The Flash #203
Published and © by DC, February 1971
Title: “The Flash’s Wife Is a Two-Timer!”
Synopsis: A secret from Iris Allen’s past brings her and the Flash to a dystopian 30th century.
Writer: Robert Kanigher
Penciler: Irv Novick
Inker: Murphy Anderson
Review: First off: That groovy cover! While DC’s early ’70s B-list books could lack that special something, the addition of a Neal Adams cover could give any issue some oomph. Once inside, Robert Kanigher’s story offers an interesting twist inspired by Superman’s origin, but also introduces some serious continuity issues with the Legion of Super-Heroes’ future. The story is also marred with some outdated racist and sexist tropes (the orange-skinned Laotians are particularly jarring). The title is quite clever, though. On the art side, the Irv Novick and Murphy Anderson pairing is solid but unspectacular.
Grade: B-
Second opinion: “Kanigher hit an all-time low.” – Dale Coe, Fantasy Advertiser #93, October-November 1985 … “The otherwise forgettable story by Robert Kanigher would have many repercussions years to come.” – William Schoell, “Superhuman: The Bronze Age of Comics Volume 1,” 2016
Cool factor: This issue was headed for a C+ but that striking collage cover earned it a grade bump.
Not-so-cool factor: “Iris tried to calm herself the way women do under emotional stress! She set the table … Prepared dinner … .” Yikes.
Character quotable: “No – it’s too dangerous to dispatch Iris in your untested time-vibrator!” – Fran Russell, with a mother’s wisdom
Editor’s note: This review was written Feb. 13, 2026.
