Motivation Quote by Rob Walton

Walton is doing that athlete thing where a locker-room compliment lands like a challenge. He spreads the praise around Marvel and DC first, establishing credibility as someone who watches the whole league, not a homer. Then comes the jab disguised as a shrug: “Even Image,” followed immediately by “few and far between.” It’s half endorsement, half scouting report. The move matters because it sets up his real target: not quality, but recognition.

The line “as far as I’m concerned” signals he’s talking from personal viewing, not industry insider status. That’s also the point. Coming from an athlete, the complaint about recognition isn’t abstract media theory; it’s the familiar frustration of effort not converting into accolades. He’s translating a sports logic into pop culture: good work should show up on the scoreboard - sales, buzz, awards, cultural oxygen.

Subtextually, he’s critiquing how attention is allocated in comics culture. Marvel and DC are the big-market teams with built-in coverage; Image is the smaller franchise that can produce standout runs without getting the same primetime slots. “No matter who’s doing it” widens the critique beyond publishers: creators, marketing budgets, distribution, fan habits, and press cycles can all smother merit.

Intent-wise, Walton isn’t just ranking companies. He’s arguing that the recognition economy is broken - and that “good product” alone doesn’t guarantee visibility. It’s a blunt, almost weary take on a marketplace where conversation, not craftsmanship, decides what counts.