Does famed comics writer, Grant Morrison believe comics are on their death bed? That seems to be his view in a new interview with Rolling Stone magazine. The author of the recently released Supergods was profiled by the magazine, and was rather candid about his feelings on the decline of comic books and even his relationship with former collaborator Mark Millar. Rolling Stone, which published its profile of Morrison in their September issue, released a second Q&A yesterday, which included the following excerpts.
DC is relaunching its entire line – is there some desperation there?
There’s always going to be a bit of that because comics sales are so low, people are willing to try anything these days. It’s just plummeting. It’s really bad from month to month. May was the first time in a long time that no comic sold over 100,000 copies, so there’s a decline.Do you think this is the death spiral?
Yeah. I kind of do, but again, you can always be wrong. There’s a real feeling of things just going off the rails, to be honest. Superhero comics. The concept is quite a ruthless concept, and it’s moved on, and it’s kind of abandoned, the first-stage rocket.
Morrison goes on to say that while comics book quality is at an all time high, he thinks it is the medium that is dying. So where does Morrison think we go from here?
Abandoning comics?
And moving on to movies, where it can be more powerful, more effective. The definition of a meme is an idea that wants to replicate, and it’s found a better medium through which to replicate, games, movies. It would be a shame, because as I said in the book, one of the most amazing things about those universes is that they exist, there’s a paper continuum that reflects the history, but people don’t die, it’s like The Simpsons, people don’t age, they just change.
What is interesting is that Morrison makes no mention of the move to day and date digital. In fact he goes the opposite way and seems to blame the internet and digital media for the decline in comics.
Everything’s available for free, I think that’s the real problem, nobody wants to buy it anymore. One comes out, you see it immediately online and you can read it. That’s the way people want to consume their information, the colors look nicer. I think that’s more the problem, but that’s a problem for everybody, it’s not just for comics, everyone’s going to start feeling that one.
Morrison, who is over the top in almost everything he does, seems to forget that comics are not made digitally by default. He suggests that it is as easy as jumping online to get the most recent issue of Batman, and that is simply not the case. But the Internet was not the only thing Morrison was gunning for. Rolling Stone then brought up his falling out with former his partner in super-crime, Mark Millar. Morrison had some praise for the younger writer, but hurt feelings are still apparent.
Is that an estranged situation?
It’s a can of worms. I met Mark when he was 18, and I really got on with him, because he laughed at all my jokes. He has the same sense of humor as me, he’s very dark, and has that sense of humor, so we bonded. I used to phone him every day, and we ended up doing some work together on 2000 AD, which went well. It was funny stuff, we’d meet in the pub and get drunk and do this Big Dave strip, which was a comedy strip, and obviously, he was trying to get into American comics, so I got him on in Swamp Thing, and they asked me to write the book but I said, “Let’s get Mark in, let’s give him a job,” so I consulted with him on the stories, and so on through the Nineties.When he got the Authority book, his star started to rise, and at that point, he felt he was in my shadow and he had to get out, and the way to get out was to do this fairly uncool split. It was quite hard, I felt, but he had to make his own way, and he was in denial that I’d been there, because I saw a lot of his work had been plotted or devised, even dialogue suggestions were done by me right up until the point of The Ultimates. It was seen by him as a dimunition of his position, even though it wasn’t, I was quite proud of him as a mentor. He’s done well without me, he has his own style, he does his own stuff. It was kind of that archetype, you get caught up in that story.
He still lives in Glasgow, is there a chance of bumping into him?
There’s a very good chance of running into him, and I hope I’m going 100 miles an hour when it happens.
This falling out was not one that is well known among fans, but Morrison and Millar’s relationship was. It would be interesting to see how Millar remembers the fallout. 
Morrison also talks about his book, his party days and even the use of rape as a plot device.
It is certainly worrying that such a high profile writer feels that comics are in such dire straits, but Morrison is prone to hyperbole. That being said, you cannot deny his status in the comic community. What do you think? Are comics on their death bed? Can movies and games really save our love of Superman and others? Or are Morrison’s tendencies for hyperbole blowing things out of proportion? Let us know what you think in the comments!
I don't believe comics will die, but I do agree that something needs to be done to increase sales.
Yeah, can't say I agree with this either. Morrison is getting to be like Alan Moore, someone people like Rolling Stone always runs to to get their opinions on a medium they've all but abandoned years ago.
