Iris West-Allen


 * For other uses of "The Flash", see The Flash (disambiguation).

"You're my lightning rod, Iris."

- Barry Allen to Iris West-Allen

Iris Ann West-Allen (née West; born June 24, 1989) is the leader of Team Flash, a former journalist of the Central City Picture News, a former waitress at CC Jitters, a psychology graduate student, and the owner/editor of The Central City Citizen. Iris is also the daughter of Joe and the late Francine West, the older sister of Wally West older paternal half-sister of Jenna West, the fiancée of the late Eddie Thawne, the wife of Barry Allen, and the mother of her future daughter, Nora West-Allen.

In the Flashpoint timeline, Iris and Joe seemed to have some tension since Iris didn't know about Francine being alive. She also knew that Wally was the Flash and they formed a brother-sister crime-fighting duo. After Flashpoint was removed from existence when Barry let Eobard Thawne kill Nora Allen in an attempt to restore the original timeline, Iris was estranged from her father Joe only to reconnect after hearing of Barry's time traveling. The life of Iris was later threatened by a powerful villain named Savitar, which they could foresee due to Barry accidentally traveling into the future trying to trap the villain, which was a future time remnant of Barry. Iris survived thanks to the sacrifice of H.R Wells, and in the final battle, she killed Savitar, erasing him from existence.

After Barry's disappearance into the Speed Force, she took over Team Flash and coordinated the superhero activities of Vibe and Kid Flash. After Barry's return, she continued her position as team leader until she decided to retire and be a reporter again, serving as mission control, giving herself the code name "Eye in the Sky". During an encounter with the meta-human Mathew Kim/Melting Point, Iris briefly gained her husband's speed and took over for him as The Flash before tracking down Kim and having him return the powers to Barry.

Early life
Iris was born on June 24, 1989 to Joe and Francine West in Central City.

When Iris was two years old, her parents took her to the park to cheer her up after she was given some shots. There, she had ice cream for the first time and voiced a desire for it nearly every day for the next month.

When Iris was around six years old, her mother nearly overdosed on drugs while Joe was at work. Francine subsequently ended up unresponsive on the couch, causing Iris to call the police. Before Joe and his partner were able to arrive on the scene, the stove caught fire since Francine had left the oven on. Iris was almost killed, as she was standing in front of the flames when Joe and his partner finally reached her, but the pair managed to get both Iris and her mother to safety. Iris repressed her memories of this event and soon after, Joe told Iris that her mother had died. In reality, Francine was a drug addict who had left them but Joe didn't want his daughter to grow up believing that she'd been abandoned. Instead, he told Iris stories of the mother he knew she deserved, not the mother Francine really was. However, both Iris and Joe were unaware that Francine was pregnant with another child - a son - when she left them for a life in Keystone City.

At school, Iris met Barry Allen and the two became best friends, though Barry secretly harbored a crush on Iris that he was never able to vocalize during their childhood. Iris held those same feelings for Barry deep down and though the two never acknowledged their romantic interest in each other, Joe and Barry's parents, Henry and Nora Allen, were well-aware of the connection between their children. Another boy at school, Tony Woodward, also had a crush on her and frequently bullied Barry.

When she was nine years old, Iris dreamed of becoming a ballerina. During her ballet recital, she suddenly froze from stage fright, much to her embarrassment. However, Barry then came onto the stage and helped Iris complete the dance.

After her mother's alleged death, Iris always wore Francine's wedding band on a necklace. However, she lost the original ring in the fifth grade when she and Barry went to the zoo on a field trip. Iris was devastated over this loss, crying about it for weeks. When Barry was 11 years old on March 18, 2000, Nora was murdered by the Reverse-Flash and Henry was wrongfully convicted of her murder. Barry was subsequently adopted by Joe and went to live with him and Iris at their house. Early on, however, Barry repeatedly attempted to run away. One time when Joe went to get groceries, Iris allowed Barry to run away, refusing to tell her father exactly where to, despite understanding the implication.

When Iris was 16, she and Barry switched bedrooms so that she would be able to sneak out the window past curfew, which was 8:00 pm. They claimed to Joe that they switched rooms because Barry didn't like the noise from the streets. When she was 17, Iris's appendix burst and she was sent to the hospital. At some point, Barry and Iris took Joe's convertible out for a joy ride and ended up crashing it into an oak tree on Fairmont Drive.

