History Main / TooHappyToLive

** The final arc before ''ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan''.

* Creator/RogerEbert referenced this trope in his book ''The Little Book Of Hollywood Cliches.'' In his list of the "top movie characters likely to die," he says:

* This is how the first ''VideoGame/FableI'''s plot kicks off, with TheHero's village getting burned down and his family murdered [[spoiler:(though, as we later find out, not his mother or sister)]] before he's whisked off to the Heroes' Guild.

* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'': The Hulk is not the Hulk unless he's upset. Therefore it's kind of a ForegoneConclusion that any happy relationship he is currently in will end poorly at some point in the near future.
* Most [[DeathByOriginStory Deaths by Origin Story]] are this way. From [[ComicBook/SpiderMan Ben Parker]] and [[ComicBook/{{Batman}} Thomas & Martha Wayne]] to [[ComicBook/TheBoys Wee Hughie's girlfriend-turned-fiance]], it seems the greatest tragedies come from the greatest happiness.
* The ''Death of Spider-Man'' arc's prelude in ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan was this for GenreSavvy readers - even without the title, the fact that everything in Peter Parker's life was going absurdly well was a big clue that there was much badness on the way...
* This is actually an executive mandate concerning all members of the [[ComicBook/{{Batman}} Bat Family]]: [[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dc-publisher-explains-why-batwoman-624439 they aren't allowed to have long-term happiness in their private lives]]. Being heroes must always take precedence over any personal happiness they may have, so if any character is on the road to getting married or otherwise have something incredibly positive happen to them, expect a YankTheDogsChain moment to happen somehow. Notably, one of the creative teams for ''Batwoman'' [[WriterRevolt quit in response to being told this]].
* The Pre-Crisis ComicBook/{{Superman}} was leading a pretty cozy life. He was the world's mightiest and most beloved hero, he had a family, friends, and a good job. Then [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} his cousin Kara]] [[ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths gets killed off]]. Then [[ComicBook/{{Batman}} his best buddy]] breaks their partnership off. Then [[ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow all of his Rogues come together to kill him]]. When it's all over, his life is in shambles: he's depowered, with no secret identity and no job, most of his friends have been killed and the world believes him dead. [[spoiler: Ultimately Subverted as it turns out Supes faked his death and marries the love of his life Lois under a new identity.]]
* Orpheus and Eurydice in ''ComicBook/TheSandman'', though this was of course a foregone conclusion.
* ''ComicBook/AnyaCorazon'''s father was a nurturing, caring, and accepting parent who while concerned and apprehensive, still did his best to understand his daughter's need to do good with the abilities she'd trained so dedicatedly. So naturally, first order of business in her new series was to kill him.

* Most [[DeathByOriginStory Deaths by Origin Story]] are this way. From [[Franchise/SpiderMan Ben Parker]] and [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Thomas & Martha Wayne]] to [[ComicBook/TheBoys Wee Hughie's girlfriend-turned-fiance]], it seems the greatest tragedies come from the greatest happiness.

* This is actually an executive mandate concerning all members of the [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Bat Family]]: [[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dc-publisher-explains-why-batwoman-624439 they aren't allowed to have long-term happiness in their private lives]]. Being heroes must always take precedence over any personal happiness they may have, so if any character is on the road to getting married or otherwise have something incredibly positive happen to them, expect a YankTheDogsChain moment to happen somehow. Notably, one of the creative teams for ''Batwoman'' [[WriterRevolt quit in response to being told this]].
* The Pre-Crisis Franchise/{{Superman}} was leading a pretty cozy life. He was the world's mightiest and most beloved hero, he had a family, friends, and a good job. Then [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} his cousin Kara]] [[ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths gets killed off]]. Then [[Franchise/{{Batman}} his best buddy]] breaks their partnership off. Then [[ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow all of his Rogues come together to kill him]]. When it's all over, his life is in shambles: he's depowered, with no secret identity and no job, most of his friends have been killed and the world believes him dead. [[spoiler: Ultimately Subverted as it turns out Supes faked his death and marries the love of his life Lois under a new identity.]]

** Though nobody dies, this is just one of many reasons fans hate ''Comicbook/OneMoreDay''. Peter and Mary Jane have been HappilyMarried for about twenty years ([[ComicBookTime real-time]]). But we can't have ''that''; how are we going to get Peter caught up in {{Love Triangle}}s? (And this isn't the first time; they previously tried to kill MJ off in order to make Peter a swinging single again.) Peter and MJ reached the 25-year mark in the newspaper strips, so that's some small comfort, and they're HappilyMarried in ''Comicbook/SpiderGirl''.
** The final arc before ''Comicbook/SuperiorSpiderMan''.
* ''Comicbook/ThePunisher'': You're a Vietnam vet with a good life with your lovely wife and adorable children. Then they all get murdered by a botched Mafia hit. So what do you do? Start wearing a black shirt with a white skull printed on it, [[MoreDakka get as many guns as you can carry]], go [[AxCrazy completely nuts]] and kill everyone [[JudgeJuryAndExecutioner you believe might]] be even [[DisproportionateRetribution vaguely criminal]]. Subverted in ''[[Comicbook/ThePunisherMAX Punisher Max]]''. Frank ''wasn't'' happy with his life since he discovered his inner BloodKnight in 'Nam and was dissatisfied with peace. Frank is haunted by the fact that he had asked his wife for a divorce right before she and their children were killed in the aforementioned failed hit.

* Most [[DeathByOriginStory Deaths by Origin Story]] are this way. From [[Franchise/SpiderMan Ben Parker]] and [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Thomas & Martha Wayne]] to [[Comicbook/TheBoys Wee Hughie's girlfriend-turned-fiance]], it seems the greatest tragedies come from the greatest happiness.

* Though nobody dies, this is just one of many reasons why ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' fans hate ''Comicbook/OneMoreDay''. Peter and Mary Jane have been HappilyMarried for about twenty years ([[ComicBookTime real-time]]). But we can't have ''that''; how are we going to get Peter caught up in {{Love Triangle}}s? (And this isn't the first time; they previously tried to kill MJ off in order to make Peter a swinging single again.) Peter and MJ reached the 25-year mark in the newspaper strips, so that's some small comfort, and they're HappilyMarried in ''Comicbook/SpiderGirl''.
* The final arc before ''Comicbook/SuperiorSpiderMan''.

** A classic example of this with the tragic death of [[spoiler: Maes Hughes]] who spent about 80% of his face time in the series happily babbling on about [[spoiler: his beautiful wife and lively young daughter.]]
** [[spoiler: Nina Tucker]] is also a well-known example. She's a happy toddler who loves her dad and likes to play with her dog. [[spoiler: Her father completely fuses her to said dog, and they're mercy killed soon after.]]