retcon
Fictional history alteration
Retcon is short for retroactive continuity—changing established facts in a story's past to serve present needs.
Comic books and long-running franchises retcon frequently: a dead character was actually alive, a hero's origin gets rewritten.
The verb means to make such changes: They retconned his entire backstory.
The practice draws criticism when it contradicts what fans remember, but it lets storytellers escape continuity traps.
Involuntary past memory
- prequelLater work, earlier setting
- backstoryCharacter's past narrative
- foreshadowingHinting at later events
- prologueIntroductory literary section
subplot · reveal · twist · exposition · explanation · justification · setup · payoff
Accepted authoritative works
- timelineOrdered display of events
- universeComplete system or domain
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
- backstoryCharacter's past narrative
mythos · established · multiverse · world-building · consistency · history · arc · events
Revise text substantially
- alterMake a modification
- changeTo make different
- modifyChange partially
- reworkModify something already made
adjust · update · reboot · reimagining · overhaul · amendment · correction · fix
Amateur work using existing characters
- headcanonUnconfirmed fan-created backstory
- wikiUser-editable web pages
- debateFormal argument on issues
- controversyProlonged public disagreement
backlash · acceptance · handwave · lampshade · showrunner · writer
New understanding of something
- whitewashConceal or coat pale
- distortionTwisting from original state
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- rewritingComposing text anew
flashback
Involuntary past memory
- prequelLater work, earlier setting
- backstoryCharacter's past narrative
- foreshadowingHinting at later events
prologue · subplot · reveal · twist · exposition · explanation · justification · setup · payoff · resurrection
canon
Accepted authoritative works
- timelineOrdered display of events
- universeComplete system or domain
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
backstory · mythos · established · multiverse · world-building · consistency · history · arc · events · characters
rewrite
Revise text substantially
rework · adjust · update · reboot · reimagining · overhaul · amendment · correction · fix · patch
fanfiction
Amateur work using existing characters
- headcanonUnconfirmed fan-created backstory
- wikiUser-editable web pages
- debateFormal argument on issues
controversy · backlash · acceptance · handwave · lampshade · showrunner · writer
reinterpretation
New understanding of something
- whitewashConceal or coat pale
- distortionTwisting from original state
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
rewriting · mythmaking · doctoring · sanitization · rehabilitation
- comicscomic books, comic book, comic strip, comic art, comic panel
- pop culturememe, celebrities, memes, trending, fandoms
- TV lingoon air, off air, showrunner, cliffhanger, cue
- comic booksgraphic novels, manga, superhero, villain, sidekick
- comic tropessecret identity, origin story, superpowers, sidekick, supervillain
- fandomfandom, fandoms, fan club, fan base, fanbase
retconforeshadowing
Hinting at later events
setup · Chekhov's gun · planting · seeding · telegraphing