The following article contains spoilers from The Flash #788, on sale now.

Now that the Rogues have been deputized by Mayor Wolfe, the Flash has to reconcile the fact that they have more legal authority to enforce the law than he does. The Flash #788 (by Jeremy Adams, Fernando Pasarin, Matt Ryan, Matt Herms, and Rob Leigh) showcases him going through different reactions to learning of their new status, from amusement to disbelief, and finally happy for the Rogues. That last one is telling as it indicates that he has always wanted to work alongside them for the good of the city.

It's not terribly surprising. The Flash has always had a more amicable relationship with his enemies than most heroes do. Here though, readers get to see the full extent of the Flash's generosity, and how he wants the best for everyone, even the people who did him wrong in the past.

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The Flash Has Always Been Friendly With His Rogues

Flash Is Happy for the Rogues

More than any other villain, the Flash's interactions with his villains can almost be called friendly. It's one of the things that makes him such a unique hero. The kindness he displays even extends to people who have tried to hurt him. One of the best examples can be seen in Barry Allen's dynamic with Captain Cold. While the two will never truly be called friends, they do have respect for one another, and more than once have worked together to protect their city. This dynamic can be partially seen between Wally and Cold in this issue.

When the Flash went into a laughing fit upon learning of the Rogues being deputized, Captain Cold protested that it was the truth. Any other villain would have attacked the Flash outright, but Cold took the time to try and convince Flash that he was legitimate, almost as if he wanted the Flash's approval. The great irony is that if the Rogues had not proceeded to attack him with their newfound authority, the Flash would likely have been ecstatic to learn that five of the city's worst criminals had suddenly become agents of justice.

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The Flash Really Wants to Work With the Rogues

The Flash Wants a Truce With the Rogues (1)

Despite their animosity towards him, the Flash recognizes that the Rogues are all brilliant in their own way, and have great potential for good. When he recognized that they were being serious, he offered to help them learn the ropes about being a hero. Granted, it was mostly to convince them not to attack him, but there is no reason beyond that to believe the offer wasn't genuine. The Flash is many things, but he is not a liar. The moment may not have been ideal, but if the Rogues were serious about trying to enforce the law then that was an olive branch he would be more than happy to grab onto.

When that didn't work, he even offered a temporary ceasefire, so he could learn more about the situation. The Flash did everything in his power to try and build a bridge between himself and the Rogues, seeing an opportunity to work alongside them on the right side of the law for once. They just weren't as eager for that partnership as he was. It's a shame really, for all the Flash's power, he can't be everywhere at once, and Central City could always use more heroes. Had the Rogues just listened to Flash, they might have gotten actual acceptance instead of legal legitimacy.