Flash Thompson
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| Flash Thompson | |
 Flash Thompson. Art by Tim Sale. |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Amazing Fantasy #15 (Aug 1962) |
| Created by | Stan Lee Steve Ditko |
| In story information | |
| Full name | Eugene Thompson |
| Supporting character of | Spider-Man |
Eugene "Flash" Thompson is a supporting character in Marvel Comics’s Spider-Man series. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962).
Flash is a star high school football player and classmate of Peter Parker (secretly the superhero Spider-Man) who mercilessly bullies "Puny Parker." Ironically, Flash greatly admires Spider-Man.
After graduation, Flash joins the United States Army and is haunted by his combat experiences, leading to alcoholism. Flash matures and develops a friendship with Peter.
Flash Thompson has appeared in several other media adaptations of Spider-Man, usually in his earlier bullying incarnation.
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[edit] Fictional character biography
Eugene Thompson was born in Forest Hills, Queens. In his early appearances, Flash Thompson is a high school classmate of Peter Parker. In high school, Thompson is a stereotypical stock jock who continually bullied Peter. It is Thompson who dubs Peter with the derogatory nickname "Puny Parker." Ironically, Flash admires Spider-Man, Parker's other identity, forming a "Spider-Man Fan Club" and vocally supporting his idol wherever he goes, even criticizing J. Jonah Jameson and his editorials to his face.
In a very early issue (Amazing Spider-Man no. 8), Flash and Peter square off for a boxing match in the school gym. Initially expecting an easy victory, Flash is astonished to discover that he simply can't lay a hand on his opponent (due to Peter's enhanced speed), and a single tap from Parker's fist knocks him clear out of the ring. Significantly, after this episode, Flash's bullying is restricted mostly to verbal harassment, suggesting that he was secretly wary of Peter's fighting prowess. Over the next few years, as the two become rivals for Liz Allan's affections, Flash is only willing to confront Peter when he (Flash) is surrounded by his friends. Peter, for his part, begins to laughs off his threats with good-natured comebacks (much to Flash's annoyance). This subtle reversal of their positions is typical of Lee-Ditko character developments in the title. [1]
At a much later point, Flash's back story is retconned to imply that he was physically abused by his alcoholic father (Harrison Thompson), leading to his violent, bullying nature. This is in direct opposition to his earliest appearances, which make no mention of Flash's family, but depict the popular quarterback as affluent, well-dressed and rather spoiled(Flash is shown driving a brand new convertible - a vivid contrast to the Parkers' ongoing struggle with poverty). While Flash was never portrayed as downright vicious or cruel, he was often portrayed as thoughtless and self centered - again, in contrast to Peter's decent, kind-hearted nature.
Towards the end of Ditko's run on the title, Flash was employed mainly as comic relief, more a local buffoon than a serious threat. Major changes in his personality took place subsequent to issue 39, when Johnny Romita (Sr) took over as the strip's artist. Intitially working closely with writer/editor Stan Lee, Romita transformed Flash into a more sympathetic character, making him an impulsive but likable college athlete. His clean-cut image was similarly emphasized to give him an "All-American" persona - a wholesale improvement over the bullying jock he was in his previous appearances.
After Flash enters Empire State University, his relationship with Peter becomes progressively less hostile. While the two still trade the occasional insult, Flash has grown to respect Peter's intelligence and is surprised by his popularity with the girls (particularly Gwen Stacy, and Mary Jane Watson). Perhaps most tellingly, both are friends with Harry Osborn, whose presence serves to defuse the tension between the former rivals. Although genuine friendship is still a long way off, the outright hostility that characterised their relationship is a thing of the past.
While in university, Flash enlists with the United States Army and serves in the Vietnam War (although, due to Marvel's sliding time scale, this was later retconned to some unspecified overseas conflict). This was a further elaboration of Flash's "All-American" persona; unlike many students of the time, Flash was never conscripted - instead, volunteers for service of his own free will (this may have been Marvel's subtle commentary on the hippies, drop-outs and draft-dodgers who were making headlines at the time). Although Flash was absent from the strip for months at a time, his frequent stateside visits kept him familiar with the readers.
