Day 9 - A to Z Challenge- "I"
I is for Poison Ivy
Character Facts:
Abilities/Powers: Control over Plant Life, Intelligence, Immunity to Toxins, Pheromone Usage, Secretes Deadly Toxins
Base of Operations: Gotham City
Real Name/Secret Identity: Dr. Pamela Isley
Origin Story:
Pamela Isley grew up wealthy, but with parents that were emotionally distant.
As a young adult, she decides to study
advanced botanical biochemistry at university with Alec Holland (Swamp
Thing). Their professor was Dr. Jason Woodrue (Floronic Man).
Pamela is a shy and timid woman, that is
easily seduced by her professor and becomes his "experiment". Dr.
Woodrue injects her with poisons and toxins, which cause her
transformation. She nearly dies twice due to the injections, which
drives her insane.
While Pamela is in the hospital, Woodrue
flees from authorities. Pamela is so enraged by his betrayal, that she
suffers violent mood swings, being sweet one moment and evil the next.
When her "boyfriend" has a car accident
after suffering from a mysterious fungal overgrowth, Pamela leaves
school (in Seattle) and eventually settles in Gotham City.
Interesting Tidbits:
-Poison Ivy was modeled after Bettie Page.
-Poison Ivy made her first appearance in June of 1966.
-Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn are often depicted as best friends and are at times partners-in-crime.
My Observations:
One of my favorite incarnations of Poison Ivy was on the animated show The Batman...
In
this version, Poison Ivy starts out as a high school student (Pamela
Isley) and environmental activist. She befriends Barbara Gordon
(Commissioner Gordon's daughter) and the two get into some minor scraps,
protesting companies that are polluting Gotham City.
Barbara
wasn't aware that Pamela was actually using their "outings" to scout
these companies and then had a corporate saboteur (Temblor) destroy
them.
During one of Temblor's "missions", Pamela gets in the way when Batman is fighting him and a plant mutagen falls on her.
When
she awakens in the ambulance, she discovers her new powers and decides
to take on the persona of Poison Ivy, so she can continue her career as
an ecoterrorist.
I just found it to be an interesting take on the character and I liked how it introduced Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) into the show.
Poison Ivy is a new one for me. I will have to take a look - I do see she is rather new in the game - not until 1966 did she make an appearance. I love the lady Villains. Love the back story.
ReplyDeleteLove this illustration of Poison Ivy.
ReplyDeleteLove her green outfit Carrie.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Very interesting again. I'd vaguely heard of her but only in passing. Nice to know that women can be baddies too! :)
ReplyDeleteYep, Poison Ivy & Harley Quinn are the best girl baddies! :)
ReplyDeleteI always thought Poison Ivy was so cool! Great stitching :D
ReplyDelete