Poison Ivy #23 – G. Willow Wilson, Writer; Haining, Artist; Arif Prianto, Colorist
Ray – 9.5/10
Ray: It’s been a long road to get here, as Ivy has spent the entire run dealing with the effect of the Lamia—and more internally, with the scars that the cruel Jason Woodrue has left on her. Woodrue has served has the main villain of the series, including in the recent flashback story that finally gave Ivy a definitive origin, so it’s only fitting that he’s returned for one final go as the driving force of the fungal zombie army that’s descended on Slaughter Swamp. Ivy has Croc, Grundy, and a very confused Janet from HR defending her, but it’s not enough—especially when her lifeforce and Woodrue’s are now linked, raising the specter that there might be no way to defeat Woodrue without her dying too. The action segments are excellent, and there are several major guest appearances this issue—including an antagonist from a few arcs ago who plays a surprising role in keeping Ivy alive.
But he’s not the guest star who makes the biggest splash—that’s Harley Quinn, crashing her way into the swamp in the Harley-mobile, barely understanding what’s going on but knowing that her girlfriend needs help. This is a fantastic spotlight for Harley, who is at her most chaotic but also perfectly displays her love for Ivy in some powerful scenes. She also has a hilariously awkward exchange with Janet, as the two try to sort out exactly what is going on with this trio. And together, all this messiness leaves Ivy just the opening she needs to defeat Woodrue, along with some excellent lines that will be all too satisfying for those who have dealt with an abuser who just doesn’t seem to go away. The ending leaves things very much in flux, as it seems Ivy might have one more journey to go on alone. This has been a very strong conclusion to the arc, and it’s wild that Wilson seems to have a lot more story to tell.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
