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Where [[Stock Super Powers]] meets [[Body Horror]].
 
Usually, when you gain some special ability, it will manifest in some fairly conventional forms. [[Pure Energy|Energy blasts]], [[Psychic Powers|psychic powers]], [[Nigh Invulnerability|steel skin]], [[Elemental Powers|control over different forms of matter]] and varieties of [[Magic]] are all relatively common.
 
For the less lucky, however, such new talents will have a [[Squick|disturbing]] biological component. They find themselves able to sprout [[Combat Tentacles|thrashing razor-tipped tentacles]], drool highly corrosive acid saliva, or extrude venomous thorns from their flesh. Alas, for these people have been [[Blessed Withwith Suck]] and granted a [[Squick]][[Crunchtastic|tastic]] [[Lovecraftian Superpower]].
 
The name originates from classic scifi/horror writer Mr. [[HPH.P. Lovecraft]], whose characteristic creations often seemed equal parts Nightmare Fuel and biology textbook.
 
A subtrope of [[Bad Powers, Bad People]], usually, possibly because [[Magic Is Evil]]. May be a useful side-effect of [[The Virus]] or [[The Corruption]]. Often manifests as [[Combat Tentacles]], [[You Are Who You Eat|cannibalistic]] and [[Body Horror|horrific]] [[Shapeshifting]] (sometimes [[Partial Transformation|partial shapshifting]]), [[Bloody Murder]], or a [[Bee-Bee Gun]], and is likely [[Power Incontinence|not quite controllable]]. Can overlap with [[One-Winged Angel]] and [[Shapeshifter Mashup]], and usually counts as a [[Super-Trope]] of [[Spider Limbs]].
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** A few of the characters from the series are worthy of mention as well, such as a swordsman who has a hideous parasitic worm living in his stomach that attacks and kills anyone that is about to kill its host.
* Likewise, Shino and the Aburame clan in ''[[Naruto]]'' turn their bodies into living hives for their Kikkai insects, but are portrayed much more sympathetically, and with only a few tiny holes in their cheeks as the only visible indicator of their trait (they wear rather concealing clothing, so any further changes are unseen).
** The [[Omake|omake]] at the end of Shippuden episode 110 strongly implies that [[Eye Scream|his eyes are empty sockets]]
*** His eyes are [http://images.wikia.com/naruto/images/f/fa/Shino_Eyes.jpg seen from the side] in episode 149 of Part I. The manga says nothing either way.
** Heck, a lot of ninjas are like this. Kimmimaro's blood limit is to weaponize his ''bones'' stands out as pretty freaky. But then there is any ninja who can use the 2nd level of the curse seal, that transforms their body into some monstrosity. Or Juugo, the original source of the curse seal, whose abilities are basically shifting his body into whatever the situation at hand calls for. Kakuzu passes into this territory as well, given that he is partially made of freely-controllable string and artificially extends his life by using his opponents like organ banks whenever something grows too old to work, plus there's those... ''things'' that he can create out of the string.
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* In [[Speed Grapher]], one of the Euphorics<ref>(people with disturbing sexual fetishes turned into super powers)</ref> is a dentist who can make lots of tentacles made out of dental instruments sprout out of his back. Because backs sprouting tentacles and dental tools weren't terrifying enough on their own.
* [[Guyver]] tends to invoke this trope, especially with the first activation of the eponymous suit.
* In ''[[King of Thorn (Manga)|King of Thorn]]'', infection by [[The Virus|Medusa]] can grant this to those with [[Heroic Willpower|sufficient willpower]]. The good news: you can make all your dreams into reality! The bad news: by having them explode out of your body like chestbursters. [[Body Horror]] doesn't begin to cover it.
* Xam'ds in ''[[Xamd Lost Memories|Xam'd: Lost Memories]]''. Even the most subdued use of their powers involves transforming an arm into a grotesque alien appendage or blade.
* Alucard from [[Hellsing]], when he takes on worthy opponents.
* In ''[[Akira (Manga)|Akira]]'', Tetsuo manifests this trope in the Olympic Stadium when Colonel Shikishima tries to neutralize him; the flesh around the stub where Tetsuo's arm was fried off by the orbital laser shoots out in a massive bloody tentacle that attacks the Colonel. [[It Gets Worse|But then]], later in the scene, Tetsuo gets shot by Kaneda's laser weapon. You see, Tetsuo is in so much pain that this trope suddenly combines with [[Superpower Meltdown]]. Naturally, Tetsuo's Lovecraftian Superpower Meltdown is just as bad as you can imagine it.
