With an ongoing narrative that’s lasted for the better part of a century, DC Comics has one of the most convoluted fictional continuities in of all time. After countless Crises, Rebirths, and a Flashpoint here and there, there’s not a single character or aspect of the DC Universe that hasn’t been impacted by a retcon in one way or another.

Many of these retcons have become integral to fans’ conceptions of the World’s Greatest Heroes, while more than a few still have their fair share of detractors. But each one of the retcons in this list had an undeniable effect on the DC Universe – and its fans.

10. Better: Superboy Prime Punching the Multiverse

Infinite Crisis: Secret Files and Origins #1 by Marv Wolfman, Dan Jurgens, Art Thibert, Cam Smith, Nelson DeCastro, Jerry Ordway, Guy Major, Jeromy Cox, and Travis Lanham

Comics are known for having some undeniably outrageous happenings, and few retcons are as cartoonish as the idea of Superboy Prime punching reality itself. Harkening back to the indescribable power levels of Superman during the Silver Age, this wonky “punch” not only establishes just how truly dangerous Superboy Prime can be but also reminds fans of how silly comics can be – in the best way possible, of course.

Admittedly, there are more than a few of said fans out there who aren’t too fond of this alternate Clark Kent’s multiversal meddling, but it ultimately had its intended effect of explaining away quite a few errors in DC’s post-Crisis continuity. From explaining the convoluted history of Hawkman’s conflicting variants to the multiple origins of Donna Troy – and even the resurrection of Jason Todd as Red Hood – Superboy Prime’s punch is still partially responsible for the DC Comics that fans know today.

9. Worse: Rogol Zaar’s Destruction of Krypton

The Man of Steel by Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Fabok, Ivan Reis, Doc Shaner, and More

The destruction of Krypton is one of the most vital pieces of Superman lore and one of the most consistent facets of the Man of Steel’s backstory across countless variants and adaptations. Most frequently, it’s the Kryptonians’ own arrogance and recklessness that leads to the death of their homeworld, with Superman’s parents, Jor-El and Lara, serving as the only voices of reason against a lethally short-sighted ruling class.

The revelation that Krypton was actually sabotaged and destroyed by the outside agent known as Rogol Zaar changes everything fans knew about Krypton, and not for the better. What was once a poignant, evolving allegory for humanity’s own strained relationship with environmentalism now paints the Man of Tomorrow’s people as victims of an interstellar war criminal. This retcon undercuts some of Superman’s most valuable lessons in the process.

8. Worse: Barry Allen Creating the Speed Force

The Flash: Rebirth by Geoff Johns, Ethan Van Sciver, Scott Hanna, Alex Sinclair, Hi-Fi, and Rob Leigh

Originally discovered by Max Mercury and later mastered by the Flash Wally West, the Speed Force is larger than life, a quasi-mystical element to the otherwise science-fiction-heavy adventures of DC’s Fastest Man Alive. As such, the Speed Force has had a few origins over the years, but the most infamous is the notion that it was first created by the Flash Barry Allen himself.

Existing simultaneously throughout all points in space and time, the Speed Force was at stated in The Flash: Rebirth to have been born when Barry first acquired his abilities, generated with every breath taken by the Scarlet Speedster. This retcon served to not only recenter Barry as the primary Flash – much to the chagrin of decades’ worth of Wally West fans – but also made the universe feel that much smaller. Whether this change has remained canon is a bit nebulous, but more than a few readers can’t run away from this revelation fast enough.

7. Better: Streamlining the Hawks’ History

Hawkman #7 by Robert Venditti, Bryan Hitch, Andrew Currie, Jeremiah Skipper, Richard Starkings, and Comicraft

With multiple conflicting variants across multiple timelines that oftentimes exist simultaneously, DC’s Hawkman and Hawkgirl have long had one of the publisher’s most convoluted backstories. Across these iterations, the Hawks have most famously been portrayed as reincarnated royalty as well as alien space cops in a personal timeline that would give Kang the Conqueror a headache. But the introduction of Ktar Deathbringer cleared up the confusion in one stroke.

2018’s Hawkman #7 reveals the truth of Hawkman’s history. A former general for an army of winged killers at the dawn of time, Ktar was cursed and blessed to reincarnate across space and time until he managed to save as many lives as he’d taken with the future Hawkgirl tied to his fate. Occasionally, these multiple incarnations exist at the same time – but they’re ultimately still the same soul within.

6. Worse: Identity Crisis (All of It)

Identity Crisis by Brad Meltzer, Rags Morales, Mike Bair, Alex Sinclair, and Ken Lopez

Contemporary stories that take place during iconic periods in comic book history are a pretty common occurrence and can go over quite well with fans, but the shocking developments of the Identity Crisis miniseries were anything but well-received. Not only did this series fridge a fan-favorite female character by murdering Sue Dibny, but the brutalization that she also suffered at the hands of Dr. Light – and the unethical steps the Justice League took in response to the crime – cast a shade over the Silver Age of DC Comics that took years to overcome.

