Line #32 FollowTheLeader/ComicBooks


1	* ComicBook/{{Superman}} is the {{Trope Maker\|s}} for the genre of modern superhero comic books. While there were super-powered characters before him, none of them included all of what are now seen as the "classic" ComicBookTropes the way Superman did. Every superhero ever written since follows in his footsteps.
2	** MediaNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks also had a secondary trend of vigilantes with ill-defined omnipotent powers, who'd fight street crime without much regard for ethics. See ComicBook/DoctorFate, ComicBook/GreenLantern, ComicBook/TheSpectre, Black Widow (No, not ''that'' ComicBook/BlackWidow), the Hangman, and so on.
3	** In the early days of the genre, there were a lot of characters who were recognizably just clones of Superman, usually only differing in the origin, the name, and a few costume elements. The Fighting Yank, Captain Courageous, ComicBook/WonderManFox, Dynaman... the most famous of all, of course, being [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]].
4	* Krypto was introduced as Superman's super-powerful pet in "ComicBook/TheSuperDogFromKrypton" (March, 1955), kicking off the trend of super-heroic pets. Only three months later, The ''Batman'' books introduced Ace the Bat-Hound. ''ComicBook/AdventureComics'' #229 (October, 1956) introduced Aquaman's pet octopus Topo barely one year later. Other heroes like ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} would also get her own pets (Streaky the Super-cat was introduced in "ComicBook/SupergirlsSuperPet" (December, 1959) and Comet the Super-Horse in "ComicBook/TheSuperSteedOfSteel" (1963)). Eventually, most of them formed the Legion of Super-Pets.
5	* ComicBook/{{Robin}} might as well be the {{Trope Namer\|s}} for the KidSidekick, and his popularity in MediaNotes/{{the Golden Age\|OfComicBooks}} led to a [[FountainOfExpies string of similar kid partners]]. ComicBook/CaptainAmerica and [[Characters/MarvelComicsBuckyBarnes Bucky]], ComicBook/GreenArrow and Speedy, ComicBook/BlueBeetle and Sparky, Black Terror and Kid Terror, Mr. Scarlet and Pinky, [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]], Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr.... the list goes on an on.
6	** Then during MediaNotes/{{the Silver Age\|OfComicBooks}} existing characters Superman, Characters/{{Wonder Woman\|TheCharacter}} and ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} got their own teen counterparts in Characters/{{Supergirl\|TheCharacter}}, ComicBook/WonderGirl and Aqualad.
7	** Speedy in particular was a very blatant rip-off of Robin. This has led to several [[MythologyGag Mythology Gags]] in shows like ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' and ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold''.
8	* In MediaNotes/{{the Silver Age\|OfComicBooks}}, all comics followed trends, to the point where it was an in-joke among comic writers and fans, for example an EC story about hiring Jack Kamen includes the line, "Jack, you old son! I haven't seen you for two trends!" EC followed trends religiously for a while, then started their own, Horror Comics.
9	* Of this, Martin Goodman, publisher of Timely/Atlas and then Marvel was the most notorious for this, endless ordering his nephew, Creator/StanLee, to endlessly follow any trend as soon as they came up like [[TheWestern Westerns]], {{Romance}}, {{Kaiju}} monsters in rapid succession. Finally, when superheros were back on the upswing with the massive success of DC's ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'', Lee was sick to death of his boss' endless copying dictates among other irritations at work and was ready to quit. Fortunately, his wife, Joan, convinced him to try writing a comic the way he wanted to for a change, since he had nothing to lose. With that, together with artist/co-writer Creator/JackKirby using his old ''ComicBook/ChallengersOfTheUnknown'' concept for a template, they created ''ComicBook/FantasticFour''. With that, Lee found himself ''setting'' the trends in comics for a change.
