Imaginext - POISON IVY!

Imaginext - DC Super Friends - Rivals Pack - Poison Ivy - Fisher-Price 2024

Poison Ivy has been having a bit of a renaissance in the comics recently. Her ongoing solo title is up to issue #26 already and is developing her character in new and interesting ways. The art by Marcio Takara is amazing and the first story arc is reminiscent to The Last of Us, which is gloriously dark. I've even been hearing comic shop chatter about Ivy being in the next Batman film. To be clear, people are wishing for her to be the next film villain. And I would love that too. Similar to Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy is another character that is often sanitized for young audiences. It's easy to reimagine her as a mild troublemaker snaring her foes with vines and pollen rather than a ruthless eco-terrorist leaving a trail of bodies in her wake. But at least Poison Ivy's slightly wicked persona stays pretty consistent regardless of the target audience. This Imaginext figure represents Ivy in the newest DC Girls launch. Time will tell if this is simply a Fisher-Price theme or a wider multi-media push. Let's check out Ivy below!

MAFEX - Batman: Hush - POISON IVY!

MAFEX #198 - Batman: Hush (Jim Lee) - Poison Ivy - Medicom Toys 2023

2002 was an eventful year for me. I had graduated college the year before, but the world was in turmoil so my adult life was a little delayed. In 2002 I moved to a city, launched my career, had my first mature relationship, and once I accepted that my life was (somewhat) stable, I began resurrecting my old hobbies that I hadn't indulged since high school. I suddenly had access to comic book stores again and there was a bit of a renaissance happening. My favorite titles on the shelves that year were Darwyn Cooke's Catwoman, Mike Allred's X-Force, Olivier Coipel's Legion, and of course Jim Lee's Hush storyline in Batman. With a rogue's gallery as impressive as Batman's, it's shocking that no one had attempted a storyline that brought them all together before. Hush was special because, despite it's huge cast, each character truly got to shine. The writing, art, and complex character histories were a recipe for a perfect comic event. It was so impactful that we're still getting merchandise 20-plus years later.

DC Direct - POISON IVY!

Secret Files Series 3: Batman Rogues Gallery 2 - Poison Ivy - DC Direct 2008

When I was reviewing the recent Uma Thurman Poison Ivy earlier this week, I was surprised to realize that I had never made a post on my all-time favorite Poison Ivy figure. It's possible that the new McFarlane figure might take that title, but I'll have to reassess when the newness wears off. But without a doubt my favorite Poison Ivy figure for the past 15 years has been this 2008 DC Direct figure based on her iconic Brian Bolland cover. I often feel that toys of Poison Ivy fail to capture her essence. Usually they look either too sexy or too bland. I think the perfect recipe is to have her looking stern and statuesque... with a touch of indifference and vindictiveness on her face. The overall result is indeed sexy, but not because of exposed skin or pouty lips. Ivy's seductive appeal was always in her voice, body language, and coldness. Brian Bolland captured this well on the cover of Gotham Knights #15 (2001) and the brilliant Jack Matthews translated that image into plastic. She's gorgeous. Let's check out Poison Ivy below!

Batman & Robin - POISON IVY!

DC Multiverse - Batman & Robin (Mr. Freeze CtB) - Poison Ivy - McFarlane 2023

Batman & Robin (1997) was a unique theatre experience for me. This was the first movie I ever saw that got a horrible public response that I just didn't understand. I thought it was fun. Sure, if I went in expecting a darker moody film like Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992), I would have been very confused. But Batman Forever (1995) signaled the shift to a campier, more colorful tone. So Batman & Robin met (exceeded?) my expectations. I was excited to see Batgirl and Poison Ivy on the big screen, and was pleasantly surprised by additional characters like Floronic Man, Bane, and even an obscure Scarecrow cameo. I think Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy stole the show though. She was so over-the-top with witty entendres and a Mae West vibe. Plus she had a ton a screen time and several iconic costumes. Frankly it's shocking that she hasn't had a proper action figure before now. The Funko Pop from 2020 was the frontrunner before this McFarlane perfection. Let's check out Poison Ivy below!