Particle accelerator explosion
After dealing with his case in Starling City, Iris and Barry went to S.T.A.R Labs for the activation of the Particle Accelerator by Dr. Harrison Wells. During the event Barry tried to admit his feelings for her but was unable too as Iris assumed he was afraid to talk to her about romantic relationships. When a thug attempted to steal Iris purse Barry went after him only for the criminal to beat him up. Fortunately police officer Eddie Thawne managed to subdue him.

At the C.C.P.D headquarters Iris discussed her annoyance of Eddie's pride in catching the mugger although did admit he was attractive. At night the Particle Accelerator exploded and Barry was struck by a lightning bolt putting him into a coma much to Iris horror as she rushed to his side.

After Barry entered a coma, Iris began visiting him frequently. She was said to talk a lot while at S.T.A.R. Labs. Also over the nine months Barry was in a coma she had started a relationship with Eddie Thawne.

Barry Awakens
In 2014 Barry finally awoke and visited Iris at her job Jitters. The two hugged and then visited the police station to show Joe that he was finally awake. Unknowst to her Barry began to slowly discovered that he had acquired the ability to move at superhuman speeds. Later at C.C Jitters while sharing a romantic moment with Eddie, Iris noticed Barry watching them kissing. As she explained how she and Eddie became a couple the two were nearly hit by a car. Fortunately Barry was able to get them to safety.

Discovering the Streak
Over the weeks Iris discovered that a superhuman figure was active in Central City. Not only saving people but also fighting criminals as well. Determined to discover brought Iris into contact with various meta humans. Some were familiar such as former classmate Tony Harrison who kidnapped until the Streak managed to save her and defeat. Starting a blog that was dedicated to writing about his deeds Iris came up with the idea to name this figure The Flash thanks to Barry. While she faced resistance to her blog in the form of her father and Barry at first Iris continued on as she sought to discover The Flash not only for her curiosity but to also show to others that Barry was not crazy and prove that the “impossible existed”

Her faith in The Flash was temporarily broken when he was affected by the criminal Meta Human Roy G. Bivilo that caused The Flash to rage out as he attacked Eddie who was trying to arrest The Flash as the time. Fortunately Eddie was saved by the Starling City vigilante The Arrow.

Discovering feelings
A few days before Christmas Iris to excited to wait wanted her and Barry to exchange presents now. Iris discovered much to her joy that Barry had gotten her a replica of her mother's wedding band which she had lost. Iris had gotten Barry in return a microscope which was supposed to be the best on the market. Eddie then dropped by to take them "tree trimming".

While At C.C Jitters Eddie gave Iris his gift to her: A key to his house. Since they were practically living together already Eddie thought he make it official. He also proposed the thought to her that Barry might have feelings for her although Iris insisted they were just friends and nothing more.

While working her shift at Jitters, Iris was visited by Caitlin who wanted information on the “Burning Man” on her blog. Iris told her that while she hadn't updated it in awhile she would send her reports she had collected. She also asked her if Barry was hiding something from her. Caitlin told her this was unlikely but if she felt Barry wasn't telling her something she should probably just ask him herself.

Later at the police department Iris found Barry looking at the board of his mothers case. Barry admitted that in recent times he hadn't looked at it as much as he should have. Iris then told Barry the news of her and Eddie living together and also told him about Eddies suspicions he had feelings for her. Barry denied and claimed he was just surprised by how much time had passed.

However the next night Barry finally admitted his feelings for Iris and while admitting he knew his timing was awful and that it was too late he just could not lie to her anymore. Iris was shocked, and in tears not knowing what to say.

On Christmas Day at a party at Joe's house Barry congratulated the two on moving in together. Iris however began to discover over the next few months her own feelings for Barry.

