WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for Poison Ivy #27!
Poison Ivy’spheromone manipulation powers have officially returned to canon after years of being absent following the loss of her abilities. With their return, Ivy is wasting no time reminding fans of her most unique superpower and how it helped earn her status as a sex symbol and one of DC’s most overpowered villains.
G. Willow Wilson’sPoison Ivyrun is perhaps most notable in the Gotham City Siren’s comic history for stripping her of her signature plant and pheromone manipulation powers. However, Ivy’s abilities were restored atthe end ofPoison Ivy#24, following her death and rebirth.
While she quickly embraced her plant manipulation powers, it wasn’t until issue #27—by Wilson, Steve Orlando, Marcio Takara, Pop Mhan, and Arif Prianto—that fans saw Ivy use her pheromone powers. For decades,these powers have allowed her to release chemicals that manipulate the emotions and behavior of others, essentially functioning as a powerful sedative or form of mind control.
Poison Ivy Brings Back Her Pheromone Powers, Cementing Her Status as a Sex Symbol
Ivy’s Pheromone Powers Allow Her to Manipulate the Emotions & Actions of Others
InPoison Ivy#27, Ivy’s pheromone powers make their return when she investigates the crime scene of an eco-terrorist bombing carried out in her name. As she approaches the scene, an officer tries to stop her, but before he can finish his sentence,Ivy releases her pheromones, sending him into a peaceful sleep. She notes that the only side effect will be a raging headache. The fact that this all happens without Ivy lifting a finger and in a matter of seconds highlights just how overpowered this ability is—a point she reinforces when she reflects that it makes her feel “powerful.”
Through Ivy’s internal dialogue, readers learn that her pheromone manipulation abilities are a direct result of the combination of plant pheromones and biotoxins now available to her after her rebirth. This return of power is significant, not only for its narrative weight but also as a reminder of what contributed to Ivy’s iconic sex symbol status. While much of her allure stems from her beauty, provocative costumes, and seductive personality, her pheromone manipulation has also played a crucial role.Historically, Ivy has used her powers to primarily manipulate men, infecting them with her pheromones through touch and verbally commanding them (typically with a suggestive undertone) to do her bidding.
After 58 Years, DC Reveals the Mind-Bending Truth of Poison Ivy’s Origin
Poison Ivy’s power transformed her entire body, giving her a deafening connection to the planet that she could not ignore - even for Batman.
Poison Ivy’s Pheromone Powers Complement Her New Anti-Hero Character Evolution
Poison Ivy Is Making a Commendable Effort to be Less Deadly
While Ivy’s pheromone manipulation powers are undeniably linked to her sex appeal, it seems thatWilson may now be trying to associate these abilities with Ivy’s evolving anti-hero arc.For years now, DC has been subtly shifting Ivy away from her villainous roots, instead portraying her as a more morally complex character aligned with the ideals of an anti-hero. This shift is particularly evident in Wilson’sPoison Ivy / Swamp Thing: Feral Treesone-shot and the ongoingPoison Ivyseries, where Ivy’s deep hatred for humans and their destructive impact on Earth has become more focused, targeting the wealthy rather than humanity as a whole.
In this context, Ivy’s use of her pheromone manipulation powers further aligns with her anti-hero persona. The first time she uses these powers since regaining them, she employs them in the most passive way imaginable. While Ivy’s plant pheromones and biotoxins are capable of maiming, killing, and controlling others, she chooses to use them merely to put a cop to sleep—perhaps the gentlest use of her powers she could have chosen.This more restrained approach is more in line with an anti-hero than a villain, reflecting her ongoing evolution in the narrative.
Like It or Not, Poison Ivy Is a Villain Through and Through
DC may be eager to rebrand Poison Ivy as their next anti-hero, but for many fans, this shift feels like a betrayal of everything that defines her.
The Most ICONIC Use of Ivy’s Pheromone Powers Was InBatman: Hush
Poison Ivy Cemented Her Status as a Top Tier Villain By Beating Superman
Poison Ivy’s use of her pheromone manipulation in a passive, non-aggressive way in issue #27 doesn’t lessen the inherent danger of this power. If Ivy chooses, she can wield it to cause complete chaos and become a significant threat. The sheer potential of her pheromone abilities is best demonstrated in Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee’sHushstoryline, where Ivy uses a Kryptonite-laced lipstick toinfect Superman with her pheromones, mind-controlling him with the order to kill Batman and Catwoman. This instance of Ivy controlling one of the most powerful beings on Earth highlights just how overpowered this ability truly is. DC’s heroes are fortunate, then, thatPoison Ivyis currently choosing to play nice.
Poison Ivy #27is available now from DC Comics!
Poison Ivy
Inducted into Batman’s rogues gallery in the 1960s, Poison Ivy is a metahuman who terrorizes Gotham with her poisonous touch and control over plant life. A misanthropic eco-terrorist, Poison Ivy is also depicted as an anti-hero, using her powers in attempts to regrow the environment in the wake of pollution and deforestation. Together with her lover Harley Quinn, the two are always ready to wreak havoc in Gotham.
