Incorporating politics into comics has always been a tricky proposition. After all, comic books are meant to be escapist entertainment - it's tough to make real-world life-and-death matters fit into that environment. It's far too easy for such efforts to come across as preachy and heavy-handed (such as the 2006 Civil War series for example). But Spider-Man creator Stan Lee had a rare knack for making it work. During his legendary tenure at Marvel, Stan managed to weave current events into his scripts without losing sight of his primary goal - telling a good story. Perhaps the best example is the three-issue "Harry Osborn on drugs" storyline in Amazing Spider-Man #96-98. Stan does it again with this two-part storyline beginning in this issue. The Vietnam War still was at the forefront of the nation's conscience in 1972 and many Americans had become disillusioned with the war. This two-part story examines some of those misgivings through the eyes of Flash Thompson, who has just returned to New York after serving a tour of duty in Vietnam.

At the end of Amazing Spider-Man #107, Spidey watched as Flash and Gwen Stacy walked down the sidewalk together, only to have a car pull up and two men escort the depressed-looking Flash away. It's obvious he is in some kind of trouble and he appears to be under arrest. But before Spider-Man can do anything, a truck blocks the car's path and attackers fire gas pellets at the car. They apparently are coming after Flash. "I have to do something -- but I don't know what! Don't even know which are the bad guys!" Spider-Man says. He fights the attackers, who are all Vietnamese. Before Spider-Man can mop up the fight, he is slugged from behind by the Giant One, a massive, muscular man. Rather than continue the fight, Spider-Man grabs Flash and swings away with him. It turns out the men in the car weren't arresting Flash - they were trying to protect him.

Flash explains that while serving in Vietnam, he had been wounded in combat and separated from his platoon. Weak and dazed, he stumbled across a temple hidden in the jungle. "The next thing I remember was waking up to the sight of the kindest, the gentlest faces I'd ever seen," Flash says. The Holy One, the temple's leader, and his daughter Sha Shan found Flash and tended to his injuries. Although he is an American soldier, they show him nothing but compassion. "In this place, my son, no man is an enemy. Are we all not brothers beneath the eyes of Heaven?" the Holy One asks. A grateful Flash returns to his unit, but soon learns that the U.S. forces are planning to shell the area around the temple. The maps show no temple (it's a hidden temple, after all) and the Army commanders don't believe Flash's story. So he furiously runs back to the temple to warn the Holy One, Sha Shan and their followers. "But it was hopeless. I couldn't budge them! The temple was their life! They wouldn't leave!" Flash says. And the temple is hit with explosives. Flash was knocked cold and, as far as he knows, everyone else was killed. However, the followers of the temple mistakenly believe Flash directed the army to attack the temple - and they have marked him for death. That's why he was being placed in protective custody.

Later, Gwen comes to Peter worried about Flash. It actually makes Peter a bit jealous. But at Gwen's insistence, they go down to the Federal Building where Flash is being held to check on him. Peter sees the Giant One waiting around, too. Obviously, the people trying to kill Flash now know where he is. He sneaks away, telling Gwen he needs to use the phone, and slips a spider-tracer on the Giant One. But before he can get back, an explosion hits the Federal Building and knocks out all the lights - the Monks of the Hidden Temple have struck and are out to kidnap Flash. Peter doesn't have time to change into costume, but he takes off his shoes and climbs on the walls, figuring the cover of darkness will protect his secret identity. After a scuffle with the Giant One, the monks escape with Flash - and there's no way for Peter to pursue them when he's not in costume. Gwen finds Peter, who is about to leave to go after Flash. But Gwen begs him to stay, saying he always leaves and runs off at when there is danger or trouble. "I can't break away -- and let Gwen think I'm gutless," Peter thinks. "Still, Flash's life is at stake! My only other choice is -- admit that I'm Spider-Man!" And on that cliffhanger, the issue ends!

This issue makes a powerful statement about the Vietnam War. While Stan clearly doesn't paint the U.S. or the troops as bad guys, he does question the nation's involvement in a war that many Americans considered pointless. But he does it by telling a darn good comic book story. Well done.

On a more lighthearted note, this issue does illustrate the decidedly less politically correct mindset of the early 1970s. Spider-Man refers to his Vietnamese foes as "refugees form Fu Manchu" and later, when he fights the Giant One, says, "That and a quarter'll get you an egg roll!" But this shouldn't be seen as racist language - rather, it's just an illustration of how attitudes were different in those days.

Next issue: The conclusion of the "Vengeance in Vietnam" storyline, as Dr. Strange makes a house call!

Reviewed by Bruce Buchanan.

Reprinted In:
Marvel Tales #87