I theorize that in any running series of comic books, science fiction stories or serials involving superheroes or extraordinary adventures, the following elements will always be introduced after a sufficient length of time:

1. Space
2. Time Travel
3. Clones

I call this theory the “Space-Time Clonetinuum.” These are the three primary spices that every writer can always rely on to fix an un-spicy story.

The reasons for this phenomenon are obvious. Given enough time, a series runs the risk of becoming monotonous if no shocking twists are possible. These twists must allow the writers to do whatever they want, while having the option of making drastic post-hoc changes to the story in order to string the audience along. They can show characters being killed up close, but (wouldn’t you know it) it was a clone! They can also go back in time and change whatever happened to make things more exciting again. Of course, it doesn’t take any of these three things to fudge a storyline and have a ridiculous behind-the-scenes look at how such-and-such a character actually survived being impaled by a flagpole, drawn and quartered, and bombarded with high-speed butternut squash.

Why, you can even put your character in the middle of a nuclear blast, so long as when he next appears, you can show a flashback of him climbing into a lead-lined fridge.

So remember. The next time your story is getting a bit dull, sprinkle a few clones into the batter.