Poison Ivy: Dornenherz

by Kody Keplinger, Sara Kipin

Eine Rose mit Dornen Pamela Isley ist ein ungewöhnliches Mädchen. Sie verlässt nur selten das abgeschottete alte Haus der Familie, denn sie vertraut niemandem, seit ihre Mutter nicht mehr da ist. Männern schon gar nicht. Diese wollen immer etwas von ihr, das sie nicht zu geben bereit ist. Pflanzen scheinen Pamelas einzige Freude zu sein. Bis Alice Oh in ihr Leben stolpert und vorübergehend bei den Isleys einzieht. Pamela fühlt sich zu dem süßen Goth Girl hingezogen. Es ist, als würde jemand endlich die Vorhänge aufziehen und Sonne in ihr Leben lassen. Nun muss Pamela jedoch mit aller Macht verhindern, dass ihre neue Freundin von den düsteren Machenschaften ihres Vaters in den Katakomben des Hauses erfährt. Sollte dieses dunkle Geheimnis je ans Licht kommen, schwebt nicht nur Alice in Lebensgefahr. Kody Keplinger, die New York Times-Bestsellerautorin des Romans Von wegen Liebe und die Künstlerin Sara Kipin interpretieren die legendäre DC-Antiheldin mit einer Prise Gothic-Horror völlig neu.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Young Adult, LGBT, Dc Comics, Queer, Fantasy

Paperback

First published June 1, 2021

About the author

Kody Keplinger is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of books like The DUFF, That's Not What Happened, and Where Lost Girls Go, as well as many others. Her debut novel, The DUFF, was published when she was nineteen years old and was later adapted into a feature film starring Mae Whitman. Kody is legally blind and queer and many of her books feature characters from those backgrounds as well. When not writing, she loves to play Dungeons and Dragons and hang out with her dog.

Reviews

[Tawfek · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a buddy read with Kawaii Jenny

Brave Young Girls strike again in this beautiful YA graphic novel, This was a feminist/LGBT/Environmentalist Story.
Its a very easy read, you just finish it in 2 hours max.
my only issue with this was the plot it was so predictable you could see it coming a mile away, (sometimes in other novels i know what is going to happen, because its the smartest move and the writing is great), but even the writing here was just normal really.
Again i agree with DC on the choice of art this is the 3rd YA graphic novel for me, and each time a different style and each time it makes me feel the mood of the story.
The mood of this story was just Grim and depressing, you knew that Ivy was being abused by her father, you witnessed the sexual harassment by her school mate, you fucking hated the headmaster who shrugged off her complaint.
Brett's death is one of the most satisfying deaths since King Jeffery's.
I have to wholeheartedly agree with the comic community too, Poison Ivy is an absolute Gay Icon in comics for sure..

[bri 🧸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

ivy is simply a gay icon to me <3

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very YA Gothic romance. Deals with issues of abuse and sexual harassment. The characters are very one dimensional in this f/f romance. Everyone plays a stereotypical role with no nuance. It's something of an origin story for Poison Ivy although a lot of the elements are a bit glossed over as the pacing is very off.

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The DC YA graphic novels have been pretty miss for me, but I think Poison Ivy: Thorns is the best one so far— although the competition wasn’t very tough, let’s be honest. The themes in this book were great, if a bit too blunt. I appreciated the casual f/f romance and Ivy learning to take control of her life and reject men feeling entitled to her body. Go into this expecting the usual YA tropes and suspend your disbelief just enough— and you might enjoy it enough to have a good time. In broad strokes, I really like this as Ivy’s origin story. 3.5/5 stars.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gothic horror take on Poison Ivy's teenage origins goes down smooth and easy. I wish it had backed up just a little bit, because Pamela Isley seems pretty far along the road to becoming a super villain right at the start. But it is still one of the better books published under the DC Graphic Novels for Young Adults imprint.

[Sapphir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pamela Isley is a teenage girl who doesn’t really trust anyone. Her mother is away on business and her father tries to cut her off from the outside world as far as possible. The plants in the school garden seem to be her only friends. That’s when she encounters goth girl Alice Oh, who’s very interested in her and tries to get closer to her. But Pamela has a secret that nobody must know …
This nicely drawn, but quite dark fantasy horror graphic novel tells the backstory of the famous DC character Poison Ivy who comes into being when a lonely, isolated, unhappy girl strikes back. With a lot of heart and empathy, New York Times bestselling author Kody Keplinger and artist Sara Kipin show Pamela’s development and the beginning of a tender love between the two girls. Will they have a future together?
The touching, haunting self-discovery story of a tragic antihero.
4.5 stars.

