Iris West II (New Earth)

From DC Database

Contents 1 History 2 Powers and Abilities 2.1 Powers 3 Notes 4 See Also 5 Links and References 5.1 Footnotes

History

Iris West and her twin brother, Jai, were born to the third Flash, Wally West, and his wife Linda Park. Although the twins were initially miscarried as the result of an attack by Zoom^[1], Linda's pregnancy was miraculously restored during a later battle^[2].

When Wally went into the Speed Force during a battle with Superboy-Prime, he brought Linda and the infant twins with them^[3]. After spending some time on an Earth-like world inhabited by an alternate version of Jay Garrick^[4], they traveled to another planet occupied by technologically advanced aliens who had had dealings with a Flash in the past.

When they were first born, Iris and her brother exhibited no signs of having inherited their father's powers. However, after turning three months old, their metabolisms sped up and they began to age rapidly and exhibit powers. Their alien hosts taught Linda the basics of operating machinery to stabilize the growing twins' powers.^[5]

The West family was suddenly brought back to Earth during an adventure involving the Justice League, Justice Society, and Legion of Super-Heroes.^[6] They moved back to Keystone City, and Linda set up the alien devices in their basement. Afraid that the twins could age to their own deaths sooner rather than later, Wally began training them how to use their powers as heroes, hoping to let them live their lives to the fullest.^[5][7]

While aiding their father battle Spin and Gorilla Grodd, Iris and Jai were captured by Brother Drive and Brother Think, two members of the Dark Side Club who claimed that the twins were Forever People with great potential. Immediately after capture, Iris began to experience another rapid growth spurt, aging her to late adolescence.^[8] This gave her full superspeed like her father, which she used to free herself and Jai.

After helping their father defeat Grodd, she had yet another spurt, aging into adulthood.^[9] She continued aging rapidly, becoming an elderly woman. Wally sought the help of Nzame, an infant gorilla with healing abilities, to try and halt the process. However, this plan backfired, as Iris seemingly withered away and died before her family's own eyes.^[10]. However, this turned out to be simply a hallucination created by Grodd. Though alive, Iris was still quite old. The twins' rapid aging was cured when Wally discovered that their genetics were not the cause, but rather the death aspect of the Speed Force. He brought them both into the Force. While there, Wally drew the blackness out of her, turning her back into a girl.^[11]

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Superhuman speed. Currently,, it only manifests itself as the ability to vibrate herself, and those she touches, through solid objects. She once experienced her father's full superspeed for approximately ten minutes, and then later when she aged into adulthood for a brief time.

Iris can also sync her Speed Force aura with her father's, causing her to fly behind Wally when Wally thinks of her.^[12] This power also works in reverse, allowing Iris to summon Wally.^[13].

Notes

• Iris's name was not revealed until All Flash #1, nearly two years after her first appearance. She was likely named after her great-aunt, Iris Allen.

See Also

• Discuss Iris West II (New Earth) on the forums
• Appearances of Iris West II (New Earth)
• Character Gallery: Iris West II (New Earth)
• Quotations by Iris West II (New Earth)
• Images featuring Iris West II (New Earth)

Links and References

• Iris West II (New Earth) at Wikipedia
• Iris West II (New Earth) at Flash: Those Who Ride the Lightning
  

Footnotes

1. ↑ Flash (Volume 2) #199
2. ↑ Flash (Volume 2) #225
3. ↑ Infinite Crisis #4
4. ↑ Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #6
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Flash (Volume 2) #231
6. ↑ Justice League of America (Volume 2) #10
7. ↑ Flash (Volume 2) #233
8. ↑ Flash (Volume 2) #240
9. ↑ Flash (Volume 2) #241
10. ↑ Flash (Volume 2) #242
11. ↑ Flash (Volume 2) #243
12. ↑ Flash (Volume 2) #234
13. ↑ Flash (Volume 2) #239