Most Unnecessary Retcon Ever?

[Johnny Triangles]

This question isn't just about bad retcons, it's specifically about unnecessary retcons. Retcons of things that pretty much bothered no one except the writer making the retcon and maybe 3 fans.

4 I can think of:

Nicieza's Psylocke/Kwannon/Betsy Braddock retcon. Was anyone really calling for this story out in fandom? Did it clarify, improve or simplify anything about the original Asian Psylocke story.

Norman Osborn and Sandman are related from Byrne's Chapter One. Okay, so since Norman and Sandman both have that weird wavy Osborne hair, this bothers Byrne so much he has to have an in-story explanation for it?

Loeb's Shatterstar/Benjamin Russell storyline in X-Force. This is the first time I realized Jeph Loeb was a horrible writer. It was also the first time in an X-bok where I even saw the editors in the letters page admit to the readers that they had no idea what the story was about and couldn't make sense of it either! The senselessness of the story line was even addressed in-story later on in the year in an annual written by Nicieza.

Magneto' real name: I heard there was some story about Magneto's real name being re-retconned back into Magnus. Magneto goes and kills the guy who told him his name was Lensherr. Years later I think it was re-re-retconned back into Lensherr. What a waste of ink.

[Expletive Deleted]

Hal Jordan's white hair.

[Joe Rice]

Hal Jordan's white hair.

Oooh, good one.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

This question isn't just about bad retcons, it's specifically about unnecessary retcons. Retcons of things that pretty much bothered no one except the writer making the retcon and maybe 3 fans.

4 I can think of:

Nicieza's Psylocke/Kwannon/Betsy Braddock retcon. Was anyone really calling for this story out in fandom? Did it clarify, improve or simplify anything about the original Asian Psylocke story.

I believe DDM and others have said it was a real confusing story and it added that whole Crimson Dawn stuff to Psylocke.

Norman Osborn and Sandman are related from Byrne's Chapter One. Okay, so since Norman and Sandman both have that weird wavy Osborne hair, this bothers Byrne so much he has to have an in-story explanation for it?

I believe they at Marvel have never even brought it up again. So odds are they accepted that fans were wiping their asses with Chapter 1# like many were doing I'm sure. Since that whole thing sucked.

Magneto' real name: I heard there was some story about Magneto's real name being re-retconned back into Magnus. Magneto goes and kills the guy who told him his name was Lensherr. Years later I think it was re-re-retconned back into Lensherr. What a waste of ink.

A Magneto fan could tell you more but I also believe that Patsy Cockrum was pretty angry at this and how the X-Men Unlimited Annual #2 in the early 90's tried making Magneto a gypsy. Removing his Jewish background.

They have since fixed it. But ask DDM and others with more info on it.

[Stephane Garrelie]

Hawkgirl wearing a bra under her costume.

[Loren]

I've never understood why Byrne thought it was necessary to give Ma Kent a first husband, and establish that she was a widow when she married Jonathan. It didn't add anything, and it unnecessarily complicated the Kents backstory.

Of course, the first husband was pretty much ignored thereafter, and I expect he's been retconned away by now.

[The Shadow]

Superboy Prime punching a wall resulting in Jason Todd's return.

[karasu]

Superboy Prime punching a wall resulting in Jason Todd's return.

HAHA! It's so silly to read.

[Loren]

That Heat Wave, Trickster, and the Pied Piper never actually reformed of their own will, but were "mind-wiped" into being good.

[StrikeForce Albert]

Anything involving Wanda and Bendis really

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Superboy Prime punching a wall resulting in Jason Todd's return.

I always heard that he wasn't supposed to die anyhow ? That Superboy punching the wall set things right regarding Jason Todd.

Plus Todd's return retconned a part in " Hush " so its like Jason Todd is the master of retcons. :p

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Hal Jordan's white hair.

Because the Yellow Fear Monster never uses " Just For Men " ?;)

[Loren]

Hal Jordan's white hair.

I finally thought of one that rivals yours for insignificance.

In a relatively early issue of Starman, the Shade refers to "The Portrait of Dorian Gray." During Grand Guignol, Robinson slipped in the little retcon that that wrong word was the result of a momentary bit of mental control by Culp.

[Johnny Triangles]

Hal Jordan's white hair.

what was unnecessary, turning it white in the first place or changing it back to brown?

[SUPERECWFAN1]

what was unnecessary, turning it white in the first place or changing it back to brown?

Changing it back. We could deal with him having greyish hair but the " Yellow Fear Monster " turning it grey was silly. Hell no one would have even said a word had they not even mentioned the grey hair and brought Jordan back.

In fact when he became Parallax under Ron Marz , the white hair dissapeared . No explantion given.