History Main / ILetGwenStacyDie

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' has Rachel, who serves as TheGwenStacy for Locke. One day, while exploring a cave with Rachel, he was too slow to keep her from falling down a cliff, which led to her contracting amnesia. [[WhatTheHellHero Her father called out Locke on this]] and [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere Locke left his hometown]], and while he was away, Rachel was killed in an Imperial attack. Locke fully [[ItsAllMyFault blames himself]] for once again not being there to protect her, like he promised he would. This is why he makes it his mission to protect Terra and Celes.

!!Examples

[[folder:Spider-Man]]
The ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' franchise has played with this trope in different ways, being the origin of the trope. And it all starts with the comic...
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[[AC:Comic Books]]
** [[ComicBook/GwenStacy Gwendolyn "Gwen" Stacy]] is the {{Trope Namer|s}}. In the story ''ComicBook/TheNightGwenStacyDied'', after Gwen (Spidey's LoveInterest at the time) is thrown off a bridge by the [[ComicBook/NormanOsborn Green Goblin]], Spidey tries to use his webbing to save her... [[NotTheFallThatKillsYou but pulls too quickly and snaps her neck]]. Her death had a particular impact on comic book fans because it was a ''rare'' and early example of an important character dying (and a subversion of NotTheFallThatKillsYou to boot). As if the preventable [[DeathByOriginStory death of Uncle Ben]] wasn't enough, Gwen's possibly preventable death sent Spider-Man spiraling into a whole new level of {{angst}}. He learned from Gwen's death to play out his web-lines so people he rescued would decelerate gradually, including Green Goblin trying it again with Mary Jane.
** Captain George Stacy (Gwen's father) [[DeathBySecretIdentity found out Peter was Spider-Man]], but died as a bystander during a fight Spider-Man had with Doctor Octopus. Peter's feelings of guilt strained his romance with Gwen.
** In the alternate-future mini-series ''ComicBook/SpiderManReign'', Peter falls into a deep, long depression after accidentally causing the death of his wife Mary Jane. The depth and duration of his despair keeps him from putting on his costume again until her ghost (or something like a ghost) tells him that her final words to him ("go...") were actually cut short. She really meant to say, "Go get 'em tiger" one more time so he would know she was proud of him and didn't blame him for her death.
** In ''Edge of the ComicBook/SpiderVerse'' #2, Gwen Stacy is bitten by a radioactive spider and becomes [[ComicBook/SpiderGwen Spider-Woman]], and Peter Parker dies on her watch in a DeathByOriginStory. Peter decides to try to be more like her so she'll no longer have to protect him, but he ends up becoming the Lizard and going on a rampage. After Gwen subdues him, Peter dies in her arms after turning back to normal, as her toying with him during the fight allowed more time for the poisonous Lizard serum to fatally damage his organs. Gwen quickly becomes a fugitive who the general public believes killed an innocent teenage boy, and remains one for the majority of the Latour/Rodriguez/Renzi run of her solo series.
** A interesting version of this occurs in ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfJeanDeWolff''. However, the reason it's interesting is despite being a Spider-Man story, it isn't Peter himself blaming himself for Jean's death, but ComicBook/{{Daredevil}} when Judge Rosenthal is killed by the Sin-Eater after a brief tussle Matt had with the killer.
%%** We later learn that there's ''another'' Peter who went through this. [[spoiler:However, this broke him so badly, he killed the Green Goblin, ''killed'' Spider-Man, and became a Goblin of his own. It takes him meeting Spider-Gwen to get him on the right path.]]
* ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvel'':
** [[ComicBook/UltimateSpiderman Ultimate Gwen Stacy]] died at the hands of Carnage. Spider-Man wasn't even around this time, but that doesn't stop him from kicking himself about it. [[spoiler:It's later revealed that Carnage ''absorbed'' Gwen when it killed her, so she's not entirely "dead" and instead has Carnage as her SuperpoweredEvilSide.]]
** [[spoiler: Peter Parker's]] death weighs heavily on the mind of [[ComicBook/TheUltimates Captain America]]. He confronts a copycat and tries to prevent the same mistakes from occurring again, and when he's given a vision by the Mind Gem of how he pulled victory out of the hands of defeat from Modi the Asgardian, it's [[spoiler: Peter's presence]] that causes him to snap out of it.
--> '''Captain America''': No... This isn't what you died for.
** Miles Morales, who became the second Spider-Man after Peter Parker's death, loses [[spoiler: his mother]], who dies from stray police gunfire in a conflict with Venom. [[spoiler:She]] tells Miles before dying not to tell his father he's Spider-Man. As a result, he hangs up the costume for a year.