Discovering Barry's secret
Just as Eddie was about to propose to Iris with a ring he got from his grandmother, they were attacked by the Reverse-Flash. Iris quickly recognized him as Nora Allen's murderer and pleaded with him not to hurt anyone else. The yellow speedster refused to answer and moved to kill her, but the arrival of Barry as The Flash prompted the Reverse-Flash to abduct Eddie and fled. The Flash assured a distressed Iris that he would find Eddie and as he sped off a surge of lighting passed from Barry to her. In that second she remembered that she only experienced it before when she touched Barry while he was still in a coma after the S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator exploded. In that second she realized and still in shock that Barry was the The Flash.

When Iris figured out that Barry is The Flash, she confronted him about his activity as The Flash, telling him that she was disappointed about why he lying to her about his secret identity, but nonetheless she decided to help Barry and join Team Flash. At the time, the team was searching for Grodd, a psychic gorilla. Iris told them about a news headline from two years prior that linked them to Grodd. They sent Barry, Joe, and Cisco Ramon down to the sewers, where Joe was captured by Grodd while the latter used his psychic abilities to knock Barry unconscious, forcing Cisco to take Barry and flee. Later however, Barry went back and overcame Grodd's psychic attacks and rescued Joe.

Since then, Iris became become an active member of Team Flash, and occasionally used her contact with Barry to deal with some meta-human cases.

Francine's return and meeting Wally
Looking into a housing scheme involving two men illegally evicting people from their homes Iris was attacked by the two men who tried to kill her. When she called Barry asking for help he told her to jump from the building she was in and fell almost 20 stories before Barry caught her. With the facts she needed she wrote a story on the subject and her co-worker Linda told her it had scored the front page, much to her joy. Later that day Joe sat her down and confessed that her mother was a drug addict and told her what happened when she was a child, that she'd almost been killed when Francine overdosed which Iris vaguely remembered as he told her. More shockingly Joe revealed that Francine was in fact alive and wanted to see her.

Reluctantly agreeing Iris visited Francine but expressed understandable anguish towards her for leaving them but wished her no ill regardless, but insisted they keep living separate lives. Later Joe revealed to Iris that Francine confessed to be dying of MacGregor's Syndrome, but Iris was skeptical to believe her. Iris investigated Francine's claims and discovered she was telling the truth but discovered another shocking revelation, that the latter had another child, Wally West, born 8 months after she left her and Joe. Iris later visited Francine again and confronted her about this and told her to leave and never return. She also told her to never tell Joe about him about Wally, believing if Joe knew he had a son that grew up without knowing him, he'd never forgive himself.

Around Christmas time Iris, unable to keep Wally's existence a secret anymore, confessed her secret to Barry who encouraged her to tell Joe, offering to help her. Later Iris told Joe about Wally who was distraught to learn he had a son and needed time to accept it. Later at a Christmas party in their house, Joe and Iris were stunned when Wally arrived at their doorstep.

As Team Flash kept battling Zoom in many ways, Iris started to look upon Barry with romantic feelings, as she took the fact that they were married on Earth-2, and supposedly in the future.

Flashpoint timeline
In the Flashpoint timeline, Iris does not instantly recognize Barry. This suggests that the two do not have a lot of contact with each other in the timeline. It is also shown that Iris seems to have a strained relationship with her father, Joe West. She also knows that Wally is the Flash and is an ally of his missions to fight against The Rival.

Post-Flashpoint timeline
In the post-Flashpoint timeline Iris continued to hold a grudge against her father for not telling her that her mother was still alive and as result doesn't speak with him. She also did not share a kiss with Barry prior to him creating Flashpoint. She however remains a member of Team Flash.

After learning of Flashpoint, Iris begins to patch things up with her father and starts up a relationship with Barry. She continues to assist Team Flash in taking down meta-humans and other threats including The Rival, Magenta, Mirror Master, Top, and Shade taking a supportive role and continuing her relationship with Barry unhindered. She becomes concerned when Wally becomes a target for Alchemy even going so far as to knock him out when Alchemy took control of him. She later begged her teammate Caitlin Snow, who had cryokinesis, but had no control over it, to use her powers to rescue Barry from the then-unknown enemy Savitar. Iris later questions whether Flashpoint really had caused the death of Cisco's brother Dante or Caitlin's transformation into Killer Frost, her cryokinetic alter-ego, or if these things would've happened even without Barry changing the timeline.

Versus Savitar
When Barry travelled to future to get rid from the Philosopher's stone, he saw Savitar killing Iris.

