A Story That DC Comics Tried to Hide: Barry Allen and Fiona Webb
When comics fans think of The Flash, most picture the enduring romance between Barry Allen and Iris West—a relationship so iconic, it has shaped entire eras of DC storytelling. But hidden beneath the surface of scarlet speed and cosmic crises lies a heartbreak so profound that DC has almost erased it from its digital memory: the story of Barry Allen and Fiona Webb.
Iris West and the Painful Separation
Barry Allen, as the second man to wear the Flash mantle, brought a unique human touch to superhero relationships. Unlike many of his Justice League peers, Barry did what few heroes dared—he actually married his sweetheart. The wedding of Barry and Iris was a major milestone in the history of superhero comics. Yet that milestone was not invincible to DC’s trademark narrative cruelty. After keeping his secret identity from Iris even into their married life—a plotline that playfully contrasts Superman’s honesty with Lois Lane—Iris was brutally murdered. Initially, suspicion fell on Clive Yorkin, but the grim truth surfaced: it was Eobard Thawne, the Reverse-Flash, who killed her with a horrifying super-speed attack. The emotional devastation sent Barry into mourning and uncertainty, opening a gap in his life that would soon be filled by one of comics’ most overlooked love stories.
Into the Shadows: The Arrival of Fiona Webb
Fiona Webb entered the scene at Utopia Towers, a new neighbor haunted by her past. Mistaking Barry for a dangerous criminal she once testified against, her life seemed to echo the paranoia and double identities that fill DC’s best thrillers. Her presence triggered a series of events that showcased Barry Allen’s empathy and persistence. Not only did he save Fiona from an assassin sent by her old nemesis, but their interactions soon grew into a genuine friendship and, eventually, a new romance. Yet for Barry and Fiona, happiness would never come easy.
A Twisted Triangle of Love and Danger
Their story careened into further turmoil when Fiona fell for her boss, Senator Creed Phillips—only to discover that he was the twisted vigilante called the Eradicator, both her lover and nemesis. After his transformation and tragic self-destruction, Fiona found solace once more in Barry. Their shared pain culminated in a mutual confession of love, leading to what should have been a hopeful new beginning. But in the world of The Flash, peace is always fleeting.
The Wedding Day From Hell: Reverse-Flash Strikes Again
As their wedding day approached, Barry fell victim to a rash of murder attempts—clear signs that Reverse-Flash, ever the saboteur of happiness, was manipulating events. True to form, Barry never revealed his heroic identity to Fiona, repeating his tragic mistake with Iris West. On the day of the ceremony, as Fiona waited at the altar, her groom was locked in a globe-spanning battle with Eobard Thawne. Reverse-Flash’s true plan wasn’t to destroy Barry, but to repeat history by murdering Fiona. The deadly confrontation climaxed at the very chapel where Fiona wept, believing herself abandoned, as Thawne lunged for her life. In a desperate last burst of speed, Barry Allen subdued his arch-nemesis in a headlock—accidentally snapping Reverse-Flash’s neck at nearly light speed.
The Aftermath: Fiona Webb Erased from Canon
The trauma of that catastrophic day shattered Fiona Webb’s psyche, and her subsequent breakdown painted a raw picture of collateral damage in superhero tales. When the truth of Barry’s dual identity came out during his trial, Fiona suffered a relapse, and as DC moved into its next big era, her narrative faded almost entirely. Not only did Fiona disappear from main continuity, but even critical issues of her storyline are missing from DC’s digital platforms. Flash fans today struggle to access the very issue in which Barry kills Reverse-Flash—an extraordinary erasure considering its pivotal role in Barry Allen’s character journey.
Why This Story Matters in DC’s History
The saga of Barry Allen and Fiona Webb stands as one of comics’ most daring and unresolved love stories, fraught with psychological depth and tragedy. It is a stark reminder of how superhero lives are defined as much by their losses as their victories. In a multiverse of reboots and retcons, this forgotten chapter offers readers a rare blend of noir intrigue, soap opera intensity, and the tragedy unique to the Flash’s mythos. Fiona Webb may not be a household name, but her fate lingers as a haunting shadow over the Flash’s legacy—a testament to the stories lost between the speed force and the relentless forward motion of DC’s universe.
