Final Crisis: Rogues' Revenge
Encyclopedia
Final Crisis: Rogues' Revenge is a three-issue 2008
mini-series
produced by DC Comics
. The series is a tie-in to Final Crisis
, and is written by Geoff Johns
and penciled by Scott Kolins
. This reunites the creative team for the first time since their critically acclaimed run on The Flash
(vol. 2) in 2001-2003.
, Captain Cold
, Mirror Master
, Weather Wizard
and Heat Wave
return to their hideout in Keystone
, only to find the place has been invaded by a gang of youngsters led by the Trickster
. After driving the squatters out, Captain Cold declares that after their violation of the number one rule ("Never kill a speedster"), the Rogues are finished and disbanded.
Meanwhile, in the Keystone Police District, detectives Chyre, Morillo and Ashley Zolomon are investigating Bart Allen's murder. As they discuss the Rogues, they are attacked by the Pied Piper
, who steals the last will and testament of James Jesse. He is later seen in the ruined Rathaway mansion, studying the will, which consigns information on the Rogues, written in invisible ink.
In her house, Iris Allen
is tearfully remembering her husband, when a disembodied voice calls out her name, and lightning strikes outside the window.
In his Keystone headquarters, Libra
delivers a speech about the Religion of Crime to his Secret Society, when he is interrupted by Doctor Light
, who has received a message from the Rogues. Captain Cold says "no" to the Society's offer, and Libra ominously reacts: "There's always a troublemaker in the bunch".
In the Flash Museum
, Warden Wolfe and two guards are about to transfer the still-paralyzed Inertia
to Iron Heights
. Suddenly, a red lightning bolt strikes the villainous speedster and frees him. Again able to move, Inertia quickly kills the guards and runs to the home of Wally West, where he aims to kill the Flash's children. He is stopped by the very person who freed him: Zoom
, who wants him to become the new Kid Flash.
When they learn of Inertia's escape, the Rogues decide to break their number one rule one last time before retirement, and to kill Inertia in revenge.
The Rogues begin their quest by visiting their tailor, Gambi, who is found beaten. A mirror similar to Mirror Master's is found and they receive a challenge from the "new Rogues" (first introduced in the Gotham Underground
miniseries in which Penguin
recruits them), who are counterparts of the current ones (including the absent Abra Kadabra, but not Trickster), to surrender to Libra or Captain Cold's father will be killed. Captain Cold accepts the challenge and threatens to kill his father himself. Mirror Master is able to trace the transmission. Each Rogue fights and kills his respective counterpart with Weather Wizard also killing Abra Kadabra's counterpart. Captain Cold confronts his father about his childhood abuse, but cannot bring himself to kill him. Instead, Captain Cold has Heatwave incinerate him and the bodies of the dead new Rogues.
Zoom continues to try to get Inertia to assume the Kid Flash identity. Inertia's speed is no longer powered by the Speed Force, but by Zoom and the timestream.
Libra decides to target another Rogue, Weather Wizard, with his abducted baby son. Libra seeks to have the Rogues on his side to stop any interference from the Flashes as their aid has been imperative in the previous Crises.
After the previous chapter, the Rogues hole up in Weather Wizard's brother's old lab. While there, he mourns the death of his brother. Mirror Master eventually locates Zoom & Inertia and the Rogues ambush them during a training session. Piper enters the fray, immobilizing both sides and smashing in Mirror Master's teeth in retribution for the murder of his parents.
The fight is then interrupted by Libra who chastises Piper for his blasphemy in claiming he was a messenger from New Genesis and then gives Weather Wizard an ultimatum - join him or he will kill his son. Weather Wizard says that if he was capable of killing his own brother, there's no way he would not kill his son. Libra calls his bluff, but before this could be resolved Inertia kills the child and proclaims himself Kid Zoom.
Zoom is outraged by this, but Inertia turns on him, taking all of Zoom's powers and changing him back into Hunter Zolomon. He then proceeds to attack Libra, but the Rogues and Piper rally and attack Inertia all at once, killing him. Libra then tells them that after killing two speedsters (Inertia and Bart), they are ready to take on the returned Barry Allen
in the name of Darkseid
. The Rogues are stunned to learn of Barry's return, but turn down Libra, saying they want no part in what is sure to be Libra's defeat; as they leave, Libra shouts at them that evil will win the fight.
Afterwards, Piper turns himself in to the police and the Rogues' deliver Inertia's corpse to the police with a note to the Flash that they were now even. Back at their hideout, Cold scoffs at the idea of evil winning, stating he did not believe in true evil, merely different shades of gray. He then decides to put off retirement claiming that the game is back on because of Barry Allen, to which all the other Rogues agree. The issue ends with the foreshadowing of 2009
's The Flash: Rebirth
.
