Warning: contains spoilers for Rogues #2!
The Flash's Rogues encounter a new and improved version of Gorilla Grodd when they sneak into Gorilla City, one that could surpass Bruce Wayne as Batman if he was ever given the chance. Grodd, a former Central City rogue himself, who no longer cares for stealing bananas or telepathically manipulating the Flash, has reached a new form that makes him deadlier than ever. Grodd is now King of Gorilla City and his most recent reveal shows why he has an edge over Gotham's Bruce Wayne.
In DC's Black Label series, Rogues, the Flash's most iconic villains, led by Captain Cold, reunite after being apart for ten years. Captain Cold brings the group together, many struggling to get by after reintegrating into society, and gives them a common goal. For years, he's been searching for the hidden Gorilla City, believed to store enough gold to set them all up for life. The team's lineup includes: Captain Cold, Golden Glider, Trickster, Bronze Tiger, Heat Wave, Mirror Master (the second one), and former Teen Titans member, Magenta.
In Rogues #2, by Joshua Williamson, Leomacs, Matheus Lopes and Jason Wordie, the team of villains make it to Gorilla City. Once a safe-haven for apes who had been experimented on, Gorilla City has become a bright, bustling metropolis, not unlike New York. The city has its own version of Times Square with ape-themed advertisements and an Empire State Building replica holding atop it a statue of Grodd—arms raised and roaring like King Kong—as its centerpiece. What appear to be two large, tree-like structures stretch up into the canopies, providing light and electricity to the city. Gorilla Grodd himself is now a businessman in a white suit, acting as both king and CEO to Gorilla City.
While Bruce Wayne is best known as the CEO to Wayne Enterprises, Grodd is the King of Gorilla City. With hundreds of simian workers to do their bidding, Grodd and his council have become incredibly successful. Some members of the council have suggested that they outsource workers from human communities to increase production, but Grodd is firmly against it. He has single-handedly advanced gorilla civilization by hundreds of years, keeping them hidden away from the outer world. If he makes even one wrong decision, it could all come crumbling down. The telepathic ape is smarter than Bruce Wayne in his business sense, keeping a watchful eye on all his workers, using rage to put them in place if necessary. In Grodd's words: "But I'm too civilized for that."
It's unlikely that the Flash will have to face a Gorilla Grodd that wears a cape or throws bananarangs anytime soon, but he has succeeded in one aspect that Bruce Wayne has not—and possibly cannot. As long as the Batman lives, Wayne will never live up to his full potential as a businessman and CEO. It could be argued that Gotham could benefit more from a financial benefactor than the Dark Knight. However, Gorilla Grodd's methods don't seem to have rid his city of crime either. There'll be more monkey business to come as the Rogues series continues.
Rogues #2 is now available from DC Comics.