Poison Ivy: Thorns is the story of Pamela's transition into Poison Ivy. Ivy’s origin story is heartbreaking but shows her perseverance. This graphic novel is vividly illustrated and fun to read. 5 stars!

This was a fun (yes, I'm aware of how that sounds) origin story for Poison Ivy aka Pamela Isley. Pamela is being harrassed at school, and home is not that much bettter. Her mother is a ... complicated issue... but she has her plants. Except that the town wants to clear cut the park to make way for businesses. And so, Pamela goes full bore and makes it so that people can't even approach the park. That also means that Alice, Pamela's sorta friend from school, needs a place to stay. And when she stays with Pamela and her Dad problematic issues crop up, and then stuff starts happening around Pamela, some very Poison Ivy sort of stuff.

It was a fun read. It had a nice solid connection to who Ivy is in most of her adult roles in the DC universe, and, they even pay homage to her current sexual identity as well in this, which is nice. I know that this particular book doesn't really lend itself to a sequel, but, that would have been cool too.

What a book! I am loving the DC YA reimagined stories. This is a brutal, but brilliant one. Pamela’s story has always been tragic, regardless of the timeline. It only makes sense to do it here too. The Jane Eyre allusion is good too. I like the introduction of Alice. The art in this is spectacular and the colors jump off the page. It is a one of those stories one can’t stop reading after it starts.

Pamela Isely lives in an old house with her doctor father and tries to get through her day without making any waves. Her dearest love is the flowers her mother also loved, and she is devoted to helping her missing mother however she can, including by allowing her father to experiment on her. When Alice Oh comes into her life, however, Pamela begins to think about making changes. An origin story worthy of the epic Poison Ivy, Thorns shows a young woman fighting for her own identity and crushed by the men in her life, as well as the society around her. Dr. Isely's experiments are a metaphor for sexual abuse, a point made explicit by the resources offered at the end of the book. An excellent addition to the DC graphic novels cannon, I hope to see Poison Ivy interact with Beast Boy, Raven, and Robin in future stories.

3.5 stars

A dark, gothic revamped origins story on one of the most intriguing villains in Batman's rogues gallery. This comic centers around a young Pamela Isley in high school who's hiding a dark secret and dreads the constraints forced upon her by her father. Desperate to save the local park and devoted to her plants, budding Ivy learns that some plants bloom even in the most strenuous of climates.

While I did appreciate the inclusion of a sapphic romance, it was a slow narrative that left something to be deserved in terms of plot. The story felt almost incomplete and while I can get behind an open ending, the plot was just lacking. The art direction was solid as Kipin did a fantastic job imbuing the graphic novel with a spooky, unsetting undertone. I think this was a good reimagining of Poison Ivy's youth but part of me wished I got a heads-up on the triggering subjects within it.

TW/CWs: Bullying, sexual harassment, murder, child abuse, physical abuse and slut-shaming

Thank you Netgalley and DC Entertainment for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A great graphic novel about one of my favorite but also complex DC villains as we see her deal with her superpowers, using them, and how her place in the world becomes. As a graphic novel, this works really well and should help DC promote more of their graphic novels. Pacing is done well and is one of the more in-depth works I have read from graphic novels.

Ok Google, Play "I Did Something Bad by Taylor Swift"

Like Alice, I also enjoyed the aesthetic. The subtle creepy Victorian haunted house vibes were on point, and the oooooaaaahs down the hall were definitely helping. I appreicated the way that the relationship between Alice and Pamela was handled, and the way it wrapped up was well done. I also loved that we finally have a morally grey woman character that still gets to be loved. Because I am here for Poison Ivy all of the time, and the end scene *Chefs Kiss*.

I am always going to love Poison Ivy things, but this was pretty great.

I love the new DC imprint for middle grades, and Poison Ivy: Thorns is a worthy inclusion. It was a little harder to read then some of the others; all of these are a little heartbreaking but to see Pamela/Ivy push others away over and over again while being abused was very hard. I would love to see a volume two on this that continues the story.

