--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had been writing comic books for years…" description: "\"I had been writing comic books for years and I was doing them to please a publisher, who felt that comics are only read by very young children or stupi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/stan-lee-1586_adults_i-had-been-writing-comic-books-for-years_2325782.jpg" --- # I had been writing comic books for years and I was doing… ![“I had been writing comic books for years and I was doing them to please a publisher, who felt that comics are only read by very young children or stupid adults. And therefore, we have to keep the stories very simplistic... And those were all things I hated.” quote by Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/stan-lee-1586_adults_i-had-been-writing-comic-books-for-years_2325782.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/stan-lee-1586_adults_i-had-been-writing-comic-books-for-years_2325782.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/stan-lee-1586_adults_i-had-been-writing-comic-books-for-years_2325782.jpg) > “I had been writing comic books for years and I was doing them to please a publisher, who felt that comics are only read by very young children or stupid adults. And therefore, we have to keep the stories very simplistic... And those were all things I hated.” [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The creator felt constrained by a publisher's narrow view of comics, forcing simplistic stories he despised. **In simple terms:** He was forced to simplify his work for a publisher's limited audience. Key Takeaway Challenge creative freedom and demand diverse storytelling. Themes creativity artistic integrity industry constraints Mood frustrated determined hopeful Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - graphic novel creation - independent publishing - pitching to editors - building a personal brand Key Concepts publishing expectations audience stereotypes creative compromise Questions to Reflect On - How can creators push back against limiting market expectations? - What strategies help maintain artistic integrity? A Different Perspective Simplification may alienate mature readers and limit artistic growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [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/) [Comics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comics/) [Publishers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publishers/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Young children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-children/) ## Related quotes > [If I do foray more into writing comic books, I definitely would hope that my acceptance is based more on my ability to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/if-i-do-foray-more-into-writing-comic-books-i-definitely-would-hope/) [Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/) > [Oh yeah, I was one of the first guys writing comic books, I wrote Captain America, with guys like Stan Lee, who became famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-spillane/oh-yeah-i-was-one-of-the-first-guys-writing-comic-books-i-wrote/) [Mickey Spillane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-spillane/) > [Writing a comic book series, you're so reliant on whoever the artist is. It truly is collaboration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gunn/writing-a-comic-book-series-you-re-so-reliant-on-whoever-the-artist/) [James Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gunn/) > [Everyone seems to see bleakness and despair in my books. I don't read them that way. I see myself as writing comic books, books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee-2/everyone-seems-to-see-bleakness-and-despair-in-my-books-i-don-t-read/) [J. M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee-2/) > [For screenwriting, when you're writing, you're talking to hundreds - hundreds of people who might be interpreting what you're saying. When you're writing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-beacham/for-screenwriting-when-you-re-writing-you-re-talking-to-hundreds/) [Travis Beacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-beacham/) > [When you're writing TV or movies your vernacular is time, it's all based on rhythms, a character takes a beat or two characters have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kripke/when-you-re-writing-tv-or-movies-your-vernacular-is-time-it-s-all/) [Eric Kripke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kripke/) > [As you get older you're told to be sensible, but it's important for writing if you're a comic that you're able to still access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/as-you-get-older-you-re-told-to-be-sensible-but-it-s-important-for/) [Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/) > [When I'm writing a comic book, I'm thinking about a character that I'm going to be drawing on the page. I've never drawn a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-miller/when-i-m-writing-a-comic-book-i-m-thinking-about-a-character-that-i-m/) [Frank Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-miller/) > [A comic book publisher says he's trying to increase voter turnout in the presidential election by publishing comic books about John McCain and Barack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/a-comic-book-publisher-says-he-s-trying-to-increase-voter-turnout-in/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [The comics I read as a kid were much more influenced by TV and movies. Encountering superheroes as an adult without that kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/the-comics-i-read-as-a-kid-were-much-more-influenced-by-tv-and-movies/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [It's not like since I make comics I only read comics and since I make movies I will only go out and watch movies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/it-s-not-like-since-i-make-comics-i-only-read-comics-and-since-i-make/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [There are some things that are more appropriate for different audiences. But the goal with all ages is to create comics that anyone can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/there-are-some-things-that-are-more-appropriate-for-different/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) > [I like collecting comics, I like buying comics, I like looking at comics, but I also read comics on digital