The Graduation of Peter Parker

[cyberghostface.insanejournal.com]

 

This comes from Amazing Spider-Man #185.

Comments

[interrobamf.insanejournal.com]

HOLY CRAP GUYS THERE'S A GIANT SPIDER-MAN OVER US HOW ARE YOU NOT SEEING THIS

[hyaroo.insanejournal.com]

J. Jonah Jameson and Flash Thompson... two of my very favorite supporting characters, both of whom have had some rough times, character-wise, lately.

For years, I held Flash Thompson up as a prime example of successful character development in comics: He started out as a jerk and a bully, but gradually changed and matured (partly because of his stint in the army) and ended up as an admirable man and good friend to Peter Parker -- even if he never did bet over his tendency towards cockiness and self-glorification. Then, of course, sometime after the Clone saga, he went through a whole lot of angsty stuff and spent some time in a coma, before devolving back into being a jerk.

What's he up to these days, by the way? Anyone know? (I haven't been following Spider-Man comics since shortly before One More Day...)

[cricharddavies.insanejournal.com]

He was recently retconned into having fought in either Iraq or Afghanistan (can't remember which) and lost a leg there. This was done to honor the sacrifices of America's men in uniform.

Apparently, the notion of creating a new supporting character to do that didn't occur to anyone.

[jlbarnett.insanejournal.com]

it wasn't really a retcon. THey had him recalled into service.

[tacobob.insanejournal.com]

What's he up to these days, by the way? Anyone know? (I haven't been following Spider-Man comics since shortly before One More Day...)

I think he got bonked on the head and turned into the original jerk version of the character. Even started to call Peter, "Puny" Parker.

And good Ol' Aunt May and her death bed. Heaven forbid if Peter ever had anything happy ever happen to him in one issue, she'll head straight to her favorite hospital or death bed to make Peter feel sorry for her. :P

[cyberghostface.insanejournal.com]

Well basically he was put into a coma by the Green Goblin and came out of it with memory loss. That being said, even with the memory loss, he still became friends with Peter afterwards, so it wasn't like he completely regressed in terms of development.

[mullon.insanejournal.com]

It ends up he is called "Flash" Thompson because he has premature ejaculation problems.

No really, I am not kidding in the slightest. Reading it made your brain die a little.

[mullon.insanejournal.com]

Really, Peter? A green suit? Who is he, Kyon?

[ulf_boehnke.insanejournal.com]

I can't identify with a guy who has already graduated! You better retcon this, Marvel!

[sandoz_iscariot.insanejournal.com]

"The Most DEMANDED Story of Them All!"

Wait, wait, wait...you're telling me there was a time when fans wanted Peter to...grow up?

[(Anonymous)]

This was before the time when irritating man-children wrote comics to relive their childhood instead of going the fetish route.