The DC Universe is famous for its frequent reboots and regular retcons, many of which have sparked controversy among comic book readers. Examples of these retcons include Reverse-Flash revealing his responsibility for Flash's hardships, the replacement of Wally West with a different version, and the reimagining of Superboy's connection to the Legion of Super-Heroes. These changes continue to be a source of debate and disagreement among fans. Retcons are a standard feature of comic book storytelling, but they consistently generate passionate discussions among fans.
In the history of the DC Universe, some retcons are well-received while others continue to upset fans even years after they occur. Retcons, or retroactive continuity changes, are common in comic books, especially in a universe as longstanding as DC's. Writers often revisit old storylines to reveal new information or adjust continuity, sometimes fixing problems but other times making controversial alterations. Throughout the years, DC Comics has implemented numerous retcons that remain some of the most surprising changes in comic history.
One example is the revelation in "The Flash: Rebirth #5" by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver where the Reverse-Flash, Eobard Thawne, claims responsibility for the tragedies in the Flash's life, including the death of his mother and the framing of his father. While this added to Reverse-Flash's character, it was seen as unnecessary and didn't offer much to the story or the characters.
Another controversial retcon was Wally West being removed from the DC Universe in "The New 52." This decision upset many fans and altered the landscape of the DC Universe, raising questions about the necessity of such a change.
During the New 52 era, Wonder Woman went through a major change in her origin story. In this new version of the character, it was revealed that she was actually the daughter of Zeus. This retcon completely altered her traditional origin as a clay sculpture brought to life by the Greek gods. While the change did add a new layer to her character and relationship with the gods, it also alienated longtime fans who were attached to her original story. This controversial decision to rewrite her origin caused a lot of debate among Wonder Woman enthusiasts.
Rogol Zaar's role in the destruction of Krypton has been a point of contention in the Superman comics. In Action Comics #1000, it was revealed that Rogol Zaar intentionally destroyed Krypton, contradicting the long-established narrative that the planet's destruction was a natural disaster. This revelation by Brian Michael Bendis and Jim Lee created a significant shift in Superman's history, causing controversy among fans.
Krypton’s destruction has been attributed to various conflicting reasons, but one reason that was hard for fans to accept was the introduction of a new antagonist named Rogol Zaar in Brian Michael Bendis’ time on Superman. Rogol Zaar was revealed to be the villain responsible for destroying Superman’s home world, a departure from the traditional reasons like over-mining or sudden destruction. This change made the pivotal moment in Superman’s life the fault of one person, a change that many fans did not appreciate. Since his introduction, Rogol Zaar's involvement in Krypton’s destruction has been largely downplayed or ignored altogether.
DC Rebirth marked the end of the New 52, but it began with the revelation that Doctor Manhattan from Watchmen had entered the DC Universe. Doomsday Clock explored this further, revealing that Manhattan had experimented on the universe’s timeline and removed 10 years of DC history. This move was controversial among readers, as Watchmen is largely an independent story. Yet, Doctor Manhattan's place in DC history remains solidified, for better or worse.
Identity Crisis is a particularly contentious storyline due to its treatment of Sue Dibny and the shocking revelations it brought to light. The series revealed that Sue had been raped by Doctor Light and the Justice League voted to mind-wipe him and change his personality. They also mind-wiped Batman when he discovered them, leading to a fallout that nearly destroyed the team. The story left a bad taste in many readers' mouths and is rarely brought up nowadays.
A Messy History Hawkman has had a tumultuous journey through the world of retcons. Originally, he was an archaeologist and the reincarnated Prince Khufu, but later he was reimagined as an alien warrior from Thanagar. As the continuities of DC's Crises shifted, Hawkman and Hawkgirl's origins were changed multiple times, leaving readers confused. With so many alterations to his history, it's hard to pinpoint a specific retcon, and every attempt to untangle his story has left DC Comics fans feeling perplexed.