Interview: Rose, of Poison Ivy League

The following is the transcript of an interview done via Twitter with Rose (@ivygirl851). The inspiration for this interview came after seeing several of her tweets to Tom King regarding Poison Ivys' appearances in his ongoing arc, as well as her recommendation of the latest Birds of Prey issue. My words are preceded by "TJ" while hers are preceded by "RO."

TJ: Thank you for agreeing to my request for an interview. Care to share a bit about yourself? What are some of your interests and aside from Poison Ivy? What are some other characters that you identify with and why?

RO: Hi, my name is Rose and I'm working at a small publishing/printing company. I've been involved in various causes since I was 16, have earned a couple of awards for my previous job at a women's helpline, and I'm a volunteer and activist for social, anti-racist, and feminist causes. I love reading Swamp Thing, Moebius Works, Secret Six, Storm, Batgirl, Philip Druillet, Jean Dufaux, Jodo, Red Sonja, and classic Metal Hurlant/Heavy Metal magazines. 

TJ: How long have you been a Poison Ivy fan, and where did the idea for this online community you're a part of, the Poison Ivy League (PIL) come from? 

RO: I've been a Poison Ivy fan for 15-20 years. Hard to spot the exact period. I've been more active the last 5-6 years. PIL started when a group of friends sharing our love for Ivy met online through twitter and decided to create a tag. The tag and the idea for the group came from @Venomous_Rose a fellow Poison Ivy fan and friend. The idea behind PIL is to promote the character and help new fans discover her.

TJ: What makes Poison Ivy so interesting to you, and how did you begin to consider her to be more a hero than a Villain? Who or what made this character mean something to you?

RO: PIL friends share various ideas about Ivy. Others want her as an antihero, others as a well-rounded villain, and others as a hero. I see more potential in her as a hero because the ideas and messages behind the character: activism, feminism, environmentalism are now more important than ever. Batman could kill the Joker but in the end global warming and pollution will kill us all. Greg Rucka's heroic, anti-authoritarian Poison Ivy in No Man's Land is the one that resonated most with me. And Mr. Rucka is one of the first people that told me that it's worth fighting for a heroic Poison Ivy and I shouldn't give up.

Poison Ivy with Batman in Detective Comics #752.

TJ: In the past few years, how would you describe the treatment and portrayal of Poison Ivy? Who has done her right in your opinion and who are some creators that you'd like to see get the chance to do Poison Ivy that haven't had the chance to before?

RO: Greg Rucka, Gail Simone, Scott Snyder, John Layman, Ann Nocenti, Amy Chu, Christy Marx and many more wrote some excellent Poison Ivy stories. They understand her cause and try to write her as a well rounded character. A character that breathes revolution. Or as Gail Simone said: the last honest person in the world, the one who in the end will save humanity and the planet. I'd like to see Matt Miner, David Gallagher or David Walker to write some stories with her. Or perhaps a Jean Dufaux story drawn by Ana Miralles.

TJ: For people who would be unfamiliar with the character, what are some of the stories that you would recommend to get the best Poison Ivy? What are some of your top Poison Ivy-centric stories and series?

RO: Amy Chu's Poison Ivy mini is a great place to start. I'd add Neil Gaiman's Secret Origins, Ann Nocenti's Cast Shadows, Gail Simone's Batgirl Annual 2, Scott Snyder's All-Star Batman, and Swamp Thing, John Layman's Detective Comics/Gothtopia, Hope Larson's Batgirl and of course the current Birds of Prey by the Bensons which she's a part of. 

Amy Chu, writer of Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death

TJ: Recently, you've been very vocal about some of the treatment Ivy has had in stories. In particular, her role in A War of Jokes & Riddles and Birds of Prey. Can you explain to us how these two contrasting characterizations have made you, as a fan feel?

RO: I'll be honest. I'm very angry about how she's being treated in Batman. Angry and disappointed because Mr. King, a writer who I deeply respect, was promising Poison Ivy fans the exact opposite of what he delivered. He was promising a heroic, independent, non-killer Poison Ivy who'd inspire hope, and wouldn't be just a soldier in a story (his own tweets) and instead presented a soldier/killer-drone for Riddler in a war about male domination in Gotham. I still think he is a great person, a very good and talented writer but I still want to know why he broke all his promises to Ivy fans and decided to go with a version of Ivy that he said he was worried about.

Birds of Prey has a scientist, environmentalist Poison Ivy who plays by her own rules and has her own sense of justice but also she can think clear and in the end she knows what's the best thing to do. It makes sense for her to be a member of a team like BoP because the more straightforward heroic members can help her see a different kind of morality than her own. And the Benson's understand the idea of a modern activist/woman in STEM and incorporate it organically in their book.

Poison Ivy with The Riddler in Batman #26.

Appreciate your voice on this. I got no plans to make her a killer.

— Tom King (@TomKingTK) November 17, 2016

TJ: If you were ever given the chance to write or design a Poison Ivy series, what are some of the key themes would you have and what would her supporting cast look like? Any familiar faces from the Batman or Birds of Prey?

