As a general rule, I find retcons, or anything even remotely related that could even be mistaken as a retcon, a sign of poor writing and inability to work within the established parameters.

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This gives me the chance to ask exactly what I was thinking about posting within the last few days:

What GOOD retcons have come down the pipe over the years? What additions and changes have strengthened characters and added depth to stories?

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First one that springs to mind is the return of Captain America in AVENGERS 4. The original CAPTAIN AMERICA series (albeit with a title change) ran until the mid-fifties, with Steve Rogers continuing in the suit. When Stan and Jack brought the character back, they ignored everything that had been published after the War. A definite case of retroactive continuity. And a good one!

Totally agree! I just recently re-read the earliest Avengers stories, and Cap's return really gave the book a shot in the arm (...not that it needed one, mind you!) and broadened the burgeoning Marvel mythology considerably.

Of course, years later, an "explanation" was devised for Cap's Commie-smashing period in the 50s...

Lars,

Essentially, Lars, there were three issues of Captain America published in the 1950s which became incongruous with the reveal that Rogers had been frozen, and, instead of ignoring these, Marvel incorporated them (and continues incorporating them) into continuity.

After Captain America was revealed as having been frozen in the Twilight of World War II, Marvel established that the 50s Cap (a schoolteacher with Bucky as a student) that fought "Commies", was a government experiment to recreate Operation Rebirth and create a new Captain America.

He was given the Super Soldier serum, but not the vita rays to stabilize it, resuting in a mental instability. He began to think that everyone was a commie, and, later, when Steve Rogers was revived, took on the mantle of the Great Dictator, who bore a swastika on his bicep.

This Cap's Bucky, Jack Monroe, went on to be Nomad, during the 1990s and was shot to death by James Buchanan Barnes's Bucky during the original Winter Soldier storyline, in 2004.

Here's some explanation on how the 1950's comics were retconned:

1950s Captain America.