[Igel :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Dornenherz" ist echt mal ein ganz anderer Poison Ivy Band und ich war echt sehr positiv überrascht :D
Der Zeichenstil ist vermutlich nicht für jeden was, ich fand ihn aber echt schön und er passte gut zur Story .
Die Geschichte ist ziemlich düster und mysteriös. (Bitte lest vorher die Triggerwarnungen) Es geht dieses Mal um Pamelas Jugend und ihre erste Freundin.

Es ist definitiv mal was anderes und unterscheidet sich meiner Meinung nach von den anderen Bänden. Es ist sehr atmosphärisch und obwohl die Entstehungs Geschichte von Poison Ivy generell schon sehr düster ist , ist es hier nochmal ein bisschen schlimmer. (Deswegen lest bitte vorher die Triggerwarnungen)

[Eva B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poison Ivy has always been one of the most interesting DC characters to me, and that, combined with my love of the Gothic aesthetic, prompted me to pick this up and it did not disappoint!

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An origin story for supervillain "Poison Ivy", centred around themes of bodily autonomy and romance. Pamela Isley is being harassed by a rich boy at school and experimented on by her dad at home, and everything looks bleak. She has a friend, or potentially more than a friend, in Alice, but the men in her life look at her as something they can control and use for their own desires. It's a dark book, with some heavy themes, but the moments of companionship between Pamela and Alice bring a certain levity when it's needed most. Whether it's silly little jokes are wholesome buds of teen romance, they're cute together and a shining light in an otherwise tragic and concerning story.

I like that this doesn't rely on other elements of the DC Universe to tell its story. No reference to any big superhero or other supervillains or anyone in-between. This is the origin of "Poison Ivy", and the focus is entirely on Pamela Isley. She has her flaws, she makes mistakes, but she finds a way through it and becomes a more confident person by the end. I'm not too familiar with the main continuity Pamela, but this origin feels like it could be canon. She's not the exact same character but Kody Keplinger and Sara Kipin do a great job of taking the complexity of her personality and bringing it all together.

I especially love the way Kipin draws Pamela's hair and how it twists around her like how Poison Ivy controls plants. Sometimes it's carefully pushed to the side to frame her face, sometimes it hides her face like a shield, sometimes it's depicted mid-motion with a sharpness and energy that matches Pamela's increasingly irate and reckless actions. Jeremy Lawson's colours are a perfect compliment here as well, covering most of the series in earthy tones brown and green, leaving Pamela's bright red hair to stand out and draw the focus towards her constantly. Pamela's father is often menacingly cloaked in shadows, or that jerk boy Brett's blond hair blends in with the browns of the background. Alice's dark black hair and clothing can make her meld into the background too, but when she shares the page with Pamela the combination of black and red jump off the page and make everything more exciting.

All in all a fantastic book and a great read for Poison Ivy fans.

[Mefab ⋆˚✿˖° · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope. Just not my style

[Shawna Finnigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW// murder

Poison Ivy: Thorns is darker than most of the other DC graphic novels for young adults that I’ve read so far, but the darkness works really well to develop a strong backstory for Ivy. The romance was really well developed and I loved the two main characters. I’m hoping that this one gets a sequel at some point because it seems like just the start of Ivy’s story with a lot of potential to explore more with this version of Ivy.

[Kadi P · Rating 4 out of 5]

A feminist’s power anthem: environmentalist edition.

It was extremely noticeable how there weren’t any good men in this graphic novel, but I suppose that was the point. The toxic environment led to Pamela’s transformation from meek and shy to crazy and, quite frankly, murderously insane.

The flippancy with which the graphic novel treated Pamela’s escalation to murder was shocking. The love interest Alice helped to keep Pamela grounded, but, still, she was like a fast train on thin rails: bound to go off track sooner or later.

The atmosphere created by the descent into madness was very well-executed and the circumstances surrounding poor Pamela really make you root for her as a protagonist. It’s almost hard to reconcile with the way she doesn’t end up a hero.

