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Originally Posted by pwalker8
What do people think about changing canon? It's obviously common in the comic book and movie world. Does a lack of continuity bother you as a reader? How about reboots? I can't really think of many reboots in book series, but I'm sure it's happened.
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To misquote Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Continuity is the hobgoblin of little minds..."
I read comics, but I tend to read mainly creator-owned series because of all the continuity in mainstream comics. I also enjoyed DC's Elseworlds stories. I don't give a crap about continuity. Reboot it as often as you need.
These are fictional stories told by multitudes of writers over decades. Expecting every detail to remain consistent is ridiculous. Plus it becomes impenetrable to new readers.
If we're so worried about continuity, why isn't Peter Parker in his seventies (assuming he was 16 when he first appeared in 1963)?
As long as within the story being told by a particular writer, things are consistent, that's good enough for me. I might pick up a Star Wars book or a mainstream super-hero title, but that book should be able to stand alone to a new reader. Sure, outside events might come up in the current story, but they shouldn't be so impactful they derail the story being told.
One mainstream comic I read and enjoyed was John Ostrander's take on The Spectre in the '90's. This was a mainstream comic with crossovers and all the other usual baggage. But without reading any of those other titles and without any previous knowledge of the character The Spectre, I was able to read and enjoy the series. I re-read the entire 63 issue series a few years ago and it held up very well. I think it was a good example of how the (to comics) necessary evil of continuity should be handled.
If later the DC Universe was rebooted and now those stories 'didn't happen' what do I care? Let's be honest, they never happened regardless because it is all fiction. Those books still exist and can still be read and enjoyed.