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What is a retcon in comics?
Retroactive continuity, or retcon for short, is a literary device in which established diegetic facts in the plot of a fictional work (those established through the narrative itself) are adjusted, ignored, or contradicted by a subsequently published work which breaks continuity with the former.
What is canon in DC?
When fans talk of canon or continuity, which are used somewhat interchangeably in these circles, they mean the works concerning a character or franchise which accurately represent what that character or franchise is supposed to be as of the present time.
Why is it called retcon?
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 abbreviated form, retcon, started appearing in Usenet newsgroups before the end of the decade.
What was the first retcon in DC Comics?
In 1961, DC Comics established its first official retcon. In Flash #123 in a story entitled, “The Flash of Two Worlds,” it was revealed that the super-heroes of the 1960s operated on a parallel world from that of the original Golden Age heroes.
Why is Clark Kent not called Superboy?
In the modern canonical history, Clark Kent did not become a costumed hero until he was an adult, and never adopted the identity of the teen hero, Superboy. Primarily, this story telling convention serves to modernize older material in order to maintain a sense of historical consistency.
What is retroactive continuity in DC Comics?
Writer Peter David often used this technique when scripting material for his run on the 1993 Aquaman series. In regards to DC Comics, this is the most commonly used form of retroactive continuity. In short, it allows the writer the ability to look back upon older stories and say, “that never happened.”