I know people like these guys but they don't speak for the medium, they don't represent the medium and while I'm totally fine that they voice their opinions on the medium they need to stop being treated like they matter.
Comicbooks will never die. Seems like we go through this every five years or so and they are still here. From the Paper drives and paper rationing during WWII to the burnings of the mid-50's to the advent of television followed by the rise of video games then the internet…even the addition of trade paperbacks and graphic novels, all these things were thought to be the final nail in the coffin of modern comics and they still continue.
But this constant talk about their demise will have the effect of keeping people away from them. What would be the point, afterall, of starting to collect them if they are coming to an end? This is why I do what I can to speak against such doomsaying. Digital 'comics' will be just what trades are: an alternate niche but not a replacement for a good old comicbook.
Hrmmm…No way to edit this so I'll make the correction here: The first paragraph was written very quickly. Morrison is still very much a part of the comics industry. He's part of the DC Reboot starting next week. I would have edited that out if it were possible.
The rest of my comment I stand by though.
I'm a Grant Morrison fan and am very much looking forward to his upcoming 'Action Comics' run and current run on 'Batman Inc.' (issue #8 of which I will be reviewing soon), but I do realize he's prone to making grandiose statements from time to time. Nothing new. He does have a point, though. I think it's realistic to point out that the comics industry is in the slumps. That's no secret. But to say it's near-death? Far from it. The world will always need comic book superheroes.
I'm mixed when it comes to Morrison as a person. The guy can't seem to pose for a picture without looking like a complete tool. He just seems like the type that tries too hard to be Alan Moore or Frank Miller. This is just not the industry for ego. That's not your audience. I don't think comic books are going anywhere. As long as there are creative minds out there, we will always have stories to tell, and imaginative ways to sell it.
Do they need to figure out ways to better sell comics? Yes. Look at Japan, they have manga for EVERYONE. I know it's a culture thing, but my point is, it can be done. You can make comics for all kinds of people, it shouldn't be hidden in comic shops (as much as I love them)
The super hero comic should have stories that can be enjoyed by all. Not just a small handful for kids that nobody else will read. I'm not saying tone down all books, I do love a good violent comic myself, but if they want this industry to grow, they need to expand outside of us. They need to use television and movies as means to benefit the comic book, and not in some stupid prequel story nobody will read. There are means to make this industry more profitable, they're right there in front of us.
…and Grant Morrison killed Batman with laser eyes from a space god. What the hell does he know about anything?
It is hard to argue with the numbers. I think comics are evolving right now. I hope they have a good future…
I don't see the logic in "digital is killing comics." I buy both. In fact, I've bought more print recently than digital. Like Skott said. One writer, no matter how talented, can't just doomsay that the medium is dying. If we've learned anything from the foray of comics into film, it is that film IS NOT the way comics are need to go/are going. There will always be comic fans. The medium will never go away. Look at the growth in comic cons. How can you say the medium is dying?
I do agree with the digital comic bit, but the comic industry will never die. I believe the idea of a superhero comic that still exist is honestly in Invincible and Savage Dragon. DC & Marvels stuff isn't like it use to be. I do believe that comics can continue to live on, and they won't need any type of third medium help to keep the comics alive.
It's hard to argue with those numbers. The sales of traditional format comics are in decline.
I think that to an extent this may ignore the trade collection format though. I can't afford to collect all the comics I want on a monthly basis but I do buy TPB and hardcover editions.
My main argument against the death of comics though is this: comics and superhero comics have been conflated as a term for a long time and I see this as being incorrect. To keep people interested the medium will expand its content. Marvel and DC are not the comics industry, just its two traditional big players and the Superhero stuff will need to be made more concise. More limited series like 'Mystery Men' and fewer ongoings will help to focus their quality.
Look at the success of Image comics. Most of their stuff isn't superheroes and they are still growing. The Walking Dead is a prime example of this. The comics medium that has been dominated by superheroes for 50 years is going through some growing pains and is changing. Alan Moore nailed it way back in Watchmen with the Pirate Comic example – people are going to get bored of superheroes sooner or later, in fact it is astonishing that they persisted for so long! This isn't to say the superheroes are finished, I love them too, but to attract new readers the medium must diversify.
Also the comics industry will need to adjust how they distribute. I have a number of ideas for this but this post is already way too long suffice to say that Diamond cannot be the sole method any more. Different distribution for different content imo.
Ed – exactly what you say here "My main argument against the death of comics though is this: comics and superhero comics have been conflated as a term for a long time and I see this as being incorrect."
Morrison has repeatedly spoken about the importance of superhero comics in his life, about them being the 'last myth' of our culture. This overstates their importance enormously and is rooted in a deeply personal view of superheroes that is not reflected by consumer interest.
I agree. I haven't gotten round to reading Supergods yet but it does seem like Morrison places a great deal of significance on the genre, I wouldn't want to dispute his argument too much though without having read it first ;). As you say Emmet, this is a deeply held personal view and if what he means by "decline of comics" is in fact "decline of superheroes in comics" he is almost certainly correct.
His suggestion that the superhero 'meme' is moving to movies is interesting but somewhat flawed when the cost of Hollywood movies and their risk of failure is taken into account. How did Green Lantern do at the cinema? How about the Fantastic Four or Daredevil? It's hardly the way forward if only Batman and (some of) Marvel can pull it off. In terms of storytelling the 90-120 minute timeframe of mainstream cinema is painfully restrictive.
All of this is without even mentioning the fact that cinema audiences are starting to drop again now that the Avatar-inspired 3D boom is nearly over. Smell-o-vision won't save Superman.
Sorry for posting again, I'm almost like spam, I just wanted to add:
What is most likely to save the superhero genre is a more focussed approach from the publishers. Graphic Novels are bigger than ever before and limited series like Hickman & Weaver's SHIELD or Liss's Mystery Men are practically made for collection. I think this can work.
I also think a 2000AD style (but bigger) monthly anthology format, collecting a number of heroes and stories (maybe even a one-shot every month), would be great if pushed through magazine retailers and (more importantly) supermarkets.
Then again, I'm no money man. I care most about stories themselves, so I would argue for these things.
It would be interesting to see how successful Dark Horse Presents is, as that seems to be the kind of thing you describe here.
Morrison reminds me of Bono in a way, very stuck on himself and his importance in the community. Not saying that he doesn't deserve a lot of credit, but he's not the driving force behind the whole thing. I don't think comics are dying or will die anytime soon. There has to be a resurgence in interest and that is what is going to save the industry.
Another thing that is going to keep it alive is people (like us) who keep it alive by talking about it and buy the books and sharing it with as many people as possible. Comic books have been around a long time and just like all forms of media, it is going through changes. We as fans have to adapt to the changes in the industry if we want to keep it alive.
$3.00+ for a ‘comic book’ is ridiculous… Its the 21st century: value of the dollar is weak, gas is going up, price of food is going up (or will stay expensive), the period of being unemployed before finding another job is longer than ever – and the rate of pay for minimum wage has not significantly kept up with all of this…>>>By the time all of this ‘gets better’ we all with have been culturally digitalized in ways that we cannot fathom >>>>>> ‘not talking sci-fi culture, I’m talking beaurocratic, monitoring, real-time pretentious passive-aggressive plastic wireless culture that will consequently create no interest in plastic bags for little books that are flimsy and over priced…<<<<<<>>and it will NEVER expand based on 20th century 'super-hero' 'comic' books.
Wertham denounced comics as a ‘corruption’ -I don’t see comics as a corruption, and I would never denounce ‘sequential story telling’, as much as I think it would make sense
to denounce hieroglyphics, the funny papers or the diagrams that one creates using MS Project. Its all a great way of combining art and prose, and then some…. These are NOT ‘comic’ books. Reading about adventure, noir, history, politics, romance …ect are neither comical nor funny pages… They are stories. The name ‘comic book’ applied to the ‘sequential story telling’ of super-heroes is lame, and thwarts the growth and survival of the market. >>>AND if the ‘super-hero’ is going to LIVE, THRIVE AND SURVIVE, it needs to increase market share/base, >>>>AND this will NEVER happen by marketing, selling sequential story telling books as ‘comic books’. ESPECIALLY USING PICTURES OF NAKED MEN WITH COLORS PRACTICALLY SPRAY-PAINTED TO THEIR STEROID BODIES with images of them ‘fighting’ and ‘posing’. Sorry, the actual stories can be cool, and the combat is entertaining, but it looks gay, because it is GAY. The new superman movie… he looks like a blue naked guy, with boots, cape and an S on his chest… ACKNOWLEDGE it for what it is. “BUMP-ba-DA-Daaa!!!!”>>>”It’s the ‘DOESN’T-REALLY-NEED-TO-BE-NAKED-BUT-IS- NAKED’-MAN!!!” )
Sequential story telling / comics REALLY need to develop and change, cuz comics is gay (frivolous cheese -especially enticing people into paying $3+on something like a DC comic OF WHICH even the people who work for DC are re-booting years of their own work that they have invested in) -yeah that is lame-in-the-gayness, man… AT LEASE THE DC EMPLOYEES ARE GETTING PAID, unlike readers of this who might as well just donate $3 to a charity than for work that is later re-booted, and then consider your self a hero).
