Monday, April 11, 2016

I is for Poison Ivy

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.

 

6 comments:

  1. 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.

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  2. Love her green outfit Carrie.

    Linda

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  3. Very interesting again. I'd vaguely heard of her but only in passing. Nice to know that women can be baddies too! :)

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  4. Yep, Poison Ivy & Harley Quinn are the best girl baddies! :)

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  5. I always thought Poison Ivy was so cool! Great stitching :D

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