Continuity is at best a minor annoyance in most forms of entertainment. In comic books, however, it can become the bane of a title's existence. So, with every rotating creative team on a book comes a massive amount of history and precedents that, by many, can't be ignored. Unfortunately, they also tend to be forgotten.
Some critics argue that continuity can take a flying leap.
Comics are for telling fantastic stories, they say, and if a new creator's vision doesn't exactly jive with panel 7 on page 3 of issue 93 of The Flash , then so be it. Dammit, Jim, they're writers, not historians. Others contend breaking continuity undermines the integrity for the readers, of the stories, and the intelligence of both. Some of the most compelling writing relies on prior events to fuel them. And, let's not forget, many fans buy a title due to years of loyalty.