10	* Creator/MarvelComics' success, particularly with ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'', the first teen superhero, had many publishers trying for a more teenager-friendly product; sadly, these often faded into TotallyRadical. On the subject of Spider-Man, his comics were also one of the first to illustrate the "normal" side of the hero, along with ''ComicBook/FantasticFour''. Rather than filling the issue with one action sequence after another, part of the issue would illustrate Peter taking on everyday tasks such as getting to work on time, experiencing relationships, dealing with school bullies, and so on. Even nowadays, polls and streets interviews indicate that the main reason people like Spidey so much is because "he's a regular guy like the rest of us." It has since become standard for comics to portray the everyday side of the superhero, with the character, like Peter, being portrayed as someone the target audience can relate to. Unfortunately, under worse authors, this often results in myriad forms of ThisLoserIsYou.
11	* DC revamped their line in the late 60s to try and cash in on the success Marvel had found with marketing to a young adult audience. Unfortunately, these results were often TotallyRadical, such as Brother Power.
12	* Social issues were rarely dealt with in DC books before ''ComicBook/GreenLantern / ComicBook/GreenArrow''. Now it seems like a staple in many comics to feature issues that are a VerySpecialEpisode.
13	* After ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'' was retitled ''Captain America and [[Characters/CaptainAmericaHeroes The Falcon]]'', there began a trend of giving superheroes TokenBlackFriend or partner. Among the most notable ones would be [[Characters/IronManHeroes James "Rhodey" Rhodes]] and [[ComicBook/GreenLantern John Stewart]], although the latter was more of a reservist who is supposed to be Green Lantern Hal Jordan's backup when he is not available. Rhodey also arguably popularized the AffirmativeActionLegacy trend, especially with his burst of popularity in the 90's. Afterwards we saw an explosion of minority replacement characters like ComicBook/{{Steel}}, [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl 2000}} Cassandra Cain]], and [[ComicBook/GreenArrow Connor Hawke]].
14	* Before ''All-New, All-Different ComicBook/XMen'', most superheroes were [=WASPs=]. ''X-Men'' pioneered the concept of diversity (at least [[TokenMinority the token kind]]) in superhero comics.
15	** And it's even OlderThanTheyThink; the first international multiracial hero team was ''Manga/Cyborg009'', though it didn't achieve the success in the West that the X-Men did.
16	** The X-Men, along with the ''ComicBook/NewTeenTitans'', set the gold standard for angst and melodrama in superhero comics, as well as telling more personal, character-driven stories that didn't rely on A-list characters who had their own books. The widely-reviled [[ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Justice League Detroit]] was basically DC's attempt at trying to make the JLA into an X-Men clone by replacing most of the A-listers with [[YoungerAndHipper younger]], more diverse characters who didn't have solo titles.
17	** In the 90's, a lot of team books tried to cash in on the massive popularity of the X-Men. The Justice League Task Force adopted uniforms for all of its members, while ComicBook/TheAvengers ditched most of the A-listers and started doing more character-driven stories. Oh, and everyone on the team started [[NonUniformUniform wearing bomber jackets with "A" logos]] for some reason.
18	* Marvel's ''Manga/MarvelMangaverse'' imprint was a rather blatant attempt to cash in on the success American networks had found with shows like ''Anime/SailorMoon'', ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'', and ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''.
19	* Some fans claimed Marvel did this with Characters/SpiderWoman by giving her a more practical, female-friendly redesign after DC hired Brenden Fletcher, Babs Tarr, and Cameron Stewart to implement a similar redesign and revamp for ''ComicBook/Batgirl2011''. However, Kris Anka claims he designed the costume a few months before DC debuted the new ComicBook/{{Batgirl}}, and the fact that the new Spider-Woman design was unveiled shortly after the positive reception Batgirl received is a complete coincidence.
20	* Nobody who's written ComicBook/{{Batman}} in the past 20 years has been able to escape the influence of ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns''. This case is particularly hilarious because the single greatest influence on Batman's character wasn't even canon. Even Batman's entry in the All-Star series, which was supposed to throw out all the complicated backstory and let the DC heroes have more Silver-Age-style adventures, was written by The Goddamn Creator/FrankMiller himself, and Batman was even more cranky and psychotic than ever.
