Flashbacks (comics)
"Flashbacks" is a one-issue Spider-Man story written by Marc Guggenheim with art by Barry Kitson and published by Marvel Comics. The story first appears in The Amazing Spider-Man #574.
Plot summary
The story opens with Corporal Flash Thompson is an military hospital listening to "Christmas in Fallujah" on an iPod sent to him by Peter Parker. General Fazekas enter his room and reads from Flash's file that after being discharged from the United States Army he was placed in the inactive reserves, and later was called up to serve in Iraq. Fazekas then begins to interview Flash for the Medal of Honor, first touching upon Flash's abusive father and high school fascination with Spider-Man before moving to a flashback of Flash's mission.
Flash is riding with his unit on a "cordon-and-search" mission when their Stryker hits an improvised explosive device and stops. The unit has to leave the Stryker and are immediately under heavy fire. When Flash and fellow soldier Santos enter a building, an unarmed insurgent drugged up with Epinephrine jumps down and attacks Santos. Flash is unable to get a clear shot at the insurgent. Flash hits the insurgent with his gun, tackles him and snaps his neck. As Santos and Flash move to the second floor, Santos hits a tripwire, triggering an explosion. The ceiling collapses and though Flash is mostly unharmed, Santos winds up buried under a pile of debris with a piece of metal piercing his chest.
Flash tries to double back for help but is confronted by six insurgents. While [...] several insurgents, Flash gets several shots in his legs (body armor protected the rest of him). Flash jumps down the stairs throwing a grenade at the remaining insurgents. Flash takes a Epinephrine shot off the insurgent he killed earlier and injects himself With It. He goes back to Santos [...] two insurgents on his way and finds another two ready to kill Santos. Flash frees Santos from the debris and carries him outside to a medivac helicopter.
Throughout the flashback, panels of the Spider-Man exploits that inspired Flash are interspliced in the story.
Back in the present, it is revealed that going back and saving Santos, Flash lost both of his legs. Fazekas implies that Flash will get his recommendation for the medal, but Flash says, "I don't need a medal. Not to remind me to do the right thing, at least. Truth is, I've been lucky to know people whose example reminds me everyday."
Inspiration
In place of the letter column in the issue is the story of Sergeant Jeffrey Guerin of the 25th Division's 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed the "Bobcats," who served as the main inspiration for the comic. Guerin visited the Marvel offices and spoke with editor Stephen Wacker. Guerin was serving in Afghanistan with his unit when an IED hits their vehicle and they are ambushed by Taliban attackers. Several of the squad were injured or killed, and Guerin loses both his legs and is blinded in both eyes. Over the following months Wacker and Guerin kept in touch and when "Flashbacks" was being planned, Wacker, Geurin and writer Marc Guggenheim talked on the phone AbOUT Guerin's experience and Guerin also helped gather reference for artist Barry Kitson.
The comic is dedicated to "the Men and Women who serve, have served and will serve in Iraq and Afghanistan with bravery and honor. (With special thanks to Sergeant Jeffrey Guerin, U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division.)"
Collected editions
The story is included in the hardcover trade paperback Spider-Man: Crime and Punisher (ISBN 0785133933).
Reception
IGN gave the issue a 7.9 out of 10.
See also
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day