The Perfect World Part 1: Heroes and Villains

In his massive penthouse apartment, Flash Thompson is awoken by someone knocking at his window. It turns out to be Spider-Man who needs Flash’s help saving the Fantastic Four who are in trouble.[1] Quickly putting on his superhero costume and jetpack, Flash follows Spider-Man to the Baxter Building. Along the way, Spider-Man tells Flash that Doctor Doom is at it again. Spotting a crowd down below, they both land and get a sit-rep from Captain George Stacy who confirms that it is Doctor Doom again. They are then joined by Mary Jane Watson and Gwen Stacy who get into a scrap over Flash’s affections but are pulled apart by Betty Brant who tells them to get ahold of themselves.[2] That’s when there is an explosion in the Baxter Building prompting Flas to fly inside to stop what’s going on while all three women sigh over him.

Inside, Doctor Doom gloats over the Fantastic Four whom he has incapacitated. When the Invisible Woman asks him what he wants, Doctor Doom explains that he has come to use Reed Richard’s Negative Zone portal to bring his newest allies to Earth. As Doctor Doom torments Mister Fantastic the monarch of Latveria is ambushed by Spider-Man. While the wall-crawler keeps Doom busy Flash frees the members of the Fantastic Four. They all carry Reed to his lab where they discover the worst has happened, Doctor Doom has torn a hole in the fabric of reality to create his portal to the Negative Zone. Flash heads towards the device keeping the rift open when he is ambushed by Blastaar and Annihilus. However, before the villains can gain the upper hand, Spider-Man throws Doctor Doom into the two invaders from the Negative Zone. The pair then work together to toss Annihilus, Blastaar, and Doctor Doom through the portal before closing it.

In the aftermath of the battle, everyone is proud of Flash, and the Invisible Woman kisses Flash. When Flash apologizes for kissing Reed’s wife, Reed dismisses it saying he just wants his wife to be happy. Soon there is a parade thrown in Flash’s honor which includes every superhero in New York City and Flash is awarded the key to the city from the mayor, Norman Osborn. The ceremony is quickly interrupted by J. Jonah Jameson who is furious that they would award a menace like Spider-Man. In response, Spider-Man tells Jameson to shut up and then punches him out. Before he addresses the public, Flash suddenly sees an image of himself bound up in a tank of green liquid but quickly dismisses it and tells everyone it is time to party.

Watching this from home is a wheelchair-bound Peter Parker who thinks that something wrong with all of this. Seeing that her nephew is bothered, Aunt May asks Peter what’s wrong and he tells her that something doesn’t feel right. When May wonders if Peter is feeling okay, Uncle Ben enters the room and tells her to stop doting over the boy saying the boy probably just needs some fresh air.[3] Peter agrees, telling his Uncle Ben that not only is everything is fine, its perfect.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, Flash Thompson, J. Jonah Jameson, Aunt May

Continuity Notes

1. If it is not immediately obvious this entire story is the product of Flash Thompson’s imagination. How this comes to be is revealed next issue.

2. In the real world, Flash never had a relationship with Mary Jane or Gwen Stacy. He did, however, have an affair with Betty Brant while she was married which lasted form Spectacular Spider-Man #98 until Ned Leeds death in Spider-Man vs. Wolverine #1. The pair continued to date until Spectacular Spider-Man #148.

3. I shouldn’t have to tell you that in the real world Uncle Ben is very much dead since he was murdered in Amazing Fantasy #15.