After it was revealed Savitar was a future evil clone of Barry Allen and that he would earn the memories of his past persona, Iris was finally sent to Earth-2 with Harry Wells' S.T.A.R. Labs. After Lyla agreed to give Barry the energy from the dominators, Savitar tricked H.R. on revealing Iris' hideout by impersonating the still heroic Barry. To atone for his mistake, H.R. used a piece of Savitar's armor to lead him to his hideout, cut Iris' leash, switch appearance with Iris to deceive Killer Frost and Savitar and ask Killer Frost for mercy to "H.R.". In any case, Iris had left a loving farewell in a video.

When Iris as H.R. went to Infantino Street to try to stop Savitar on her own, Savitar had already killed H.R., much to her devastation. H.R. then restored his and Iris' appearances. After Barry got Savitar to S.T.A.R. Labs, Barry and Iris were willing to negate his erasure from existence, but he ultimately rejected the offer. In the forest, after Barry pushed Savitar out of his armored suit and destroyed it, Savitar went to kill Barry but Iris shot Savitar dead before he hurt her fiancé. Then Savitar's corpse disappeared. Everyone thought the fight was over, but after H.R.'s funeral, the Speed Force began leaking energy onto Earth-1's Central City, due to the prison's vacancy. The Speed Force, appearing as "Nora Allen" told Barry to come with her. Barry then willingly entered the prison to stabilize the Speed Force, leaving Iris heartbroken.

Barry Allen's return
In his absence she became the leader of Team Flash. She was very heartbroken after her fiancé left. Then a Samuroid was claiming that Team Flash was to restore Barry or else it would destroy the city.

Cisco reveals to Iris that he and many of the technological allies of Team Flash had helped him to release Barry from the Speed Force, while Caitlin returned to the team, albeit not without being scolded by Iris. They opened a portal, but it appeared elsewhere, over a bus, where a naked, unkempt and bearded Barry appeared and stopped a car before fainting. Cecile led the team to a secret area, where Barry was seemingly mad, writing strange signs and claiming that he did not kill anyone. When Barry was sent to S.T.A.R. Labs, he was running for all the labs, and Caitlin used a Cold Gun to neutralize him and shut him on the pipeline. Joe shaved Barry's beard off.

Joe and Iris had a conversation about faith, which motivated Iris to deliver herself to the Samuroid so Barry would return to normalcy. It worked, and Barry could easily destroy the Samuroid and rescue Iris.

Wedding and Crisis on Earth-X
Barry invited most of his friends to his wedding with Iris in St. Paul Lutheran Church. When they were about to marry, the church was assaulted by Nazis. Barry and Iris decided to put the wedding off until later.

After the Earth-X Nazis were defeated, they could finally marry. Barry brought Diggle to request them to marry him to Iris. They said their vows, but before Diggle could declare them husband and wife, Felicity stopped Diggle and asked him to marry her to Oliver. When Oliver and Felicity acknowledged they could not do better vows than Barry and Iris, Diggle had both couples married.

After the marriage
They enjoyed their honeymoon. While talking about a wedding gift given by Oliver and Felicity, Barry and Iris decided to reject the gift on the basis that Oliver and Felicity stole their moment without consulting them and that the gift, a coffee maker, was not in their wishlist..

Clifford DeVoe kidnapped Barry in front of her, while Caitlin was kidnapped by Amunet at approximately the same time. Team Flash tried programming the S.T.A.R. Labs satellite to search for both of them, but the system began to overheat as a result. Because of this, Iris had to decide who to find first rather than search for them both. This proved difficult for Iris, upset that she was being forced to choose between saving her husband or one of her friends, but ultimately, since Caitlin was in a more vulnerable situation than Barry, Iris decided to rescue her first and had all resources dedicated to finding Caitlin.

Cisco and Dibny were able to locate were Caitlin was however she had managed to escape Amulet along with another Meta-human named Dominic Cisco then proceeded to breach them all to safety escaping Amulet. Later Barry returned to S.T.A.R. Labs having managed to escape DeVoe much to Iris relief.

The group attempted to find Devoe or his wife, but their facial recognition software was unable to pick anything up.

