10 Major Marvel Retcons You Completely Forgot About

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In any long-running franchise, the process of writing over pre-established continuity can be pretty contentious, to say the least. Spider-Man’s “One More Day” storyline (by J. Michael Straczynski and Joe Quesada) is perhaps one of the most high-profile Marvel retcons, infamously reversing the Peter Parker/MJ marriage. Depriving Peter of hard-won happiness and having Spider-Man make a deal with the devil himself, “One More Day” was the subject of heavy fan criticism. Despite having negative connotations, though, retcons can actually be a force for real good.

Some of Marvel’s most effective retcons have slipped under the radar, despite their significance. Beloved characters are shown in a new light. Creative storytelling elements are set up for future creators to play around with. Despite their relative obscurity, these retcons land because they ultimately make Marvel’s lore feel richer and more textured, justifying their place in the comics canon.

10

Khonshu Now Has a Physical Presence in Moon Knight’s Life

Uncertainty Shrouded the God of Vengeance’s Early Days

Khonshu’s evolving role in the Moon Knight comics is so fascinating to follow. The original Doug Moeunch/Bill Sienkiewicz run very much plays with the ambiguity of whether Khonshu is real or whether he is simply a product of Marc Spector’s imagination. Khonshu does not have an active presence in these stories, appearing only as a statue. Yet Marc firmly holds onto everything that the god of vengeance stands for, making his cause a way of life. This changed in later years, however. Marvel would walk back this sense of ambiguity by providing a clear-cut answer.

The 1980s West Coast Avengers series is a good example, depicting Khonshu as a tangible being who holds some degree of influence over Marc. The Avengers’ “Age of Khonshu” arc (by Jason Aaron, Ed McGuiness, and Javier Garron) would go even further with this idea, putting the Lunar god front and center of the Marvel universe. While making Khonshu an active participant in the ever-unfolding Moon Knight saga has its benefits, the idea of this elusive figure who straddles the line between reality and legend was such a unique concept. Those who mainly follow Marvel’s modern output may well be unfamiliar with Khonshu’s comic roots, so this retcon warrants a place in the rankings.

9

A Classic Avengers Story Quietly Unveils Ultron’s True Identity

The Full Extent of Hank Pym’s Relationship to Ultron is Revealed

Serving as a key influence on Avengers: Age of Ultron, there’s a lot to like about Kurt Busiek/George Pérez’s “Ultron: Unlimited” storyline. The arc recontextualizes Ultron in an interesting way, with the reveal that the Avengers baddie is actually based on Hank Pym’s brain patterns. There’s a great moment where Hank Pym lays out Ultron’s true nature, as he explains, “Ultron is me. That’s my mind — stripped of conscience, of morality — but my mind. It’s what I must be, what I must think — somewhere deep inside.”

This twist on the Hank Pym/Ultron relationship puts an awful lot into perspective, explaining why the android’s actions weigh so heavily on Hank. It also adds an extra layer of psychological complexity to Ultron’s character, serving as a physical embodiment of Hank’s darkest impulses. It just goes to show how fallible Hank is, making him one of the most flawed Avengers.

8

Punisher: Born Shows the True Makings of Frank Castle

This Marvel Max Series Is a Shocking Eye-Opener

While it is popular belief that Frank Castle’s violent urges emerged following his family’s horrific murder, Punisher: Born reveals that the anti-hero’s heel turn came about much earlier. The Garth Ennis/Darick Robertson four-issue series is set in the Vietnam War, which Frank uses as an outlet to channel his inner darkness. Frank acts as a law unto himself, generally killing in the name of retribution. His Punisher-style mentality warps over time, to the point where Frank becomes totally consumed by bloodlust.

Throughout Punisher: Born, Frank is plagued by a sinister voice in his head. This voice, heavily implied to be some sort of angel of death, offers to provide a long-term fix for Frank’s combat cravings. It comes with an undisclosed price, though. In the height of his violent frenzy, Frank accepts this twisted proposition. In doing so, he inadvertently seals his family’s tragic fate, adding a macabre new layer to the Punisher’s origin story.

7

A Deadpool Flashback Issue Changes the Fate of Wade Wilson’s Parents

Wade’s Parents Receive a Definitive Ending

While Deadpool is most well-known for his self-aware brand of comedy, the Merc with a Mouth is a deeply tragic character. Few stories encapsulate this better than Deadpool #34 (by Gerry Duggan, Brian Poeshn, and Scott Koblish). While there had been differing accounts about Wade Wilson’s parents in the past, the Deadpool #34 creative team finally set the record straight.

The story makes for a gut-wrenching read, showing Wade unwittingly assassinate his parents while under Weapon X’s influence. It appears Deadpool was prepared to do just about anything while under Weapon X’s control. This just goes to show what makes this retcon work so well: readers are able to see a whole other side to Deadpool’s character, a tortured past which hides just beneath the surface.

6

Professor X’s Darkest Secret Comes Back to Haunt Him

And X-Men Fans Will Never See the Danger Room the Same Way Again

Joss Whedon and John Cassaday’s Astonishing X-Men run shakes up Marvel’s mutant mythos with the revelation that the program that runs the Danger Room is actually sentient. The program develops a rather vengeful streak after regaining its freedom, allowing for some incredibly striking horror imagery. Combined with John Cassaday’s cinematic widescreen approach, there feels like a very clear visual direction at play here, which gives this retcon an added sense of dramatic weight.

Unbeknowst to the other X-Men, Professor X knowingly removed the Danger Room’s autonomy so that his heroes-in-training could take full advantage of the program’s full capabilities. When the X-Men do find out what he has done, Charles’ rhetoric eerily mirrors Magneto’s extremist views, prepared to do anything for the greater good. Retconning the Danger Room’s true nature nicely demonstrates that Professor X is far from perfect, making the X-Men leader even more layered.