* In ''[[Bleach]]'' the 9th Espada Aaronerio has resurrection.
** {{spoiler|Aizen during his fight vs Ichigo gets a gruesome transformation with the skin of his face ''splits'' in half}}
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== Trading Cards ==
* [[Chaotic]]'s Stelgar: though originally a very spiny starfish [http://chaotic.wikia.com/wiki/File:Stelgar01.png and slightly creepy], his new look [http://chaotic.wikia.com/wiki/File:Stelgar.png.png makes his old look seem cute and snuggly]
* ''[[Magic: theThe Gathering]]'' sometimes does this with cards like Unstable Mutation and some of the versions of Unholy Strength feature frightful assymetry. Other cards, like Fallen Angel, involve sacrificing creatures to pump them up.
** Or there's the direct route, via [http://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=193492 Eldrazi Conscription].
 
 
== Comic Books ==
* [[X -Force|The Spike]]'s mutant ability allows him to fire bone spikes out of his body. The film version has him shooting huge spikes out of his wrists. His teammate Phat can fill himself up with extradimensional gunk, growing to qroteque proportions but increasing his strength and durability exponentially.
** In the ''[[X-Men: Evolution]]'' series, the character who inspired him, Spyke<ref>[[Atop the Fourth Wall (Web Video)|Because poor literacy is kewl]]</ref>, {{spoiler|eventually becomes completely covered in armadillo like plates which he [[I Just Want to Be Normal|can't get rid of]]. Although on the upshot, he gains the ability to launch spikes that are ''[[Incendiary Exponent|on]] [[Kill It Withwith Fire|fire]]''}}.
** And of course, there's Wolverine's claws. Which are bone knives that slice through his forearms and hands everytime they extend. [[Good Thing You Can Heal|Good Thing He Can Heal]] indeed.
*** It still stings like hell, though.
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** A former X-Man with the charming name of [[Xtreme Kool Letterz|Maggott]] had two parasitic slugs that ''crawled out of his belly'' and could eat anything. He spent most of his childhood nearly starving to death until his primary digestive system (the slugs) emerged.
** Johnny Dee of the 198 isn't a mutant, but his internalized parasitic twin is. It extends poison tentacles from his gut, and makes mind-controlling zombie dolls of anyone whose DNA it eats.
* One short-lived member of ''[[X -Force]]'', Sluk, (and when we say "short lived", we mean "he was already dead when his team was introduced") had ''creepy [[Shaped Like Itself|tentacle]] [[Buffy-Speak|things]]'' growing from his face and tentacular feet and hands. His teammates secretly hated him for a few reasons. One was that he was only handy in close combat situations and it was difficult to get him into the right spots a lot of the time. Another was that he wasn't exactly Mr. Personality. But mostly they didn't like him because he just looked really, really weird.
* [[Generation X]] foe Emplate had mouths on his hands that let him cannibalize mutant bone marrow.
* [[Spider-Man]] has on at least one occasion turned into a literal multi-limbed arachnid-humanoid creature. Even normal Spider-Man, in those incarnations where the [[Does This Remind You of Anything?|sticky white silk]] he shoots from his hands is organic, arguably counts.
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* The various 'Symbiotes' in the [[Marvel Universe]] all have this, to varying degrees. Most noticeable is Carnage, a psychopathic serial killer whose symbiote tends to turn into a cloud of barbed tentacles whenever it feels like it. Also, the reason his suit is red is that it's made up of the Venom symbiote mixed with Cletus Cassidy's blood.
** Of course, in the ''Spider-Man: Web of Shadows'' videogame, Spider-Man's old 'Black Suit' symbiote also has the potential to turn into this, if you buy all its upgrades. Waves of writhing, black tentacles covering half a city block is just the beginning...
* ''[[The Incredible Hulk (Comic Book)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' is one of the most prominent examples of this trope.
** And perhaps one of the tamest. At least Bruce maintains a totally humanoid form. There are a number of gamma mutates who aren't ''nearly'' so lucky...
* Top Cow seems to be fond of this. With two parts of their Triarchy, ''[[Witchblade (Comic Book)|Witchblade]]'' and ''[[The Darkness]]'' fitting the description. [[Combat Tentacles]] being just the start for both powers. The third of them, [[Light Is Not Good|the Angelus]], is more of a [[Holy Hand Grenade]].
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** Actually, ''Deadpool'''s healing factor comes from having Wolverine's DNA injected into himself. The cancer was killing him already, and they thought the healing factor would cure that. Unfortunately, the healing factor applied to his body AND the cancer cells, so while his superhuman immune system is perfectly capable of killing the cancer, the cancer can recover and mutate just as quickly.
