Iris West II (present)

Iris West is the daughter of the third Flash, Wally West, and is named after her great-aunt Iris. She has inherited unstable powers, currently the ability to phase through matter.

Out-of-this-World Childhood

Iris nearly wasn’t born. While her mother was pregnant, she was savagely attacked by Zoom II, causing a miscarriage (Flash v.2 #197–200: Blitz, 2003). A later battle between Flash and Zoom ranged across time, and the future Zoom took the brunt of the original attack. A “fissure in time” restored the twins to life, and they were born during the battle (Flash v.2 #224–225: Rogue War, 2005).

The twins were still infants when the family was whisked away to an alien world for a year (Infinite Crisis #4, 2005 & Flash v.2 #231, 2007). Their inherited link to the speed force accelerated their growth and triggered unstable powers. Physically, Iris is roughly 10 years old, two years “older” than her twin brother.

The Wests managed to stabilize their children’s powers, but could not predict any future growth spurts. Iris could mature to adulthood overnight...or die of old age.

Down to Earth

The Wests were brought home during a JLA/JSA/LSH case (Justice League of America #10 & All-Flash #1, 2007). Iris’s father has been training her and her brother in how to properly use their powers, and how to follow in the family tradition of heroism...for as long as they can.

Living Fast

After some time back on Earth, Iris spontaneously became a teenager and developed full super-speed. Then she became an adult and started rapidly aging, bringing urgency to the search for a cure. Her father finally recognized it as the death-aspect of the speed force, and was able to channel it away from both children and into himself, where he believed he could control it.

Iris has reverted to the age and powers she had previously, and her condition appears to be cured (Flash v.2 #240–243: Fast Money, 2008).

Powers

Iris’ link to the speed force presently manifests itself as the ability to vibrate her own molecules (and anything she touches), enabling her to phase through matter. She was briefly able to match her father’s speed during childhood, and she had a full set of speed-based powers as a teenager and an adult.

She and her brother can both sync their auras with their father’s when he moves fast enough, effectively flying to his side. This power is involuntary on their part, but can be triggered by Wally.

• Art Credits
• Profiles in Print
• Series Regular In...
• Legacy-Era Appearances
• One Year Later Appearances
• Further Notes
• Related Commentary

Art

• Unmasked: Flash (second series) #234 (January 2008) - Freddie Williams II
• In Costume: All-Flash #1 (September 2007) - Daniel Acuña
• Teenager: Flash (second series) #241 (August 2008) - Freddie Williams II

Profiles

• Flash Secret Files and Origins 2010 under “Speed Force” (May 2010)

Series Regular In...

• The Flash v.2 #231–247 (2007–2008)

Significant Legacy-Era Appearances

• Flash #225 (October 2005): “Rogue War, Conclusion,” Geoff Johns
• Flash #227–230 (December 2005–March 2006): “Finish Line,” Joey Cavalieri
• Infinite Crisis #4 (March 2006): “Homecoming,” Geoff Johns

Significant One-Year-Later Appearances

• Justice League of America #10 (August 2007): “The Lightning Saga: Final Chapter: The Villain is the Hero in His Own Story,” Brad Melzter
• All-Flash #1 (September 2007): “Justice, Like Lightning,” Mark Waid
• DC Infinite Halloween Special (December 2007): “The Speed of Life,” Mark Waid
• The Brave and the Bold (third series) #8 (January 2008): “Wally’s Choice,” Mark Waid & George Pérez
• Final Crisis: Rogues’ Revenge (3-issue miniseries, September-November 2008), Geoff Johns

Notes

Related Commentary

• Iris Sketch at Speed Force

Home