The Flash
Barry Allen keeps his unavowed identity asThe Flasha closely guarded secret , but how quickly did he discover this secret to his girlfriend , Iris West ? From Barry ’s first appearance inShowcase#4 , Barry was pursue to Iris West , a news reporter who like that Barry would arrive to their dates on time . After gaining his powers and becoming the Flash however , Barry would become the fastest man alive , and fight legion villains in Central City , such as Captain Cold , Mirror Master , Pied Piper , and theReverse Flash .
Because of the life - threatening adventures Barry would embark on , he chose to keep his identicalness a secret from Iris , worry that she would leave behind him because of his lifestyle . In the former flash report , the only two heroes who knew Flash ’s undercover identity wereWally West , Iris ’s nephew who took the mantle Kid Flash , and Hal Jordan , theGreen Lanternof Earth . Though Barry wastorn over his decisionto keep his dual - aliveness a secret from Iris , one early Flash adventure would take the choice out of Barry ’s hands .
Related : When Did Commissioner Gordon Learn Batman ’s Secret Identity
InThe Flash#156 , Barry get his secret identity out by an exotic coinage from the major planet Gyr . Two factions of an exotic species from the planet Gyr were waging war with one another , and the Tyrannical force of Gyr , the Drdons , were losing . Scientists on Gyr discovered a substance of metre - travel , that would tolerate them to defeat the " new popular government " depone to overcome the tyrants once and for all . Despite lacking the top-notch - speed necessary to power this means of time - travel , the Drdons watch of the Flash and his fantastical powers , and design to catch him to exploit his speed for their purposes . The Drdons then institutionalise forth an envoy from Gyr , and demanded that split second surrender himself to their satellite , and even come out of the closet his secret identicalness to secure that he could not go into hiding . Though Flash was able to get the better of the tyrant , his personal identity was still known on Earth , with Iris being hurt that Barry did not rely her enough to share that part of his life with her . Barry tell apart Iris that he would have to utilize time travel to wipe the earth ’s storage of his identity operator whole , and promised that he would share his secret indistinguishability with her again on their wedding solar day . In the aftermath of this risky venture , Iris forgot Barry ’s identity , though it would be awhile before Barry revealed himself to his fiancée right .
InThe Flash#165 , Barry and Iris were in conclusion rig to get conjoin after years of meshing . Barry , the whole day leading up to the wedding was contemplating whether or not he should reveal his identity operator to Iris ( despite having promised to do so ) . After nearly cause his wedding sabotaged by Reverse - Flash , who seek to slip Barry ’s lifespan , Barry opted to not tell Iris his enigma after all , and even asked the reader at the conclusion of the issue whether he should tell his new wife about his alter - ego . For month afterwards , Barry would contemplate the issue further , until finallyJay Garrick , the original Flash , and his wife Joan from Earth 2 got regard . InFlash#173 , Jay and Joan discuss the issuing of Iris not know Barry ’s secret , with Joan feeling that Barry ’s knavery would ache Iris in the foresighted run , remark how Jay shared his closed book with Joan long ago . The two change of location to Earth 1 to discuss the issue with Barry and , after an risky venture involving Jay , Barry , and Wally , Barry agrees to secern Iris on their one year wedding day of remembrance .
InFlash#174 , Barry lastly resolve that it would be an appropriate time to tell Iris his secret , once and for all . After a long daylight oppose the rogues , Barry and Iris meet back together to celebrate their anniversary , when Iris abruptly uncover that she had know Barry ’s arcanum since their wedding nighttime . As it turned out , the nighttime of their marriage ceremony , Iris had heard Barry talk in his sleep , and he unknowingly revealed his identity to Iris in his sleep grumble . Though Iris had know about Barry ’s mystery for a year , she decide that , rather than jolt or embarrass Barry , she would wait until he was comfortable revealing his closed book to reveal this information . Though Iris may have been broken , she understood Barry ’s reasons for keep his secret , but with Flash ’s identity out in the open , the two became close than ever .
It ’s understandable that super - heroes like the Flash wouldkeep their identity secretfrom the globe at large , but keeping it a secret from your loved I is n’t always a great estimate . On one hand , if a hero chooses to keep the truth from their friends or home , then they would n’t have to burthen their love single with the realism that , as a fighter , they would be in constant peril , and might not revert home one day . On the other hand , if a hero makes the choice to reveal the truth to their closest friends and mob , they could better inform their loved ones about their double spirit and , in case a scoundrel already knows the truth , protect them more expeditiously .
While Iris ultimately accepted Barry ’s reasoning for keeping his enigma , the first prison term she learned the truth she was more weakened that Barry did not trust her , rather than worried about his safety . gratefully though , The Flashdid not come between Barry and Iris , and the two remain one of the greatest duo in comic book history .
Next : Batman Has The SCARIEST way of life of beat The Flash