Continuity quibbles aside, the story’s overall treatment of women hasn’t aged well at all – hardly surprising considering how controversial it was at the time – and the portrayals of both Sue Dibny and Jean Loring are pruriently misogynistic. This story is genuinely one of DC Comics’ darkest, embodying a grim time in its otherwise bright, hopeful continuity.

5. Better: Green Lantern’s Parallax Possession

Green Lantern: Rebirth by Geoff Johns, Ethan Van Sciver, Prentis Rollins, Mick Gray, Marlo Alquiza, Moose Baumann, and Rob Leigh

Prior to his descent into villainy as Parallax, both before and during the Zero Hour Crisis event, Green Lantern Hal Jordan was one of DC’s biggest icons, with his successor Kyle Rayner admirably filling his role as the publisher’s premier – and for the longest time, only – Emerald Guardian. But Hal’s resurrection in Green Lantern: Rebirth changed not just his history, but the basic cosmology of the DC Universe at large.

The creation of Parallax as an entity of its own as opposed to a villainous codename chosen by Jordan at random not only helped redeem one of the publisher’s Silver Age legends, but opened the doorway to decades’ worth of storytelling exploring the Emotional Spectrum. To this day, the effects of this retcon are still being felt, and neither the Green Lantern mythos nor DC Comics’ would be what they are without it.

4. Worse: Wonder Woman’s True Heritage in the New 52

Wonder Woman #3 by Brian Azzarello Cliff Chiang, Matt Wilson, and Jared K. Fletcher

Wonder Woman’s classic clay origin was one of the defining aspects of her character. Once imbued with life by the Goddesses of Olympus after being sculpted by Hippolyta, Diana’s was a genesis entirely untouched by the hands of man. But with the New 52’s massive changes to DC continuity came a new wrinkle to the Amazing Amazon’s family history: she was now secretly the biological daughter of Zeus and Hippolyta.

Some have made the argument that this change brings her closer to her roots in Greek mythology by giving her a background akin to Heracles himself. But in so doing, this alteration turned Diana into just another demigod. And with the eventual added retcon that Diana also had a twin brother, these changes in actuality did little more than center men at the heart of what had long been a story of feminist empowerment.

3. Better: Swamp Thing’s True Identity

The Saga of the Swamp Thing #21 by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, John Totleben, Tatjana Wood, and John Costanza

Swamp Thing has long been a beloved figure among DC fans, and a massive reason for readers’ reverence for the character is the critically acclaimed run by Alan Moore and his collaborators that totally changed what fans thought they knew about the Parliament of Trees’ chosen avatar. For years, the Swamp Thing had labored under the impression that he was truly Alec Holldand, a scientist transformed by the mysterious forces of the swamp in which he died, constantly seeking out a cure for his unfortunate chlorophyllic condition.

The Saga of the Swamp Thing #21 revealed that, in reality, Holland had indeed died, making the Swamp Thing a living golem who mistakenly believed himself a man after absorbing Holland’s consciousness. This twist added a twinge of tragedy to the beloved monster, sparking questions about identity and humanity that still speak to readers to this day.

2. Better: Alfred Pennyworth Raising Batman After His Parents’ Deaths

Batman: Year One by Frank Miller, David Mazzucchelli, Richmond Lewis, and Todd Klein

The relationship between Batman and his faithful butler, Alfred Pennyworth, is one of the most well-known aspects of the character. Raised by Pennyworth after the murder of his parents, Bruce Wayne grew to see Alfred as a surrogate father, trusting him more than practically anyone else. But while this dynamic is now integral to Batman lore, it actually wasn’t even canon until the legendary Batman: Year One.

Originally introduced in the Golden Age as Alfred Beagle, Bruce’s loyal butler didn’t fall under Wayne’s service until Batman #16 by Don Cameron and Bob Kane: a whole three years after Dick Grayson’s debut as Robin. The Silver Age later remixed Alfred as a Pennyworth instead of a Beagle, but his distant history with the Waynes remained the same until Batman: Year One, which followed Crisis on Infinite Earths by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez with its massive changes to continuity.

1. Better: The Kents Raising Superman

Superman #1 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

As famously summed up in All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, Superman’s origin story is best described as “Doomed planet. Desperate scientists. Last hope. Kindly couple.” But in Superman’s initial debut, the kindly couple had very little to do with it. Action Comics #1 by Siegel and Shuster portrays Clark Kent as having been raised in an orphanage after his rocket is found by a passing motorist, and it’s not until the retelling of his origin in Superman #1 that the Kents come into play.

In this updated origin, the Kents were the motorists who found young Kal-El, and although they still take the young extraterrestrial to an orphanage, they soon return to adopt the lad themselves. Over the years, this origin has been streamlined to cut out the orphanage aspect altogether, with the Kents raising Clark to uphold the values of truth and justice in Smallville, Kansas, and ultimately molding him into the Superman of DC Comics who is known and loved the world over.