The most recent issue of the DC Comics weekly series Countdown prominently featured Batman villain Poison Ivy. That's hardly surprising given that Paul Dini is the head writer on Countdown, and when he was working on Batman: The Animated Series, he clearly had an affection for the character (particularly when she was paired with his creation Harley Quinn, who has also been prominently featured in Countdown).
As a Batman villain, I've never found Ivy to be terribly interesting (outside of the Animated Series, at least). Some of that is the result of whoever happened to be writing her in her various appearances, but I think the problem is mostly that she just doesn't "fit" as a Batman villain. Catwoman and Talia al Ghul have the whole femme fatale thing covered, and Ivy's brand of crazy just isn't a Gotham kind of crazy. Sure, she is, at heart, a tragic figure like most Batman villains, but I just don't think she clicks.
Therefore, it is my belief that Poison Ivy should uproot herself from Gotham and move on to greener pastures, and find herself a new hero to contend with.
My suggestion for the new hero in her life? Ryan Choi, the All-New Atom.
I have several reasons for believing this to be the right move for Ivy to make:
Dr. Pamela Isley became Poison Ivy as the result of experiments performed upon her by Jason Woodrue AKA The Floronic Man. Woodrue himself pursued a criminal career that brought him into conflict with Ray Palmer, Ryan Choi's mentor and his predecessor as the Atom. Pam and Ryan would be carrying on a tradition.
Ryan's base of operations as the Atom? Ivy Town. He-lo!
She could fight him with pollen. I mean, the guy is tiny.
As a neophyte hero, Ryan has yet to earn himself a true arch-enemy. Further, like any good hero, he needs to step into the morally confusing quagmire that results from having a femme fatale opponent, someone who both attracts and repels him.
They're both doctors, so beyond the Woodrue-Palmer connection they have something in common.
So far, despite its many strengths, The All-New Atom has been decidedly lacking an interesting feminine presence.
In the hands of a skillful writer like Gail Simone, Ivy could become a compelling, complex, and interesting character. Gail could conceivably do for Poison Ivy what she did for Black Canary.
(For any non-comic geeks still reading this, trust me, that's a very good thing)
So there you have it, my argument for why The All-New Atom should take on Poison Ivy as his new arch-enemy.
(Gail, if you're reading this, which I know you aren't, make it happen)
1 comment:
You're prolly right, but I predict Atom is going to get either a brand new arch villain or one of Palmer's hand-me-downs.
Post a Comment