Warning: Spoilers for The Flash #788 ahead!Out of all the heroes in the DC Universe, The Flash is unique when it comes to nemeses: rather than any individual sworn foe, his greatest enemy consists of the Rogues, an organization of villains all united in their hatred of The Flash. At first, it may seem strange that the Rogues could pose any threat to the Fastest Man Alive, given how strange their abilities seem to be. But when one considers the Rogues as an individual totality, a single villain with myriad powers, it becomes a wonder that the Flash stands any chance against it at all.
Perhaps moreso than any villain in the DC universe, the Rogues are known for their unique code of conduct which serves as the backbone of their relationship with The Flash as well as each other. By observing strict limits on lethal force and regulating membership, the Rogues are able to operate a successful crime network in a city guarded by a man who can move, when pushed, at speeds exceeding the speed of light. While membership is wide and periodically rotates, villains Captain Cold, Mirror Master, Weather Wizard, Heat Wave, Captain Boomerang, and Trickster tend to make up the core roster.
Perhaps the clearest example of the Rogues' full capabilities can be seen in Jeremy Adams, Fernando Pasarin, Matt Ryan, and Matt Herms' The Flash #788. Recently deputized by the corrupt Mayor Wolfe, the Rogues use their newfound authority to try and arrest the Flash. When Barry confronts Heat Wave in his apartment for answers, Micky blasts him out the window into the waiting hands of the Rogues. It's only thanks to the interference of the Pied Piper that the Flash isn't captured then and there.
The Rogues' Perfect Teamwork in One Long Take.
The teamwork on display truly highlights just how coordinated the Rogues are. Heat Wave blasts the Flash out the window and into the open; once exposed, Weather Wizard can herd the Flash into a patch of ice laid by Captain Cold in order to negate his speed; and with the Flash hurtling out of control on the ice, it's simple to guide him into Mirror Master's waiting portal. The level of teamwork is near absolute, with each member knowing exactly when and how to use their powers in order to completely neutralize the Fastest Man Alive.
This level of cooperation is why it makes more sense to think of the Rogues not as a team, but rather as a multifaceted single entity. As individuals, their powers tend to be meager, easily exploited by the Flash. Because they have worked together for so long, however, they are able to seamlessly combine their powers together as though they were a single creature with a single mind. It's this impossible level of coordination that makes the Rogues the greatest villain (singular) that The Flash has faced in the DC Universe.
The Flash #788 is now available from DC Comics.