--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fighting, I guess, was never the real…" description: "\"Fighting, I guess, was never the real reason I read comic books as a kid. The fighting was an important part, an integral part of it; I don't know I wo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4f/ta-nehisi-coates-733_comic_fighting-i-guess-was-never-the-real-reas_2391710.png" --- # Fighting, I guess, was never the real reason I read comic… ![“Fighting, I guess, was never the real reason I read comic books as a kid. The fighting was an important part, an integral part of it; I don't know I would've read it without it.” quote by Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4f/ta-nehisi-coates-733_comic_fighting-i-guess-was-never-the-real-reas_2391710.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4f/ta-nehisi-coates-733_comic_fighting-i-guess-was-never-the-real-reas_2391710.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4f/ta-nehisi-coates-733_comic_fighting-i-guess-was-never-the-real-reas_2391710.png) > “Fighting, I guess, was never the real reason I read comic books as a kid. The fighting was an important part, an integral part of it; I don't know I would've read it without it.” [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comic books appealed to me for their conflict, not just their stories; the struggle gave them meaning. **In simple terms:** I read comics for the conflict, not just the plot. Key Takeaway Recognize why conflict draws you to media. Themes conflict nostalgia media consumption identity growth Mood reflective nostalgic Type analytical personal When to use this quote - childhood reading - graphic novel analysis - personal motivation Key Concepts Narrative tension cultural resonance Questions to Reflect On - What other elements of comics could have attracted you? - How does conflict shape your engagement with stories? A Different Perspective The focus on fighting may overlook other valuable aspects of comics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [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/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [Kids don't even read comic books anymore. They've got more important things to do - like video games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/kids-don-t-even-read-comic-books-anymore-they-ve-got-more-important/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [I never read too many comic books when I was growing up, but I think everyone loved Wolverine, you know what I'm saying?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-stanford/i-never-read-too-many-comic-books-when-i-was-growing-up-but-i-think/) [Aaron Stanford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-stanford/) > [I read comic books and stuff but I didn't know a lot about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-brolin/i-read-comic-books-and-stuff-but-i-didn-t-know-a-lot-about-it/) [Josh Brolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-brolin/) > [I have to read comic books all first, because now when you get into graphic novels, they are definitely in deep graphic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-madsen/i-have-to-read-comic-books-all-first-because-now-when-you-get-into/) [Virginia Madsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-madsen/) > [I was a Marvel kid, and I would have to say that Spiderman is my all-time favorite character. As I got older, my tastes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/i-was-a-marvel-kid-and-i-would-have-to-say-that-spiderman-is-my-all/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [Superheroes are best imagined in comic books. The union between the written word, the image, and then what your imagination has to do to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/superheroes-are-best-imagined-in-comic-books-the-union-between-the/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [I never read comic books. I was just never a comic book fan, so it's not like I ever dreamed about playing Spider Man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobey-maguire/i-never-read-comic-books-i-was-just-never-a-comic-book-fan-so-it-s/) [Tobey Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobey-maguire/) > [Personally, I really enjoy sci-fi. I watch it, I read comic books, and I play video games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-ashmore/personally-i-really-enjoy-sci-fi-i-watch-it-i-read-comic-books-and-i/) [Aaron Ashmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-ashmore/) > [Comics were not something that as a young kid you could say you were into in Manchester, Missouri. Kids did not read comic books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gunn/comics-were-not-something-that-as-a-young-kid-you-could-say-you-were/) [James Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gunn/) > [I didn't read comic books, growing up. I was more of a science fiction/fantasy novel guy. I loved reading Edgar Rice Burroughs' 'Tarzan' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-l-martin/i-didn-t-read-comic-books-growing-up-i-was-more-of-a-science-fiction/) [Jesse L. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-l-martin/) > [I don't really read magazines that much. I read comic books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-prinze-jr/i-don-t-really-read-magazines-that-much-i-read-comic-books/) [Freddie Prinze, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-prinze-jr/) > [But I read comic books. I read things like Richie Rich and Little Lulu.