Poison Ivy / Swamp Thing: Feral Trees #1

by G. Willow Wilson

Poison Ivy / Swamp Thing: Feral Trees #1

Illustrated by: Mike Perkins

Colors by: Mike Spicer

Cover art by: Jason Shawn Alexander

Written by: G. Willow Wilson

Release date: October 30th, 2024

DC Comics

*Minor Spoilers ahead

There is something wrong with the trees. A presence screaming out in pain–tearing, gnashing, and gnawing through the very fabric of the Green–calling out for blood. In its wake, a trail of viscera and carnage is left–leading to a mystery that the Parliament of Trees has conscripted Poison Ivy and Swamp Thing to solve. Can the Verdant Villainess and the Avatar of the Green make their way into the heart of this homicidal wilderness and discover the source of this horror, or will they find themselves the next victims of these feral trees? This story, brought to violent life by G. Willow Wilson and Mike Perkins, will answer these questions. But beware, this terrifying tale is not for the weak of heart.

This issue took me on one dark, twisted journey through the Green, where Poison Ivy and Swamp Thing are pulled into a world of chaos among the trees. There’s something horribly wrong here—a deep, unsettling presence ripping apart the Green, leaving a brutal mess in its path. The Parliament of Trees calls on Ivy and Swamp Thing to dig into the heart of this mystery, and it’s intense.

The art? Mind-blowing. Every page is bursting with incredible detail. Mike Perkins and Mike Spicer put together an atmosphere that just oozes dread and beauty. I found myself lingering on each panel, genuinely blown away by how alive—and creepy—everything looked.

Now, about the characters: Ivy and Swamp Thing make such an intriguing pair. Ivy’s more center stage here, and her interactions with Swamp Thing show layers to her that I didn’t expect. They balance each other perfectly; Ivy’s sharp edge against Swamp Things earthy calm brings out so much depth in Ivy’s connection to the Green. And it’s not so much about action but more about peeling back layers of who Ivy is, which was a surprising approach that worked well for this kind of eerie, introspective story.

I’d say this is more of a Poison Ivy story than a Swamp Thing one, but it works. Wilson nailed Swamp Things voice, making him feel just right beside Ivy. Their back-and-forth banter was honestly one of my favorite parts—seeing Ivy’s and Swamp Things different takes on the Green gives Ivy’s role in it all a fresh perspective. I seriously hope to see more of these two together after this.

If you’re into dark, character-focused stories with standout artwork, you’ll definitely want to check this one out.

Poison Ivy / Swamp Thing: Feral Trees #1 is available on our new comic book wall, and you can meet colorist Mike Spicer on Sunday November 17, 2024 at the Lake County Comic Convention in Groveland Florida.