--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't expect 'Scott Pilgrim' to be…" description: "\"I didn't expect 'Scott Pilgrim' to be successful. I just made this weird comic to entertain my friends.\" — Bryan Lee O'Malley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab2/bryan-lee-o-malley-6525_comic_i-didn-t-expect-scott-pilgrim-to-be-succ_2812218.jpg" --- # I didn't expect 'Scott Pilgrim' to be successful. I just… ![“I didn't expect 'Scott Pilgrim' to be successful. I just made this weird comic to entertain my friends.” quote by Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab2/bryan-lee-o-malley-6525_comic_i-didn-t-expect-scott-pilgrim-to-be-succ_2812218.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab2/bryan-lee-o-malley-6525_comic_i-didn-t-expect-scott-pilgrim-to-be-succ_2812218.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab2/bryan-lee-o-malley-6525_comic_i-didn-t-expect-scott-pilgrim-to-be-succ_2812218.jpg) > “I didn't expect 'Scott Pilgrim' to be successful. I just made this weird comic to entertain my friends.” [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unexpected success came from a personal, low‑key comic made for friends. **In simple terms:** Personal projects can achieve fame. Key Takeaway Create without expectation. Themes creativity unexpected success friendship Mood optimistic reflective Type creative personal When to use this quote - social media promotion - fan communities Key Concepts indie publishing viral culture Questions to Reflect On - What drives viral popularity? - How to stay authentic amid fame? A Different Perspective Success may not be replicable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pilgrim/) [Scott Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scott-pilgrim/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) ## Related quotes > [There were times over the years when I wanted to take a break from 'Scott Pilgrim,' or even just stop doing 'Scott Pilgrim,' when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/there-were-times-over-the-years-when-i-wanted-to-take-a-break-from/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [When I was in the middle of the 'Scott Pilgrim' series, and it was slowly becoming more popular, though still not financially solvent, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/when-i-was-in-the-middle-of-the-scott-pilgrim-series-and-it-was/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [I'm a firm believer in stories with arcs and beginnings and endings and all that. 'Scott Pilgrim' is sort of one long novel, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/i-m-a-firm-believer-in-stories-with-arcs-and-beginnings-and-endings/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [I think, 'Scott Pilgrim,' it was something where the general audience didn't necessarily understand straight away what it was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-wright/i-think-scott-pilgrim-it-was-something-where-the-general-audience/) [Edgar Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-wright/) > ['Scott Pilgrim' is something that was a little bit more difficult to put in one box. But, to me, that's not necessarily a bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-wright/scott-pilgrim-is-something-that-was-a-little-bit-more-difficult-to/) [Edgar Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-wright/) > [YI think what's cool about 'Scott Pilgrim' is that it shows that there is a superhero within all of us. There's not one ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-wong/yi-think-what-s-cool-about-scott-pilgrim-is-that-it-shows-that-there/) [Ellen Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-wong/) > [I started writing when I was 26, so I don't even know what year that was. I wrote a script for me to star…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-strong/i-started-writing-when-i-was-26-so-i-don-t-even-know-what-year-that/) [Danny Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-strong/) > [I actually don't read comic books. I did when I was a kid - I used to read a lot of 'X-Men' comic books.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlyne-yi/i-actually-don-t-read-comic-books-i-did-when-i-was-a-kid-i-used-to/) [Charlyne Yi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlyne-yi/) > [“Ramona V. Flowers: What kind of tea do you want? Scott Pilgrim: There´s more than one kind of tea?...What do you have?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/ramona-v-flowers-what-kind-of-tea-do-you-want-scott-pilgrim-there-s/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [It's interesting that some people reading the comics see Scott Pilgrim as a blank slate in that they like to imagine themselves as Scott…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-wright/it-s-interesting-that-some-people-reading-the-comics-see-scott/) [Edgar Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-wright/) > [this song is for the guy who keeps yelling from the balcony, and it's called 'we hate you, please die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/this-song-is-for-the-guy-who-keeps-yelling-from-the-balcony-and-it-s/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [I didn't expect people would embrace 'Ang Probinsyano' the way they did during its first year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-martin/i-didn-t-expect-people-would-embrace-ang-probinsyano-the-way-they-did/) [Coco Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-martin/) > [I trained in internal medicine, and I expected most of my time would be spent on diabetes or heart disease or cancer. What I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/i-trained-in-internal-medicine-and-i-expected-most-of-my-time-would/) [Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/) > [I didn't expect I will get the Arjuna at 18 years. I thought 19.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/i-didn-t-expect-i-will-get-the-arjuna-at-18-years-i-thought-19/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [I wanted to make a place for filmmakers and artists to come and 'do their stuff,' but I didn't expect it to have had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-anderson/i-wanted-to-make-a-place-for-filmmakers-and-artists-to-come-and-do/) [Tom Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-anderson/) ## More by Bryan Lee O'Malley > [I feel like im in this river just getting swept along... And if I hold on to anyone, if I'm holding on for dear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/i-feel-like-im-in-this-river-just-getting-swept-along-and-if-i-hold/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [Maybe it's important to open up I people- people who are right there with you, not some thousand miles away in another universe. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/maybe-it-s-important-to-open-up-i-people-people-who-are-right-there/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [“Let's be friends based on mutual hate." - Wallace Wells "Listen to this, okay? Just listen. You hear that? That's' market bacon hitting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/let-s-be-friends-based-on-mutual-hate-wallace-wells-listen-to-this/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [“I am leaning back and running with it and staring at the stars and I’m eleven, I’m sixteen, I’m eighteen, I’m a newborn I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/i-am-leaning-back-and-running-with-it-and-staring-at-the-stars-and-i/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [Oh, hey, maybe I should have mentioned that my friends are retarded douchebags.