Pamela Lillian Isley, better known as Poison Ivy, first appeared in Batman #181 (June 1966), created by Robert Kanigher and Sheldon Moldoff (with artistic influence from Carmine Infantino). Initially portrayed as a seductive femme fatale who used plant-based toxins and mind-control pheromones for criminal schemes, she was inspired by the popularity of female villains like Catwoman. Her early origin involved theft and seduction, but post-*Crisis on Infinite Earths*, it was revised in Neil Gaiman's Secret Origins #36 (1988), establishing her as a brilliant Gotham botanist poisoned by her mentor Jason Woodrue (Floronic Man), transforming her into a plant-human hybrid with chlorophyll blood, toxin immunity, plant control, and pheromone manipulation, connected to the elemental force known as "the Green."
Poison Ivy evolved from a straightforward Batman rogue into a complex eco-terrorist and occasional anti-heroine, driven by radical environmentalism and a desire to protect plant life from humanity's destruction. Key developments include her alliances and romantic partnership with Harley Quinn, which became canon in the New 52 era and a defining aspect of her character; brief reform attempts in stories like No Man's Land; and solo explorations in miniseries such as Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death (2016). Her powers and alignment have fluctuated, often reflecting themes of misandry, compassion for the victimized, and internal conflict between humanity and vegetal instincts.
In recent years, the acclaimed ongoing Poison Ivy series by G. Willow Wilson and Marcio Takara, launched in 2022 and extended multiple times due to strong reception, has delved into her depowered state, body horror, and redemptive journey, including a 2025 annual exploring ancient secrets. As of late 2025, following the DC K.O. crisis event, a major development sees her ascending to mayor of Gotham City starting in Poison Ivy #42 (March 2025), marking a radical shift toward political influence while retaining her core identity as nature's fierce, conflicted guardian.