History Main / ScaryScorpions

* The first ''Manga/InuYasha'' movie starts with the heroes confronting a giant Scorpion youkai with a secondary head in its stinger, which Miroku [[TruthInTelevision correctly identifies as an animal not native to Japan]], which later reveals that the BigBad actually hails from China.

* [=MegaZarak=] of ''Anime/TransformersHeadmasters'', like his Western Animation counterpart Scorponok, is a city-sized Transformer that becomes a {{Kaiju}}-sized scorpion (as well as a city/base mode). He gets an upgrade into Black Zarak in ''Anime/TransformersSuperGodMasterforce'', which is a nearly-identical but [[PaletteSwap recolored]] body with a new head.

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* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'': Unlike most "regular" animals, which tend to be Green (the color of the natural world), scorpions are almost exclusively Black (the color of rot, decay and amorality). They usually get deathtouch (meaning they destroy any creature they deal any damage to) or some way to weaken enemy creatures or players by means such as poison counters.
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* ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMarvel'' and ''ComicBook/TheTransformersIDW'' depict Scorponok much smaller than his city-sized [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers animated]] [[Anime/TransformersHeadmasters counterparts]], though he still transformers into a giant, gun-laden mechanical scorpion, and his robot mode still towers over most Transformers.

* ''Film/ClashOfTheTitans1981'': Medusa's blood causes normal scorpions to become giants. In ''Film/ClashOfTheTitans2010'', there are still massive killer scorpions but it's caused by the blood of Calibos, who has been given godly powers by Hades. The scorpions seem to be better at the job than Calibos was. The scorpions kill two Argosian soldiers (as opposed to Calibos's four), but they tend to make more of an impression, being, you know, giant scorpions. [[HorseOfADifferentColor They also make good mounts]], once they are tamed.

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': In ''Literature/{{Storm Front|DresdenFiles}}'', a scorpion is considered dangerous only because it has been [[BigCreepyCrawlies engorged to massive size]]. Despite receiving a huge dose of venom, one character makes a full recovery because the treatment is so basic.

* ''[[Literature/{{Redwall}} Mariel of Redwall]]'' has Skrabblag, a giant black scorpion found by searat Gabool the Wild, who keeps him as a pet. Eventually, Gabool, having lost his sanity throughout the book, starts siccing Skrabblag on any rat he deems a mutineer or a spy. Skrabblag nearly takes out a [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu Badger Lord]] before his would-be victim flings him into the face of Gabool, and the scorpion wastes no time in stinging him to death. Dandin finishes off Skrabblag mere moments later, commenting that "evil destroyed evil, and good triumphed."

* ''Literature/ThePearl'', by Creator/JohnSteinbeck: The plot is set of by Kino's infant son Coyotito being stung by a scorpion. A normal-sized one, but in Kino's mind it's depicted as an evil song playing overtop of and drowning out the happy song of his family.
* ''Literature/Scorpion1980'' by Michael R. Linaker involves people being threatened by hordes of normal-sized scorpions (''Film/{{Arachnophobia}}''-style). Its sequel, ''Literature/ScorpionSecondGeneration'', ups the ante by having them grow gigantic.
* ''Literature/Scorpions2016'' by Mike Cook revolves around giant scorpions being unleashed from beneath the earth by an earthquake. They menace the Nevada town of Laughlin.
* ''[[Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians The Lightning Thief]]'': The very last chapters have [[spoiler:[[TheMole Luke]]]] summoning a special ''Tartarus'' scorpion, with venom that can kill even demigods in sixty seconds. Percy [[spoiler:just ''barely'' manages to survive its sting by crawling into a nearby creek, where Poseidon's blessing manages to heal him]].

* ''TabletopGame/MutantFuture'': giant mutant scorpions are around 6 feet long and have a sting that injects a lethal poison.

* Scorpions in the ''{{Franchise/Transformers}}'' franchise are more often than not threatening antagonists:
** The name "Scorponok" is synonymous with a villainous robot who transforms into a scorpion, though the level of threat ranges from [[WesternAnimation/BeastWars a Predacon goon]] to a {{Humongous|Mecha}} Decepticon leader.
** ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' has Quickstrike, whose beast mode is a scorpion...with a cobra for a tail!

* ''VideoGame/{{Bug|1995}}'' had ''loads'' of them in the desert stage. Some just walked back and forth, others tried to attack with extendable claws, and a few tried to [[BewareMyStingerTail sting bug with their tail]]. Thankfully, they all took one hit to die, making them not too big of a threat.

