Poison Ivy #42 is written by G. Willow Wilson and published by DC Comics. Artwork is by Marcio Takara, colours by Arif Prianto, and letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Main cover art (left) is by Jessica Fong.
Poison Ivy #42 is available in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
It’s the beginning of a brave new era of Poison Ivy as Pamela Isley ascends to the role of mayor of Gotham City. But what is her vision for Gotham’s future, and how far will she go to protect it?! Let’s just say things are going to get pretty bloody!
Review
The last time we saw Ivy, she’d set herself a new goal: politics.
Power has never been unfamiliar territory for Poison Ivy, but it’s usually been the organic, elemental kind — roots cracking through concrete, vines reclaiming skylines. This time, however, she’s setting her sights on something far less natural: Gotham’s political system. Mayor of Gotham. Why conquer the city with plants when you can do it with policy?
Seeing Ivy suited and booted behind a desk genuinely threw me. She’s always felt ethereal, otherworldly — more forest spirit than civil servant — so watching her step into her political era is deliberately jarring. She’s correcting posture, barking orders, and demanding punctuality. It’s controlled. Precise. Almost clinical. She feels different. Less eco-goddess, more strategist with a five-point plan. There are serious “villain with a manifesto” vibes — except her manifesto is, unsurprisingly, about making Gotham the greenest city on Earth. Shocked? Not remotely. Excited? Absolutely.
The concept alone is delicious. If you’ve been feeling, as I have, that the past few issues of this run have lacked a clear direction or defined endgame, this changes things. Ivy running for mayor? That has legs. It has legs, arms, and a fully costed environmental reform package. It’s bold, it’s topical, and if executed properly, it could redefine the scope of this series in a genuinely exciting way.
There’s also a brilliant, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it exchange that really landed for me. Harley and a background character are going back and forth when he asks her, “Have you been crying?” She insists it’s just allergies. His confused response — questioning how someone who can literally control all plant life could possibly have allergies — is such a small but perfectly human moment. It’s understated, character-driven humour, and it adds texture to the issue. Easy to overlook, maybe, but I loved it.
Verdict
Overall, Poison Ivy #42 feels like a pivot point. Political Ivy is a bold move, one that shakes up her status quo in a way that feels purposeful rather than random. It’s unexpected, slightly unsettling, and full of potential — which, frankly, is exactly what this run needed.
⭐⭐⭐
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