Ann Nocenti Quotes

Powerful Ann Nocenti for Daily Growth

About Ann Nocenti

Ann Nocenti is an acclaimed American comic book writer and artist, recognized for her significant contributions to the industry. Born on September 19, 1957, in New York City, Nocenti developed a love for storytelling and art at an early age. Her artistic talent was nurtured by her parents, both artists themselves. Nocenti's professional career began in the late 70s when she started working as an assistant to comic book legends such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and John Romita Sr. This period proved crucial, as it allowed her to learn from industry veterans and gain insights into the world of comics. In the early 80s, Nocenti made her mark as a writer and artist for Marvel Comics. She co-created characters like Catwoman (for DC Comics) and Sabretooth, Karma, and X-Force (for Marvel Comics). One of her most notable works is a run on 'Daredevil' in the mid-80s, where she introduced popular characters such as Stick and Elektra. In 1987, Nocenti took over the writing duties for 'Kate Spencer', a female vigilante character who became the star of the series 'Catwoman'. This run marked one of the first times a woman wrote a mainstream superhero title at DC Comics. Nocenti's work often explores themes of feminism, social justice, and human struggle, reflecting her personal values and experiences. Her unique storytelling style, characterized by its depth, emotional resonance, and bold visuals, has made her a beloved figure in the comic book community. Today, Ann Nocenti continues to create captivating narratives that entertain, inspire, and provoke thought.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Art is a way to say something that can't be said any other way."

Ann Nocenti's quote suggests that art serves as a unique means of expression, allowing individuals to convey ideas, emotions, or experiences that are otherwise difficult or impossible to articulate through words alone. Essentially, art functions as a powerful tool for communication and self-expression beyond the confines of conventional language.


"Comics are like dreams; you remember the emotions but not the details."

This quote suggests that comic books, like dreams, have a powerful emotional impact on readers, rather than being focused on minute, precise details. They stir feelings within us, leaving an impression of the overall mood or atmosphere, but not necessarily the specifics of the narrative events. It is a reminder that the art of storytelling in comics lies not only in the intricate plot development and detailed illustrations, but also in evoking emotions in readers through imagery, tone, and theme.


"Storytelling is what separates us from animals. The ability to tell stories is our greatest strength as a species."

This quote emphasizes the uniqueness of human civilization, which is rooted in our capacity for storytelling. Unlike animals, humans have the ability to communicate complex narratives, ideas, and emotions beyond mere survival instincts. Storytelling allows us to record our past, shape our present, and imagine our future. It fosters empathy, promotes cultural exchange, and serves as a powerful tool for learning and self-discovery. Essentially, the ability to tell stories is what makes us human and enables us to thrive in diverse and complex societies.


"Every character has to have something at stake, or there's no drama."

This quote emphasizes that for a story to be engaging, it must involve conflict or tension. The "something at stake" refers to the personal challenge or goal that each character is pursuing, which is crucial in driving the narrative forward and creating dramatic tension. Without this element of risk or consequence, the story lacks a sense of urgency or interest for the audience.


"I don't want to write pretty pictures. I want to write stories that are important and relevant today, stories that resonate with people."

This quote by Ann Nocenti suggests her intention as a storyteller is not merely to create aesthetically pleasing narratives, but rather to produce significant and relatable stories that reflect contemporary issues and experiences. She seeks to create narratives that resonate deeply with readers, thereby fostering understanding, empathy, and engagement with the world around us.


I live in New York City, and one day many years ago I was with a poet, Gregory Corso, walking through Greenwich Village. He pointed to a doorway in an alley that he said led to a tunnel under Manhattan, a tunnel he'd use to run from the cops. I started learning about old Prohibition-era speakeasy tunnels under the city, for running whiskey.

- Ann Nocenti

City, Through, Cops, Pointed

When you choose the sword over a gun, just like Green Arrow chooses an arrow over a gun and Catwoman chooses a whip over a gun, you have to be highly skilled and highly trained. I can grab Green Arrow's bow, but I'm not strong enough to shoot it. I can grab Catwoman's whip, but have you ever tried to whip a whip? It's not easy.

- Ann Nocenti

Strong, Gun, Trained, Sword

There is an unspoken feminist layer to Katana. She's an aggressive modern woman with traditional Japanese roots. She was in love with her sword because she believed it contained her husband.

- Ann Nocenti

Love, Woman, Unspoken, Sword

I'm dying to fool around with the distance between Selina Kyle and Catwoman. And, you know, the whole double identity thing is endlessly fascinating. I mean, you can always find another riff for it.

- Ann Nocenti

Always, Endlessly, Riff, Kyle

Is it possible to run a big industrial corporation in a benevolent fashion? We see these days that even the hippest companies hide some rotten practices to make their profit margins work.

- Ann Nocenti

Big, Some, Margins, Practices

There was a Japantown in San Francisco, but after the internment camps that locked up all the Japanese, Japantown shrunk down to just a couple tourist blocks.

- Ann Nocenti

Couple, Francisco, San, Locked

I think writers process their own experiences through the characters and situations they write. So for Batman, I used my own experience of losing a loved one. Grief is a strange place; it's like an altered state. You might sleep too much, so you can see the dead in your dreams.

- Ann Nocenti

Own, Through, I Think, Loved One

I believe in working with your morning brain - you have your coffee, and then maybe you'll start thinking about the grand plan and what's going to happen in the next arc, and then you write for a while, and then you get really dreamy, and over the course of the day or in the middle of the night, something comes, and you just throw it in!

