History Main / KnuckleTattoos

* "The Adventures of Darrington Brigade" one-shot in ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'' sees Creator/AshleyJohnson's character, Damian Vadoma, as part of her TattooedCrook shtick, have tattooes on her knuckles that say "''Vita''" and "''Mors''" (Latin for "Life" and "Death" respectively).

* The "The Adventures of Darrington Brigade" one-shot in ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'' sees Creator/AshleyJohnson's character, Damian Vadoma, as part of her TattooedCrook shtick, have tattooes on her knuckles that say "''Vita''" and "''Mors''" (Latin for "Life" and "Death" respectively).

And no, a tattoo of [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog Knuckles]] doesn't count (unless it's on the literal knuckles).

* In a dream Jerry has on ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'', Uncle Leo was in prison and had [[CatchPhrase "JERRY HELLO"]] tattooed across his knuckles. ItMakesSenseInContext.

[[folder: Puppet Shows]]

[[folder: Radio]]

* Discussed in a ''Webcomic/DinosaurComics'' [[http://qwantz.com/index.php?comic=2211 strip]]. T-rex discusses various things one could get tattooed on one's knuckles, such as "MAKE OUTS" or "VOTE 4ME". His plans are foiled by the realization that as a TRex he has only two knuckles on each hand, leaving only [[ToiletHumor "PO OP"]] as an option.

%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=ney3ta6ovez71xt5snbufpbh
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* One baddie in the FMV game based on JohnnyMnemonic had GAME OVER tattooed on his knuckles.
* Salvador in ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands2}}'' has RITE tattooed on his right index finger and WRONG on the left.
* ''VideoGame/TheBattleForWesnoth'' gives us the Dwarven Ulfserker and Berseker, whose unit portraits have a very impressive set of vaguely tribal-looking tattoos that are actually Futhark runes. Guess what they have written on their knuckles?
* "Love and Hate" is a unique set of spiked brass knuckles in ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' made to resemble the TropeCodifier from the page image.

* Wooley/Matt has the traditional "Love" and "Hate" tattoos in an episode of ''[[WebVideo/TwoBestFriendsPlay Fighterpedia]]'' about grappling in fighting games, but they're fake.

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'': King Radical, a mafia boss, has "MOST RAD." tattooed across his knuckles. Yes, including the period. Turns out later there's a magical power that bestows these tattoos to "the most radical man in Radical Land" to mark its ruler.
* {{Parodied}} in a ''Webcomic/SaturdayMorningBreakfastCereal'' comic, with "[[http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=493 LOVE HATS]]".
* In ''Webcomic/WastedTalent'' [[http://www.wastedtalent.ca/comic/and-dont-you-forget-it strip]], in a {{bait and switch}} situation, a huge intimidating-looking dude has a "DROP DEAD" written all over his knuckles. When he shows his fingers, it's shows the rest of the tattoo with "GORGEOUS" written under it alongside his long manicured nails.
* Discussed in a ''Webcomic/DinosaurComics'' [[http://qwantz.com/index.php?comic=2211 strip]]. T-rex discusses various things one could get tattooed on one's knuckles, such as "MAKE OUTS" or "VOTE 4ME". His plans are foiled by the realization that as a TRex he has only two knuckles on each hand, leaving only [[ToiletHumor "PO OP"]] as an option.
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* The "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS5E2CapeFeare Cape Feare]]" episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Sideshow Bob has "LUV" and "HĀT", because [[FourFingeredHands he only has three fingers on each hand]]. This episode was primarily a parody of ''Film/CapeFear'', which also starred Robert Mitchum.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'': Stimpy has Love and Hate tattooed inside his lips, like a racehorse.
** The episode "Reverend Jack" has the titular character have "Pity" and "Self Pity" written on his knuckles.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'' episode "The Ride of the Valkyries", one of the Valkyries punches through a door and the word "Love" is shown to be tattooed on her knuckles.
* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheMarvelousMisadventuresOfFlapjack'' a prisoner has knuckle tattoos that say "breaking" and "entering" (made possible by his absurd number of fingers).

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* ''Anime/DevilmanCrybaby'' has the rapper Kukun sport the word "butterfly" on his knuckles (thus making his nickname, which sounds like "cocoon", a PunnyName). [[spoiler: the shot of his severed hand sporting part of the tattoo confirms that he was killed offscreen.]]

* ''ComicBook/DawnOfX'', ''ComicBook/{{Marauders}}''; [[ComicBook/KittyPryde Captain Kate]], aka The Red Queen, has "H-O-L-D F-A-S-T" tattooed on her knuckles, tying in with her pirate asthetic. The "O" in "HOLD" has an X in it, matching the X-Men logo. After being [[spoiler: killed by Sebastian Shaw and resurrected]] she changes this to "[[spoiler: K-I-L-L S-H-A-W]]".

