Secret Origins and Continuity

OK, it’s time for another dose of my opinion.

When it comes to comic book character origins and continuity I am of the opinion to leave well enough alone.

Over the past few decades the ‘Big 2’ (Marvel and DC Comics) have gone about retelling their origin of various characters and respective comic book universe’s continuity.

Even smaller, independent publishers have ‘tweaked’ their origins and story continuity (Valiant is a perfect example).

I understand the logic. Publishers want to bring in new readers.  It’s difficult for a new reader to understand the long history of a well-established comic book company.

It’s a little disconcerting when said companies have been around since the 1930s and 40s.

Origins created decades ago may not seem relevant today and well as jumbled up continuities.

So what?

My advice is to leave the origins and continuities alone and focus on new stories.

In effect-ignore them.  Why continually update, change and mess with origins and continuity?

We’re talking comic books.  I’m not saying to completely disregard the past-just don’t overplay it.

Readers want modern, relevant stories.  Focus on that.

So what if Batman stared out as an armed vigilante or that Superman’s powers were toned down and he could only leap, not fly?

Does it really make a difference if Spider-Man was bitten by a radioactive spider at a science fair?

Why should it matter that the Fantastic Four tried to rocket to moon in order to beat ‘those dirty commies’ to it?

Stick with the characters as they appear today.

After decades of stories there will always be continuity glitches.  Move on.  Let the comic book ‘experts’ fuss and fume.  Average readers are forgiving.  They read the books because they like the characters and stories.

I’m not saying to ignore origins and continuity and write stories that are blatantly misleading, totally off the wall or downright and deliberate mis-tellings.

After all isn’t DC’s Imaginary Stories and Marvel’s What If? the perfect avenues to explore alternate realities and origins?

I have an extensive library of books about comic books reaching back close to 50 years.  

If I were to compile the many redoes of origins and ‘fixed’ continuity occurrences it would take me days, if not weeks, to do so.

Respect the past, don’t change it.  Stick to the now and tell good stories.  The origin and continuity glitches will take care of themselves.