Poison Ivy (2022-) #43

by G. Willow Wilson, Jaime Infante (Artist)

Mayor Pamela Isley investigates the state of her old stomping grounds, the Gotham City sewer system, and makes some unpleasant discoveries about what lies beneath. Meanwhile, a certain feline felon makes her long-awaited return to Ivy’s life.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Superheroes

Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2026

About the author

Hugo, World Fantasy and American Book Award-winning author of novels and comics, including THE BIRD KING, INVISIBLE KINGDOM, and ALIF THE UNSEEN. Co-creator of Ms Marvel. Honorary doctor of letters, Rutgers University. I accidentally started a dutch baby baking cult during quarantine. Not very active on here right now, but often found on Twitter.

Reviews

[Craig Schorling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This issue was much better than the previous. The opening with Harley was great and the drastic actions Pam is taking makes things feel chaotic and serious.

[Neil Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my review of the last issue I said I wasn't going to continue this as a monthly read. However, DC sneakily made Poison Ivy a key part of Fraction's "Batman #8", and the development there had me thinking it was worth checking this issue. I'm pleased I did, as I found this issue much more enjoyable and gave me a better insight into how they are going to use Ivy as Mayor.

First of all, they didn't drag out the mystery of "how did Ivy and Harley" fall out after all. It's revealed at the start of this issue and it is a nice bit of characterisation that highlights how important the Mayor gig is to Ivy. I'd have preferred they'd done this last issue but I'm relieved it's settled and not a dangling unresolved thread.
The other thing I really enjoyed about this issue over the previous one was that it makes it very clear that Ivy is still a villain, or at best an antihero. This makes the current Mayor arc a lot more interesting to me as I'm curious as to where they will go. The great thing about Ivy being an established villain is that there's less editorial protection of the character - Batman, Nightwing, or Tim Drake would not (and they rightfully shouldn't) be allowed to do what Ivy does here. This means the story really can take some surprising turns making it a more unpredictable and enjoyable read.

I also found the artwork more enjoyable this issue although I admit to thinking it was the same art team until I realised the faces were sharper throughout (a problem I had last issue). It's a really good pairing if this is a rotating art team.

What detracts from this issue is more to do with marketing and the shared universe. There is a conversation featuring Poison Ivy and Vandal Savage in this week's "Batman" #8 that should have been present in Ivy's own title. Maybe it will be mentioned in the next issue? Even if it is, there should have been some indication to readers that they should be reading Batman #8, after or before this issue. Fraction's title sells much quicker so it would be a shame for people to miss it. Less of a problem is the minor appearance of Catwoman despite the cover suggesting otherwise. I understand covers are meant to draw attention but if anyone is reading this for Catwoman, then they will probably be disappointed. Maybe there will be more of her in future but this felt more like an MCU post credit tease appearance or like Matt Murdoch in "Spider-Man: no way home".

That aside the appearance in "Batman" hopefully gets more eyes on this book. It certainly got me to try the book again and now it's on my pull list.

Overall = 4/5
Writing = 5/5
Art = 5/5

Will I read the next issue? Yes

Wait for the trade collection? I'd usually say trade as that's how I've been collecting but this looks to be more entrenched in the Batman books now, so i think it's best to read in conjunction with at least Fraction's Batman book. In that sense, single issues are less confusing.

Did I need to read previous issues/series? I think the last issue would help but isn't essential. Batman #8 should be ready before or after this issue (I read it after).

Will I read previous issues? I'm getting around to catching up via trade collections I've had for some time.

[ren · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars (reluctantly)

i hate myself for still having the tiniest bit of hope and interest in this series because it all feels pretty pointless when this ivy is just so out of character that it actually makes me cringe!!

pretty much still here just because evil murderous ivy is my favourite (and the most in-character this author knows how to write her) and seems to be making a comeback FINALLYYYY (and also because the scene in this issue where selina straight up called ivy selfish and called her out for how bullshit it is that she's suddenly wanting to be a perfect civil servant shows that the author has at least some level of self-awareness. gained like half a star for that dialogue exchange alone)

[Cybernex007 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeah I’m unfortunately not rocking with this mayor Ivy arc, we were just coming off a storyline about the dangers of power going to one’s head…only to completely ignore all of it and speed run a power trip. From her actions in the main batman series to her questionable moves here, this is just rounding out to be a terrible time. I was already disappointed that the mayoral race was completely skipped and had hopes there would be flashbacks covering it, but the start of this issue killed all of those dreams as Ivy seemingly lets Harley go for no good reason other than Harley may hurt her image. This unfortunately left no lasting emotional impact as Harley complains about dressing up and being there for her the entire campaign trail…which again, we never got to see. Now I will admit the main part of this issue is what I enjoyed the most as it’s just classic Ivy, today she was set to review the offer of the plumbing tycoon who won the bid to continue working on the city’s sewer system. Already feeling awful about how things went with Harley, Ivy decided a field trip was in order as she took the suit out to the plumbing system he is so proud of.

