Known Relatives: Wally West (father), Linda (mother), Jai (twin brother)
Occupation: Student
Hair: Red
Eyes: Green
First Appearance: (baby) Flash v.2 #225 (2005); (child) Justice League of America v.2 #10 (2007)
Origin: last year
See Also: Iris West II (Kingdom)
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 have managed to stabilize their children’s powers, but cannot 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.
At present, Iris does not know how tenuous her life is.
Powers
At present, Iris’ link to the speed force has manifested as
the ability to vibrate her own molecules (and anything she touches), enabling her to phase through matter. In the past she was briefly able to match her father’s super-speed. 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
- Unmasked: Flash (second series) #234 (January 2008) - Freddie Williams II
- In Costume: All-Flash #1 (September 2007) - Daniel Acuña
Series Regular In...
- The Flash v.2 #231— (2007—)
Significant Crisis-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
Notes
The twins were not named in print until All-Flash #1 (Sep. 2007), nearly two years after their birth was shown in Flash v.2 #225 (Oct. 2005).
Iris shares a name and at least one parent with the Kid Flash (Iris West) who appeared in Kingdom Come and Chain Lightning. However, their powers and other circumstances do not match. The other Iris is a speedster, her brother’s name is Barry and not Jai, and her father discouraged her from being a hero.