The art was also quite likeable. The style of colouring was a little on the plain side but it didn’t detract from the story. The cover art is not that great-looking but thankfully isn’t anything like the interior art.

[fer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poison ivy com uma namoradinha emo no ensino médio e matando assediadores. Não tem como ficar melhor.

[[Name Redacted] · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've got to give this one credit -- unlike EVERY SINGLE OTHER one of these D.C. Y.A. books, this one actually takes the character's canonical/historical depiction as a template. The art is so bad it isn't even mediocre, the writing is poor, the plot-beats are all cliche, the lesbianism is forced and pointless, the horror angle feels ripped from the pages of a "Goosebumps" novel, but again -- at least the teen actually resembles something of the classic D.C. villain and they don't try to make her some sort of sympathetic heroine. She's a remorseless murderess who prioritizes plant-life over humanity.

[Christien · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really nice read, even for the non-superhero fans (like me).

[Jenny Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buddy read with Tawfek
This was actually pretty good! I like, first off, that it is in full, if muted, colors.
The social issues in this one were much more integrated into the story, and felt like they had some depth.
I do wish we knew more about Ivy's powers here, but they are there and it seams rather obvious how she got them.
I feel like this stayed pretty true to Ivy as well, though I've not read a lot with her.
Check out my YouTube channel for bookish videos and monthly wrap ups!

[Narda (sad alien &#x1f596;&#x1f3fb;&#x1f47d;) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aiñ, qué triste todo :c

Poison ivy es de mis personajes favs forever.
Las ilustraciones están muy bonitas, me gustaron bastante. ✨

[b (incognito) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to Bridge's Pride Month 2021 Graphic Novel Review Catch-Up Extravaganza!

In the month of June I embarked on a journey to read more graphic novels and comics-- an area of readership that once upon a time seemed to be the focus of every young nerdy man's gatekeeping. No more, I say! I'll be the first to say that comics intimidate the crap out of me. I've always loved superheroes but I never knew where to start and then I saw that this book had been released. DC's "Poison Ivy: Thorns" is a graphic novel YA retelling of Poison Ivy's origin story. Told in beautiful full-color illustrations, we follow a few weeks in the young life of Pamela, a young emotion-driven environmentalist living in a toxic home environment. On the surface, Pamela's life is just like any other teenager's. She starts to grow closer to a sweet girl named Alice, and all Pamela wants to do is save her local park, tend to her greenhouse and help her mom. But once her carefully tended to branches begin to grow, everything in her life begins to spread wildly out of her control.

I adored the storytelling of this graphic novel, it was super quick to read and did not require much prior knowledge of the comic characters. I read "The Duff" by Kody Keplinger wayyy back in high school and it's cool to see her writing within this medium. This was adapted really well into the YA genre, and while paying tribute to the iconic Poison Ivy, Pamela felt like a distinct and intriguing character. I loved that her passion for the environment was so central to her character's arc and although she is definitely a flawed character/almost villain, as a reader I couldn't help but empathize with her pain. This really just is what could happen if an angsty teenager is given supernatural powers. Additionally, Pamela and Alice's love story was surprisingly sweet, and I loved that their humanity was woven into what is otherwise a tragic narrative. The stuff with Pamela's dad was horrifying-- I'm assuming it was true to the original comics but damn I wasn't prepared for that (I'll leave some spoilery content warnings below).
I will say that this story is very simplistic, so if you're used to intricate fantasy I think it's possible to find it lacking a ~je ne sais quoi~ I do hope there will be a continuation because the ending did feel a little lackluster and I'd like to know more about Alice. Lastly, the aesthetic and art style of this book alone is enough to read it over and over. Sara Kipin kept to an earthy color palette that flowed so nicely and really illustrated in places where words weren't enough. Overall I definitely would recommend this book to YA readers looking to get into comics, or those who just love semi-magical sapphic stories!

CONTENT WARNINGS:
(I note these while reading, some may be missing and some may be spoilers)
- kidnapping
- death
- poisoning
- eco-terrorism
- toxic parenting
- abusive father
- misogyny
- slut-shaming

[This Kooky Wildflower Loves a Little Tea and Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this graphic novel, we get to see the DC character in her earlier years and what made her begin her villainous journey. Is she truly villainous or is she misunderstood? I don't care. I enjoyed this story. There's feminism, revenge, Sapphic love and a loving nod to nature. While the illustrations could have pushed a little, I'm not mad at them.

