I'm trying to get the module to become it's own Access Point for the first time using these instructions: https://www.esp8266basic.com/flashing-instructions.html
After attempting the flash firmware, I get the same garbage. It looks like the flashing tool stays in some sort of terminal mode after a firmware flash attempt, as pressing the reset button on the module spits out the same garbage characters inside the flashing tool window. Exiting out of the flashing tool and watching the terminal inside putty spits out the same garbage characters upon reboot of the module.