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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Murder
Moderate: Gore, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Violence
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Sexual harassment
Я завжди радий знаходити щось нове і тут мені знову ж пощастило. "Отруєний Плющ" вона ж Плющиха, класний комікс! Який ще є актуальним на сьогоднішній момент і це дуже круто, що його можна прочитати українською, максимально славний момент. Схвалюю.
Сюжет, як я зрозумів, встановлює для Памели новий статус КВО і де що змінює, ретконить її походження. Я його геть не так пам'ятаю, але не буду стверджувати, що так воно і було у коміксах. Це круто. Звісно лаври Анти-героїні їй дещо не звично пасують, і це на мою думку цікаво. Принаймні, я її такою ще не бачив (мультсеріал Гарлі Квінн я не враховую).
Я дійсно дуже радий за РМ, що вони видали його. Історія класна, а його візуальна складова ще краща. Особливо обкладинки! Джессіка Фонг, файно малює психоделічних дівчат)
Сюжет, як я зрозумів, встановлює для Памели новий статус КВО і де що змінює, ретконить її походження. Я його геть не так пам'ятаю, але не буду стверджувати, що так воно і було у коміксах. Це круто. Звісно лаври Анти-героїні їй дещо не звично пасують, і це на мою думку цікаво. Принаймні, я її такою ще не бачив (мультсеріал Гарлі Квінн я не враховую).
Я дійсно дуже радий за РМ, що вони видали його. Історія класна, а його візуальна складова ще краща. Особливо обкладинки! Джессіка Фонг, файно малює психоделічних дівчат)
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I looked at my shelves and realized I hadn't read anything that focused solely on Poison Ivy (exempting the newest graphic novel from the YA section, Thorns). Then when I went looking, I found a noticeable absence of comics in the first place. She's always played a secondary role to someone else - whether as a villain or a partner. An odd revelation given the amount of power she holds, both physically and emotionally. To say nothing of the complications of her character; how do you condemn someone whose motives are, ultimately, benign?
This volume takes everything I've always wondered and lays it out beautifully. The lines of morality are as blurred as you'd expect for Poison Ivy, and the questions she raises leave you wondering why she's so often shifted to the side of the supervillain. Because her view of the world is valid! (And let me just take a moment to stand in complete awe of the sheer beauty Ms. Wilson brings to the plant world through this narrative - and I'm not even a fan of plants!) Ivy's plan is an elegant love letter to anyone who's looked at the planet's decay and felt completely hopeless.
The writing is deceivingly calm yet wrenches every thread in the emotional tapestry. It leads you into the complicated nightmare of Ivy's mental destruction, and Ms. Wilson presents it in such a way that you can't help but find sympathy for Ivy's ultimate plans. It's a subtle snare, and I sat up way too late because of it.
This volume takes everything I've always wondered and lays it out beautifully. The lines of morality are as blurred as you'd expect for Poison Ivy, and the questions she raises leave you wondering why she's so often shifted to the side of the supervillain. Because her view of the world is valid! (And let me just take a moment to stand in complete awe of the sheer beauty Ms. Wilson brings to the plant world through this narrative - and I'm not even a fan of plants!) Ivy's plan is an elegant love letter to anyone who's looked at the planet's decay and felt completely hopeless.
The writing is deceivingly calm yet wrenches every thread in the emotional tapestry. It leads you into the complicated nightmare of Ivy's mental destruction, and Ms. Wilson presents it in such a way that you can't help but find sympathy for Ivy's ultimate plans. It's a subtle snare, and I sat up way too late because of it.
The best new book I've read from DC in a while. Takara's art is vibrantly alive, a perfect fit for Ivy's botanical world. And G. Willow Wilson gives Ivy a compellingly merciless voice of ecological retribution--a villain you can't help but root for...even as those roots close around your throat.
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Setup: Poison Ivy: The Virtuous Cycle is a riveting graphic novel that reimagines the iconic DC antiheroine, Poison Ivy, in a profoundly introspective and eco-conscious journey of destruction and redemption. Grappling with her sense of purpose and the boundaries of morality, Pamela Isley sets out on a cross-country journey to release a deadly fungal plague, driven by her disillusionment with humanity's environmental destruction and her grief over her fractured relationship with Harley Quinn.
The narrative explores Ivy's duality as a villain and a tragic, sympathetic figure, delving into her motivations and her struggle with guilt, love, and self-identity. Poison Ivy is a complex protagonist whose actions provoke empathy and moral questioning. Themes of environmentalism, personal agency, the consequences of unchecked power and greed, and hope run through it all, making the story not just an engaging but also a thought-provoking commentary on humanity's relationship with nature.
