Retroactive continuity facts for kids

Retroactive continuity, often called retcon, is a cool trick writers use in stories like movies, TV shows, or books. It happens when a new detail is added, changed, or even completely ignored in a later part of a story series. Think of it like going back in time to change something that already happened in the story, but only for the audience!

Writers use retcons for different reasons. Sometimes, they need to fix a plot hole (a part of the story that doesn't quite make sense). Other times, they might want to get rid of a detail that fans didn't like.

What is a Retcon?

A retcon is a way to change or add to a story's past without actually rewriting the earlier parts. It's a bit like saying, "Remember that thing we told you? Well, here's the *real* story behind it!" This helps stories grow and stay interesting over many years and different writers.

Why Writers Use Retcons

Writers use retcons for several important reasons:

• Fixing Mistakes: Sometimes, a detail in an earlier story might not make sense later on. A retcon can fix these small errors.
• Adding Depth: Retcons can add new layers to characters or events, making the story more complex and exciting.
• Responding to Fans: If fans really dislike something, writers might use a retcon to change it or pretend it never happened.
• Setting Up New Stories: A retcon can open up new possibilities for future plots and adventures.

Types of Retcons

There are a few main ways retcons can happen. Let's look at the most common types.

Adding New Details

This type of retcon adds new information that wasn't known before. It gives the audience a fresh understanding of something that already happened. This new detail usually wasn't planned when the story first began.

Star Wars Death Star Example

A famous example comes from the movie Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Many viewers wondered why the giant space station, the Death Star, had such an obvious weak spot that made it easy to destroy. The original writer, George Lucas, didn't have a clear answer at first.

Later, in the movie Rogue One, a prequel to A New Hope, writers added a new detail. They explained that a character named Galen Erso, who helped design the Death Star, purposely built in that weakness. He did this to help the Rebel Alliance destroy it. This new information changed how fans understood the Death Star's design.

Changing Existing Details

This type of retcon changes something that was already established in the story. It can sometimes go against details that were given earlier, creating a contradiction.

Metal Gear Solid Age Example

In the video game Metal Gear Solid 2, the bad guy Revolver Ocelot tells the hero Solid Snake that Big Boss was in his late fifties when his genes were used to make clones in 1972.

However, in the prequel game Metal Gear Solid 3, which is set in 1964, Big Boss is the main character. In this game, he looks much younger, nowhere near his late forties or early fifties, which he would have to be for the previous statement to be true. This changed detail creates a contradiction about his age.

Ignoring Details (Subtraction)

This type of retcon happens when a detail from an earlier story is simply ignored or forgotten in later parts of the series. It's like the writers pretend it never happened.

Deadpool's Past Example

In the movie X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the villain Colonel Stryker performs experiments on the superhero Deadpool. He turns Deadpool into a character called Weapon 11, which fans really disliked.

Because fans were so unhappy, when the solo Deadpool movie came out, it completely ignored that earlier story. The new movie gave Deadpool a different origin story, effectively erasing the Weapon 11 version from the character's history.

Images for kids

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