The Flash: How Batman's Zero Year Brought Barry Allen and Iris West Together - CBR - Comic Book Resources

At face value, Batman and The Flash have very little in common. The Dark Knight Detective is a completely different kind of hero than The Scarlet Speedster. Even so, if not for one Batman story, Barry Allen would never have met the love of his life, Iris West, in the New 52 era.

In the New 52, Barry and Iris first meet during the "Zero Year" event, during Batman's first year in Gotham. In 2014's The Flash #25, by Francis Manapul, Brian Buccellato and Chris Sprouse, a young Barry Allen, straight out of the police academy, came to help Gotham's citizens. The Riddler had shut off all power in the city, putting Gotham in a state of emergency. Barry was helping Harvey Bullock and his partner, Spencer Thompson, in tracking the sale of a dangerous drug called Icarus. At the scene of the first victim, Barry met Iris West, an intern for the Gotham Gazette.

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Barry and Iris were the only ones who wanted to investigate the suspicious destruction of the Gotham City Free Clinic. During their investigation, Barry and Iris connected. The pair discovered that they were both from Central City, and they seemed to share a mutual attraction.

Before anything could come of this connection, however, Barry and Iris discovered that Detective Thompson was the one distributing Icarus. In the ensuing battle, Barry was drugged and nearly died. Fortunately, Iris saved him, while Bullock arrived to stop Thompson. Before Barry left for Central City, he met with Iris one last time and they shared a goodbye kiss.

This meeting is very different than Barry and Iris's first encounter in the Post-Crisis DC Universe. In Flash: Rebirth #2, by Geoff Johns and Ethan van Sciver, a flashback revealed Barry's initial encounter with Iris. Post-Crisis, Barry and Iris met when they were well into their respective careers.

When Barry met Iris, he was already an accomplished forensic scientist, testifying in a case against Sam Scudders. Iris was a reporter for the Central City Citizen. Barry even became The Flash the night that he met Iris, so neither of them really knew each other during their more formative years. During "Zero Year," however, Barry and Iris were both fairly young and inexperienced.

Meeting at a time of relative immaturity, Barry and Iris got the chance to know each other before they fully developed. The duo also got the opportunity to work together, which certainly brought them closer. Barry wasn't even The Flash at this point, so he got to work with Iris as two ordinary citizens trying to do good in the world. These common interests forged a bond between Barry and Iris.

"Zero Year" also spoke to the growing connection between Batman and The Flash. During the New 52 era, The Dark Knight and The Scarlet Speedster shared a few key moments together. This all began in Flashpoint #5, by Johns and Andy Kubert, when Barry delivered a letter to Bruce from his father. When Bruce read the letter, it was a touching moment that brought the two heroes closer than before. Afterwards, stories like "Zero Year" occasionally tied Batman and The Flash together, showing their similarities.

During "Rebirth," Batman and The Flash bonded over their mutual knack for detective work. The two heroes collaborated during "The Button" storyline in Batman #21-22, and The Flash #21-22, by Tom King, Joshua Williamson, Jason Fabok and Howard Porter, not to mention "The Last Cold Case" in Batman #64-65 and The Flash #64-65, by Williamson, Guillem March and Rafa Sandoval. "Zero Year" highlighted their shared interest in investigation, since Barry arrived in Gotham as a cop.

The Flash's involvement in "Zero Year" generally demonstrated Batman's influence over the DCU, especially during the New 52. Crossovers, such as "Night of the Owls" and "Death of the Family" had previously involved other titles. Yet "Zero Year" went beyond the Bat-Family, showing how this massive event impacted other heroes across the DCU. Superman, Green Arrow and Green Lantern were a few other heroes who were affected by "Zero Year" early in their respective careers. Overall, "Zero Year" gave heroes like The Flash a setting for some defining moments in their younger days.

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Nabeel Gaber (355 Articles Published)

Nabeel Gaber is a longtime reader of a plethora of comic books. He's based in Houston, Texas, following all of the latest comic book media from movies to television. Nabeel is a graduate of Trinity University, working now as a freelance comic book features writer. In his spare time, Nabeel enjoys running, improv comedy, and all the comics he can get his hands on!