- "You just follow instructions, and everybody here gets to live to see the sunshine tomorrow. Right? And I'd better not see the Flash, either."
- —Sterling Brooks to Joe West[src]
Sterling Brooks is an environmentally conscious robber in Central City who was stopped multiple times by the Elongated Man and the Flash, respectively.
Biography[]
Original multiverse[]
Robbery at a jewelry store[]
- "I'll blow this block!"
- "You do realize you're a part of that, right?"
- —Sterling Brooks and Elongated Man[src]
In early 2018, Sterling organized a robbery at a jewelry store wearing a bomb vest and holding several hostages. Sterling made a list of demands to Joe West, including a salad to eat. However, Elongated Man arrived there and rescued the hostages, causing Sterling's plan to fail. When Elongated Man removed his bomb vest, he activated the bomb, causing Elongated Man to hold the bomb to himself and absorb the explosion. Sterling was frightened and fainted on the ground, causing his arrest.[1]
Robbery at a grocery store[]
In late 2018, Sterling organized another robbery with an advanced rifle gun at the grocery store. Elongated Man arrives at the store and shape-shifted into a pear. While Sterling stepped forward checking out the object, Elongated Man punched him, causing Sterling to faint on the ground.[2]
Anti-Monitor Crisis[]
During the Anti-Monitor Crisis, Sterling as well as everyone in the multiverse except for the seven Paragons, was killed in an antimatter wave by the Anti-Monitor on December 10, 2019,[3] only to be restored a month later, after the Paragons and the Spectre created a new universe.[4]
New multiverse[]
Robbery at a bank[]
- "Freeze! This is a real gun, with real bullets inside!"
- "Kid, have you ever even held a gun before?"
- —Sterling Brooks and Joe West[src]
On New Year's Eve of 2013, Sterling robbed a bank but was stopped by Joe West and Eddie Thawne. He wore the jewelry he stole as he left the bank, stating that he had forgotten a bag. When Joe told him to lower his weapon, Sterling accidentally dropped his gun, which shot a bullet toward Joe. In one version of the timeline, Joe was injured, but Bart West-Allen ultimately prevented this by moving him out of the way.[5]
Robbery at CC Jitters[]
- "Hands in the air, you foam-lovin' fascists!"
- —Sterling Brooks[src]
In early 2020, Sterling appears, robbing CC Jitters after its reopening. The waitress claimed they didn't have any money at the moment since they have just reopened the shop. Sterling later started blasting furniture and eating utensils. The Flash later arrived and wrapped Sterling in a banner.[6]
However, months later, Brooks escaped and used his gun again to rob Jitters, and have a coffee, until Flash appeared, and took him to the police along with other arrested thieves.[7]
Working at CC Jitters[]
At some point after his incarceration, he was set free and would find a job working as a barista at CC Jitters.
Personality[]
Brooks is not a typical criminal, while he threatened to detonate his bomb vest to hurt innocent individuals, he specifically demanded for an eco-friendly car as an escape vehicle, but also a private plane and a salad (because he was "counting calories")[1] when he attempted to rob a grocery store, he specified that his weapon was solar-powered with no carbon footprint, furthering his uncommon environmental consciousness, he even spent a week charging the gun and made the cashier put the money in the bags he brought himself. He accepted her apology when she apologized for almost not doing this.[2]
Brooks is oblivious to his surroundings, as he did not notice Elongated Man saving his hostages. He also threatened to blow up the whole city block of the jewelry store he was in.[1]
Brooks appears to dislike meta-humans, as he referred to Elongated Man as a "freak", he detonated his bomb vest when the hero disarmed him of it. He appeared to be scared of the explosion and he fainted when he survived.[1]
By 2020, Brooks has accepted when a hero shows up, it's game over.[6]
Abilities[]
- Expert marksman: During Brooks' robberies, he appears to handle a advanced rifle gun with low effort.[6]
Equipment[]
- Energy rifle: During Brooks' robberies, he carries a solar powered rifle. He also claimed the gun was charged in sunlight with UVA, UVB and UVC.[2]
- Bag: During Brooks' robbery at the grocery store, he ordered the receptionist not to put the money in a plastic bag as he brought his own.[2]
Former equipment[]
- Bomb vest: As Brooks' bomb vest was removed by Elongated Man, he no longer brings it to his robberies.[1]
Appearances[]
The Flash[]
Season 4[]
Season 5[]
Season 6[]
- "Marathon"
Season 8[]
Season 9[]
- "A New World, Part Four" (deleted scene)
Trivia[]
- He is similar to the unnamed mugger, another easily defeated low-level criminal whose appearances form a running gag in The Flash.
Behind the scenes[]
- Eduard Witzke was credited as the Robber in "The Elongated Knight Rises", however, he was given the name Sterling Brooks in the credits of "The Death of Vibe", continuing to be credited as such onwards.