* The first three issues of ''Generation Hope'' dealt with the manifestation of the powers of Kenji Uedo, the fifth new mutant since M-Day. His power is a sort of "techno-organic" shapeshifting, but that doesn't quite convey [http://marvel.wikia.com/Kenji_Uedo_(Earth-616)/Gallery how very Lovecraftian they can be].
* The miniseries ''[[North 40 (Comic Book)|North 40]]'' deals with what happens when some kid reads the [[Tome of Eldritch Lore]] in a small town's library, triggering a [[Mass Super-Empowering Event]] of this type. The lucky ones get abilities like invulnerability, super-strength, and [[Animal Eye Spy|the ability to see through an animal's eyes]]. The ''other'' ones, however, get the ability to make man-powered killing machines, see through any photograph of themselves with their "new eyes" (which [[Eye Scream|look like fanged maws]]), or just plain all purpose [[Body Horror]].
* In [[The Umbrella Academy]] series, The Horror is pretty much the embodiment of this. He's said to have several monsters hidden under his skin. Whether or not they're from space or another dimension or something else has yet to be stated. However, according to some people in universe, they're horrible and disgusting.
 
 
== Literature ==
* Corrupted spellcasters in ''[[The Banned and Thethe Banished]]'' are linked to animals, but the link is always perverse in some way. The first in the series gives birth to man-eating spiders, and they scale up from there all the way to twins who grow pustules that explode into rats. The only one who initially avoids this {{spoiler|transforms into any animal he wears the skin of}}, and he later {{spoiler|skins and wears one of the protagonists}}.
* In books by [[Clive Barker]], villains ([[Dark Is Not Evil|and otherwise]]) tend to have these.
** In [[Abarat (Literature)|The Abarat Quintet]], the Prince of Midnight, Christopher Carrion, has the ability to distill his nightmares in physical form. They come out of tubes set in his skull and into a tank around his neck, cavorting in the fluid he breathes. On command, they can grow to many times their size and attack.
*** Leeman Vole is a man who enjoys growing insects. [[Nausea Fuel|On and in his own body]].
*** Leotho is a boy with a [[Involuntary Shapeshifting|ravenous beast form]]. He works for Carrion in return for the antidote, which he needs continual doses of to remain human.
*** Don't forget [[Complete Monster|Mater Motley]], [[Never Mess Withwith Granny|Carrion's grandmother]] {{spoiler|and his eventual killer}}. [[Nightmare Fuel|The things she can do with needles...]]
* A number of Jokers from the [[Wild Cards]] series. One that particularly pops to mind is Bloat. And Mother. And Ti Malice.
* The Denarians from [[The Dresden Files]] are often [[Mind Rape|Mind Raped]] by [[Fallen Angel|fallen angels]] ([[It Got Worse|and sometimes]] [[Not Brainwashed]]) and have the ability to transform into a [[One-Winged Angel|demonic form]]. These forms are often a bit disturbing, the best example being the one who transforms into a giant mutated praying mantis. That bleeds praying mantises.
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* Engineers from ''[[Tokyo Gore Police]]'' are genetically modified humans who sprout weapons from injuries they receive. For example, the first one in the film grows a bio-mechanical chainsaw after his arm is cut off.
* [[David Cronenberg]] uses this a lot:
** Seth Brundle in ''[[The Fly]]'' gains the ability to wallcrawl, super strength, and even vomit a corrosive enzyme to dissolve food (or enemies). Unfortunately, he gained these abilities when he accidentally fused his genes with a fly, and slowly mutates into a grotesque giant insect/human hybrid. [[Blessed Withwith Suck]] indeed.
** ''[[The Brood]]''. While Psychoplasmics isn't ''necessarily'' a superpower, the ability to birth homunculi from your traumatic memories who end up subconsciously doing your bidding might be considered useful, if fucked up.
** ''[[Videodrome]]'', where Max ([[Unreliable Narrator|probably]]) gets mutable flesh and a giant mouth in his stomach, which can apparently create hand grenades.
* In [[District 9]], Wikus is exposed to alien fluid which slowly transforms him (starting with his arm) into one of the aliens. This gives him both an alien's strength and the ability to operate their weapons.
* Generally the [[Big Bad|Big Bads]] from the movies of [[Resident Evil (Filmfilm)|Resident Evil]] gain this through [[The Virus|the T virus]].
