The Shark: January 2008 Archives

"You shall not pass!"

http://www.websnark.com/archives/2008/01/retconning_just_1.html

Interesting blog post by Eric Burns about the various types of retconning and their risks.  This is all inspired by the recent Spidey/MJ "divorce" by Mephisto.

Incidentally, I accidentally bought the issue when Mephisto makes the offer to Peter & MJ (the issue before the retcon actually happens).  It was an accident because I was trying to see if my credit card worked and decided to test it out on a small purchase, like, say, a couple comic books, and ended up buying this comic and one of the "Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul" comics, and both left me content in my apathy towards the comic book medium for the time being.

I was going to write a review of the Spider-Man comic, but suffice it to say that the cliffhanger at the end of the issue left me thinking, "Wait...  A demonic god-type person demands the hero's LOVE because he and his lover's souls aren't good enough?  Didn't this already happen about 9 years ago with Neron, Flash and Linda?"  It's a retcon that's been done before, and, if you recall, it left Neron turned into a weenie because their love was too much for him to handle.

Give me a break.

I first saw the below clip in one of my first film classes a couple years ago.  I don't remember the context of the discussion at all, but I do remember wanting to cry when we watched it.  Mr. Rogers is the butt of a lot of jokes in contemporary pop culture, and even though I'm not necessarily against having a little fun with his persona I would argue that the man deserves some recognition for the profound influence he's had on children's educational television.

Just watch this clip and tell me you aren't touched.