How writers rewrite the past to save the future of fiction
In short: When a beloved character dies or a plot hole emerges, authors don't always accept defeat. Through retroactive continuity, or 'retconning,' creators can ignore, adjust, or supplement established facts to revive legends, fix errors, or expand sprawling universes without breaking the narrative's momentum.
Retroactive continuity is a deliberate literary device where new works recontextualize or contradict previously established events. Retcons serve various strategic purposes: they can accommodate sequels, respond to negative fan reception, or correct errors in earlier publications. Some retcons are 'diegetic,' using in-universe mechanisms like time travel or parallel universes to reintroduce dead characters, while others are 'nondiegetic,' simply ignoring minor plot points to grant authors greater creative freedom.
The technique can be additive or subtractive. Additive retcons, such as those used by Kurt Busiek in 'Untold Tales of Spider-Man' or seen in the introduction of new family members in 'Full House,' fill in background details without undoing previous work. Conversely, subtractive retcons can erase entire eras. The television series 'Dallas' famously used a 'dream season' to annul its ninth season, allowing actor Patrick Duffy to return as Bobby Ewing. In more extreme cases, films like 'Terminator: Dark Fate' (2019) and 'Halloween' (2018) have ignored the events of multiple intervening sequels to reset their respective timelines.
The term 'retroactive continuity' gained prominence in the early 1980s, specifically within DC Comics' 'All-Star Squadron.' Writer Roy Thomas credited the name to a fan at a San Diego convention. While often associated with comic books like Marvel and DC, the practice is pervasive across manga, soap operas, and even classic literature. For instance, Arthur Conan Doyle famously resurrected Sherlock Holmes in 1903, a decade after the character's apparent death in 'The Final Problem' (1893), largely due to intense reader pressure.
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