510 RETCON
Selected Bibliography: Baskind, Samantha, and Ranen Omer-Sherman, eds. Th e Jewish
Graphic Novel: Critical Approaches. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2008;
Fingeroth, Danny. Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, and the Creation of the Superhero.
New York: Continuum, 2007; Garrett, Greg. Holy Superheroes!: Exploring the Sacred in
Comics, Graphic Novels, and Film. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2008;
Knowles, Christopher. Our Gods Wear Spandex: Th e Secret History of Comic Book Heroes.
San Francisco: Weiser Books, 2007; Lewis, A. David and Christine Hoff Kraemer, eds.
Graven Images: Religion in Comic Books & Graphic Novels. New York: Continuum, 2010;
LoCicero, Donald. Superheroes and Gods: A Comparative Study from Babylonia to Batman.
Jeff erson, NC: McFarland, 2008; McLain, Karline. India’s Immortal Comic Books: Gods,
Kings, and Other Heroes. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2009; Oropeza, B. J.
Th e Gospel According to Superheroes: Religion and Pop Culture. New York: Peter Lang,
2005; “Th e Religion of Comic Book Characters.” Adherents.com. http://www.adherents.
com/lit/comics/comic_book_religion.html.
A. David Lewis
RETCON. Short for retroactive continuity, “retcon” is used as a verb to denote the process
of revising a fi ctional serial narrative, altering details that have previously been estab-
lished in the narrative so that it can be continued in a new direction or so that potential
contradictions in previous events can be reconciled. Th e process is especially common
in comic books, which traditionally seek continuity in their narratives over time, but
which often involve large and complex narrative constructs that tend to get out of hand.
Th is is especially the case with large publishers such as DC and Marvel , which generally
attempt to maintain consistency among most of their various titles. With so many titles
involved, however, discrepancies inevitably arise. Multiple Earths, parallel dimensions,
and alternate timelines become the homes of diff erent versions of the same characters,
introducing potential confusion for readers. Retconning allows writers to revise existing
stories, fi ll in missing details, or substitute entirely new versions of events.
Th e term “retcon” can also be used as a noun to designate the specifi c comics (or
other works) that are published in this process of revision. Th e process of retconning is
used in comics when it is felt that a narrative has become too complex or unwieldy and
needs to be simplifi ed, or when it is felt that a character’s history has gone in a direction
that is diffi cult to build upon and carry forward. John Byrne’s revision of the origin of
Superman in the 1986 miniseries Th e Man of Steel is a prominent example of retcon-
ning in comics, though the most important example is probably DC’s Crisis on Infi nite
Earths (1985), a 12-part series that includes all the company’s major characters and
resolves a number of contradictions in their backstories.
M. Keith Booker
RICHIE RICH. First appearing in Harvey Comics’ Little Dot #1 (1953) in a story
drawn by Steven Muff atti, Richie Rich continued as the protagonist of a back-up
series in that title and other Harvey anthology series until fi nally graduating to his
