Poison Ivy’s Redesign Makes Absolute Batman Villain Unrecognizable & More Powerful

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DC’s new Absolute Universe is full of surprising twists on familiar stories. A key part of what makes it exciting is seeing fresh interpretations of classic characters, where even a small difference can lead to big consequences. For example, in Absolute Batman, Bruce Wayne is a Dark Knight who grew up with one parent still alive and isn’t a billionaire. Poison Ivy has also been reimagined, with a new appearance and abilities that make her even more of a threat.

Scott Snyder wrote Absolute Batman #17, with art by Eric Canete, and it features the debut of a reimagined Poison Ivy. Previous issues hinted at her presence through an “Isley ecosystem” within Arkham M prison. This issue marks Dr. Pamela Isley’s first physical appearance, but the story suggests she might not be entirely… physical, given her powers over plants.

We learn about Pamela Isley’s past through a memory. Her mother was sick, and this motivated Pamela to become a scientist. As a child, she was nicknamed “Ivy” because she loved to climb. Like in the regular DC Universe, her research involves combining plant and human cells. But in this new version of events, Pamela’s experiments go beyond just plants.

Absolute Batman’s Poison Ivy Powers Explained

The story of Poison Ivy is being revealed as Batman battles through the plants around the Heart Building, which she’s taken over. Like in some versions of her origin, Pamela Isley was locked in her lab while trying to get her research back from a dishonest business partner. This happens in the Absolute Universe too, but the consequences are far worse because of how advanced her work had become.

As Batman confronts Poison Ivy, Alfred warns him that her powers have evolved beyond simply controlling plants. Alfred explains that she’s become a bizarre combination – “part human, part plant… part everything.” This means the Poison Ivy Batman is facing isn’t just a plant-human hybrid; she now incorporates elements from six different kingdoms of life: plants, animals, fungi, protists, and two types of bacteria – eubacteria and archaebacteria.

As a huge Batman fan, I was genuinely creeped out when it turned out the Poison Ivy he’d been fighting wasn’t the real Poison Ivy! The comic ended with the true Ivy appearing, and let me tell you, it was terrifying. Forget the beautiful, leafy redhead – this version was barely human, a monstrous, combined entity that was seriously unsettling. It was a fantastic, disturbing reveal.

Absolute Batman #17 is now available at comic shops everywhere.

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2026-02-18 19:37