To quote from the Poison Ivy song by The Coasters:
She comes on like a rose but everybody knows
She'll get you in Dutch
You can look but you better not touch
Poison ivy, poison ivy
Late at night while you're sleepin'
Poison ivy comes a-creepin' around
She's pretty as a daisy but look out man she's crazy
She'll really do you in
If you let her under your skin
In DC Comics' Batman #367, from January 1984, comic book readers get reintroduced to one of Batman’s most unusual adversaries: Poison Ivy.
In this issue a much more deadly Poison Ivy is seen. One who has no regard for human life and is a lethal as any of Batman’s most nefarious Rogue’s Gallery members.
Before this Poison Ivy was much more of a comical character. Oh, she had her bad girl moments but how serious can you take someone who dressed up like a plant and uses them as a device for her crimes?
She’s no Silver Age Ivy. The new and improved Ivy has just become a thorn in Batman’s side and as the years progress a much more deadly foe.
This issue has everything: Jason Todd as Robin, Alfred, humanoid plants with semi-intelligence, plant-based drug addition and a ruthless Poison Ivy that is not above shooting at Robin with poison darts and she’s an arsonist too!
This issue is one of several where many of Batman’s enemies start taking on more sinister aspects. It is no coincidence that the further transformation of Batman’s Rogue’s Gallery would manifest itself when in the not too distant future DC Comics would shake things up in The Crisis On Infinite Earth.
This comic is a good precursor of what to expect.
A near mint raw copy goes for around $10 and a slabbed copy for close to $60. Look for the price to escalate, as Poison Ivy becomes more popular as the current Batman series features her more and her place in The Green becomes more prominent.
Comic book readers get a real treat in Detective Comics #566. Readers are invited to accompany Batman and Robin as they look back over Batman’s Rogue’s Gallery and get a first-hand look at each and every crazy homicidal maniac that populates it.
Every major Batman foe is spotlighted in full-page exposes including full bios and modus operandi.
The story is cleverly set up when Batman and Robin receive an ominous message from one of the members of the Rogue’s Gallery.
This gives Batman and Robin the reason to file through the information on each villain. A backup Green Arrow story is also included.
Prices on a near mint copy of the book vary. Expect to pay around $20 for a raw copy and $110 for a slabbed issue.
No comments:
Post a Comment