[[folder:Film]]
* The TropeMaker, Trope Codifier, and probably UrExample (in media at least) is, of course, Robert Mitchum's character in ''Film/TheNightOfTheHunter'', who has "Love" and "Hate", and most examples since are {{Shout Out}}s.
** Not exactly tattoos, but in ''Film/DoTheRightThing'', Radio Raheem has the four-fingered ring version of the knuckle tattoo. He evens says the page quote in one scene.
* In ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs'', Buffalo Bill homages the above with the word "Love" tattooed on his left hand, not on the knuckles but on the space between his thumb and forefinger.
* Eddie (Music/MeatLoaf) in ''Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow'', although it looks like he just wrote it on in pen.
* In ''Film/TheLastRemakeOfBeauGeste'', the sadistic sergeant played by Peter Ustinov has "Hate" tattooed on one hand -- and "Loathe" on the other.
* ''Film/TheBluesBrothers'' each have their names on their knuckles. Elwood's name actually spills onto his other hand.
* Old Joe Plaice from ''Film/MasterAndCommander'' has "Hold Fast" tattooed on his knuckles. This is a tattoo that was common on sailing ships in the old days. So hooray for TruthInTelevision.

%%* Angel Guzman from ''Film/StandAndDeliver''.
* The UsefulNotes/{{skinheads}} in ''Film/ThisIsEngland'', or at least the nationalist faction, have crosses tattooed on their left middle finger knuckles. In one scene, the leader of the gang gives Shaun one with a safety pin.
* Dwalin in the film adaptation of ''Film/TheHobbit'' has the runes for the traditional dwarf {{battlecry}} tattooed across his knuckles: "Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!"[[note]]"Axes of the Dwarves! The Dwarves are upon you!"[[/note]]
* In ''Film/ThePlaceBeyondThePines'', Creator/RyanGosling's character 'Handsome' Luke has H-A-N-D tattooed onto the knuckles of his right hand and S-O-M-E on the left.

* In ''WesternAnimation/ShaunTheSheep: The Movie'', a dog in the [[PoundsAreAnimalPrisons Animal Containment Centre]] has "BARK" and "BITE" tattooed on his forepaws.

* ''Film/Chef2014'': The protagonist, eponymous Chef Carl Casper, has tattoos on his forearms and knuckles. The latter read EL JEFE (The Chef in Spanish), which is, while accurate for his job, ironic as he ''doesn't'' speak Spanish.

* Brazilian movie ''Film/OCandidatoHonesto2'' has a case where the thumbs are also used, as the main character, a politician who goes through a [[PrisonsAreGymnasiums makeover in prison]], tattoos "DEMOC" and "RACIA" ("Democracy" in Portuguese). Once he's released and allowed to run for president, his advisors ask him to cover the knuckles up lest the religious supporters are repelled by the demonic imagery that "DEMO" brings up.
* In ''Film/BlackWidow2021'', Red Guardian has many tattoos from his time spent in prison, including [[Creator/KarlMarx KARL MARX]] across his knuckles.

* Seen in [[http://flickr.com/photos/apelad/217359435/in/pool-700hoboes/ this fan illustration]] of one of [[Literature/TheAreasOfMyExpertise John Hodgman's 700 hobos]].

* In the ''Series/{{Spitting Image}}'' book, the (then still living) Queen Mother has GIN& on the knuckles of one hand and TONIC on the other.

* A twist on this in ''Literature/TheLateShow'', when a bad guy doesn't have tattoos on his actual knuckles, but has "GOOD" and "EVIL" on the brass knuckles he uses to beat people with. Detective Renee Ballard uses the imprints of letters on a victim's body to tie the bad guy to the crime.

* In ''Series/TheLeagueOfGentlemen'', the town vicar gets these tattoos around the beginning of the second season.
* In a dream Jerry has on ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'', Uncle Leo was in prison and had [[CatchPhrase "JERRY HELLO"]] tattooed across his knuckles. ItMakesSenseInContext.

* Jerri Blank of ''Series/StrangersWithCandy'' has "HARD" and "LUCK." According to Creator/AmySedaris, for some episodes the L was changed to an F.
* Charlie in ''Series/{{Lost}}'' writes various things on his knuckle bandages, such as "FATE".
* Vince on ''Series/SonsOfGuns'' has "LIVE FREE" prominently displayed on his knuckles.
* In ''Series/TheXFiles'' episode "Beyond the Sea" Luther Lee Boggs who is a psychic SerialKiller and mass murderer on DeathRow has KISS and KILL Knuckle Tattoos.
* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "Asylum Of the Daleks", Amy has "Love" and "Hate" on her knuckles for a photo shoot.