 
 
== Live Action TV ==
* In Season 3 episode "Earshot", [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer|Buffy]] fears she might get a Lovecraftian superpower after touching demon blood. Instead she got [[Psychic Powers]], though with great power came great [[Blessed Withwith Suck|suckiness]] that got her nearly insane.
** Vampires can also be considered to have this, as they have a hideous [[Game Face]] that makes them stronger, and it's implied that, with age, the [[Game Face]] can't be changed back, but they get a massive power boost.
* In one of the ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]'' online novels, one man's superpower was to involuntarily grow spikes; he accidentally killed his wife this way, and then everyone in the van he was being transported to prison in (except for a guard who could turn into liquid).
** And then, of course, there's volume 3 Mohinder, who {{spoiler|uses his own serum to grant him Spider Man-style powers, with the side-effect of growing scales over his skin}}.
** Maya could cry toxic tears.
** In another graphic novel, there was a character who breathed out chlorine gas instead of carbon dioxide.
* Pathfinders in ''[[Farscape (TV)|Farscape]]'' can shoot poisonous bristles from the gills in their heads.
** Aside from the Corlata's ability to shapeshift in a particularly gruesome way, one of them apparently had the power to exude an explosive fluid from his hands.
** The Halosians can animate their vomit into a seperate entity.
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== Mythology ==
* The warp-spasm of Cuchulainn from [[Celtic Mythology]] is all this. Think the [[Incredible Hulk]], [[wikipedia:Cuchulainn#The Cattle Raid of Cooley|only uglier]].
** Longrunning [[Two Thousand AD (Comic Book)|2000 AD]] strip ''[[Slaine]]'' (being a fusion of Celtic mythology, Robert E Howard novels and the good old fashioned, classic 2000 AD, punk aesthetic) has its eponymous hero (an appropriate fusion of Cuchulainn and Conan, with a punk aesthetic) warp-spasm similarly.
 
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* A feature of ''The Dreadful Secrets of Candlewick Manor'', a supplement for ''[[Monsters and Other Childish Things]]''. The more powers you have, the more creepy other people find you and the less you can pass for normal. (In the original game, you have a [[Mons|mon]] companion. In ''Candlewick Manor'', you have an eerie power which (usually) manifests physically, or else mentally or psychically.)
* Sorcerers in the game ''Sorcerer'' who have Parasite demons commonly have this kind of power.
* Many of the mutations Chaos champions gain in ''[[Warhammer]]'' and ''[[Warhammer 40000 (Tabletop Game)|Warhammer 40000]]'' fit this, usually a physical boon specific to the chaos god they represent. If they are unlucky, however, they might get something like an eye on their navel or an emu's leg.
** Hell, an eye or emu's leg is nothing compared to the grotesque explosions of tentacles (with breasts and tongues if we're talking about Slaanesh)that you can get stuck with!
** Chaos Marauders, at least in their [[MMORPG|Age of Reckoning]] manifestation, use Chaos energies to spontaneously mutate their limbs into a variety of crablike claws and similar weapons.
** In fact, a persistent danger to Chaos champions is that their gods will [[Blessed Withwith Suck|"gift"]] them with so many of these mutations that their minds collapse. These are known as Chaos Spawn.
* ''[[GURPS]]'' lists the Battle Jaw, Tentacle Transplant and Ripsnake as potential body modifications, which can come as quite a shock to the unsuspecting.
** ''[[GURPS]] [[Celtic Mythology]]'' also includes the above mentioned warp-spasm. All Fomorians [[Half Human Hybrids|and their descendants]] also receive a [[Red Right Hand]] that gives them the ability to horrify opponents.
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** A ''[[Forgotten Realms]]'' special is the spellscarred multiclass feature, which has all kinds of nasty [[Body Horror]] powers. Including unhinging your jaw to take a bite out of your enemies, bleeding on your sword to make it blister with plague, and creating a rope of flesh that binds you to your target so they can't escape you.
** ''[[Dragon]]'' #s 296 and 300 introduced the Monster Cultist prestige classes. Give yourself over to a monstrous god, and you gain the powers of their natural worshippers ... at the cost of becoming more like them. Examples include Sphere Minion (beholders); Illithidkin (mind flayers); Snake Servant (medusas); Waker of the Beast (tarrasque); Faceless Ones (doppelgangers); Deep Thrall (kraken); Shoal Servant (kua-toas); and Tiger Mask (rakashas). Anything that involves shifting your Creature Type from Humanoid to Abberation is probably a bad idea...