Joe mentioned that he'd still like to have a Christmas party and invited everyone over to celebrate the holidays.

As the group celebrated, there was a knock on the door, and it was Dominic. At the same time, Barry got a call on his phone, as the security alarm at his and Iris's loft was going off and he sped off to see what going on.

However unknown to everyone else Barry was arrested as DeVoe's mind had managed to transfer to Dominic and had placed his old body in Barry's place with a knife embedded in it; Framing Barry for murder.

Barry's trial
Released on house arrest (with Cisco hacking the tracking cuff Barry had to wear to convince it that Barry was at Joe's house (where he was supposed to be), when he was actually with the team at S.T.A.R. Labs, Iris and the rest of Team Flash at S.T.A.R. Labs tried thinking of ways to get Barry out of trouble, however Barry insist that he go through the justice process the right way. Later at Barry's trial opening statements were given with Cecile acting as Barry's lawyer.

During the trail, the prosecution called Captain Singh as a witness, and he is questioned by both the prosecutor and Cecile. While Cecile managed to get Captain Singh to speak favorably about Barry's character the prosecutor brung up all the times Barry had been late or missing work due to his activities as The Flash painting Barry as someone with more than enough free time to stalk and murder DeVoe.

During a recess Cecile pulled Barry and Iris aside and recommended one of two routes: taking a plea deal or Barry admitting that he's the Flash.

When the trial resumed, Marlize had now taken the stand. Joe and Dibny walked in with photos they took of the Devoe's kissing ( with Clifford in Dominics body) and handed them to Cecile to enter into evidence. The judge allowed the photos into evidence, and Cecile started questioning Marlize on the photos.

However Marlize told the jury a story of how she met Lance, the body Cliff took over, at a gala for ALS, and that Clifford encouraged her relationship with him. It seemed like the jury believed her, and she stepped down from the stand.

Iris followed Marlize out of the court room and questioned her on her motives for framing Barry for murder. Marlize revealed they have a master plan for the world, but stopped short of revealing what it was. Marlize also told Iris that while she was willing to do anything for her husband she questioned what Iris was willing to do for Barry.

Walking back into the court room and interrupting the trial Iris was about to tell everyone that Barry was the Flash when Barry used a power that allowed both of the pair to move faster than anyone else so they could not be seen or heard. Barry reassured her that he's made the decision not to tell anyone as they would not be only putting themselves in danger but also their friends and family. Iris agreed that his identity must remain a secret as Barry raced back to his table and the trial continued.

Eventually both the prosecution and defense rest their case when suddenly Barry's phone rings with a warning that the meta human Fallout that the rest of the team had been pursuing was about to explode. Barry was able to convince the judge to let him leave and with the rest of the teams help managed to contain Fallout's radiation and saving Central City.

Barry and Iris along with everyone at S.T.A.R. Labs, discovered thanks to the television, that Barry had been found guilty.

Barry entered the courtroom for sentencing and the judge gave Barry a sentence of life imprisonment without parole.

Possible futures
Sometime in 2019, Iris wrote an article on the subject titled Flash Missing Vanishes In Crisis, which ended up on the front page of the Central City Citizen.

Erased futures
When Barry changed the timeline in an attempt to undo "Flashpoint" the future changed once more.

In one potential future of May 23, 2017, Savitar confronted the Flash with Iris as his hostage. He claimed to finally be "free" of the Flash. Despite the Flash's pleas, Savitar simply told Flash that he "lost". Iris then tearfully told Barry that she loved him and Savitar proceeded to murder Iris before the Flash could get to him in time, and Savitar fled as the Flash was left to his loss. Seemingly unbeknownst to Savitar, Flash, or Iris a younger version of the scarlet speedster from 5 months earlier was watching the event from the nearby trees, though he was pulled back to his own time by Jay Garrick. After this, her name on the article changes to Julie Greer.

There have been many versions of this event, for example one is seen with H.R. with Plunder's rifle fixed on Savitar while another version did not contain anyone on top of the roof.

After the defeat of Savitar, Iris's name appeared on the article once again, meaning that this future was erased.

Between 2018 and 2024, Iris gave birth to her and Barry's daughter, Nora West-Allen, named in honor of Barry's mother.