21	** One especially influential aspect of ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'' is the [[DiagnosisFromDrBadass blow-by-blow First Person narration]]. Apparently inspired by ''Film/TaxiDriver'' it was distinctive when Miller first did it. Then all Batman comics had it. Then all of DC. Marvel soon followed suit. Now it's universal in mainstream comics, whether it suits the book's tone or not.
22	** The ever-hilarious Website/YouTube series ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHXeg7GhVbc&feature=channel Marvel/DC Happy Hour]]'' parodied this by having the second season's StoryArc involve the Joker using nanotechnology in an android named Lance to brainwash heroes like Characters/{{Superman\|TheCharacter}}, Characters/{{WonderWoman\|TheCharacter}}, [[Characters/MarvelComicsTonyStark Iron Man]], [[Characters/MarvelComicsBruceBanner The Incredible Hulk]], and [[Characters/MarvelComicsLogan Wolverine]] into thinking that their loved ones died horribly right in front of them so that they would be more dark and brooding, like Characters/{{Batman\|TheCharacter}}, except that they would break [[ThouShaltNotKill his one rule]] in pursuit of Justice. The only heroes he couldn't brainwash were ComicBook/GhostRider, ComicBook/ThePunisher (because he was already a dark, brooding, homicidal vigilante), and [[Characters/MarvelComicsPeterParker Spider-Man]] (because the events of ''ComicBook/OneMoreDay'' had already altered his perception of reality, and [[DeusAngstMachina he]] ''[[DeusAngstMachina has]]'' [[DeusAngstMachina lost everything]] but never loses his optimism).
23	* In the early 80's, mainstream American comic books lagged behind some of their British counterparts which featured more sophisticated and literary dialogue and story concepts. Then, after Creator/AlanMoore reinvigorated DC's poorly selling ''ComicBook/SwampThing'', DC editors quickly signed up other emerging British writers such as Jamie Delano (''ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}''), Creator/NeilGaiman (''ComicBook/TheSandman1989'') and Creator/GrantMorrison (''ComicBook/AnimalMan''). This proved so successful that the "British invasion" of DC continues to this day.
24	** This was parodied in the Literature/DoctorWhoNewAdventures novel ''Sky Pirates'', which reveals Franchise/BerniceSummerfield to be the author of a bizarre Creator/{{Vertigo\|Comics}}-style comic called ''The 45 Second Piglet''; said comic having been commissioned simply because she was in a big building in New York with a British accent.
25	*** Bernice was created by Creator/PaulCornell, a British writer. Guess who he ended up writing comics for?
26	* Creator/IsaacBaranoff's ''ComicBook/{{Horndog}}'' inspired a number of knock-offs. Baranoff even got in on the act himself by introducing ''Webcomic/HereWolf'', which was not substantially different from ''Horndog'', except for having human characters (it since differentiated itself though).
27	* The old ''WesternAnimation/ChipNDaleRescueRangers'' comic book parodied this in the form of having the Rangers encounter a few other rescue groups made up of small animals (one of whom was revealed to be [[TheMole working for Fat Cat]]).
28	* A large portion of MediaNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks was in some ways an extended attempt at following the leader by creating comics in the vein of ''The Dark Knight Returns'' and its contemporary, ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'', in an attempt to reflect the complexity and depth of these works. However, many critics -- including, amongst others, Creator/AlanMoore, writer of ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'' -- accused them of only copying the superficial details, mainly represented by the NinetiesAntiHero, rather than the storytelling complexity and experiments with medium that these works pioneered, with the result that most comics of this period were no more deep or original than the earlier works they were moving away from -- they were just nastier.
29	** See Creator/AlanMoore's ''ComicBook/TomStrong'', a reaction to the darkness that followed the Watchmen comics.
