Poison Ivy is a DC Comics supervillain, an enemy of Batman. Created by Robert Kanigher, she first appeared in Batman #181 (1966).

Dressed in a sexy, green costume, Poison Ivy is obsessed with botany. She draws toxins and potions from plants, which she uses for her crimes. Ultimately, she seeks to destroy human life and create a world ruled by plants. She is usually portrayed as a seductress and uses her sex appeal to her advantage.

Poison Ivy did not immediately catch on after her first appearance, but slowly rose to stature, with further appearances in the Batman comic book series and in Suicide Squad. She was played by Uma Thurman in the 1997 film Batman and Robin.

Full History

Creator Robert Kanigher modeled Poison Ivy after Bettie Page, giving her the same haircut and Southern drawl as Page. In her first appearances in 1966, no origin was developed; she was merely a temptress. At her first appearance, her costume was a one-piece, strapless green bathing suit, covered with leaves. Leaves also formed her bracelets, necklace and crown. She also wore green high heels and yellow-green nylon stockings with leaves painted on them. These particulars changed somewhat when she re-appeared.

Failing to catch on as a character, she was not heard of until the rise of feminism brought the need for a greater number of more independent female villains in the series. Then her origin story was concocted.

Dr. Pamela Lillian Isley, a botanist from Seattle, was once a very intelligent scientist who knew just about everything about plants. That is, until a scientist named Jason Woodrue (aka Floronic Man) conducted experiments upon her. The experiments placed toxins in her blood stream that make her touch deadly and allow her to be immune to all poisons, viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Thus, she became Poison Ivy.

Poison Ivy is a very attractive red-headed woman who is known to be able to seduce men and women alike with useful plant toxins. She specialized in hybrids and can create the most potently powerful toxins in Gotham.

She has been known to carry a cross-bow and a vine whip which she also has used as a lasso. At times, the vine has had thorns on it. She also occasionally uses hand thrown and blowpipe launched poisoned darts.

She also has been friends with Harley Quinn, the current girlfriend of The Joker.

In Other Media

In Batman: The Animated Series and spin-offs, Poison Ivy was voice-acted by Diane Pershing.

Uma Thurman played Poison Ivy in the film Batman and Robin.

In the new Warner Brothers animated tv show, The Batman, the role of Poison Ivy was voice-acted by Piera Coppola.