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.