After 60 Years, DC Gives Poison Ivy Her Most Powerful (And Terrifying) Form Yet

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The ‘Absolute Batman’ series has really shaken things up with its modern take on classic villains, and Poison Ivy is a prime example. Ever since her new look appeared on the covers of ‘Absolute Batman #17,’ people have been talking about it. Surprisingly, some fans felt the new design wasn’t bold enough for the dark and complex world of the Absolute Universe, and were quick to share their criticisms.

Over the past year and a half with Absolute Batman, we’ve met many of Batman’s villains, and they’re almost never what they seem. Just think about how shocking the Joker’s true nature was – it took a whole year to uncover! I suspected Absolute Poison Ivy was hiding something, and I was right. The comic doesn’t fully capture how different and terrifying her new powers and true form are.

Absolute Poison Ivy is Nightmare Fuel Incarnate

Scott Snyder and Eric Canete’s Absolute Batman #17 unfolds in three sections, with two centering on Poison Ivy. These sections alternate between the past and present. The story reveals that in this alternate world, Pamela Isley was a brilliant scientist who initially aimed to create disease cures by merging plant and human DNA. Unlike the main universe’s Poison Ivy, this version extended her research to include all forms of life. Unfortunately, those funding her work saw only profit and ultimately had her killed, stealing her discoveries.

Poison Ivy is back, and she’s more powerful than ever. She’s seized control of a building in the heart of Gotham City and filled the air with a dangerous toxin. Batman enters the building to find seven missing police officers, six of whom have already been affected by the toxin. These officers have been horrifically transformed into monstrous combinations of plants and people. As Batman climbs higher, he encounters even more of Ivy’s bizarre creations, all seemingly connected as one collective intelligence.

I was on the edge of my seat as Batman finally made it to the top of the tower, but it was completely covered in plants – it was like Poison Ivy’s garden had swallowed the whole place! It’s scary to think she’s changed so much, she’s not really human anymore, but a mix of everything living. Batman tried to stop her with fire, but she’d made copies of herself! Then, Bruce found the real Pamela Isley, and even she was almost completely overtaken by plants and… everything else. Her body started to change, twisting into this terrifying form, and it was clear she wanted to pull Batman into her world, to make him part of her kingdom of plants and everything living. It was truly horrifying!

Absolute Poison Ivy is So Much More Than Meets the Eye

Poison Ivy is consistently ranked among Batman’s most dangerous enemies. Her link to the Green allows her complete control over plants and the ability to manipulate people’s minds, powers she’s demonstrated for years. While ‘Absolute Poison Ivy’ has only appeared once so far in this series, she’s already proven to be significantly more powerful than the original Poison Ivy. Both versions are capable of incredible feats, like overwhelming a building or controlling the Gotham police, but ‘Absolute Poison Ivy’ operates on a completely different scale.

Absolute Ivy’s power comes from a groundbreaking vision: she didn’t just study plants, but unlocked the secrets of all life on Earth – animals, fungi, protists, and bacteria – and combined them with humanity. This has given her terrifying and extraordinary abilities. Just seeing her mutated form is enough to understand how dangerous she is. While Poison Ivy is already frightening, Absolute Ivy takes it to a whole new level. Regular Ivy might weaken your spirit, but Absolute Ivy can completely transform you into a puppet controlled by her warped idea of a ‘seventh kingdom’.

I’ve always been a huge fan of Poison Ivy – she’s seriously one of Batman’s most formidable foes. But the Absolute Universe really takes everything to another level, and honestly, I was worried about what they’d do with her. I was so relieved – and thrilled! – to see they didn’t pull any punches. This version of Ivy is even more unsettling and powerful than I imagined. I’m genuinely on the edge of my seat wondering how Batman will overcome this, because this feels like a completely fresh take on the character, and it’s going to take something truly special to beat her.

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2026-02-19 00:44