In 2024, Barry, aided by Green Arrow, the Atom, and Hawkgirl, engaged in a battle with Reverse-Flash atop two oil trucks in the streets. The battle ended with both speedsters vanishing in an explosion of light. After her husband's disappearance, Iris wrote an article on the subject titled Flash Missing Vanishes In Crisis, which ended up on the front page of the Central City Citizen, published on April 25, 2024.

After that Nora was erased from existence due to Cicada's Dagger being destroyed, the article was written earlier and erased Nora's birth meaning that this future was erased.

Personality
Iris wants nothing more than to help for those around her. She's highly intuitive and has an innate curiosity, being amazed and intrigued by the fantastical events that are happening in Central City, particularly the Flash. After becoming a reporter under Mason Bridge, she becomes even more so in investigating the mysterious circumstances surrounding Harrison Wells and S.T.A.R. Labs. Iris is more stubborn than her father and holds true to her morals, despite what others may want of her. She isn't afraid to take risks and or jump into action when need be, as shown when she helped take down Tony Woodward and William Tockman. Her ability to gather and analyze evidence and come to accurate conclusions is also noteworthy.
 * -|Original timeline=

When Iris finally figures out that Barry is the Flash - and finds out Barry, Joe and Eddie - people she's explicitly trusted all kept it from her, she feels immensely betrayed and disappointed. However, soon after she came to overcome her feelings of betrayal and proved her worth to the team and reconciled with her father since he pushed for her to be kept in the dark after Grodd's attack.

Iris has shown to care about Barry a great deal since they were kids, having thought of him as a brother figure, unaware Barry has actually been in love with her since childhood. As such she can be seen as a little oblivious in regards to Barry's feelings for her until he confessed he loves her. Despite being in a committed relationship with Eddie Thawne, Iris showed slight jealousy when Barry started going out with Linda Park. This suggests, and later confirmed, that she is unaware of her own romantic feelings for Barry. Eventually in the wake of Mark Mardon's impending tsunami threat Iris, fear about they were about to die, finally realized her romantic feelings and she and Barry shared their first kiss. However, since Barry inadvertently erased those events she remains unaware of these feelings deep down.

After discovering that Barry is the Flash (though technically for the second time) Iris begins to realize her romantic feelings for the latter.

Upon reuniting with her long-lost mother, Francine, and learning of the existence of her brother, Wally, Iris felt betrayed and angered that her mother kept Wally out of her and Joe's lives, and initially wanted nothing to do with her, although her anger towards Francine was justified, but not her behaviour, as Iris unfairly treated her mother badly; even after the latter explained why she left; was to turn a life around, as she was a drug addict at the time. However, she didn't hold any ill will against her father for not telling her Francine was alive, understanding he was trying to protect her from feeling abandoned. Iris was eventually able to forgive her mother on the latter's deathbed.

After Barry Allen reluctantly allowed Eobard Thawne to kill his mother, Nora Allen, in order to undo the damage caused when he created Flashpoint, Iris wasn't on speaking terms with her father, Joe, because of his lie about her mother. Upon learning the truth about Barry's time-traveling actions though, Iris eventually made amends with Joe.
 * -|Current timeline=

Iris is a very devoted and protective older sister to her brother, Wally West.

Unlike her father, Iris doesn't apologise or admit when she is wrong. The only time was when after her trip to the future, she told her husband Barry that he was right about Thawne manipulating their daughter Nora.

Iris still hasn't learned that she can't talk Barry out of anything once his mind is made up about something throughout the entire series, despite Barry's bad experiences with Eobard Thawne and Hunter Zolomon respectively, Iris and everybody in Team Flash (except Barry) is still fooled by an individual's ability to appear kind-natured, Iris didn't suspect that Clifford DeVoe was a meta-human (even after the Council of Wells informed Team Flash that the latter was the mastermind behind the bus meta-humans) despite the fact that he did not have a criminal record, Iris's concern increased when Barry's suspicions of Clifford increased when he and his wife Marlize lied to his superior officer David Singh, claiming that he was harassing Clifford (when in truth, he was only conducting the necessary investigation) when Iris tried to persuade Barry to let it go, he refused, even when every member of Team Flash (including Iris) believed he was innocent - Barry's suspicions were proven to be correct yet again; regarding Clifford. Then when Nora revealed that she's been working with Thawne to stop Cicada, she stubbornly refused to see the danger of working with him (despite the past numerous times that Thawne has used & manipulated everyone on Team Flash & murdered Barry's Mother).

