G. Willow Wilson's Poison Ivy is one of DC Comics' most remarkable success stories of the past few years. Originally announced as a miniseries, the comic has proven a hit with readers and continues to run; it's now in its 50th issue! Among Batman's many villains, Pamela Isley certainly has the most potential for a standalone run.
Poison Ivy was originally conceived as a femme fatale, similar to Julie Newmar's Catwoman, but over time, she evolved into an eco-terrorist. Her twisted methods for saving the Earth make her a compelling protagonist. Poison Ivy does this by reimagining Batman from Ivy's perspective—as a smug, enigmatic, and irritating thorn in his side.
In the final story arc of Poison Ivy, Pamela tries a new strategy—as Mayor of Gotham City. At the end of Poison Ivy #41, she decides to run for mayor, believing she needs legitimate power to wrest it from her enemies. Issue #42 begins with her taking office with 70% votes. But Ivy is still a supervillain; she's battling her way through the City Council to implement her agenda, and that's just the beginning.
In Poison Ivy #43, Ivy lures a polluting businessman into a sewer, where he dies. The final issue, #45, begins with Ivy's eco-terrorist minions forcing a TV anchor to report positive coverage of the Isley administration. "Freedom and independence are good," Ivy muses in the narration. "But you know what's even better? Order and control.".
Superhero fans may be reminded of another recent storyline involving a supervillain mayor. In Daredevil: Rebirth, crime boss Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio) became mayor of New York City. The confrontation between the criminal mayor and Mayor Ivy is a real choice between two extremes .
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What is the difference between Gotham Mayor Poison Ivy and Mayor Kingpin?
Mayor Poison Ivy in Poison Ivy #42 — DC Comics
Mayor Kingpin first appeared in the Daredevil comics by creators Charles Soule and later Chip Zdarsky. This storyline culminated with Fisk cementing his hold on the superheroes and then resigning as mayor during the 2021 crossover "Devil's Reign." Why, beyond the influence of recent events, did Daredevil: Rebirth choose this particular story from a decades-long series? It gave the series a renewed sense of urgency.
The United States is rife with blatant political corruption, and Daredevil Reborn makes a particularly vivid case of this through references to President Donald Trump through Mayor Fisk. Is it really so hard to believe that New York City elected a crime boss as mayor when a man previously accused of attempting to overturn the presidential election has once again become president? Ivy's election as Gotham's mayor is also based on the idea that a public criminal history doesn't preclude election to high office, but I'd argue it's based on the opposite assumption.
There's a common misconception among Batman fans that as climate change worsens, Ivy seems less and less of a villain; she's simply trying to save a burning planet. G. Willow Wilson's Poison Ivy comic does address the question of how good or bad its protagonist is. The first story arc centers on Ivy's attempts to wipe out humanity by spreading a virus while traveling across the country, but the experience ultimately awakens her empathy. Confronted with her past and future, Ivy strives to become a better person and think more strategically in her militant advocacy for the environment.
The story of Poison Ivy as a reformist mayor trying to help Gotham City doesn't dismiss politics as a corrupt arena, as Mayor Kingpin does. Rather, it legitimizes Poison Ivy as someone who strives to do good.
How Mayor Poison Ivy Uncovers a New Trend in Batman Narrative
Batman Comic Cover #8 - Vandal Savage, Poison Ivy, Batman, and Green Lantern (Alan Scott) - DC Comics
The second half of the aforementioned "Poison Ivy is a good guy" argument is that in an era of sky-high income inequality and growing awareness of police brutality, the fact that Batman is a billionaire and effectively the deputy chief of police of Gotham City means he's not quite cut out for the role of hero. This was even depicted onscreen in The Flash (2023), when Batman (Ben Affleck) holds the Lasso of Truth and suggests that Gotham would be better off if he gave away his money.
In recent Batman comics, writers have responded to this criticism by reimagining him less as an establishment hero and more as a champion of justice. During James Tynion IV's run on the Batman series, Bruce Wayne lost most of his money. Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta's new Ultimate Batman is a completely new reimagining. Ultimate Bruce Wayne is a city engineer, and Joker - a trillionaire who can change the world.
Matt Fraction and Jorge Jimenez's Batman comic also fits this concept. The culmination of Poison Ivy's tenure as mayor will be the upcoming crossover arc "Bad Seeds," and it's not just Batman she's after. Immortal caveman Vandal Savage has recently become Gotham City's police commissioner (long story) and is turning the city's police force into Batman's enemies.
In the second issue of the Batman comic, two police officers shoot Robin/Tim Drake and arrest him for "resisting arrest." When Batman comes to rescue his assistant, one of the officers is wounded by friendly fire. Savage frames Batman and Robin by planting a bloody batarang left at the crime scene on them and labels them criminals.
DC Comics
In the ninth issue of Batman, after Savage and the Gotham City Police begin their anti-Batman campaign, Bruce orders the bombing of Wayne Manor. Batman retreats further into the shadows, while one of his greatest enemies is honored at Gotham City Hall.
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Read the original article on SlashFilm.