readers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-johns/i-like-collecting-comics-i-like-buying-comics-i-like-looking-at/) [Geoff Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-johns/) > [I've always been a Marvel fan. As a kid, I would pick up a two-foot stack of comics and read them in the back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-bowie/i-ve-always-been-a-marvel-fan-as-a-kid-i-would-pick-up-a-two-foot/) [Angela Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-bowie/) > [My older brothers always collected comics and read them. When we were little, Robin and I would sneak into their room and take them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brook-lopez/my-older-brothers-always-collected-comics-and-read-them-when-we-were/) [Brook Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brook-lopez/) ## More by Stan Lee > [I think the way you become a good storyteller is to read a lot of stories and evaluate them in your own mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-think-the-way-you-become-a-good-storyteller-is-to-read-a-lot-of/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [I enjoy the fact that we have these mobile comics now, which are sort of a cross between a comic book and an animated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-enjoy-the-fact-that-we-have-these-mobile-comics-now-which-are-sort/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [To tell you the truth, I never thought of myself as much of a success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/to-tell-you-the-truth-i-never-thought-of-myself-as-much-of-a-success/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [I am so impressed with people who can really make a big movie, a good movie. The amount of work that goes into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-am-so-impressed-with-people-who-can-really-make-a-big-movie-a-good/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [MARVEL IS A CORNUCOPIA OF FANTASY, A WILD IDEA , A SWASHBUCKLING ATTITUDE , AN ESCAPE FROM THE HUMDRUM AND PROSAIC. IT'S A SERENDIPITOUS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/marvel-is-a-cornucopia-of-fantasy-a-wild-idea-a-swashbuckling/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [Your humans slaughter each other because of the color of your skin, or your faith or your plitics -- or for no reason at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/your-humans-slaughter-each-other-because-of-the-color-of-your-skin-or/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [That's what everybody tells me. "I would've had a great comic-book collection, but my mother made me throw them away." But when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/that-s-what-everybody-tells-me-i-would-ve-had-a-great-comic-book/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [I have always tried to have a message, not to be a preacher, but a message that shows it's better to be a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-have-always-tried-to-have-a-message-not-to-be-a-preacher-but-a/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [ I was in the beginning when \[comic book superheroes\] started, but not anymore. Now I expect it. I've gotten very used to it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-was-in-the-beginning-when-comic-book-superheroes-started-but-not/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [I always felt the 'X-Men,' in a subtle way, often touched upon the subject of racism and inequality, and I believe that subject has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-always-felt-the-x-men-in-a-subtle-way-often-touched-upon-the/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [Every kid loves fairy tales, stories of witches and giants and magicians. Then, when you get a little older you can't read fairy tales…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/every-kid-loves-fairy-tales-stories-of-witches-and-giants-and/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [Wherever we find news, excitement, mystery and adventure, there, too, we find the newspaper reporter. Always on the alert for something new, ready to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/wherever-we-find-news-excitement-mystery-and-adventure-there-too-we/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [I hated teenagers in comics because they were always sidekicks. And I always felt if I were a superhero, there's no way I'd pal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-hated-teenagers-in-comics-because-they-were-always-sidekicks-and-i/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [The experience of reading a printed comic book will never change, but now, thanks to the digital age, there are many different ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/the-experience-of-reading-a-printed-comic-book-will-never-change-but/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [I'm just somebody who tries to write things that entertain people. And if I can do it in a way that makes them prefer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-m-just-somebody-who-tries-to-write-things-that-entertain-people-and/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) [Explore all 224 Stan Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) ## More Adults quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) K. 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They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [On the one hand, we had great filmic spectacles that brought in big audiences, adults as well as primary and secondary school students. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-wajda/on-the-one-hand-we-had-great-filmic-spectacles-that-brought-in-big/) [Andrzej Wajda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-wajda/) > [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [When I was a child at sixteen, I was just a child. All sixteen year-olds are just children. As much as we like them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/when-i-was-a-child-at-sixteen-i-was-just-a-child-all-sixteen-year/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) [Browse all 3,113 Adults quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had been writing comic books for years and I was doing them to please a publisher, who felt that comics are only read by very young children or stupid adults. And therefore, we have to keep the stories very simplistic... 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