied that he's a former crusader.

* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'': If one looks closely at [[[Characters/MiddleEarthFilmIndependentVillains Gollum's]] back, you can see some nasty scars on it.

%%* Kvothe from ''Literature/TheKingkillerChronicle''.

** Laboon the whale's head is also crisscrossed with many scars, the result of years spent angrily crashing against the Red Line.

If the scars are self-inflicted expect the character to be [[AxCrazy more than a little off]].

* ''Literature/{{Beloved}}'' -- the network of whip scars on Sethe's back seems like a growing tree.

* ''Literature/DocSavage,'' his cousin Patricia, and four of his Fabulous Five assistants are aversions of this trope, due to [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower "Doc's fabulous skill]] [[HollywoodHealing at causing wounds to heal without scars"]]. Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Blodgett "Monk" Mayfair, on the other hand, ''embraces'' it; he refuses to let Doc treat him because he ''wants'' the scars to make him look even tougher.

* The first book of the ''Healing Wars'' trilogy has Nya find that Jeatar is scarred all across his arms and torso - she later works out that [[spoiler: this is from his being caught in the inferno when the Duke burned the entire city of Sorille]]. This becomes one of the clues that tip Nya off that [[spoiler:Jeatar is actually the [[KingIncognito missing heir to the throne]]]].
** [[spoiler: Nya]] herself becomes this by the end of the series, due to [[spoiler: constantly shifting pain on the battlefield without time to concentrate on proper healing]].

* Austin, the protagonist of ''Literature/HollowPlaces'', is covered in disfiguring scars dating back from childhood. He was the victim of an [[AttackDrone attack drone,]] leaving him down an eye and an arm. He wears a now ill-fitting prosthetic to account for the latter.

* Kvothe from ''Literature/TheKingkillerChronicle''.

* ''Literature/TheLunarChronicles'': Wolf is covered in scars.
* ''Literature/{{Peacebreakers}}'':
** Jackson, due to ColdBloodedTorture.
** Camelie, for the same reason.

* In ''Literature/TheRiseAndFallOfTheSkyValleyCult'' former beauty queen and current ruthless assassin Chavayress Syvier has extensive scarification on the right side of her face, left bicep, and right thigh. She did this to herself, [[SoBeautifulItsACurse to escape the abusive and oppressive life her father forced her into, and regular assault she's implied to have faced from men.]]

* The short story "Scars," by Wrath James White. Every scar is a sign of the protagonist's unraveling mental state.

* ''Literature/{{A Song of Ice and Fire}}'':

* ''Literature/TheUnderlandChronicles'':
** Ripred.
** By the end Gregor's racked up an impressive total. After [[spoiler:his fight with the [[BigBad Bane]]]], he basically gives up the idea of even coming up with an excuse for them.

* Franchise/{{Batman}}:
** Since the 1970s, Batman's body is often shown to be covered in scars from his multiple fights. Same goes for the rest of the Bat-family, special notice maybe for [[ComicBook/Batgirl2000 Cassandra Cain]], who has a lot of bullet wounds from her bullet-dodging training by her father.

* [[ComicBook/SecretSix Ragdoll's]] body is covered in scars from the hundreds of surgeries he had to replicate his father's superhuman flexibility.
* ComicBook/{{Shazam}}: In the 1990s series, Freddy's back was shown to be covered in surgical scars, thanks to all the procedures he underwent to repair his spine. Like many things in the '90s, this was a source of bitterness for him.

* ''Skull Island: The Birth of Kong'' in this Franchise/MonsterVerse graphic novel, multiple [[Characters/MonsterVerseSkullIslandKaijuAndOtherCreatures Death Jackals]] inhabiting Skull Island have scars criss-crossing their bodies. Most likely, their MonstrousCannibalism tendencies have contributed to them gaining this look.
* ComicBook/TheSpirit had no scars in his 40s adventures in serials. However, in the Darwyn Cooke revival, one shirtless scene shows his numerous scars in the back, from his numerous adventures and crime-fighting. It's presumed he also has many on his front side.

* Similar to the Zsasz and Mister X examples, [[Creator/WarrenEllis Jack Cross]], a self-mutilating [[Series/TwentyFour Jack Bauer]] {{Expy}} is shown to have a cross-shaped scar for everyone he has killed. In his case, it's more of a punishment than a trophy.
* Like Zsasz, ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} villain Mister X also has a self-inflicted scar for each person he's killed. His, however, are arranged in an elaborate pattern.
* ''[[ComicBook/WonderWoman1987 Wonder Woman Vol 2]]'': Ares, when in his more casual black open shirt get up rather than his traditional TinTyrant look, looks like an attractive well-muscled man from a distance but up close his red eyes and mass of overlaying thin scars give away that he's not to be trifled with.

* Erik Killmonger from ''Film/{{Black Panther|2018}}'' has tribal markings all over his torso as a result of traditional scarification.

* ''Literature/ChronicleOfTheUnhewnThrone'': In ''Providence Of Fire'', a lightning bolt strikes Adare, killing many nearby her but only knocking her out. When she awakens, she's naked in bed with Lehav nearby who explains they had to [[UndressingTheUnconscious cut off her clothes]] since the lightning seared it to her skin in places, which prompts her to [[ScarSurvey survey her body]] and notice her skin is now completely covered in scars with intricate lightning patters.

* The first book of the ''Healing Wars'' trilogy has Nya find that Jeatar is scarred all across his arms and torso - she later works out that [[spoiler: this is from his being caught in the inferno when the Duke burned the entire city of Sorille]].