--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Howard Chaykin was one of the few who…" description: "\"Howard Chaykin was one of the few who dared to make mainstream comics different back in the eighties; it was guys like him, Alan Moore and Frank Miller..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/garth-ennis-13362_character_howard-chaykin-was-one-of-the-few-who-da_2679932.jpg" --- # Howard Chaykin was one of the few who dared to make… ![“Howard Chaykin was one of the few who dared to make mainstream comics different back in the eighties; it was guys like him, Alan Moore and Frank Miller who made sure there'd be no going back. Howard's work on The Shadow is amongst his very best: razor-sharp character work, sizzling dialogue and an…” quote by Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/garth-ennis-13362_character_howard-chaykin-was-one-of-the-few-who-da_2679932.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/garth-ennis-13362_character_howard-chaykin-was-one-of-the-few-who-da_2679932.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/garth-ennis-13362_character_howard-chaykin-was-one-of-the-few-who-da_2679932.jpg) > “Howard Chaykin was one of the few who dared to make mainstream comics different back in the eighties; it was guys like him, Alan Moore and Frank Miller who made sure there'd be no going back. Howard's work on The Shadow is amongst his very best: razor-sharp character work, sizzling dialogue and an unsurpassed sense of layout and design.” [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Howard Chaykin pioneered mainstream comics' evolution in the 1980s, influencing peers like Moore and Miller. **In simple terms:** Chaykin reshaped comics in the ’80s. Key Takeaway Study his work for innovative storytelling. Themes creativity innovation comics Mood admiring analytical Type critical historical When to use this quote - comic conventions - creative workshops - publishing meetings - fan conventions - media analysis Key Concepts graphic narrative visual design character development Questions to Reflect On - How does mainstream pressure affect artistic risk? - What balances originality with audience appeal? A Different Perspective Mainstream acceptance can dilute avant‑garde impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alan-moore/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Comics Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comics-different-403669/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Dialogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dialogue/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Eighty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eighty/) [Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frank/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Howard Chaykin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/howard-chaykin-1367284/) [Howard Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/howard-work-2572391/) [Layout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/layout/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Mainstream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mainstream/) [Mainstream Comics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mainstream-comics-2134072/) [Razors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/razors/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Shadow Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow-best-323137/) [Sizzling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sizzling/) ## Related quotes > [Not since Walter Gibson has anyone been better suited to The Shadow than Howard Chaykin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-waid/not-since-walter-gibson-has-anyone-been-better-suited-to-the-shadow/) [Mark Waid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-waid/) > [We can't escape the shadow, so the best thing we can do is notice the light and be open to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-smith/we-can-t-escape-the-shadow-so-the-best-thing-we-can-do-is-notice-the/) [Maggie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-smith/) > [“But it is better to follow even the shadow of the best than to remain content with the worst.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/but-it-is-better-to-follow-even-the-shadow-of-the-best-than-to-remain/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Well, the coffeehouse audiences never know what they're going to get, and all the comics are different, as opposed to when you go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/well-the-coffeehouse-audiences-never-know-what-they-re-going-to-get/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [ I think they \[Judy Blume comics\] are so different from the Dr. Strange ones are so different from the other, from the other comics… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-mcadams/i-think-they-judy-blume-comics-are-so-different-from-the-dr-strange/) [Rachel McAdams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-mcadams/) > [I think I've been able to build up a wide range of styles in storytelling, using comics in different ways from project to project.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-brown/i-think-i-ve-been-able-to-build-up-a-wide-range-of-styles-in/) [Jeffrey Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-brown/) > [Comics is different than writing because when you draw something you are trying to visualize it and you are trying to put yourself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-ware/comics-is-different-than-writing-because-when-you-draw-something-you/) [Chris Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-ware/) > [The main thing I would say is: Lady Loki in the comics is a very different character to our character, obviously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-herron/the-main-thing-i-would-say-is-lady-loki-in-the-comics-is-a-very/) [Kate Herron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-herron/) > [I'm always interested in using comics in different ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-azzarello/i-m-always-interested-in-using-comics-in-different-ways/) [Brian Azzarello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-azzarello/) > [It's always fun when you see different comics at different weights or with different hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/it-s-always-fun-when-you-see-different-comics-at-different-weights-or/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [I think that, ultimately, there are so many characters in G.I. Joe that even all the iterations - the comics and the different cartoons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-cotrona/i-think-that-ultimately-there-are-so-many-characters-in-g-i-joe-that/) [D. J. Cotrona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-cotrona/) > [As I see it, mainstream comics now speak only to the hardcore few who stayed; conversing in a weird, garbled, visual pig latin