* ''[[VideoGame/ExtrapowerGiantFist EXTRAPOWER Giant Fist]]'': Scorpions populate the desert stage surrounding Blackberry's pyramid and within it, one of which is the size of a tank.

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'', Grim and [[Film/{{Blacula}} Dracula]] find themselves stranded in the desert and are attacked by scorpions, which they end up eating. It's shortly revealed that the scorpions were babies belonging to a horrified giant {{mo|nsterIsAMommy}}ther scorpion, who attacked them in retaliation.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules|The Animated Series}}''[=/=]''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin|TheSeries}}'' crossover "Hercules and the Arabian Night", Jafar conjures up a giant scorpion to take on Hercules. Jafar says it is the perfect counter to Hercules, because of its incredible speed. Fortunately, Hercules anticipated this and he and Aladdin had disguised themselves as each other. Aladdin easily evades the scorpion's attacks with his agility, then he and Hercules destroy Jafar's staff of power, [[NoOntologicalInertia making the scorpion disappear]].
* ''WesternAnimation/JonnyQuest'' TOS episode "The Curse of Anubis". A desert scorpion menaces the Quest team, but Race Bannon kills it with a whip.
* Averted and then played straight in the Sniz & Fondue cartoon "A Toxic Tail" on ''WesternAnimation/KaBlam''. Fondue buys a Madagascar Scorpion to keep Sniz out of his room. Sniz tells him that he's not scared since the scorpion is in a tank. Once it gets loose though, everyone freaks out since "one sting and it kills."

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Teen Titans|2003}}'' introduces Terra by having her running from/fighting a giant scorpion.

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': In ''Literature/StormFront'', a scorpion is considered dangerous only because it has been [[BigCreepyCrawlies engorged to massive size]]. Despite receiving a huge dose of venom, one character makes a full recovery because the treatment is so basic.

* ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound|1994}}'' has a creature called a Skelpion that appears in the Dusty Dunes Desert, which is basically a scorpion skeleton, which is weird because scorpions are invertebrates. Stronger versions called Dread Skelpions appear later in the deserts of Scaraba.

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'': Gigantic, radiation-mutated scorpions are a mainstay of the games.

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* Fievel is almost killed by one in ''WesternAnimation/AnAmericanTailFievelGoesWest.'' Considering he's a mouse it's not that surprising.
* ''WesternAnimation/DuckTalesTheMovieTreasureOfTheLostLamp''; the bottom of the chamber where Collie Baba's treasure is kept has quite a few big ones, which Launchpad dubs "Sumo wrestling scorpions." Scrooge dismisses them as they're at the bottom of ''very'' deep pit, but then EvilSorcerer Merlock pulls a lever that causes the platform where the treasure is to lower...

* The opening credits of ''Film/ThreeThousandMilesToGraceland'' feature two cartoonishly CG scorpions duking it out.
* The 1950s science fiction film ''Film/TheBlackScorpion'' involves a volcanic eruption in Mexico unleashing gigantic scorpions upon the land. Some closeups of goofy puppet heads aside, the stop-motion scorpions (made by Willis O'Brien, of ''Film/KingKong1933'' fame) are fairly nightmarish, especially in a scene where one attacks a telephone repair crew.
* In ''Film/TheCave'', Jack encounters a cavern full of them, upon which they try to chase him off.
* In ''Film/ClashOfTheTitans1981'' the blood of Medusa causes normal scorpions to become giants. In ''Film/ClashOfTheTitans2010'', there are still massive killer scorpions but it's caused by the blood of Calibos, who has been given godly powers by Hades. The scorpions seem to be better at the job than Calibos was. The scorpions kill two Argosian soldiers (as opposed to Calibos's four), but they tend to make more of an impression, being, you know, giant scorpions. [[HorseOfADifferentColor They also make good mounts]], once they are tamed.
* Some giant mutated ones make a cameo in ''Film/DamnationAlley''.
* A dentist who is part of the diamond smuggling ring in ''Film/DiamondsAreForever'' is [[AnimalAssassin assassinated with a scorpion]].
* In ''Film/DrPhibesRisesAgain'' one of Phibes' deathtraps involves scorpions.
* The kung fu movie ''Film/FiveDeadlyVenoms'' goes all-in on AnimalThemeNaming, and one of the main villains is called Scorpion. His fighting style revolves around high kicks that can paralyze an opponent, a powerful grip, and the use of hidden throwing darts. He is also the most mysterious character in the film, as unlike the other four Venoms, we don't learn his secret identity until the climax of the movie.
* At one point in ''Film/HoneyIShrunkTheKids'', the kids are attacked by a scorpion after taking shelter in a Franchise/{{LEGO}} brick. Anty, an ant they befriended earlier that day, tries to save them and succeeds, [[HeroicSacrifice though at the cost of its life]], buying the kids enough time to get their act together and drive the beast off with their torches and sharpened sticks. Of course in this case, since scorpions ''are'' predators, [[JustifiedTrope a scorpion really would be scary and dangerous if you'd been shrunk down to the size of an insect]].
* In ''Film/{{Hook}}'', the eponymous pirate locks a pirate who bet against him in a large trunk called "The Boo Box." Apparently it is a common and deathly frightening punishment for pirates on the Jolly Roger, because the man ScreamsLikeALittleGirl, is thrown into the trunk, and has a bunch of scary scorpions dropped on him while the others scream "Boo!"
* A scorpion is utilized as an AnimalAssassin in ''Film/IfLooksCouldKill''. It's really a harmless emperor scorpion, though.
* In ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'', Shia [=LeBeouf=]'s character gets stung on the arm by a scorpion. He immediately flips out and screams that it was huge. Indy calmly tells him "Good, it's the small ones that kill you."

