History Main / WasItReallyWorthIt

[[AliceAndBob Bob]] takes things too far, either in his quest for power, revenge, or even just to win a battle. After it's all said and done, he or Alice have to ask '[[TitleDrop was it really worth it?]]' In this case, it's actually a valid question, possibly for a number of reasons. Maybe [[IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim killing his opponent made him just like them.]] Maybe to win a friendly duel, he had to shatter his best friend's weapon (or worse, [[KickTheMoralityPet shatter his best friend!]]) In any case, what Bob's done raises serious moral questions for him, and the answer isn't necessarily "Hell yeah, it was WorthIt!"

Not to be confused with WhatTheHellHero, which is about the character being called out for flat-out evil things. If someone wins a battle, but accidentally kills their friend's sister in the process, it's this. If they intentionally do so, and are called out for it, it's that. Bob may justify his actions with "IDidWhatIHadToDo." If Bob decides it's not worth it after all, but only ''after'' the fact, it's MyGodWhatHaveIDone.

If the 'it' was something like a HeroicSacrifice, this may cause a BittersweetEnding. After all, the BigBad may be dead, but so is Bob, and that's no cause for celebration.

** A recurring theme throughout the series is the question of whether or not what Scrooge gains is worth what he gives up in exchange while pursuing his goals. His earlier escapades have him suffering for little if any substantial gain while his later endeavors showcase that the pursuit of wealth has directly cost him anyone to share his life with, be they family or friends. By the end of the series Scrooge has wound up as recluse who achieved his goal of becoming the richest in the world but has lived in complete isolation for years.

* Previously [[HoYay/ComicBooks very close]] teammates, the [[ComicBook/CivilWar2006 last conversation]] between ComicBook/IronMan and [[Characters/MarvelComicsSteveRogers Captain America]] has the latter in a cell, awaiting trial, and asking the former, "Was it worth it?" Later, an opportunistic villain assassinates Captain America on his way to trial, and Iron Man, confronted with his body, finally answers the question. Was it worth it? [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone No.]] [[PyrrhicVictory No, it was not.]]

* ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}'' ends with [[spoiler:Ozymandias successfully completing his plan to create world peace, but at the price of millions of lives]]. His face, after Dr. Manhattan tells him before leaving the galaxy, "Nothing ends, Adrien. Nothing ever ends," suggests he's asking himself whether it was worth it.

* After Loki called her out on her plan ([[spoiler:It involved allying herself with an evil future Loki, to damn the young one to a life of evil and villainy hated and feared by all to ensure Asgard's golden future.]]) in ''Comicbook/LokiAgentOfAsgard'':

* ''ComicBook/GreenLantern:'' [[spoiler:The Black Lantern Arin Sur asks her husband Sinestro this when they fight through the streets of Korugar, asking if he's happy with what he did to Korugar, and himself, in the name of peace.]] It's one of the few times Sinestro isn't capable of speaking, he can only stutter out "I... I don't...". It's hard to say if this is due to genuine doubt on Sinestro's end or [[spoiler: due to his wife being the one asking.]]

* In the ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' story arc ''ComicBook/ThePhantomZone'', before sending Zod back into his prison, Superman remarks his latest scheme has only resulted in defeat, humiliation and dead people. Superman asks if it was worth of it, and Zod answers a resounding "Yes".

* ''ComicBook/VenomDonnyCates'': A flashback story shows a run-in between Characters/{{Wolverine|JamesLoganHowlett}} and Venom. During their fight, Logan straight-up tells Eddie that his vendetta against Spider-Man wasn't worth it and that he hasn't accomplished a damn thing beyond mildly hurting Spider-Man's feelings. This ends up being the epiphany that makes Venom become a "lethal protector" instead of just harassing Spidey.

** [[spoiler:Taylor]] becomes TheUnfettered in pursuing the defeat of [[SerialKiller Jack Slash]] and his Slaughterhouse Nine in order to prevent the prophecized end of the world, going so far as to [[spoiler: shoot a child held by Jack that could have caused the end]]. In the end, though, after [[spoiler:she ultimately fails]], she questions whether it was worth it and decides that it wasn't.