only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mccloud/as-i-see-it-mainstream-comics-now-speak-only-to-the-hardcore-few-who/) [Scott McCloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mccloud/) > [I had thought comics could only be one thing, and that was what mainstream comics were selling us. And the undergrounders proved anything you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-bissette/i-had-thought-comics-could-only-be-one-thing-and-that-was-what/) [Stephen R. Bissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-bissette/) > [Almost everyone working in mainstream comics started off as a starry-eyed kid reading and loving comics. We're all fans, and that's great. But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-pak/almost-everyone-working-in-mainstream-comics-started-off-as-a-starry/) [Greg Pak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-pak/) > [Women have been writing strong women characters for a long time - hello, Maxine Hong Kingston! - it's just taken mainstream comics a really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/women-have-been-writing-strong-women-characters-for-a-long-time-hello/) [Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/) ## More by Garth Ennis > [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/) > [“I thought you an' I'd already settled the roles in the fucker/fuckee relationship! I guess I thought wrong!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/i-thought-you-an-i-d-already-settled-the-roles-in-the-fucker-fuckee/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [I've seen a fair bit of the States and the rest of the world, and I'm convinced that there's nowhere I'd be happier, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/i-ve-seen-a-fair-bit-of-the-states-and-the-rest-of-the-world-and-i-m/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [I guess you can stay sort of true to the story; you don't have to artificially bring the character back from whatever doom you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/i-guess-you-can-stay-sort-of-true-to-the-story-you-don-t-have-to/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [ “ Criminal: You can suck my dick, motherfucker! Detective Bridges: You suck mine! \[shoves barrel of pistol in the Criminal's mouth\] An' you get… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/criminal-you-can-suck-my-dick-motherfucker-detective-bridges-you-suck/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [“I got taken in by my uncle Frankie, know to his friends as Butcher Franchetti and to his enemies as 'Oh God no, don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/i-got-taken-in-by-my-uncle-frankie-know-to-his-friends-as-butcher/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [You know, I think I did originally have some sort of idea of maybe a Where Eagles Dare kind of mission against impossible odds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/you-know-i-think-i-did-originally-have-some-sort-of-idea-of-maybe-a/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [Hitman does well and it certainly does well enough to survive, but at the same time I don't want to involve the character into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/hitman-does-well-and-it-certainly-does-well-enough-to-survive-but-at/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [As the scripts come in they are sent to the artists, and the artists are either very busy, or ready to start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/as-the-scripts-come-in-they-are-sent-to-the-artists-and-the-artists/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [“You don't have in IN you to be like that, Hughie. You had too nice an upbringing. Your mom and dad were too good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/you-don-t-have-in-in-you-to-be-like-that-hughie-you-had-too-nice-an/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [It's nice to be in a situation where the two books that I write for a sort of regular monthly income are also works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/it-s-nice-to-be-in-a-situation-where-the-two-books-that-i-write-for-a/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [I don't necessarily write everything as automatically assuming it will be collected, there's nothing that says Hitman will be collected, though it might be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/i-don-t-necessarily-write-everything-as-automatically-assuming-it/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [“Fuck, that's good. That's habit-formin'.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/fuck-that-s-good-that-s-habit-formin/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [“No, I would not say that assault with a baseball bat constitutes "justice being done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/no-i-would-not-say-that-assault-with-a-baseball-bat-constitutes/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [“Dude, are you like English or something--? Yeah, That's right, dude. I'm like English.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/dude-are-you-like-english-or-something-yeah-that-s-right-dude-i-m/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) [Explore all 48 Garth Ennis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Howard Chaykin was one of the few who dared to make mainstream comics different back in the eighties; it was guys like him, Alan Moore and Frank Miller who made sure there'd be no going back. Howard's work on The Shadow is amongst his very best: razor-sharp character work, sizzling dialogue and an unsurpassed sense of layout and design.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Garth Ennis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/howard-chaykin-was-one-of-the-few-who-dared-to-make-mainstream-comics/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/howard-chaykin-was-one-of-the-few-who-dared-to-make-mainstream-comics/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/garth-ennis-13362_character_howard-chaykin-was-one-of-the-few-who-da_2679932.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/garth-ennis-13362_character_howard-chaykin-was-one-of-the-few-who-da_2679932.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/garth-ennis-13362_character_howard-chaykin-was-one-of-the-few-who-da_2679932.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Howard Chaykin was one of the few who dared to make mainstream comics different back in the eighties; it was…” — Garth Ennis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Garth Ennis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Howard Chaykin was one of the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/howard-chaykin-was-one-of-the-few-who-dared-to-make-mainstream-comics/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/howard-chaykin-was-one-of-the-few-who-dared-to-make-mainstream-comics/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```