TDKPH villain of the month -- Poison Ivy

During an experiment gone wrong, Dr. Pamela Lillian Isley had a close encounter with biological toxins which transformed her into a plant/human hybrid. With her new powers, she can control plants with her brain. She can also seduce and control man by releasing spores that can infect them. Unlike any villains, Poison Ivy has a goal to save greens from anyone who would harm it. She has been a member of the Gotham City Sirens, the Injustice League, the Injustice Gang, the Secret Society of Super-Villains, and the Suicide Squad. 

She first appeared in Batman #181 (1966). As the new villain in town, she had to make a name for herself. What better way to gather attention by taking on the group of self-proclaimed Public Enemies Number One, Two, and Three--Dragon Fly, Silken Spider, and Tiger Moth. 

After Crisis on Infinite Earth, her origin was revised a bit. Pamela Isley studied biochemistry under Jason Woodrue, which would later on be known as The Floronic Man. When he was fascinated by her brilliance, he poisoned her and thus altering her body chemistry. With this transformation, Pamela became immune to all toxins. The only backlash is that this immunity would eventually push her to the brink of insanity.

After which, she decided to be take the Poison Ivy persona. As Poison Ivy, she took a stand to protect and preserve plant life at all costs.

With this new found purpose, she would rob banks in order to fund her experiments. She learned how to use and produce scents that would affect people in specific ways. Heck, even Batman fell countless of times over her spells. Later on, she would experiment on pheromones to control people using her mind. Yes, indeed, persuasion is her best weapon. Through the years, her powers to create life forms would manifest. Even though she teamed up with a lot of villains and a lot of villainous groups, she realizes that she has a different mission in life. Teaming up with the likes of The Riddler and Amanda Waller made her feel incomplete since she was more concerned with preserving Mother Nature.

Art by Filipino artist, Carlo Pagulayan

Her origin was again tinkered with during the New 52 relaunch. Instead of being a product of an experimentation, Pamela was born with a rare skin disease. Her mother was a victim of maltreatment. Her father would occasionally beat Pamela's mother and apologize by giving her flowers. Here, Pamela learned that flowers can control the human brain. After her mother's death at the hands of his father, Pamela sought refuge to education. However, when she entered college, she would drown herself to drugs, sex, and alcohol. Here, she learned how to use her skin disease to seduce any person my making them believe that she is the object of their desires.

Today, DC is trying to groom Poison Ivy into becoming another Harley Quinn. With her new book, Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death, it seems that DC is investing on her to bring in new readers. Well, we couldn't fault them for this strategy. I mean, just look at her, Poison Ivy can be the next Pamela Anderson--the object of every man's desire, and the role model to every independent woman.