Retroactive Continuity (Retcon), now there’s a dangerous term that DC is accused of abusing way too often. You can either change things into something good like making clawed gauntlets into retractable claws from the body. But what about when retcons happen so often people don’t really follow any of them? Now may be a good time to consider that this is a spectrum.
Welcome to the Terminology segment that examines comic techniques. Retcons are when a newer work tries to override something that was already established in the narrative. Sometimes they can be as simple as making a piece of someone’s dyed white hair as being natural. Other times, times the narrative becomes so convoluted, they don’t even seem like the original character anymore.
We’ll be looking at whose characters revolve around the concept of a retcon; and how to try and fix the continuity snarl.
Retrofitting Times
As stated before, most retcons are about changing a narrative to fit with the times they take place in. The Golden Age Superman for example was created based on the beliefs of a superior version of the human race. However this eugenic belief of the Ubermensch was used by the Third Reich to create many atrocities; as such it is largely abandoned to fit a character who goes against the Axis powers. The original concept is kind of ironic considering Superman’s creators are both Jewish. Another example is the Punisher being changed from a Vietnam war veteran to an Afghan vet. Otherwise Frank Castle would’ve been a rather old man if the narrative stayed the same in modern times. Most changes like these are superficial and don’t change their character too much unless the situation calls for it.
New Times, New Characters
Then there are retcons that are meant to fill niches but not outright replace the sources. Once again, DC takes center stage with its introduction of the multiverse. With comics going through a shift in popularity to science fiction and the Comics Code; the superhero funny papers shift to a more lighthearted sci-fi route. This exemplifies with DC’s new iteration characters overtaking the older ones; including Green Lantern and the Flash. However, thanks to Barry Allen’s powers as the Silver Age Flash; he meets the Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick, showing that the Golden Age wasn’t just a memory.
Character Development
Other times those niches in character’s backstories or mythology can also build character. Daredevil for example went from being a self-taught Olympic level athlete to a practical ninja trained by Stick. This gives Matt Murdock a fresh look at his mythos; developing him into the conflicted man he is for a good portion of his career. And who could forget Bucky Barnes becoming the Winter Soldier?
Take or Leave Retcons
Then comes some of the more controversial retcons. People either hate them for destroying good character arcs or love for introducing crucial elements. In Marvel, Jean Grey was supposed to die in the Dark Phoenix Saga after her power grow out of control, causing near genocide. But this retcons into being a Phoenix Force clone who dies; and Jean comes back after a long nap at the bottom of the ocean. This act takes away the development that Cyclops goes through after Jean’s death; and starts him down the road of becoming more villainous. Yet Jean’s reappearance allows for more arcs, including Grant Morrison‘s stellar run on New X-Men. Not to mention it adds an in-depth look at the Phoenix Force in the Marvel universe as a whole.
For DC there was Hal Jordan losing his mind after his home city was destroyed. He rebels against the Green Lantern Corp., steals their power by killing them; becoming Parallax. After a failed attempt to change time; Hal redeems himself through sacrifice to reignite a dying sun. However, after he is brought back to life, Geoff Johns reveals that Hal was actually possessed by Parallax; the cosmic embodiment of fear. While this takes away a major arc for Hal Jordan; it introduces the Emotional Spectrum and answers questions about Green Lantern lore. The yellow color is able to break through the green power ring constructs. This is because yellow represents fear; fear that Parallax feeds on. It’s what allows him to possess Jordan, all the while leading to the formation of the Sinestro Corp.
Can’t We Act Like Retcons Never Happened?
And now for the retcons that people don’t want to remember. The decisions were so poorly executed that people would rather forget those developments ever happened. Whether it was most of the Clone Saga of Spider-Man, the time where Peter Parker turned into a giant mystical spider, or the amount of times Norman Osborn screwed him over in the shadows; only a couple of those concepts remain relevant.
The Cheapest of Drama
There’s one type of trope that’s a retcon of itself; but ends up being little more than a cheap stunt for shock and awe: rape.
This Isn’t Edgy, it’s Just Cruel
In DC came the Identity Crisis where a blowhard C-list villain, Dr. Light was actually more malicious committing rape until a lobotomy changes him into a goofball. Light’s victim Sue Dibny on the other hand was reduced to just being a victim; especially since this revelation came after she was murdered setting off the events of the series. The decision is not only lazy; it destroys the legacy of two couples who went through hardships together and went their ways in life. That’s not even mentioning the lobotomy showing a darker side to DC’s heroes that put the company and fictional universe in a needlessly dark place leading to the better thought out Villains United by Gail Simone.
Two other characters were then given this rape as drama backstories. Ironically both are cat themed burglars (fans know who I’m talking about).
While we’re still talking about rape, let’s talk about one of the reasons fans hate the New 52. The Amazons of Wonder Woman mythos are portrayed less the ideals they represented from the old days; and more of the darker aspect from actual Greek myth. They abducted men and reproduced via rape and leaving their sons to die. I guess there’s a fine difference between being historically accurate and positive representation.
Can’t You Just Stick With Something?
Finally there are retcons that mess up history so much no one knows how it works anymore. The most common of this is DC’s Hawkman, a character that changes as much as DC’s status quo. He’s a reincarnated Egyptian royal, a space cop, or anything else nobody knew how to portray him as. Hawkgirl had more character with her identity problems unlike Hawkman hence her appearance in the Justice League show; despite not necessarily getting the better treatment in terms of origin either.
Which might be people focus less on streamlining origins. Like Spider-Woman Jessica Drew who was either a human-like spider or the result of an experiment by her parents and/or Hydra. Not to mention Donna Troy; her origins and importance are so over the place, nobody knows what to do with her more than half the time. Eventually creators and fans start to focus beyond origins because of how fickle they get.
This brings up something of importance, if character origins change so much why not let it reflect their personalities? Some of DC’s characters go through this a couple of times such as with John Constantine and Hawkman.
Retcons Should Reflect Character
Constantine had different ways his origin went through. But for a character known for his playful personality and being a conniving con-man; it is better to reflect that the same story is never told twice. Heck the same is true for the Joker who is revealed to be more than one person.
As for Hawkman’s reincarnation and reinterpretations, it is only appropriate to say that all Hawkman origins tell a story about identity. His latest comics by Robert Venditi show how Hawkman of the past, present, and future are all the same. However the identities simultaneously exist with one another including the Thanagarian warrior Katar Hol. In fact the new series helps cement Carter Hall’s relationship with the greater DC universe; the mystery of his origins is less an attempt to clean a mess and more a journey of self-discovery.
Or how about Vampirella, a character who was originally an alien who just happened to function like a vampire. She was a jab at the science fantasy comics of her era. Later origins have her as the daughter of the biblical Lilith and to hunt down her evil siblings as part of comics becoming darker and sometimes more biblical (thanks Dark Age). However Vampi’s latest interpretation is a schrodinger’s cat, she has memories of both origins and there is evidence that show both of these scenarios occurred.
Conclusions
What most companies and publishers seem not to realize is that when it comes to retcons; it has be something based on character. The events happening have to be secondary; what’s important is filling in niches and keeping the persona. It also helps to actually collaborate on a course of action especially for future issues rather than act like an improv class.
But the ink’s not dry yet so keep in tune for more developments. Thanks for coming and as always remember to look between the panels.