--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that Curt Swan, when he did…" description: "\"I think that Curt Swan, when he did Superman for the longest time, became the definitive Superman artist, and everybody got it. That made him very, ver..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/neal-adams-10689_artist_i-think-that-curt-swan-when-he-did-super_1413038.jpg" --- # I think that Curt Swan, when he did Superman for the… ![“I think that Curt Swan, when he did Superman for the longest time, became the definitive Superman artist, and everybody got it. That made him very, very special in the annals of comic books.” quote by Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/neal-adams-10689_artist_i-think-that-curt-swan-when-he-did-super_1413038.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/neal-adams-10689_artist_i-think-that-curt-swan-when-he-did-super_1413038.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/neal-adams-10689_artist_i-think-that-curt-swan-when-he-did-super_1413038.jpg) > “I think that Curt Swan, when he did Superman for the longest time, became the definitive Superman artist, and everybody got it. That made him very, very special in the annals of comic books.” [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Curt Swan’s long tenure defined Superman’s visual identity, making him iconic in comic history. **In simple terms:** Swan shaped Superman’s look, becoming iconic. Key Takeaway Recognize lasting impact of consistent work. Themes art legacy identity recognition Mood respectful reflective Type historical analytical When to use this quote - comic conventions - artist retrospectives - educational panels Key Concepts visual storytelling brand consistency cultural impact Questions to Reflect On - How does long‑term work shape a creator’s legacy? - What makes a visual style definitive? A Different Perspective Other artists also contributed; defining a character’s look. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Comic book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic-book/) [Comic books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic-books/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I really kind of always wondered, if I did Superman, what I would do, and what I would be able to do, because it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/i-really-kind-of-always-wondered-if-i-did-superman-what-i-would-do/) [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) > [You know how the Marvel Comics superheroes formed themselves into the Justice League of America - Batman, Flash and the rest. Why did Superman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cooper-clarke/you-know-how-the-marvel-comics-superheroes-formed-themselves-into-the/) [John Cooper Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cooper-clarke/) > [Did Superman really want to save the world, or did he just feel like he had to? Would he much rather be a farmer?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/did-superman-really-want-to-save-the-world-or-did-he-just-feel-like/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [My sister was cute, she said, 'Oh my gosh, you're an overnight success.' 'Oh,' I said, 'this is the longest night.' I've been at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/my-sister-was-cute-she-said-oh-my-gosh-you-re-an-overnight-success-oh/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [Since Sabu was the first guy that I was in the ring with professionally, we have the longest history in my career, and also,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-van-dam/since-sabu-was-the-first-guy-that-i-was-in-the-ring-with/) [Rob Van Dam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-van-dam/) > [My longest relationship with my first boyfriend was eight and a half years. We broke up a handful of times over those years, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-murray/my-longest-relationship-with-my-first-boyfriend-was-eight-and-a-half/) [Ashleigh Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-murray/) > [To me, the biggest notes and the longest notes are the easiest notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-hudson/to-me-the-biggest-notes-and-the-longest-notes-are-the-easiest-notes/) [Jennifer Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-hudson/) > [The first step of a journey is always the longest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/the-first-step-of-a-journey-is-always-the-longest/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [Friendship isn't about who came first and who you've known the longest. It's about who came and never left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/friendship-isn-t-about-who-came-first-and-who-you-ve-known-the/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [I spend the longest time moisturising my body; I get through a tub of whipped body butter every six weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-jackson/i-spend-the-longest-time-moisturising-my-body-i-get-through-a-tub-of/) [Colin Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-jackson/) > [If you watch wrestling, you now know the hip-hop culture is being represented with wrestling. For the longest time, the cultures have almost been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cena/if-you-watch-wrestling-you-now-know-the-hip-hop-culture-is-being/) [John Cena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cena/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) Gero Miesenbock > [Longest minutes in life: 1. Waiting for food in the microwave. 2. Waiting for that one text/call from the one you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/longest-minutes-in-life-1-waiting-for-food-in-the-microwave-2-waiting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) ## More by Neal Adams > [The first work I ever did in comics was for Archie Comics, and I didn't do that very long because I did other stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/the-first-work-i-ever-did-in-comics-was-for-archie-comics-and-i-didn/) [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) > [Nothing is gained by not being kind and courteous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/nothing-is-gained-by-not-being-kind-and-courteous/) [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) > [Neal has a good time all the time. It's really nice to be Neal Adams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/neal-has-a-good-time-all-the-time-it-s-really-nice-to-be-neal-adams/) [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) > ['The Dark Knight Rises' does not beat 'The Avengers. ' The reason? It is a totally different kind of movie - to compare them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/the-dark-knight-rises-does-not-beat-the-avengers-the-reason-it-is-a/) [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) > [Believe me, when I do a story - if you read 'Batman: Odyssey,' I never do something without there being a reason. There's always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/believe-me-when-i-do-a-story-if-you-read-batman-odyssey-i-never-do/) [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) > [It used to be that comic strips were the big thing, and comic books were toilet paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/it-used-to-be-that-comic-strips-were-the-big-thing-and-comic-books/) [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) > [Most of what we know or assume to know is wrong one way or another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/most-of-what-we-know-or-assume-to-know-is-wrong-one-way-or-another/) [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) > [I have always felt that effect covers are very good covers. They bring you into the story if you pay attention to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/i-have-always-felt-that-effect-covers-are-very-good-covers-they-bring/) [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) > [There's a bad thing that we have in America, and that is a slow, sticky way that we get out of prejudice. We get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/there-s-a-bad-thing-that-we-have-in-america-and-that-is-a-slow-sticky/) [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) > [Sometimes you're forced to do the cover before the story is done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/sometimes-you-re-forced-to-do-the-cover-before-the-story-is-done/) [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) > [Back in the olden days when we were rubbing sticks together, everybody wanted to have a comic strip, to live in Westport Connecticut, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/back-in-the-olden-days-when-we-were-rubbing-sticks-together-everybody/) [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) > [Not too many people draw black people as well as I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/not-too-many-people-draw-black-people-as-well-as-i-do/) [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) > [What populates a comic-book convention? Well there's actors, and there's dealers, and there's comic-book artists and writers, and there's cosplay people, toy sales people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/what-populates-a-comic-book-convention-well-there-s-actors-and-there/) [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) > [Nobody is looking for work who doesn't need work. That's why we look for work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/nobody-is-looking-for-work-who-doesn-t-need-work-that-s-why-we-look/) [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) > [I want a Superman that men will look up to - that somehow he manages to go out and work out and add muscles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/i-want-a-superman-that-men-will-look-up-to-that-somehow-he-manages-to/) [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) [Explore all 64 Neal Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) ## 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 > [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": "I think that Curt Swan, when he did Superman for the longest time, became the definitive Superman artist, and everybody got it. That made him very, very special in the annals of comic books.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neal Adams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/i-think-that-curt-swan-when-he-did-superman-for-the-longest-time/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/i-think-that-curt-swan-when-he-did-superman-for-the-longest-time/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/neal-adams-10689_artist_i-think-that-curt-swan-when-he-did-super_1413038.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/neal-adams-10689_artist_i-think-that-curt-swan-when-he-did-super_1413038.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/neal-adams-10689_artist_i-think-that-curt-swan-when-he-did-super_1413038.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that Curt Swan, when he did Superman for the longest time, became the definitive Superman artist…” — Neal Adams", "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": "Neal Adams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think that Curt Swan, when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/i-think-that-curt-swan-when-he-did-superman-for-the-longest-time/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/i-think-that-curt-swan-when-he-did-superman-for-the-longest-time/#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 } } ] } ```