[[AC:Films - Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManSpiderVerse'':
** ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'':
*** Miles's uncle, Aaron Davis, a.k.a. the Prowler, dies at the hands of Kingpin after [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes he refused to harm his nephew]]. The rest of the Spider-Gang also went through this trope, as they talk about the people ''they'' lost. The Gwen Stacy of Earth-65, Spider-Gwen, lost her Peter Parker when he became the Lizard and she had to kill him. While Spider-Ham doesn't share who he lost, he ''is'' the one to tearfully sum up this trope, quoted above, proving that no matter the Spider-Person, there will always be that Gwen Stacy.[[note]]A deleted scene showed that Spider-Ham lost his Uncle Frankfurter, but it was removed for being [[MoodWhiplash funny but inappropriate]].[[/note]]
*** Miles himself also has survivor's guilt after the Peter in his universe died to save him. While Miles is too inexperienced to be of actual help to him, he is still haunted by the death of his childhood hero and is determined to help his fellow Spiders in any way he can.
** ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse'': This trope is discussed throughout the movie. According to Miguel O'Hara, this trope is known as a "Canon Event", which is an event that each Spider-Person must go through in their hero journey, and has been prominently demonstrated as a Spider losing a loved one in the line of duty, with many examples such as the previously mentioned Uncle Aaron, the live-action Spider-Man films, and ''Spectacular''. Part of the reason Gwen keeps her distance from Miles is that she knows a Gwen Stacy falling in love with a Spider-Man is a death knell, and Spider-Man India comes very close to losing either his girlfriend or Inspector Singh before Miles interferes (having not known about Canon Events at the time). Miles then realizing that his father is set to become the captain of the police force -- and thus fated to be next in line -- is what drives him to [[ScrewDestiny defy his fate]], in spite of Miguel's claims that he can't change fate without his universe collapsing in on itself. Spider-Ham's line even echoes through Miles' head as he escapes from the enraged Miguel.

[[AC:Films - Live-Action]]
* After Captain George Stacy died helping Spider-Man stop the Lizard in ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan'', Peter's guilt over this event essentially plays out in this manner in ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan2'', as he struggles with his love for Gwen and his fears that his being Spider-Man will lead to her death. Towards the end of the film, Spider-Man finds himself trying to save Gwen from falling to her death in a clock tower whilst fighting off the Green Goblin; at the same time he knocks out the Goblin, however, the webline that Gwen is hanging from snaps and Spidey dives after her. Realizing he won't reach Gwen before she hits the floor, Peter fires a webline to Gwen and grabs hold of a pole to stop their falls, but the webline only reaches her right as she hits the ground, killed instantly. Peter's guilt and depression over not being able to save Gwen sees him quit being Spider-Man for 5 months.
** Really this trope is Peter's guiding principle in general, probably to a higher degree than in other adaptations. Peter starts out his superhero career because he believes he brought about Uncle Ben's death by forcing Ben to look for him on the streets of New York, resulting in the incident that got him shot (the incident he could have prevented). The [[Film/SpiderManTrilogy Raimi-verse]] Peter sought revenge against the thug who shot his uncle but his actual heroic motivation is derived from wanting to honor Ben's last words whereas the ''Amazing'' universe Peter pushes on due to personal commitment (this explains his more crude and savage early attempts at being a hero, since he was more in it for himself, and what allows his CharacterDevelopment to take place further on).
** [[spoiler: This is [[DiscussedTrope discussed]] in ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'' when the [[IntraFranchiseCrossover other Spider-Men]] console Peter after [[MentorOccupationalHazard Aunt May's murder by the Goblin]]. [[Film/TheAmazingSpiderManSeries Webb Spider-Man]] states that he was in a dark place after Gwen's death and never forgave himself, and eventually stopped pulling his punches. [[Film/SpiderManTrilogy Raimi Spider-Man]] recounts when he killed the thug he thought was responsible for Uncle Ben's death, and both of them assert that RevengeIsNotJustice and the best thing to do is keep moving forward. Webb Spider-Man later manages to [[MyGreatestSecondChance save the MCU Peter's M.J. from a similar fate]] and is brought to tears, finally learning to forgive himself.]]
* ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'': Averted. Mary Jane is put in a situation similar to Gwen Stacy's in ''The Night Gwen Stacy Died'', but Spider-Man saves her in time. In ''Film/SpiderMan3'', Gwen Stacy almost falls to her death from off of a building, but stops herself from falling before Spider-Man saves her.

