Does Canon (and Realism) Ruin Comics?

[Black King]

Just like the title says does canon ruin comics? I hear the argument that canons force status quo and keep characters from growing emotional and maturing. It seems like now everything is being chocked by continuity and realism however many writers have argued that as a medium comics are capable of much more. The only real limits are the abilities of the artist and the scope of the writer's imagination and to quote one writer "We shouldn't be following the storytelling techniques of Hollywood because they can do it really well. Comics can do all kinds of other things. They can be really crazy and wild and can really stretch the imagination and be really progressive."

It seems like if one interpretation of a character is valid it automatically invalidates all others but thats not how it is in life. If you don't change fanboys and girls scream they want something fresh, change too much they want thing EXACTLY THE SAME.

So I'm asking you wants the limits?

[Jill Monroe]

too much continuity? WHEN and WHERE? all i've seen is continuity being IGNORED (avengers disassembled, house of m, etc) or a character who was on the right track (Phoenix II) being RUINED by later writers (Phoenix IV).

there used to be a time like during claremonts glorious run on the x-men where there was an edgy feeling and yet there was still a connect to the reality of the times without it being TOO grounded.

NOW...its too much. Characters made to be too hard, dark and somber. everyone has to be conflicted and its getting really old, really fast. the way the characters access their powers have changed as well. many characters have been powered down (gradually) and for no real reason...in an attempt to make them "more real".

[Black King]

too much continuity? WHEN and WHERE? all i've seen is continuity being IGNORED (avengers disassembled, house of m, etc) or a character who was on the right track (Phoenix II) being RUINED by later writers (Phoenix IV).

there used to be a time like during claremonts glorious run on the x-men where there was an edgy feeling and yet there was still a connect to the reality of the times without it being TOO grounded.

NOW...its too much. Characters made to be too hard, dark and somber. everyone has to be conflicted and its getting really old, really fast. the way the characters access their powers have changed as well. many characters have been powered down (gradually) and for no real reason...in an attempt to make them "more real".

Which he created by ignoring every piece of continuity and characterization from before he was writing them.

I think this is primarily a DC problem. I was talking about it over on 4chan's /co/ board when we were discussing Batman RIP and Final Crisis last night. Is there room for multiple interpretation of a character. Can we have a JLA level Batman while also enjoying the detective side. are they mutually exclusive.

[Jill Monroe]

Which he created by ignoring every piece of continuity and characterization from before he was writing them.



no, because he started writing most the 2nd generation x-men in 1975 THRU 1991 (1992 depending on who you ask) and the characters he wrote or CREATED (Psylocke, Phoenix III/Marvel Girl III) had no prior continuity to IGNORE. He brought Storm, Psylocke Phoenix III, Madelynne Pryor, Shadow Cat and a host of others to X-men...the ONLY exceptions are the original five and DAZZLER who was created by a record company and GIVEN to Marvel.

and when he took over, he didnt "ignore" continuity, he simply carried on with a new team. nothing he did "undid" the past involving the original five.