BATBOOK OF THE WEEK: Poison Ivy #3

Or, more specifically, Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death #3

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Poison Ivy and I go way back. Not quite to the beginning but pretty close.

The Sperlings were friends of my Mom and Dad’s and on one visit they gave me stack of Batman back issues, including Issue #208.

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The issue was chockful of reprints and the theme was the women in Batman’s life. Included was this little passage from Batman #181, her first appearance:

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I was maybe 5 years old and to my little kid mind this was scandalizing.

Why was Batman kissing her?? She was a villain! To make matters worse, my older sister decided to taunt me by drawing a big circle around the smooch in blue marker, with words to the effect: “Batman and Poison Ivy! Woot-woo!”

Sisters, man.

Poison Ivy wasn’t in the comics much again until the ’80s and I kinda saw her as an inside-joke between my sister and me until then. Eventually, though, with the help of movies, cartoons and video games, she joined the A-List of Batvillains. (Or at least B+.)

Now she has her own solo miniseries. I’da thought she’d have one by now, but hey.

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Anyway, I dig the story by Amy Chu. Pamela Isley isn’t some spooky, ethereal creature. I mean, she’s connected to plant life in a way I’m not entirely clear on, involving the Green and all that, but she has very human qualities. Clay Mann’s art is suitably alluring for a character whose sensuality has been an integral part of her identity from the very beginning.

The way I see it, Catwoman will always be the top feline in Batman’s rogue’s gallery. And Harley Quinn’s getting all the attention right now.

But it’s nice that Poison Ivy’s getting her due too.

ALSO ON THE BATSHELVES THIS WEEK: I’ll be picking up Batman and Robin Eternal #24; Robin: Son of Batman #10; Titans Hunt #6; and, the Batman Vol. 8: Superheavy hardcover by Snyder and Capullo.

Author: Dan Greenfield

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