--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a way, I'm glad I'm first because I…" description: "\"In a way, I'm glad I'm first because I won't have to panic about following anybody other than industry legend John Romita Jr. And he drew Daredevil: Th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/declan-shalvey-35438_artist_in-a-way-i-m-glad-i-m-first-because-i-wo_2999186.jpg" --- # In a way, I'm glad I'm first because I won't have to panic… ![“In a way, I'm glad I'm first because I won't have to panic about following anybody other than industry legend John Romita Jr. And he drew Daredevil: The Man Without Fear, which is one of the books that had a massive effect on me as a reader and an artist. It has been intimidating, scary, exciting…” quote by Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/declan-shalvey-35438_artist_in-a-way-i-m-glad-i-m-first-because-i-wo_2999186.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/declan-shalvey-35438_artist_in-a-way-i-m-glad-i-m-first-because-i-wo_2999186.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/declan-shalvey-35438_artist_in-a-way-i-m-glad-i-m-first-because-i-wo_2999186.jpg) > “In a way, I'm glad I'm first because I won't have to panic about following anybody other than industry legend John Romita Jr. And he drew Daredevil: The Man Without Fear, which is one of the books that had a massive effect on me as a reader and an artist. It has been intimidating, scary, exciting, and incredibly satisfying.” [Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being first in a field can be intimidating yet exciting, especially when inspired by legends. **In simple terms:** First can be scary and exciting. Key Takeaway Channel inspiration into personal growth. Themes inspiration career artistic development Mood enthusiastic reflective Type creative career When to use this quote - comic creation - career launch - personal branding Key Concepts creative process role models Questions to Reflect On - Who inspires you most? - How do you handle creative pressure? A Different Perspective Comparison can cause self-doubt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artist Intimidating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-intimidating-4752844/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Daredevil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daredevil/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Exciting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exciting/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-books-795599/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Following](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following/) [Glad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glad/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Intimidating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimidating/) [Intimidating Scary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimidating-scary-4752845/) [John Romita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-romita-1424828/) [Legends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legends/) [Massive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/massive/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Panic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/panic/) [Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader/) [Satisfying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfying/) [Scary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scary/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I'd still love to work with John Romita Sr. at some point. That's the dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-waid/i-d-still-love-to-work-with-john-romita-sr-at-some-point-that-s-the/) [Mark Waid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-waid/) > [I wanted to read immediately. The only fear was that of books coming to an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wanted-to-read-immediately-the-only-fear-was-that-of-books-coming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I fear for my books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-rizal/i-fear-for-my-books/) [José Rizal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-rizal/) > [“I fear books; for I have heard it said, and I think it true, that a man who spends long enough in their company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-naylor/i-fear-books-for-i-have-heard-it-said-and-i-think-it-true-that-a-man/) [Chris Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-naylor/) > [“That was always my fear, that perhaps books would lead me astray, teaching me about a life that didn’t match reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefanos-livos/that-was-always-my-fear-that-perhaps-books-would-lead-me-astray/) [Stefanos Livos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefanos-livos/) > [“I hate it that Americans are taught to fear some books and some ideas as though they were diseases.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-hate-it-that-americans-are-taught-to-fear-some-books-and-some-ideas/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Corrupt people fear books because they contain something more powerful than themselves: ideas.