Contains spoilers for Poison Ivy #8!Counted among Gotham's deadliest and most iconic villains, Poison Ivy is now setting herself apart even further from Batman's rogue gallery. Poison Ivy #8 shows her terrifying potential, going beyond her previous tactics. Instead of quickly ending her foes' lives, she is now employing extended methods of torture as punishment under the guise of mercy.
Pamela Isley has been the subject of numerous comics recently, featuring prominently in Batman-related series, as well as two series involving Harley Quinn - her ex. After going their separate ways as a couple, Poison Ivy struck out on her own with a new mission, which has been detailed in Poison Ivy (2022). Her latest plot has proven deadly, but it has also provided her with a lot of personal growth - though not each development appears to be for the better.
Poison Ivy #8 has the creative team of G. Willow Wilson, Atagun Ilhan, Arif Prianto, Ivan Plascencia, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Within the issue, the titular villainess is addressing the problems benig caused by FutureGas, a fracking company negatively impacting the environment - using the fungi she's been spreading and fighting within herself. While her returned acquaintance Janet tells Ivy not to kill her evil boss, Ivy finds a creative and horrific way to deal with the problem: life imprisonment as a plant.
Poison Ivy Brings Extensive Body Horror to Her Enemies
Throughout this series, Poison Ivy has been dealing with - and doling out - body horror along her path. The fungal spores she has been spreading that have been causing her hallucinations are still very prevalent as a threat and have changed not just her, but also others - transforming people into monsters. However, these creatures are still able to move and are still alive per the fungi's properties. Ivy's punishment for FutureGas CEO Beatrice Crawley is not the same. Instead of killing her, Ivy transforms her into a plant, though not one that can move. This plant causes pain and Ivy reveals it will outlive her and the present generations of humans. This punishment is not only painful, but long-lasting and equivalent to torture.
Though it appears merciful since it isn't immediate death, Ivy's new approach is far more horrifying. The fungus she has been spreading provides a sense of euphoria as it completes its effects, while this transformation does no such thing. There is no release and there won't be for a very long time. The newest body horror element within this series is the most horrifying yet. Poison Ivy appears to be taking a new path, blending villain and hero in a new mix for her, but old habits die hard. Instead of removing obstacles from her course of action, she is choosing to alter them and dish out worse punishments than she usually does. Regardless of the path ahead, Poison Ivy seems prepared to unleash a new terror on her foes that should make them second guess taking her lightly as a threat.
Poison Ivy #8 is available now from DC Comics.