* In ''Series/TheAdventuresOfPeteAndPete'' episode "Field of Pete", coach Ed Narrins has "Just" and "Win" written on his knuckles.
* Stella Carlin in ''Series/OrangeIsTheNewBlack'' has "JUST LOVE" on her knuckles.

* Flea of Music/RedHotChiliPeppers has the word "LOVE" etched onto his right hand. This is referenced in the song "Charlie", off of the album ''Music/StadiumArcadium''.
* The cover art of The Pogues' album ''Peace and Love'' features a man with those very words across his knuckles. Both words fit by virtue of him having [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Peace_Love.jpg six fingers on his right hand]].
* Music/OzzyOsbourne has "OZZY" written on his left knuckles. He did them in jail with shoe polish.
* The cover of Music/{{Slade}}'s record "Slayed" features the band members with the band's name written on their knuckles. Because "Slade" has five letters and there are only four knuckles, they had to put one letter on their thumbs.
* Parodied to the extreme with the music video of the song Pork and Beans by Weezer wherein at one point in the video several lines of lyrics are written all over one of the band members hands and flashed in time with the lyrics. That's a pastiche of Daft Hands, a viral video where the same thing was done with "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" by Music/DaftPunk.

* From the Music/NickCave song "The Mercy Seat:" "Like my good hand I/tattooed EVIL across its brothers fist."

* Oli Sykes, frontman of Music/BringMeTheHorizon, has "Drop Dead" (also the name of his clothing line) tattooed across [[http://www.tattoodonkey.com/pics/o/l/oliver-sykes-music-changed-life-tattoo-stiches-wrist-remind-real-.-t-tattoodonkey.com.jpg his knuckles]].
* Josh Homme, lead singer of "Music/QueensOfTheStoneAge" has the name of his grandparents, [[http://www.celebritytattoosite.com/2010/05/josh-homme-tattoos.html Cap and Cam]], tattooed on his knuckles

* Dallas Green, of Music/{{Alexisonfire}} and Music/CityAndColour fame, has "True Love" [[http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&q=Dallas+Green+tattoo#/d4le03b tattooed on his knuckles]].
* Several members of Music/AvengedSevenfold have this. Synyster Gates has Marlboro, Zacky Vengeance has Cali4nia, and Johnny Christ has Beer and Wine.

* Charlie Scene and Danny of Music/HollywoodUndead both have tattoos on their knuckles. Charlie has the name of his parents on his knuckles, while Danny has “Dear god” on his knuckles.
* The Music/{{Chumbawamba}} album ''Swingin' With Raymond'' is named after a man called Raymond with "LOVE" tattooed on one hand and "HATE" on the other.
** The album is split down the middle: the first half ("love it!") being love songs, and the second ("hate it!") being closer to their angry punk roots.
* Brazilian musician Tico Santa Cruz has his StageName on his knuckles - "TICO" in one hand, "STA †" (in English, would be "Holy Cross") in the other.

* ''Film/{{Chef}}'': The protagonist, eponymous Chef Carl Casper, has tattoos on his forearms and knuckles. The latter read EL JEFE (The Chef in Spanish), which is, while accurate for his job, ironic as he ''doesn't'' speak Spanish.

* In ''The Last Remake of Beau Geste'', the sadistic sergeant played by Peter Ustinov has "Hate" tattooed on one hand -- and "Loathe" on the other.

* The "Cape Feare" episode of ''TheSimpsons'', Sideshow Bob has "LUV" and "HĀT", because [[FourFingeredHands he only has three fingers on each hand]]. This episode was primarily a parody of ''Film/CapeFear'', which also starred Robert Mitchum.

* Brazilian movie ''O Candidato Honesto 2'' has a case where the thumbs are also used, as the main character, a politician who goes through a [[PrisonsAreGymnasiums makeover in prison]], tattoos "DEMOC" and "RACIA" ("Democracy" in Portuguese). Once he's released and allowed to run for president, his advisors ask him to cover the knuckles up lest the religious supporters are repelled by the demonic imagery that "DEMO" brings up.

* In a parody of ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' shown as part of ''Franchise/TheMuppets Take the Bowl'' and ''The Muppets Take the O2'' ("The Walking Bread"), the Swedish Chef wears leather FingerlessGloves with "BØRK BØRK" written on them.

* TV personality Steve-O of ''Series/{{Jackass}}'' fame has "SHIT" and "FUCK" inked on his knuckles.