What is your view of headcanon?

[phonogram12]

There will be references and consequences until they decide to ignore them or reboot them away, so none of it matters in the long run anyway. It's really that simple, we don't have a coherent DC universe with a single through line from its inception until now. If someone reads takes on characters from various eras and picks and chooses what they like, it's not the same as embracing full delusion and saying "the stuff I dislike was never published/how I wish things to be is totally how it is and always was!" Nobody here is saying that.

Agreed.

10 characters.

[SiegePerilous02]

Headcanons are just fanfiction imo. I guess what makes them viable in cape comics is the fact that most of the creators for the characters and concepts are long dead now so there is no specific word of god anymore.

Yeah, headcanon is definite fanfiction when it comes to works with one author and have a beginning, middle and end.

This (DC and Marvel) is pretty much a free for all at this point. They arguably just publish fanfiction now, it just ranges from being great to average to embarrassing.

Even when they change things, there are still things that happen, are referenced and still have consequences. There are many fans who have that fully delusional view of headcanon.

So when things are changed, they just change into something else that itself will inevitably be changed somewhere down the line. And we know this at this point. The main behind the curtain is completely visible. If canon is only based around the fickle whims of the company controlling it, canon means nothing.

If they have that view of headcanon, I think they're talking about something else than what we are.

[KC]

So when things are changed, they just change into something else that itself will inevitably be changed somewhere down the line. And we know this at this point. The main behind the curtain is completely visible. If canon is only based around the fickle whims of the company controlling it, canon means nothing.

If they have that view of headcanon, I think they're talking about something else than what we are.

Canon can be as small as using a character or mentioning a previous plotline. That exists and does mean something to the stories that are being told.

Headcanon is described on wiktionary.org as "Elements and interpretations of a fictional universe accepted by an individual fan, but not necessarily found within or supported by the official canon." I think that fully delusional view previously mentioned would come under this definition of Headcanon.

[ssupes]

Head cannon is fine when defining characteristics and morals but when you stick to it too much then you miss the opportunity to make new stories to be honest, hence why new 52 felt like a breath of fresh air at the time.

[SiegePerilous02]

Canon can be as small as using a character or mentioning a previous plotline. That exists and does mean something to the stories that are being told.

Headcanon is described on wiktionary.org as "Elements and interpretations of a fictional universe accepted by an individual fan, but not necessarily found within or supported by the official canon." I think that fully delusional view previously mentioned would come under this definition of Headcanon.

It means something to the individual story, as it should. It ceases to matter when they randomly decide stories never happened or happened in a different way.

It fits that definition, but not everyone is saying they utilize headcanon in that way.

[KC]

It means something to the individual story, as it should. It ceases to matter when they randomly decide stories never happened or happened in a different way.

It fits that definition, but not everyone is saying they utilize headcanon in that way.

Canon like I mentioned carries through multiple stories and books. There is still always a continuity that can be followed.

Many fans do use headcanon in this way.

[kingaliencracker]

I would say that I'm fine with headcanon provided the fan understands that it is THEIR opinion/interpretation and THEIR opinion/interpretation alone.

I remember here a long time ago as well as on the old DC Message Boards, there would be fans who would make statements such as "Clark cannot be a dominant personality/Superman needs to be the most powerful/Lex has to be caught or it makes Superman ineffectual", and would add that if anyone felt differently they weren't "true" Superman fans.

If someone is/was a pre-Crisis Superman fan, great! I love the pre-Crisis Superman. But to turn it around and say that if you aren't a pre-Crisis Superman fan then you're really not a fan of the character...yeah, I have a problem with that. I think too much headcanon can make a fan feel entitled to something he or she isn't entitled to.