History FollowTheLeader / NewspaperComics

* PlayedForLaughs and exaggerated in one ''ComicStrip/FoxTrot'' storyline. In it, Andy is reading about the popularity of ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'' and its then-upcoming [[WesternAnimation/{{Dilbert}} animated counterpart]] and ponders what the secret to its success is. Each strip for the first five days involved Andy coming up with a new theory, followed by the strip then shamelessly attempting to rip it off. In the end, Andy decides it must be something unique to Dilbert...at which point the comic begins to shamelessly rip off ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes''.
* Gary Larson's one-panel comic ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide'' spawned quite a few one-panel gag comics with bizarre humor and no recurring characters, such as ''Close to Home'', ''Real Life Adventures'', ''Bizarro'', and ''The Argyle Sweater''. ''ComicStrip/MotherGooseAndGrimm'' sometimes engages in ''Far Side''-style humor as well.
* For the first ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'' compilation, Jim Davis came up with a new long-page book design to accommodate the three-panel strip most legibly. Once the "Garfield format" of books became popular, many other comic strip trade books began using it as well, including ''ComicStrip/FoxTrot'' and the aforementioned ''Far Side''. (Ironically, ''Garfield'' itself no longer does.)
** Interestingly, ''ComicStrip/{{Marvin}}'' seems to have aped a lot of the stylistic traits from early ''Garfield''.
** Incidentally, Garfield himself is this, debuting five years after another orange fat cat, ''ComicStrip/{{Heathcliff}}''.
** The comic book ''Grippy'' is another interesting case, as while it borrows elements from ''Garfield'' (fat, lazy cat interacting with animals and a human owner), it's actually the spin-off to ''Les P'tits Diables'', a different gag series Grippy is from.
* Patrick McDonnell's {{ComicStrip/Mutts}} seems to copy {{WesternAnimation/Rugrats}} and {{WesternAnimation/Toy Story}} (extra points with one example being the time Earl meant Mooch for the first time), except the animals interact with each other when their owner is away and don't freeze like statues when humans are around. Due to this being told by a dog's point of view, it shares almost the same premise, with the exception of the pets communicating through thought bubbles when owners are present.
* ''ComicStrip/{{Doonesbury}}'' was one of the first comic strips to use a OneTwoPunchline, now seen in countless comics. It's also the TropeMaker for every strip that even so much as dabbles in political/topical humor.
** And if ''Doonesbury'' didn't do it first, chances are the more off-the-wall ''ComicStrip/BloomCounty'' did. Interestingly, Berke Breathed admits that he cribbed ''Doonesbury'' a lot in the early years.
** ''Bloom County'' itself led to a few imitators, including ''Hartland'', ''Thatch'', and ''Free for All'' (later a short-lived series on Showtime). Interestingly, only ''Hartland'' came out when ''Bloom County'' was still in newspapers (and, in fact, ended within few months of each-other); the other two entered syndication after ''Bloom'' ended.
* The execrable strip ''Shadows'', which ran in ''The Sun'' in 2012/2013, was an obvious attempt to cash in on the vampire craze reignited by ''Literature/{{Twilight}}''. It didn't last very long and was soon replaced by the strip it had itself replaced.
* ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' led to a few strips (both print and even [[Main/WebComics webcomics]]) that feature a kid and an animal sidekick (not necessarily imaginary). One of the current, popular examples is ''ComicStrip/PhoebeAndHerUnicorn''.
* After ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' became a hit, more comic strips featuring kids acting like adults started to appear, some of which featured pets not unlike Snoopy. These examples include ''Small World'', ''Miss Peach'', and ''Winthrop''.

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** The comic book''Grippy'' is another interesting case, as while it borrows elements from ''Garfield'' (fat, lazy cat interacting with animals and a human owner), it's actually the spin-off to ''Les P'tits Diables'', a different gag series Grippy hails from.

* ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' led to a few strips (both print and even [[Main/WebComics webcomics]]) that feature a kid and an animal sidekick (not necessarily imaginary). One of the current, popular examples is ''Webcomic/PhoebeAndHerUnicorn''.

* Gary Larson's one-panel comic ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide'' spawned quite a few one-panel gag comics without recurring cast members, such as ''Close to Home'', ''Real Life Adventures'' and ''The Argyle Sweater''. ''ComicStrip/MotherGooseAndGrimm'' sometimes engages in ''Far Side''-style humor as well.

*** ''Bloom County'' itself lead to a few imitators, including ''Hartland'', ''Thatch'', and ''Free for All'' (later a short-lived series on Showtime). Interestingly, only ''Hartland'' came out when ''Bloom County'' was still in newspapers (and, in fact, ended within few months of each-other); the other two entered syndication after ''Bloom'' ended.

* ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' lead to a few strips (both print and even [[Main/WebComics webcomics]]) that feature a kid and an animal sidekick (not necessarily imaginary). One of the current, popular examples is ''Webcomic/PhoebeAndHerUnicorn''.