What I Loved: I mean, who doesn't love a villainess character who seems to care more about plants than humans? Especially one who is in love with one of my other favorite villains - Harley Quinn. This graphic novel neatly composes a love letter to Harley Quinn, an introspective on Poison Ivy herself, AND has beautiful graphics filled with color (and gore). I loved the storyline and the constant questioning about humanity and its role in the degradation of this earth (+ being essentially an invasive species) while highlighting humanity's capacity for love and kindness, entwining a duality that I eat up every time. The art was also phenomenal, and I loved the natural aspect of every single page.
I also can't help but love an actual multi-faceted villain. Poison Ivy definitely portrays compassion, but she is murderous and cares more for her nature than humanity, and that's not lost here. This makes her a complex character—one you aren't sure about and tugs on your emotional capacity a bit, which means it is a good story in my mind.
Also, secretly (but not secretly) giggling about the bit when Poison Ivy discusses veganism/vegetarianism.
Why Not 5 Stars? I must admit I was a little confused at parts - I fear I missed something from another part of the universe. There were some flashbacks to places I wasn't sure the arc had been before (but maybe not?). This confusion also led to the beginning to be a bit slow. Sometimes, I also felt that there were so many different Poison Ivy's portrayed, art-wise, such as her physical and facial features. I feel like this may have been on purpose (indicating when she was fighting or just wandering about), but I am not sure, and it also led to some minor confusion.
Lastly, it did come off a little preachy and the author decided to outline everything, meaning there wasn’t a lot of space for the reader to interpret the narrative themselves and instead the author shared with us so much. I think this happens a lot in comics so I didn’t let it sway my review too much.
Regardless, this was a fabulous read and had beautiful artwork. I highly recommend!
***
The narrative explores Ivy's duality as a villain and a tragic, sympathetic figure, delving into her motivations and her struggle with guilt, love, and self-identity. Poison Ivy is a complex protagonist whose actions provoke empathy and moral questioning. Themes of environmentalism, personal agency, the consequences of unchecked power and greed, and hope run through it all, making the story not just an engaging but also a thought-provoking commentary on humanity's relationship with nature.
What I Loved: I mean, who doesn't love a villainess character who seems to care more about plants than humans? Especially one who is in love with one of my other favorite villains - Harley Quinn. This graphic novel neatly composes a love letter to Harley Quinn, an introspective on Poison Ivy herself, AND has beautiful graphics filled with color (and gore). I loved the storyline and the constant questioning about humanity and its role in the degradation of this earth (+ being essentially an invasive species) while highlighting humanity's capacity for love and kindness, entwining a duality that I eat up every time. The art was also phenomenal, and I loved the natural aspect of every single page.
I also can't help but love an actual multi-faceted villain. Poison Ivy definitely portrays compassion, but she is murderous and cares more for her nature than humanity, and that's not lost here. This makes her a complex character—one you aren't sure about and tugs on your emotional capacity a bit, which means it is a good story in my mind.
Also, secretly (but not secretly) giggling about the bit when Poison Ivy discusses veganism/vegetarianism.
Why Not 5 Stars? I must admit I was a little confused at parts - I fear I missed something from another part of the universe. There were some flashbacks to places I wasn't sure the arc had been before (but maybe not?). This confusion also led to the beginning to be a bit slow. Sometimes, I also felt that there were so many different Poison Ivy's portrayed, art-wise, such as her physical and facial features. I feel like this may have been on purpose (indicating when she was fighting or just wandering about), but I am not sure, and it also led to some minor confusion.
Lastly, it did come off a little preachy and the author decided to outline everything, meaning there wasn’t a lot of space for the reader to interpret the narrative themselves and instead the author shared with us so much. I think this happens a lot in comics so I didn’t let it sway my review too much.
Regardless, this was a fabulous read and had beautiful artwork. I highly recommend!
***
It's not that I dislike human beings. As individuals, they're fine. What I hate, what keeps me awake, is civilization. Collectively, we are an invasive species. Sucking up every resource on the planet until all that's left is a ball of superheated concrete. The only way to save this beautiful blue marble is to get rid of all of us. Every one of us. Even me."
I know, I know. I spend a lot of time contemplating murder. But what I really love is buying plants.
You of all people should know, Jason...when humans manipulate nature, nothing they create ever remains under their control.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Misogyny, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual content