Story: "Iron Heights" (48 Pages)

Credits:

Geoff Johns (plot, script)
Ethan van Scriver (pencils)
Prentis Rollins (inks)
John Costanza (letters)
Chris Churcky (colors)
Joey Cavalieri (edits)

Feature Character:

Flash III (last in World's Finest: Our Worlds at War #1; next in Flash Vol. 2 #177)

Supporting Characters:

Fred Chyre (in flashback to nine years ago in between flashback in Flash: Rebirth #1 and Flash Vol. 2 #170)
Flash I
Piper (between Flash Vol. 2 #174 and #178)
Gregory Wolfe (first appearance; warden of Iron Heights; next in Flash Vol. 2 #178)
Linda Park-West (last in Flash: Our Worlds at War #1; next in Flash Secret Files #3)
Jared Morillo (between Flash Vol. 2 #176 and #177)
Tina McGee
Jerry McGee (latter behind the scenes; both next in Flash Vol. 2 #177)

Villains:

Murmur (first appearance; also in flashback to 9 years ago)
Weather Wizard (last in Flash Vol. 2 #176)
Girder (first appearance; last in flsshback in Flash Vol. 2 #190)
Magenta (last in Flash Vol. 2 #173)
Blacksmith (first appearance; unnamed in this story; all five next in Flash Secret Files #3)
Fallout (first appearance; next in Flash Vol. 2 #180)
Cicada (between Flash Vol. 2 #173 and #180)
Doctor Alchemy
Tar Pit (between Flash Vol. 2 #174 and #192)
Double Down (first appearance; next in Flash Vol. 2 #192)
Plunder (between Flash Vol. 2 #167 and #177)
Mirror Master II (between Flash Vol. 2 #176 and #177)

Other Characters:

Joe Jackam (first appearance)
Judge Cobelli (first appearance)
Barry Allen
Mr Cossi (a defence attorney; first appearance; all four in flashback to 9 years ago)
Reiches (first appearance; a guard at Iron Heights; dies)

Comment: A flashback precedes the main story in which Fred Chyre and Joe Jackam catch the murderous Murmur, who is sentenced to death for his many and horrible crimes.

Synopsis:

Piper returns to Wally and Linda's life as the Weather Wizard is transferred to Iron Heights penitentiary. Here he meets the vicious warder, Gregory Wolfe, and learns that life is harsh and cruel for costumed villains here. Shortly after his arrival, the prison goes into lock-down, as prisoners and guards begin to die of a nasty virus nicknamed Frenzy. The Flash and Piper volunteer to break into Iron Heights and find a sample, while Jay Garrick works with the science-types.

Flash and Piper discover hellish conditions inside the metahuman area of the prison, the Pipeline, though none of the villains there have been infected with the virus. They discover that Dr Christian Amar, Murmur is behind the virus outbreak, but in discovering this, a breakout of rogues is started. They find that the virus was spread by the prison's water system (the Rogues aren't given fresh water) and that Murmur's blood may hold some of the cure. Exposed to the virus himself, Flash races to the science lab and tells Jay about his discoveries at superspeed. A vaccine is duly prepared and the rest of the prison population (not to mention the city) spared.

Later, Linda tells Wally that she's quit her job in order that is doesn't conflict with his activities, and Murmur commits a murder before being drafted into a new Rogues Gallery.