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/but-i-read-comic-books-i-read-things-like-richie-rich-and-little-lulu/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [I played Dungeons & Dragons and have read comic books since I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lamarr/i-played-dungeons-dragons-and-have-read-comic-books-since-i-was-a-kid/) [Phil LaMarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lamarr/) > [I guess people might be surprised to know I read comic books. I'm a Marvel girl, as opposed to DC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-cain/i-guess-people-might-be-surprised-to-know-i-read-comic-books-i-m-a/) [Chelsea Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-cain/) ## More by Ta-Nehisi Coates > [“To Trump whiteness is neither notional nor symbolic but is the very core of his power. In this, Trump is not singular. But whereas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/to-trump-whiteness-is-neither-notional-nor-symbolic-but-is-the-very/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [“The focus on one sector of Trump voters—the white working class—is puzzling, given the breadth of his white coalition. Indeed, there is a kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/the-focus-on-one-sector-of-trump-voters-the-white-working-class-is/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [The greatest reward of this constant interrogation, confrontation with the brutality of my country, is that it has freed me from hosts and myths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/the-greatest-reward-of-this-constant-interrogation-confrontation-with/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [What I am telling you is that you do not need to know to love, and it is right that you feel it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/what-i-am-telling-you-is-that-you-do-not-need-to-know-to-love-and-it/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [I think 'Dear White People,' the show, is a tremendous artistic achievement. It's always hinting that there is something beyond the pleading and wokeness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/i-think-dear-white-people-the-show-is-a-tremendous-artistic/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [ \[Winning the White House was an achievement\], but as an African-American, \[Barack Obama\], I think the symbolism is in how he conducted himself. The… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/winning-the-white-house-was-an-achievement-but-as-an-african-american/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [What sets black people apart is not some deficit in personal responsibility. It's the weight on our shoulders. That is what's actually different. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/what-sets-black-people-apart-is-not-some-deficit-in-personal/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [Like a lot of people, I'm very, very concerned about Senator Clinton's record. I'm very, very concerned about where her positions were in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/like-a-lot-of-people-i-m-very-very-concerned-about-senator-clinton-s/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [“I drove away, as always, thinking of you. I do not believe that we can stop them, Samori, because they must ultimately stop themselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/i-drove-away-as-always-thinking-of-you-i-do-not-believe-that-we-can/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [What I’m talking about is more than recompense for past injustices—more than a handout, a payoff, hush money, or a reluctant bribe. What I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/what-i-m-talking-about-is-more-than-recompense-for-past-injustices/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [The mainstream sort of presentation of the civil rights movement was not something that I directly inherited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/the-mainstream-sort-of-presentation-of-the-civil-rights-movement-was/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [ \[Grew up in Hawaii\] that gave \[Barack Obama\] a kind of optimism, an ability to see things, you know, and frankly, an ability to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/grew-up-in-hawaii-that-gave-barack-obama-a-kind-of-optimism-an/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [“I sensed the schools were hiding something, drugging us with false morality so that we would not see, so that we did not ask:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/i-sensed-the-schools-were-hiding-something-drugging-us-with-false/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [You don't make a case for reparations thinking, 'Oh yeah, people are gonna love this.' I didn't see that coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/you-don-t-make-a-case-for-reparations-thinking-oh-yeah-people-are/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [“And I know that there are black boys and black girls out there lost in a Bermuda triangle of the mind or stranded in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/and-i-know-that-there-are-black-boys-and-black-girls-out-there-lost/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) [Explore all 388 Ta-Nehisi Coates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) ## 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": "Fighting, I guess, was never the real reason I read comic books as a kid. The fighting was an important part, an integral part of it; I don't know I would've read it without it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ta-Nehisi Coates" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/fighting-i-guess-was-never-the-real-reason-i-read-comic-books-as-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/fighting-i-guess-was-never-the-real-reason-i-read-comic-books-as-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4f/ta-nehisi-coates-733_comic_fighting-i-guess-was-never-the-real-reas_2391710.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4f/ta-nehisi-coates-733_comic_fighting-i-guess-was-never-the-real-reas_2391710.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4f/ta-nehisi-coates-733_comic_fighting-i-guess-was-never-the-real-reas_2391710.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Fighting, I guess, was never the real reason I read comic books as a kid. The fighting was an important…” — Ta-Nehisi Coates", "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": "Ta-Nehisi Coates", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Fighting, I guess, was never the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/fighting-i-guess-was-never-the-real-reason-i-read-comic-books-as-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/fighting-i-guess-was-never-the-real-reason-i-read-comic-books-as-a/#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 } } ] } ```