The Marvel Cinematic Universe has given fans a chance to see some of their favorite heroes and villains on the big screen. One of those characters that they have seen a lot of in recent years is Spider-Man.
With one of the richest backstories in all of Marvel Comics, Spider-Man has a whole litany of friends, enemies and side characters to match. One of those characters is Flash Thompson, a frequent opponent of Peter Parker and admirer of Spider-Man.
One report recently confirmed that actor Tony Revolori, who portrayed Thompson in the first two MCU Spider-Man films, will return for the third. Here’s how his Flash Thompson differs from the traditional image of the character in a really clever, inventive way.
Image of Flash Thompson in Marvel Comics
Although there are multiple versions of Thompson in the pages of Marvel Comics, he is often portrayed as a somewhat insane jock and foil of early life for Parker. He is a football player with a seemingly perfect life on the outside, masking a restless home life.
According to the official Marvel Comics website, Thompson turns to bullying after his alcoholic father does the same at home to his family.
Thompson’s contempt for Parker is matched only by his enthusiasm for and admiration for Spider-Man. It’s an interesting post-composition – he bullies the same man he actually looks a lot like. Thompson eventually warms up to Parker and the two eventually become friends after high school.
How Flash Thompson was portrayed in previous Spider-Man movies
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Some fans may remember a baby-faced Joe-Manganiello trying to defeat Tobey Maguire’s Parker in the original Sam Raimi Spider-Man. This version was as one-dimensional as it gets. Unlike the comics, this one is never really given a redemptive bow.
According to the Spider-Man wiki, Thompson’s version of Manganiello is dumped by Mary-Jane Watson upon her high school graduation.
De Amazing Spider-Man series saw similar treatment of Thompson with a slight twist. According to the Amazing Spider-Man wiki, In this series, he serves as an athletic pool that Parker continually holds on to as he sings the praises of Spider-Man. The only change is that he tries to show a little remorse. He tries to give his condolences for the death of Parker’s Uncle Ben, although Parker initially misinterprets this and initiates a physical confusion with Thompson.
Now that Spider-Man is part of the MCU, it gave Marvel’s filmmakers a chance to completely imitate the character. They did just that, while also retaining the spirit of the original.
Image of Flash Thompson in the MCU and why it has changed
At the MCU, Thompson is expertly portrayed by Revolori. He adds humor to the role, while also serving as an antagonist for Parker.
A recent Reddit thread revealed that Deadline reports that Revolori is returning for the third Spider-Man movie in the MCU. One Redditor pointed out how Revolori’s genius takes over Thompson. The poster pointed out that although it is different from iterations of the past, it works because:
“Today’s mobile is no longer physically impressive; it’s almost completely moved to online drawing.”
Recently, Thompson has changed along with the very nature of bullying. He’s no longer some muscle kicker who wants to pound Parker into oblivion. Well, he’s an insecurely rich kid with what seems to be a less than ideal life at home that Parker despises.
At a time when much harassment has moved online, Revolori’s takeover of the character is a refreshing change of pace. The MCU is a fantastic world, but what makes it work is that it is very much grounded in a consistent reality. Each character has an explanation for why they are the way they are. Thompson of Revolori makes sense as our society has evolved.
Now that Thompson knows that Parker is Spider-Man, it should provide an interesting character arc that moves forward.
