DISCLAIMER: This article does not condone Poison Ivy’s villainous or illegal actions in the name of environmentalism. While her motives may be compelling, any actions that cause harm to others are unequivocally wrong and should be recognized as such.
Catwoman. But calling her a “villain” has always felt like an oversimplification. If she were truly evil, why would I and so many others empathize with her? Why would we find ourselves rooting for her? Poison Ivy's current writer has the answer.
...Poison Ivy is ultimately driven by good intentions gone awry, making her more of an anti-villain than a simple antagonist.
G. Willow Wilson recently sat down with DC to discuss her ongoing Poison Ivy series, which has been running since 2022 and just hit a major milestone with its 30th issue. This incredible three-year run, combined with the series winning the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic in 2022, speaks to its immense popularity among fans.
Among the most notable questions directed at Wilson were her thoughts on why Poison Ivy has become a breakout star for DC and how she approaches Ivy’s characterization. Her answers shed light on the kind of villain Ivy truly is—and why fans find themselves rooting for her success rather than her downfall.
Poison Ivy's Resurgence in Comics Comes Down to One Word: Relatability
Main Cover by Jessica Fong for G. Willow Wilson's Poison Ivy #7 (2022)
During her sit-down with DC, Wilson was asked why she thought Ivy resonates so deeply with so many people—a connection that has driven the series’ immense popularity. She responded with humility, attributing much of the comic’s success to Ivy being “very much a character of the current moment, despite the fact that she’s almost sixty years old now.” Wilson elaborated, explaining that Ivy’s urgency to save the planet and her fear that time is running out are concerns that many people, especially younger generations, can relate to. It’s this shared sense of urgency that has contributed to Ivy’s remarkable success among readers.
Wilson also emphasized the crucial role of timing in the series’ popularity, stating that “with any comic book character or series, 80% of popularity is timing.” She explained how telling this story just five years earlier or later could have resulted in a completely different response from readers. Poison Ivy’s success, in part, comes from the fact that her environmental mission aligns with a moment in time when climate change is directly affecting countless lives. This perspective highlights why, despite her villainous label, readers can empathize with Ivy and even root for her, despite her darker tendencies.
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The Evolution of Poison Ivy’s Loyalty: Humanity vs. The Green
Comic s Come From G. Willow Wilson”s Poison Ivy / Swamp Thing: Feral Trees #1 (2024) – Art by Mike Perkins & Mike Spicer
One of the most unique aspects of Wilson’s Poison Ivy run is how it portrays Ivy’s softer side, particularly in relation to humanity. While past depictions have occasionally painted her as an outright hater of all humans, Wilson’s ongoing series—and her special, Poison Ivy / Swamp Thing: Feral Trees—have done an exceptional job of exploring Ivy’s empathy and how it influences her loyalty to The Green. This makes DC’s question for Wilson—“What do you think ultimately wins out [for Ivy]? Her anger towards humans or her empathy towards them?”—especially relevant, as it highlights the evolution of Ivy’s character throughout the series.
Wilson responded by explaining that every time it seems like they’ve found a definitive answer—whether Ivy’s empathy for humanity or her loyalty to The Green takes precedence—something happens to shift that balance. However, she itted that, at the end of the day, Ivy’s “primary loyalty is towards The Green, towards plant life on this planet.” Still, this ultimate devotion doesn’t erase her empathy for humanity. As the series has shown, Ivy has strong emotional and physical connections, particularly with her love interests, Harley Quinn and Janet from HR. Wilson noted that these relationships serve as an anchor, stating, “There are things keeping her human, and that’s the tension of the book.”
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It’s Time We it that Poison Ivy Was Never a True Villain
Main Cover by Jessica Fong for G. Willow Wilson's Poison Ivy #20 (2024)
These insights into Ivy’s relatability and her divided loyalty between humanity and The Green highlight the complexity of her character, revealing that she’s not the straightforward villain many perceive her to be. While Ivy has a history of opposing heroes and committing criminal acts, her motivations and moral depth make her far more nuanced than a traditional villain. Her goals—addressing climate change and environmental destruction—are highly relatable, and many share her frustration, even if they wouldn’t resort to her extremes. As such, despite her villainous status, Poison Ivy is ultimately driven by good intentions gone awry, making her more of an anti-villain than a simple antagonist.
