Being a superhero isnt all about fame and the cool looks, of course. The top most unnecessary retcons in comics history. The first known printed use of retroactive continuity referring to the altering of history in a. Subscribe to infinity arc to help support the channel and to give you bigger and greater content. The 100 best comic book characters of all time paste. To accommodate desired aspects of sequels or derivative works which. His most famous work, however, is the spirit which was first published in 1940 and went on to become a live action movie in 2008. So, here are the most unnecessary retcons in comics history. Time to travel back and jump in on this comic while it was new. Latinx people helped build the world of comic books while often being left out of the pages. Jim lee and rob liefield the opportunity to rewrite their origin stories for. For many fans, the journey of jean grey becoming the phoenix and slowly becoming corrupted into the dark phoenix to the point where she decided to kill herself rather than let herself become dark phoenix again was one of the. The comic book script archive was founded by tim simmons because he couldnt find an online resource for comic book scripts.
Comic book definition of comic book by the free dictionary. By 1935 reprints of newspaper strips and books with original stories. The 10 greatest comic book artists of all time creative bloq. The animated series in 1992, a creation of producers paul dini and bruce timm, and voiced by arleen sorkin. Retcons come part and parcel with comic books sometimes, a characters origin will require reworking, a story arc will need to reset some boundaries, heck, every couple of decades the entire. While i hate the backprojection of red hood onto young jason acting the like the kid was a chainsmoking, cursing, vicious. For many comic book fans, retcons, short for retroactive continuity, are a source. Whereas some of batmans rogues are seen as outandout bad guys, freezes quest to save his wife nora made him somewhat of an antihero. So, what big changes, either from universe reboots or ordinary retcons, do you most like.
Retcons are often encountered in serial formats such as comic books or television series, where they serve as a means of allowing the works creators to create a parallel universe, reintroduce a character, or explore plot lines that would otherwise be in conflict with the work. Retcon is a shortened form of retroactive continuity, and refers to a literary device in which the form or content of a previously established narrative is changed. The term retroactive continuity or retcon for short is used in comic books to define a rewrite of a current origin or introduction of. In your opinion, what is the best retcon in comics. The first true comic books were marketed in 1933 as giveaway advertising premiums. I dont mind fixits hal was possessed when evil, stephs death was faked, etc. The problem is, the majority of retcons in comic books are far from smart. A spine split of up to 23 the length of the book, a missing back cover provided the front cover is still attached, severe water damage or residue damage. Latinx creators have also been behind some of the most famous comic book. Since the debut of superman in 1938 by jerry siegel and joe shuster, stories of superheroes ranging from.
The term retroactive continuity or retcon for short is used in comic books to define a rewrite of a current origin or introduction of new information as if it had always been that way. Almost since they started appearing together in comic books, fans have speculated and argued over the possible pairing of the man of steel and the amazonian princess. Retcon or retroactive continuity is a term that is used when writers reveal something new to a previous story already told which usually changes the original back story to something new. As a result, she ended up with an origin that was pretty out there. Death is in the air in the marvel universe, both in comic books and films. She first showed up on the rightfully beloved batman. Then she was forced by nazis to live through multiple tragic lives.
Basically its a term stolen from biblical scripture. Retroactive continuity, or retcon for short, is a literary device in which established diegetic facts. It typically takes the form of a sequence of panels of images. Harley quinn is the rare comic book character to have made a big enough splash in another medium that she crossed over onto the printed page. The creations of bon kane, bill finger, jerry siegel, joe shuster, stan lee. Continuity is a major part of the comic book experience. Comics experience is pleased to present tims archive as an educational resource for those interested in comic book scripting. So, we all love to complain about one more day and sins past and the like, but what are some examples of retcons that, in your opinion, are really inventive or overall improved the characters they were used for. Comics is a medium used to express narratives or other ideas through images, usually combined with text. Then came the series finale, and one of the most famous and, depending on ones. A retcon is a turn of phrase used by comic readers and industry professionals to. As a retcon basically recreates a comic books internal reality, there is often great.
