Cast Shadows

Batman & Poison Ivy: Cast Shadows

2004

Poison Ivy believe it or not is not really an old Batman villain. Created in the mid sixties, her resonance is a product of the occasional scheme and the tactile imagination of prepubescent boys who wondered what it would feel like to be one of the leaves that made up her costume. This was enough to earn her a few villainous episodes in Filmation's Batman series--the one with Bat-Mite, cosmos help us all--and a sitting position on the Legion of Doom. The reason why Poison Ivy is believed to be a classic Batman villain, a character who ironically made more trouble in the post-Crisis than pre-Crisis, can be credited to the Bruce Timm animated series.The concept of she being an ecoterrorist who may or may not long for Harley Quinn, the Joker's henchwench, is pure animated bliss. None of these additions or rather definitions has ever been part of her comic book history. Neil Gaiman in The Black Orchid reintroduced her to the world of comics. He was the first to institute her in Arkham, but it was Timm and Company who created the template embraced by all subsequent versions. Ann Nocenti is a name more familiar to Marvel zombies than DC Heads. She is the creator of Typhoid Mary who Brian Bendis apparently remembers as a lobotomized mime prone to saying things like "Schmooopie." Ms. Nocenti's Typhoid Mary was instead one of the most complex female characters in comic books and made Elektra seem by comparison positively shallow. Her experience with such disturbed figures made me very interested to see how she would deal with Poison Ivy.Ms. Nocenti comprises all facets of the various incarnations of Ivy into one whole multidimensional being. She preserves Ivy's attraction to Batman, which was originally this character's core obsession. She keeps Ivy's richer personality from the animated series, but she softens both aspects to show how rehabilitation in the proper sense is not a metaphor for losing identity. Ms. Nocenti's Ivy is becoming more than what she was, and her recovery is partially due to Batman's intervention.For some reason, I just knew Ms. Nocenti wouldn't bore readers with the clunky or psychotic Batman. Her Batman is a far deeper character who is more interested in saving lives than avenging death. Ms. Nocenti's Batman is constantly thinking. His dialogue is phrased in such a unique fashion that an illusion forms behind the speech balloons. I received the impression of a whirlpool of theories Batman examines before determining his sentences. Tim Burton chose Michael Keaton partially because of his eyes. When you look at them, you see something going on behind them. Verbally and visually Ms. Nocenti alludes to Mr. Keaton's eyes. Case in point: when Batman takes Ivy for a leap, there's so much more behind the scene than is spoken or shown on the page. Batman and Ivy are attracted to each other. This is the way Batman normally travels, but he knows the effect his normalcy will have on somebody unfamiliar with the mode of transport. He hopes to thrill Ivy and dazzle her, but even this is not the end of the meaning behind his actions. Batman also wants to thrill her to induce vulnerability so that he can root out the truth in her words. He also hopes that Ivy in her truth will show her reform. That would thrill Batman.Apart from the hidden complexity motivating these two characters whose shared history is mostly illusory, Ms. Nocenti creates a credible, original plot that simultaneously provides sympathy and intent for Ivy. This unusual story is aided by equally unusual artwork. John Van Fleet uses oodles of techniques to get across a strange mimicry of real life. Paintings, pen and ink, digital illustration all combine to create an aesthetic production that adapts Ms. Nocenti's direction.Ann Nocenti and John Van Fleet work beautifully together to create a unique adventure with a strong hybridized Poison Ivy and a Batman more appreciative of light than darkness.