30	* ''ComicBook/BatmanYearOne'' was the UrExample of origin stories in the more recent eras. Now both Marvel and DC produce Year One stories, with varying degrees of success, although none of them could match Batman's.
31	* [[https://www.cbr.com/how-kurt-busiek-unwittingly-ruined-marvel-and-dc-superhero-comics/ This]] article suggests that most of the nostalgic turn of recent superhero comic books can be tied to the popularity of Creator/KurtBusiek's ''ComicBook/{{Marvels}}''.
32	* The design of ComicBook/DeathsHeadII is clearly "inspired" by the works of Creator/RobLiefeld.
33	* At the height of the popularity of ''ComicBook/{{Spawn}}'', Marvel tried to cash-in rather shamelessly with ''[[http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/12/123677/2351180-616645_nightwatch1_large.jpg Nightwatch]]''. DC did the exact same thing with their post-''ComicBook/ZeroHourCrisisInTime'' relaunch of ''[[http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080910053748/marvel_dc/images/b/b0/Manhunter_Vol_2_0.jpg Manhunter]]''.
34	* ''ComicBook/AvengersArena'' has not been shy about the fact it is inspired by other death match/grim series with [[KidHero child protagonists]] such as ''Literature/TheHungerGames'', ''Literature/LordOfTheFlies'', and ''Film/BattleRoyale''.
35	* Creator/CarlBarks's [[ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse Donald Duck and Scrooge McDuck comics]] were popular enough to spawn other FunnyAnimal duck comics. One of the most infamous ones was ''ComicBook/SuperDuck'' (not to be confused with one of Paperinik's localized English names), a comic that started out as a WartimeCartoon [[AnimalSuperheroes superhero animal]]. However, after a couple issues, the comic was retooled as a comedy slice-of-life comic in order to emulate Carl Barks's Donald Duck's stories better. "Supes" had a nephew who looked like a bargain bin Huey-Dewey-Louie and there were many DogFace extras who looked like WesternAnimation/{{Goofy}}. Not being superhero-themed any longer, the name "Super Duck" quickly became a very blatant ArtefactTitle.
36	* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'': Especially in Europe and in the BelgianComics and FrancoBelgianComics industry Creator/{{Herge}}'s style has been copied immensely to the point that it received a distinctive name: "The Clear Line".
37	* The success of ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' in the 1980s spawned [[https://www.vulture.com/2016/06/turtles-speculation-bubble.html a massive boom]] of independently-published, black-and-white comics. And just like TMNT, many of them also featured martial artists, {{Funny Animal}}s, or [[TeenageMutantSamuraiWombats both]].
38	* After the success of ''ComicBook/{{Diabolik}}'', Italian comic books were invaded by series [[VillainProtagonist starring an obviously evil murderous thief]], gifted with great intelligence and whose name included the letter 'K', such as ''Kriminal'' and ''ComicBook/{{Satanik}}''. While most of them have disappeared, ''Diabolik'' is still going on, and so are two of the followers: ''ComicBook/{{Cattivik}}'' (a very funny and nonsensical ShallowParody, with a protagonist that is not intelligent but TooDumbToLive) and, from ''Creator/{{Disney}}'', Paperinik (an alter ego of WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck who started out as avenger of himself, later turned to UnscrupulousHero and then to full hero, [[AntiHero if a bit sadistic]]. Best known internationally for ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures'').
39	* While writing ''ComicBook/WestCoastAvengers'', Steve Englehart revamped former ComicBook/AntMan Hank Pym from a costumed superhero into a science adventurer known as "Dr. Pym," who was very obviously inspired by the popularity of ''Series/DoctorWho''. Pym even started wearing a coat and scarf that looked suspiciously like the ones sported by the Fourth Doctor.
