The Unknowable Age Of Rick Flag Sr.: Why DC’s War General Is Ageless And His Shocking DCU Future

The question of Rick Flag Sr.'s age is one of the most complex and fascinating mysteries in DC Comics lore, a testament to the character's deep roots and multiple retcons across decades of continuity. Unlike many modern heroes with fixed timelines, Flag Sr.'s history stretches back to the World War II era, yet his current status as a formidable General and the new Director of A.R.G.U.S. in the DC Universe (DCU) requires him to be a man still in his prime, a paradox that speaks volumes about his importance to the 'Suicide Squad' mythos. As of December 2025, his canonical age remains unstated, but a detailed look at his military milestones and the age of his late son, Rick Flag Jr., allows us to calculate a highly plausible and functional age for the character in the current narrative.

The true intrigue surrounding Rick Flag Sr. is not just a number, but how his seemingly ageless presence bridges the gap between DC's Golden Age and its modern, gritty espionage sagas. His return to prominence, played by actor Frank Grillo, is a central pillar of the new DCU, first in the animated series Creature Commandos and then as a primary character in the highly anticipated Peacemaker Season 2. This high-profile role ensures that the founder of the original Task Force X is no longer a historical footnote, but a critical, living entity whose actions will directly shape the future of the DC cinematic world, potentially replacing the influence of Amanda Waller.

Rick Flag Sr. Full Biography and Profile (DC Comics & DCU)

To understand the enigma of his age, one must first appreciate the full scope of his career. Richard "Rick" Flag, Sr. is a highly decorated military figure whose history is intertwined with the darkest and most secretive operations of the United States government. He is the patriarch of a military dynasty and the ideological predecessor to the modern Suicide Squad.

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• Full Name: Richard Bill Flag, Sr. (sometimes Richard Montgomery Flag, Sr.)
• Aliases: General Flag, Rick Flag, Captain Flag.
• Family: Richard "Rick" Rogers Flag, Jr. (Son, deceased).
• First Comic Appearance: *Secret Origins* #14 (January 1987), establishing the Post-Crisis continuity split from his son.
• Key Affiliations (Comics): Suicide Squadron (WWII-era), Task Force X (Original Leader), Justice Society of America (briefly).
• Key Affiliations (DCU): A.R.G.U.S. (Director), Creature Commandos (Leader/Overseer).
• Rank: General (U.S. Armed Forces).
• Live-Action Portrayal: Frank Grillo (DCU, starting with *Creature Commandos* and *Peacemaker* Season 2).
• Creator: Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru (Original concept), John Ostrander and Luke McDonnell (Post-Crisis retcon of Flag Sr.).

The Paradox of Age: From World War II to the Modern DCU

The question of "How old is Rick Flag Sr.?" is impossible to answer with a single number because DC Comics continuity, like that of many long-running comic universes, has been repeatedly rebooted and retconned to keep its characters from aging out of the narrative. The key to his age lies in two distinct periods of his life.

The WWII Veteran: The Historical Baseline

The original concept for the character, who was later retconned into Rick Flag Sr., was the leader of the Suicide Squadron, a World War II-era unit specializing in missions deemed suicidal. This team operated in the 1940s, undertaking dangerous missions that pre-dated the modern Task Force X. If Flag Sr. had been a young man, say 20 years old, at the end of WWII in 1945, he would be approximately 100 years old today (December 2025).

This historical baseline is why DC needed to introduce Rick Flag Jr. in the 1980s. The original character was simply too old to lead a contemporary black-ops team. By splitting the character into a father (Sr.) and a son (Jr.), DC preserved the WWII legacy while establishing a younger, modern leader for the new Suicide Squad series penned by John Ostrander. Therefore, while his historical roots are in the 1940s, his functional age in modern comics is much younger.

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Calculating the Functional Age in Current DC Continuity

The most reliable method for estimating Rick Flag Sr.'s current age is by using the known age of his son, Colonel Rick Flag Jr., and a specific detail from the comics: Flag Sr. had his son when he was 18 years old.

• Rick Flag Jr.'s Age: Rick Flag Jr. was a decorated Colonel in the United States Army and the field leader of Task Force X in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) before his death in The Suicide Squad (2021). A Colonel in the US Army is typically in their late 30s to mid-40s. Let's assume Flag Jr.'s age was a conservative 40 years old at the time of his death.
• The Calculation: If Rick Flag Sr. was 18 when his son was born, and his son was 40 at the time of his death, Flag Sr.'s age would be 18 + 40 = 58 years old.
• The DCU Alignment: This estimated age of the late 50s to early 60s aligns perfectly with the casting of Frank Grillo (born 1965, making him 60 in 2025) in the new DCU. This suggests that the DCU's version of Flag Sr. is a man in his prime, a seasoned General whose experience spans decades but whose physical and mental capabilities are still at their peak.

Conclusion on Age: Rick Flag Sr.'s canonical functional age in modern DC continuity and the DCU is most likely in the mid-50s to mid-60s. This age allows him to be a decorated General with a long career who is still active enough to direct the secretive operations of A.R.G.U.S. and Task Force X.

The DCU Future: Rick Flag Sr. Replaces Amanda Waller

The character’s age is made irrelevant by his immense power and influence in the new DCU, where he is set to take on a role of unprecedented significance. James Gunn, the co-CEO of DC Studios, has confirmed that Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr. will be a key figure in the overarching DCU narrative, effectively stepping into the power vacuum left by the previous iteration of Amanda Waller.

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A.R.G.U.S. Director and Peacemaker Antagonist

The most significant update is Flag Sr.'s new title: the Director of A.R.G.U.S., the clandestine government agency that oversees all metahuman and black-ops activities, including the Suicide Squad. This promotion immediately positions him as one of the most powerful non-powered characters in the DCU. In *Peacemaker* Season 2, Flag Sr. is described as a "primary character" and is rumored to be an antagonist or a morally ambiguous figure whose actions will directly impact the titular anti-hero. The dramatic tension is heightened by the fact that Peacemaker was the one who killed his son, Rick Flag Jr., in the film *The Suicide Squad* (2021), setting the stage for a deeply personal and explosive confrontation.

The Creature Commandos Connection

Before his live-action appearance in *Peacemaker*, Flag Sr. will debut in the animated series *Creature Commandos*, where he is the leader of the titular team. This series, also a part of the new DCU, establishes his long-standing military and black-ops credentials, further solidifying his reputation as a ruthless and efficient commander. The team, which includes entities like Weasel, G.I. Robot, and Doctor Phosphorus, highlights Flag Sr.'s willingness to work with the most unconventional and dangerous assets to achieve his objectives, a trait he shares with his predecessor, Amanda Waller.

Rick Flag Sr. is far more than a historical figure; he is the embodiment of DC's military-industrial complex, a decorated General whose age is less important than his experience and his unwavering commitment to national security, regardless of the ethical cost. His transition from a WWII-era Suicide Squadron leader to the modern Director of A.R.G.U.S. ensures that, whether in the comics or the new DCU, the Flag name remains synonymous with the most dangerous missions in the world.