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Batman One-Shots
Batman and Poison Ivy: Cast Shadows
A new skyscraper in Gotham City casts a large shadow over Arkham Asylum, where Poison Ivy is being held. But the sudden lack of sunlight is driving her mad, since she can no longer grow the plants that are an important part of her therapy. And when a series of attempted murders of the building's developers and financial elite takes place, Batman immediately thinks Ivy is involved. But he's running out of time and he's been infected with the same toxin as the developers! Is Ivy to blame and will she help him?
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
About the author
Ann Nocenti
741 books118 followersAnn Nocenti is most noted as an editor for Marvel Comics, for whom she edited New Mutants and The Uncanny X-Men. She made her comics writing debut on a brief run of Spider-Woman (#47-50) and subsequently wrote a long run of Daredevil (1st series) #236-291 (minus #237) from 1986 to 1991, directly following on from Frank Miller's definitive Born Again storyline. She also wrote the 1986 Longshot limited series for Marvel, and in the same year produced the Someplace Strange graphic novel in collaboration with artist John Bolton. She wrote "the Inhumans Graphic Novel" in 1988. In 1993, she wrote the 16-issue run of Kid Eternity for the DC Comics imprint Vertigo.
In Incredible Hulk #291, published in September 1983 (cover date January 1984), Ann Nocenti made a cameo appearance, talking to Dr. Bruce Banner, in a history written by Bill Mantlo, drawn by Sal Buscema and inked by Carlos Garzón and Joe Sinnot. That time Ann Nocenti was Assistant Editor for Larry Hama on Incredible Hulk and X-Men.
She is noted for her left-wing political views which, particularly during her run on Daredevil, caused some controversy among some fans who didn't agree with her politics.
She created several popular characters, including Typhoid Mary, Blackheart, Longshot and Mojo, and wrote the 1998 X-Men novel Prisoner X.
Although Nocenti left comic books in the '90s after the industry sales collapsed, she later returned to the field, penning stories such as 2004's Batman & Poison Ivy: Cast Shadows.
In Ultimate X-Men, a reimagination of the X-Men comic, the character Longshot, who was invented by her, has the civil name Arthur Centino. His last name, Centino, is an anagram of Nocenti and a homage to Nocenti. The name Arthur is for the co-creator of Longshot Arthur Adams who was Ann Nocenti's artist on the Longshot Mini Series.
She edited High Times magazine for one year (2004) under the name Annie Nocenti and is the former editor of the screenwriting magazine Scenario.
In Incredible Hulk #291, published in September 1983 (cover date January 1984), Ann Nocenti made a cameo appearance, talking to Dr. Bruce Banner, in a history written by Bill Mantlo, drawn by Sal Buscema and inked by Carlos Garzón and Joe Sinnot. That time Ann Nocenti was Assistant Editor for Larry Hama on Incredible Hulk and X-Men.
She is noted for her left-wing political views which, particularly during her run on Daredevil, caused some controversy among some fans who didn't agree with her politics.
She created several popular characters, including Typhoid Mary, Blackheart, Longshot and Mojo, and wrote the 1998 X-Men novel Prisoner X.
Although Nocenti left comic books in the '90s after the industry sales collapsed, she later returned to the field, penning stories such as 2004's Batman & Poison Ivy: Cast Shadows.
In Ultimate X-Men, a reimagination of the X-Men comic, the character Longshot, who was invented by her, has the civil name Arthur Centino. His last name, Centino, is an anagram of Nocenti and a homage to Nocenti. The name Arthur is for the co-creator of Longshot Arthur Adams who was Ann Nocenti's artist on the Longshot Mini Series.
She edited High Times magazine for one year (2004) under the name Annie Nocenti and is the former editor of the screenwriting magazine Scenario.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 1, 2018
The art was not really my cup of tea, but it's nice to see Ivy as a more morally grey character be such prominent part of a story.
October 6, 2024
3.5/5 Stars
February 8, 2019
This is actually one of my favorite Poison Ivy stories. It shows Ivy as a scientist, morally grey & redeemable. Not overly sexual women who deliberately is trying to ensnare men. In this story it shows Ivy as a victim and tells us that people in authority aren't always right & how they have ultimately failed her. Ivy is actually interested in reforming and wants to save the world through her creations. The story shows that Ivy can be more than a one-dimension character. It really opened the doors of how much more she can be.
