I'll just say, changes that are natural for a character are good but changes that are not natural are not good. But, the worst is when the changes are not good, so someone tries to retcon something in to make these changes look good.
I'm sure everyone here can think of an example.

Change for characters is natural period, and change (even radical change) can be quite good. I'm certainly not anti-change; two of my favorite stretches in comics were huge changes: Steve Rogers getting replaced by John Walker as Cap and Tony Stark getting replaced by Jim Rhodes as Iron Man. I wasn't sold on either story at first, but I warmed to them as they kept the originals in the comic and really developed them as characters, as well as developing their replacements at the same time.

Still, I think that's the exception that probably proves the rule. Those huge changes were used as platforms to develop existing and new characters, building on the past rather than disposing of it or conveniently ignoring it - nobody ever decided Tony was never Iron Man, for example.

Like Byrne's bad change that the Vision was not the original Human Torch after all, which Busiek retconned into Immortus splitting the Torch in two so that Vision could be the original Torch but the Torch could still be around.

That was actually a good change. It worked out better when one considers the differances between the Torch and the Vision. It made better sense. Then after the retcon you mentioned, came yet another retcon (which, doesn't go well, I think). And now, possibly, there will be yet another retcon in the new mini-series "The Torch".

It seems to me that the lesson here is, "good" and "bad" are opinions.

Unless you're Kayne West, then you think your opinion is a fact and can't let anyone have their own opinions. The next thing you know, President Obama is quoted as saying you're a jackass. But that's only if you're Kayne West.

Sigh...with how MESSED up Sentry is it's just pathetic...y'know Marvel could've SO VERY EASILY created/integrated Sentry without half of the stupidity surrounding that character. He could've been exactly what he was at the start...this guy from the early stages of the Marvel Age of Comics...and rather than the whole "Void" and let's make everyone forget him junk...Marvel could've just had him go into space to deal with some cosmic or giant threat for a BUNCH of years (maybe the Badoon appeared early on too and Sentry had been beating them back for a decade or so - hence why the Badoon are not much of a presence in the "present" Marvel Universe, but become on the rise in the future - Sentry kept them in check and then they fill in the power vacuum left as the Skrulls/Kree/etc. weaken). Sentry returns after being gone so long and continues in normal continuity...but being from the early days and being gone for a while, he just gets forgotten by the out of sight out of mind effect...and now the character doesn't suck!

Oh yea...JTR you are correct...nicely done and the thread is yours...





(and I'm not gonna rant about what a TOTAL jerk Kayne West is....grrrr!!!)

Here's an easy one;


In the mini seires "Fantastic Four/ Iron Man ; Big In Japan", Droom thought Ironman was his old friend/one-time ally. What was his old friend's name?

Wild guess: Metallo?

Nope. Tho you're thinking on the right lines, if you're thinking of a name that is/was shared with a DCU character who is nominally like Ironman. Guess it depends on your type of resolve.

It's one of those modern Ironman stories that is actually pretty good to read, tho the art is cartoonish in an anime sort of way. I don't think it takes place in the 616 Universe. And has a number of the Kirby monster's of the late-50's/early 60's in it.

I thought you or DiZo may've read it simply because of that fact.

Good hint...I remembered the character (looking remarkably like a Red and Gold Ultraman but couldn't remember his name w/o the hint)...

Robotman!

Actually, I was thinking of an Atlas-era fantasy character who was a great deal like Iron Man.

I kinda figured that, but I was trying to toss out a hint so I hammered one out useing your words.