Previous Post Quote: as to whether all DS's low showings were really Desaad or not, though there is an implication there that at least sheds question on his previous defeats. Quote: That said, I don't think DC including that fight in a compilation book invalidates the retcon. Do you really think that much thought went into the compilation book, or that much tracking of continuity? If so, you're giving them WAY too much credit. First, that this story was retconned at all is speculative. Second, whether DC is that unaware of its own continuity is also pure speculation. There are other Superman vs. Darkseid fights that did not make the book. Why would DC choose a Superman vs. Desaad fight in a storyline that actually takes up one third of its 230 pages over a real Superman vs. Darkseid fight that they left out? Third, I'd bet that if you point to this book and asked DC editorial whether this is the real Darkseid depicted in this book, I can almost guarantee you that they'd say yes.

On your first point, I agree wholeheartedly. Its speculative whether Desaad was posing as DS in the fight involved. Reasonable speculation, sure, but no slam dunk by any stretch.

On the second, I'll certainly say if I were a junior editor looking for a cool product to put out, that fight is a pretty cool one.

We act like every employee of DC comics builds an encyclopedic knowledge of their continuity, and they don't.

I'm amazed at how poorly many organizations operate, and how poorly they communicate, and how poorly understood their products are by employees that should know.

I'm sure someone picked that fight because they liked it. Whether they're even aware of the supposed retcon or not is speculatory, and I'd doubt they ever saw or remembered that page. I also doubt there's any major discussions about the continuity implications of that conversation between DS and Desaad.

As such, I'd certainly bet that most any junior editor in DC would look at the comic and say 'yeah, its Darkseid'. If you then show them the supposed retcon, they'd either say 'oh, it was Desaad' or 'maybe, probably still Darkseid'.

Sure, the EIC may have an idea, and a few writers of the most relevant books, or if one editor had been on the Superman books for the entire duration you might get someone with a strong opinion, but for the most part, this is a 'small potatoes' issue. It matters to a few fans, sure, but you ascribe far too much in the way of adherence to what is or is not in continuity than they are likely to do....