Are Scarlet Avenger Prequel Comics Canon To The Series?

If you want a fast, practical verdict: check for an official statement and whether the main series ever uses details from the prequels. I’m the kind of fan who jumps into forums and Twitter threads the moment a new tie-in drops, so here’s what I look for and what I do.

First, search the publisher’s site and the creators’ posts — tweets from the writer or notes in a collected edition often say whether a prequel is meant to fit into the main timeline. Next, scan the main series for callbacks: are characters referencing events that only happen in the prequel, or do later issues ignore or contradict those events? If the prequel is referenced later, it’s probably canonical. If not, it might be optional.

When there’s no clear verdict, I treat the prequels as optional canon — great for character depth and atmosphere, but not gospel unless the main title confirms them. For reading enjoyment, I usually fold them into my personal timeline unless a future issue retcons them; for anything formal (fan-wikis, timelines), I mark them as “contested” until there’s an editor’s note. If you want, I can walk you through how to check a specific issue or tweet to be sure.

If you’re asking whether the 'Scarlet Avenger' prequel comics are canon to the series, the short-ish practical approach I use is: it depends on the folks who own the continuity. I speak as a long-time collector who’s spent late nights cross-referencing back issues and scouring creators’ interviews, so I’ll give you how to check and how I personally treat those prequels.

First, look for official signals. Does the publisher label the prequels as part of the main continuity? Is there an editorial note, a timeline entry, or a statement on the publisher’s website? Creators’ interviews and letters pages in the main title are huge clues — if the writer of 'Scarlet Avenger' or the series’ editor says the events are meant to fit before issue #1, that’s a strong indicator. Also check the prequels themselves: do they reference events that only make sense with later issues, or do they introduce contradictions (like different origin details, character ages that don’t line up, or clearly alternative-universe tags)? Those are red flags.

Second, compare content for continuity. If the prequel establishes things that the main series later treats as history — consistent character motivations, recurring props, the same version of a supporting cast — it’s easier to accept them as canon. If, however, the main title never acknowledges the prequel’s major beats and later contradicts them, editorially it may be non-canonical or a soft-canon tie-in. There are also publishing realities: reboots, retcons, and relaunches can render previously canonical prequels non-canon overnight.

Personally I tend to enjoy prequels on two levels: as potentially canonical lore if the publisher signals it, and as rich storytelling even if they’re just “what-if” or expanded universe material. If you’re trying to build a definitive reading order or write fan material, treat the prequels as provisional canon — use them, but keep an eye out for contradictions and be ready to revise your timeline. And if the prequel is terrific, don’t let the canon debate stop you from enjoying great character moments — sometimes the best parts are the ones that expand a hero’s interior life, irrespective of editorial stamps.