5

An Underrated Iron Man Retcon Alters Tony Stark’s Family Background

Fans Are Quick to Overlook the Truth Surrounding Tony Stark’s Parentage

While the name Tony Stark is synonymous with Iron Man, the Kieron Gillen run would eventually reveal that Howard and Maria Stark are actually Tony’s adoptive parents. Readers would later find out who Tony’s biological parents were in the pages of International Iron Man (by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev). While Tony’s biological father is a fairly minor character, his birth mother, Amanda Armstrong, takes on a significant role in Bendis’ Iron Man run. Amanda has a fun backstory, originally serving as an undercover S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Using her worldwide music tour as a cover story, Amanda completes secret missions for S.H.I.E.L.D.

This retcon doesn’t diminish Iron Man’s character at all, since Tony isn’t any less of a Stark. If anything, this move adds to the Iron Man mythos by gifting readers with a fun new supporting character in the form of Amanda Armstrong. With her no-nonsense attitude and quick wit, Amanda is a welcome presence in any scene. She also has great narrative importance, helping Ironheart through the early stages of her superhero journey while Tony is out of action. Adding Amanda into the mix feels like a breath of fresh air, meaning that this retcon earns a spot in the Top Five.

4

Nick Fury’s Stint as Earth’s Secret Protector Deserves More Fan Recognition

The Agent’s Commitment to World Security Takes On New Meaning

2014’s Original Sin event (by Jason Aaron and Mike Deodato) sheds new light on Nick Fury’s history, explaining that the former S.H.I.E.L.D. Director has spent decades serving as the Man on the Wall, Earth’s secret one-man defense against extraterrestrial threats. Nick Fury left an unspeakable wave of destruction in his wake, spanning entire worlds and even galaxies. Nothing was off the table. Not if it meant that Earth was protected.

What makes this new take on Nick Fury’s past work so well is that it taps into the spy’s morally ambiguous nature. In the modern era of Marvel comics, Secret War (by Brian Michael Bendis and Gabrielle Dell’Otto) had previously set a precedent for this. Here, the S.H.I.E.L.D. Director organized a covert ops strike force which included the likes of Spider-Man and Wolverine. Without their consent, Fury wiped the minds of those involved once the mission was over and done with. So while Original Sin does technically retcon Nick Fury’s past, the Man on the Wall concept does feel very in-keeping with his character.

3

Doctor Doom Is Actually Responsible for the Scarlet Witch’s Past Wrongdoing

Wanda Maximoff Was a Mere Pawn in Doctor Doom’s Games

The early 2000s were a tumultuous time for the Scarlet Witch. In Avengers: Disassembled (Brian Michael Bendis and David Finch), Scarlet Witch engineers a series of tragedies that ultimately result in the team disbanding. And then in Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel’s House of M storyline, Wanda uses her reality-warping powers to prevent the birth of any more mutants. While it initially appeared that Scarlet Witch was acting of her own accord, consumed by the grief of losing her children, Avengers: The Children’s Crusade (by Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung) reveals what was really driving Wanda.

Towards the end of Avengers: The Children’s Crusade, Doctor Doom admits that he was actually controlling Wanda, using her power for his own personal gain. While this reveal helped Marvel wipe the slate clean with Wanda’s character, it appears to have been lost to time. The ramifications of Doctor Doom’s meddling have remained largely unaddressed in the years since Avengers: The Children’s Crusade, and later Scarlet Witch appearances show Wanda taking sole accountability for her actions.

2

Thor’s Hammer Is Actually Sentient

Mjolnir’s Makeover Even Includes a New Backstory

Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman’s run with Jane Foster as Thor broke lots of new ground for Mjolnir. When Thor’s secret identity was almost exposed, Mjolnir demonstrated that it has a life of its own by actually taking on Jane Foster’s form. This appears alongside Thor herself, allowing the thunder goddess’s true identity to remain a mystery. Having Mjolnir and Thor bounce off each other allowed for some truly unique interactions to take place, which meant the creative team was able to showcase the hammer’s new capabilities in style.

Jane Foster’s Thor soon uncovers the truth surrounding how Mjolnir was created, which explains how it was able to develop sentience. In the distant past, a living storm wreaked havoc throughout the cosmos. Odin was able to trap this tempest within some Uru metal, the same which would later be used for Thor’s hammer. It’s an epic reimagining of how this iconic weapon came to be. It truly lives up to Mjolnir’s legendary status, making this a more than worthy addition to the Marvel canon.

1

The Fantastic Four’s Origin Receives a Big Shake-Up

There’s More to the FF’s Origins Than Meets the Eye

The story beats in the Fantastic Four‘s very first issue are pretty well-established by this point—the group sneaks aboard a rocket ship, flies off into outer space, and is hit by cosmic rays in the process, giving the quartet their now-iconic superhero powers. In this original Stan Lee/Jack Kirby rendition, the FF’s impetus for their cosmic trip is due to the pressures of the space race, with the team wanting to be the first ones to go out among the stars. Interestingly, though, the “Point of Origin” story arc in Dan Slott’s Fantastic Four run reveals that the team had originally intended to reach Spyre, a planet with strikingly similar characteristics to Earth.

Including art from Paco Medina and Sean Izaakse among other great artists, “Point of Origin” follows what happens when the present-day FF finally get to Spyre. This premise makes for some interesting world-building and sets the stage for even more revelations about the FF’s early days, including the real reason behind the team’s cosmic ray incident. It’s a surprise this story doesn’t get talked about more often with the considerable amount of changes made here, so this one lands right at the very top.

“}]] Certain retcons have slipped through the cracks of Marvel continuity, despite having huge implications for mainstays like Iron Man and Deadpool.  Read More