A Busy Year of DC Heroines from IMAGINEXT!

An Assortment of Imaginext DC Super Friends Ladies - Fisher-Price 2022

The DC Super Friends Imaginext line from Fisher-Price is still going strong eleven years after I bought my first figure (Catwoman). I don't often post about these figures when I acquire them, but trust me I am quite the completist. There are new sculpts released occasionally. But for the most part, the line subsists on clever (and sometimes not-so-clever) re-use of existing sculpts. For instance, there is a newly sculpted Man-Bat hitting stores right now, but 99% of the figures on the shelves (including all 10 in this post) are simple redecos. The big gimmick in 2022 was the use of transparent plastics (aka "Bat-Tech"). The figures utilize light wells, often with holes cut in their capes, and accessories or playsets with pinpointed light sources to illuminate your figures from behind. It's a fun upgrade that has given us a handful of color variants (which I gladly purchase). I'm personally most excited about an upcoming Stephanie Brown redeco of Batgirl, a character who is shamefully underrepresented in plastic.

DC Gallery - POISON IVY!

DC Gallery - PVC Statue Series - Poison Ivy - Diamond Select Toys 2020

Poison Ivy is one of those characters that is very hit-or-miss with merchandise. I personally feel that most of her products are a miss. The interesting thing about the personality of Pamela Isley is that she exudes a sense of cold sensuality and seductiveness, but without the obvious tropes of gravity-defying cleavage or tarty makeup. Not that those things are bad, but they just seem out of character for Poison Ivy. When I first saw this DC Gallery PVC statue from Diamond Select back in 2020, I remember not giving it much thought. I (wrongly) thought her legs looked stubby and I thought the base was too large for my personal aesthetics. But then a month ago I saw her in a display case in a comic shop and was suddenly mesmerized by how good the sculpt was. She seems lost in some deep Botticelli-esque botanical ecstasy, and I can't take my eyes off her. The flower base and flowing hair create a sense of movement that makes for dynamic views from any angle. She is amazing. Let's check out Poison Ivy below!

The Batman - POISON IVY!

The Batman - EXP (Extreme Power) - Arkham Asylum Multi-Pack - Mattel 2006

Of all the various Batman animated shows and movies, I think my favorite character designs are from 2004's The Batman. For the first time, the characters seemed to have individualized designs as opposed to a formulaic look. Don't get me wrong, BTAS and TNBA were groundbreaking and looked great. But the female characters all essentially shared the same body and facial characteristics. In The Batman, Jeff Matsuda's character designs were really diverse. They were all different shapes and sizes, and even looked like they incorporated different illustration styles altogether. Poison Ivy is my favorite of the bunch. She looks heavily inspired by Ted Naifeh's early Gloomcookie art, and it really suits her. Her action figure is one of the more exclusive ones released. She was readily available and I would see her in stores often, but she only came in two multipacks and never saw single release like most characters. But she's totally worth the bulk purchase. Let's check out Poison Ivy below!

Funko POP Uma Thurman POISON IVY!

POP! Heroes #343 – Batman & Robin: Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman) – Funko 2020

I've always thought it was such a crime that the 1990s Batman movies were so under-merchandised. Sure, there was a handful of action figures back then, but the effort was weak (and almost unrecognizable in the case of Poison Ivy). With all the revisited properties filling the shelves in the last decade, It's hard to believe we haven't seen a movie Poison Ivy since 1997. So I was extremely excited to see her merchandised after over twenty years. This Funko Pop is part of the Funko Specialty Series exclusive to small vendors like comic and toy shops. Maybe now that the licensing ball is rolling we might finally get a proper action figure of her. (But my hopes aren't too high for McFarlane to pull through). I think the most exciting next step will be an Alicia Silverstone Batgirl Pop, which I predict will be revealed in the next year (fingers crossed!). Uma Thurman rocked quite a few memorable looks in Batman & Robin, but I think this cone-haired one is the most iconic. Let's check out Poison Ivy below!

Batman the Animated Series - POISON IVY!