3.5/5

[Erin Quick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly stressed me out the whole time I read this

[Jibug · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s very hard to write about a character’s descent and I don’t think it was successfully done here. It felt rushed and forced. Overall this graphic novel just wasn’t for me. It was very angsty and quite frankly I didn’t like Pamela/Ivy, which I understand she’s the villain but I didn’t even find her interesting at all. She was bland. I find mall goth Alice more compelling and interesting. I would rather read about Alice. Oh! Or a Alice and wonderland crossover with Poison Ivy.

[Carolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

An impressing new story for Poison Ivy’s origin. It’s dark and mysterious, perfectly combining the art to the story. However, the ending was perhaps slightly lazy at dealing with the consequences of their actions.

[Laura]

This graphic novel will appeal to readers who like dark, atmospheric tales with horror and gothic elements, like Wilder Girls by Rory Power and Through the Woods by Emily Carroll.

Read more in my blog post for YALSA’s The Hub here: http://www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/2021/....

[Giacomo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storia che narra le origini di Poison Ivy.
La trama anche se semplice è ben strutturata, regalandoci una lettura nel complesso piacevole.
Belli i disegni, perfetti per i toni e lo stile della storia.

Lettura che consiglio sia per i fan del personaggio, sia per chi voglia conoscerlo attraverso una luce differente.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

blah blah blah gay plantes lesbiana

mersi eloi 🫶

[Viola · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic story for Ivy and great graphic novel too. It's nice to see an origin story that fits the character so well and treats her with respect. It's also a realistic portrayal of what Ivy would be like today as a teenager. She cares about the environment, she's a vegetarian, she wears vintage, thrifted clothes. Ivy's love interest, Alice dresses goth which was also a nice touch, signalling she's also somewhat of an outsider, someone who doesn't seek to fit in. Their conversations felt natural, which is often a complaint about dialogue in YA books, I don't think it was an issue at all here.

The art is beautiful, the mostly green color scheme with the red/orange of Ivy's hair is appropriate and builds atmosphere. Just like the the Gothic aesthetic, not only did it look nice, but it supports the themes of the story. There's definitely Gothic influences: the young female protagonist living in a dark mansion, under the control of her father who is hiding a family secret. Similarly to many Gothic stories Poison Ivy: Thorns isn't just dark in the aesthetic but in content as well, including some bloody content like a true Gothic story tackling serious issues such as abuse, harassment, and bodily autonomy of women and girls. Despite the length, it handles them well, and in an accessible way to the target audience. In addition, there are resources at the back of the book naming organizations who provide aid to people dealing mental health issues, domestic abuse and sexual harassment, which is really important.

A Poison Ivy story is definitely appropriate for bringing up bodily autonomy as her backstory usually involve a man taking advantage of her or experimenting on her without her consent. Seeing her fight back against this was great. Ivy is also a character who is sexualized a lot by creators and fans alike, often overshadowing her humanity. I complain a lot about depictions that simplify her to "sexy plant lady." It doesn't happen anymore as much, but she's still portrayed as a one-dimensional villain too often. I don't necessarily want her to be redeemed completely, but I completely disagree with takes saying she's only interesting as a villain therefore she shouldn't be redeemed. If (a BIG if) writers are able to give her complex characterization while writing her as an antagonist in stories, then by all means, she doesn't have to be completely heroic. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen, in many cases she just ends up doing something bad and seducing people with her powers. She can stay as an antagonist and morally grey character, but without erasing that she is a climate activist and a queer woman.

The latter not happening is another reason why this comic is wonderful, it features a f/f romance (if only the main continuity DC books did this more). Alice and Ivy make a nice couple, and aside from the romance, Alice is someone who supports Ivy and understands her without wanting to change her. This doesn't mean she agrees with all of her actions and doesn't call her out on them, but she gets where Ivy is coming from and doesn't demonize her. Their romance develops quickly, but it wasn't rushed. They are teenagers, and you get the sense Alice fancied Ivy for a while before the events of the book take place. Ivy is lonely and under a lot of pressure, so no wonder she bonded quickly with someone who accepts her and who's very nice to her. You also don't get the sense their relationship is going to be the big defining one for the rest of their lives, but it's a important one nevertheless. I like to think an older Ivy and Alice meeting later or and reconnecting, even if briefly. I'd love to see a continuation of this story too. It deserves it, I think this comic is the best one out of the YA DC comics so far.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poison Ivy: Thorns is a graphic novel and is written by Kody Keplinger and illustrated by Sara Kipin. It is the retelling of the origin story of an enigmatic villainess.