Given, there is SOME psych dev, but I think it should be given more priority. >>>SO, WHEN SOMEONE EXPECTS ‘comics’ to be ‘escapist entertainment… no need to be relevant to ‘psychological development’’ >>>> Well, I just don’t think it does not necessarily have to mean two-dimensional and lack more significant forms of character development. What I’m talking about is what made Ditko and Lee’s SPIDER-MAN more interesting and enticing, even the way Ditko depicted the characters were ‘real’, this just lost momentum -I think one comic could of stayed ‘Ditko’, and another SPIDER-MAN title could of then proceeded with Romita Sr’s popy-romance look. Both are great, but the market of Super-heroes will NOT survive nor expand based on the past way of depicting a singularity of the ‘super-hero’ (Sure Spider-man is such a recognized brand that the character-based asset is used all over, but not for most of the other char-based assets… IMHO). So yeah, don’t drop ‘super-hero’ entirely, but CHANGE it, GROW it… CHECK OUT the Avengers2 animated movie DVD Special Features interview with Millar and Hitch, please. Millar and Hitch is one of the reason’s why comics excel. The successful writers and editors that have been paying attention to that have enabled a great series called ALIAS, which previously INDEPENDENT (non-COLDWAR creators) BENDIS and GAYDOS (no pun intended) have contributed, and that book would not had been published by Marvel in a COLD WAR era.
FOR SOME REASON this part was not pasted in the above post…
…<<<<<<>>and it will NEVER expand based on 20th century 'super-hero' 'comic' books.
Will try to paste it in again: …UNLESS there is a global consciousness in some form that will base their culture/slang-dialect/music/cloths upon the events that develop from Marvel… or DC… or Image,…or DarkHorse… or SOMETHING NEW THAT DOES NOT TELL CHEESE DRAMA 'SUPERHERO' COLD WAR HOMO-EROTIC POWER FANTASY FULFILLMENT STORIES THAT ARE CONVOLUTED AND BEAR NO RELAVANCE TO STORIES ABOUT PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT, MATURITY VS IMPULSIVE SELFISHNESS, RELATIONSHIPS, …REALISTIC TAKE ON CHARACTERS APPEARANCES AND AGE, … the death of the super-hero comic (good-by 20th century) would mean the birth of a new 21st century cultural medium… not based on events and sales and creepy comic book stores and ….just the words 'super-hero' and 'comic-book' need to change, GROW UP -in order for the medium to survive. I’m saying, the market base needs to expand, >>>and it will NEVER expand based on 20th century 'super-hero' 'comic' books.
exact same comments on two threads. It's still nonsensical. I don't know if it's the very poor grammar and misspellings or that you really don't understand the history of comics but you are sounding exactly like Wertham. He went beyond the 'corruption' of comics, he also felt there was a lot of homoerotic subtext in super hero comics. He was wrong then as you are wrong now.
He also tried to put a lot of psycho babble in his talks about comics. It made no sense when he did it and it makes no send when you do it.
Seriously, it wouldn't take much to go 'point by point' and take your whole comment to task, essentially making it all a moot point, but the fact is, the bulk of you copy/paste comments on this and the other thread have little bearing on the topics at hand. Might I suggest taking this to the forums where this whole thing can be discusses without the gay bashing nonsense being posted on this family friendly site?
Please, go point-to-point…
http://forums.comicbooked.com/showthread.php/708-…
I just entered a post and now its not listed.
Test: this post is a now a test to see if it will be listed…
Maybe there is a limit to the number of characters can be typed if the Name and Mail field are from me…???
