Zombies creeping through a devastated marshland.
Poison Ivy undergoing a transformation showcasing a powerful new ability.
Solomon Grundy hanging out with Killer Croc.
These are just a few of the stellar elements that come together in Poison Ivy #22. Unfortunately, these concepts don’t get as much opportunity to shine as they should.
My recap of this issue is the exact same as the last two issues. We are still experiencing the conclusion of Ivy’s new origin story. I’m at the point where the fight between the Floronic Man and Ivy has been going on for so long--and has been intercut with so many flashbacks--that I had to go back through the past few issues multiple times to keep track of what was happening.
It’s a shame that this conclusion is being so drawn-out, because I really do love this series. Ivy’s characterization stays true to her legacy while developing her as a more sympathetic protagonist. That becomes particularly true in this issue, where Ivy makes a selfless decision that I won’t spoil here. I also love the art as always. Artist Haining drenches these pages in a combination of earthy greens and acid-trip fluorescence that complements what writer G. Willow Wilson is trying to accomplish seamlessly.
The lettering by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou is particularly important here given the dialogue-heavy sequences between Ivy and Woodrue. He does a great job of using the lettering to distinguish between the characters without it becoming distracting.
The writing is superb, the art is amazing, and I get the sense that everyone who is working on this comic is sincerely dedicated to telling a great story. It’s frustrating then that this plotline is being stretched out in a manner that doesn’t do this comic any favors. It makes me wonder whether an editorial decision was made that the fight between Pamela and the Floronic Man needed to be a certain length, or whether this series just isn’t planned out very far past this origin story.
An example of the strange vibe that this comic wishes this arc would come to a conclusion as much as I do can be found in the cuts between Ivy fighting and this comic’s B-plot of Killer Croc and Solomon Grundy helping keep Janet safe. In the middle of intensely emotional dialogue between Ivy and her tormentor, the comic cuts to Grundy and Croc cracking one-liners while fighting zombies. It’s like Poison Ivy suddenly has quirky MCU dialogue syndrome. It adds nothing to this story and interrupts genuinely exciting action. Also, the romantic subplot with Janet never really went anywhere, so I’m not particularly interested in what happens to her anyway.
There are some great scenes here. Ivy’s head explodes into a Last of Us-style collection of spores, and she uses the network of fungi to teleport via the ecosystem. It’s an incredibly cool concept that could probably pose some continuity issues down the line if anyone at DC’s offices was particularly concerned with continuity anymore (I can’t say that I am honestly). Ivy also morphs her arm into a thorn-infested club to hit the Floronic Man, which is also amazing. It’s like she’s become an ecological Green Lantern.
There’s lots of great puzzle pieces in Ivy #22, but it feels like Wilson didn’t really know how to put them together this time around. I have a sneaking suspicion that isn’t entirely her fault, but regardless, I’m bummed to see this comic stumble. This has been one of my favorite comics of the year up to this point, but I’m starting to feel like this flower is wilting.
Recommended if…
- You’ve stuck with this series this far.
- You are willing to stick around until Ivy’s origin is over.
- You are a botany enthusiast.
Overall...
I love Poison Ivy as a character and I appreciate this creative team deeply. Unfortunately, this issue isn’t as strong as the sum of its parts and leaves me decidedly underwhelmed. One can only hope that this series catches a second wind after this unmercifully long arc comes to an end.
Score: 5/10
DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of this review.