* Giant scorpions are a recurring threat in the ''Literature/FightingFantasy'' series of books, showing up in ''Literature/ScorpionSwamp'' (well ''duh''), ''Literature/{{Magehunter}}'', ''Literature/CurseOfTheMummy'', ''Literature/{{Bloodbones}}'' and the largest of the lot, from ''Literature/DeathtrapDungeon''. The latter from ''Dungeon'' is widely considered as ThatOneBoss by players of these books, having ''two'' attacks simultaneously (given it has a Skill of 10, it can inflict double the damage on players with ease) and a stinger tail that inflicts a OneHitKill by rolling a double-twelve. Luckily that scorpion is a SkippableBoss, where players can battle the much easier Minotaur instead.

* In the fourth Literature/DragonJousters novel ''Aerie'', the heroes are investigating a town whose entire population abruptly disappeared when they are attacked by a mass of black desert scorpions.

* In ''Literature/TheDescendants'' story "Little Girl Lost", the team encounters dog-sized scorpions, only to discover that killing them makes them combine into even bigger scorpions.
* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' book ''Literature/StormFront'', a scorpion is considered dangerous only because it has been [[BigCreepyCrawlies engorged to massive size]]. And despite receiving a huge dose of venom, one character makes a full recovery because the treatment is so basic.

* The plot of Creator/JohnSteinbeck's novella ''Literature/ThePearl'' is set of by Kino's infant son Coyotito being stung by a scorpion. A normal-sized one, but in Kino's mind it's depicted as an evil song playing overtop of and drowning out the happy song of his family.

* The novel ''Literature/Scorpions2016'' by Mike Cook revolves around giant scorpions being unleashed from beneath the earth by an earthquake. They menace the Nevada town of Laughlin.

* Descorpion from ''Series/BFighterKabuto'' is a ruthless, scorpion-themed warrior who leads the [[ThePsychoRangers B-Crushers]], the EliteFour of the Melzard Tribe

* The Scorpion Zodiart, the first member of the Horoscopes fought in ''Series/KamenRiderFourze''.
* Lami / Scorpina, of ''Series/KyoryuSentaiZyuranger'' / ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' fame. Her normal form is that of a beautiful woman, but when she [[MakeMyMonsterGrow grows to giant size]], she changes a lot more than most villains....
* ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}'' has two episodes in which the heroes are attacked by giant scorpions.

* In ''Series/{{Primeval}}'' the heroes are attacked by huge scorpions, which come from the prehistoric times. The spinoff series ''Series/PrimevalNewWorld'' also has huge scorpions from prehistoric times.

* Iraqi thrash metal band [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrassicauda Acrassicauda]] derives its name from the Latin name for the Arabian fat-tailed scorpion, ''Androctonus crassicauda''.

