Poison Ivy #21: Once and Floral

Trigger Warning: This issue includes scenes of abusive relationships and medical trauma.

The finale of Poison Ivy’s origins is here and offers a grounded perspective of the character’s motivations and goals. Poison Ivy #21 (written by G. Willow Wilson with art by Marcio Takara and colors by Arif Prianto) is the conclusion of the Origin of Species storyline and gives insight into Dr. Pamela Isley’s powers and introduction to Gotham. Her mission to greatest mixed with manipulation from her professor, Dr. Jason Woodrue, results in Dr. Pamela Isley being injected with an experimental plant virus giving her plant powers and a connection to the green. This connection leads her to Gotham, the epicenter of industrial living. We get glimpses of her learning to hone her powers, her early interactions with Batman, and her first time in Arkham. What results is a self-reflective and introspective arc that is emotional, a compelling origin story, and a masterclass in writing Poison Ivy

Willow Wilson truly understands this character and it’s shown in DC Comics’ renewal of this series. This issue’s approach of diving into Ivy’s motivations takes the character beyond a femme fatale and makes her an (almost) ethical villain in Batman’s rogues gallery. The character’s interactions with Batman reflect the goals she had since the beginning of the arc and demonstrate the rationality behind her actions. The character’s transformation with newfound power is also something to be applauded for and is a refreshing contrast to her time living under Dr. Woodrue. As Isley enters Gotham, the pacing of the arc does begin to feel slightly rushed, but the emotional impact of the story is still felt through rich character development and creates a captivating origin for Poison Ivy.

The character-driven story is made even more impactful through the stunning visuals in this issue. Takara and Prianto do an amazing job of conveying the characters’ emotions and body language to create scenes that enhance the story. Dr. Isley’s transformation into Poison Ivy is the standout scene in this issue with a superb splash page that contrasts the dark eco-horror in the rest of the arc. Ivy’s bright green coloring also contrasts well with the dark tones of Gotham, emphasizing her displacement in Gotham and the conflict between nature and urbanization. This issue is a great addition to Poison Ivy’s origin story considering she has few origin storylines compared to other Batman characters. The creative team is making this a great series and the work is some of the best DC Comics has published in a while.