Rogues (DC)
The Rogues are a team that features in DC Comics.
Contents |
History
Pre-Crisis
The Rogues are a collective name for the "classic" foes of the Flash, including Captain Cold, Heat Wave, Weather Wizard, the Trickster, Captain Boomerang, Mirror Master, and Doctor Alchemy. The group sometimes worked together, as they were linked by their common beliefs- all of them (except the second Mirror Master) saw supervillainy as an adventurous pursuit, and their battles with the Flash had always been like a game.
Captain Cold and Trickster escaped prison on the same day to commit the same crime, the robbery of a charity function sponsored by the Picture News, that any of them ever worked together. Although they initially had no intention of combining forces, they found that they made a good team, especially since they were facing not only one, but two Flashes, as Jay Garrick had briefly come out of retirement. Although the two were able to elude capture initially, they were eventually lured into a trap by the two speedsters, playing on their desire for wealth. (The Flash v1 #129) Mirror Master hypnotised the attorney Paul Barrett and forced him to infiltrate the Central City Prison while disguised as the Flash. After Barrett overpowered Barry Allen and took his place, Scudder used his mirrors to project images of Captain Cold, Captain Boomerang, and the Trickster to create the illusion of a mass breakout. While the prison guards were distracted by these phantoms, Mirror Master escaped with Barrett and retreated to the attorney's private office. Inside the building, Scudder trapped the real Flash within a lethal explosive device designed to detonate if the hero attempted to use his super-speed. Following the confinement of his adversary, Mirror Master travelled to the Dagon Payroll Company to commit a large-scale robbery. However, the Flash escaped the trap by vibrating through the floor and arrived at the company to intervene. During the ensuing confrontation, the Flash shattered Scudder’s specialized mirrors and neutralized his equipment, leading to the villain's surrender. The authorities subsequently arrested Sam Scudder and took him back into custody, while Paul Barrett was cleared of any wrongdoing due to the hypnotic influence. (The Flash v1 #130) The Rogues officially formed as a cohesive unit after Gorilla Grodd telepathically contacted Captain Cold, Mirror Master, Heat Wave, the Pied Piper, the Top, and Captain Boomerang to coordinate a simultaneous breakout. Following their escape, the group gathered at a secret headquarters where they established a formal alliance to eliminate the Flash. They launched a series of individual attacks to wear down the hero's stamina before initiating a final group assault. During the skirmish, the Rogues deployed their combined technological and elemental weaponry, forcing the Flash to navigate a barrage of cold rays, illusions, and sonic vibrations. Despite their coordinated efforts, the Flash used his speed to turn their powers against one another, resulting in a chaotic collision that incapacitated the team. The authorities subsequently apprehended the group and returned all six members to their respective cells. (The Flash v1 #155)
Thus began a series of frequent partnerships among the Flash's foes, who would come to be known as the Rogues Gallery. Barry Allen has even admitted that the Rogues are formidable. (The Flash v1 #244)
Post-Crisis
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. The Rogues
Some time after the Zero Hour crisis, five of the Rogues- Captain Cold, Heat Wave, Weather Wizard, Captain Boomerang, and Mirror Master- became pawns of the demon Neron, who gave them upgraded weaponry in exchange for their souls and an errand of destruction. Unfortunately, their actions also led to their deaths, while giving Neron wider access to Earth to begin his plans. Later, Neron resurrected the five Rogues as soulless destroyers, trying to force the third Flash to make a deal with him in exchange for fully restoring them. (Underworld Unleashed v1 #1)
The Rogues regained their souls, but were all affected by their stay in Hell. The five later made efforts to prevent their ever returning to Neron's realm. Still later, the actions of the mysterious fourth Flash (such as causing an explosion that nearly killed Captain Boomerang) led the frightened Rogues to create Replicant, for the sake of their own survival.
