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1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/goofus_and_gallant.jpg]]
2[[caption-width-right:350:The October 1980 strip.]]
3
4Created in 1948 by Garry Cleveland Myers, "Goofus and Gallant" is a feature in ''Magazine/HighlightsForChildren'' where a RightWayWrongWayPair of boys named Gallant (good) and Goofus (bad) would teach examples of what is good and bad to do, such as "Goofus bosses his friends. Gallant asks them what they want to do."
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6!!Tropes present in this work include:
7
8* AmbiguouslyRelated: They look alike and have similar names, but their relationship is never specified. Originally they were PolarOppositeTwins.
9* AndThatsTerrible: Goofus's panels are often accompanied by nearby people shooting disapproving stares at him, if they're not outright glaring at him.
10* AntiRoleModel: Goofus' entire purpose is to demonstrate what ''not'' to do in every situation.
11* ArtEvolution: There've been at least three illustrators over the years, and the first (Marion Hull Hammel) could give [[Webcomic/QuestionableContent Jeph Jacques]] lessons in self-conscious changing of drawing style.
12* BrutalHonesty: Some of Goofus's mistakes involve being too forthcoming with his opinions, even when they hurt others' feelings.
13* DeliberatelyBadExample: Goofus always teaches children what not to do in a given situation.
14* EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesignDifference: In their very earliest appearances, Goofus and Gallant were [[PointyEars pointy-eared elves]]. They originally appeared in another magazine called "Children's Activities" as "The G-Twins" in which they were elf brothers.
15* EnfantTerrible: Goofus can be this at his worst. [[https://metvcdn.metv.com/tMRSL-1475607483-embed-07.jpg One example]] has him ''[[BadPeopleAbuseAnimals throwing stones at birds]]''.
16* FelonyMisdemeanor: Some of Goofus's antics aren't all ''that'' naughty but are depicted as such, like immediately hanging up when realizing he dialed the wrong number, or ''slouching while sitting down''.
17* LimitedWardrobe: At least in Leslie Harrington's illustrations. Goofus has worn the same green hoodie since 2006, while Gallant has worn the same ''red T-shirt over a white long-sleeve shirt'' since 2006.
18* PointyEars: In the earliest versions, they had them, as they originally appeared in another magazine called "Children's Activities" as "The G-Twins" in which they were elf brothers.
19* RightWayWrongWayPair: The TropeMaker.
20* SpaceWhaleAesop: Could go in this direction from time to time, though it's almost inevitable for a LongRunner like this. Look at the second part of the 1963 example: apparently how friendly animals are to you determines how good a person you are.
21* StockParody: Putting them in teenage or grown-up situations is popular; while in the real thing Goofus is ''always'' on the left panel so that readers see the "wrong" and "right" way to handle a situation in that order, parodies often reverse this for better comic effect; Gallant's counterpart often displays the behavior a normal person would do, whereas Goofus's counterpart's behavior, running the gamut from inappropriate to outright insane, is meant to contrast.
22* VagueAge: Depending on the illustrator and the situation they've appeared as everything from very early elementary age to almost-teenagers.
23* WhoNamesTheirKidDude: At no point are their real names mentioned, leading readers to believe their names really ''are'' "Goofus" and "Gallant".

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