* In ''[[Vampire: The Masquerade (Tabletop Game)|Vampire: The Masquerade]]'' is the Obtenebration discipline, which at a certain level allows the user to make tentacles out of shadows.
** Don't forget what Tzimisce can do with their Vicissitude, which allows them to sculpt themselves or others into [[The Blob|slimy pus-heaps]] or powerful [[Mutants|mutant monsters]], as they see fit. One sourcebook played up the Lovecraftian connections by making it a parasitic virus from the Umbra. [[Canon Dis Continuity|This was not well-received and eventually struck out]], but the idea remained that Vicissitude wasn't so much a proper Discipline as a virus devised by the clan's antediluvian for some foul purpose.
** A few of the [[Prestige Class|bloodlines]] in the successor game, ''[[Vampire: The Requiem]]'', have similar abilities. Take [[Circus of Fear|the Carnival]], whose special Discipline ranges from contortion tricks to merging with another vampire to form a hybrid. Or the [[I'm a Humanitarian|Noctuku]], who alter their flesh so they can absorb more blood and better digest vampiric flesh. Or the Norvegi, who lack fangs but make up for it by producing bony spines that allow them to feed through their fingers. Or...
* The ''[[New World of Darkness]]'' Cherion Group thaumatechnology from ''[[Hunter: The Vigil (Tabletop Game)|Hunter: The Vigil]]'' is based on implanting monster organs and body parts into a human host.
** The reality deviant worshippers in ''Second Sight'' get a whole ''section'' of [[Body Horror]]-themed features and rituals.
** [[Geist: The Sin Eaters (Tabletop Game)|Sin-Eaters]] have the Caul Manifestation, allowing them to assume a whole range of horrifying forms. Most notable are the Industrial Caul (which allows them to implant objects in their body) and the Phantasmal Caul (which lets them transform into a living nightmare that can induce paralytic fear or outright madness).
** And then there's the Centimani of ''[[Promethean: The Created]]'', Prometheans who turn their back on [[To Become Human|the Great Work]] and embrace [[The Dark Side|Flux]]. They can buy all sorts of twisted mutations, from tentacles to extra organs to the ability to turn into a puddle of sentient liquid.
*** Similarly, the [[I Love Nuclear Power|Zeky]] get a ''whole'' bunch of unwholesome Transmutations based around atomic energy and its side effects. Three words: Mind. Control. Tumor.
** [[Mage: The Awakening (Tabletop Game)|Mages]] have Branding [[Magic Misfire|Paradox]], where the [[Cosmic Horror Story|Abyss]] warps their body in various ways, which can include temporarily granting them strange mutations of their bodies (such as horns, claws, tails, and, of course, tentacles). There is also a [[Black Magic|Left]]-[[Omnicidal Maniac|Handed]] [[Prestige Class|Legacy]] called "[[Names to Run Away From Really Fast|the Legion]]", whose whole shtick is that they give up parts of their body to the Abyss, and receive mutated transplants in return.
** The fourth clause of the Contract of Mirrors allows [[Changeling: The Lost (Tabletop Game)|changelings]] to turn a limb into a weapon, their skin into bark, etc.
* Fomori have this and [[The Corruption]] as pretty much their entire schtick in [[Werewolf: The Apocalypse (Tabletop Game)|Werewolf: The Apocalypse]]: sure, you can get [[Super Strength]], but you're gonna look like a ''reeeally'' ugly Hulk for the rest of your life. Or that convenient [[Nigh Invulnerable|armor]] power you just got takes the form of a thick, chitinous exoskeleton that covers your entire body. It doesn't stop there and Storytellers are often encouraged to go further down the [[Humanoid Abomination]] route. [[Justified Trope|Justified]] by the fact that Fomori get their powers from being fused to a [[Eldritch Abomination|Bane]] on a physical and spiritual level, and that for each Power Point they get at creation, they must take on an equivalent Taint to balance it out.
* In the Glorantha setting of ''[[Rune Quest]]'', Chaos Features (powers granted by exposure to "primal Chaos") often have a physical side effect like this--But some folks get Chaos Flaws instead, all side effect and no power.
* In ''[[Cthulhu Tech]]'', Tagers and their Nyarlathotep-worshiping counterparts, the Dhohanoids, manifest a [[Guyver]]-style ability to transform into [[Eldritch Abomination|Eldritch Abominations.]]
* Nightbane. A Palladium horror dark fantasy, where your [[Blessed Withwith Suck]] powers are to transform into an inhuman, grotesque, powerful form.