[[AC:Western Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'', Mary Jane instead received the Gwen Stacyesque treatment, but through the less permanent method of being dropped into a portal. Spider-Man goes through similar emotional torment. The adaptation is taken even further: Mary Jane appears to return, and things proceed as normal and the two become HappilyMarried... and then MJ's revealed as a clone with the original's memories and dies in that two-parter and there is nothing Peter can do (clones don't live very long). The same thing that happened some years after Gwen's death in the comics: she returned, and was then revealed to be a clone made by the Jackal (meaning, the real Gwen was still dead and did not really return). During the final scene of the GrandFinale, Madame Web took him along so that they could find her, as a reward for saving TheMultiverse; we don't see the actual reunion, but finding her is well within Madame Web's abilities.
** WordOfGod said that if they'd done another season, he'd have found her in Victorian England. He was satisfied with the conclusion though, so no {{Wangst}} about that on his end.
* Ironically enough, this was [[SparedByTheAdaptation averted with Gwen Stacy]] of ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan''. The question of whether or not she would die was one of the most frequently asked of the fandom. WordOfGod stated after the series ended that they hadn't intended to kill her.
[[/folder]]

** [[ComicBook/GwenStacy Gwendolyn "Gwen" Stacy]] is the {{Trope Namer|s}}. In the story "ComicBook/TheNightGwenStacyDied", after Gwen (Spidey's LoveInterest at the time) is thrown off a bridge by the [[ComicBook/NormanOsborn Green Goblin]], Spidey tries to use his webbing to save her... [[NotTheFallThatKillsYou but pulls too quickly and snaps her neck]]. Her death had a particular impact on comic book fans because it was a ''rare'' and early example of an important character dying (and a subversion of NotTheFallThatKillsYou to boot). As if the preventable [[DeathByOriginStory death of Uncle Ben]] wasn't enough, Gwen's possibly preventable death sent Spider-Man spiraling into a whole new level of {{angst}}. He learned from Gwen's death to play out his web-lines so people he rescued would decelerate gradually, including Green Goblin trying it again with Mary Jane.

* Riko Amani is this to Peter in ''JujutsuKaisenTheSpidersCurse''. While protecting the girl from Toji Fushiguro, Riko accidentally fell causing Peter to try webbing her to safety. Unfortunately much like the titular Gwen Stacy, Riko's neck snapped, causing her death.

** ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse'': This trope is discussed throughout the movie. According to Miguel O'Hara, this trope is known as a "Canon Event", which is an event that each Spider-Person must go through in their hero journey, and has been prominently demonstrated as a Spider losing a loved one in the line of duty. Part of the reason Gwen keeps her distance from Miles is that she knows a Gwen Stacy falling in love with a Spider-Man is a death knell. Miles learning that his father is set to become the captain of the police force -- and thus fated to be next in line -- is what drives him to [[ScrewDestiny defy his fate]], in spite of Miguel's claims that he can't change fate without his universe collapsing in on itself. Spider-Ham's line even echoes through Miles' head as he escapes from the enraged Miguel.

** The original that all others usually nod to is Lalah Sune in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam''. She turns out to be an especially interesting case since she died saving Char by [[TakingTheBullet throwing herself in front of Amuro's Beam Saber strike]], leading to Char and Amuro blaming each other for her death for almost the rest of their lives.

** The Series 9 endgame revolves around this. In "Face the Raven", his beloved companion Clara Oswald is KilledOffForReal in a SenselessSacrifice when she tries to protect an innocent used as bait by Ashildr merely to trap the Doctor for the Time Lords. The Doctor blames himself for this disaster -- he saved Ashildr's life in a way that made her immortal and eventually resentful of him, he saved the Time Lords ''at Clara's behest'', and he didn't do more to stop Clara from trying to be like him when she was far more "breakable". Clara tells him it's HER fault and no one else's since she made the foolish choice to take on a death sentence, and orders him to hold to his principles, not seek revenge for her death, and keep helping others as her fate looms. But he despairs "What's the point of being a Doctor if I can't cure you?" Over the course of the next two episodes, "Heaven Sent" and "Hell Bent", [[BeingTorturedMakesYouEvil his anguish and guilt over her demise are exacerbated by torture]], meaning he never has a chance to process her death in a healthy way. By the time he escapes, he's been DrivenToMadness and "saves" Clara by violating a fixed point in time ''and'' his principles, risking the safety of the space-time continuum and everybody in it for one person. Ashildr points out, again, that he was NOT responsible for Clara's death, while Clara herself causes him to realize his love for her is keeping him from being a hero. In the end, he is mind-wiped of key memories of her -- he doesn't recall her face, voice, or why he loved her and thus has no idea she's now OnlyMostlyDead and having adventures with Ashildr! Now up to this point a {{Catchphrase}} of Clara's was "Run you clever boy... and remember me", as he'd first encountered her as "echoes" who helped him, and usually died for him, across space and time. But she changes it to leave one last message for him at the end, reminding him of what he ''really'' needs to do: "Run you clever boy... and be a Doctor".