:
2008 in comics
-January:*January 9: Teen Titans: The Lost Annual, delayed since 2003, is published.*January 23: Hellblazer #240, marking the 20th anniversary of the series, is released.-February:...
mini-series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
produced by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. The series is a tie-in to Final Crisis
Final Crisis
Final Crisis is a crossover storyline that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics in 2008, primarily the seven-issue miniseries of the same name written by Grant Morrison. Originally DC announced the project as being illustrated solely by J. G. Jones; artists Carlos Pacheco, Marco Rudy and...
, and is written by Geoff Johns
Geoff Johns
Geoff Johns is an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics, where he has been Chief Creative Officer since February 2010, in particular for characters such as Green Lantern, The Flash and Superman...
and penciled by Scott Kolins
Scott Kolins
Scott Kolins is an American illustrator, writer and creator for multiple different superhero and science fiction comic books. His main credits are as a penciler but he is an established inker as well as colorist and has some credits as a writer.-Biography:...
. This reunites the creative team for the first time since their critically acclaimed run on The Flash
Flash (comics)
The Flash is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1 ....
(vol. 2) in 2001-2003.
Plot
After escaping the prison planet from Salvation RunSalvation Run
Salvation Run is a seven-issue 2007-2008 DC Comics limited series which was designed to tie in to the company's major event series Final Crisis in 2008.-Premise:The premise of the series, which is based on a pitch by George R. R...
, Captain Cold
Captain Cold
Captain Cold, real name Leonard Snart, is a comic book villain created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino as one of the archenemies of Flash. He is a leader of the Rogues...
, Mirror Master
Mirror Master
Mirror Master is a fictional character and a supervillain in the DC Universe. He is a recurring foe of the Flash with considerable technical expertise and skills involving the use of mirrors. Four individuals have donned the guise of Mirror Master...
, Weather Wizard
Weather Wizard
Weather Wizard is a fictional DC Comics supervillain. The Weather Wizard first appeared in Flash #110 .- Early life :...
and Heat Wave
Heat Wave (comics)
Heat Wave is a fictional villain in the DC Universe and a primary foe of the Flash.-Fictional character biography:Born on a farm outside Central City, Mick Rory became fascinated with fire, as a child. This fascination turned into an obsession and one night, he set his family's home ablaze...
return to their hideout in Keystone
Keystone City
Keystone City is a fictional city in the . Specifically, it is the home of both the original Flash, Jay Garrick, and the third Flash, Wally West...
, only to find the place has been invaded by a gang of youngsters led by the Trickster
Trickster (comics)
The Trickster is the name of two fictional characters, DC Comics supervillains that are both enemies of the Flash. The original Trickster first appeared in Flash #113 , while the second debuted in Flash #183 .-James Jesse:The original Trickster is a practical joker and conman whose favorite...
. After driving the squatters out, Captain Cold declares that after their violation of the number one rule ("Never kill a speedster"), the Rogues are finished and disbanded.
Meanwhile, in the Keystone Police District, detectives Chyre, Morillo and Ashley Zolomon are investigating Bart Allen's murder. As they discuss the Rogues, they are attacked by the Pied Piper
Pied Piper (comics)
Pied Piper is a fictional character in the DC Universe. He first appeared in the pages of The Flash #106 .-Fictional character biography:...
, who steals the last will and testament of James Jesse. He is later seen in the ruined Rathaway mansion, studying the will, which consigns information on the Rogues, written in invisible ink.
In her house, Iris Allen
Iris West Allen
Iris West Allen is a fictional character who appears in various DC Comics publications. She is a one-time wife of the second Flash , Barry Allen, the aunt of the third Flash, Wally West, and the grandmother of the fourth Flash, Bart Allen...
is tearfully remembering her husband, when a disembodied voice calls out her name, and lightning strikes outside the window.
In his Keystone headquarters, Libra
Libra (DC Comics)
Libra is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Justice League of America #111, published in June 1974, where he formed the first incarnation of the Injustice Gang...
delivers a speech about the Religion of Crime to his Secret Society, when he is interrupted by Doctor Light
Doctor Light (Arthur Light)
Doctor Arthur Light is a fictional supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the third individual to have adopted the persona of Doctor Light, after a Golden Age foe of Doctor Mid-Nite and Arthur's associate Jacob Finlay...
, who has received a message from the Rogues. Captain Cold says "no" to the Society's offer, and Libra ominously reacts: "There's always a troublemaker in the bunch".
In the Flash Museum
Flash Museum
The Flash Museum is a fictional museum that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The museum is dedicated to the superheroes sharing the alias of the Flash, with its primary focus on Barry Allen...
, Warden Wolfe and two guards are about to transfer the still-paralyzed Inertia
Inertia (DC Comics)
Inertia or Kid Zoom is a fictional character, a supervillain in the DC Comics universe.-Creation:When questioned as to who created Inertia, Ethan van Sciver wrote that he could only accept five percent of the credit. The rest was offered to Mike Wieringo , Grant Morrison , and Todd Dezago...
to Iron Heights
Iron Heights
Iron Heights Penitentiary is a fictional setting in the , a maximum-security prison which houses the many Flash rogues and superhuman criminals of Keystone City and Central City when captured...
