Poison Ivy’s powers have been increasing over the years, but it was recently revealed she is strong enough to kill Wonder Woman.
WARNING: The following article contains spoilers from Dark Knights of Steel #5, on sale now.
With Batman’s stocked gallery of monstrous villains, it’s often difficult to know who should strike the most fear. While The Joker is terrifyingly unpredictable, Bane is a master strategist with the brawn to back it up. Then there’s the genius mind of The Riddler, constantly threatening to unravel Gotham. Or perhaps The Penguin’s vast network of mob and underground contacts will finally bring Batman low. Dark Knights of Steel #5 (by Tom Taylor, Yasmine Putri, Arif Prianto, Wes Abbott) suggests a villain often overlooked when considering the worst Gotham has to offer: Poison Ivy.
Over the last few years, the mistress of flora has steadily grown her power, even briefly taking over the world with her mind control abilities. However, the latest proof of how truly dangerous she can be if she wants comes with the arrival of Dark Knights’ Wonder Woman.
When the Amazon warrior invades Ivy’s forest, violence immediately ensues. Only Harley Quinn’s timely intervention staves off a far more brutal confrontation. Before the hostilities die down, though, Ivy reveals she’s entirely capable of killing Wonder Woman in an excruciating way. This is a massive step forward for Ivy regarding her power scaling. It announces her as an equal, if not superior, of one of the DC Universe’s greatest heroes.
Before Quinn stepped in, the two seemed locked into a path of mutually ensured destruction. Wonder Woman’s hand encircled Ivy’s throat as she declared how easy it would be to crush the forest dweller’s windpipe. Ivy, meanwhile, had the Amazon trussed up with a web of roots and vines. She explained with a chilling resolve that while Wonder Woman might succeed in killing her, she would not leave the forest alive. Before life left Ivy’s body, she could ravage the warrior’s brain with fungus and gouge her eyes with thorns.
Wonder Woman’s power is well-known. While she rarely chooses the lethal route, there’s never been a doubt that she can slay nearly any of the DC Universe’s heroes and villains. For Ivy, though, this is something new. She’s often been a massive thorn in the sides of Batman and other members of Gotham’s hero community. She’s even demonstrated she can bring Superman low with a mix of kryptonite and her mind control abilities. However, the flora mistress has never revealed just how easily she can wield her powers with homicidal intent towards a meta of Wonder Woman’s status and abilities. She not only stood her ground but seemed to perhaps have the upper hand.
While not in DC’s main continuity, this event seems consistent with the sometimes villain/sometimes anti-hero’s development. Lately, there has been a lot of speculation about what would happen if Ivy’s powers continue to grow unchecked. Her old friend, the Gardener, believed that Ivy could heal the environmental damage done to the world if she was left alone by society. However, this battle suggests that others, like Batman, have rightly seen that Ivy is more than capable of using these powers for violence as well.
During the Fear State, she had created a garden beneath Gotham City, one that she clearly could have used to level the city. The power to wipe millions off the map with a thought is a terrifying amount of power for someone who has repeatedly shown a significant preference for plant life over human existence. This latest development suggests that polluters, misogynists, and non-powered costumed vigilantes should not be the only ones to fear her. She has reached a point where it isn’t frightening how many lives she could end, but which specific people she could kill. If she continues to grow in strength, Ivy could become one of the most dangerous beings on the planet.
About The Author
For all the latest Comics News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
