Highlights

  • Poison Ivy's return in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League as a child signals a change in dynamics between her and Harley Quinn.
  • Based on the interaction shared by Rocksteady, the game is setting up Harley Quinn to be a mentor or caretaker to a younger Poison Ivy.
  • The absence of some kind of Harley and Ivy relationship in the game would be a missed opportunity to explore their iconic dynamic from a new perspective, so hopefully Rocksteady leans into the idea of Harley as a role model.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is finally set to release on February 2, and the game is already promising to make some major changes to some major characters, Poison Ivy included. After a series of delays, Rocksteady's long-awaited Suicide Squad game finds Poison Ivy reborn after her tragic death in Arkham Knight, but her return has surprised many fans, and not in the way one might expect. Instead of being brought back to life as an adult, Poison Ivy is now a child, and this signals a drastic change in dynamics between her and the infamous Harley Quinn.

Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy have been lovers in a variety of different Batman stories, and this will clearly not be the case in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Although it's obvious that Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy won't be romantically involved in the game since Ivy has been reborn as a child, this age gap leaves the door open for an interesting new dynamic to be explored between the two characters. With Suicide Squad expanding the Arkham narrative, a Poison Ivy rebirth is exciting, but the divisive choice to have her return as a child gives Rocksteady the chance to dive into a new type of relationship between her and Harley.

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Poison Ivy Could Look Up To Harley Quinn

Instead of a romantic relationship, Suicide Squad is seemingly setting Harley Quinn up to be a mentor to Poison Ivy. The plant-loving villain is a fan favorite among many Batman fans, and her new childish form has left some fans curious about the drastic change, while others have been left with a bad taste in their mouths. Although this may not be the Poison Ivy some fans were hoping for, it might be compelling to see her and Harley interact in a new light, as this will technically be a different Ivy and not exactly the one from Arkham Knight.

Avoiding a Harley and Ivy Relationship is a Missed Opportunity

Of course, it's currently unknown how deep Suicide Squad will dive into a new kind of relationship between Harley and Ivy, but the dynamic between the two is so iconic in the DC universe that it would feel like a wasted chance to not show the duo from a new and unexpected point of view. A childlike version of Poison Ivy is shocking enough, but it also gives the game a chance to add a different layer to the story. There are opportunities for Suicide Squad to explore many relationships within the DC universe, and Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy deserve to be addressed in at least some way, even if it's not a major focus in the game.

Harley Quinn as a Role Model

Since Poison Ivy will be a far younger version of herself, she will likely need guidance, and that's where Harley Quinn comes in. A relationship that puts Harley Quinn in a position to either act as a big sister or maternal figure towards Poison Ivy would be an interesting change of pace for the two characters. Harley Quinn is an incredible character, and seeing her in this new role of trying to be Poison Ivy's mentor or caretaker would add some fun new avenues to explore. Alternatively, the two could butt heads and get under each others' skin, arguing constantly to create some humorous moments between them.

Rocksteady choosing this path for Poison Ivy's character is a big risk that will hopefully pay off once players are able to finally see the game's story unfold. It's been a long wait for Suicide Squad, but if the game is able to live up to its promises, it has the chance to be one of the first hits of the year. Despite the wait, it's exciting that the game's release date is finally on the horizon, and fans will soon get to see if Poison Ivy's new look is a hit or a miss.