While this blog is primarily focused on the version of Poison Ivy featured in the 2004 animated series The Batman, I wanted to present a series of special "Bonus Posts" discussing Ivy-related topics, the first of which you are reading right now.

The purpose of this particular mini-series is to showcase the various costumes worn by Poison Ivy across her many iterations in various media. Part 1 will cover "main continuity" outfits starting from Ivy's first appearance in 1966 and all the way to the end of DC's "New Earth" continuity in 2011. Not every costume will be featured, and outfits worn by Pamela Isley pre-transformation will also be excluded.

Pre-Crisis/"Earth-One" (1966-1986)

The term "Pre-Crisis" referrers to comics set on DC's "Earth-One", the primary continuity used for titles published between 1945 and 1986. This timeline was eventually destroyed during the Crisis On Infinite Earths event.

The Classic Costume ("Crown" Version) (1966-1998)

Poison Ivy was introduced in the pages of Batman #181, released in June of 1966. In her debut story "Beware of Poison Ivy", the femme fatale sports what would ultimately become her standard costume for the next 30 years of her existence.

The outfit consists of a strapless one-piece swimsuit made of sewn together plant leaves, lime green leggings with a single strip of a leaf pattern running down the outer leg, green high-heels with wing-like leaves protruding from the back of the collar, a dark green laurel wreath crown, a leaf necklace, and two leaf bracelets.

For the next three decades, this costume would go through minimal alterations, mainly because of Ivy being a sporadically-used character for the first 15 of those years. For example, in some appearances, the high-heels would be depicted as pixie boots or simple flats. Ivy's second appearance in Batman #183 temporarily added green gloves to the ensemble, though this element was quickly dropped by the end of that very same issue. Between the 1970s and early 1980s, the leaf bracelets were upgraded from simple decorative accessories into dart launchers and gas-firing gauntlets.

Used throughout the entire lifespan of the Silver Age "Earth-One" version of Poison Ivy, this outfit would be carried over into the "New Earth" iteration of the character starting in 1986. By the 1990s, the costume in it's original form was becoming more infrequent in appearances as the many artists working on the various Batman-related titles were now providing their own unique takes on the character's overall design. It's final full appearance was in Catwoman #57 from May, 1998, though it would appear in a partially obscured single-page cameo two months later in The Creeper #8.

Exotica Costume (Batman #367) (1984)

Poison Ivy's most radical costume change didn't occur until 1984, 18 years after her first appearance. In Batman #367, Ivy is the hostess of a fake natural rejuvenation program called "Exotica", which holds it's seminars inside a derelict mansion that has been transformed into a jungle paradise. Due to the artificial tropical climate inside her "emporium", Ivy is in what is easily her most risqué attire up to that point in her history. While retaining the leaf crown and wristband accessories from the Classic costume, she loses the bathing suit and leggings in favor of a two-piece bikini made entirely of leaves, with one significantly larger leaf covering her crotch. This is also the first costume where Ivy is barefoot.

The back of Ivy's "Exotica" costume.

Arkham Asylum Uniform (Version 1) (Batman #400) (1986)

Earth-One's Poison Ivy made her final appearance in Batman #400. In the first story of the issue ("Resurrection Night!"), Ivy's Arkham Asylum uniform is a grey skin-tight shirt (modeled after a wrap dress) with a skirt that goes to the end of her thigh and just above her knee. While other inmates are seen wearing simple black slip-on shoes, Ivy opts to go barefoot while wearing this uniform until she and the other escaped villains acquire their classic costumes.

Post-Crisis/"New Earth" (1985-2011)

Following the events of the Crisis On Infinite Earths series, DC introduced a new main continuity for their titles called "New Earth". This timeline would be used from 1986 until 2011, where it would be erased following the Flashpoint miniseries.

"The Socialite" (Detective Comics Bonus Book #5) (1988)

Poison Ivy's Post-Crisis debut came in the 1988 mini-comic Detective Comics Bonus Book #5 (a special insert that came free with Detective Comics #589), and wore an all new costume clearly inspired by her classic outfit. Composed of a dark emerald tube dress, light green leggings, and dark green high-heels, the accessories include a crown made of green triangular shapes, a dark green circular bead necklace, and dark emerald evening gloves. The story's climax reveals that Ivy is wearing her leafy one-piece swimsuit underneath the tube dress.