* ''[[Exalted]]'' has a fair number of horrors with these abilities. Chimera Knacks for Lunars, some of the freakier Yozi charms for Infernals, the Abyssals and their freaky undeath powers...and let's not even get into a discussion of the Wyld. (With the Broken-Winged Crane expansion, Infernals can even literally turn into a [[Cthulhu Mythos|shoggoth]].)
* You can learn the Celtic "warp-spasm" in ''[[Scion]]''. The picture that accompanies it shows someone in the middle stages of transformation, and it isn't pretty (he's effectively turning into a mutant crow).
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* The hero of [[FPS]] ''[[The Darkness]]'', Jackie Estacado, sprouts a pair of snapping serpentine demon-heads from his shoulders, as well as producing dark tentacles to impale foes and destroy walls as needed.
* In the first ''[[Baten Kaitos]]'' game, {{spoiler|Geldoblame}} is transformed into a hideous deformed monstrosity after {{spoiler|infusing himself with the power of Malpercio}}. [[Jiggle Physics]] are involved, which is as [[Squick|unpleasant]] as it sounds.
* ''[[Bio ShockBioshock]]'s'' "Insect Swarm" plasmid causes a small hive-like growth to form on your palm, which allows you to ''[[Bee-Bee Gun|throw live swarms of hornets]] at your foes''.
** Most of the other plasmids, which are injected into yourself in order to [[Lego Genetics|rapidly modify your genetic structure]], combine this with [[Elemental Powers]].
* Similarly to ''[[Warhammer]]'' and ''[[Warhammer 40000 (Tabletop Game)|Warhammer 40000]]'', [[ADOM]] features various "corruptions" that you eventually gain after enough exposure to the forces of Chaos (from traps and Chaos beings, but also simply being deep in a dungeon). These most commonly take the form of Lovecraftian superpowers - although as "superpowers", they're mostly examples of [[Blessed Withwith Suck]]. Also similarly to the ''Warhammer'' games, taking enough corruption will turn you into a "writhing mass of primal Chaos".
* ''[[Prototype (Videovideo Gamegame)|Prototype]]'' has the main character capable of significantly altering his own body, allowing him to grow everything from claws to [[Combat Tentacles]] to better destroy absolutely everything around him... or he can ''eat someone'' to steal their appearance and blend into a crowd. Combine this with [[Super Strength]], [[Super Speed]], and [[Nigh Invulnerability]], and you've got one very scary [[Villain Protagonist]] on your hands.
** That and his ability to spray blood from his wrists with such force he [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/789-Prototype can fly around like an Emo Peter Pan.]
* ''[[Metal Gear Solid]] 3'' has The Pain, who is technically covered in hornets. He attacks by spitting hornets that burrow into Snake's flesh unless removed.
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* ''[[Final Fantasy XI]]'' has this in Blue Mages and the backstory's precursor experiments toward creating the Blue Mage. The original experiments included grafting monstrous appendages and material to people, which gave them power but either drove them insane, or transformed them into flan (spell-casting blobs) or soulflayers (read: D&D's mindflayers with the serial numbers barely filed off). When they attempted to just graft a portion of a monster's magic and spirit to the experiments' subjects, they created the first viable blue mages, but even then, a Blue Mage gains their power from assimilating their opponents, and if one pushes too far, has the risk of becoming a soulflayer as well. Which brings some [[Fridge Logic]] [[Nightmare Fuel]]. Just imagine how many players have unlocked Blue Mage on any given server...
** In fact from the combination of the danger of their powers, and the risk of being killed by allies who believe they're close to the turning point, it's said that there has never been a blue mage who died of natural causes.
* Saki of ''[[Sin and Punishment]]'', as a result of absorbing [[Mysterious Waif|Achi's]] blood ({{spoiler|she turns out to be an [[Eldritch Abomination]], incidentally}}), gains the ability to transform into a really scary-looking [[Kaiju]] that can teleport, shoot giant lasers out of its claws, and grow to such immense size that it is fully capable of battling ''entire planets''. As long as he's paired with Airen, he can control it. [[Super-Powered Evil Side|If not...]] [[The End of the World Asas We Know It|it's not pretty.]] After it activates, even in his human form, he has disturbing looking patches of alien flesh on his body.
* The [[Soul Series]] has a couple of examples. The various forms of Nightmare have a [[Red Right Hand|horribly disfigured and mutated arm]], and Abyss, the ultimate form of Zasalamel...[[Body Horror|yeah.]]
* In the [[Scott Pilgrim (Videovideo Gamegame)|Scott Pilgrim video game]], Todd has [http://paulrobertson.mechafetus.com/toddingram_freakout_a.gif this attack].