While in Vietnam, Flash's unit bombs an ancient temple whose acolytes had earlier sheltered Flash when he was wounded. Flash tried and failed to stop them.
When he returns to America, he drops his antagonism toward Peter. Peter, in turn, begins to respect Flash's newfound maturity and the two become close. However, Flash soon finds himself tailed by mysterious assassins, former acolytes of the temple who think that Flash had betrayed them. Spider-Man holds off the assassins long enough for Flash to explain his side of the story. Sha Shan, the leader of the assassins, forgives Flash and even dates him for a while, but leaves him when she finds out he is cheating on her. Flash's tour of duty profoundly changed him from a reckless and immature youth to a tormented and conflicted man. Finding no comfort in his military decorations, Flash turned to alcohol for years.
When Sha Shan is attacked by the Hobgoblin, Flash makes the mistake of insulting the villain on television. The Hobgoblin takes his revenge by abducting Flash and framing him as the Hobgoblin's true identity. Spider-Man is aghast that his old friend is a villain, but Flash is legally exonerated when the Hobgoblin's true identity is revealed.
Thompson has relationships over the years with several of the same women as Peter. In high school, he dates Liz Allan. One of the reasons Flash bullies Peter is because he secretly fears that Liz prefers Peter to him. Flash is briefly romantically involved with Mary Jane Watson in college. He has a long, on-and-off relationship with Betty Brant. Felicia Hardy (the Black Cat) dates him in order to make Peter jealous, but is surprised when she actually falls in love with him. Finally Flash breaks up with her, as he feels he can't keep up with her high-speed lifestyle. After he and Peter put their antagonism behind them and become friends, Flash serves as best man at Peter and Mary Jane's wedding.
After a bout severe depression over the course of his life and his inability to reconnect with Betty, Flash went drunk-driving and was badly injured in a crash. Soon afterwards, his life began a dramatic upswing when Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, offered him a job at Oscorp as his personal aide in order to annoy Peter Parker; not knowing the reasons behind this, Flash became loyal to Norman for giving him a second chance and turning his life around. During this time, Flash meets the hero Prodigy, not realising he is also Spiderman in disguise. Later, as part of a plan of driving Spider-Man to murderous violence by attacking his family and friends, Osborn kidnaps Flash (under the pretense of picking him up from an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting), force-feeds him whiskey and has him crash a truck into Midtown High School, where Peter works. Flash survives, thanks to his excellent physical condition, but he suffers severe brain damage that leaves him in a coma. Liz Allan Osborn, although widowed and raising her son Normie all on her own, becomes Flash's caretaker, and hires a full-time nurse to care for him. Peter, blaming himself for what happened to Flash, makes a point of visiting his friend as often as he can.
Peter learns that Flash had awakened from his coma during the "Spider-Man: The Other" story arc. Flash takes a job as the mens gymnastics and interpretive dance coach at Midtown High School, where Peter teaches science. However, Flash suffers from severe memory gaps. When meeting Peter again, he treats him like a nerd and picks on him, as he did in their high school days. In The Amazing Spider-Man #533 Flash watches the news reports of Spider-Man unmasking, but dismisses it as a trick, as "Puny Parker" couldn't be Spider-Man. When Peter returns to work as a teacher, Flash still refuses to believe it, even after Peter uses his abilities in an impromptu dodgeball game that blackens both of Flash's eyes. Afterward, Flash seems to flirt with the school nurse, Miss Arrow. Finally believing Peter after witnessing his battle with Daniel Berkhart and Francis Klum, both battling for the Mysterio namesake, he forms a renewed alliance with Peter. After sharing a kiss with Miss Arrow (who earlier has, unbeknowst to him, displayed stingers similar to that of the Other), he's convinced by her to talk Peter Parker into keeping his teacher role.
Flash briefly appeared at the conclusion of the controversial One More Day story arc, attending a welcome home party for the newly resurrected Harry Osborn. Due to Mephisto's magic, Flash, like the rest of the world, no longer remembers that Peter is Spider-Man.
[edit] Other versions
[edit] House of M
In the House of M: Iron Man series, Flash is a commentator for 'Sapien Deathmatch'.
