Three cheers for retcons!

[Saint]

Spoilers ahead.

The explanation was a sort of silly, and it's a little dumb that Batman didn't figure it out, but Spoiler is back and Leslie Thompkins didn't kill her--so we can all rest easy, knowing the worst story in recent memory has been obliterated for all time. Now if only there was a note at the end of the book saying "And it shall never be spoken of again!"

 

[Cobblepot]

I just read it, Dixon did a great job retconning that. I'ff only he could have done that to Jason...
It makes perfect sense that Batman didn't figure it out, he still trusts Leslie and suspected something wasn't right but left it alone, atleast for a while.

 

[Saint]

Which is why it doesn't make sense: there's absolutely no chance in hell that Batman would just "leave it alone." No chance. Sadly, that's just the reality of having to wipe out poorly written stories: sometimes you have to make up explanations that don't really make sense. It's unfortunate that this one doesn't, and that it's so hard to reconcile with Batman's reaction at the end of War Games, but if those are the sacrifices necessary to erase that trashy decision, so be it.

 

[The Guard]

Umm...what exactly happened? Did Leslie just let Batman THINK that was what she did while Spoiler was being nursed back to health elsewhere or something?

 

[Saint]

Pretty much, yes. According to Spoiler, Leslie wanted to get her away from that life, having figured she'd "suffered enough." That's another big probelm: why, exactly, would Leslie deceive Batman? And why implicate herself?

This is why I say we need a decree that this "death" of Spoiler will never be spoken of again: the original story, in addition to being stupid, spawned a explanation that doesn't make a lot of sense. Accordingly, no one should ever mention it again, "under penalty of torture."

 

[IRON_Lad]

I never liked her as robin and was kinda glad to see her go.

 

[Majik1387]

See, these kind of retcons I like.


Only to bring Leslie's character back. Spoiler could have stayed dead for all I care.

 

[Lazlo Panaflex]

I'm not reading the regular Batman titles, what did I miss?

 

[union_jak]

From this thread (which is the first and only place I've heard of this retcon), I have to say I'm pleased. Did anyone actually like a) Stephanie being killed off or b) Leslie being the bad guy over this?

 

[Majik1387]

Did anyone actually like a) Stephanie being killed off or b) Leslie being the bad guy over this?

I liked the bold.

 

[The Joker]

Great news!

Leslie's bastardisation was horrid.

 

[Hole Shot]

I've never been much a fan of either character so this does nothing for me.

 

[Buttman]

..Wuh? I thought this already got retconned that Stephaine died from her injuries and Black Mask was her murderer. I'm sure it was in that.. the one with the villain who's a giant freakish looking idiot.

 

[Cobblepot]

Robin #174 that's the issue we' re discussing.

 

[Keyser Soze]

I looked at the issue. A very nicely-done retcon, and some really good art in that Robin/Spoiler kiss.

Now, all we need is the revelation that this Red Robin fellow is a Skrull, and the real Jason Todd is still dead, and I'll be happy.

 

[Lazlo Panaflex]

Robin #174 that's the issue we' re discussing.

Well that explains why I never heard the news, it's in a title that nobody is reading.

 

[Nepenthes]

I'm glad they retconned it in the Robin title rather than a Batman book. It's a quieter and more discreet, just sneak her back in like it never happened. Now i have to go read the issue.

 

[The Guard]

You know...as forced as it is...

It makes a bit of sense. It's much better than the "Superboy pounded on the walls of the universe until Jason Todd came back to live" kind of storytelling.

 

[Robin91939]

I liked her death. I liked the stories that followed, like "Fresh Blood" and subsequent Robin titles. I liked what it meant for his character. I liked what it meant to the universe and how it made villains a threat again.

I'm disappointed in this.

-R

 

[The Guard]

Why? Does her being alive change any of the emotions Robin and the others experienced?

 

[Cobblepot]

No but it does make Blackmask look weak again. He tortured her, he should have killed her.

 

[Mee]

Nice to see it retconned.


Not perfect, but much better than Leslie being a killer.

 

[The Guard]

No but it does make Blackmask look weak again. He tortured her, he should have killed her.

Umm...I think it says more about her fightin' spirit and Leslie's awesome medical skills than any weakness on Black Mask's part.

 

[Joker]

No but it does make Blackmask look weak again. He tortured her, he should have killed her.

Catwoman killed Black Mask. At this point, it seems to me he was just a wuss pretending to be a sadistic bad ass.

 

[The Guard]

He was always a bit of a "poser" until right before WAR GAMES. Always. He tried to make himself worse than he was, to make himself more than he was, and he paid for it in the end.