RO: A dream team would be Vixen, Mera, and Poison Ivy. Imagine their powers combined. And all three  share similar ideas and values and are not afraid to play dirty. Or a "Green team " book. Swamp Thing dealing with the supernatural level of threats and Poison Ivy with the more down to earth elements. Like a secret agent for the Green.

The preceding story, has been lightly edited for proper grammar and the format of this blog, and all original intentions and meanings have been kept. If you'd like to know more about the Poison Ivy fanbase, Poison Ivy League, be sure to check the # on Twitter.

In Defense of Comics Rotating Creative Teams (Part 1)

Ask any comic book fan who even occasionally goes on Social Media to discuss their fandom, and if they're honest, they'll tell you that comics has a long way to go when it comes to a lot of important factors in the market of today. These include topics such as in-universe and creative diversity, treatment of marginalized people, and several feminist aspects. Todays' readers are going elsewhere to find what they're looking for and the mainstream is having a hard time playing catch-up.

Recently, I came across one of these threads that got me thinking. A lot of what readers are looking for now can be found readily available in Manga. 

Japanese anime/manga is an eons ahead, as far as being good at catering to female fans' interests. But where else do they win w/ US fans?

— Deb Aoki (@debaoki) July 4, 2017

With the question posed, I saw several answers I agreed with, such as the fulfillment of niche interests and the desire for a complete story that has a beginning, middle, and end which most Big Two characters lack. This can be daunting to newer fans who might want to get into a book, but feel they haven't the "prerequisite knowledge" to fully grasp the current events. Those are understandable concerns.

However, there was one criticism of comics that I disagreed with.

I like the continuity, characters don't become completely different people every few issues whenever a new team takes over.

— Pluiedautomne (@pluiedautomne) July 5, 2017

While, I understand where the apprehension for a new creative team on something you've been enjoying, I actually think this is one of the strengths of comic books and what can bring more readers to a book. In fact, I would even argue that Manga could benefit from such a practice (in some respects), for a couple of different reasons. A good team can turn a floundering character/series around, for one.

Jeff Lemire & Andrea Sorrentino created one of the best Green Arrow series of all-time, after several lackluster runs.

The idea that comic book fans don't like change isn't really a myth. More something, we learn to live with as a fandom. It's also something that I think applies to Manga fans as well. Mangakas craft these worlds and stories with everything (presumably) planned out well in advance. The idea of changing the creator of a world can lead to some...interesting results. But, I don't think that the medium is one that can't find value in this practice.

These include Kim Yale and John Ostrander taking the events of The Killing Joke and using it to further Barbara Gordon, rather than end her or Jeff Lemire expanding on the origin of Oliver as the Green Arrow in his run on the series, and essentially revived a series that, as a GA fan probably should have been cancelled and made it a top book at DC during their run.

And while I do agree with the sentiment that creative changes can sometimes be jarring, that isn't necessarily bad. Deathstroke from both the New 52 and Rebirth lines is a completely different series, but both are enjoyable to read.

Gail Simone has turned Secret Six into a cult-hit. Her interpretation of Catman has also done the character well.

While I would hardly say that every change in Creative is good, I think it's important to note that there are many talented individuals that could bring any number of ideas to iconic characters that are woven into the tapestry of our popular culture. From both the writers and the artists involved, any number of creative teams can be the team to really highlight and develop characters and plot points where needed.

Bad stories can be forgotten, but great stories with great art, can become classics that people revisit for years to come. I think that's a risk worth taking.

Authors' note: This is part one of two in a series, highlighting the effectiveness and positive aspects of Creative Changes in Comics vs. Creator owned material of Manga. Part 2 is a available here.

Red Hood & The Outlaws is the Best Team Book!

Admittedly that's a bold statement, and I want to clarify that this applies only to DC Comics. However, if I were ever going to pick a hill to die on, this would be it (in terms of comics.) I enjoy several team and quasi-team books being released right now, including X-Men: Blue, Green Arrow, and Teen Titans. However, RHaTO hits a different sort of sweet spot that I didn't know I had.

Forming in the aftermath of Flashpoint, the original incarnation focused on "former heroes" bent, but unbroken by their circumstances in life, attempting to do some good in a world unsure of their place. Jason Todd, Koriand'r, and Roy Harper (Red Hood, Starfire, and Arsenal,) fought The Untitled, League of Assassins, aliens, and often each other.

This team was met with lukewarm reception at best, and outright dislike at several choices made for the team. These included the seemingly erased history of Starfire as a Titan, Roy now struggling with alcoholism, and Jasons' role as seemingly Dick Grayson-lite in the series. Over the course of the book, the team would eventually decide to disband--though Arsenal would attempt one last partnership with Red Hood in the short-lived Red Hood/Arsenal. Enter, Rebirth!

Out with the old, in with the new! Red Hood and The Outlaws #40 & #1.

Expectations for the series were, understandably low, as the new series was announced as a part of the Rebirth lineup. Jason had been in underwhelming stories beforehand, Bizzaro was spotty at best, and Artemis had been MIA for years. Still, teaser images and interviews with the creative team beforehand would all prove effective and the final product delivered has become (as I say in the title,) the best team book from DC Comics right now. The Dark Trinity concept, has proven to be a winning formula, delivering something fresh that other books at DC can't deliver.

