DC Poll: Which Version of Poison Ivy Is Your Favorite?

Originally published April 22, 2026. This article covers different versions and appearances of the DC character Poison Ivy.

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It’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature … especially on Earth Day! Just like the seasons, Poison Ivy is constantly changing. She started off as a brilliant botanist and an iconic member of Batman’s Rogues Gallery. Yet she is also willing to turn over a new leaf from time to time.

All across DC media, from comic books and video games to live action and animation, Poison Ivy never fails to ensnare her audience. Are you itching with opinions on the best version of Poison Ivy? Plant your vote below then dig deeper into the DC soil and get to know each stage of Ivy’s complex character growth.

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Silver Age Poison Ivy

• Year: 1966
• Medium: Comic Book

Toward the end of the Silver Age, in Batman #181, Poison Ivy made her very first appearance. With her leafy crown and eye-catching foliage one-piece, Poison Ivy turned heads in every panel. Over the years her powers will fluctuate but this initial appearance established much of what fans love about Dr. Pamela Isley — unique fashion, devastating skills, and passion for plants.

Batman: The Animated Series Poison Ivy

• Year: 1992
• Medium: Television

With her bouncy red hair and sultry voice by Diane Pershing, this Poison Iyy further established the character’s place in the Gotham City pantheon. There’s always an element of tragedy to her downfalls since, ultimately, Ivy just wants humanity to treat plants better. Well, that and maybe die by giant snapping Venus flytrap. Plus, Batman: The Animated Series is where Poison Ivy first met her future love, Harley Quinn.

Batman & Robin Poison Ivy

• Year: 1997
• Medium: Film

In the late ’90s, the seeds of camp officially bloomed on screen. Uma Thurman’s Poison Ivy is a cult classic portrayal of the DC super-villain. Fans remain divided on the film itself, but there’s no doubt about it — you can’t help but love this live-action Poison Ivy (no pheromones needed). Every Poison Ivy costume change in Batman & Robin is inspired, from autumn leaf eyebrows to big hair and thorny bracelets. And as far as entrances go, slipping out of a gorilla suit and into a crowd of wealthy Gothamites is truly unforgettable.

Hush Poison Ivy

• Year: 2002
• Medium: Comic Book

Forget Kryptonite — Poison Ivy is Superman’s green weakness! Similar to her physical appearance in The Long Halloween, Poison Ivy’s look in Hush helped popularize her less-human, more-plant form. Green skin and endlessly trailing ivy tendrils make both looks stunningly iconic. Yet the real floral feat is Poison Ivy’s deft control over Superman. It’s easy to write Poison Ivy off as merely a seductress but, when characterized properly, she’s a master of manipulation.

Arkham Video Games Poison Ivy

• Year: 2009
• Medium: Video Game

Visually, this Poison Ivy is an entirely new direction. Her skin has a more subtle green pallor, with leaf-like markings all across her body. And the red bodysuit is an interesting departure from her usual verdant attire. Moreover, Ivy’s characterization in the Arkham video game series shows the version of her that prefers to remain separate from messy humans. However, when called upon, she’s willing to help out for the right cause.

Harley Quinn Animated Poison Ivy

• Year: 2019
• Medium: Television

Out of Ivy’s many costumes, her regular clothing in the HBO animated series Harley Quinn is relatively normal. A simple dark green jacket goes over leafy leggings while her red hair falls in thick waves. Compared to Harley Quinn’s zany antics, Lake Bell’s Poison Ivy is understated, sticking to sardonic one-liners and a laidback attitude. Still, you don’t want to get on her bad side. Plant zombies are no joke.

Modern Solo Series Poison Ivy

• Year: 2022 (ongoing)
• Medium: Comic Book

In 2022, DC gave Poison Ivy a limited comic book series to promote their Pride stories. Written by G. Willow Wilson and with art by Marcio Takara, the books were so successful that they graduated into an ongoing series. Of any Poison Ivy portrayal, this version is the most nuanced. Ivy grapples with her humanity, feeling (and being) a monster while also a “villain” with a slowly blooming moral compass. She’s not only rediscovering the depth of her powers post-Fear State, but she’s also rediscovering herself. It’s a richly complex journey well worth digging into.

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Poison Ivy has a whole garden’s worth of alluring appearances, so these certainly aren’t the only options out there. She’s been portrayed by multiple actors on the live-action TV shows Gotham and Batwoman. More recently, the DC Absolute books have reimagined Poison Ivy to be more grotesque than seductive, leaning into her botanical science roots.

So which version of Poison Ivy is your favorite? Grow your own garden of DC collectibles then join the conversation with other DC fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!