X Marks the Hero: Difference between revisions

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[[File:cheekscar.png|link=Rurouni Kenshin|right]]

Probably the most iconic and distinctive form of [[Good Scars Evil Scars|Good Scar]], this scar consists of two clean, intersecting cuts that form a cross or X on the hero's face. Generally, it serves to imply that the hero has been through quite a few skirmishes while making them look [[Badass]].

Probably the most iconic and distinctive form of [[Good Scars, Evil Scars|Good Scar]], this scar consists of two clean, intersecting cuts that form a cross or X on the hero's face. Generally, it serves to imply that the hero has been through quite a few skirmishes while making them look [[Badass]].

How the hero got such a scar is usually not explained. [[Fridge Logic|Part of our brain]] tells us that getting such a scar in battle is highly unlikely, if not impossible (unless they're deliberately inflicted, such as in torture). [[Rule of Cool|Nobody listens to this part of their brain for more than ten seconds]].

== Anime and Manga ==

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** [[Alternate Character Interpretation|Maybe.]]

* Mikage from ''[[Zero Seven Ghost|07-Ghost]]'' in both incarnations.

* Glenn (the one from ''[[Chrono Cross (Video Game)|Chrono Cross]]'', not his ''[[Chrono Trigger (Video Game)|Chrono Trigger]]'' namesake) has a modest X-scar on his lower left cheek. He's capable of [[Dual Wielding|dual wielding]] [[Time Travel|time-duped]] [[Infinity ~~Plus One~~ Sword|legendary swords]], but it's unclear if the scar is the source of his [[Badass|badassery]], or simply an indicator of it.

* Glenn (the one from ''[[Chrono Cross (Video Game)|Chrono Cross]]'', not his ''[[Chrono Trigger (Video Game)|Chrono Trigger]]'' namesake) has a modest X-scar on his lower left cheek. He's capable of [[Dual-Wielding|dual wielding]] [[Time Travel|time-duped]] [[Infinity+1 Sword|legendary swords]], but it's unclear if the scar is the source of his [[Badass|badassery]], or simply an indicator of it.

* Thatz in ''Dragon Knights'' has a small cross-shaped scar on one cheek and a larger slash mark across his face.

* An antagonistic (and possibly [[Anti Villain]]) example from ''[[One Piece]]'' is vice-admiral Doberman, who has no less than six X-shaped scars scattered across his face and neck.

* An antagonistic (and possibly [[Anti-Villain]]) example from ''[[One Piece]]'' is vice-admiral Doberman, who has no less than six X-shaped scars scattered across his face and neck.

** Coby also got one above his right eye when he [[Took a Level In Badass]].

** Anti-hero X Drake has one on his chin.

** Laboon, a whale, is covered in x-shaped scars from his attempts to destroy Reverse Mountain by bashing it with his head.

** After the {{spoiler|[[Time Skip]]}}, Luffy also has a huge X shaped scar on his chest. He got it from {{spoiler|Admiral Akainu during the war at Marineford.}} If you check him out while {{spoiler|Jimbei}} is carrying him, you can see it's still fresh.

* Double subverted in ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]''. Scar, who has one of these across his forehead, starts out as a [[He Who Fights Monsters]]-style [[Anti Villain]], but the ensuing [[Character Development]] slowly [[Heel Face Turn|turns him into]] an [[Anti Hero]] instead.

* Double subverted in ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]''. Scar, who has one of these across his forehead, starts out as a [[He Who Fights Monsters]]-style [[Anti-Villain]], but the ensuing [[Character Development]] slowly [[Heel Face Turn|turns him into]] an [[Anti-Hero]] instead.

* Juumonji from ''[[Eyeshield 21]]'' sports one. He is a [[Delinquent]] [[Jerk With a Heart of Gold]].

** His father has the same scar, though in a different place. Hero marks are apparently genetic in the Eyeshield 21 universe, though given everything else that is perfectly acceptable.

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* While not the main character (just his boss), Saki Vashtal of ''[[Area 88]]'' has an X scar on his forehead. In the manga, it's revealed to be self-inflicted after a disastrous attempt to make peace.

* Ferio from ''[[Magic Knight Rayearth]]'' has one, but he's hardly the main hero.

* Kittan in ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]'' is ''a'' hero, not ''[[The Hero|the]]'' [[The Hero|hero]], and has an X-shaped scar on his arm.

** And let's not forget Viral, who has one across his chest.

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* ''[[Katanagatari]]'s'' main character has this by the end of the series, though it is explicitly shown how he got it. {{spoiler|From intentionally taking two ''bullets'' to the face and body.}}}

* Apollo from ''[[Genesis of Aquarion]]'' has one on his cheek. It's never mentioned how he got it.

* [[Jerk With a Heart of Gold|Manji]] of ''[[Blade of the Immortal]]'' sports several on the right side of his face, caused by two horizontal scars {{spoiler|and one vertical [[Good Scars Evil Scars|scar]] running ''through'' his right eye, causing him to be blind on that side}}.

* [[Jerk With a Heart of Gold|Manji]] of ''[[Blade of the Immortal]]'' sports several on the right side of his face, caused by two horizontal scars {{spoiler|and one vertical [[Good Scars, Evil Scars|scar]] running ''through'' his right eye, causing him to be blind on that side}}.

* Bean Bandit from [[Riding Bean]] - and its successor, [[Gunsmith Cats|GunSmith Cats]] - sports one centered right between his eyes.

* Takuto Tsunashi in [[Star Driver]] has an X-shaped Mark on his chest.

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== [[Video Games]] ==

* Tibarn from ''[[Fire Emblem]]'' has a large one where the horizontal cut extends across his nose and onto his other cheek.

** Og[[Spell My Name With an S|(u)]]ma from the same series also has one.

** Og[[Spell My Name With an "S"|(u)]]ma from the same series also has one.

** It seems to be popular with the mercenaries. Dieck from Sword of Seals has one on his shoulder.

* This is an option for your custom characters in ''[[Soul Calibur]] 3''

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* ''[[Mega Man X (Video Game)|Mega Man X]]'s'' Axl has one of these. Why, as a robot, he hasn't had them fixed up is never even brought up.

** Being who he is, he probably keeps it for the same reason the trope exists. However, it does heal when you use his [[Infinity ~~Plus One~~ Sword|White Armor]] in ''X8''.

** Being who he is, he probably keeps it for the same reason the trope exists. However, it does heal when you use his [[Infinity+1 Sword|White Armor]] in ''X8''.

** A common joke among the fandom is that it's self-inflicted, and is essentially the equivalent of tattooing the name of your favorite [[Badass]] on your body.

** [[Martial Pacifist|X's]] [[Captain Obvious|name is X]], and his partner [[Good Is Not Nice|Zero]] has an emblem on his next shoulder that consists of an X over a Z.