[[“value”:”
When last we left our environmentally conscious heroine in Poison Ivy #33, Ivy was preparing to face off against law enforcement from Gotham City who came to root her out of Marshview like a bad weed that needed to be removed. Unbeknownst to Ivy, her friend and occasional lover, Janet from HR, betrayed her to Bog Venus, who promised to restore Janet’s health if she revealed how to separate Ivy from Xylon. This powerful being plays an important role in the ongoing conflict between the Grey and the Green, and disconnecting Ivy from Xylon will leave her vulnerable.
As Ivy defends Marshview against the pernicious presence of the GCPD, her allies Janet and Peter Undine attempt to rally support to aid Ivy in her struggle to hold Marshview. This proves to be no easy task as both the Order of the Green Knight and Killer Croc have no interest in helping Ivy, particularly the Order of the Green Knight as they have been burned by Ivy in the past and see no reason why they should help her. However, both Waylon and the Order of the Green Knight eventually choose to come to fight on behalf of Ivy. This is a compelling beat, as it shows that Ivy has successfully built enough goodwill with Janet, Undine, Waylon, and the Order of the Green Knight that they all willingly choose to fight alongside her, despite Ivy having wronged them in the past. It’s a testament to Ivy’s charismatic nature which endears others to her cause and inspires them to follow her to Hell and back.
DC
Speaking of being wronged by Ivy, Janet continues to harbor the secret that she is responsible in part for Marshview being invaded by GCPD. Janet was partially motivated to betray Ivy due to her failing health and the temptation of possibly being healed by Bog Venus, however, Janet may have broken faith and double-crossed Ivy because she did not feel respected, appreciated, and valued by her friend. Janet may also have complicated feelings towards Ivy because the pair have been intimate together, but Janet knows that Ivy loves Harley Quinn, and would never end her relationship with Harley to be with Janet romantically.
At times Janet feels inferior and inadequate to Ivy on account of Janet lacking any superpowers or special skills or abilities of her own. In Poison Ivy #34, Janet expresses her discontent with her relationship with Ivy, telling Peter Undine that Ivy wouldn’t care if she was left behind or if something bad happened to her. When Undine says he doesn’t believe that to be true Janet says, “She only cares about me when I’m useful to her. It’s not real friendship, or love or even respect”. Even though Janet recognizes that her relationship with Ivy is toxic, she finds herself unable to break away from her completely, devoted not only to Ivy’s cause but the woman herself.
By far Ivy’s most consistent quality and character trait is her dedication to her cause of saving the environment from ecological devastation and preserving Mother Nature. Ivy’s passion for environmentalism is admirable and is one of the reasons why fans and readers tend to love her so much. However, sometimes Ivy’s commitment to her mission causes her to become single-minded. Blinded by her ambition and relentless in her pursuit of environmental justice, Ivy is not always aware of how her actions can alienate those around her, especially those that she loves and cares for. In this run by G. Willow Wilson, we have seen what kind of effect Ivy’s driven nature can have on her relationships, specifically the impact it is having on the tenuous friendship she has with Janet from HR. Ivy often forgets that Janet is not her beloved Harley Quinn, and cannot take care of herself the way Harley can. Harley is self-sufficient and independent, whereas Janet is emotionally vulnerable and co-dependent. Ivy at times is dismissive of Janet and does not always consider her feelings or how her behavior negatively impacts Janet. Once Ivy learns the truth about what Janet did it is sure to drive
a wedge between Ivy and Janet, and deepen the rift between them. If Ivy wants to repair her relationship with Janet she will need to go to great lengths to affirm Janet and validate her emotions. Showing her appreciation for Janet will also go a long way in terms of making Janet feel valued and respected as a friend and ally.
Solicits for Poison Ivy #35 tease that Ivy will come face-to-face with her former girlfriend Bella Garten aka the Gardener in a conflict that will decide who will become the leader of the Order of the Green Knight. Will Ivy emerge victorious or will she fall in the battle in Seattle? When will Ivy learn the truth about the shameful secret that Janet is harboring, and will she react when she discovers she has been betrayed by the meek and demure Janet from HR? Once the truth has been revealed what will be the fallout of this devastating revelation, and can Ivy and Janet’s friendship survive this breach of trust?
Poison Ivy #34 is another enjoyable entry in a series that has throughout its publication consistently delivered exceptional storytelling and high-quality art. G. Willow Wilson and Marcio Takara have masterfully crafted a compelling, inspiring, and rousing narrative for one of DC Comics’ most iconic female characters. This run is sure to go down in history as one of the finest Poison Ivy stories ever told
In this article:DC, poison ivy
“]] Paradise is threatened and friendships are tested as Poison Ivy defends Marshview from GCPD. How will Ivy react when she finds out Janet betrayed her? Read More