*** ''Bloom County'' itself lead to a few imitators, including ''Hartland'', ''Thatch'', and ''Free for All'' (later a short-lived series on Showtime). Interestingly, only ''Hartland'' came out when it was still in newspapers (and, in fact, ended within few months of each-other); the other two entered syndication after ''Bloom'' ended.

*** ''Bloom County'' itself lead to a few imitators, including ''Hartland'' (which, ironically, ended just few months before ''Bloom County'' did), ''Thatch'', and ''Free for All'' (later a short-lived series on Showtime). None of them lasted long and are forgotten.

* After ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' became a hit, comic strips featuring kids acting like adults started to appear, some of which featured pets not unlike Snoopy. These examples include ''Small World'', ''Miss Peach'', and ''Winthrop''.

* After ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' became a hit, comic strips featuring kids acting like adults started to appear, some of them which featured pets not unlike Snoopy. These examples include ''Small World'', ''Miss Peach'', and ''Winthrop''.

* ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' lead to a few strips (both print and even Main/{{Webcomics}}) that feature a kid and an animal sidekick (not necessarily imaginary). One of the current, popular examples is ''Webcomic/PhoebeAndHerUnicorn''.

* ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' lead to a few strips (both print and even Main/{{Webcomics}}) that feature a kid and an animal sidekick (not necessarily imaginary). One of the current, popular examples is ''Webcomic/PhoebeAndHerUnicorn''

*** ''Bloom County''' itself lead to a few imitators, including ''Hartland'' (which, ironically, ended just few months before ''Bloom County'' did), ''Thatch'', and ''Free for All'' (later a short-lived series on Showtime). None of them lasted long and are forgotten.

* Gary Larson's one-panel comic ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide'' spawned quite a few one-panel gag comics without recurring cast members, such as ''Close to Home'', ''Real Life Adventures'' and ''The Argyle Sweater''. ''MotherGooseAndGrimm'' sometimes engages in ''Far Side''-style humor as well.

** Interestingly, ''{{Marvin}}'' seems to have aped a lot of the stylistic traits from early ''Garfield''.
** Incidentally, Garfield himself is this, debuting five years after another orange fat cat, ''{{Heathcliff}}''.

** And if ''Doonesbury'' didn't do it first, chances are the more off-the-wall ''BloomCounty'' did. Interestingly, Berke Breathed admits that he cribbed ''Doonesbury'' a lot in the early years.
* The execrable strip ''Shadows'', which ran in ''The Sun'' in 2012/2013, was an obvious attempt to cash in on the vampire craze reignited by ''{{Twilight}}''. It didn't last very long and was soon replaced by the strip it had itself replaced.

** And if ''Doonesbury'' didn't do it first, chances are the more off-the-wall ''BloomCounty'' did. Interestingly, Berke Breathed admits that he cribbed ''Doonesbury'' a lot in the early years.

* Gary Larson's one-panel comic ''TheFarSide'' spawned quite a few one-panel gag comics without recurring cast members, such as ''Close to Home'', ''Real Life Adventures'' and ''The Argyle Sweater''. ''MotherGooseAndGrimm'' sometimes engages in ''Far Side''-style humor as well.
* For the first ''{{Garfield}}'' compilation, Jim Davis came up with a new long-page book design to accomodate the three-panel strip most legibly. Once the "Garfield format" of books became popular, many other comic strip trade books began using it as well, including ''ComicStrip/FoxTrot'' and the aforementioned ''Far Side''. (Ironically, ''Garfield'' itself no longer does.)

* ''{{Doonesbury}}'' was one of the first comic strips to use a OneTwoPunchline, now seen in countless comics. It's also the TropeMaker for every strip that even so much as dabbles in political/topical humor.

* ''{{Doonesbury}}'' was one of the first comic strips to use a OneTwoPunchline, now seen in countless comics. It's also the TropeMaker for pretty much every strip that even so much as dabbles in political/topical humor.

* Gary Larson's one-panel comic ''TheFarSide'' spawned quite a few one-panel gag comics, such as ''Close to Home'', ''Real Life Adventures'' and ''The Argyle Sweater''. ''MotherGooseAndGrimm'' sometimes engages in ''Far Side''-style humor as well.

* ''{{Doonesbury}}'' was one of the first comic strips to use a OneTwoPunchline, now seen in countless comics.

* Gary Larson's one-panel comic ''TheFarSide'' spawned quite a few one-panel gag comics, such as ''Close to Home'', ''Real Life Adventures'' and ''The Argyle Sweater''.
* For the first ''{{Garfield}}'' compilation, Jim Davis came up with a new long-page book design to accomodate the three-panel strip most legibly. Once the "Garfield format" of books became popular, many other comic strip trade books began using it as well. (Ironically, ''Garfield'' itself no longer does.)