Outside of class, Pamela Isley spends her time at Huxley High School’s greenhouse, which was donated to the school by her mother and at home involved in secret biological experiments with her obsessive scientist father.

While Pamela's ill mother remains absent for most of the book, her influence on Pamela is evident. The teen also cares deeply for a local park set to be deforested, resolves to stand up for herself against a boy's repeated harassment, and excels at the sciences. However, despite her father's warnings that drawing unwanted attention will jeopardize their experiments, Pamela releases a toxic gas to stall construction and opens up to peer Alice, who helps Pamela navigate her harassment and household pressures as the two teens fall in love.

Poison Ivy: Thorns is written and constructed rather well. Keplinger's retelling of the origin story of Pamela Isley, who would one day be known as Poison Ivy, was conceived rather well and brought it to contemporary times. However, in some places the narrative feels hollow, reiterating plot points, relying on dialogue, and implying, rather than exploring, major character motivations. In thin lines and cinematic sequences, though, Kipin uses mundane moments, such as chemistry class, to showcase science-minded Pamela's joy.

All in all, Poison Ivy: Thorns is atmospheric and haunting and a wonderful retelling of Poison Ivy's origin story.

[Amanda Shepard (Between-the-Shelves) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

This was a quick, enjoyable read, and fits along what I've mostly come to expect from DC's line of YA graphic novels. Honestly, I think they're a great way to introduce teens to DC characters in a way that's relatable to them. I would love Marvel to do a similar line, but I don't think they're going to. But I digress!

While some of the mechanics and logistics aren't really explained that much, the characters are well-developed and fleshed out. This art style isn't quite my favorite, but there were some nice panels throughout. Specifically with the plants. I also thought Pamela and Alice had good chemistry together, right from the beginning.

Out of the DC graphic novels I've read, I think this one might also be the most morally ambibuous. It makes for a more interesting story, and also makes the writing engaging to read.

[Anniken Haga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very pleasantly surprised by this! I'm not the biggest YA fan, but I do love Poison Ivy as a character, so I had to give this book a chance, and I'm glad I did!

The artstyle is dark and atmospheric, and while it did a great job at setting the stage, I did find it a little flat at times. Not often, just a few panels, but it was enough that I felt I needed to mention it.
It also made it hard to see the changes hinted at, which I think took away from the story rather to give it anything.

The story in itself was very political - as it should be with Ivy - and hard to read. Not because it was bad, but because it was so real and true and painful. I can see myself ending up in Ivy's shoes, if I went through the things she did. In that sense, I find that this is a pretty good origin story for Poison Ivy - especially regarding the name.
As a fan of the newer Ivy, however, I was a little on the fence regarding the ending, but it is open enough that it can go either way, and I'm glad for that. I can see how this book fits into the same universe as Harleen, actually.

The characters were as good as they could be with such few pages, but I don't think it took away from the story in any way. I really did like the LGBTQ+ lovestory, because it was so casual. I'm all for books exploring coming into yourself stories regarding LGBT+, but I also think that the best way to make it less taboo is to just have it as part of a story and not the main point, as was done here.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

One things I did have a problem with, was the mother. Not in her role or anything, but the general probability of her being able to make any loud sounds or even say a name while incubated. The tube goes down her throat and I can't see her making the noises she did in this story, which kind of take away from the mild horror factor of it all.

[Jadyn❀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure about this one. It’s kind of a hard read, and because it’s a villain origin story, it never really gets all that much easier. I’m not sure this was the right way to deliver a story meant to inspire kids to stand up for themselves, but like I said, villain origin story. It doesn’t really condemn Ivy’s actions.
It was a very quick read though. I think it took me all of 40 minutes. Was that love interest meant to be a take on Black Alice? Whether it was or wasn’t, that was a little bit distracting.
I can definitely see this one finding its audience, though.