Batman the Animated Series #49 - Poison Ivy - DC Collectibles 2019

One of the biggest disappointments in my adult collecting life would have to be the release of the 2017 Batman the Animated Series GCPD Rogues Gallery 5-Pack. This deluxe set retailed for a prohibitive $175.00 and featured the final figure I needed for my personal favorites collection: BTAS Poison Ivy (and as an added insult:  $175 ÷ 5 = $35, which was noticeably more than the single release figures at the time). I almost caved a dozen times over the years and bought the whole set. And on eBay the single figures were almost always over 80 bucks. But I had faith that DC Collectibles would eventually re-release her in a single, or at the very least a Gotham Girls set. It took a little over two years, but I finally have her in my greedy little hands. And while this particular animated likeness isn't the strongest in the line (the face and hair from most angles seems a little off), it's still very good and I'm ecstatic to finally have her in my collection. Now I'm wishing for a Huntress in the JLA line! Let's check out Poison Ivy below!

Two Years of DC Heroines from IMAGINEXT!

An Assortment of Imaginext DC Super Friends Ladies - Fisher-Price 2018-2019

I love Imaginext so much but I get overwhelmed with the sheer amount of figures I've collected over the years. So this post is collecting 23 amazing DC Super Friends ladies I've assembled over the past two years (and there are at least two I couldn't locate amidst my clutter to photograph).  I'm exhausted from editing 214 photos, but giddy about having them all unpackaged now. Way back in early 2012, the release of the Imaginext Catwoman was the push I needed to start this blog - which is funny because I never ended up reviewing that particular figure. But every time there is a new release I feel a nostalgic sense of excitement. The presence of female characters in the line is increasing at a shocking rate, and the two female-centric 6-packs in 2018 is a perfect example of Imaginext's new focus on gender inclusion. It was a very slow trickle for may years, but lately it's been an absolute flood (and I couldn't be happier about it). Let's check out two years of DC Imaginext ladies below!

Eaglemoss BTAS - GOTHAM GIRLS!

DC Super Hero Collection - BTAS Gotham Girls - HeroCollector/Eaglemoss 2019

Batman the Animated Series did wondrous things for the female contingent of the Batman universe. Sure, Catwoman was a pretty major presence in the comics at the time (She recently had her first self-titled comic mini-series and she starred in Batman Returns just a few months before the BTAS debut), but Poison Ivy was practically forgotten and Batgirl had recently been paralyzed. Then BTAS burst onto the scene and made them all major players again, and of course the cartoon soon introduced us to the iconic Harley Quinn. Not only did these characters suddenly have a higher public profile, but their personalities and relationships with each other were developed into the intriguing dynamic we still see today. I was really excited when Eaglemoss first started soliciting this BTAS sub-line of the DC Super Hero Collection, I had hopes to get all four of the main girls, and thankfully my wishes were fulfilled. (Now I will patiently wait for The New Adventures of Batman versions). Let's check out the ladies below!

Batman Universe Busts - GOTHAM CITY SIRENS!

Batman Universe Busts #3 Harley, Catwoman #5, Poison Ivy #8 - Eaglemoss 2019

I have a backlog of Eaglemoss products I've been dying to review forever. Last weekend I finally unpackaged a ton of my hoarded busts and figurines and photographed them and now I'm excited to post them all. For sake of brevity I will be lumping certain ones into groups, and the most logical grouping to me is the Gotham City Sirens trio of Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn. As much as this trifecta seems timeless, I did some research and discovered that Catwoman and Poison Ivy only ever crossed paths five times in the 27 years leading up to Batman the Animated Series (and I didn't actually read those five stories, but from the descriptions they seem like huge ensemble casts where it's very unlikely that the two even talked). Yeah, Batman books didn't really pass the Bechdel test until fairly recently. But once Harley was introduced, it wasn't long until these friendships formed and they haven't looked back. Let's check out Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn below!

Funko Bat-Family DC BOMBSHELLS!

A Variety of Bat-Family Products: Dorbz, POP, and Rock Candy - Funko 2017-18

The amount of DC Bombshells merchandise that has come out over the past year has been a little overwhelming. The majority of these products have been from Funko.  They have released tons of products from their Pop, Dorbz, and Rock Candy lines (Plus the first Vynl figures have been solicited and I'm sure Mystery Minis and Pint Size Heroes will come eventually). With all that glorious product hitting the shelves, I defaulted to my standard cost-saving methods and limited myself to only Bat-Family characters. But as you'll see in this post, that still left me with a ton of characters to collect. When the Bombshells designs first appeared five years ago I wasn't instantly sold (I have hangups over the historical objectification of pinup girls vs their cool modern reinvention). But after about three years I caved and bought my first DC Bombshells item (a Harley keychain from Elephant Gun). Well then the dam broke and I have almost 30 pieces (with more on the way). Let's check out the current roster below!

Kotobukiya ArtFx Plus - POISON IVY!

ArtFx Plus 1:10 Pre-Painted Statue - DC Comics Poison Ivy - Kotobukiya 2018

I'm really loving the new line of ArtFx+ statues from Kotobukiya. The face sculpts are beautiful and classic (sculpted by Keita Misonou). The older ArtFx+ statues from back in 2013-14 had great sculpts all around (sculpted by Atelier Bamboo/Goutaro Takeuchi) but the faces were much more stylized. I was a little bothered when the Harley Quinn statue was shown a few years ago with the new face style, thinking that it wouldn't look right with my existing Catwoman and Batgirl. But before I knew it they announced a new Catwoman as well as this spectacular Poison Ivy. I must say that this statue is one of my favorite pieces of Ivy merchandise I own. It has a real classic look. She looks seductive and wicked without resorting to skimpy clothing and ridiculous cleavage. To me, Ivy has always been one of those characters who oozes sex appeal, but doesn't need to beat you over the head with it. I think she's best when her personality tells the story, so I love this slightly modern take on her original costume. Let's check her out!

Funko Vynl - BATGIRL & POISON IVY!

DC Vynl - Batgirl & Poison Ivy 2-PAck - SDCC LE 2500 Pcs - Funko 2017

I'm still on the fence about these new Funko Vynl figures. It's not a natural thing for me to be drawn toward super-deformed stylistic toys at all. Over time, Funko Pops and Dorbz have worn me down and I now accept them wholeheartedly. But these Vnyls actually remind me of all the reasons I was initially so resistant in the first place. But it didn't hurt that one of the very first offerings of this line was an SDCC Exclusive 2-Pack featuring Batgirl and Poison Ivy. I'm pretty much addicted to Bat-Family females so I was completely unable to resist this set when I found it in Hot Topic. But the second most appealing set (imo), the NYCC Lion-O and Mumm-Ra set failed to impress me when I saw them in TRU this morning. I actually really enjoy the Batgirl and Ivy set though, so I assume I'll continue to be a selective collector of this line. I hope Cheetera is next. Then Catwoman, then Jem, then the Sorceress.. yeah, with the right character selection I could get totally hooked on these. Let's check out Babs and Pam below!

DC Bombshells - POISON IVY!

DC Designer Series: Ant Lucia #3 - Bombshells Poison Ivy - DC Collectibles 2017

Pin-Up girls have always been a struggle for me. I love the hair, I love the fashion, and I love the overall aesthetic. But I can't escape the reality that this style was born in an era of subservience and exploitation for women. Luckily the modern trend of pinup fashion has reclaimed the look in the name of feminism. What was once idealized imagery for male titillation is now embraced as a symbol of strong, assertive, and creative women. I think one of the coolest pop-culture ripple effects of this trend has been the DC Bombshells series designed by Ant Lucia. In 2013, DC Collectibles released the first retro pinup-styled Bombshells statues. So far there have been 19 original statues (excluding the various repaints), plus at least 4 more on the horizon. Then in Summer of 2014, DC Comics held their first Bombshells variant cover theme, which they repeated the following Summer before creating an entire Bombshells comic series. I count roughly 65 Bombshells issues between the variant covers and the series.