December 6, 2014
Ein machtbesessener Millionär baut sich in Gotham City seinen eigenen Babel-Turm, der alles weit überragt und etlichen Bewohnern das Licht nimmt.
Bald verursachen giftige Pflanzensporen psychotische Schübe und Todesfälle. Ist Poison Ivy, die im Arkham Asylum eingesessen hat, Schuld? Schließlich ist kaum jemand so wie sie und ihre Pflanzen abhängig vom Sonnenlicht. Und welche Rolle spielt ihr neuer Therapeut?
"So you mean to tell me that the only cure for the disease is a kiss from the lips of an escaped asylum psychotic?", fragt er Batman, und der anwortet: "We live in strange times, Doctor Gorai." Fürwahr.
Es dauert nicht lange, schon ist auch der Dunkle Ritter infiziert:
"Her lips are the antidote! I have two hours to find Poison Ivy and kiss her."
Man wünscht Batman Erfolg, fast möchte man ihm zurufen: Viel Spaß! Denn Poison Ivy küssen, nun, es gibt da Schlimmeres, oder?
Obwohl sich die Story mehr mit Poison Ivy als mit Batman beschäftigt, ist die Rollenverteilung am Ende dann doch eine klassische; der Mann muss die Frau küssen, um an sein Ziel zu gelangen, und die Frau muss es dulden.
Bald verursachen giftige Pflanzensporen psychotische Schübe und Todesfälle. Ist Poison Ivy, die im Arkham Asylum eingesessen hat, Schuld? Schließlich ist kaum jemand so wie sie und ihre Pflanzen abhängig vom Sonnenlicht. Und welche Rolle spielt ihr neuer Therapeut?
"So you mean to tell me that the only cure for the disease is a kiss from the lips of an escaped asylum psychotic?", fragt er Batman, und der anwortet: "We live in strange times, Doctor Gorai." Fürwahr.
Es dauert nicht lange, schon ist auch der Dunkle Ritter infiziert:
"Her lips are the antidote! I have two hours to find Poison Ivy and kiss her."
Man wünscht Batman Erfolg, fast möchte man ihm zurufen: Viel Spaß! Denn Poison Ivy küssen, nun, es gibt da Schlimmeres, oder?
Obwohl sich die Story mehr mit Poison Ivy als mit Batman beschäftigt, ist die Rollenverteilung am Ende dann doch eine klassische; der Mann muss die Frau küssen, um an sein Ziel zu gelangen, und die Frau muss es dulden.
July 28, 2019
Ann Nocenti brings a bit more reason, a bit less madness to this favorite villain, sort of a DC version of her Marvel 1980s villain Typhoid Mary. Van Fleet's painted comic art is also of great interest.
February 16, 2013
The best treatment of Poison Ivy I have seen in comics.
September 1, 2013
It's a decent story, but reads a little clunky. The art is nicely atmospheric, but couldn't convey the dynamic energy needed for an action sequence.
July 28, 2016
3, 5
Storyline : 2
Artwork : 5
Nocenti's Batman is just too much off-character here, but Van Fleet's artworks are real masterworks.
Storyline : 2
Artwork : 5
Nocenti's Batman is just too much off-character here, but Van Fleet's artworks are real masterworks.
June 19, 2022
I like that this story really centers more around Ivy than Batman and I like that it shows her genius as a botanist instead of the “seductive poison plant lady” however I think there was a missed opportunity to really bring her to life in a way where the reader can relate and feel empathy for her. I also didn’t especially care for the art. In many panels it just felt really busy in a way that distracted instead of enhancing the narrative.
October 18, 2019
Better than most Poison Ivy comics!
It’s a short read but I found this story more interesting then most of the other books I’ve read on Ivy. They actually seem to have gotten the character right! All Ivy wants is a little sunlight in her cell but a new tower is Gotham is blocking the way. The art was gorgeous however the dialogue in some spots was rough. Liked it over all though!
It’s a short read but I found this story more interesting then most of the other books I’ve read on Ivy. They actually seem to have gotten the character right! All Ivy wants is a little sunlight in her cell but a new tower is Gotham is blocking the way. The art was gorgeous however the dialogue in some spots was rough. Liked it over all though!