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/oh-hey-maybe-i-should-have-mentioned-that-my-friends-are-retarded/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [When I was a kid, I desperately wanted more background information on especially cartoonists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/when-i-was-a-kid-i-desperately-wanted-more-background-information-on/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [I'm too young to have experienced firsthand the '70s rock, but when I was in high school, me and my friends were super into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/i-m-too-young-to-have-experienced-firsthand-the-70s-rock-but-when-i/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [“Do you want to have sex? I think we should have sex. CASUAL sex.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/do-you-want-to-have-sex-i-think-we-should-have-sex-casual-sex/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [I just have this thing in my head that I want to do serious stories that are still just way too cute and drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/i-just-have-this-thing-in-my-head-that-i-want-to-do-serious-stories/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [Scott: I don't think I'm ready to be a grown-up. Kim: I don't think you are either, buddy. But hey, you'll get it. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/scott-i-don-t-think-i-m-ready-to-be-a-grown-up-kim-i-don-t-think-you/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [In my teens and university and stuff, video games became more realistic, or they started to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/in-my-teens-and-university-and-stuff-video-games-became-more/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [“(door slams open at 2:30am) "Guess who's DRUAAAHUUUNK!" said Wilson. "I guess Wilson, now get out," moaned Scott”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/door-slams-open-at-2-30am-guess-who-s-druaaahuuunk-said-wilson-i/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [“Adult life is terrible, Hazel. Never grow up. Everything's complicated, and there are too many rules ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/adult-life-is-terrible-hazel-never-grow-up-everything-s-complicated/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [I'm sometimes sort of in touch with the readership, and they seem to have perceptive questions, for the most part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/i-m-sometimes-sort-of-in-touch-with-the-readership-and-they-seem-to/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [“She's his kid sister, but... I guess it's like she got sucked into this alternate dimension when she was little? And this demon guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/she-s-his-kid-sister-but-i-guess-it-s-like-she-got-sucked-into-this/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) [Explore all 99 Bryan Lee O'Malley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) ## More Comic quotes > [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [I always loved as a kid reading 'Spider-Man,' and the 'Fantastic Four' would show up... it was all about that larger universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-reed/i-always-loved-as-a-kid-reading-spider-man-and-the-fantastic-four/) [Peyton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-reed/) > [One of the key characteristics of the comic book medium is that it is not brought to life by just one voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lee/one-of-the-key-characteristics-of-the-comic-book-medium-is-that-it-is/) [Jim Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lee/) > [I identify with Superman. I am adopted, I am an only child, and I love the idea that he comes from another world, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-singer/i-identify-with-superman-i-am-adopted-i-am-an-only-child-and-i-love/) [Bryan Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-singer/) > [Before World War II, I was living a very cloistered existence, as most cartoonists do. The work I was pouring out did not come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-eisner/before-world-war-ii-i-was-living-a-very-cloistered-existence-as-most/) [Will Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-eisner/) > [If you look at Marvel Comics, there are very few Marvel characters I would like to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/if-you-look-at-marvel-comics-there-are-very-few-marvel-characters-i/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [The big problem for comic art is you don't want to overwork it. If a drawing is overworked it isn't funny. It's the spontaneity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/the-big-problem-for-comic-art-is-you-don-t-want-to-overwork-it-if-a/) [Edward Sorel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sorel/) > [Leslie Stein's comics give readers privileged access to a complete and wholly original world of gently skewed wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/leslie-stein-s-comics-give-readers-privileged-access-to-a-complete/) [Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/) > [I've certainly seen a lot of my cartoonist friends embrace 'Little Lulu' in a much deeper way because their kids love it so much.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/i-ve-certainly-seen-a-lot-of-my-cartoonist-friends-embrace-little/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [Batman doesn't have any superpowers. He's not superhuman. He's not super. So therefore he can't be a superhero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/batman-doesn-t-have-any-superpowers-he-s-not-superhuman-he-s-not/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [When I was writing 'Black Panther,' on one level, I was angry because DC would never let me write 'Batman,' so I was doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/when-i-was-writing-black-panther-on-one-level-i-was-angry-because-dc/) [Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/) > [I was really into the first 'Spider-Man' films with Tobey Maguire, so it's pretty cool how it all came full circle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-batalon/i-was-really-into-the-first-spider-man-films-with-tobey-maguire-so-it/) [Jacob Batalon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-batalon/) > [Most men are secretly still mad at their mothers for throwing away their comic books. They would be valuable now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/most-men-are-secretly-still-mad-at-their-mothers-for-throwing-away/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [I'll only diet for a Marvel movie. I will give up bacon and waffles to be Storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/i-ll-only-diet-for-a-marvel-movie-i-will-give-up-bacon-and-waffles-to/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [You've seen the first issue and what happened in the last page. Some pretty awful stuff. I don't know why I seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-shalvey/you-ve-seen-the-first-issue-and-what-happened-in-the-last-page-some/) [Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) [Browse all 5,841 Comic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't expect 'Scott Pilgrim' to be successful. 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