* There's a very old story called "The Scorpion and the Frog." Basically, the scorpion wants the frog to get him across a river. The frog initially refuses, afraid the scorpion will sting him if he lets him on his back. But the scorpion assures him he won't, since then they'd both drown. So the frog relents and lets the scorpion hop on board. Midway across the river, the frog feels a sharp pain in his back and realizes the scorpion's stung him. He demands to know why he did it, since now they'll both drown. The scorpion replies, [[StupidEvil "It's in]] [[TheFarmerAndTheViper my nature."]]

* The "Devil's Island" table of ''VideoGame/BallsOfSteel'' depicts a giant scorpion interrupting a human sacrifice ritual.

* Chaosium's supplement ''All the Worlds' Monsters''

* ''TabletopGame/{{Arduin}}''

* ''Magazine/{{Ares}}'' magazine #6 game "Voyage of the BSM Pandora". One possible monster an expedition can encounter is a large scorpion-like monster with a deadly tail (that is capable of killing a human in one blow), strong armor and razor-sharp talons.

** It also had Trobriand's and Scaladar Automatons, which were sometimes made in the shape of giant scorpions.
** The ''TabletopGame/DarkSun'' setting had several examples.
*** The Mastyrial came in two versions. The Desert variety was a 6 foot long with a sonar sense that could [[SeeTheInvisible detect invisible enemies]], pincers and tail that could inflict lethal damage, a tough shell that gave immunity to blunt weapons and the ability to quickly regenerate damage. The Black version was smaller (3 feet long) and did less damage, but they hunted in packs and had psionic abilities that allowed them to lure their victims closer and attack them.
*** The Scorpian also had two versions. The Barbed type was 8-12 feet long, covered with barbs that damaged anyone that attacked it from close range, and its attacks did massive damage. The Gold was much smaller (1-2 feet long) but still did tremendous damage with its sting.
** In 3rd Edition scorpions could grow up to 80 feet long.
** In ''TabletopGame/{{Eberron}}'', scorpions replace spiders as the Drow animal obsession.
* ''Dying Earth'' RPG. The Silver Desert has large scorpions (among other hazards).

** The Giant Scorpion in the ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}} Bestiary'', which is two yards long. If its claws and bite don't kill you, its sting definitely will.
** ''TabletopGame/GURPSSpaceAtlas'' and ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}} Space Bestiary''. On the [[SingleBiomePlanet desert planet]] called Quentin, Pressure-Scorps are huge scorpion-like alien creatures more than 12 yards long and weighing up to six tons. Their stings don't inject poison - appropriate to the planet, they suck the bodily fluids out of their victims, thus providing much-needed liquid.

** Giant scorpions are the size of a horse and have a paralyzing sting that can take down a Brontotherium.
** The pterygotus is a 6 foot long aquatic scorpion with [[PowerPincers large spiked claws]] and a flipper tail instead of a sting.
* ''TabletopGame/ItCameFromTheLateLateShow'': the Giant Scorpion Monster is 8 feet long and is created by man's mistreatment of the environment. It can crush its favorite prey (human beings) in its PowerPincers.

** The game has several varieties of giant scorpions, with some getting dangerous enough to go toe-to-toe with 15th level characters. There are also Skullrippers, scorpion-like constructs that have a tendency to decapitate people and add their skulls to its body.

** ''Space Master'' supplement ''Aliens & Artifacts''. Ice Scorpions, which are found in Arctic ecosystems and are 3 meters long.

*** ''Master Atlas''. The Gemsting scorpion is 4-6 feet long and injects a respiratory poison.
*** ''Kingdom of the Desert Jewel''. Giant scorpions in Gethrya inject a poison that causes delirium for 1-20 hours.

** ''Heroes'' magazine Volume I #3 article "Creepy Critters: Insects for TabletopGame/RuneQuest''. Scorpions can grow up to nine meters long, including the tail. If the pincers grab the opponent, the scorpion's sting automatically hits.
** Supplement ''Trollpak'', "Book of Uz" part 2. Giant scorpions used by the trolls can weigh as much as 480 lbs.

** ''Paranormal Animals of Europe''. The Scorpyrine is a scorpion about 40 centimeters (16 inches) long which is immune to fire and has a [[PoisonIsCorrosive acidic venom]] that can kill a victim in five minutes.
** ''California Free State''. The Nova Scorpion is a meter long and its stinger has one of the deadliest animal poisons known to metahumanity -- it can kill in one hour.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'': The Tomb kings can summon giant undead scorpions from underground.

