Iris West Allen

Origin

Iris was a reporter in Central City and the girlfriend of Barry Allen. Her father was Professor Ira West. The two eventually married and she discovered his secret identity. Her Silver Age Origin is that she was born a thousand years in the future.

Creation

Iris West’s first appearance was in the same issue in which Barry Allen first appeared, Showcase #4. This issue is famous as many consider it the beginning of the Silver Age of Comics. She was created by Robert Kanigher, Carmine Infantino and Joe Kubert.

Character Evolution

Iris’s origin was in the Silver Age when romantic leads for characters were either somewhat villainous (Carol Ferris and Catwoman) or dedicated to their husbands and boyfriends. Iris fell into the latter category. The love which she and Barry shared was a constant throughout the Silver Age (until her apparent death) and provided a moral anchor for the hero’s actions. Iris is also notable as being one of the romantic counterparts to a major DC hero that has never really been given any powers (as for instance Lois Lane was habitually, or Jean Loring.)

Major Story Arcs

Throughout most of the Silver Age, Iris served the role of secondary character. In Flash #165, she and Barry finally married. Soon after she discovered that she had been born in the far future and had been sent back in time on the eve of war. After years of being a prominent character in Barry’s life she was killed by Professor Zoom during a costume party. It was later revealed that she was still alive but living in the thirtieth century. Eventually she revealed herself to Barry and the two began to live in the far future. Iris experienced the same grief that Barry had on her death when he apparently died during the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths. She still made occasional appearances, in addition to giving birth to Barry’s children, who would become the Tornado Twins.

Iris fell out of use for some time as Wally West (her nephew) took over the role of the Flash in Barry’s absence. Later, her son Don married Meloni Thawne, a descendant of Professor Zoom. They had a son Bart, who Iris would later escort to the past as his aging was accelerated because of his super speed abilities. She hoped that Wally would be able to help him, which he was.

One Year Later

During the events of One Year Later, Iris returned to set in motion a chain of events which she hoped would result in Bart being saved from his death in the near future. She was inevitably unsuccessful though.

Final Crisis

During Final Crisis Barry returns to the mainstream continuity of the DC universe by escaping from the Speed Force. Iris was corrupted by the Anti-Life Equation, but Barry saved her by immersing her in the Speed Force. In the intervening time Barry would return as the Flash and Iris provided support for him throughout.

The Dastardly Deaths of the Rogues

With Barry back in Central City and working in the Central City Police Department’s Crime Lab again, Iris is back as a reporter, but due to a deal the two made earlier Iris has to take everything Barry tells her off record; which is a deal she always regrets. Then when the the The Renegades show up while Barry and Iris are eating lunch, Barry asks her to look into a case for him while he’s busy clearing his name.

Iris discovers that a young man named Jason Hicks was falsely imprisoned for the murder of an elderly couple. She learns that the real murderer is Rory Tork. This discovery leads to her being attacked by the Top, a member of the The Renegades. Iris learns that Rory Tork is a ancestor of the Top and having a criminal in his family tree would bar him from being a Renegade. Barry comes to her rescue and saves her from the Top.

The Road to Flashpoint

While Barry is working on the murder case of the Elongated Kid, Iris and the other members of the Flash Family have their annual picnic, when Barry doesn’t show Iris calls him and is concerned. Later after Barry has harsh words for Bart, Iris (along with Wally and Jay) stage an intervention for Barry. After the three adults have said their peace Bart get angry and storms out. Barry changes after leaving Iris to wonder if the intervention did any good. Later at the local coffee shop Barry confides in Iris that he realizes he has been closed off but tomorrow is the anniversary of his dead mother’s birthday and he promises he’ll be better the next day.

New 52

After the events of Flashpoint the DC Universe was rebooted in the New 52. Barry is now in a relationship with Patty Spivot but seems to still harbor feelings for Iris.

Iris is still the aunt of Wally West, who is the son of her brother Rudolph West who abandoned Wally and his mother when he was still young.

Powers and Abilities

Iris is a regular human with no superpowers. She is a skilled reporter. After living in the future she also becomes adept with some future technologies and has at least a basic knowledge of time travel.

Character Profile

• Height: 5’11”
• Weight: 137 lbs
• Eye Color: Blue
• Hair Color: Brown
• Citizenship: American
• Marital Status: Single
• Occupation: Journalist
• Known Relatives: William West (father), Rudy West (brother), Daniel West (brother), Mary West (ex-sister-in-law), Wally West (nephew), Wallace West (nephew), Dawn Allen (daughter), Don Allen (son), Bart Allen (grandson)
• Base of Operations: Central City

Other Media

Animation

Young Justice

Iris appears as a recurring character in Young Justice. She is married to Barry and is aware of his activities as a hero, as well as those of her nephew Wally.

Iris knew her husband was the Flash for quite a while. When her nephew Wally recreated the accident that gave Barry his speed, Iris supported her husband, who blamed himself for it.

Iris attended Jay Garrick’s birthday party along with her husband in Central City at the home of Rudy and Mary West. When Barry cleared away the dishes at super speed, Mary told Iris that she was lucky since Wally was not that fast. Joan Garrick said the same about Jay. Iris congratulated her nephew on his birthday on GBS, before reporting on school closures due to the heavy winter weather. She also later reappears in the episode “Bloodlines,” and is revealed to be pregnant with Barry’s twins after Impulse speaks to her stomach letting it slip.

She is voiced by Nicole Dubuc.

The Death of Superman

Iris West is mentioned as the futere wife of Flash during a Justice League meeting

The Flash (1990)

Iris appeared in the short-lived 90’s The Flash TV series. Tina McGee was Barry’s main love interest in this continuity, while Iris was depicted as an ex-girlfriend instead. She was played by Paula Marshall.

The Flash (2014)

Iris West is a major character in the 2014 The Flash TV series, which takes place in the same universe as Arrow. She is portrayed by Candice Patton.