1966 Batman #181 CGC NM+ 9.6

The first appearance of Poison Ivy, in a superb Near Mint+ 9.6 copy.

Batman #181, dated June 1966, introduced Poison Ivy, later given the name Pamela Isley, who has since become one of the best-known villains in Batman’s world. The issue went on sale in April 1966, a few months after the Batman television series premiered.

In her first story she threatens to release suffocating spores over Gotham City unless her demands are met, and Batman foils the plan. Her backstory was later expanded: she became Dr. Pamela Isley, a Gotham City botanist transformed by poisons and toxins injected as an experiment, which gave her the ability to control plant life. Usually a villain who sees herself as a defender of the natural world, she has at times been portrayed as an antiheroine, and in recent years she has been closely paired with Harley Quinn.

The stories are by Robert Kanigher and Gardner Fox, with a cover by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson, who also contributed a pin-up to the issue.

Poison Ivy was later played by Uma Thurman in the 1997 film Batman & Robin, and has since appeared in the television series Gotham and the animated series Harley Quinn, where she is voiced by Lake Bell.

Ten examples have achieved Near Mint+ 9.6 at CGC, with four graded higher.

Population report accurate at the time of listing and subject to change.