A new version of the Rogues came to be established by the Blacksmith who formed them as part of her underground black market Network that was operating in Keystone City. This recruited a number of supervillains that included Girder, Magenta, Murmur and Plunder. They were later joined by the new Trickster Axel Walker who helped steal vital information from the police that would have exposed the Network's operations. (Flash v2 #183) They later struck against the Flash where Murmur came to infect the speedster with his frenzy virus. (Flash v2 #184) Their attack coincided with a similar attack by the Thinker who was looking to take over Keystone City. (Flash v2 #185)
Inertia brought together Captain Cold, Heat Wave, Abra Kadabra, Mirror Master, Weather Wizard, Pied Piper, and the Trickster, claiming that he was building a device that would allow them to stop time and wreak havoc on the world. In actuality, he was using them as bait for the new Flash, and the machine was designed to transfer the Speed Force from the Flash to Inertia. (The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive v1 #12) When the Scarlet Speedster showed up to stop them, his powers were stripped and the Rogues killed him. (The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive v1 #13)
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
A year and a half ago, the Rogues were involved in a bank robbery when they were thwarted by the Flash though the speedster failed to arrest them as Mirror Master pulled them to safety. Afterwards, there were arguments at their lair as the Rogues blamed one another for the defeat with Captain Cold going out for a moment. Whilst out, he was approached by Darwin Elias who offered to give the Rogues superpowers in order to compete against the Flash. This involved the use of a genome recoder that would impart superpowers from their equipment. An explosion occurred during the use of the machine which left each of the Rogues overwhelmed with their new powers and saw Golden Glider was left in coma. (The Flash Annual v4 #1)
After defeating the Rogues, the Flash had them taken to Ironheights where Captain Cold along with the Rogues quickly established themselves as the leader of the gang of supervillains that were detained in the prison. (The Flash v5 #17)
Overview
Members
- Captain Cold :
- Mirror Master :
- Captain Boomerang :
- Trickster :
- Weather Wizard :
- Golden Glider :
Notes
- The Rogues were created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino where they made their first appearance in The Flash v1 #130 (August, 1962).
Alternate Versions
In other media
Television
- In Justice League Unlimited, the Rogues appeared in the setting of the animated television series set in the DC Animated Universe.
- In Batman: The Brave and the Bold, the Rogues appeared in the setting of the animated television series.
- In The Flash, the Rogues made an appearance in the 2014 live-action series set in the Arrowverse. The episode "Rogue Time", the Flash referred to Snarts group as a 'rogues gallery' with Captain Cold liking the name. The Rogues make their first move by challenging The Flash to a public battle in order to expose his existence. They do so by kidnapping the speedster's friend, Caitlin Snow, and holding her hostage unless The Flash reveals himself. The Flash does indeed show and engages the two criminals in battle, eventually defeating them by making the beams of their weapons cross and cancelling them out. Although he gets defeated, Snart is delighted at the battle and promises he'll do better next time. Both criminals are arrested, but on route of being transported to prison they get broken out by Lisa Snart. With Lisa now recruited by her brother into the group, the Rogues set about reacquiring their weapons after they were confiscated during their last battle with The Flash. To do so, Lisa seduces Cisco Ramon at a bar and lures him to a manor where the other Rogues are housed. Leonard instructs Cisco to recreate their signature weapons by holding Cisco's brother, Dante Ramon, hostage, along with fashioning a new gun for his sister. Once having their weapons returned to them, Leonard proceeds to use the Cold Gun to freeze Dante's fingers in order to press Cisco to reveal The Flash's secret identity. Later when the Rogues are in the midst of robbing a truck, Barry arrives and whisks Leonard away for a talk. After several attempts to get Snart to either cease his criminal activity or move somewhere else, Barry insults Snart's pride by telling him if he was really that skilled he wouldn't need to hurt anyone. It is also here that Barry refers to Snart's group as a "Rogues Gallery" for the first time, which Snart takes a liking for. Snart promises that his secret identity was safe with him before Barry departs.
Films
- In Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, the Rogues appeared as minor antagonists in the animated film. The Rogues came to be recruited by the Reverse-Flash where they were tasked with targeting the Flash Museum. Their actions drew the attention of the Flash and Justice League who managed to defeat them. It was then discovered that each of the Rogues had been fitted with a highly advanced explosive device from the future placed on them without their knowledge by the Reverse-Flash. All the Justice Leagues worked together to disarm each of the bombs with Flash managing to capture Reverse-Flash.
Video games
- In DC Universe Online, the Rogues appeared as sub-bosses in the setting of the MMORPG video game.
- In DC Legends, the Rogues appeared in the setting of the mobile video game.
Appearances
- The Flash v1: (1962)
- The Flash v2:
- The lash v3:
- Final Crisis: Rogues' Revenge v1:
- The Flash v4:
- The Flash Annual v4:
- Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion v1:
- The Flash v5:
External Links
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