. Suddenly, a red lightning bolt strikes the villainous speedster and frees him. Again able to move, Inertia quickly kills the guards and runs to the home of Wally West, where he aims to kill the Flash's children. He is stopped by the very person who freed him: Zoom
Zoom (comics)
Zoom is a fictional comic book supervillain from the DC Comics universe. He is primarily associated with the superhero Wally West, the third Flash and is the third of the Reverse-Flashes...
, who wants him to become the new Kid Flash.
When they learn of Inertia's escape, the Rogues decide to break their number one rule one last time before retirement, and to kill Inertia in revenge.
The Rogues begin their quest by visiting their tailor, Gambi, who is found beaten. A mirror similar to Mirror Master's is found and they receive a challenge from the "new Rogues" (first introduced in the Gotham Underground
Gotham Underground
Gotham Underground is a nine-issue limited series from DC Comics, written by Frank Tieri, with art by Jim Califiore.The series looked at the repercussions of Countdown to Final Crisis and focuses on the Batman Family banding together to prevent a gang war to find out who will occupy the territory...
miniseries in which Penguin
Penguin (comics)
Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot III is a DC Comics supervillain and one of Batman's oldest, most persistent enemies. The Penguin was introduced by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, making his debut in Detective Comics #58 .The Penguin is a short, rotund man known for his love of birds and his...
recruits them), who are counterparts of the current ones (including the absent Abra Kadabra, but not Trickster), to surrender to Libra or Captain Cold's father will be killed. Captain Cold accepts the challenge and threatens to kill his father himself. Mirror Master is able to trace the transmission. Each Rogue fights and kills his respective counterpart with Weather Wizard also killing Abra Kadabra's counterpart. Captain Cold confronts his father about his childhood abuse, but cannot bring himself to kill him. Instead, Captain Cold has Heatwave incinerate him and the bodies of the dead new Rogues.
Zoom continues to try to get Inertia to assume the Kid Flash identity. Inertia's speed is no longer powered by the Speed Force, but by Zoom and the timestream.
Libra decides to target another Rogue, Weather Wizard, with his abducted baby son. Libra seeks to have the Rogues on his side to stop any interference from the Flashes as their aid has been imperative in the previous Crises.
After the previous chapter, the Rogues hole up in Weather Wizard's brother's old lab. While there, he mourns the death of his brother. Mirror Master eventually locates Zoom & Inertia and the Rogues ambush them during a training session. Piper enters the fray, immobilizing both sides and smashing in Mirror Master's teeth in retribution for the murder of his parents.
The fight is then interrupted by Libra who chastises Piper for his blasphemy in claiming he was a messenger from New Genesis and then gives Weather Wizard an ultimatum - join him or he will kill his son. Weather Wizard says that if he was capable of killing his own brother, there's no way he would not kill his son. Libra calls his bluff, but before this could be resolved Inertia kills the child and proclaims himself Kid Zoom.
Zoom is outraged by this, but Inertia turns on him, taking all of Zoom's powers and changing him back into Hunter Zolomon. He then proceeds to attack Libra, but the Rogues and Piper rally and attack Inertia all at once, killing him. Libra then tells them that after killing two speedsters (Inertia and Bart), they are ready to take on the returned Barry Allen
Barry Allen
The Flash is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics universe. He is the second character known as the Flash. The character first appeared in Showcase #4 , created by writers Robert Kanigher and John Broome and penciler Carmine Infantino. His name combines talk show hosts Barry Gray...
in the name of Darkseid
Darkseid
Darkseid is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby....
. The Rogues are stunned to learn of Barry's return, but turn down Libra, saying they want no part in what is sure to be Libra's defeat; as they leave, Libra shouts at them that evil will win the fight.
Afterwards, Piper turns himself in to the police and the Rogues' deliver Inertia's corpse to the police with a note to the Flash that they were now even. Back at their hideout, Cold scoffs at the idea of evil winning, stating he did not believe in true evil, merely different shades of gray. He then decides to put off retirement claiming that the game is back on because of Barry Allen, to which all the other Rogues agree. The issue ends with the foreshadowing of 2009
2009 in comics
-January:*January 1: The direct-to-DVD movie Hulk Vs was released.*January 6: The third and final volume of Hollow Fields has been released.-February:...
's The Flash: Rebirth
The Flash: Rebirth
The Flash: Rebirth is a six issue monthly American comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Ethan Van Sciver. Published by DC Comics, the series features characters from throughout the nearly seventy year history of Flash comics. This is the creative team's second...
.
Collected editions
The series will be collected into a single volumeTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
- Final Crisis: Rogues' Revenge (collects Final Crisis: Rogues' Revenge #1–3 and The FlashThe Flash (comic book)The Flash is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics superhero of the same name. The character's first incarnation, Jay Garrick, first appeared in Flash Comics #1...
vol. 2 #182 and #197, 144 pages, hardcover, July 2009, ISBN 1401223338; paperback, July 2010, ISBN 1401223346)