40	* In-Universe in ''ComicBook/KickAss'', Marty becomes Battle Guy after being inspired by Kick-Ass, before finding out that his best friend Dave is Kick-Ass; they later bring Todd in on the action and he keeps coming up with names derivative of "Kick-Ass", [[WhatTheHellHero which Dave and Mart call him out on]].
41	* The success of ''ComicBook/Batman66'', a comic book continuations of the old live-action ''Series/{{Batman\|1966}}'' show led to DC applying the premise to many of it's older media properties.
42	** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman77'' for the Creator/LyndaCarter [[Series/WonderWoman1975 70s Wonder Woman]] show. This one actually crossed over with the ''Batman'66'' comic in ''Batman'66 meets Wonder Woman '77''.
43	** ''ComicBook/Batman89'' for the Creator/TimBurton films of ''Film/Batman1989'' and ''Film/BatmanReturns''.
44	** ''ComicBook/Superman78'' for Creator/RichardDonner's [[Film/SupermanTheMovie Superman movies]] starring Creator/ChristopherReeve
45	** Marvel even got in on it with ''ComicBook/Xmen92'', a continuation of the [[TheNineties '90s]] ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'' cartoon.
46	* Marvel launched a comic adaptation of the ''VideoGame/MarvelContestOfChampions'' video game after the success of DC's ''VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs'' adaptation.
47	* ''ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}'': The surprise success of Creator/MattFraction's ''ComicBook/Hawkeye2012'' with David Aja and Annie Wu led to Marvel and DC launching a number of "quirky," more subdued books with more intimate tones and unconventional art styles, such as Creator/WarrenEllis' ''ComicBook/MoonKnight'' run. A lot of the new titles for ''ComicBook/AllNewAllDifferentMarvel'' and DC's ''ComicBook/DCYou'' relaunch were very obviously inspired by Hawkeye.
48	* Likewise, the success of ''[[ComicBook/MsMarvel2014 Ms. Marvel]]'' and the above-mentioned ''Batgirl'' revamp inspired a slew of books that featured more diverse casts and dealt with social issues while remaining somewhat LighterAndSofter than the usual superhero fare.
49	* Even though the book itself wasn't a huge seller, the fandom that rose up around Creator/KellySueDeconnick's ''[[ComicBook/MsMarvel Captain Marvel]]'' is often credited with the explosion of female-led titles that occurred at Marvel after its release.
50	* ''ComicBook/ZipiYZape'': It has been argued that the strip started out as a rather unsubtle rip-off of ''ComicStrip/TheKatzenjammerKids'' before eventually growing into its own thing.
51	* The ''ComicBook/AgeOfApocalypse'', which started and ended with one-shots labeled respectively "Alpha" and "Omega" and replaced the main ''ComicBook/XMen'' titles with four issue mini-series inspired similar gimmicks in ''ComicBook/TheCloneSaga'', with "Maximum Cloneage" starting and ending with one-shots likewise labelled "Alpha" and "Omega" respectively and the ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' titles replaced with ''ComicBook/ScarletSpider'' mini-series.
52	* ''ComicBook/New52'' caused several other comic book companies to try rebooting their series to varying lengths of success, including [[ComicBook/ArchieComics2015 Archie Comics slamming the reset button in 2015]]. On another note, the Archie reboot no doubt led to the creation of ''ComicBook/HannaBarberaBeyond''.
53	* The general insanity in most Italian comic books can be traced to Creator/BenitoJacovitti's immense production of crazy comics (as shown by [[http://www.afnews.info/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Una-divertente-sparatoria-di-Cocco-Bill-1-afnews.jpg this relatively sane panel]]) and relative influence.
