The One Reason Flash’s Rogues Gallery is Way Better Than Batman’s

Most fans consider Batman‘s villains to be the greatest in the DC Universe, but unlike Flash‘s foes the Rogues, they are nowhere near the best people. Although Captain Cold, Heatwave, Golden Glider, Mirror Master, Captain Boomerang, Weather Wizard, and all the rest aren’t as well-known as Arkham Asylum and Blackgate Prison’s inmates, the Rogues’ organization and moral code actually make Central City one of the safest superhero municipalities.

Leonard Snart, or Captain Cold, is the leader of the Rogues. Even if he doesn’t seem intelligent, his genius and tactical capabilities make him more dangerous than Batman’s Mister Freeze. He also created the Rogues Code—a list of rules that keeps the group of villains in check. Captain Cold’s organization and leadership skills make the Rogues far more efficient than several other villain teams. The Rogues Code’s rules are as follows: None of the Rogues may take up the identity of another if the original member is alive. No Rogue is allowed to partake in drugs of any kind. The Rogues must not kill women or children under any circumstance. And finally, no Rogue has the permission to kill a speedster (or superhero).

Due to Captain Cold’s leadership, the Rogues are always able to keep each other in check. For instance, newcomers to Flash’s Rogues can find one of the Rogues Code rules in Blackest Night: Flash #3 by Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins. During the Blackest Night event, DC Comics brought back several deceased characters as Black Lanterns. The Rogues meet up with the son of the original Captain Boomerang, Owen Mercer, who has taken up his father’s mantle. Captain Cold soon discovers that George “Digger” Harkness, the original Boomer, is a zombified Black Lantern at the bottom of a pit where Owen serves his father’s victims. Cold doesn’t mind that Owen is still Captain Boomerang because his father is technically still dead. However, Snart finds out Owen occasionally feeds women and children to his zombie father. Breaking this rule is the most unacceptable to Snart. He then kills Owen, pushing him to his father as punishment.

Even beyond the Rogues Code, the Rogues sometimes abandon their mischievous ways to help Central City altogether. For example, in the New 52 event Forever Evil, the Crime Syndicate abducts Flash and the rest of the Justice League. Earth is alone with little to no heroes. This event causes Gorilla Grodd to take over Central City in Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion by Brian Buccellato, Patrick Zircher, and Scott Hepburn. The story has the Rogues as the only opposing force against Grodd’s lust for power. Cold organizes the Rogues to take Grodd down, which actually makes them heroes of Central City for a short time.

Although Batman‘s villains are unquestionably more iconic than the Rogues, they’re not as good-hearted. Catwoman is the closest to a potential candidate for Flash’s rogues’ gallery, and most DC Comics content interprets her as an antihero anyway. Even if Captain Cold competes as Flash arch-enemy with Reverse-Flash, there’s little doubt that the Rogues remain the best-structured organization in the supervillain community.

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