Latinx people helped build the world of comic books. One of the earliest known examples of the application of retroactive. Retcons are often encountered in serial formats such as comic books or television series, where they serve as a means of allowing the works creators to create a parallel universe, reintroduce a character, or explore plot lines. Or, at least, a small part of the collection of retcons associated with the sentry. Retroactive continuity, or retcon for short, is a literary device in which established diegetic facts in the plot of a fictional work are adjusted, ignored, or contradicted by a subsequently published work which breaks continuity with the former there are various motivations for applying retroactive continuity, including. Textual devices such as speech balloons, captions, and onomatopoeia can indicate dialogue, narration, sound effects, or other information. My name is tatiana, but my friends and family call me tutta. I think thats what set it apart from many of the other comic books. All you need is a cool name, a coordinating costume, and a fearless alter ego, and there you are.
Originally they were magnetos kids, but when they met the avengers they joined. In abandoned an forsaked, we examine comic book stories and ideas that were not only abandoned, but also had the storiesplots specifically overturned by a later writer as if they were a legal precedent today, we look at when namor and namora became cousins. Comic book fans have loved wolverine, and all the xmen characters, for more than the action. Some retcons, like alan moores revamp of the origin of the swamp thing or james. The 10 most significant superhero couples of all time. In another comicbook retcon, batman is now known as a superhero who. On the comic book side, several deaths marked this weeks titles we go. A comic book is a magazine that contains stories told in pictures. Comic book quotes brainyquote famous quotes at brainyquote. Once you finish this book, there are plenty of other options, including will eisners books, which are on my own toberead list.
It turns out that it was actually the joker who killed batmans parents. The continued hiatus of the dragon ball super anime, plus some key dragon ball z retcons in the new manga story arc, has made fans take a nostalgic. They use ink to incorporate dynamic lighting, and add shading and textures which may be lacking in the penciled work. The series was set on dcs earthtwo, an alternate universe in which golden age comic characters age in real time. To put it in comic terms it means that its real and it happened in the main universe of that comic. Portraying the mass, depth, and form of your objects. Note that were differentiating from reboots, which is when a whole line of comics starts over and all sorts of things change. I love writing articles that bring a little creativity to everyday life. The 25 most iconic comic book covers of all time ign.
Here, then, are 15 of the very best comic book retcons. A retcon is a turn of phrase used by comic readers and industry professionals to describe alterations in the existing internal history of a particular comic character or series of events. Spawn is a comic book telling the story of commando al simmons, who is betrayed by cia spook jason wynn and murdered by his friend and teammate chapel later retconned as priest, a distaff counterpart of chapel. Generally, a brush or pen is used to ink comic book pages, but some inkers use both. Usually, events flow forward in a neverending battle. The 50 greatest comicbook characters movies empire. Best and worst comic book retcons archive straight. Types of damage that place a comic in fr range include. Learn these different styles and comic book art techniques. Apparently, in the original history, meaning before the sentry mindwiped everyone to forget his existence, in this context, peter parker won a. The greatest comicbook characters in the canon have been debated and argued over for decades. In the case of wolverine, when he appeared, he was a revolution really. They rewrite history as often as most people change shoes. Comic book artists do not just settle in shading their works using pencil.
Now, this is a bit of a stretch for a retcon, as you could argue that the original stories didnt explicitly say that they were. Retcons are often encountered in serial formats such as comic books or. There, he was first known as changeling before eventually reclaiming his original title. Comic book definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Comic book, bound collection of comic strips, usually in chronological sequence, typically telling a single story or a series of different stories. Retcons are common in pulp fiction, and especially in comic books published by longestablished publishers such as dc and marvel. What are the best and worst retcons in comic history. Originally, she was a computer simulation of a young wonder woman. Will eisners a contract with god, which featured orthodox jews, the first comic con, and the first comicbook directdistribution network. Mark millar is famous for pushing the envelope with huge story arcs, violence that mirrors todays issues, and many twists and turns that leave the reader wanting more.
In the postcrisis retelling of the origin, joe chill shoots both of the waynes. His origin, early years, and powers have been revamped a ridiculous number of. A comic book in fr condition may have nonstory elements such as coupons, ad pages, or marvel value stamps cut or torn out of the book. Bryan hitchs art is superb and highly detailed, showing the massive battles and emotion from the characters all at the same time.
The term retroactive continuity was made known by allstar squadron writer roy thomas in the 1980s. A guide to the comic book wives and girlfriends who. It also plays to colossus earliest comic book appearances, in which he would regularly utter this russian statement meaning my god. A famous example of this is when in the oneshot story, the killing joke.