Supermancan handle everything from kaiju-sized monsters to egomaniacal billionaires, butBatman’s rogues are a different ballgame entirely, and none more dangerous to him thanPoison Ivy. With her cunning and unique physiology, Ivy has repeatedly shown she’s more than a match for the Man of Steel. She doesn’t just survive against him; she dominates.
As the master of manipulation and mind control, Poison Ivy is one of Superman’s most formidable opponents.
Poison Ivy has repeatedly demonstrated that she’s more than capable ofbringing Superman to his knees, whether it’s through herpotent pheromones, mind-controlling toxins, or cunning manipulation of nature itself.Despite these impressive feats, she’s rarely counted among Superman’s top adversaries, a glaring oversight.
This disconnect likely stems from her deep roots in Batman’s rogues’ gallery, yet DC Comics has spent over two decades showcasing Ivy as a legitimate threat to the Man of Steel. It’s long past time she got her due. Before fans overlook her again,let’s spotlight the moments Ivy has proven she can overpower Superman with shocking ease.
Poison Ivy Defeated Superman with a Kiss (Seriously)
Comic Page Comes from Jeph Loeb’sBatman: Hush(Batman#608–619, 2002–2003) - Art by Jim Lee
The best-known instance of Poison Ivy bringing the Man of Steel to heel is undoubtedly found inJeph Loeb and Jim Lee’sBatman: Hush(2002) storyline, which took place acrossBatman#608–619.This arc follows the Dark Knight as he’s targeted by the mysterious villain Hush,who aims to sabotage Batman from a distance. Along the way, several classic rogues are roped into his schemes, including Poison Ivy.
After Batman and Catwoman discover that Ivy used her mind-controlling pheromones on Selina and is connected to Hush’s plan, they track the Gotham City Siren to Metropolis. There, they find that Superman has fallen under Ivy’s control aftershe uses kryptonite-infused lipstick to weaken him so that her mind-controlling pheromones could infect him.She thencommands the Man of Steel to kill Batman.
This leads to an all-out battle between the two heroes. However,Batman quickly notices that Superman is subconsciously resisting Ivy’s influence, holding back despite being forced to carry out her command. Bruce does his best to reach Clark, but when his words fail, he is forced to use various tools, including flashbang grenades, hypersonic weapons, and his kryptonite ring, to defend himself.
Meanwhile, Catwoman works on her own plan to break Ivy’s control over Superman.She orchestrates a fall for Lois Lane from a building, knowing it will trigger Clark’s instincts.The plan succeeds, and Superman snaps out of Ivy’s controljust in time to save Lois. Although he ultimately breaks her influence, this story shows just how easily Ivy was able to take control of one of the DC Universe’s most powerful heroes.
Poison Ivy Takes Down the Mighty Man of Steel with the Sweetest of Dreams
Comic Page Comes From Francis Manapul’sTrinity#2 (2016)
Another memorable instance where Poison Ivy took down Superman with laughable ease occurred in Francis Manapul’sTrinity: Better Togetherstory arc, specificallyTrinity#2 (2016). In this issue,Ivy teams up with Mongul and uses the parasitic plant Black Mercy to trap not only Superman, butalso Wonder Woman and Batman, placing all three of Earth’s greatest heroes into a psychic dream world. With one move, Ivy effectively neutralizes the entire Trinity.
For those who need a refresher, Black Mercy first appeared in Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’Superman Annual#11 (1985).It is a parasitic plant that, upon contact, creates an ideal dream life for its host based on their deepest desiresby tapping into the brain’s pleasure centers. While the host remains blissfully unaware, the plant renders them completely paralyzed.
The Black Mercy then feedson the psychic energy generated by the host’s experience within the dream.If the host remains under its influence long enough, it will eventually kill them, all while they remain unaware and content. It’s a horrifyingly gentle way to destroy someone.
In this case,Ivy used her plant-controlling powers and her deep connection to the Green to take command of the Black Mercyand infect the Trinity. It marked yet another moment where she barely had to lift a finger to bring down the Man of Steel. Eventually, Superman and the rest of the Trinity manage to break free from both the Black Mercy and Mongul’s control.
Poison Ivy Infects Superman and the Rest of the World with Spore-Based Mind Control
Comic Page Comes From Tom King’sBatman#42 (2018) - Art by Mikel Janín
The most recent example of Poison Ivy taking on Superman and winning takes place inTom King’sBatman#42(2018), which was part of his“Everybody Loves Ivy”story arc. In this storyline, the Gotham City Siren infects Earth on a global scale with spore-based mind control.Ivy takes control of every man, woman, and child on the planet, including Superman,with two of the only exceptions being Batman and Catwoman.
Superman and the rest of the world are only freed from her control when Batman, Catwoman, and Harley Quinn appeal to Ivy’s emotions and convince her to release everyone. If not for this trio, the Man of Steel would likely still be under her influence. These examples show just how susceptibleSupermanis to mind control and prove thatPoison Ivy, as a master of it, is one of his most formidable opponents.
Superman
The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.
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.