This new look at Poison Ivy‘s origins introduces her father, her friend or her friend, and her extremely sick mom. What I liked about this book was the content warnings for incest, rape, and abuse. Now you don’t have a lot of that in the book however the book is entirely an allegory for all of those things and there are resources for people that need it at the back. This very dark and of course poison ivy is a villain so it should have a dark origin story but it’s very well done andI can’t wait to see how the story goes forward from here.

I have been reading all of DC comic young adult titles and I have to say that this was not my favorite. The art was beautiful. I really liked the contrast of colors. It helps focus on Pamela's character.

In this origin story, Pamela's mom is sick and her dad is determined to make her better...even if that means that Pamela gets put into some unsafe circumstances. Needless to say, she ends up with a lot of trust issues.

Pamela just wants to be left alone with her plants. Like her mom, she wants to reduce her carbon footprint and change the world. But the more she tries to save the plants, the closer people come to discovering her secrets. Which spells trouble for all involved.

Will Pamela confront her father? Will she pick the jerk of a jock or the cute gothic girl she finds living in her home?

I can't put my finger on what exactly I didn't like about this story. Poison Ivy is one of my favorite DC villans and I just have to say I was really disapointed with this book overall. Still, I didn't hate it and I hope that we get to see more development if future installments come to be.

The author of The Duff wrote thjs and I really liked that book AND just so happen to really enjoy this one too! It’s not a favorite by any means, but i still really enjoyed the story and especially the artwork, always a fan of the art!

Another wonderful adaptation of a DC classic. I love Poison Ivy as a character so I was excited to read this one, and it did not disappoint.

A very YA Gothic romance. Deals with issues of abuse and sexual harassment. The characters are very one dimensional in this f/f romance. Everyone plays a stereotypical role with no nuance. It's something of an origin story for Poison Ivy although a lot of the elements are a bit glossed over as the pacing is very off.

This is a super fast read with a spooky gothic vibe. I really liked it and nominated it as a YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers! I won't be reviewing it on social media because of that, but there will be a blog post.

A gothic reimagining of the Poison Ivy mythos. The graphic novel reads like a classic gothic horror story, with revenge, love, and mystery. Highly recommended for LGBTQ themes

I received an advanced copy of Poison Ivy: Thorns through NetGalley so I could share my review with you!

Content Warning: Poison Ivy: Thorns contains scenes of bullying, harassment, and unhealthy familial relationships.

Pamela Isley is quiet for a reason. She’s got secrets, the kind that could destroy lives. Plants can’t tell secrets, though, so Pamela surrounds herself with nature. Besides, people always seem to want something from Pamela that she isn’t willing to give. Her plants take lots of concentration and nurturing, but they behave in predictable ways. But, when a cute goth girl named Alice is forced to stay in Pamela’s house, she begins to wonder if maybe people aren’t too bad after all. Pamela will have to choose between her secrets and her future, or else risk the consequences.

You can get your copy of Poison Ivy: Thorns today from DC Comics!

I loved the gothic flair that this story had! It was surprisingly fitting for Poison Ivy’s backstory and style and made this graphic novel really stand out from the other Poison Ivy stories I’ve read before. This story also showed another side of Ivy’s character, one that is scientifically minded, loving of nature, and willing to do what it takes to defend herself and the ones she loves. These motivators make her actions in the story understandable, even when they extend beyond the law. Though traditionally a villain, Ivy is incredibly easy to root for in this story!

My Recommendation-
If you’re looking for a queer graphic novel to kick off your pride month reads, you should definitely pick up a copy of Poison Ivy: Thorns! This book would be perfect for fans of villain backstories that give you a new perspective on classic characters!

Poison Ivy: Thorns is written by New York Times bestselling author, Kody Keplinger. Kody does a really excellent job writing a spooky, socially aware story. Pamela is going through many of the things teenagers go through today such as not fitting in at school, dealing with bullies and people who do not accept the word “no,” having a sick family member, trying to make friends, learning about oneself, and being proud of who you are.

