Published May 21, 2026, 2:58 PM EDT
Jason is an award-winning journalist whose writing career dates back to when he developed the ability to use a crayon. He, most notably, worked previously as a "professional fan," as he likes to call it, at CinemaBlend, for which he wrote about anything and everything under the pop culture umbrella... especially Batman. His passion for the art of cinema began even earlier, stemming from repeat viewings of The Wizard of Oz.
This initially led him to pursue a career in filmmaking -- and even work briefly in the industry as an extra in the straight-to-video family film, Alice Upside Down -- before deciding that his talents would be better served discussing and showing appreciation for the various forms of entertainment he is passionate about.
Some might say even the most exquisitely written comic books are only as good as their artwork. Well, if that philosophy rings true, then readers are in for a real treat with an upcoming Batman story.
DC Comics has announced a crossover event called Batman: Bad Seeds, in which The Dark Knight takes on Poison Ivy, and unveiled striking new artwork associated with it.
The main cover for Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunset #1, which kicks off the story in Aug. 2026, calls to mind Dexter Soy's variant cover for Absolute Batman #19, seeing as it also shows the vigilante as an emaciated, scarecrow-like figure, but with his legs entirely replaced by interlocking vines. Shown behind him is the primitive chaos that has enveloped Gotham as perpetrated by Mayor Pamela Isley, who is also seen posing with Police Commissioner Vandal Savage and an armed S.W.A.T. crew.
The cover comes courtesy of the comic's main artists, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Cliff Rathburn, and Tomeu Morey. However, DC is also releasing a series of exciting variant covers by icons like Dan Mora, Marcio Takara, Jorge Jiménez, and Jeff Spokes, the latter of which delivers a special glow-in-the-dark design.
Image via DC ComicsReleasing simultaneously with Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunset #1 is Poison Ivy #47, which serves as a prelude to the crossover event and features art by Argentinian creator Leandro Fernandez. However, the main cover, which appears to show Pamela Isley as the victim of a Shakespearean murder scene, comes from Jessica Fong, who has previously designed covers for the iconic eco-terrorist's current self-titled DC title before.
Image via DC ComicsDC is also putting out special variant covers for Poison Ivy #47 that present the eponymous Gotham City rogue in a more prominent, authoritarian, and traditionally alluring fashion. One is by freelance comic book artist Noobovich, another comes from Kyuyong Eom (who previously contributed to the overwhelming tally of Absolute Batman #20 variant covers), and Poison Ivy variant cover veteran Manny Vincent Carbonilla also delivers a unique and grim design.
Image via DC ComicsBatman: Bad Seeds Is Told Through Multiple DC Titles
Image via DC ComicsBatman's relationship with Poison Ivy, which dates back to her 1966 introduction by creators Carmine Infantino and Robert Kanigher in Batman #181, has inspired a few interesting stories as of late, such as the gender-flipped The Poisoned Man in Immortal Legend Batman and Absolute Batman's bizarre body horror-inspired take. However, Batman: Bad Seeds is poised to deliver one of the hero's most intense battles with this foe.
The story begins with the aforementioned prelude in Poison Ivy #47, written by G. Willow Wilson, which sees Mayor Pamela Isley's grip on Gotham City come to an end as the citizens openly reject their leader. This inspires the politician to assume full control in the only other way she knows how, as seen in the crossover event's official first chapter, Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunset #1.
Ivy transforms Gotham's urban landscape into a literal jungle, complete with vegetation that has not existed for millions of years, that surrounds full buildings and threatens to make a meal out of innocent civilians fighting to survive. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne and the other members of his trusted Bat-Family are already under attack by Vandal Savage, making this already bizarre effort to save the city an especially damning challenge.
Wilson teams with Batman writer Matt Fraction to oversee Batman: Bad Seeds, which will be told over the course of 10 weeks between August and October. However, the writers and artists behind the titles Detective Comics, Batgirl, Batwoman, Catwoman, Nightwing, and Harley Quinn will also be filling in the blanks to bring the saga full circle.
Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunset #1 and Poison Ivy #47 both hit the shelves on Aug. 26.
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Upcoming Films The Batman – Part II
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