Retcon Hour
Retcon Hour was a Classic LNH crossover that started on June 28, 1994 and ended September 8, 1994. Kicked off by the approval of rec.arts.comics.creative, it was complicated, ridiculous and all over the place, one of the biggest LNH crossovers ever!
Contents
Writers
- Russ Allbery aka Eagle
- David Anastasion
- Robert Armstrong aka Mystic Mongoose
- Hubert Bartels
- Mike Escutia
- Patrick Gearman
- Paul Hardy
- Scott Johnson aka Zagyg
- Jeff McCoskey
- Peter Milan aka Tick
- Martin Phipps
- Matt Rossi aka Badger
- Eric Sturgeon, aka The Stirge
- Dave Van Domelen
History
The Plot
Low-Spoilers Version
A giant figure has appeared above Net.ropolis! rec.arts.comics.creative has been approved – and the Looniverse is along for the ride! The Time Crapper plans to take advantage of the cosmic chaos – but so does the Time Crapper! The RACCelestial Madonna Pageant begins in response, but as multiple timelines start layering atop each other and realities begin to clash, the true mastermind manipulates everyone, with the goal of gaining ultimate power and controlling all of time!
(Also, there's a crossover with the Omaha Project in there.)
Full Summary
Spoilers ahead for the whole goshdarn thing...
Timeline
Where to Read
The whole overcomplicated thing can be read on the Eyrie Archive over here.
It was also reposted by Arthur Spitzer as part of his Classic LNH Adventures series:
- Retcon Hour Alpha (LNH Triple Play #4, Swordmaster and the Load Island Renegades #11, Generation Y #7)
- Retcon Hour Beta (Constellation #30, Nicks of Time #1, System Corruptors #16)
- Retcon Hour Gamma (Generation Y #8, U-Force #8, Swordmaster and the Load Island Renegades #12)
- Retcon Hour Delta (Swordmaster and the Load Island Renegades #0, Nicks of Time #2, Generation Y Annual #1)
- Retcon Hour Epsilon (Errand Boy #6, U-Force #9. Retcon Happy Hour)
- Omaha Project - The Retcon Hours (Omaha Project #16-19)
- Only #16 is necessary to read for the crossover – we beg of you, don't dive into the Omaha Project unprepared!
- Retcon Hour Phi (Nicks of Time #3, Tales of the LNH #310, LNH v1 #88, U-Force #10)
- Retcon Hour Chi (Constellation #31, Unlikely Aliens #5-6)
- Retcon Hour Psi (Legion of Occult Heroes #0, Tales of the LNH #311, Nicks of Time #4, LNH Comics Presents #21)
- Retcon Hour Omega (Retcon Hour Omega) (naturally)
- Retcon Hour Odds and Ends (Decibel Dude & Vigilante Guy #0, LNH Comics Presents #22)
Legacy
Two series spun directly out of Retcon Hour – the Legion of Occult Heroes by Paul Hardy, and Dvandom Force by Dave Van Domelen. As well, Pliable Lad #24 tied in, leading to the Retcon Midnight miniseries. LNH Triple Play #5 was a direct sequel, dealing with Contraption Man's brainwashing and betrayal.
Retcon Hour was divisive, with some disliking its chaotic nature. This lead to several writers creating what they thought a crossover should be, limited in scope and plotted out in advance, resulting in the Crisis of Infinite Sidekicks.
Nonetheless, Retcon Hour was influential, the model for many later crossovers. Few of them rivaled its scope and level of engagement, partially because the event it celebrated – the founding of rec.arts.comics.creative – resulted in many members of the LNH community founding their own imprints and focusing on those instead, and the LNH itself becoming less unified. Retcon Hour itself tends to be remembered fondly, with references and homages continuing to the present day; Legion of Net.Heroes Volume 3 #2 deals with a consequence of Retcon Hour 25 years later.