Well, that last one got posted, so there must be a limit to the characters I can type… -Regulation by FORCE, huh, Scotty??? Wow, great site we have here…
OK,… So here I go, one little post at a time….
*
You still didnt do your 'go point-to-point' thang… no one cares (Actually no, some do and some just dont) -It would be fun to just to see though. Check out this link:
My link was removed… Bummer.
Just tried again… my linky no posty…. Nor have the other remarks I posted…
Yaaaay that one did though… I may hav to do this one, letter, at, a, t, i, m, e…
So when people post something that is not in your 'favor', then you just mess w/them… NO FREE SPEACH nor FREE OPINION on comicbooked.com, lame site.
Apparently only free speech if there are serious spelling mistaaaaakes
You're both pretty, girls. Now calm down before someone throws a heel.
No idea why your link doesn't post. I haven't had issue with that. Lashing out like this doesn't help you though. Sign up on the forums and we can, and will, continue it there OR feel free to email me directly.
Also, the names is Skott….with a 'K' not a 'c'
My last two posts have not appeared… -Aint 'lashing out',… Its all your -once again-just like me- an I N T E R P R E T A T I O N.
OK, that one above just posted… -its all just a POV, PEACE Or VICTORY, depending on your point-of-view, man. Which by the way, must like mine, yours is no word of God written in stone.
Kind of weird that you get to post anything you want, -express whatever opinion you want, and then I cant post my responses entirely. =Lets see if this posts 'cause the one I just did (after '… an INTERPRETATION') has not appeared.
Regardless of any of our differences I hope we all can enjoy this (cuz I do'd… I still do):
Kevin Smith: Gay X-Men
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DycgoUldaCg
OK, that last post attempt failed, maybe too many links, since the previous one w/Kevin Smith workd, I will try this with just one:
I totally agree with all of what Bronski wrote here:
Comic relief
Making the incipient homosexuality in superhero comics more visible has prompted a backlash far more complex than the one faced by comic books in
the 1950s
BY MICHAEL BRONSKI
http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features…
I have attempted to post the link to this site six times now but Scott of F is not letting me post at all…
Maybe this will work: GOOGLE THE SEARCH WORDS – able2know input from gay person lackluster – AND its the last posting.
Whoo-HOOO!!! That last post worked!!! Its to HELP
ya understand part of yr venacular disctraction of my entire point, after reading the entry on Mon 13 Dec, 2010 05:42 from my post above.
Insert toung in cheeck whilst reading this> The first image shown is for all of you who have been reading this >>> and finally the END:
http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/05/06/parting-…
Gotta stress, this would had been over with if I could had been allowed to post my comments w/out the judgMENTAL self rightous interference of self acclaimed 'beat cop' Scott of Fables. Regulate a site, man go for it! But as an Admin keep your 'you dont know anything about X' out.
And your selective process interferring with my posts, just because you do not like my words, or vernacular, DAMN -Thats McCarthy/Wertham 'shyt'-of-the-Bull way to 'regulate' facist crap'ola. Bummer Administrative work. BUT IM OUT.
Right, let me be clear about something here, kiddo, I am NOT, I repeat NOT stopping you from posting here. Why should I? I mean your endless rants about your disliking of our fellow Gays Americans is doing enough to help you lose whatever point you're trying to make.
I have no interest in blocking your 'opinions' regardless if I agree with them or not. It isn't my fault that you are so wound up over this that you cannot make simple posts.
Now, I have offered you a forum with which to clarify your rather closed minded views on this issue but you have refused to register (free and easy) so I can't help you there.
I have also offered that you can email me directly to continue this discussion as you see fit but I have received nothing from you there either. Skottoffables@comicbooked.com
I'm more than willing to go toe to toe with you on this. I'm always up for some entertainment. You can lash out and make false claims that I'm blocking you from posting for some reason but the simple truth is I'm not.
However, it must be said that spamming our site will not be allowed. Again, the forums and/or direct email. But these rants should stop because there is no bearing on the topic at hand.
Well said Skott.
Now, AAB, we're done here. I don't care how sincere your arguments are, the fact remains that you've spammed the article, derailed the discussion (as I write this, more than half of the comments came from you, and a only a handful at best contributed anything to the discussion), and insulted not just the site as a whole but Skott in particular. Not to mention that you tried to spread this mess to another article. That sort of behavior will not be tolerated.
