Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Poison Ivy: Thorns

PAMELA MY BELOVED MAN-HATING LESBIAN! This was fucking sad oh my god! This girl needs so much fucking therapy? But this depiction of her backstory and past before she becomes Poison Ivy was really beautiful. And her falling in love with a girl, handling manipulation by her dad plus her mommy issues, and murdering boys? Icon tbh

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littlecat's review against another edition

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dark mysterious

3.0

The at is okay and very readable.
The story is okay, a bit rushed and over explaining but the heart at the right place.
I kind of wish it was more gothic horror, that is a cool choice for the character.

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thenextgenlibrarian's review against another edition

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dark sad 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

5.0

Pamela really got to me. I felt for her through the whole book. The gothic feel of the artwork and setting made it a whole mood. I love a good origin story too! Great representation with the lgbtq storyline.

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readingwithcats's review

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dark mysterious fast-paced

4.5

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morebedsidebooks's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Living up to its billing, this tense YA graphic novel Poison Ivy: Thorns lays down a quaint, evocative setting delivering a new antihero origin story for the character in gothic style.

Accordingly, the natural plant world and environmental concerns prominently compliment and link well with the book’s main theme. Because teenage Pamela Isely is also suffering. Writer Kody Keplinger, while lifting pages out of gothic literature, likewise takes cues from past roots and digs into some of the ideas around the comic character— namely agency, bodily autonomy, sexuality, and dominance. In Thorns Pamela witnesses and experiences violations and abuse in multiple ways. Dominion, rampant entitlement and misogyny are solid angles to explore and ones that sadly no doubt connect with many readers.

In addition, amongst the secrets, horror and violence comes a love story. Or more a growing intimacy as two young people are further and further entangled in devastating and escalating circumstances. Fellow classmate Alice Oh is a spunky lesbian goth whose been acquainted with Pamela a long time. Though to some extent aware she’s barely scratched the surface when it comes to truly knowing Pamela or the Isleys. Tragedy seems to be part and parcel for Ivy’s character and it should be obvious as this story is a genesis that the relationship is ill-fated. And perhaps a weakness of the book, there is precious little time for either of these young women to process much of anything.

Drawn by artist Sara Kipin, the work strongest with layouts at times sweeping, scenes of the old Isley mansion, school greenhouses or, climatic sections indicate illustrative skill. Alongside colorist Jeremy Lawson brings a demur palate with a vintage feel plus flattering wiry lettering from Steve Wands. Pages where Pamela is in her element also come more alive and vibrant with a shift in her demeanor, presentation, and added hues.

The book doesn’t quite match the level of other DC YA offerings such as Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass from more veteran creators in the medium. Nonetheless Poison Ivy: Thorns is a welcome addition to the Ivy canon. Additionally, a worthy title for Pride reading and on LGBTQ+ shelves.

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