POP DC Super Heroes - NEW 52 POISON IVY!

POP! Heroes #171 - DC New 52 Poison Ivy - Hot Topic Exc - Funko 2017

Of all the main Batman-family women, Poison Ivy is the one that most often gets forgotten in the merchandising department. Until the recent DC Superhero Girls figure, it had been almost ten years since the last action figure of her was in the mainstream stores (from The Batman), which in turn was the first in almost ten years (since the Batman & Robin movie).  Of course comic shops got a decent amount of specialty figures in those years, but poor Pamela just didn't get the same exposure as the rest. Funko has definitely been doing their part to right that wrong though. In the past three years they've released nine Poison Ivy collectibles in almost every product line from their portfolio. The newest is this surprise New 52 Poison Ivy Pop exclusive to Hot Topic. Much like the New 52 Harley last year, word about this Pop hit at the same time she showed up in stores. I love that kind of instant gratification. I saw a post on Facebook and I had her in my greedy hands 30 minutes later. Let's check her out below!

Batman: the Animated Series FUNKO POP!

POP! Heroes BTAS #154 Batgirl, #156 Harley Quinn, #157 Poison Ivy - Funko 2017

It's interesting how a simple design motif can provide such a diverse group of variations on a single character. I have a ton of POP Harley Quinns, a bunch of Batgirls, (and one lonely Poison Ivy). And I can easily say that this new Batman: The Animated Series line has given us the best version of each of these characters so far. Actually, considering that Harley originated on the show, this POP could also be considered her first appearance figure. The Batgirl and Poison Ivy are so clean and bright that they really stand out in my collection. When I started prepping this post early last week, the BTAS Wave 2 lineup had not been officially announced yet and I was full of complaints about the lack of Catwoman. But the London Toy Fair showed us the design for her awesome figure and I am stoked. Now I just hope they can squeeze in a Mystery of the Batwoman at some point! These POPs are nothing short of spectacular. Let's check out Batgirl, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy in detail below!

Jada Metals - WOMEN OF DC - Series 01!

Metals Die-Cast - Women of DC Comics - 2.5" Series 01 - Jada Toys 2016

I love getting obsessed over a new collectible. Especially when they are abundant and inexpensive. I mentioned in my Spider-Gwen review last week that I was really turned off by the larger 4" scale Jada Metals figures. They showed up in all the stores earlier this year for the BvS and Civil War movies and I honestly wasn't tempted at all. But then I saw the booth images from SDCC and I discovered that all it takes is 40% decrease in size to completely capture my attention. I had the exact same reaction to Mez-Itz. The full-sized ones didn't appeal to me whatsoever, but the Mini Mez-Itz have become a major favorite of mine. These 2.5" Metals retail for about $5 and seem to have perfect paintjobs. It's also a great gimmick to release multiple color variants of each sculpt right off the bat. I'm in no way planning on being a completist with this line, but I can tell the temptation will be strong. So far I'm thrilled and I can't wait to see what comes next. Let's check out the first Women of DC 2.5" line below!

The Bat-Family Ladies of PINT-SIZE HEROES!

Pint-Size Heroes Blind-Bags - DC Series 01 (Batman) - Funko 2016

The folks at Funko must spend every day eating cotton candy, making friendship bracelets and having sing-a-longs. The sheer amount of cuteness coming from their headquarters and flooding the stores is almost unbearable. Just at a time when I was seriously reconsidering my Funko Pop habits (sheerly out of concerns for space), they came and unveiled a perfectly tiny and adorable line of all my favorite characters. I'm really smitten over these little guys and I desperately hope there will be tons more in the future. The Spider-Man boxes are starting to show up now with a handful of cool Marvel ladies... but I already want more. There's something really nice about blindbags that are really easy to squeeze for your favorite characters. And if that doesn't work, there is a tiny window in the corner of each bag that will give you a peek at the color of the figure inside. (But be warned the Marvel set has a card inside each bag which makes the process much more difficult). Let's check out the Pint-Size Bat-Ladies!