Arkham Asylum Uniform (Version 2) (Swamp Thing Annual #4) (1988)

Ivy's second Arkham Asylum uniform appeared not in a Batman book, but rather Swamp Thing Annual #4 from 1988. This uniform is nearly identical to the one featured in Batman #400 two years prior, but is now a faded pink color instead of grey and features a shorter collar. This comic also introduced the concept of Poison Ivy's skin turning various shades of green, but this aspect would not be seen again with a main version of Ivy until 11 years later in Batman: Shadows of The Bat #88 in 1999.

"Suicide Squad" Era (1989-1992)

In 1989, Poison Ivy was recruited for Task Force X, a secret team of super-villains gathered by the United States Government for dangerous missions from which they might not return, earning them the nickname of "The Suicide Squad". For the majority of her tenure with the team, Ivy wore her her full classic costume, though there were several instances where she donned a different attire.

"Puerto Azul" (Suicide Squad #41) (1990)

A year after what was supposed to be her last mission with Amanda Waller's Suicide Squad, Poison Ivy fled to the South American country of Puerto Azul, and began manipulating the small nation's ruler, General Vaca. During this time, Ivy wore a green suit jacket, a yellow button shirt, a green belt and skirt, lime green leggings, and green high-heels. Accessories included a dark green ribbon for her hair, and leaf earrings. A variation of this costume appears in the following issue.

"Paris" (Suicide Squad #42) (1990)

Reunited with Waller and the Suicide Squad in France, Ivy sports a puffy-sleeved lime green shirt with a darker green leaf pattern, yellow spandex pants, and green calf-high boots. The shirt color and it's pattern bears some resemblance to a "princess"-style dress worn by Ivy in Batman #344 from 1982.

Close-up front view of the "Pairs" shirt.

"Vlatava Arrival" (Suicide Squad #42) (1990)

The aforementioned variant of the "Puerto Azul" costume from the previous issue. It retains the green suit jacket, green skirt, and green heels, but removes the lime green leggins and yellow shirt, replacing it with a faded green shirt with a string tie.

"Vlatava Jungle" (Suicide Squad #43) (1990)

While on a mission to abduct Count Vertigo from his home country of Vlatava, Ivy donned a crimson catsuit outfitted with purple pouches on the belt and purple boots.

"Hyhat Hotel" (Suicide Squad #46) (1990)

While visiting the Hyhat Hotel in Israel, Ivy sports a lime-green two-piece bikini, a turquoise sun hat with a yellow flower brooch, a gold bracelet, and green sandals.

"Amazon Explorer" (Suicide Squad #58) (1991)

Poison Ivy disappeared from the Suicide Squad series for 11 issues, but finally return in issue 58 from October, 1991 in a story that tied into the larger War of The Gods crossover event. It is explained that Ivy left to replenish her supply of natural botanical toxins in the Amazon jungle. For this venture, Ivy sports a long-sleeved denim cargo shirt (with the sleeves rolled up), brown short pants, long white socks, black combat boots, and a blue handkerchief around her neck. Later in the issue, Ivy is captured by the inhabitants of an island that has mysterious appeared in the middle of a lake in the Amazon, and is stripped down to nothing more than her white bra and underwear.

The Classic Costume ("Crownless" Version) (1992-Present)

In 1992, Ivy appeared as the main antagonist in the Batman/Green Arrow: The Poison Tomorrow graphic novel, a story set just prior to the events of Suicide Squad #46. While not much different from her original "Classic" costume, this graphic novel marked the first time Ivy appeared without her laurel wreath crown. Following this comic, Ivy would gradually "lose" her crown sporadically throughout the 1990s, with it being completely absent by the time of the No Man's Land event in 1999.

One feature of note exclusive to Ivy's costume in The Poison Tomorrow was the addition of three straight lines of black make-up below her eyes and cheeks.

"Greenhouse Fantasy" (Batman: Legends of The Dark Knight #43) (1993)

This costume is not a traditional entry, as Poison Ivy didn't really wear it at all. After giving Batman a kiss laced with a hallucinogenic drug, the Dark Knight pictures Ivy wearing nothing more than a long tattered pale green toga, with small patches of leaves covering her breasts and crotch.

A less fanciful view of the "Greenhouse Fantasy" costume.

After activating the greenhouse's sprinkler system, the effects of the hallucinogenic drug wear off, and the real Ivy is shown to be wearing a black halter dress, with black tight leggings and black flats.

Poison Ivy's true appearance after the fantasy sequence.