- Ann Nocenti

Next, Maybe, About, Arc

There are a lot of writers who just want to do their own thing and avoid the rest of the Marvel Universe. But for me that was one of the things I loved about Marvel: that shared universe. So of course you would run into a mutant in Manhattan. You would run into another hero in Manhattan. For me, I figured why not? Why not have that fun?

- Ann Nocenti

Shared, One Of The Things, Why Not

When my editor sent me the first two images of Joker's daughter, I was struck by how confident she looked despite her boney appearance and horribly scarred face. So I starting thinking, how did Duela gain such confidence in a world that prizes beauty?

- Ann Nocenti

Beauty, Confident, Two, Joker

I actually have a peculiar feminism that does not involve the idea that women shouldn't be sexy. Female characters written in comics have always been pretty damned sexy, and used their sexuality. And I don't have any problem with that.

- Ann Nocenti

Sexuality, Idea, Been, Peculiar

I am thrilled to be working with Alex Sanchez as the artist on 'Katana.' His work is wildly eclectic, exciting and powerful, yet slyly humorous, which is a perfect match for Katana.

- Ann Nocenti

Artist, Perfect, Which, Alex

It always amazes me that Japanese comics have, like, 200 pages. How do they do that? They're fat books; it's a whole different kind of comic that's very close to their films. So I'm drawing from that history and bringing it here - bringing it to Katana.

- Ann Nocenti

Here, Very, Comics, Amazes

I like talking about comic book process, and one of the things is that I have plans going ahead for years, and the plans constantly get thrown away and shifted. There's a difference between planning and what actually happens in life, and comics have a life of their own.

- Ann Nocenti

Away, One Of The Things, Comic Book

I wanted the new Green Arrow to somehow sense his long, brutal past. It's like someone who has past lives they can't remember but feels occasional flashes of.

- Ann Nocenti

New, Feels, Brutal, Flashes

People struggle with moments of deep dread about life and moments of surety. Often within the course of the same day. Life is a roller coaster, especially if you take risks.

- Ann Nocenti

Deep, Within, About, Struggle

Comics shouldn't be 'tools' for anyone's agenda except for the characters. And I am speaking only of super hero action comics. I love many of the alternative comics that are like journalistic stories. Documentary comics, a mix of reportage and fiction. Those are just great.

- Ann Nocenti

Love, Fiction, Journalistic, Mix

Catwoman isn't a 'joiner.' She's a solo operator. She isn't naturally heroic; she's fairly selfish.

- Ann Nocenti

Selfish, She, Naturally, Operator

I'm a huge lover of 'Seven Samurai' and anything Kurosawa ever did. The comedic work out of Japan in terms of martial arts movies, some of them are hilarious.

- Ann Nocenti

Some, Lover, Japan, Comedic

I'm thrilled to be taking over Green Arrow. What I adore about the Arrow is his recklessness. He'll shoot off on an impulse, dispatch someone if they deserve it; his heroism is instinctive.

- Ann Nocenti

Green, Deserve, Over, Impulse

Catwoman has an awesome, iconic personality. It's a blast to write her. You get her; she's an archetype. You can just kind of put on the cat-suit.

- Ann Nocenti

Kind, Iconic, Just Kind, Blast

I'm a huge, huge lover of weaponry, of Japanese martial arts movies.

- Ann Nocenti

Movies, Japanese, Martial, Martial Arts

I am inspired by both Japanese Samurai films, in particular the films of Kurosawa, and how they share the spirit of American Westerns, with the influences running in both directions, and including the 'Spaghetti Westerns' and films of Sam Peckinpah.

- Ann Nocenti

Spaghetti, Including, Films, Kurosawa

Mythology contains a rich history of legendary weapons, most famously 'Excalibur,' weapons that could only be used by the pure of heart.

- Ann Nocenti

History, Rich, Could, Weapons

Green Arrow has gone through so many changes; he's been right-wing, he's been left-wing, he's been rich, he's been poor, he's been a social justice guy, then when I got him, he was a rich playboy guy. So it was a lot harder to get into a character that has so many personas in the past, and I just looked at his anger.

- Ann Nocenti

Through, Been, Left-Wing, Social Justice

I know I've erred in the past putting too much of my social justice sentiments in comics, but hopefully not too much, and I tried to only do that with characters that it made sense with it. These days, with the 'social justice' aspects of the two books I write, 'Catwoman' and 'Katana,' the concerns are more about moral justice.

- Ann Nocenti

I Write, Putting, Comics, Social Justice

I know my predecessors have written a Green Arrow who has a lot of thoughts about social justice, but that was a more evolved, older, wiser Green Arrow.

- Ann Nocenti

Thoughts, Predecessors, Social Justice

The things that churned inside Daredevil were deeply religious, somewhat guilt-driven traces of the messianic, with his powers being a compensation for and driven by the vulnerability of being blind. Green Arrow is not driven by dark forces.

- Ann Nocenti

Green, Blind, Religious, Powers

I walked the streets of New York; I would feel the presence of Daredevil. I would see him up on the rooftop. What you are doing in your life, you start to see in your book. It all starts to merge together.

- Ann Nocenti

Book, Doing, Streets, Daredevil

I want Green Arrow to have fun. I don't want him to be a tortured hero. I mean, I've written plenty of tortured heroes, like Daredevil. But it's all there in Daredevil's origin as to why he'd be a tortured adult. Green Arrow doesn't have that kind of origin. In fact, he's such a clean slate that he doesn't even have an origin anymore.

- Ann Nocenti

Fact, Arrow, Tortured, Daredevil

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