What I really love about this is how aware of the sewer system routes Ivy is, especially compared to this guy who is in charge of it but has never gone down there himself. She knows all the corridors and routes she used to take and live in when she was on the run. And it seems she had a visitor waiting for her down there…none other than Catwoman, who wouldn’t be caught dead in the mayor’s office. Honestly this conversation doesn’t really go anywhere, Catwoman asks Ivy what her long game for this is, which is solely to protect herself from her enemies, and then gets on Ivy for how she treated Harley. The plumbing tycoon interrupts them and Selina makes her exit, actually reminding Ivy, just like white shark did before they left, to keep the tycoon away from the “big stuff.” What does that even mean? Is that to imply Ivy has bigger stuff going on underground and Selina is also well aware of it, if so why did she even have to ask Ivy what her game was? But Ivy also noticed something strange when she turned around, a line from one of Shakespeare’s plays has been written on the wall. Later on Peter explains that the line is a warning about the emptiness of power and the inevitability of death…sounds very familiar, lol, and it wasn’t Catwoman who wrote it there.

Ivy ends her time with the plumbing tycoon by leading him deeper into the system, pointing out all of the faults and how they haven’t even tried to upgrade the systems instead opting to just out more and more on to make it work, inevitably leading to failures dang hurt the environment which she will no longer stand by for. Ivy actually made a courtesy call to Janet to warn her about her plan to kill the tycoon. This call interpreted a fairy awkward moment between Janet and Juhi as Juhi asked further about the extent of Ivy and Janet’s personal relationship. As head of HR she gave Janet a warning that she can walk away if she wants to and does not have to stay…which Janet responded by not being sure she wants to leave…SIGH. In short, Ivy turned the plumbing tycoon into a tree which can survive in the darkness of the sewers and then climbed up to the street level to meet with Peter. He is of course worried about how she is going about things, she can’t just kill anyone she doesn’t like and it will all come back around. But their conversation is interrupted by sprout, who came quickly running up to Ivy because of an issue in the park. Ivy has a lot of enemies but even she was shocked to find that the hill has come to life in the park, well more specifically it is the hill of the parliament of trees and he has come with a warning about them not happy about her eating Bog Venus and they now want war…just slap that on top of the good news of the day.

[Colin Post · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ivy taking a corrupt city contractor into the sewers and morphing him into a tree is badass. That’s my kind of mayor. I also dig the deep Shakespeare allusion. The breakup with Harley, though, felt rushed and under-explained.

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. NOT A HARLIVY BREAKUP! TAKE IT BACK SAY SIKE RIGHT NOW DAMMIT!! Wtf was that about?? My poor heart! 😭

This is definitely one of the better issues of this series of late. Ivy is a corrupt ass Mayor and I love her with all of my heart regardless.

[Xaanua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poison Ivy 43: Cameo gracioso de Catwoman. pero no he podido sufrir con harley. Ella quiere a Pam y le duele que ella la sacrifique y se avergüence de la Harley. La historia del Tree dragon también triste. cuanto dañamos al medio ambiente. me encanta la escritura de esta serie

[Annemarie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5 stars
So far, I'm quite disappointed with the mayor Ivy arc. And it could have been so interesting too, I actually really like the concept, but it hasn't been working for me. This issue was slightly better than the previous ones, I think. The art is still very beautiful.

[spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Abbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75
I gave a 3 because I've liked this run before but if the writer doesn't stop rushing shit I'll have to give a 2.

[Geo Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little catwoman cameo, and some interesting set ups with Janet. PLEASE WILSON GIVE US THE STORY ON JANET SO SHE CAN BE DONE…

[Pickletape · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great art by Jaime Infante and I’m excited that Ivy is back to protecting the environment by any means necessary.

[Kaylee✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*

[H]

a great arc continues