"Marilyn Monroe" (Batman: Shadow of The Bat #56-58) (1996-1997)

During the three-part Leaves of Grass story featured in issues 56 through 58 of Batman: Shadow of The Bat, Ivy appeared with a hairstyle and mole placement similar to that of model/actress Marilyn Monroe. Ivy's swimsuit is also cut significantly lower than in any prior appearance.

"Early Days" (Batman: The Long Halloween) (1997)

Batman: The Long Halloween was the chronological sequel to the 1987 storyline Batman: Year One, taking place in the earliest days of Dark Knight's career. Tim Sale's design for Ivy ditches the classic costume for fanciful interpretation fitting for this film noir-inspired story. While the leaf one-piece is carried over, the two most striking elements of this costume is Ivy's ghostly pale/mint-green skin, and her ivy vine hair. In The Long Halloween #6, Ivy appears to have control over her hair like an octopus's tentacles.

This costume would later be used again in Batman: Dark Victory, the sequel to The Long Halloween released in 2000.

"Miskito Cays" (Batman: Poison Ivy) (1997)

In the aftermath of the Leaves of Grass story, Ivy fled the United States and took refuge in the Miskito Cays, a group of remote islands located off the coast of Nicaragua. While initially depicted as completely naked, Ivy wears an extremely basic "bikini" made entirely out of plants when a young girl arrives on her island: which consists of two leaves covering her breasts, and one large folded leaf covering her crotch. Two vine "chains" adorned with flowers on the back hold together the leaf bra and crotch covering leaf. A series of faded green vines wrapped around her legs and arms, giving a tattoo-like effect (whether or not these were real plants or painted markings remains unknown).

The back of the "Miskito Cays" costume, revealing the flower "chains".

Ivy hides in the shadows as she watches the young girl wander through her island.

Upon first arriving to the Cays, Ivy rid herself of all her clothing.

Arkham Asylum Uniform (Version 3) (Batman Chronicles #9) (1997)

While Ivy is the main antagonist of the "Passion's Fruit" story, she does not leave her cell in Arkham Asylum at any point. In her cell, she wears a green scoop-neck tank top shirt, and faded green pants.

"No Man's Land" Saga (1998-2000)

In 1998, DC launched the No Man's Land saga, a multi-title spanning event where Gotham City is cut off from the United States following a massive earthquake. Following her escape from Arkham Asylum, Poison Ivy takes residence in Robinson Park, and allows the city's orphaned children to live with her.

"Breakout" (Batman: Shadow of The Bat #82) (1999)

Ivy's final regular appearance with normal Caucasian skin was in Batman: Shadow of The Bat #82. While fleeing Arkham, she wears a modified version of her classic costume, losing the lime-green leggings and her leaf necklace.

"Sanctuary Guardian" (Batman: Shadow of The Bat #88) (1999)

Between her appearance in Shadow of The Bat #83 and #88, Ivy's skin pigmentation shifted to a mint-green reminiscent of her appearance in The Long Halloween and Dark Victory, perhaps a physical manifestation of her desire to be something more than human. Prior to being captured by Clayface, Ivy wore nothing more than a long green leaf and multi-colored flower boa that covered her breast and waist.

"Green Avenger" (Detective Comics #735) (1999)

After being rescued by Batman from Clayface's underground prison, Ivy created a black bodysuit made of thorn-laced vines, with a large pink flower brooch on her left shoulder.

Close-up of the thorn vines which make up the bodysuit.

"Gotham's Farmer" (Batman: Harley Quinn) (1999)

To repay Batman for saving her from Clayface, Ivy agreed to a deal between the Dark Knight and her in which she agreed to grow fresh produce for Gotham and deliver it throughout the city in return for her freedom. While making her rounds, Ivy wore standard overalls made of leaves. It was in this costume that she first encountered Harley Quinn, who laid unconscious on the streets of Gotham.

"Greenhouse Laboratory" (Batman: Harley Quinn) (1999)

After rescuing Harley Quinn, Ivy returned with her to a greenhouse laboratory, and changed into her green leaf one-piece bathing suit from her "Classic" costume.

"Park Protector" (Detective Comics #751) (2000)

While Gotham City continued to rebuild after the events of No Man's Land, Ivy and her orphans remained in Robinson Park. By this time, Ivy's attire consisted of nothing but three large masses of leaves covering both breasts and her crotch area.

"Park Defender" (Detective Comics #752) (2000)

Preparing to make what she believed would be her final stand against the Gotham City Police Department, Ivy changed into a two-piece bikini made of leaves, a crown of thorny vines, and specially designed gloves that would protect the children from her toxic touch.

"Joker League of Anarchy" (The Adventures of Superman #582) (2000)

When The Joker temporarily altered reality, the New Earth iteration of Poison Ivy was assigned to be a member of the JLA team (The Joker League of Anarchy). Ivy wore a green skin-tight bodysuit/armor made of organic plant mater, and had pale green hair.

"Arkham Bodysuit" (Justice Leagues: Justice League of Arkham #1) (2001)

A suit nearly identical to the "Green Avenger" costume from Detective Comics #735 from 1999, although this version seems to be made of grass as opposed to thorn vines, and is a much lighter shade of green. The pink flower brooch on her left shoulder is also absent.

"Rain Forest Fundraiser" (Batman: Gotham Knights #15) (2001)

During an attack on a fundraising event held in Gotham City to protect the rain forest, Ivy wore dark green opera gloves (identical to the ones seen in Detective Comics Bonus Book #5 in 1988) and matching thigh-high boots, all of which was combined with her classic leaf leotard and green leggings.

"Morning In Metropolis" (Harley Quinn #14) (2002)

Shortly after moving into a Metropolis apartment with Harley Quinn, Ivy wakes up one morning sporting a purple and black bathrobe and purple slippers. Accessories included a simple black headband to hold her hair in a 1960s "Bombshell" style.

"Apartment Gardner" (Harley Quinn #15) (2002)

While maintaining a large garden that nearly overwhelms the interior of the Metropolis apartment, Ivy wears a white short-sleeved shirt (tied together below her breasts), denim shorts/"Daisy Dukes", and goes barefoot. A variation of this costume appeared in Harley Quinn #17 with a purple shirt.

Purple shirt variation from Harley Quinn #17.

"Made In Metropolis" (Harley Quinn #19) (2002)

At what ultimately became the end of her and Harley's stay in Metropolis, Ivy grew a new costume for herself using the plants inside their apartment. This bikini-like attire consists of tight-fitting leaves wrapped around her breasts and pelvic region, and knee-high leaf boots.

"Return To Eden" (Batgirl #52) (2004)

Intending to turn Gotham City into the second Garden of Eden, Ivy assumed the role of the Biblical character Eve, which her leaf "costume" reflected.

"Batcave Bodysuit" (Detective Comics #823) (2006)

While incarcerated in the Batcave, Ivy is given a white skin-tight full-body suit, as her Arkham uniform had been shredded while attempting to escape the creature known as Harvest.

"Greenhouse Intruder" (Countdown #37) (2007)

While confronting the Pied Piper and The Trickster inside her greenhouse hideout, Ivy sports the leaf one-piece swimsuit, leaf leg warmers, and open-fingered leaf gloves.

Close-up panel reveals Ivy has dark green fingernails in this issue.

"Musing Maiden" (Countdown #37) (2007)

In the "bookend" portions of Poison Ivy's origin back-up story, she appears naked with small bundles of leaves covering her breasts and crotch area.

"Nightwing's Nightmare" (Nightwing #148) (2008)

A simple leaf v-string bikini, which only appeared in one panel in Nightwing #148 and on the cover of Nightwing #149.

"Siren" (Gotham City Sirens #1) (2009)

Ivy's main costume during her time with the Gotham City Sirens consisted of a bathing suit and boots which appeared to be made out of grass, with two vine armbands as the only accessories in this ensemble.

"Arkham Takeover" (Batman: The Widening Gyre #1) (2009)

After taking over Arkham Asylum with her plants in an attempt to protect herself from a rampaging Etrigan, Ivy wore nothing but a simple string of leaves around her waist, and let her hair cover her breast similar to Lady Godiva.

"Alien Corruption" (Gotham City Sirens #14) (2010)

After encountering the "corpse" of humanoid plant creature from the planet Alstair, Ivy is corrupted by the alien's biology, which turns her skin into a dark dry purple and the whites of her eyes red.

"Club V" (Bruce Wayne: The Road Home: Catwoman #1) (2010)

Poison Ivy sports a green A-line scoop-neck dress with a gold flower pattern running across the hip while attending an auction at Club V with Selena Kyle. Accessories include golden earrings, a pink flower bracelet, and a round green bead hair tie.

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BONUS: The Costume Evolution of Poison Ivy (PART 1)