[edit] MC2
In the MC2 continuity (the alternate future of Spider-Girl), Flash Thompson is now on the faculty of his old high school. He is the coach of the girls' basketball team. He married Felicia Hardy, but later divorced her, and they had two children, Felicity and Eugene Jr (Once a red herring for The New Spider-Man). He still is unaware of the fact that Peter Parker was Spider-Man, and is similarly unaware that Peter's daughter, May, is Spider-Girl. Felicity, on the other hand, is aware of all of this, and briefly assumed the identity of the Scarlet Spider in attempt to partner with Spider-Girl.
[edit] Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane
In Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, Flash is the star football quarterback at Midtown High. Flash bullies Peter and refers to him as Puny Parker. Flash recently started dating Liz Allan again; this ended after she dumped him at homecoming for declaring his love to Mary Jane in front of the whole school.
[edit] Ultimate Flash Thompson
In the Ultimate Marvel continuity, Flash Thompson is a jock who attends the same high school as Peter and bullies him, in ways such as throwing food at his head and literally kicking him in the butt when Peter is not looking. Later, Flash challenges Peter to a fight. Peter merely blocks a punch from Flash and manages to break his hand. Flash sometimes hangs with a taller, stouter student nicknamed 'Kong'. When Peter joins the basketball team, Flash's attitude changes, as he is loyal to his teammates. When Flash suddenly wants to talk to Peter alone for a moment on at least two occasions, Peter turns him down rather furiously, believing he just wanted to bully him in private. Flash, instead of loving Mary Jane, doesn't call Peter "Puny," but calls MJ "Brainy Jane". It was revealed after Gwen Stacy's death that he apparently had a crush on her and was trying to ask Peter for help in approaching Gwen.
As revealed in Ultimate Spider-Man #65 his real first name in Ultimate Marvel continuity is Fred.
[edit] Other media
[edit] Live-action films
In the 2002 film Spider-Man Thompson was played by Joe Manganiello. He is depicted as Mary Jane Watson's boyfriend at the start of the film, and like his comic book counterpart, is a bully who torments Peter and sometimes Harry Osborn. Later on in the film, after Peter accidentally uses a web to splash Flash with a tray of food, a fight between them breaks out in the school's hallway, in which Peter first learns of his newfound abilities and defeats Flash with one punch, although Mary Jane later remarks that Flash was thankful for Peter not hurting him even more. Flash is last seen at graduation, where he and Mary Jane break up.
In Spider-Man 3 (2007), a more mature Flash, once again played by Manganiello, is seen at the end, attending Harry Osborn's funeral.
[edit] Animation
[edit] Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
The television show, Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends was Flash Thompson's first animated appearance, and was voiced by Frank Welker.
[edit] Spider-Man (1994 TV series)
In 1994 Spider-Man: The Animated Series, Flash tries to have a relationship with Felicia Hardy (Black Cat), which didn't work out and he later found a new, more comfortable, relationship with the brainy Debra Whitman. He was voiced by Patrick Labyorteaux.
[edit] Spider-Man: The New Animated Series
In Spider-Man: The New Animated Series, Flash appears in the episode "Flash Memory", voiced by Devon Sawa.
[edit] The Spectacular Spider-Man
Flash Thompson appears in the The Spectacular Spider-Man, voiced by Joshua LeBar. He continues to bully Parker, even when Peter already has his super powers and Flash is always trying to out smart him but usually fails. He is similar to his original portrayal in the comics, dating Liz Allan until they break up in the episode "Reaction", seemingly due to Liz developing a crush on Peter. In "The Uncertainty Principle", he had to be a cheerleader for Halloween due to a bet he lost to Peter in an earlier episode, but convinced the rest of the football team into also dressing as cheerleaders. He and Mary Jane had also been voted the king and queen of the Fall Formal, which leads him to try asking out Mary Jane, but she denied Flash as she did not want an actual relationship. After seeing Peter in his Spider-Man costume, (he claims it was his Halloween costume to protect his identity) he argued that Peter looked nothing like Spidey and he should've dressed up like the wall-crawler.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ As noted by Daniels in Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics (p.130) Ditko's plotting emphasised the more subtle aspects of human relationships, stressing (for example) Aunt May's quiet strength over Flash's macho posturing.
