xfan78
asked:
Tom: What is your take on retcons? I, as a fan, dislike them intensely, but am curious to know how you, as an editor, feel about them? Do you think they cause more harm than good in the long run (such as Charles Xavier being thrown under the bus in Deadly Genesis), or do you think they are a good storytelling technique? Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this.
I think the term Retcon has become misused over the years, and made to apply to any story revelation that a particular reader didn’t like.
I also suspect that there are retconned stories that you do like–possibly ones where the retcon was made before you started reading the series. (Just pointing to DAREDEVIL since the show is on my mind: do you like Elektra? Retcon. Do you like Stick? Retcon. Do you like the Kingpin being involved in Daredevil’s origin? Retcon. Do you like Daredevil’s martial arts skills? Retcon.. And so forth.)
Like anything else, a retcon is a tool in the storytelling toolbox. It can be used well or it can be used poorly. But it isn’t the tool’s fault in either case.