Those who have been following Poison Ivy will know that our titular antihero has long been embarking on a one-woman war to protect the planet and eliminate any of those in her path who oppose her. To help with her mission, Ivy has enlisted the aid of Janet Mitchell, formerly a Human Resources employee at a chemical plant in Gotham City, and Peter Undine, a man with a plant-like head atop a human body. As of Poison Ivy #36, Pamela Isley has been the leader of the Order of the Green Knight, after she supplanted Bella Garten as the new head of the organization.
In Poison Ivy #37, we see Ivy continue to struggle with adapting to her new seat of power and the responsibility that comes with it. Having so many looking to her for guidance and leadership is new and unfamiliar territory for Ivy; however, she needs the support and resources of the Order of the Green Knight if she is to be successful in her crusade. Typically, Ivy prefers to work alone, rather than let friends or allies compromise her mission. Ivy views most human beings as expendable, and is willing to put the planet over people, and sacrifice anyone and everyone in order to carry out her agenda. Another reason Ivy likes to work alone is that she does not want to find herself becoming overly concerned with the well-being of her accomplices. In this series, we have seen Ivy show nearly a complete disregard for keeping Janet safe and free from harm.
Due to Ivy’s neglect, Janet’s case of Mycosis is getting worse, and both Peter and Ivy can see Janet’s life slowly slipping away with each passing minute. Peter wanted Ivy to take Janet to a hospital sooner, but Ivy didn’t want to risk capture by the GCPD by bringing Janet into Gotham. Instead, Ivy chose to prioritize the Order of the Green Knight, and now her friend is suffering because of that decision. With her back against the wall and running out of time and options to help her friend, Ivy must now travel into Gotham City in order to find a doctor to bring back to Marshview to try and save Janet’s life.
As Janet fights for her life, Ivy vows that she will not fail her again as she desperately tries to find a way to save her. Credit: DC Comics
Ivy arrives in Gotham City and chooses Dr. Leslie Thompkins as the person she believes best suited to help Janet. Dr. Thompkins, a close ally of Batman who once had close ties with the Wayne family, is about to be abducted by Ivy when Batman intervenes and tries to stop the doctor from being apprehended. Ivy, feeling like she has failed everyone she’s ever cared for, refuses to give up and let Janet die without trying everything she can to try and save her. After a brief brawl between Ivy and Batman, Dr. Thompkins ends the spar by saying that she will willingly go with Ivy to see Ivy’s friend in need of medical attention.
Upon examining Janet, Dr. Thompkins determines that Janet’s infection might be deliberate, and that someone is intentionally suppressing Janet’s immune response, which explains why her immune system is overwhelmed by the advanced fungal infection that is slowly killing her. Dr. Thompkins wants Janet moved to Gotham Central so they can begin treatment immediately. Ivy is prepared to submit to Dr. Thompkins’ request until a member of the Order of the Green Knight, Wendy, interrupts with news that will change everything between Ivy and Janet. Wendy accuses Janet of being the one who ratted out Ivy to the GCPD, which led to a raid on Marshview. Readers of the series will know that Janet did, in fact, make a deal with the Bog Venus in which she was forced to give up information about Ivy that was then later used against Ivy when Marshview was raided by the GCPD. Ivy has suspected that a traitor is in her midst, but has never once considered Jant as a possible suspect. Ivy finally realizes that Wendy’s claim may have some legitimacy behind it, and Janet all but admits to the accusation by not denying the claim. Before Janet can explain herself, Ivy hauls Janet out of bed and declares that taking Janet to Gotham Central is no longer on the table. The issue ends with a cliffhanger as Ivy takes Janet into the Green with no clear indication of what Ivy will do to Janet once they get there.
With Janet’s betrayal finally out in the open, only time will tell how this new revelation will affect Ivy’s relationship with Janet. Will this act of treachery be enough to end Janet and Ivy’s friendship forever, and will Ivy find it in her heart to forgive Janet and trust her again? These answers are sure to come next month when Poison Ivy #38 hits shelves on November 5th.
Poison Ivy #37 is another strong entry in a series that has been firing on all cylinders month to month since its initial launch. G. Willow Wilson is a masterful storyteller, and this issue proves that Poison Ivy is certainly one of her finest works. Ivy continues to be a deeply flawed character that is complex and difficult to root for, yet readers find themselves empathizing with her over and over again, even when she is making difficult decisions that we don’t always agree with. However, through Wilson’s characterization of Ivy, readers are able to easily understand, and perhaps even relate to, Ivy’s perspective and reasoning for her choices.
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