* While Malt Marzipan [[GameplayAndStorySegregation can be hit by this]] [[AnyoneCanDie at any time]] during ''VideoGame/FugaMelodiesOfSteel'', it becomes an actual plot point in ''VideoGame/FugaMelodiesOfSteel2'', [[spoiler:due to him witnessing the death of his friend Hanna at the hands of Jhil when he destroys both the Taranis and the Tarascus with the Belenos. For the next couple of chapters, Malt becomes so consumed by grief that he goes on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge, thinking that killing Jhil is the only way to absolve him of the guilt of letting Hanna die. [[MultipleEndings Depending on the ending]], this can result in Malt choosing to give up his own life to power the Soul Cannon and kill the BigBad]].

** [[spoiler: Peter Parker's]] death weighs heavily on the mind of [[ComicBook/TheUltimates Captain America]]. He confronts a copycat, and tries to prevent the same mistakes to take place again, and when he's given a vision by the Mind Gem of how he pulled victory out of the hands of defeat from Modi the Asgardian it's [[spoiler: Peter's presence]] that causes him to snap out of it.

** Miles Morales, who became the second Spider-Man after Peter Parker's death, loses [[spoiler: his mother]] who dies from police gunfire in a conflict with Venom, but tells him before dying not to tell his father he's Spider-Man. As a result, he hangs up the costume for a year.

* ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'': Averted. Mary Jane is put in a situation similar to Gwen Stacy's in ''The Night Gwen Stacy Died'', but Spider-Man saves her in time. In ''Film/SpiderMan3'', Gwen Stacy almost falls to her death from off of a building and stops herself from falling.

** ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse'': This trope is discussed throughout the movie. According to Miguel O'Hara, this trope is known as a "Canon Event", which is an event that each Spider-Person must go through in their hero journey, and has been prominently demonstrated as a Spider losing a loved one in the line of duty. Part of the reason Gwen keeps her distance from Miles is that she knows a Gwen Stacy falling in love with a Spider-Man is a death knell. Miles learning that his father is set to become the captain of the police force -- and thus fated to be next in line -- is what drives him [[ScrewDestiny defy his fate]], in spite of Miguel's claims that he can't change fate without his universe collapsing in on itself. Spider-Ham's line even echoes through Miles' head as he escapes from the enraged Miguel.

The ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' franchise has played with this trope in different ways, being the birth of the trope. And it all starts with the comic...

*** Miles's uncle, Aaron Davis, a.k.a. the Prowler, dies at the hands of Kingpin after [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes he refused to harm his nephew]]. The rest of the Spider-Gang also went through this trope, as they talk about the people ''they'' lost. The Gwen Stacy of Earth-65, Spider-Gwen, lost her Peter Parker when he became the Lizard and she had to kill him. While Spider-Ham doesn't share who he lost, he ''is'' the one to tearfully sum up this trope, quoted above, proving that no matter the Spider-Person, there will always be that Gwen Stacy.[[note]]A deleted scene showed that Spider-Ham lost his Uncle Frankfurter, but it was removed for being [[MoodWhiplash funny but inappropriate]][[/note]].

* Ironically enough, this was [[SparedByTheAdaptation averted with Gwen Stacy]] of ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan''. The question of whether or not she would die was one of the most frequently asked of the fandom. WordOfGod stated after the series ended that they hadn't intended to kill her.

*** Miles's uncle, Aaron Davis, a.k.a. the Prowler, dies at the hands of Kingpin after [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes he refused to harm his nephew]]. The rest of the Spider-Gang also went through this trope, as they talk about the people ''they'' lost. The Gwen Stacy of Earth-65, Spider-Gwen, lost her Peter Parker when he became the Lizard and she had to kill him. While Spider-Ham doesn't share who he lost, he ''is'' the one to tearfully sum up this trope, quoted above, proving that no matter the Spider-Person, there will always be that Gwen Stacy.[[note]]A deleted scene showed that Spider-Ham lost his Uncle Frankfurter, but it was removed for being [[MoodWhiplash funny but inappropriate]]..[[/note]]

** ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse'': This trope is discussed throughout the movie. According to Miguel O'Hara, this trope is known as a "Canon Event", which is an event that each Spider-Person must go through in their hero journey, and has been prominently demonstrated as a Spider losing a loved one in the line of duty. Part of the reason Gwen keeps her distance from Miles is that she knows a Gwen Stacy falling in love with a Spider-Man is a death knell. Miles learning that his father is set to become the captain of the police force -- and thus fated to be next in line -- is what drives him [[ScrewDestiny defy his fate]], in spite of Miguel's claims that he can't change fate without his universe collapsing in on itself. Spider-Ham's line even echoes through Miles' head as he escapes.

