Choice Media Pod

In this episode of the Choice Media Podcast, I look back at “House & Garden,” the classic Batman: The Animated Series episode written by Paul Dini and directed by Boyd Kirkland.

This was one of the most intriguing Poison Ivy stories: Gotham is experiencing a series of crimes involving poisonous plants and wealthy bachelors, but Ivy insists she has been rehabilitated, married, and living a happy family life. As Batman investigates, the story gradually reveals that Ivy’s idea of happiness is more complicated than it first appears.

I examine the episode’s “copycat Poison Ivy” mystery, Ivy’s plant children, and the emotional ending that reveals a surprisingly human side of Pamela. I also look back at Ivy’s evolution throughout Batman: The Animated Series, from “Pretty Poison” and “Eternal Youth” to “Almost Got ’em” and the landmark “Harley and Ivy.”

Finally, the discussion turns to the Comics Code Authority and some of its restrictions on how villains, sexuality, and female characters could be portrayed. What does the old Comics Code tell us about how much comic-book storytelling has changed—and the lasting impacts of that era?

On this episode of the Choice Media Podcast, I take a look at Amy Chu and Clay Mann’s Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death, DC’s 2016 limited series that finally gave Poison Ivy her own starring vehicle nearly 50 years after her debut.

This series explores Pamela Isley as a scientist and mother becoming entangled in a murder mystery, with stolen research, mysterious threats, and rapidly growing plant-human children.

This episode also examines Amy Chu’s approach to Ivy and how the series helped expand the character beyond her traditional role as a Batman villain. I also touch on Chu’s interest in creating realistic female characters, as well as her decision to pitch an Ivy story that didn't revolve around eco-terrorism.

The discussion also looks at Ivy's daughters Rose, Hazel, and Thorn; the series' themes of motherhood and boundaries; and the influence of mythology on the character.

Finally, I compare Cycle of Life and Death with later interpretations of Poison Ivy, particularly Willow Wilson's acclaimed ongoing series, and consider the different storytelling goals of limited and ongoing comics.

Cycle of Life and Death is an important milestone in Poison Ivy's history, which finally demonstrated the untapped potential of Pamela Isley as a lead character.

🌿 New episode of the Choice Media Podcast!

This time, I’m talking about Poison Ivy: Circle of Life and Death, Amy Chu and Clay Mann’s 2016 limited series that gave Ivy her first solo comic after 50 years.

A murder mystery! Plant-human children! Ivy as a scientist and a mother! Catwoman! Swamp Thing! There's also Ivy dealing with some mature themes as well.

I enjoyed it — but I also found myself wishing I’d gotten to know Ivy a little better.

If you’re a Poison Ivy fan, come listen as I dig into what works, what doesn’t, and why this series still matters in Ivy’s evolution as a lead character. 🌱

Poison Ivy crashed out in the first week of Bad Seeds. So what happens next?

Poison Ivy #46 has the Queen of May facing some hard truths, about her situation and herself.

She's picked herself up off the ground-- where does she go from there?

I discuss.

I'm a big fan of horror stories, and this time I'm rolling with five classic Haunted House stories:

Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Hell House by Richard Matheson

Burnt Offerings by Robert Marasco

Return to Hell House by Nancy Collins

Usher's Passing by Robert McCammon

I want folks to read this classics, so I go light on the spoilers. The focus is really on the premise and a general sense of what makes each great.

Hades isn't the sort of game I normally play, but it's probably the best new game I've picked up this year, with a great mix of action, myth, characters and replay value.

I chatted this recent classic with the scholars of Nibelheim, during our larger discussion about shipping in games.

Watching the 2025 Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman show with my son and it's fantastic. But I'm pretty sure he prefers the astronomical cheese of the original Spider Man cartoon from the 60s.

I discuss both.

We are halfway through the 10-week Bad Seeds crossover event, and week 5 belonged to Harley Quinn.

The good news is that she wants to get back together with Poison Ivy.

The bad news is Gotham is falling apart and everyone needs her help.

I discuss.

I also respond to a Redditor who was worried about the state of the Harlivy ship, and I share my theories on how this couple will be central to the final act of Bad Seeds.

After lengthy hiatus, the Choice Media Podcast welcomes back the Scholars of Nibelheim, my bluesky friends FACTs (@damned-writer.bsky.social), Alex (@gwentchamp.bsky.social) and Wander (@wandererssong.bsky.social).

We discuss Final Fantasy 7—the game that launched a thousand shipping wars, along with the history of shipping and it gets things twisted on social media sometimes.

We also looked at favorite ships from Final Fantasy, Persona, and other media.

My recaps of the Olympians series by George O'Connor continues with the volume dedicated to Artemis, Goddess of the hunt.