54	* The success of ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'' resulted in a number of stories where something happens to the hero and is replaced including ''ComicBook/EmeraldTwilight'' for ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'' (Hal Jordan going insane -- later retconned to be possessed by an alien entity -- and replaced with Kyle Rayner; fittingly, it has its root in the destruction of Hal Jordan's hometown, Coast City, by Mongul and Cyborg-Superman in ''Reign of the Supermen''), ''ComicBook/TheContest'' for ''ComicBook/WonderWoman'' (Hippolyta holding and rigging a new contest to replace Diana with [[Characters/WonderWomanAllies Artemis]] after getting visions of Diana's death), ''ComicBook/TheCrossing'' for ''ComicBook/IronMan'' and ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' (basically Marvel's ''Emerald Twilight'' with Iron Man being retconned into a ManchurianAgent for Kang and the young replacement being a young, alternate reality Tony; undone much quicker than ''ET''), and the aforementioned ''Clone Saga'' for ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' (Peter Parker retiring and handing off the reins to [[Characters/MarvelComicsScarletSpider Ben Reilly]]). However, according to then-''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'' editor Denny O'Neil, ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'', which saw the same thing happen to Batman (getting crippled by Bane and replaced with Characters/{{Azrael}}), was in development around the same time as and independent of ''Death''. That said, ''The Crossing'' and ''Emerald Twilight'' didn't end the same way the others died (the original hero recovered and/or back in action[[note]]And in the case of ''The Clone Saga'', that's due to fan ''and'' creator backlash[[/note]]) and [[ComicBook/HeroesReborn had]] [[ComicBook/HeroesReturn other]] [[ComicBook/GreenLanternRebirth stories]] to bring the original Tony Stark and Hal Jordan back.
55	* ''ComicBook/SheenaQueenOfTheJungle'' was the TropeCodifier for the JunglePrincess, and spawned a large number of imitators, including ''ComicBook/RulahJungleGoddess''.
56	* ''ComicBook/Youngblood2017'' is essentially Creator/ImageComics' attempt to rejuvenate the ''ComicBook/YoungbloodImageComics'' franchise, celebrating its history while bringing in new fans, not unlike ComicBook/DCRebirth, which started roughly a year earlier. The first arc is even called "Youngblood Reborn".
57	* The success of the back-to-basics approach for the ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'' in ''ComicBook/JLA1997'' led to similar revivals of ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica'' and ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'' in the respective forms of ''JSA'' and ''ComicBook/Titans1999''. Both revivals were even tied to ''JLA'' with the ''JLA'' storyarc "Crisis Times Five" acting as a PoorlyDisguisedPilot for ''JSA'' and ''Titans'' spinning off of ''JLA/Titans: The Technis Imperative''. Marvel even had its own AlternateCompanyEquivalent for ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' with ''ComicBook/TheAvengersKurtBusiek''.
58	* Cashing in on the success of ''ComicBook/BatmanBlackAndWhite'', there were several copycats put out by both DC and other publishers. These included:
59	** ''ComicBook/SupermanRedAndBlue'', ''ComicBook/HarleyQuinn: Black + White + Red'', and ''ComicBook/WonderWomanBlackAndGold'' for Creator/DCComics.
60	** ''ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}: Black, White, and Blood'', ''ComicBook/{{Carnage}}: Black, White, and Blood'', and ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}: Black, White, and Blood'' for Creator/MarvelComics.
61	** ''ComicBook/RedSonja: Black, White, Red'' for Creator/DynamiteComics.
62	* Four months after the return of Ben Reilly and the beginning of ''ComicBook/TheCloneSaga'', ComicBook/{{Superman}} was involved in ''Dead Again!'', his own event storyline straddling all of his titles in which the appearance of an additional Superman ('s corpse) creates the possibility that the hero we've been following for the past few years may be a clone. Amusingly, both stories ended with TheReveal that [[spoiler: the whole storyline was an attempt at {{Gaslighting}} the hero by a classic villain thought long disposed of]], despite ''Dead Again!'' ending almost two years before anyone at Creator/MarvelComics [[WritingByTheSeatOfYourPants figured out]] that the BigBad of the Clone Saga was [[spoiler:Norman Osborn.]]

Context FollowTheLeader / ComicBooks