There is a phenomenon that occurs in various forms of art (music, movies, etc.), where one artist’s production is in tune with the tastes of the day. When Mark Waid was asked about the increased interest in his work, he said, “I’m not doing anything I haven’t been doing the last 10 or 15 years in terms of how I approach story, how I approach characters, how I approach narrative. At this exact moment there seems to be room in the marketplace for stuff that is a little less formulaic and a little less like what we’ve seen before. A little less dark. A little less dystopic, without being quote-unquote “fun.” Maybe that’s what people are responding to. I don’t know” (“Interview #22 – Mark Waid,” comicsreporter.com, January 10, 2013).

The reverse can also occur: an artist can have a very successful work, and then do something similar that just doesn’t take off. This happens not only in the arts but also in any form of innovation.