* ''VideoGame/{{Bug}}'' had ''loads'' of them in the desert stage. Some just walked back and forth, others tried to attack with extendable claws, and a few tried to [[BewareMyStingerTail sting bug with their tail]]. Thankfully, they all took one hit to die, making them not too big of a threat.

* A discovery in 2020 determined that the first animals to venture from water onto land were probably primordial scorpions, evolved to crawl on the sea floor like modern crustaceans. This adaptation made it easy for them to venture onto land, and at the time, there would have been no animal competition on land to counter them. That's ignoring the fact that scorpions are the longest lived predators on Earth, having been around for over '''''[[TimeAbyss 435 million years]]''''', [[TimeAbyss nearly]] ''[[TimeAbyss triple]]'' [[TimeAbyss the time non-avian dinosaurs have lived and having (so far) never once switched their diets to herbivory]] or the fact that they're most likely ancestors of the [[SpidersAreScary spiders]] the same way dinosaurs are ancestors to the birds.

* While modern scorpions are strongly associated with arid environments like deserts, savannahs and scrublands, the Eurypterids, a group of ancient arthropods informally known as Sea Scorpions, lived, as the name suggests, in the ocean and other aquatic habitats. These grew to be much larger then any living scorpion, the biggest of them being ''8 ft 2 in''. They went extinct during the Permian-Triassic extinction event. Despite the name, they weren't actually scorpions -- their closest living relatives would be the horseshoe crabs -- and only resembled them in their elongated body plan and their front limbs ending in large claws. They didn't have a sting (their bodies ended in flat paddles for swimming) and would have used their claws as their primary weapons.

** ''Brontoscorpio'' was even bigger, reaching nearly a meter in length. One of the earliest scorpions known, it is also though to have been a strictly marine animal.

* [[Characters/MarvelComicsMacGargan Mac Gargan/The Scorpion]] from Creator/MarvelComics, of course. He was created -- with funding from J Jonah Jameson, no less -- to take out Franchise/SpiderMan, and actually trounced Spidey in their first fight. He's been mostly B-list since then, however, eventually ditching the Scorpion suit entirely to become the new {{Comicbook/Venom}}, but then when the symbiote was given to Flash Thompson, he took up his old identity again. He had a female sort-of-LegacyCharacter, Carmilla Black, but she's been rarely seen since he retook the Scorpion mantle.

* The scorpion goddess Serket from Myth/EgyptianMythology, whom the Egyptians credited with protecting them from venomous animals. But get on her bad side, and they could expect a deadly scorpion sting.

* The scorpion goddess Selket from Myth/EgyptianMythology, whom the Egyptians credited with protecting them from venomous animals. But get on her bad side, and they could expect a deadly scorpion sting.

** The name "Scorponok" is synonymous with a villainous robot who transforms into a Scorponok, though the level of threat ranges from [[WesternAnimation/BeastWars a Predacon goon]] to a {{Humongous|Mecha}} Decepticon leader.

* Scorponok from ''{{Franchise/Transformers}}'' transforms into a ''giant'' scorpion that's [[WalkingArmory covered in guns]].
** Unless if it was [[{{Film/Transformers}} Movie Scorponok]], however. And ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' Scorponok (Optimus Primal and Cheetor are the exact size of the animals they scanned, and Scorponok is their height, so he may not even be human-sized.)
** However, that's still giant compared to an actual scorpion. The giantest, however, is G1 Scorponok (the transformed form of ''The Hive's base''). Aside from Unicron and Primus, Scorponok (along with his rival Fortress Maximus) may be the tallest Transformer in the cartoon franchise.
** ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' also has Quickstrike, whose beast mode is a scorpion...with a cobra for a tail!

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* ''VideoGame/BattleForWesnoth'': giant blue scorpions are commonly used as neutral critters, unavaible for hire. They can be pretty dangerous in combat, attacking with either several strikes of their pincers or a single, venomous stinger strike, but lack any form of ranged combat. During the campaign "Son of Black Eye", the Troll in the party tries to cook and eat a desert scorpion, only to find out they taste like crap.

* Eris' car [[spoiler: and especially the Nidhogg]] in ''Agent Intercept''. While the connection with Eris' car is limited to the stinger-like laser cannon on the back, [[Nidhogg]] has a laser stinger ''and'' propeller-assisted claws.

* A scorpion serves as a recurring enemy in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPandaLegendsOfAwesomeness.''

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'':