“Poison Ivy” – Chapter Seventeen
Line & Color Artist: Luana Vecchio
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Review by Fay Clark
Poison Ivy has really been living up to her name in recent issues. Right now, she’s filled to the brim with a toxin that’s slowly killing her and almost everything she comes into contact with. This should be a fun-happy-time issue… so let’s talk about Poison Ivy #17.
Bliss and Battlefields
Once again, G. Willow Wilson has given me things I didn’t know I needed in my life. The cute little homely scenes of Pam and Harley will always make me giggle. Seeing them together, finally happy and content is amazing. Wilson writes Janet from HR brilliantly. Everything the character does and every line she speaks makes me want more of Janet all of the time. From now on, Janet cannot just be a side character, she’s main character material, and we all know it. This issue shows off just how amazing she is.
The second half of the book’s a riot. We see characters that I would never think would appear in a Poison Ivy run. Wilson’s using all her creative licenses. The cutest scene in this issue was between Ivy and Croc, and you cannot convince me otherwise. G. Willow Wilson is fleshing out these characters for the long term… and I love it.
Soft and Swishy
The guest artistic work of Luana Vecchio was a welcome surprise. I knew instantly this wasn’t our normal art or color team. Luana has such a beautifully soft quality to her work. All the characters have kept the looks that have been established for them, but they have a softer feel. We see fewer harsh lines and more flowy strokes. The colors are vibrant and stunning, and Vecchio has really leaned into focusing on Ivy’s flowing red locks. This seems to be a focal point for her version of this character. A whole mess of red hair, with a mixture of greens surrounding it. I loved this artistic mix-up and hope she comes back for more guest spots in this series.
Conclusion
Poison Ivy #17 is heartwarming and furthers the character and ongoing plot. We get surprises and intrigue, new characters, and old favorites. It gives readers everything they could ever want for an Ivy comic… and more.
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment