Re-imaging old friends...

Over beers the other night, I was talking about the latest Star Trek movie with the wife and a friend. I mentioned how I was disappointed in the movie. I thought it turned my beloved characters in caricatures of themselves. I said I did not like how they re-imaged them. My friend immediately commented that I must not be a comic book fan then. Well, of course I am a comic fan.

Which got me thinking about the whole idea of re-imaging characters. It happens all the time in comics. Everything is up for change over time. And in general that does not bother me. It is accepted in the comic world. I may not like all the incarnations that happen but that's ok. I know over time new ones will appear and odds are if I did not like the previous one I will enjoy the new one. So why did it bother me so much about the Star Trek movie? I am not even that big a fan. I quit watching during Deep Space Nine when I thought the story lines were not as strong.

Are there any favorite stories or characters that should be off limits to change? Probably not. Change is what helps keep things fresh and interesting. What attracted me to a character or story line when I was a kid is not necessarily going to appeal to me the same way as an adult. Every change may not be for the best, but none of them are permanent. Which is ultimately how it should be...