10 Controversial Comic Book Retcons Fans Hated

When Jean Grey sacrificed herself to stop the Phoenix force, many saw it as a fitting end for the character. However, when Marvel saw the popularity the X-Men comics got when she was hinted at returning as Madelyn Pryor (Cyclops' wife at the time), they decided to ditch the relationship Scott Summers had built in her absence and put them back together.

The controversial moment came when it was revealed that Jean Grey was never the Phoenix, and instead was in stasis the whole time while a simulacrum of her became the host for the phoenix. The legend Jean Grey was thrown away by Marvel for money, and a fundamental part of the X-Men's story was destroyed.

Eventually Jean died again, but the use of her resurrection has been considered a writing crutch ever since, with either the Phoenix or Jean returning once or twice every few years, each time being either unnecessary to the story or having a convoluted plot built around her that many fans could do without.