Once getting together with and eventually marrying Barry, Iris provides both tactical and emotional support to him regarding the latter's duties as the Flash. When Cisco and Caitlin grew alienated from Barry for a time due to the repercussions of Flashpoint, Iris stood by his side. She didn't hold Barry responsible, understanding that he didn't mean to cause so much damage to the timeline and actively tried to help him take down Savitar, Iris is also fiercely protective of her husband, as seen when Clifford and Marlize DeVoe framed Barry for Clifford's murder, she confronted Marlize about destroying their lives and threatened retribution. Iris was also unwilling to trust Marlize to help them prevent the Enlightenment until seeing firsthand how Marlize regretted her actions.

In an erased timeline, after Iris' husband, Barry Allen had mysteriously disappeared following the events of Crisis of 2024, she had placed a power-dampening chip inside her daughter, Nora West-Allen so she couldn't use her speed, to (presumably) keep her from ending up like a father, she also never told her the truth, that her father was the Flash.
 * -|Erased timeline=

Iris believed that her future-self did this to protect her daughter, however, Nora corrects her, stating that her future-self did this to control her, taking away her choice to be a hero like her father, Barry; as a result, Nora lost complete trust and respect for her mother, she became even more estranged from her mother, after she learned the truth that her father was the Flash, which Iris keep from her, as she lied, stating that Barry was killed by a meta-human, when in truth, he had actually mysteriously disappeared.

Even when Nora confronted Iris (after discovering that she had placed a power-dampening chip inside her) she is proven to be delusional in our own lies, stating that she power-dampening chip inside her, to protect her daughter from herself, as these lies of Iris', completely destroyed her relationship with Nora.

Former powers

 * Speed Force connection/Meta-human physiology: After Matthew Kim unintentionally stole Barry Allen's powers, he subsequently transferred them to Iris. Because of this, Iris obtained all of Barry's essence of a speedster. Despite having them for only a short period, Iris quickly adjusted the usage of them, effectively working as a superhero, in certain capacities showing even more ingenuity than Barry. Matthew later transferred Barry's powers back to him, returning Iris to normal.
 * : Iris' transferred powers let her heal in a fraction of the time a normal person would. After breaking her leg and suffering severe smoke inhalations, she made a full recovery hours later.
 * : Iris' Speed Force energy uniquely generates purple electricity.
 * : Iris was able to maneuver through enclosed areas with great coordination and dexterity. This enabled her to repeatedly traverse a tall building's staircase to save 14 people from a fire, one after another.
 * : Iris was able to move at such vast speeds that even Barry was amazed at how fast she could move despite being new to her powers. With her speed, she can easily traverse Central City or change outfits in an instant. Her speed also enabled her to run on an ocean.
 * : Iris was able to use her speed to generate air flows on various levels. While she struggled to use this ability to properly smother a fire, she proved able to use this build-up to gather and direct enough water into a tidal wave capable to disperse a giant fire cyclone of over 6000° Fahrenheit.
 * : Iris was able to run tremendous distances with no signs of fatigue.

Abilities
"It's my job to find out the truth. I'm a reporter."

- Iris West to Nora West-Allen

"You need to go after her." "Oh, come on. Give me a break. Have you seen her right hook?"
 * Keen intellect/Expert investigator/Skilled tactician/Leader: Iris is very intelligent and an excellent investigator, as she follows every lead and rumor to discover the truth behind any story; as she eventually discovered that the S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator explosion was what gave the Flash his powers. Iris's background as a psychology student has sharpened her natural wits and intuition, which she presumably inherited from her police officer father and grandfather, and gave her a methodical approach to studying and investigating the various meta-human cases around the city, starting off with the Flash. Iris' detective skills made her a prime candidate for the police academy, which she only backed out of due to Joe West's disapproval and passive-aggressive form of emotional blackmail. On her own, she figured out Barry Allen was the Flash upon remembering how Barry gave off similar electrical shocks as the speedster while comatose. Iris is a capable tactician and leader; after Barry reluctantly went into the Speed Force, she took over the leadership role of Team Flash, though nearly 1 in 3 of the criminal meta-humans they have gotten into a confrontation with have managed to escape.

