The Key of Continuity
The Rippaverse Ethic of the importance of maintaining a cohesive universe
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Jen & Sylvia Soska
Immersive Worlds
Why Continuity Matters
The greatest part of any story is being able to get lost in an immersive world. Any time you leave it, you can always come back to a familiar place that feels like a second home. The characters, their struggles and triumphs, the places they live—these all become very real to us. They matter, and they should matter.
Everyone remembers the very first comic book they ever picked up. In fact, I encourage you to recall yours right now. It was the first step you took into an unknown place. The more you read, the deeper you got drawn in, the better you knew your favorite characters. That is why you could bravely state that so-and-so would never do this or that. They became like friends you knew well.
The Growing Complexity of Comic Book Universes
As many comic worlds are born, it is easy to keep track of who is who and what is what. But as the years go by and these worlds and the stories told within them begin to expand, it is imperative for the creatives behind these narratives to maintain a concise and cohesive continuity.
This is important for many reasons, including valuing the time of your readers. They have invested a lot of time and energy into reading these stories and caring about these characters. To do any less is not only lazy, it is disgraceful.
Rules of the Universe: A Commitment to Canon
Every newly created universe, as well as those who reside within that universe, must abide by the created rules. At the Rippaverse, I will admit, as your humble Lore Masters, we happen to know a lot more than has been revealed at this time, but that being said, we have certain rules that have already been set in place. There have been hints at these rules, and perhaps the clever fan has already guessed a few things that will come to be known much later.
The Rippaverse is heading only into its third year next year, but it is quickly expanding. Eric July kicked off these epic adventures with Isom but now we have multiple titles released with even more unannounced projects on the way. How important is it to keep everything on track and moving towards the same goals? Well, very important. We are still setting many of the rules of our universe, and with Zalen, our first intergalactic hero coming from the dream team of Chuck Dixon and Joe Bennett, the Rippaverse is really expanding to some great heights. Not only is it integral to respect our customers’ time by making sure every story matters and there will never come a “Brand New Day” that washes the past away, but it is part of our Rippaverse Code of Ethics, which appears in every book printed. We promise our readers canon and continuity.
Respecting the Reader: A Promise of Continuity
The Power of Continuity in Building Community
Why does this matter? Because, like sports or pro wrestling, it helps to create a community. You can always pick up a Rippaverse comic book and know exactly what you are getting.
Our characters will always have the same core values and identities that you are connected to. You can pick up an Isom comic in ten years, and I promise you that Avery Silman will be the same badass, headstrong, family-oriented man he is today. Yes, he and the other characters you love will go through things that affect them, but they will never cease to be who they are.
Heroes symbolize hope, and each individual hero has special core values that make them who they are. That will never change.
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Disrespecting Canon
It is vital, as we have numerous writers already working hard to expand the Rippaverse and give you unforgettable stories and characters you can see yourself in to ensure we are all building towards the same goals and playing by the same rules.
Though it will never happen here at the Rippaverse, one of the many reasons Eric July created the Rippaverse is because continuity and canon no longer exist or are not treated with respect elsewhere. Characters we used to be able to come back to reading are no longer recognizable in look or in their own values.
To me, this is a sign of lazy writing and a major disrespect to all the great writers and their stories who came before to build these worlds and characters. That is why it is part of our code of ethics and a promise we make to our fans.
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Rippaverse Fans
Get lost in our worlds, get caught up in our remarkable stories, and know that they will always matter because these stories matter to us, too.
Thank you for reading! Thank you for being here! If you are a long-time comic book reader, we share your pain and appreciate you taking a chance on us after all the heartbreak elsewhere.
If you are a new comic book fan, welcome! Thank you for trying out a new medium. It is a supreme honor to provide you with your very first comic books. These stories will resonate throughout the ages, and we are so excited for you to be along for the ride!
