Poison Ivy is an itchy, unpopular plant, but the Batman franchise villainess who shares it’s name? Far from it!
The character Poison Ivy has inspired many vibrant tattoo illustrations thanks to her eye-catching design and the signature vines she is associated with, which make great tattoo characteristics.
What is the History of Poison Ivy Tattoos?
In order to understand why the tattoos of this Batman comic book character are so popular, it is necessary to learn about her history.
The villainess Poison Ivy was written into existence by Robert Kanigher and drawn to life by Carmine Infantino, debuting in the 181st issue of DC Comic Book’s Batman in 1966.
The character started as a mild-mannered botanist and biochemist living in Gotham City named Dr. Pamela Lillian Isley. She hated the company of her fellow humans and preferred to study plant life until she gained immunity from all poisons during a botched attempt on her life.
In 1988, writer Neil Gaiman decided to retcon or redo the villainess’ character history. He wrote Poison Ivy as a shy science student driven insane when her professor attempts to poison her. Afterward, she became a villainess threatening innocents in the name of protecting the world’s plant life from harmful human beings.
Poison Ivy’s personality is obsessive, seductive, and of course, fixated on defeating Batman. This is because a large part of her power comes from being able to control others, and Batman is the only person she cannot gain the upper hand over.
Ivy is notable for her flowing red hair, skimpy one-piece green outfit, and the vines that constantly cling to her. Her lips, which are toxic to touch, are usually green but in some appearances are black or even the unassuming red.
Ivy’s powers include, most notably, her poisonous kiss, a poisonous touch, a control over plant life, increased strength and stamina, mind-controlling pheromones, and her own immunity to toxins. As a regular person, the character was also a genius in terms of intelligence, and an activist for plant life and the environment of Earth.
Ivy was ranked as one of the Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time by IGN, and the 21st Sexiest Woman in Comics by Comics Buyer’s Guide. Her popularity even earned the villainess her own solo comic book series and an appearance in 11 other DC Comic lines. She showed up in the Gotham television show, the CW Arrowverse series, several Batman-franchise animated television shows, and twelve video games, not to mention her appearances in the LEGO series!
Because of the way pop culture celebrates her and her status as an interesting eco-terrorist within the DC Superhero world, Poison Ivy makes an interesting and recognizable tattoo!
What Do Poison Ivy Tattoos Symbolize?
Ivy is named after her poisonous super powers, but that isn’t all she represents! This villainess’ main trait is seduction. She is known to be able to anticipate even the most heroic characters’ desires and use these desires against her enemies! This is perhaps most obvious when she lures an unsuspecting victim in for a lethal, poisonous kiss.
Ivy is therefore symbolic of seduction and the consequences of giving in to temptation.
On the other hand, despite her sexy character design, Ivy is also known for the character’s driving motivation: the protection of Earth’s ecosystem.
She is described by more than one character as an “eco-terrorist,” most often choosing crime as a way of either wreaking havoc on humanity, which has harmed plant life, or simply gathering enough money to live alone with her plants. Therefore, tattoos of Ivy can symbolize a love for nature and a distaste for humanity’s destructive impact on the ecosystem.
Additionally, the character’s past, though it has been written and re-written, always has at least one element of an older male colleague or advisor betraying and poisoning her, only to unintentionally give her the powers that turn her crazy and make her so formidable.
Therefore, one symbol that a tattoo featuring Ivy may hold is perseverance, and the idea of rising out of the harm others have caused stronger.
Lastly, Ivy is known as a villainess, who, although she flirts with redemption in a few Batman storylines, is ultimately evil. Therefore, Poison Ivy tattoos can simply symbolize villainy.
What Do Poison Ivy Tattoos Mean?
There are many possible meanings behind tattoos that feature the Poison Ivy character. Check out the list of popular tattoos below:
- Standard Character
- Classic Design
- Harley Quinn ; Ivy
Let’s take a closer look at each of these designs and unearth their meanings.
1. Standard Character
This tattoo featuring the modern interpretation of Ivy’s character usually portrays her in one of her seductive poses, surrounded by characteristic trails of vines.
This tattoo’s meaning is usually associated with the character herself!
It typically means that the person wearing it loves the villainess, wants to be associated with Ivy’s sexy design, or simply likes the Batman franchise!
2. Classic Design
This classic design of Ivy is more simple. The character is drawn in an uncomplicated way, without many vines or small details added to her outfit, and less texture devoted to her hair styling. It is from the original Batman comic book Ivy appeared in.
This tattoo usually means the wearer feels some level of nostalgia for the classic era of comic books, or may even be a nod to the feministic aspect of one of Batman’s first female supervillains.
3. Harley Quinn and Ivy
Since her debut in the animated Batman television show, Harley Quinn has been another of Batman’s popular villainesses. In this tattoo she is illustrated standing alongside Ivy. The characters have been depicted as best friends and frequently partners in evildoing.
This tattoo can mean that the wearer relates to having a friend to get into mischief with, or loves the female icons that Harley Quinn and Ivy are considered by many to be.
Characteristics and Styles of Poison Ivy Tattoos
Ivy tattoos are not often black, alone. They are usually fully colored, or at least done in shades of green ink, though the orange hue of the character’s iconic hairdo is rarely left out. This is because Ivy’s color scheme is part of what makes her so recognizable in illustrations.
They are usually large, showing off the character’s whole body, or enlarging the total surface area that the tattoo covers with trailing vine designs.
Where Do Poison Ivy Tattoos Usually Go?
Ivy tattoos are more often large than they are small. Typically this means they are confined to the arms and legs, particularly the thighs.
Summary
In summary, Poison Ivy tattoos, which are often located on the limbs, are usually fully colored and symbolic of perserverance, eco-friendliness, and seduction. If you see someone sporting an Ivy tattoo, it likely means they love female icons, enjoy the Batman franchise, are fans of the character, or agree with her zealous admiration for plants!
