“Poison Ivy” – Chapter Twenty Two
Artist: Haining
Color Artist: Arif Prianto
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Review by Fay Clark
A cliffhanger you say? Ahhh yes, the staple of making sure readers come back to find out what happens next. That’s why Ivy was lying on the floor dying, the last time we saw her. Can she get up and fight for her loved ones and the fate of Gotham in Poison Ivy #22?
Your words will never hurt me.
G. Willow Wilson and I need to sit down for a chat. I have no idea how she continues to come up with such interesting storylines, but my personal favorite thing about her writing is the one liners, the quips that keep coming out of nowhere. When all seems lost… there comes another one; just a subtle glimpse of humor and levity.
That’s all you need to keep the heroine going. In this issue, there are several moments like that. Just keep the light shining in the dark, that’s what’s going to help keep The Green strong.
We see amazing connections between the characters, too. It’s almost as if villains have multiple layers to them, and they’re not all pure evil. When you feel more safe with the villains of a town than the heroes… something terrible must have occurred, right?
The way Wilson writes these characters is amazing. They’re independent in their thoughts and needs yet they stand strong against all odds for those unable to stand for themselves. It’s a lesson in how to write layered, human emotions.
Powerful Plantess
Trying to come up with words to describe what Haining has drawn is very difficult, as it’s so epic that I can’t think of what to say. Going into this issue, I knew there would be some amazing final boss battle scenes, but to see them in all their glory was magnificent.
Haining has outdone herself. Showing that much detail,l with every single thing in the foreground and background meaning something, moving or flowing into the fight. I don’t know how it was done, it must have taken weeks to draw.
Adding in Arif Prianto’s color work is always going to elevate the page. The stunning greens and red hues used through the series have all culminated in this issue. Staring at the pages for 3 hours wouldn’t give you enough time to look at each panel and see everything. The mastery of art in this comic is breathtaking.
Conclusion
I have no idea where we can go from here. Yet again G. Willow Wilson has left us on a cliffhanger with Poison Ivy #22. Our girl is fighting for her life, so I’ll be there come sun or storm to see how she fares.
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment