retcon
1
8.9
- noun
- /ˈrɛt.kɒn/
- Jargon
:
retcon
- The author implemented a retcon to harmonize the plotlines from previous books in the series.
Examples
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If the Movieverse is willing to embrace the amount of comic-book weirdness we've seen already, I don't think a minor backstory retcon that far more serious works have gotten away with is that much of a stretch.
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For the writers, working backwards to figure out how a retcon works can be time-consuming and contrary to the instinct to just build on what the previous guys did.
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And it's like, yeah, classic retcon example.
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So I am still hoping for a patch of retcon or a reveal down the line.
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The ideal retcon clarifies a question alluded to without adding excessive new questions.
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In order to make Cyclops seem like less of a horrible person, a retcon was put into place revealing that Madelyne Pryor had really just been an evil clone of Jean Grey all along, so it was a good thing he left her, right?
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As for Legion continuity: what really ruined the Legion were all the retcons that were made following Crisis on Infinite Earths; originally, Superman, as Superboy, was their inspiration to become heroes.
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As it stands right now, there are so many glaring retcons (many of which Metzen himself admits to) that the lore just doesn't make any sense anymore.
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A retcon in the movie series explained why the main character's background changed from the original film.
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The television show used a retcon to clarify the relationship between two characters that had been ambiguous in earlier seasons.
Synonyms
3
6.2
A new meaning people give to something like a song or story
How Extensive
Surface Forms
Morphology
retcon = retroactive + continuity (semi-transparent) = retroactive + continuity
Formed by blending the phrase 'retroactive continuity', so the relation is clear if the learner knows that phrase but may be obscure otherwise.
Etymology
The word retcon comes from the two words retroactive ('back in time') and continuity ('what continues in a story'), so a retcon is a change to earlier facts in a story to make the plot fit new events.