** It's a [[Shout-Out]] to ''[[Akira (Manga)|Akira]]''. [[Body Horror|Is there any wonder?]]
* [[Baldurs Gate|Baldur's Gate]]. In Shadows of Amn, the main character eventually gains the power to transform into the Slayer, a giant demonic creature with huge claws that's nearly unstoppable. Unfortunately, there are [[Blessed Withwith Suck|side effects]].
* ''[[Dead Space (Franchiseseries)|Dead Space]]'': Unitologists believe that the power of the Marker will allow them to become a new, immortal form of life... [[Gone Horribly Right|and they're not wrong]]. It just so happens that this "immortality" involves losing your mind and having your body transmuted into a specifically-formed zombie with no purpose than to harvest biological matter to propagate your species.
* Some lucky Infected in [[Left 4 Dead]] gain considerable powers, at the expense of their... human appearance. May not apply because you can't "Choose" to become a special infected, but the theory is there anyway.
* Being what amounts to a [[Cute Monster Girl|cute little girl with an eldritch tentacled horror attached to her back]], ''[[Disgaea 4 a Promise Unforgotten (Video Game)|Disgaea 4 a Promise Unforgotten]]'''s Desco naturally comes with quite a few of these.
* Nero Chaos in ''[[Tsukihime]]'' is a magus whose entire body consists of the loosely drafted together biomass of 666 wild animals, beasts and legendary monsters that he can either send out in their true form or, more in tune with this trope, use partially, such as generating black tentacles, fangs, claws and such out of his flesh.
* Being a direct and very obvious [[Shout-Out]] to Tetsuo, [[The King of Fighters|K9999]] has this power, particularly as part of his [[Limit Break|Desperation Attack]] (which, yes, turns his hand into a horrifying giant tentacle of flesh).
* Subverted with Double, from ''[[Skullgirls (Video Game)|Skullgirls]]''. She is an [[Eldritch Abomination]] who normally looks like she would possess this kind of thing but in reality, she's a [[Voluntary Shapeshifter]] with the ability to assume the form of any of the other fighters and use their powers in battle. Ms. Fortune is a sort-of example (her power comes not from the ability to mutate herself to fight but her undying body and nigh-infinite [[Healing Factor]], though she can do things that fit such as ensnare opponents in her muscle fibers).
 
== Webcomics ==
* The Cubi in ''[[Dan and MabsMab's Furry Adventures]]'' can reshape their back wings into [[Combat Tentacles]] with razor-sharp ends that can cut rock.
* [[The Non -Adventures of Wonderella|Wonderella]], unlike her DCU counterpart, has "[http://nonadventures.com/2006/11/04/bound-for-vengeance/ like a spillion powers when tied up.]"
* Harp's Bane and {{spoiler|Gravehouse}} in [http://www.necessarymonsters.com Necessary Monsters] both have rather [http://www.necessarymonsters.com/2009-07-16-106 unsettling transformations].
* [[Shadowgirls]], which has ''literal'' Lovecraftian powers (like "turn into living shadow" or "become a snake-monster made of light").
* Alcolla in [[Reliquary]] becomes an angel, [[Our Angels Are Different|but not the attractive kind]]: [http://reliquary.comicgenesis.com/d/20090629.html She looks more like an undead shadow creature].
* Vorte from ''[[Hitmen for Destiny]]'' can puke up a sticky liquid and use "deadly headspikes". Also at some point {{spoiler|Bianca grows a tentacle on her back}}.
* Nergal demons in the fancomic ''[[Grim Tales From Down Below (Fanfic)|Grim Tales Fromfrom Down Below]]'' have [[Combat Tentacles]] that can form [http://grim.snafu-comics.com/index.php?comic_id=41 just] [http://grim.snafu-comics.com/index.php?comic_id=44 about][http://grim.snafu-comics.com/index.php?comic_id=46 anything!]And also [http://grim.snafu-comics.com/index.php?comic_id=85 a gun].
* The Infernomancer from [[Dominic Deegan]] fits this trope, best seen [http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2008-11-09 here] and [http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2008-11-10 here.]
 
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** The Swarm can transform herself into a horde of carnivorous cockroaches. The very thought of having this power has driven her stark raving mad. She's not a cannibal serial killer. Similarly, Hive can transform himself into a swarm of wasps, but has taken it a lot better than The Swarm has and uses his powers to fight crime.