- Cecile Horton and Ralph Dibny


 * Expert hand-to-hand combatant: Planning for his daughter's safety, Joe extensively taught Iris since her childhood how to defend herself. During sparring matches against Barry as children, Iris was never once hit by her friend, though it should be noted that Barry was not actually trying to hurt her. As an adult, Iris was able to knock out the much larger Tony Woodward (when not in his metal form) after he had been dazed by the Flash. She also showed considerable reflexes, able to dodge a sucker-punch from the Alchemy-possessed Wally West before knocking him out herself. Iris was also able to hold her own against and eventually subdue Marlize DeVoe after deliberately getting impaled on the latter's katana. She even managed to take down several Earth-X Nazis knock out Peter Merkel with two punches.
 * Skilled markswoman: Iris is skilled in the use of firearms, having been taught by Joe in case of emergencies. She was able to accurately shoot off Dr. Light's mask from a distance. Iris also shot and killed Savitar to protect Barry and used a laser gun to defend herself from a katana-wielding Marlize.
 * High tolerance for pain: Though not seen often, Iris can tolerate intense pain when needed; she deliberately impaled herself with Marlize's katana, allowing her to pull Marlize towards Clifford DeVoe's chair, knock her out, and transport her out of S.T.A.R. Labs despite her injury.
 * Stealth: Iris was able to sneak up behind and knock out Shawna Baez without being noticed.

The Flash
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Season 6
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Trivia

 * Iris' favorite childhood toy was a stuffed turtle she named "McSnurtle".
 * She loves mint chocolate chip ice cream, having an "obsession" with it since the age of 2.
 * Iris enjoys dark roast coffee.
 * She is bad at cooking.
 * In an erased timeline, under the threat of Weather Wizard's tsunami, Iris admitted to Barry she loved him and they shared a kiss. She also discovered Barry was the Flash. However, because Barry later time traveled, he ruptured the time continuum and these events were erased in the alternate timeline.
 * When Barry attempted to romance Iris in the new timeline where this disaster never occurred, he only alienated her. Eobard Thawne would explain that the trauma of the impending doom was what awakened Iris to her feelings for Barry.
 * In a second erased timeline, Iris, presumably along with everyone else in Central City, was killed by Vandal Savage using the Staff of Horus in his efforts to kill Carter Hall and Kendra Saunders. However, due to Barry changing the time continuum, this disaster never occurs.
 * Iris has had three love interests in the series: Eddie Thawne, Scott Evans, and Barry Allen. She also caught the romantic interest of Tony Woodward and Cisco Ramon.
 * Additionally, Iris is shown to have a crush on Oliver Queen, which appears to grow deeper when she learns he is Green Arrow.
 * Joe and Francine planned on naming her "Wallace" if their first born child was a boy, a name later used for Iris's brother.
 * Iris and Barry got married on November 28, 2017.

Behind the scenes

 * In DC comics, Iris West is the fiancée and later wife of Barry Allen, the second Flash.
 * In most variations of the DC comics, Iris is Caucasian and has red hair.
 * In pre-Flashpoint canon of DC comics, Iris actually comes from the 30th century and her real name is Ann Russell. This is referenced in the series by her middle name being Ann.
 * Both in the DC comics and in the Arrowverse Iris had to assume the identity of a man in certain crises; in the DC comics her consciousness possessed Nathan Newbury, one of the jurors in the Trial of the Flash, while in the Arrowverse she used a device that alters perception of appearance to switch identities with H.R. Wells.
 * It is revealed in the episode ​​, that Iris's birthday is June 24, 1989 making her a year younger than her actress, Candice Patton, who was also born on that day the previous year.
 * ​​​​ isn't the only time Iris has taken the "Allen" name upon marrying Barry; she took Barry's surname name (hyphenated with her own) in the animated series Young Justice and various comic book issues. In the abandoned Justice League Mortal film, Iris was given Allen as her last name, abandoning the West name all together.