carleeiigh's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't dig the art style, but I ended up enjoying this one quite a bit. The setting is so gothic, the architecture and the way everyone dresses - it gives a great atmosphere. This is one step away from being a haunted house thriller. I think the romance between the two girls is a bit rushed, but the comics itself isn't very long. There's a lot of on the nose scenes about consent and harassment, but I liked how it ended without any shame. Not exactly a revenge fantasy, but good enough for a YA version
jo_wind_sir_xx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rhistutz11's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
graamcracker's review against another edition
3.0
Poison Ivy is one of my favorite DC villains, and so I was excited to read this retelling of her back story. I didn't expect this to be as dark as it was, but overall I really enjoyed it. The illustrations are dark, simplistic and very organic, complimenting the seriousness of the plot perfectly. I loved that Pamela/Ivy's history of plants and caring for the Earth came from her mother, a biologist that instilled her love of plant life in Pam/Ivy. There is also some LGBTQ+ romance in it. I always appreciate seeing LGBTQ+ representation, especially for teens!
There is a strong message of how the world police's women's bodies and the way some men feel they have the right to do as they please, that women should be "grateful" for attention men give them. Nature is a parallel metaphor for women's bodies, and how mankind/men feel entitled to do whatever they want with it. Pamela/Ivy learns to stand up for herself and fight against these men, taking back her power in the end (and ultimately becoming her true self of Ivy). Kody Keplinger includes different resources on domestic violence and sexual abuse readers can use if needed, which is extremely important and I appreciated this inclusion.
I would recommend this to teen readers, especially those interested in darker comics/stories and moody settings. DC fans may appreciate it, but this story could also be enjoyed by those who are completely new to the DC Universe and Poison Ivy.
There is a strong message of how the world police's women's bodies and the way some men feel they have the right to do as they please, that women should be "grateful" for attention men give them. Nature is a parallel metaphor for women's bodies, and how mankind/men feel entitled to do whatever they want with it. Pamela/Ivy learns to stand up for herself and fight against these men, taking back her power in the end (and ultimately becoming her true self of Ivy). Kody Keplinger includes different resources on domestic violence and sexual abuse readers can use if needed, which is extremely important and I appreciated this inclusion.
I would recommend this to teen readers, especially those interested in darker comics/stories and moody settings. DC fans may appreciate it, but this story could also be enjoyed by those who are completely new to the DC Universe and Poison Ivy.
arianamadison's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
grid's review against another edition
4.0
This was… fine. I’ve never really liked poison ivy as a character. She just feels like a stereotype. This did a good job giving her a backstory that felt like a believable supervillain origin. Well, hand-wavy science aside.
kaia8523's review against another edition
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Loved it! Great work/art work lbgtq
laissezfarrell's review against another edition
4.0
Perhaps grading on a curve but I’m always a sucker for different riffs on an established character, and mashing the superhero genre up with others.