Jim Butcher has often told the story of how he started writing the Codex Alera novels: it was an internet "discussion" about tropes versus authors. Can a good story be made out of anything, no matter the trope? Butcher's argument was yes. It ended in a dare—could Butcher take a trope and make it work? Butcher's reply was, “Give me two tropes, I dare you." He was given “Lost Roman Legion” and “Pokemon.” Then it became a massive epic fantasy series.
I gotta say the entire Bad Times series is a fun, wild ride so far!