Wed Jun 25, 2008 — by Rick Marshall

Embracing Continuity in Comics... and Life

Don't ret-con it, just move on!

It's no secret that continuity is equal parts bane and boon to comics, with no shortage of passionate arguments extolling its virtue and, in some cases, its status as the greatest threat to storytelling in the history of the printed word. Recently, comics blogger Hudson Phillips posted his own thoughts about the role of continuity in comics, including some thoughts on why you should think about your own life -- and all its embarassing moments -- the same way you think about continuity in comics.

According to Phillips:

 

Don’t be ashamed or where you came from. Embrace it. Then move on.

 

I think this is a great philosophy in life as well. There are some definite continuity issues in my own life. I’d love to erase parts of my past that I’m embarrassed or ashamed of… from getting into a bad relationship, ultimately ending in divorce - to letting one of the true loves of my life, music, slip through my hands - to throwing up at assembly in 7th grade or farting in algebra class in 8th.

I’d love to just get rid of my 30 years of continuity and start over. But just like in comic books… I can’t. What’s done is done. It’s out there, written in stone. There’s no changing it.

So, what choice do you have?

Head over to hudsonwrites.com for the full essay.

(via comicsreporter)

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