Continuity – An Introduction

One of the best aspects about reading sequential comicbooks month-by-month is looking not at the minutiae, that is, the fine aspects of the story – and don’t get me wrong, it is this very same minutiae that draws a reader in and gets them involved with the character and moves the story and defines the moment – rather, where does the story go in the span of years other than months. How does the character grow and react to a continually changing environment. Does the one moment that is hyped as “nothing will ever be the same again” actually have long term effects?

Looking at complete runs on a title throughout the months where new challenges are met, races are run, moral differences are breached and key relationships wind up being just as trivial as stopping the generic bank robber, my date-conscious mind seeks to place these events in a particular order. Where do key crossovers fit in with the general direction of a run? Certain matchups have to happen before certain events because of location or costume updates. Key characters that have multiple monthly titles obviously are not performing these deeds simultaneously, regardless how supernatural they may be.

This is definitely a tall order and even borders on the insane. After all, all these comics were written, drawn and edited by entirely different people at entirely different times. But finding this proper sequence can be fun – not to mention a unique insight to the psychological ordering of my mind. Yes, issue 324 occurs after issue 323 numerically, but issue 324 happens to be a flashback tale chronicling events leading up to issue 300. This continuity presents such a timeline.

Now, to quote the immortal Beatles, do you want to know a secret? The creation of this continuity timeline, this linear representation of a shared universe that always seems to be a buzzword amongst us geeks, is truly nothing more than a grand excuse to go back and re-read all these countless titles amassed over 20+ years of collecting. Going through back issue upon back issue has allowed the re-discovery of long-forgotten treats as well as the unearthing of a number of blunders that once were an embarrassing part of my collection are now fodder on eBay (so to paraphrase a well-worn saying here in Philadelphia politics: bid early, bid often).

Parts of this blog will be highlighting such treats, as well as the occasional blasting of a youthful and shameful purchase. As always, being an ambassador of the medium, I totally invite you to check out any titles or storylines mentioned in upcoming posts. If you have questions, feel free to join in a discussion.

As always,
theJOE