July 20, 2023
me gustó que presentaran a Ivy como un personaje moralmente gris y capaz de redimirse, y también me gustó el detalle que Batman tuvo con ella al final. no me gustó para nada el arte, aun así siento que la historia sí transmitió el mensaje cómo era.
July 9, 2022
Gotta be one of the best Poison Ivy stories I've ever read. Honestly, the girl had a bit of a point because that tower would've been horrible.
October 8, 2022
It was okay. I was more amused by the fact that they could create a whole storyline based on the shadow a tall building made. Also, loved the art. Wish there was a stronger story to support it.
June 10, 2023
3.5 stars. pretty good. not great
January 25, 2025
adored the writing, very sad to know this was just a one-shot. simple story with alot of nuance behind it.... many thoughts in my mind....
October 20, 2015
Ok - let's get straight to the business. The Batman in this one-shot was everything, but the Batman! He simply didn't feel RIGHT and was some other hero that donned Caped Crusader's outfit. His actions and reactions were - unfamiliar to anyone who has read more than few comics about him. (pre/NEW52).
Next, even worse thing - art! I really dislike when photography is used for comic art, and is not blended properly. And it was really inconsistent through out all the comic - one panel Batman has a long neck, the other he has lost some length of it, then his face changes from slim to plump and so on.
At its base the whole color palette and concept was quite ok, but the final product didn't make it right. ( overall style reminded me of Max Payne video game's comic art, but it felt a bit better there).
But once the really bad things are gone - it's time for the star (or the light, as it might be more appropriate context wise) of the show! Poison Ivy! It felt as if the author had some badly hidden love for this character! This was - from page one, to the very end - a story about her, and batman was there just to be a tool, for her to undergo a full rainbow of emotions from hate to love, back and forth. And if anything else - Nocenti really makes you understand and FEEL her. AS I felt no other character starred in Batman related comics. Author really loves her, and probably is a reflection of her own life somehow, as this Poison Ivy just feels TOO real just to be a character in a comic book.
And that's even more the reason for being mad at all the other aspects - that bad art, unnecessary and wrong-batman, rather predictable plot development, even though with some interesting elements. It could have been just SO MUCH BETTER! But it didn't. And we have on our hands probably the best depiction of Poison Ivy, in a rather bad comic book.
Next, even worse thing - art! I really dislike when photography is used for comic art, and is not blended properly. And it was really inconsistent through out all the comic - one panel Batman has a long neck, the other he has lost some length of it, then his face changes from slim to plump and so on.
At its base the whole color palette and concept was quite ok, but the final product didn't make it right. ( overall style reminded me of Max Payne video game's comic art, but it felt a bit better there).
But once the really bad things are gone - it's time for the star (or the light, as it might be more appropriate context wise) of the show! Poison Ivy! It felt as if the author had some badly hidden love for this character! This was - from page one, to the very end - a story about her, and batman was there just to be a tool, for her to undergo a full rainbow of emotions from hate to love, back and forth. And if anything else - Nocenti really makes you understand and FEEL her. AS I felt no other character starred in Batman related comics. Author really loves her, and probably is a reflection of her own life somehow, as this Poison Ivy just feels TOO real just to be a character in a comic book.
And that's even more the reason for being mad at all the other aspects - that bad art, unnecessary and wrong-batman, rather predictable plot development, even though with some interesting elements. It could have been just SO MUCH BETTER! But it didn't. And we have on our hands probably the best depiction of Poison Ivy, in a rather bad comic book.
October 9, 2011
la magistral Ann Nocenti explora la psicología de Pamela Isley para arrojar nueva luz sobre su naturaleza, apoyada por el arte de un excelente John Van Fleet. Probablemente la mejor historia sobre el personaje.
September 6, 2013
Interesting art in this book though not really my style. I wonder about Batman's character. Like Wolverine, he's a darker, more disturbed, complicated man but Wolvy loves the good girls while Batman's attracted to the baddies.
June 11, 2011
Me ha gustado mucho el retrato que hace de Poison Ivy, con su parte humana siempre presente. Y el final es genial. Al fin Batman tiene un presente para alguien que no sea su "familia"
June 22, 2011
Good artwork. A nice smple story that explores who Poison Ivy really is, you honestly believe that she can be reformed at the end.
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May 25, 2019BEAUTIFUL artwork
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews