Flash (G.I. Joe)
Encyclopedia
Flash is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's original laser
rifle
trooper and debuted in 1982.
.
He is highly skilled in many aspects of electronic technology and equipment repair, and has a Master's degree in electronic engineering. Flash enlisted and received specialized training in the Army Electronics School, Chemical School and Covert Electronics. Later, he was assigned to the Aberdeen Proving Ground's covert electronics division, where his new laser range finder lead him to be recruited by General Flagg
. He is a qualified expert with the M-16, M-1911A1 auto pistol, and XMLR-1A shoulder-fired laser rifle.
successfully destroy Cobra's radar station and Burkhart is rescued.
The two would team up again when Cobra attempts to destroy a United States space shuttle. They become part of the shuttle's crew. While on a spacewalk, Flash grabs a Cobra missile, manually diverts it and saves the lives of everyone involved.
At the re-dedication of the team's underground headquarters, Flash and most of the original Joes were reassigned to administrative duties. This was not the end of his missions. He participates in the Joe invasion of the town of Springfield in issue #50. A soldier wearing his typical uniform discovers underground transport tunnels but this man refers to himself as Zap
, another of Flash's original teammates.
Flash makes a cameo in #57, analyzing captured pieces of the pre-fab Cobra fortress Terrordrome
.
Flash was one of the few Joes not involved in the Cobra civil war. He was involved in the aftereffects. A group of corrupt Pentagon generals framed the Joes as traitors and arrested the majority of the team. Those Joes who could, including Flash, Grunt
and Roadblock
, went underground. Dr. Burkhart, though still a pacifist, provides them with backup and support. The fugitive Joes organize and pull off a rescue of General Hawk
and longtime Joe ally General Hollingsworth from an enemy controlled hospital. Due to the influence of Destro
the Joe team is cleared of all charges.
Flash later trains new Joe recruits until the team was disbanded.
, Beachhead and Airtight
. All are concerned with fellow Joe Chuckles
, who has infiltrated Wingfield's group. They discuss the possibility of having to shoot him. The foursome are captured and Wingfield tells Chuckles, as a test of loyalty, to choose a Joe to shoot. Despite this, Flash and the others all survive.
He then gets his turn to attack Cobra Island, which is being held by a revived Serpentor
and his 'Coil' army. Flash is part of a team sent in to destroy an EMP generator station. He splits off from the group with the Joe computer expert Mainframe. 'Coil' troops capture the two. All perish moments later when the bomb destroys the station. Flash's last words were "Mission Accomplished".
Flash's name was added to a G.I. Joe memorial at Arlington National Cememtary.
in battling Autobots. The Joes swiftly realize the robots' peaceful intentions and establish friendly relations.
in tracking down Cobra to a base on Easter Island
after they kidnapped a Hawaiian girl who possessed psychic abilities. Unfortunately, Airborne's brother Tommy was being kidnapped at the same time and the trauma of the event affected the psychic link Tommy and Airborne shared. The Joes were captured by Cobra and Cobra Commander used Tommy's abilities to animate two Easter Island heads into transforming into giant stone warriors and attacking the Joes. Flash and Airborne fought off their attackers until they were rescued by Duke and Lady Jaye. Flash then took part in the attack on Cobra's base atop K-12. He and Stalker teamed up to free the Hawaiian girl from Cobra's clutches.
, Flash can seen in the background during the Battle of Cobra-La.
.
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a military-themed line of action figures and toys in Hasbro's G.I. Joe franchise. The toyline lasted from 1982 to 1994, producing well over 500 figures and 250 vehicles and playsets. The line reappeared in 1997 and has continued in one form or another to the...
toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's original laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
trooper and debuted in 1982.
Profile
His real name is Anthony S. Gambello, and his rank is that of corporal E-4. Flash was born in Lodi, CaliforniaLodi, California
Lodi is a city located in , in the northern portion of California's Central Valley. The population was 62,134 at the 2010 census. The California Department of Finance's population estimate as of January 1, 2011 is 62,473....
.
He is highly skilled in many aspects of electronic technology and equipment repair, and has a Master's degree in electronic engineering. Flash enlisted and received specialized training in the Army Electronics School, Chemical School and Covert Electronics. Later, he was assigned to the Aberdeen Proving Ground's covert electronics division, where his new laser range finder lead him to be recruited by General Flagg
General Flagg
General Flagg is the code name as well as the rank and surname of two fictional characters from the toyline, cartoon and comic series, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero....
. He is a qualified expert with the M-16, M-1911A1 auto pistol, and XMLR-1A shoulder-fired laser rifle.
Marvel Comics
In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, he first appeared in issue #1, as part of the first thirteen G.I. Joe soldiers. He went with the attack force to rescue noted pacifist Dr. Adele Burkhart. He and BreakerBreaker (G.I. Joe)
Breaker is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's original communications officer and debuted in 1982.-Profile:...
successfully destroy Cobra's radar station and Burkhart is rescued.
The two would team up again when Cobra attempts to destroy a United States space shuttle. They become part of the shuttle's crew. While on a spacewalk, Flash grabs a Cobra missile, manually diverts it and saves the lives of everyone involved.
At the re-dedication of the team's underground headquarters, Flash and most of the original Joes were reassigned to administrative duties. This was not the end of his missions. He participates in the Joe invasion of the town of Springfield in issue #50. A soldier wearing his typical uniform discovers underground transport tunnels but this man refers to himself as Zap
Zap (G.I. Joe)
Zap is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is the G.I. Joe team's original bazooka soldier and debuted in 1982.-Profile:...
, another of Flash's original teammates.
Flash makes a cameo in #57, analyzing captured pieces of the pre-fab Cobra fortress Terrordrome
Terrordrome
The Cobra Terrordrome is a playset from Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toy line.-Toys:The playset was first released in 1986, and is basically the prefabricated easily set up fortress/headquarters for Cobra. Each playset comes with a vehicle service and refueling bay, munitions depot, a...
.
Flash was one of the few Joes not involved in the Cobra civil war. He was involved in the aftereffects. A group of corrupt Pentagon generals framed the Joes as traitors and arrested the majority of the team. Those Joes who could, including Flash, Grunt
Grunt (G.I. Joe)
Grunt is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is an infantryman with the G.I. Joe Team and debuted in 1982.-Profile:...
and Roadblock
Roadblock (G.I. Joe)
Roadblock is a character from Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of toys, comics and cartoons. He is one of the most prominent African-Americans in the series. His primary function in G.I. Joe is as a heavy machine gunner and a secondary function as a cook.-Fictional character...
, went underground. Dr. Burkhart, though still a pacifist, provides them with backup and support. The fugitive Joes organize and pull off a rescue of General Hawk
Hawk (G.I. Joe)
Hawk is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line of military-themed toys. He appears in the animated series, comic books, toyline, and movie.-Profile:...
and longtime Joe ally General Hollingsworth from an enemy controlled hospital. Due to the influence of Destro
Destro
Laird James McCullen Destro XXIV, usually referred to simply as Destro, is a fictional villain from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line of military-themed toys from Hasbro. He is portrayed by Christopher Eccleston in the 2009 live-action film, G.I...
the Joe team is cleared of all charges.
Flash later trains new Joe recruits until the team was disbanded.
Devil's Due Comics
Flash participates in the mission to stop Tyler Wingfield, a murderous madman. Joining him are TripwireTripwire (G.I. Joe)
Tripwire is a fictional character from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, a line of military-themed toys created by Hasbro. He appeared as a minor character in both the comic books and the animated series.-Fictional character biography:...
, Beachhead and Airtight
Airtight (G.I. Joe)
Airtight is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's hostile environment specialist and debuted in 1985.-Profile:...
. All are concerned with fellow Joe Chuckles
Chuckles (G.I. Joe)
Chuckles is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's undercover specialist and debuted in 1987.-Profile:...
, who has infiltrated Wingfield's group. They discuss the possibility of having to shoot him. The foursome are captured and Wingfield tells Chuckles, as a test of loyalty, to choose a Joe to shoot. Despite this, Flash and the others all survive.
He then gets his turn to attack Cobra Island, which is being held by a revived Serpentor
Serpentor
Serpentor is a fictional character from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, a line of military-themed toys created by Hasbro. The character was introduced in 1986 as a toy with an air chariot and included in the animated series that same year.-Toys:...
and his 'Coil' army. Flash is part of a team sent in to destroy an EMP generator station. He splits off from the group with the Joe computer expert Mainframe. 'Coil' troops capture the two. All perish moments later when the bomb destroys the station. Flash's last words were "Mission Accomplished".
Flash's name was added to a G.I. Joe memorial at Arlington National Cememtary.
G.I. Joe Vs. Transformers
In the Devil's Due crossover, Flash assists Sci-FiSci-Fi (G.I. Joe)
Sci-Fi is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is the G.I. Joe team's laser trooper and debuted in 1986.-Profile:His real name is Seymour P. Fine, and his rank is that of corporal E-4...
in battling Autobots. The Joes swiftly realize the robots' peaceful intentions and establish friendly relations.
Sunbow
He first appeared in the G.I. Joe animated series in the A Real American Hero mini-series. His only major role came in the episode "Operation: Mind Menace". He joined AirborneAirborne (G.I. Joe)
Airborne is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's helicopter assault trooper and debuted in 1983.-Profile:...
in tracking down Cobra to a base on Easter Island
Easter Island
Easter Island is a Polynesian island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian triangle. A special territory of Chile that was annexed in 1888, Easter Island is famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai, created by the early Rapanui people...
after they kidnapped a Hawaiian girl who possessed psychic abilities. Unfortunately, Airborne's brother Tommy was being kidnapped at the same time and the trauma of the event affected the psychic link Tommy and Airborne shared. The Joes were captured by Cobra and Cobra Commander used Tommy's abilities to animate two Easter Island heads into transforming into giant stone warriors and attacking the Joes. Flash and Airborne fought off their attackers until they were rescued by Duke and Lady Jaye. Flash then took part in the attack on Cobra's base atop K-12. He and Stalker teamed up to free the Hawaiian girl from Cobra's clutches.
G.I. Joe: The Movie
In G.I. Joe: The MovieG.I. Joe: The Movie
G.I. Joe: The Movie is a 1987 animated film spun off from the animated series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, based on the original Hasbro toyline. It was produced by Sunbow Productions and Marvel Productions and was animated in Japan by Toei Animation.Created at the height of the G.I. Joe craze in...
, Flash can seen in the background during the Battle of Cobra-La.
Video games
Flash appears as a playable character in the video game G.I. Joe: The Rise of CobraG.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (video game)
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is the title of a video game adaption of the film of the same name. The game takes place after the film. The 360 and PS3 versions are based on the same code, while the DS is an entirely different game unto itself, and the Wii, PS2, and PSP version are also based on...
.
External links
- Flash at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page