You're as entitled to your opinion as the rest of us. If you don't like what one of our writers has to say, that's fine. If you want to debate that with them, well that's even better. Believe it or not, we encourage that sort of thing. But that's not what you're doing here. Disagree all you want, but if you can't be civil, you don't get to participate. That's all we ask.
There have been some comments along the 'can't argue with the numbers' line.
You could if you wanted…I mean he says May was the FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME no comic sold over 100,000. I would suggest that a lot of things have sold less in that time as well. According to Bloomberg, consumer confidence is the lowest it's been since 2009.
Sales are low on pretty much everything. It's the state of the economy and when money is tight the first thing that gets cut, more often than not, is cheap entertainment. Sadly, comicbooks are just entertainment and can be sacrificed. But to say this is the end because of the last few months is a bit hysterical. Comics have gone through very good and very bad times. Heck, they were victims of burnings at one time, and have survived.
If Marvel, DC and the others would pander to the fans instead of tossing us aside like a prom date the morning after in hopes of attracting new readers with the same product that has bored us for a while…if they would give US, the FANS something to be excited about, like Spider-Island, we could bring in new readers.
I've had a lot of success getting people to check out Fables because I'm always excited about that book. People who don't read comics have started getting that series because I've let them borrow the first trade. I'm on my third copy of it now. I lost one to someone and the second was just read to death, lol.
I maintain, give US something to be excited about and we will get new readers. All my long time friends read comics because of me. They, in turn, have gotten their girlfriends into comics and so one.
Its time to go all the way digital and then give it away free but with tons of beautifully drawn ads.
Its time to do it the way that google and Facebook are monetizing their platforms.
If google, facbook, twitter can make money off their platforms, why cant DC and Marvel find a way to give their stuff for free yet make tons of money out of it?
the "free digital comics on the internet is killing comics sales" is a bogus argument.
manga is VERY easily available online. EACH and EVERY chapter of any manga you can imagine. and look at the ridiculously great business they do all over the world.
whereas i have an impossible time finding huge collections like that of american comic books. it took me ages to find even a single chapter of the 'jla: obsidian age' story online. it got to the point where i just gave up and went back to reading manga.
this is the problem. its not as readily available online. like it or not, this online piracy greatly helps promotion of comic books (especially ones that aren't doing as great financially or aren't that popular to begin with). there's a bunch of mangas which got their US release because they exploded online.
they need to do this. put a bunch of comics online, call them samples, and see how the sales go up.
of course, there is also the matter of constant f'n retconning. what's the point of reading if all the progress you've made will be undone in a few chapters. that's the main reason i stopped reading them in the first place.
American comics are easily pirated online. You must be visiting the wrong sites. I'm not endorsing piracy, but it is a hurdle publishers must face for sales to thrive. Superhero books are just in a bad spot IMHO. They always rebound as creativity gets reinvigorated.
In the meantime check out indie books and the European comics market. UNREAL how original and beautiful their comics are over seas! Check it. my friends.
Comics will alaways be here, folks. The industries may just have to take a backseat, and flagship superheroes may have to be content with a couple titles, rather than a dozen.
Its an odd inverse relationship at play. Cartoons and movies is the only thing really keeping the comics industry alive. Comic books will never completely disappear as the graphic novel medium is popular but companies like DC and Marvel will enter a dark age period.
The problem with comic books is not digital but the focus on using an outdated model. For example, DC still only does once a month comic releases rather than bi-monthly. They still keep the comics at 20 pages which doesn't really leave much to desire for those who haven't been devoted fans.
And then there is the fact that there is a disconnect between what you see in the comics and what you see in movies and cartoons. There is this better understanding of what is happening in the television and film media. They follow their own universes strictly whereas comic books constantly create events to retcon past stories.
Maybe what should be taken into consideration is doing what cartoons and movies do. When I watch Tim Burton's Batman and Nolan's Batman, I know I am not watching the same Batman. I am watching two different interpretations that have nothing to do with one another. As a result, they create great stories because they don't have to follow any silly rules.
Maybe its time comics do that. Rather than create a universe that has to be followed by everyone with constant retcons, just let writers each have their own year or two year run on a comic and let them tell their own story that is specifically their interpretation and that won't have anything to do with the next writer's story at all.
In other words, treat comics like books such as Nancy Drew.
Comics died a long time ago.