Poison Ivy #31 – G. Willow Wilson, Writer; Brian Level, Artist; Arif Prianto, Colorist
Ray – 9.5/10
Ray: One of the most unlikely hit books at DC in recent years, this series has not only given Ivy her longest solo run by a mile, but it’s expanded the world of the Green and Ivy’s role in it. From her new base in Slaughter Swamp, Ivy finds herself torn between a pair of cosmic beings – Bog Venus of the Green, and Xylem of the Grey. And as she’s rejected one of their influence, they’ve approached her sidekick/lover Janet instead. Now, with both women keeping secrets from each other, the tension in the air is thick – as is the toxic fumes emanating from the swamp. Something is wrong in the area outside Gotham, and it all stems from the strange ghost town that was risen from the swamp in the first issue of this arc. Once called Marshview, it’s never been heard of in Gotham, and Janet keeps seeing strange things lurking around its fringes. And so it’s time for Ivy to head inside – but she’ll need help.
The character of Peter Undine, a corrupt executive who was transformed after twisted dealings with the Green, is pretty interesting. He’s not evil like the Floronic Man, but even his dramatic transformation hasn’t undone his worst instincts. That makes him an uneasy ally for Ivy as she digs into the history of Marshville, a town built over the swamps decades ago – before it met an untimely fate, as no matter how hard the town worked, they could not stop the creeping toxins of the swamp from making their way in. Everyone eventually either left or died – except for one man, who survived and took on the unenivable task of burying the dead. Now, the town’s twisted legacy is making its way back to the surface, and the final page of this issue delivers a fantastic horror visual. While Brian Level isn’t the series’ usual artist, he’s a phenomenal choice for this tense, terrifying issue.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
