Writer: G Willow Wilson
Artist: Marcio Takara
Colorist: Arif Prianto
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Cover Artists: Jessica Fong, Kyuyong Eom, Manny Vincent Carbonilla, Noobovich, Jorge Jiménez & Leirix
Editors: Jessica Berbey, Arianna Turturro & Rob Levin
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock
Release Date: March 4, 2026
People struggle to understand Poison Ivy. As Bog Venus told her, “You are not fully Human.” Pamela Isley has hurt her friends. She threatened to kill Janet from HR. While flooded by stimuli from the world around her, Poison Ivy struggles to retain her connections to Humanity.
After she attacked a petrochemical company on his turf, Police Commissioner Vandal Savage offered Pamela Isley a way to stay out of jail. But that option went off the table when she killed his Crime Prevention Technology Czar for depriving at-risk neighborhoods of water. After the cellphone video of the fight goes viral, is Pamela Isley too toxic for Gotham? Or might she be the right person to turn the city around? Let's grab a mug of Ghost Pipe tea, leap into Poison Ivy #42, and see!
Story
Juhi Prakesh is an interdepartmental liaison for the mayor’s office. When Janet from HR wanted the mayor to help arrange bail, Juhi told her to go away. But spending time in jail proved beneficial for Pamela Isley. Warren White, the crime boss known as Great White Shark, advised her on how to leverage her online popularity. Juhi still struggles to believe that Pamela transitioned from murderer to mayor. But then, Juhi believes that the only thing that separates us from savagery is the law.
Pamela Isley knows something of savagery. But her definition involves people abusing the planet more than hurting each other. In Poison Ivy #42, Pamela must negotiate with the Police Commissioner who hit and choked her, and the city council that allows companies to pollute the Earth. She’s not used to having a fixed abode or enjoying widespread popularity. Still, Poison Ivy thrives on wielding power.
Recently, Vandal Savage unleashed his private army on Gotham. He looked the other way when abusive police officers rewarded minor crimes with draconian measures. Police use automated surveillance and AI to reorder people's daily lives. With everything in nature constantly trying to kill each other, Pamela Isley recognizes the importance of balance. In G Willow Wilson's story, Pamela aims to reduce Vandal Savage's control over people's lives. Still, she knows that balancing the needs of a large city with nature while maintaining her newfound popularity is no easy task.
Art
Seated at her wooden desk, Ivy pinches an American flag, as if reconsidering what it means to her. Plants obscure the cityscape beyond the wall windows, and perch or sprawl across the desk. After their previous encounter, Juhi retreats from the office as Commissioner Savage enters. Both leaders look uncomfortable and reluctant to face each other. Then Vandal and Pamela plant their hands on the desk, lean forward, and glare at each other.
Arif Prianto applies a palette of soft, welcoming tones to Marcio Takara’s art in Poison Ivy #42. As Pamela leads her entourage past cheering crowds, Peter Undine and Great White Shark’s black suits and white shirts link with the framing silhouettes of microphones and a film camera. After Pamela rescued her from the brink of death, Janet from HR appears reborn in her glowing white suit. But clad in her green business attire, Pamela’s body language suggests that she’s on high alert.
Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou fills white and colored balloons with uppercase and lowercase dialogue. Pamela's thoughts appear as lowercase black letters in green boxes. The letters grow bold for intonation and shrink for lowered voices. Dialogue occasionally shrugs off boundaries to overlay backgrounds and characters. While raised voices enlarge the dialogue, emotional intensity deforms balloons and arrows. Janet from HR may dislike Juhi. Still, the interdepartmental liaison grabs Mayor Isley's attention with vibrant sound effects in Poison Ivy #42. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.
Final Thoughts
The Green and the Gray, elemental forces that rule nature, appointed Pamela Isley as their representative among Humans. Bog Venus may have infected Janet from HR with a deadly infection and tried to use her against Pamela. Still, Pamela's response breached the bounds of acceptable behavior. As dangers mount without and within, Pamela grows more determined to capitalize on her sacrifices by forging a balance between Gotham and nature in Poison Ivy #42.
Rating 9.4/10
To look inside see my preview of Poison Ivy #42.
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