History Main / GoOutWithASmile

* [[https://en.wikifur.com/wiki/Dogbomb#Fursona Tony "Dogbomb" Barret]] was a prominent fursuiter, member of the UsefulNotes/FurryFandom for more than ten years, a vet tech, and a sufferer of ALS/advocate for the awareness of the condition. He decided to medically end his life due to suffering through ALS since his diagnosis in 2016. Following his assisted suicide on April 5th 2019, Dogbomb was found by his friend Greg with his phone in his hands and a peaceful smile on his face.

* A less pretty example: Many poisons work by constricting muscles, which eventually shuts down your ability to breathe and circulate blood. Your face generally includes the last groups of muscles to constrict, so it is common for people to end up dying this way with an involuntary smile.

%%* In most {{Elseworld}}s stories that involve ComicBook/TheJoker dying, he does so with a smile. It's not like he had much choice. The Joker's victims usually go out with a smile, as well... mainly due to how he kills them.

** ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'': ComicBook/{{Batman}}, after shooting ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} to poison him (which started the process of Darkseid's defeat) and just before being struck by the Omega Sanction.

** ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'': One of the most tragic casualties was the final duel between ComicBook/{{Superboy}} and Superboy-Prime below the Anti-Monitor Tower trying to save ComicBook/WonderGirl and ComicBook/{{Nightwing}}, where Conner makes a combined HeroicSacrifice and TakingYouWithMe to crash both Superboys into the tower, effectively destroying it. In the end, Conner is found in the ruins impaled, being found by Wonder Girl and [[DiedInYourArmsTonight dying in her arms]].

* ''Film/TheSuicideSquad'': As George Harkness/Captain Boomerang falters from the amount of poisoned arrows he's been hit with, he shares one final glance with ComicBook/HarleyQuinn while smiling before he's blown to smithereens by a flaming wreck of a helicopter.

'''ComicBook/IronMan:''' But you saved me, Arthur. \\

* Twice (so far) in the first season of ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'':
** In "Steven the Swordfighter", Pearl is faced with someone akin to a son watching as she gets brutally murdered in a method as graphic as a kid's show will allow. Despite being in obvious pain, she spends her final moments smiling and attempting to utter some reassuring words.
** In "Steven and the Stevens", Steven misuses a time-altering device, goes mildly power-mad, and gets into a massive fight with dozens of alternate-timeline versions of himself. After undergoing a HeelRealization he gets to paradox himself and all of the alternates out of existence (except for the youngest one, who will survive because he did not use the device). As he realizes he has seconds to live, he smiles and spends his final moments giving a kiss and a kind word to his younger self.

Contrast DyingSmirk, where characters die with spiteful or ironic (rather than peaceful) grins, smirks, and laughs.

* In ''[[Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977 The Death of The Incredible Hulk]]'', David has a smile on his face while dying as himself after a fall out of a helicopter because the pain of his dual existence is finally over.

* Subverted in the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode "No Rest For The Wicked". Dean might have smiled at his crying brother but it's one of those smiles that you do when you're trying to be brave, trying not to throw up from fear and trying not to cry yourself. And then he sees the Hellhound come to kill him, freaks and runs into another room with Sam and Ruby, and is torn apart in there a few minutes later while Sam watches helplessly.

* Cruelly played with in one of the ''VisualNovel/SchoolDays'' bad endings. [[{{Yandere}} Kotonoha]] has an insane, lifeless smile on her lips when she [[DrivenToSuicide throws herself off a building]], after Makoto picks her love rival Sekai over her. They end up traumatised forever and split up after some time.

* Ray the firefly in ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog''.

** Franchise/{{Batman}}, after shooting ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} to poison him (which started the process of Darkseid's defeat) and just before being struck by the Omega Sanction in ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis''.
** Also noted of Batman by the Black Racer (the Death of the New Gods) in his narration for the ''[[ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmericaRockOfAges Rock of Ages]]'' storyline.

** During the ''ComicBook/SinestroCorpsWar'' storyline in ''Franchise/GreenLantern'', the [[DeathSeeker Cyborg Superman]] wanted to die so that he could be with his dead wife. He does die and is happy, but then the Manhunters [[UnwantedRevival bring him back... and he cries]].
** One of the most tragic casualties during the ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'' was the final duel between ComicBook/{{Superboy}} and Superboy-Prime below the Anti-Monitor Tower trying to save ComicBook/WonderGirl and ComicBook/{{Nightwing}}, where Conner makes a combined HeroicSacrifice and TakingYouWithMe to crash both Superboys into the tower, effectively destroying it. In the end, Conner is found in the ruins impaled, being found by Wonder Girl and [[DiedInYourArmsTonight dying in her arms]].

* The luvcats from ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW'' are so naturally cheerful and full of love that they don't get any less happy even when [[EmotionEater the changelings]] invade their cute little village and start draining them. At one point a changeling commander remarks about "still having plenty of these guys left" while holding one of the leftover luvcats who, despite being essentially kept as a food reserve, still smiles joyfully. Even the luvcat that was apparently [[FamilyUnfriendlyDeath murdered off-frame]] by Queen Chrysalis just kept sitting happily in his last seconds while holding a heart-shaped card that said: "Love conquers all".

* In ''ComicBook/TransformersGeneration2'', Frenzy goes out [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Frenzy_%28G1%29#Marvel_Generation_2_comic grinning maniacally]] while trying to generate enough sonic energy to repulse [[HordeOfAlienLocusts the Swarm]]. Unfortunately, [[ExplosiveOverclocking his supercharged sonic generators]] were too much for his body to handle and Frenzy died the way he'd lived -- loud, obnoxious, and shaking everything around him to pieces, including himself.
* In ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'' #160, Peter Parker dies in Mary Jane's arms with a (fleeting) smile as he realizes he managed to save all his loved ones. However, the issue closes with the more creepy smile on the lips of the dying Norman Osborn.
* In ''ComicBook/ZombiesChristmasCarol'', Scrooge dies happy and content, having learned how wonderful doing good is, knowing he's saved his friends, family, and the world, and undone the plague he caused.

** Also noted of Batman by the Black Racer (the Death of the New Gods) in his narration for the Rock of Ages storyline.

* Some versions of the Myth/JohnHenry story have him smiling right before dying from overwork after winning a race to see who can cover a length of track the fastest.

-->'''The Joker''': As my plastic surgeon used to say, "if you've gotta go, go with a smile!"

* “At the moment [[Creator/LeonardNimoy Leonard]]’s soul left him on Friday morning, his family had gathered around him in a ring of love. Leonard smiled, and then he was gone. It was gentle passing, as easy as a ‘hair being lifted from a cup of milk,’ as the Talmud describes the moment of death. What did Leonard see? We can’t know, but Susan imagines that he beheld his beloved cocker spaniel Molly, an angelic presence in life and now in death."

* ''Film/StarTrekGenerations'': Captain Kirk goes out talking after literally getting a bridge dropped on him.

* ''Fanfic/TheBridge'': Grand King Ghidorah smiles right before he is finally killed by Godzilla Junior, Xenilla, and [[BackupFromOtherworld Godzilla Senior]], as he believes he has finally achieved his dream of finding beings who are powerful enough to kill his enemy Bagan.