Flash #155, DC Comics, September 1965
Used to be that if I went AWOL there was no Spotlight. Not any more thanks to what has become a Rogue’s Gallery of Guest Spotlight writers. These guys are good, get them together in a room and there’s no telling the gems they’d dig up. Carey’s contributions are always great, and he’s sent another for us to consider and enjoy. Let’s throw things over to Carey.
Having seen the Suicide Squad movie recently, it got me thinking about super villain teams. The fact that Suicide Squad has blown past $700 Million despite being panned by critics will undoubtedly have some movie studio execs combing over other super villain teams for the next potential big screen success.
I recall a couple of years ago that Spider-man’s Sinister Six was supposedly being targeted for a movie. But with Spider-Man being incorporated in the MCU, it’s probably safe to say that that idea is all but dead. Personally, I’m glad as I have no desire to see Jamie Foxx’s Electro or Paul Giamatti’s Rhino return for another movie. Those were some horrible creative decisions made to some classic villains.
But a team that comes to mind, which coincidentally parallels Marvel’s Sinister Six almost to a tee, is DC’s the Rogues. The Rogues is a team comprised of some of the Flash’s biggest villains much like the Sinister Six was a team of Spider-man’s biggest villains. First appearing in Flash 155, the original team consisted of Captain Cold, Mirror Master, the Top, Heat Wave, Captain Boomerang and the Pied Piper. They were all broken out of jail at the same time by Gorilla Grodd and agree to work together to try and take down the Flash.
Over the years, the Rogues have appeared as a unit numerous times. According to ComicVine, the Rogues have appeared in just over 300 issues. By comparison, the Sinister Six have appeared in just under 250 issues. Comparing Flash 155 with Spider-man Annual 1 in more detail, Flash 155 came out in September 1965 while Spider-man annual 1 came out in October 1964. Neither issue featured the first appearance of any villain but just their first appearance as a team. However, there is one big difference between the two.
You guessed it! This is the undervalued spotlight! The difference is in the value! Spider-Man Annual #1 is listed in the Overstreet at $3,000 in 9.2 while Flash 155 is not even broken out and is listed at $200 in 9.2, or 15 times less! With a Flash movie in the works and the rumor that he will be going up against not one but a team of villains, the Rogues may finally get their time in the limelight.
The 46th Overstreet price breaks for this book are $64/$132/$200 in the 8.5/9.0/9.2 grade splits.
Strengths that make this comic a good long-term investment are:
- First appearance of the Rogues
- The Rogues are rumored to be in the upcoming Flash movie
- Ridiculously cheap for a major super villain team debuting in the mid 1960s
Completely plausible! I’m shopping for it.
i’ve always thought the first joker/luthor team up in world’s finest, compared to the first dr. doom/submariner in FF was insanely under priced.. and considering it happened several years before the FF.. but it’s stayed like that.
having said that, $200 for a flash 155 is super cheap too..
Hi Walter,
Interesting choice this week, but didn’t the Rogues already appear in the Flash #130? I think Overstreet guide considers #130 as 1st appearance of the Gauntlet of Super-Villains (Mirror Master, Capt. Cold, Boomerang, etc.). I believe the team’s name changes later to the Rogues. The core members are already there in #130 and a few more villains join later on.
Interesting, Peter! It is called out in the guide as Gauntlet of Super-Villains, and when they return as the Rogues in #155, it is NOT (yet) called out. This may require an actual reading of both to determine which the market might favor if as Walt speculates a movie brings the Rogues to greater (wider) prominence.
On a related note, I’ve been researching for the first super-villain team in comics history, and I THINK it is Sept. 1942, Bulletman #7, when three foes unite to form the Revenge Syndicate. Can anyone think of an earlier villain team? If I’m correct, this has Undervalued Spotlight written all over it, at least in my opinion, as the book is very affordable and on no one’s radar.
Flash 130 only features the Mirror Master. He is controlling someone who disguises himself as the other villains to try and confuse the Flash. Flash 155 features all of the actual villains working as a team.
http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/The_Flash_Vol_1_130
http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/The_Flash_Vol_1_155
Here are the two pages from Flash 155 where the Rogues form.
Guys, for me this is the Undervalued Spotlight at the height of its potential and power.
Arguments, leading to others leading to great insights and input leading to other discoveries.
Readcomix I’m now on the hunt for a Bulletman #7.
Nestor, I’ve always had problems selling that book, good call, a little awareness can only help.
Thanks for clarifying Carey. I haven’t read these issues but was just checking what the guide said. Looks like the Overstreet Guide will have to mark #155 as the actual first appearance of the Rogues/Gauntlet of Super-Villains.