As in any form of entertainment, romance has played a large part in the pages of The Flash's 80-year run. We've been introduced to sweethearts such as Patty Spivot, Valerie Perez, Joan Garrick, and the iconic Linda Park-West.
However, none have managed to make as much as a cultural impact as Iris West, the main love interest of Barry Allen. The two have been in a bumpy relationship since both of their first appearances in Showcase 4, but they have always managed to find their way back to each other. Until Jessica Cruz, a more recent addition to the DC Universe, caught the eyes of Barry when she became Power Ring. Who should the Fastest Man Alive run home to, and why?
10 Jessica: They're both members of the Justice League
They say you aren't supposed to date your coworkers, but in this case we feel like it could be a reasonable exception. When you spend a lot of time together protecting the universe as members of the most powerful superhero team in the world, sparks are obviously going to fly.
When Jessica was having difficulties learning how to use her powers, she went to Barry for training. This eventually paid off when Jessica sacrificed herself to save Barry from the Black Racer, earning her a Green Lantern ring.
9 Iris: The Two Are The Ideal Comic Couple of the 60s
When Barry and Iris were introduced, the comics industry was trying its best to match the ideals of America. As we set our sights on scientific discoveries, more and more heroes became things like astronauts, doctors, physicists, and of course, forensic scientists.
Barry and Iris were molded after the ideal parents of the decade. Barry was a straight-laced, crew-cut and bow-tie wearing ally of the law, while Iris was the reporter with a Jackie Kennedy blend of intelligence and fashionable style. The perfect duo for the youth to look up to.
8 Jessica: They both have superpowers
If there are two things that break a relationship in comic books, it would have to be mistrust and relatability. It's hard for a civilian to date a superhero sometimes, with the secret identity, the constant worrying, and there's always that fear that a supervillain will use their loved ones against them. Luckily, if Barry were to commit to Jessica, he wouldn't have most of these worries.
The two are used to having secret identities, having to ditch their civilian life on the spot when a villain shows up, and Jessica is more than capable of defending herself against an attack. Not saying Iris isn't, we just feel like Jessica would have an easier time.
7 Iris: The Couple Is Consistent in Multiple Timelines
Anyone who is a fan of The Flash (or comic books in general) is definitely used to the occasional alternate earth, timeline, or universe that shared characters between each other. The thing is, in every timeline or earth that features Barry Allen, he is almost always with Iris at his side.
They don’t always have the perfect relationship, like in Injustice, but in the end Barry is always protecting her while she’s looking for a scoop, like in The New Frontier. Even in the TV show, before the main Barry and Iris actually got together, the audiences found out on Earth 2 the two had already been married for a long time. Realizing in parallel universes you guys are still together has to be a sign of a good relationship.
6 Jessica: They both have traumatic pasts
Almost every superhero has a backstory that helps motivate their ideas of justice. However, Jessica wasn't originally as brave as the proud Green Lantern she is now. On a hunting trip with her friends, they come across a group of gangsters burying a body. When her friends are killed to avoid witnesses, Jessica barely escapes with her life.
This traumatic experience and her anxiety are what cause the Ring of Volthoom to be attracted to her in the first place. When Barry was a child, his mother was murdered by the Reverse-Flash. However, Barry is still incredibly optimistic and keeps moving forward. The two events could bring the heroes closer as they relate to each other more.
5 Iris: Bart Allen's Grandmother
Here’s a really big one for why Iris and Barry belong together: without their marriage, Bart Allen never exists! Bart was introduced during Wally’s run as The Flash in the arc Terminal Velocity. Because of his nature to run first and ask questions later, he was given the nickname Impulse.
However, Bart was able to prove time and time again he was a worthy member of The Flash family, eventually becoming Kid Flash of the Teen Titans. When Wally and his family had to hide out in the future, Bart even became The Flash, until his tragic death at the hands of The Rogues.
4 Jessica: Their kids are cooler than Iris and Barry's
Not saying Don and Dawn Allen, the Tornado Twins, aren't cool. It's just whenever we get to meet up with them, they don't seem to have inherited either of their parents best traits. The two are often seen competing for the attention of their father, to the point where they become supervillains in the New 52.
Meanwhile, in the arc Justice League: Legacy, we see the offspring of the League fight against the Darkness. Three of these kids are Nora Allen, or Cruise, who's a speedster, and Jason and Jenny Allen, Green Lanterns who have the ability to tap into the entire emotional spectrum. Way cooler than two needy speedsters. Why can't Barry's twins be as cool as Wally's?
3 Iris: She's already an established member of the Flash Family
Even if hypothetically the two were to split, Iris is still a major part of the Flash family. She’s extremely close to Joan Garrick and Linda Park West, she's the grandmother of Bart Allen, and she’s the aunt of Wally West, the original Kid Flash.
Had it not been for Iris way back in The Flash #110, Wally would’ve never met Barry. She introduced her nephew as the president of the Flash fan club, unbeknownst to either of them that Barry was secretly The Flash. When Barry quickly changed into disguise so Wally could meet his idol, lightning struck through the window, dousing Wally in chemicals and setting the path for the greatest superhero legacy of all time.
2 Jessica: Green Lantern and The Flash make a great team
From Jay and Alan leading the Justice Society of America to Kyle and Wally racing across the cosmos in the 90s, the iconic duo of The Flash and Green Lantern has come close to rivaling Superman and Batman at points.
The two ushered in the Silver Age of comic books together, and Barry and Hal have been best friends ever since. Barry was even a ring bearer for the Blackest Night event, sharing another similarity with Jessica. It's no wonder that the two have become so close.
1 Iris: She's his Lightning Rod
If we really come down to it though, of course Iris is Barry's ideal partner. It's even supported by the Speed Force. When speedsters enter the Speed Force, they lose a little bit of themselves the faster they travel and the farther they go. Wally has explained that while becoming part of the Speed Force is basically Nirvana, the heroes have a lot to do before they decide to pack it up.
To keep themselves tethered to the real world, they have people they care about, the one thing more important than anything else that allows them to keep their identity and return home. For Barry, that thing is Iris West.