** Bloodstone of the Sinister Circle is a [[Whatevermancy|"hemokinetic"]]. That is, he has telekinetic control over blood. His usual first move in any fight with a hero is to gather up some nearby blood to use as a weapon, and he [[Complete Monster|gathers it from any nearby innocent bystander]] who is unfortunate to be close enough to become an unwilling donor.
* ''[[Ruby Quest (Roleplay)|Ruby Quest]]'', quite literally, in the form of "the treatment". Apparently a universal panacea ({{spoiler|even for death}}), it causes ongoing mutations and loads of [[Body Horror]], which give its victims powers as a result (for instance, {{spoiler|a third eye with some sort of true seeing in Ruby's case}}). Apparently the use of it also {{spoiler|allows a [[Cosmic Horror]] called "Cjopaze" into this world}}, though [[Mind Screw|that's never made quite clear]].
* Carmilla in the [[Whateley Universe]], since she literally is a [[Cosmic Horror]]: one of her grandparents is Shub-Niggurath, on on her mother's side she's directly related to Cthulhu and the Deep Ones. And you thought ''your'' family was freaky. She's got the [[Combat Tentacles]] and wierd shapeshifting down. In one story, she split her face open to reveal what it looked like inside, and scared a superhero so bad he wet himself.
** A lot of Whateleyites have such powers, due to the Mythos nature of the universe, not to mention plain(!) old mutations. Tennyo's is subtle, but she's no longer remotely human due to channeling the spirit of an ancient construct designed to destroy (or EAT) Great Old Ones, has (occasionally, when she's mad) anti-matter for blood, and even when her powers are negated, can inspire pants-crapping terror merely by making eye contact. Or Fey, who is the reincarnation of a GOO-level elven sorceress, and is supernaturally, mind-controllingly pretty, and can throw around spells that other mages can't even learn. Or more mundanely, Tool (now Demona) who used to have a body in constant flux, which occasionally reacted to his impulses by sprouting erections all OVER! Or any mage who decides to play around with GOO powers. Or any number of GSD sufferers, who have all manner of horribly inhuman transformations to contend with, up to and including [[And I Must Scream]] levels, like Puppet, whose blood is so horribly toxic it KILLED HER, and she now lives by occasionally-malfunctioning mad-science. Or... well, most of the Thornies, actually. Or the Foob, who got Mythosed fighting off something we've yet to find out about, and turned into, essentially, a mini-Cthulhu, which dramatically enhanced his psychic powers, rendering him basically unable to tune out the mind-numbing horror people experience when they see his physical form. Whateley's pretty screwed up in places.
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** Mind you, Shiv doesn't ''always'' have his energy projections deployed, so he could pass as normal by simply dyeing his hair. He likely stays because he's [[Ax Crazy]] and being with the Breed lets him slice and dice.
* This is pretty much standard issue for EVOs in [[Generator Rex]]. The level of freakiness ranges from "cactus guy with vine whips" to [[Eldritch Abomination|"If there are words to describe that thing, I don't want to know what they are"]].
* In ''[[Ben 10: Ultimate Alien]]'', Osmosians have the power to absorb matter and energy and use it to transform their bodies. Absorbing energy has the nastiest effects and warps [[Body Horror|body]] ''and'' [[With Great Power Comes Great Insanity|mind]].
* Alpha from the ''[[Men in Black (Animationanimation)|Men in Black]]'' cartoon, due to grafting alien body parts onto himself. Whenever he looks like an ordinary human, you can bet he's really seconds away from sprouting tentacles.
* ''[[South Park]]'' features {{spoiler|Kenny, who has Type IV [[Immortality]] thanks to his parents constantly attenting Cthulhu cult meetings for the beer. Whenever he dies, his mom always gives birth to a new Kenny and puts him in bed. [[Snap Back|And no one else remembers that he had died.]]}}
{{quote| {{spoiler|'''Kenny's dad:''' God, this must be the fiftieth time this has happened.}}<br />
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* Bombardier beetles can spray a jet of boiling acid from their abdomens.
* Starfish feed by moving their stomachs out through their mouths and over whatever they're eating. [[Asteroids Monster|They also clone themselves when they lose a limb.]]
* Most (if not all species) of octopi can: strangle and crush enemies or prey with their tentacles, paralyze them with potent toxins from their beak-like mouthparts, or change their coloring at will. Some species can even change their texture and limb orientation so they look like harmless seaweed or fish. It's like ''[[Prototype (Videovideo Gamegame)|Prototype]]'', but in real life!
** The mimic octopus can mimic twelve species, one of them being a venomous snake.
 
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