Sara Kipin who is an illustrator and visual developer provides the art for Poison Ivy: Thorns. Her art contains a lot of solid lines and has a very clean look. Paired with Jeremy Lawson’s darker colors, the use of shadows, and having Pamela often hiding behind her hair really adds to the mystery and horror of the story. The letters by Steve Wands also fit so perfectly with the spooky atmosphere. My absolute favorite part of the art is the design for the Isely home. It’s very reminiscent of the Addams Family home and other houses used in horror movies.

Poison Ivy: Thorns is intended for teens ages 13-17. There aren’t too many warnings for this book despite its darker gothic horror nature. Pamela does encounter men in her life who want things from her that she is not willing to give, and she deals with them. There is also some murder and a very sick family member.

Overall, I found Poison Ivy: Thorns to be a very enjoyable read. I loved learning more about Poison Ivy in a story different from what I usually experience her in. The story was dark, mysterious, and scary, but also filled with some hope for Pamela in the end. She now knows who she is and what she wants to do with her life. Sure, her ideas are unconventional, dangerous, and lead her down a criminal path, but that makes for some interesting storytelling!

My full review can be found here: https://thegeekiary.com/horror-mystery-and-love-poison-ivy-thorns-graphic-novel-review/96625

In Poison Ivy: Thorns, Pamela Isley is different from other high schoolers. She is a loner who also hides a secret from her fellow high school classmates. Her mother is ill and her father is trying to find a cure but everyone just thinks that her mom is off on a research trip. In reality Pamela’s mother is in a coma in the families basement. Staunchly private, Pamela’s unstable father makes the curious decision to invite Pamela’s classmate April into their home. Pamela would prefer to get lost in the school’s greenhouse but as a male classmate begins to harass her, Pamela makes a decision that will change the course of her life.

The character of Pamela goes through a change mostly because of the abuse she endures from the men in her life. Her father is emotionally and then physically abusive as is her classmate Brett. This abuse shapes her into the woman that eventually becomes Poison Ivy. Author Kody Keplinger showcases the parallels in Pamela’s story compared to the plants who get abused by these same people. Eventually Pamela fights back and none of her abusers get a happy ending which is how it should be.

Poison Ivy Thorns has a dark gothic type feel to the illustrations. Lots of blacks and greens fill Pamela’s world in this novel and her features sharpen throughout the course of the story as she resolves to get revenge on her enemies.

One confusing aspect was the behavior of Pamela’s father who forces her to participate in experiments as he researches a cure for her mother. He has a tragic end but I didn’t quite understand his reasoning. Did he blame Pamela for her mother’s illness? Was he mentally ill himself? Why did he expound on the virtues of privacy if he was going to invite April into their home. None of that made sense.

For the most part, Poison Ivy: Thorns is a really solid origin story that includes diversity and a same sex relationship which queer teens will appreciate.

A really well done origin story for Poison Ivy! This didn't try to be too clever or fit in references, instead, it just told a story of a girl trying to survive.

Poison Ivy is one of my favorite DC villains, and so I was excited to read this retelling of her back story. I didn't expect this to be as dark as it was, but overall I really enjoyed it. The illustrations are dark, simplistic and very organic, complimenting the seriousness of the plot perfectly. I loved that Pamela/Ivy's history of plants and caring for the Earth came from her mother, a biologist that instilled her love of plant life in Pam/Ivy. There is also some LGBTQ+ romance in it. I always appreciate seeing LGBTQ+ representation, especially for teens!

There is a strong message of how the world police's women's bodies and the way some men feel they have the right to do as they please, that women should be "grateful" for attention men give them. Nature is a parallel metaphor for women's bodies, and how mankind/men feel entitled to do whatever they want with it. Pamela/Ivy learns to stand up for herself and fight against these men, taking back her power in the end (and ultimately becoming her true self of Ivy). Kody Keplinger includes different resources on domestic violence and sexual abuse readers can use if needed, which is extremely important and I appreciated this inclusion.

I would recommend this to teen readers, especially those interested in darker comics/stories and moody settings. DC fans may appreciate it, but this story could also be enjoyed by those who are completely new to the DC Universe and Poison Ivy.