*** Miles's uncle, Aaron Davis, a.k.a. the Prowler, dies at the hands of Kingpin after [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes he refused to harm his nephew]]. The rest of the Spider-Gang also went through this trope, as they talk about the people ''they'' lost. While Spider-Ham doesn't share who he lost, he ''is'' the one to tearfully sum up this trope, quoted above, proving that no matter the Spider-Person, there will always be that Gwen Stacy.[[note]]A deleted scene showed that Spider-Ham lost his Uncle Frankfurter, but it was removed for being [[MoodWhiplash funny but inappropriate]]..[[/note]]

** ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse'': This trope is discussed throughout the movie. According to Miguel O'Hara, this trope is known as a "Canon Event", which is an event that each Spider-Person must go through in their hero journey, and has been prominently demonstrated as a Spider losing a loved one in the line of duty. Miles learning that his father, set to become a Police Captain, is fated to be next in line thanks to the Spot declaring vengeance, Miles sets to [[ScrewDestiny defy his fate]], escaping from Miguel's wrath to save his father, in spite of Miguel constantly claiming that he can't change fate without his universe collapsing in on itself. Spider-Ham's line even echoes through his head as he escapes.

** ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse'': This trope is discussed throughout the movie. According to Miguel O'Hara, this trope is known as a "Canon Event", which is an event that each Spider-Person must go through in their hero journey, and has been prominently demonstrated as a Spider losing a loved one in the line of duty. Miles learning that his father, set to become a Police Captain, is fated to be next in line thanks to the Spot declaring vengeance, Miles sets to defy his fate, escaping from Miguel's wrath to save his father, in spite of Miguel constantly claiming that he can't change fate without his universe collapsing in on itself. Spider-Ham's line even echoes through his head as he escapes.

** [[ComicBook/GwenStacy Gwendolyn "Gwen" Stacy]] is the TropeNamer. In the story "ComicBook/TheNightGwenStacyDied", after Gwen (Spidey's LoveInterest at the time) is thrown off a bridge by the [[ComicBook/NormanOsborn Green Goblin]], Spidey tries to use his webbing to save her... [[NotTheFallThatKillsYou but pulls too quickly and snaps her neck]]. Her death had a particular impact on comic book fans because it was a ''rare'' and early example of an important character dying (and a subversion of NotTheFallThatKillsYou to boot). As if the preventable [[DeathByOriginStory death of Uncle Ben]] wasn't enough, Gwen's possibly preventable death sent Spider-Man spiraling into a whole new level of {{angst}}. He learned from Gwen's death to play out his web-lines so people he rescued would decelerate gradually, including Green Goblin trying it again with Mary Jane.

!!'''Since this is a DeathTrope, all spoilers will be unmarked. Don't say we didn't warn you!'''

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Aang [[IncrediblyLamePun aangsts]] a LOT over running away from the Air Temple and believes himself to be the reason the Fire Nation was able to successfully raid and destroy the Air Temple.