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandt-legg/corrupt-people-fear-books-because-they-contain-something-more/) [Brandt Legg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandt-legg/) > [“He felt, rather than saw, her chin lift toward him. But instead of pulling her hand from his grip and turning away, she tightened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-s-carnes/he-felt-rather-than-saw-her-chin-lift-toward-him-but-instead-of/) [V.S. Carnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-s-carnes/) > [I don't want to be labeled as a stunt junkie or a daredevil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-pastrana/i-don-t-want-to-be-labeled-as-a-stunt-junkie-or-a-daredevil/) [Travis Pastrana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-pastrana/) > [It's almost comical that astronauts are stereotyped as daredevils and cowboys. As a rule, we're highly methodical and detail-oriented. Our passion isn't for thrills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/it-s-almost-comical-that-astronauts-are-stereotyped-as-daredevils-and/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [ We had no idea that this show \[Daredevil\] would be as popular as it was, but with the benefit of hindsight, one thing I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-cox/we-had-no-idea-that-this-show-daredevil-would-be-as-popular-as-it-was/) [Charlie Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-cox/) > [We're telling the story of 'Daredevil'. In this aspect, the storylines accentuate the sociopathic tendencies in her. The writers wanted to highlight that Elektra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elodie-yung/we-re-telling-the-story-of-daredevil-in-this-aspect-the-storylines/) [Elodie Yung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elodie-yung/) > [Duane Allman was one of the best there ever was ... when you listen to him, you are hearing a truly gifted individual giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-betts/duane-allman-was-one-of-the-best-there-ever-was-when-you-listen-to/) [Richard Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-betts/) > [I love Daredevil. I thought it was enjoyable. Okay? There were critical issues with it, and that's why I wear black, some people wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi-arad/i-love-daredevil-i-thought-it-was-enjoyable-okay-there-were-critical/) [Avi Arad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi-arad/) > ['Daredevil' is incredible, but I mean, 'The Mighty Ducks' put me in a conversation that I wasn't in before. I feel like I owe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elden-henson/daredevil-is-incredible-but-i-mean-the-mighty-ducks-put-me-in-a/) [Elden Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elden-henson/) ## More by Declan Shalvey > [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/) > [I personally got to draw a take on a character that I've had in my mind since I was a teenager. That was pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-shalvey/i-personally-got-to-draw-a-take-on-a-character-that-i-ve-had-in-my/) [Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) > [Some guys can do digital things where they make some tricks work, but I work on paper and I work with washes. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-shalvey/some-guys-can-do-digital-things-where-they-make-some-tricks-work-but/) [Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) > [There's a page in #2 where I did one of the most interesting pages I've ever drawn. I had to think, "This is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-shalvey/there-s-a-page-in-2-where-i-did-one-of-the-most-interesting-pages-i/) [Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) > [There's a great line by Joss Whedon: "Make it dark, make it grim, make it tough, but then, for the love of God, tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-shalvey/there-s-a-great-line-by-joss-whedon-make-it-dark-make-it-grim-make-it/) [Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) > [For me, I'm a fan of really dark, depressing stuff. Even something like The Wire, which can be hugely depressing and really serious, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-shalvey/for-me-i-m-a-fan-of-really-dark-depressing-stuff-even-something-like/) [Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) > [Weirdly, I'm not a horror fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-shalvey/weirdly-i-m-not-a-horror-fan/) [Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) > [Weirdly, I'm not a horror fan, but those kind of horror leanings are something that are very easy for me to get into.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-shalvey/weirdly-i-m-not-a-horror-fan-but-those-kind-of-horror-leanings-are/) [Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) > [For me, I'm a fan of really dark, depressing stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-shalvey/for-me-i-m-a-fan-of-really-dark-depressing-stuff/) [Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) > [I feel like I've been training my entire career for this moment in a lot of ways. So many artists just want to draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-shalvey/i-feel-like-i-ve-been-training-my-entire-career-for-this-moment-in-a/) [Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) > [That's the type of thing you need to keep in mind when drawing comics. The storytelling. Consider the action and the space available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-shalvey/that-s-the-type-of-thing-you-need-to-keep-in-mind-when-drawing-comics/) [Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) > [ You get to play with shadow, mood, and tone. And this \[Batman All-Stars\] is such a moody story. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-shalvey/you-get-to-play-with-shadow-mood-and-tone-and-this-batman-all-stars/) [Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) [Explore all 13 Declan Shalvey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In a way, I'm glad I'm first because I won't have to panic about following anybody other than industry legend John Romita Jr. And he drew Daredevil: The Man Without Fear, which is one of the books that had a massive effect on me as a reader and an artist. 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