Comics are awesome.

[andersonh1]

Well one could argue that since IDW prints Mosaics, that they are acting as a licensed agent for Hasbro.

They aren't printing them any more. That only went on for a few months. Hasbro had to approve each one, but after a few months decided that the legal issues were too much of a hassle and withdrew permission.

[Sparky Prime]

The apparent lack of direction post CoIE was more about the direction changing frequently.

And this is what I mean. Most of the examples you've been using here I'd say are actually examples story/editorial directions, not decrees. Johns retcon with Parallax being an emotional entity? Story direction. DC establishing the "Man of Steel" was his one true origins? Decree.

Morrison has done this a few times. Superboy's retcon punch is arguably an example of this. Marvel's Time Variance Authority is also a variant of this idea.

And these would be examples of things actually in the books, not decrees that haven't been mentioned in the stories at all.

[Shockwave]

Interesting, I didn't know that although I did wonder why we weren't seeing them anymore. Still a valid argument about what was printed though.

[Dominic]

I do see your point Shock-Trek. The half-dozen or so "Mosaic" stories that were printed do have an additional level of clearance from IDW and Hasbro. Maybe IDW should require that contributors sign a release, allowing IDW to reprint and use the submissions in some way.

And this is what I mean. Most of the examples you've been using here I'd say are actually examples story/editorial directions, not decrees. Johns retcon with Parallax being an emotional entity? Story direction. DC establishing the "Man of Steel" was his one true origins? Decree.

I mis-spoke. The second time I said "direction", I should have said "decree" or "edict". DC's editors changed their minds so many times that the books apparently lacked direction. Johns just up and decided that there was an emotional color spectrum, and that each color had a Pokemon mascot. The difference between retroactively changing something, (the existence of a faction), in a story or by decree is minimal.

I prefer the decrees, as they dispense with tedious moving of pieces on a board and the results of the change can be evaluated immediately.

And these would be examples of things actually in the books, not decrees that haven't been mentioned in the stories at all.

Morrison explicitly acknowledges the decrees in his work, referring to nebulous "them"s and "they"s as the people whose decrees shape the world the characters live in. The decrees predate the Morrison stories.


Dom
-notes the decline in "Mosaic" lately.

[Sparky Prime]

The difference between retroactively changing something, (the existence of a faction), in a story or by decree is minimal.

Well that sounds like you have a different definition of what a decree is than I do.... There is a huge difference between a change in story and changes from decree. A decree by definition is a rule/law set in place by a head of state (or such figure of authority). This would be something like Quesada using his position as EiC to "put the genies back in the bottle" as he called it (less mutants, heroes fighting each other, Spidey single), which no one can argue or change because he's the boss and he decrees it to be so. A change in story direction from a writer however can be changed by the following writer or even overruled by editors quite easily. And again, most of the examples you seem to be citing appear to be the latter.

I prefer the decrees, as they dispense with tedious moving of pieces on a board and the results of the change can be evaluated immediately.

"Just because it's easy, doesn't mean you can't mess it up." Sometimes you might be able to get away with skipping the "tedious moving of pieces", but not always. And again, to me, it's telling a good story that's important and where the focus needs to be, not some evaluation.

Morrison explicitly acknowledges the decrees in his work, referring to nebulous "them"s and "they"s as the people whose decrees shape the world the characters live in. The decrees predate the Morrison stories.

I don't know what you're even arguing here anymore.... As I've said, if something is changed about a character, regardless of if it was by decree or not, it needs to be addressed in the story so that the audience is aware of said changes to the character/story in order to be able to make sense of the story and for it to be canon. You seem to think that it doesn't, but keep pointing out these examples that are represented in the stories.

[Onslaught Six]

Johns just up and decided that there was an emotional color spectrum, and that each color had a Pokemon mascot.

Green - Bulbasaur
Yellow - Pikachu
Red - Charmander
Blue - Squirtle
Pink - Jigglypuff
Purple - Koffing
Black - Gengar
White - Mewtwo

Now I'm looking for fanart of Hal Jordan and Bulbasaur hanging out.

[Shockwave]

The difference between retroactively changing something, (the existence of a faction), in a story or by decree is minimal.

Well that sounds like you have a different definition of what a decree is than I do.... There is a huge difference between a change in story and changes from decree. A decree by definition is a rule/law set in place by a head of state (or such figure of authority). This would be something like Quesada using his position as EiC to "put the genies back in the bottle" as he called it (less mutants, heroes fighting each other, Spidey single), which no one can argue or change because he's the boss and he decrees it to be so. A change in story direction from a writer however can be changed by the following writer or even overruled by editors quite easily. And again, most of the examples you seem to be citing appear to be the latter.

I prefer the decrees, as they dispense with tedious moving of pieces on a board and the results of the change can be evaluated immediately.

"Just because it's easy, doesn't mean you can't mess it up." Sometimes you might be able to get away with skipping the "tedious moving of pieces", but not always. And again, to me, it's telling a good story that's important and where the focus needs to be, not some evaluation.

Morrison explicitly acknowledges the decrees in his work, referring to nebulous "them"s and "they"s as the people whose decrees shape the world the characters live in. The decrees predate the Morrison stories.

I don't know what you're even arguing here anymore.... As I've said, if something is changed about a character, regardless of if it was by decree or not, it needs to be addressed in the story so that the audience is aware of said changes to the character/story in order to be able to make sense of the story and for it to be canon. You seem to think that it doesn't, but keep pointing out these examples that are represented in the stories.

Ooh! Ooh! I've got one! Dumbledore's gay. JK Rowling said so. But it never came up in the Potter books.

[Onslaught Six]

ShockTrek wins the match.

[Shockwave]

And somebody should photoshop Hal Jordan dressed as Bulbasaur..

[Dominic]

Trekkie is close. But, I am saying that editors have the right to make decrees that change the status quo, ala "Man of Steel". Obviously, the decrees will be reflected later in stories. But, we do not need to see the changes explained in tedious detail.

Dom