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'':
** [[ComicBook/GwenStacy Gwendolyn "Gwen" Stacy]] is the TropeNamer. In the story "ComicBook/TheNightGwenStacyDied", after Gwen (Spidey's LoveInterest at the time) is thrown off a bridge by the [[ComicBook/NormanOsborn Green Goblin]], Spidey tries to use his webbing to save her... [[NotTheFallThatKillsYou but pulls too quickly and snaps her neck]]. Her death had a particular impact on comic book fans because it was a ''rare'' and early example of an important character dying (and a subversion of NotTheFallThatKillsYou to boot). As if the preventable [[DeathByOriginStory death of Uncle Ben]] wasn't enough, Gwen's possibly preventable death sent Spider-Man spiraling into a whole new level of {{angst}}. He learned from Gwen's death to play out his web-lines so people he rescued would decelerate gradually, including Green Goblin trying it again with Mary Jane.
** Captain George Stacy (Gwen's father) [[DeathBySecretIdentity found out Peter was Spider-Man]], but died as a bystander during a fight Spider-Man had with Doctor Octopus. Peter's feelings of guilt strained his romance with Gwen.
** In the alternate-future mini-series ''ComicBook/SpiderManReign'', Peter falls into a deep, long depression after accidentally causing the death of his wife Mary Jane. The depth and duration of his despair keeps him from putting on his costume again until her ghost (or something like a ghost) tells him that her final words to him ("go...") were actually cut short. She really meant to say, "Go get 'em tiger" one more time so he would know she was proud of him and didn't blame him for her death.
** In ''Edge of the ComicBook/SpiderVerse'' #2, Gwen Stacy is bitten by a radioactive spider and becomes [[ComicBook/SpiderGwen Spider-Woman]], and Peter Parker dies on her watch in a DeathByOriginStory. Peter decides to try to be more like her so she'll no longer have to protect him, but he ends up becoming the Lizard and going on a rampage. After Gwen subdues him, Peter dies in her arms after turning back to normal, as her toying with him during the fight allowed more time for the poisonous Lizard serum to fatally damage his organs. Gwen quickly becomes a fugitive who the general public believes killed an innocent teenage boy, and remains one for the majority of the Latour/Rodriguez/Renzi run of her solo series.
** A interesting version of this occurs in ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfJeanDeWolff''. However, the reason it's interesting is despite being a Spider-Man story, it isn't Peter himself blaming himself for Jean's death, but ComicBook/{{Daredevil}} when Judge Rosenthal is killed by the Sin-Eater after a brief tussle Matt had with the killer.
%%** We later learn that there's ''another'' Peter who went through this. [[spoiler:However, this broke him so badly, he killed the Green Goblin, ''killed'' Spider-Man, and became a Goblin of his own. It takes him meeting Spider-Gwen to get him on the right path.]]

* ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvel'':
** [[ComicBook/UltimateSpiderman Ultimate Gwen Stacy]] died at the hands of Carnage. Spider-Man wasn't even around this time, but that doesn't stop him from kicking himself about it. [[spoiler:It's later revealed that Carnage ''absorbed'' Gwen when it killed her, so she's not entirely "dead" and instead has Carnage as her SuperpoweredEvilSide.]]
** [[spoiler: Peter Parker's]] death weighs heavily on the mind of [[ComicBook/TheUltimates Captain America]]. He confronts a copycat, and tries to prevent the same mistakes to take place again, and when he's given a vision by the Mind Gem of how he pulled victory out of the hands of defeat from Modi the Asgardian it's [[spoiler: Peter's presence]] that causes him to snap out of it.
--> '''Captain America''': No... This isn't what you died for.
** Miles Morales, who became the second Spider-Man after Peter Parker's death, loses [[spoiler: his mother]] who dies from police gunfire in a conflict with Venom, but tells him before dying [[spoiler:not to tell his father he's Spider-Man]]. As a result, he hangs up the costume for a year.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'':
** Miles's uncle, Aaron Davis, a.k.a. the Prowler, dies at the hands of Kingpin after [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes he refused to harm his nephew]]. The rest of the Spider-Gang also went through this trope, as they talk about the people ''they'' lost. While Spider-Ham doesn't share who he lost, he ''is'' the one to tearfully sum up this trope, quoted above, proving that no matter the Spider-Person, there will always be that Gwen Stacy.[[note]]A deleted scene showed that Spider-Ham lost his Uncle Frankfurter, but it was removed for providing a little too much MoodWhiplash.[[/note]]
** Miles himself also has survivor's guilt after the Peter in his universe died to save him. While Miles is too inexperienced to be of actual help to him, he is still haunted by the death of his childhood hero and is determined to help his fellow Spiders in any way he can.

* After Captain George Stacy died helping Spider-Man stop the Lizard in ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan'', Peter's guilt over this event essentially plays out in this manner in ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan2'', as he struggles with his love for Gwen and his fears that his being Spider-Man will lead to her death. Towards the end of the film, Spider-Man finds himself trying to save Gwen from falling to her death in a clock tower whilst fighting off the Green Goblin; at the same time he knocks out the Goblin, however, the webline that Gwen is hanging from snaps and Spidey dives after her. Realizing he won't reach Gwen before she hits the floor, Peter fires a webline to Gwen and grabs hold of a pole to stop their falls, but the webline only reaches her right as she hits the ground, killed instantly. Peter's guilt and depression over not being able to save Gwen sees him quit being Spider-Man for 5 months.
** Really this trope is Peter's guiding principle in general, probably to a higher degree than in other adaptations. Peter starts out his superhero career because he believes he brought about Uncle Ben's death by forcing Ben to look for him on the streets of New York, resulting in the incident that got him shot (the incident he could have prevented). The [[Film/SpiderManTrilogy Raimi-verse]] Peter sought revenge against the thug who shot his uncle but his actual heroic motivation is derived from wanting to honor Ben's last words whereas the ''Amazing'' universe Peter pushes on due to personal commitment (this explains his more crude and savage early attempts at being a hero, since he was more in it for himself, and what allows his CharacterDevelopment to take place further on).
** [[spoiler: This is [[DiscussedTrope discussed]] in ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'' when the [[IntraFranchiseCrossover other Spider-Men]] console Peter after [[MentorOccupationalHazard Aunt May's murder by the Goblin]]. [[Film/TheAmazingSpiderManSeries Webb Spider-Man]] states that he was in a dark place after Gwen's death and never forgave himself, and eventually stopped pulling his punches. [[Film/SpiderManTrilogy Raimi Spider-Man]] recounts when he killed the thug he thought was responsible for Uncle Ben's death, and both of them assert that RevengeIsNotJustice and the best thing to do is keep moving forward. Webb Spider-Man later manages to [[MyGreatestSecondChance save the MCU Peter's M.J. from a similar fate]] and is brought to tears, finally learning to forgive himself.]]

* ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'': Averted. Mary Jane is put in a situation similar to Gwen Stacy's in ''The Night Gwen Stacy Died'', but Spider-Man saves her in time. In ''Film/SpiderMan3'', Gwen Stacy almost falls to her death from off of a building and stops herself from falling.

* Ironically enough, this was [[SparedByTheAdaptation averted with Gwen Stacy]] of ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan''. The question of whether or not she would die was one of the most frequently asked of the fandom. WordOfGod stated after the series ended that they hadn't intended to kill her.
* In ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'', Mary Jane instead received the Gwen Stacyesque treatment, but through the less permanent method of being dropped into a portal. Spider-Man goes through similar emotional torment. The adaptation is taken even further: Mary Jane appears to return, and things proceed as normal and the two become HappilyMarried... and then MJ's revealed as a clone with the original's memories and dies in that two-parter and there is nothing Peter can do (clones don't live very long). The same thing that happened some years after Gwen's death in the comics: she returned, and was then revealed to be a clone made by the Jackal (meaning, the real Gwen was still dead and did not really return). During the final scene of the GrandFinale, Madame Web took him along so that they could find her, as a reward for saving TheMultiverse; we don't see the actual reunion, but finding her is well within Madame Web's abilities.
** WordOfGod said that if they'd done another season, he'd have found her in Victorian England. He was satisfied with the conclusion though, so no {{Wangst}} about that on his end.

* Alice Elliot in the ''VideoGame/ShadowHearts'' series falls into this trope. Unless of course you get the good ending in the first game and ignore the second entirely.

* Shmi Skywalker and Padme in the ''Franchise/StarWars'' prequels could be considered Anakin Skywalker's Gwen Stacys, as they both fed into his wangst that aided his FaceHeelTurn. The former's death he believed he could have prevented if he had stayed at home, while the latter he believed that he had accidentally killed (after all the trouble he went through [[LoveMakesYouEvil turning evil to save her]]).

* The ''[[Franchise/{{Gundam}}]]'' meta-series has used this trope a ''lot.''

* The Gundam meta-series has used this trope a LOT.
** [[TheOjou Flay Allster]] for [[TheHero Kira Yamato]] in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED''. In the middle of battle with [[OmnicidalManiac Rau Le Creuset]], Kira spots Flay in a shuttle trying to escape the battlefield with the BridgeBunnies of the ''Dominion''. Rau sees it and [[TargetedToHurtTheHero takes aim]] with his [[FinalBoss Providence Gundam]]'s main cannon, but Kira tosses his Freedom Gundam's shield to block the blast. [[HopeSpot But just when Kira thinks he's saved her]] (and there's a brief moment where they see each other and Flay is expressing relief that he's here), one of the Providence's [[AttackDrone DRAGOONs]] circles around and [[KickTheDog shoots through the shuttle anyways]], blowing it up. [[SurprisinglySuddenDeath Flay and her passengers are killed unceremoniously]], and Kira... ''[[SayMyName does not]]'' [[HeroicBSOD take it well]].

** Anew Returner for Lyle "Lockon Stratos" Dylandy in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00''. Anew turned out to be a ManchurianAgent for the Innovators, and after a fight with her and her Gaddess Mobile Suit, Lyle tries to get her to surrender. Anew, [[BecomingTheMask who has genuinely fallen in love with Lyle]], attempts to do so, but [[BigBad Ribbons Allmark]] takes control of her and makes her attack Lyle again, [[ShootTheDog forcing Setsuna to shoot her Gaddess in the back]], killing her. Lyle goes into a ''massive'' {{Heroic BSOD}} after, and beats the hell out of Setsuna for killing Anew. Sadly, even Lyle realizes it was a situation that couldn't be helped, and [[BrokenTears he just breaks down in tears]]. Afterwards, he has thoughts of killing Setsuna, but decides against thoughtless revenge for something out of his control.

