https://blog.adlo.es/swipe_of_the_week/2006/08/
https://blog.adlo.es/swipe_of_the_week/2007/08/
This website compares panels by some comic artists to panels done by comic artists years prior, showing how the panels came out quite similar. Many, even too similar! But do you think the artists are consciously copying the other artists' poses, or it's a coincidence that it looks alike? I think reference is fine, especially earlier on, but at the professional level creativity/originality should be most important.