Aside from one of the best-looking titles out right now, Red Hood & The Outlaws delivers compelling, dysfunctional family drama in a way that I've not seen in a book before. Not only is this dynamic apparent, it's lampshaded regularly, but never hamfisted. With Red Hood and Artemis playing the role of bickering, loving parents and Bizzaro as the shockingly understanding child, it is one of the oddly more humorous books that DC has, but still manages to pack in plenty of action.

Mr. & Mrs. Red. Red Hood & The Outlaws #13

Where volume one of this series felt like two brothers and a girlfriend, volume twos dynamic manages to tug at your heartstrings in a way that I don't think other books can. You empathize with these characters. When Jason is feeling protective of Bizzaro, you are, when Artemis is feeling confused, you are, when Bizzaro wants to help, so do you. It's quite a roller coaster to read, really.

Where books like Justice League, JLA rely on the spectacle of the Worlds' Greatest Heroes gathered for good, Suicide Squad and Green Arrow challenge our perceptions of power, right, and wrong, and Teen Titans and Titans hark back to a familiar time for comic fans, RHaTO doesn't have any of those luxuries and instead focuses more on the new relationships built from new perspectives and watching this unfold has been nothing short of a treat.

This is coming from, I like to think, a place free of bias. While I'm a fan of Red Hood, I'm not against calling out poor writing and the like when I notice it. I had almost no opinion on Bizzaro and Artemis when this began either. I like to imagine this was what it was like reading the first few issues of New Teen Titans when that team was originally introduced.

...Well that was unexpected. Red Hood & The Outlaws #13

Needless to say, I have no idea what to expect going forward and I love that. I have little idea as to the scope of the adventures, what reunions and departures we'll experience. However, I look forward to figuring that out with the rest of the fandom. Hopefully, if you haven't yet, this has encouraged you to pick up the series.

Lex Luthor: Forever Grey

The name Lex Luthor has been synonymous with traditional characterizations of the rich, powerful, and evil men of the world. To fans of Superman in particular, Lex Luthor is the quintessential villain. The opposite of the Big Blue Boyscout in everyway, and ergo a villain to the core. However, since 2013, the minds at DC Comics have done what I can only call a masterful job at painting Lex Luthor with a broader brush than ever before. Lex Luthor may not be the hero that Superman is, but to call Lex Luthor a villain as of late is...surprisingly inaccurate.

Lex Luthor leads the charge to save Earth! Forever Evil #1

In 2013 The Crime Syndicate of Earth-3 invaded Prime Earth, defeated the Justice Leagues, and took control via their army of villains known as The Secret Society of Super Villains. In an unprecedented move, it was Lex Luthor who gathered a group of villains with their own agendas, alongside Batman and Catwoman, to challenge the Syndicate. Lex Luthor saved the world.

A man who, hours ago (or days? Time is weird in comics,) left Ted Kord to die and sacrificed one of his own security guards to test his Superman clone. A man who cried at the death of the aforementioned clone at the hands of Ultraman. Lex Luthor not only saved Earth, but personally saved the life of Superman and went on to join The Justice League--even giving the team a new HQ.

Justice League #30

Many laughed at the idea of Lex truly taking on the role of hero. Most saw this as Lex playing a long game, with some devious plan in mind to further his goals of world domination and global adulation. Yet, four years later and the only thing Luthor has changed is his armor, now wearing a design inspired by a man many consider his antithesis: Superman and claiming to be the newest inheritor of the mantle. However, even Super Lex is still Lex Luthor.

Despite his more heroic leanings, Lex is still a wheeler and dealer of the highest sorts. Recent run-ins with Kong Kenan, Amanda Waller, and Oliver Queen are indicative that Lex has his own view of right and wrong and isn't above stepping down into the muck when necessary. Even as a hero, his rivalry with Superman is quite evident and mutual and there may yet be valid reason for this. Especially considering Lex Luthor has twice been slated to replace Darkseid!

What does the future hold for Lex Luthor? Justice League #45 & #50

Whether as a new God or a staunch member of the Superman Family, the recent evolution of Lex Luthor has been enjoyable to see. For myself, I like this take on "Superman/Lex Luthor." Lex is reminiscent of post-Flashpoint Superman in his recklessness, but his outwardly good intentions and of course adds depth to his interactions with other characters, particularly other characters within the Superman mythos.

At this point it is difficult to say whether Lex will stay on the curved and narrow. His previous justifications for doing good have been motivated by his ego--a powerful motivator for a powerful man. However, maybe his time around heroes can have the lasting impact that keeps Luthor on the right side of the law.

Lex puts it perfectly. Green Arrow #28

I will continue reading, and look forward to seeing what journey Lex is truly on. Whether it be the Hero's Journey or the Villain's Quest. Regardless, I imagine the payoff will be more than worth it and whichever path creators choose to take Lex Luthor, he has already benefited greatly and will likely continue to do so for years to come. Creators now have much to work with on the ever expanding psyche of one of DCs' most iconic figures, and that is worth it's weight in gold to any fan.