** Four Murasame is the most prominent in ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'' for Kamille, although she wasn't the first or last death that would drive him forward in this series.
** And, of course, the original that all others usually nod to, Lalah Sune in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam''. She turns out to be an especially interesting case since she died saving Char by [[TakingTheBullet throwing herself in front of Amuro's beam saber strike]], leading to Char and Amuro blaming each other for her death for almost the rest of their lives.

* ''Anime/CodeGeass'' has at least Euphemia and Shirley, the latter eventually kick starts Lelouch's [[ThanatosGambit Zero Requiem]]. [[SparedByTheAdaptation Though the movie version shows how it still would have happened if she lived.]]

** Anew Returner for Lyle "Lockon Stratos" Dylandy in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00''. Anew turned out to be a ManchurianAgent for the Innovators, and after a fight with her and her Gaddess Mobile Suit, Lyle tries to get her to surrender. Anew, [[BecomingTheMask who has genuinely fallen in love with Lyle]], attempts to do so, but [[BigBad Ribbons Allmark]] takes control of her and makes her attack Lyle again, [[ShootTheDog forcing Setsuna to shoot her Gaddess in the back]], killing her. Lyle goes into a ''massive'' {{Heroic BSOD}} after, and beats the hell out of Setsuna for killing Anew.
Sadly, even Lyle realizes it was a situation that couldn't be helped, and [[BrokenTears he just breaks down in tears]]. Afterwards, he has thoughts of killing Setsuna, but decides against thoughtless revenge for something out of his control.

** Fllay Allster for [[TheHero Kira Yamato]] in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'' and Stella Loussier for [[AntiVillain Shinn Asuka]] in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny''. This is actually Shinn's second big loss as his entire family dies in episode 1 of ''SEED Destiny'', which seems to justify his extreme skill as a mobile suit pilot, and issues with rage for the entirety of the series. Of course, Stella's death just made him angrier.

** Anew Returner for Lyle Dylandy in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00''. Lyle goes into a {{Heroic BSOD}} after.

* ''Anime/CowboyBebop'': Julia becomes a Gwen Stacy during the final episode, and it leads Spike to his own ([[ShrugOfGod possible]]) death in a fight with his arch-nemesis, who also dies in the process.

* Issei in ''LightNovel/HighSchoolDXD'' experienced this when Asia had "died" the second time, causing him to activate [[DeadlyUpgrade Juggernaut Drive]] and ''eating'' Shalba Beelzebub, the guy responsible, ''alive''. He would have died too if it weren't for Vali's BigDamnHeroes moment where it was revealed he and his group were able to get Asia out of the void dimension.

* ''LightNovel/KazeNoStigma'' had the main character's lover die which motivated him to form the pact and create the story.

* In ''LightNovel/TheSacredBlacksmith'', the eponymous Blacksmith, Luke, is burdened with guilt for directly or indirectly causing the death of his childhood friend Lisa (pronounced "Leeza", not "Leesa"...). Eventually, he finds out the awful truth: He's angsting himself unnecessarily. Lisa voluntarily risked herself to protect him from BigBad Valbanill.

* In ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'', Kirito joins a guild of players, keeping the fact that he was a former beta tester and significantly higher in experience levels than his guildmates secret. This turns around to bite him in the ass when, while doing a dungeon run, he and his party get trapped in a room they can't warp away from. Kirito's level provokes the spawn of an entire horde of high-level monsters that, although Kirito was skilled enough to barely survive, they were way too much for his guildmates to handle. This causes the death of the entire guild (his party members dying in battle and the leader being DrivenToSuicide). Kirito's guilt over letting his guildmates die drives him into IneffectualLoner / DeathSeeker territory for months afterward.

* Yoji of ''Anime/WeissKreuz'' is primarily motivated by the death of his partner and love interest Asuka. Ouka also becomes TheGwenStacy for Omi after she's killed by MurphysBullet.
* Willem from ''LightNovel/WorldEndWhatDoYouDoAtTheEndOfTheWorldAreYouBusyWillYouSaveUs'' starts a romantic relationship with Fairy Soldier Chtholly, even proposing marriage to her, only for it to be cut short when she saves his life by sacrificing her own. His failure to protect her haunts Willem for the rest of the series.

* ''{{Franchise/Batman}}'':