In Batman #41, written by Tom King and art by Mikel Janin, Posion Ivy makes a substantial power play that could have far reaching ramifications. The Bat and The Cat only have each other to rely on.

Bruce wakes in a cold sweat to find that the whole world seems to be under Poison Ivy's control. He manages to ensure that Catwoman isn't controlled and the two contemplate how they can defeat Ivy and free the Earth. 

This is a really bare bones, fast-pace issue and there's not much happening in this first part. This conflict kind of springs out of nowhere and one wonders if Ivy actually has this kind of power to begin with, and, if so, why has she never used it before. As you might have guessed since she has successfully taken over everyone, besides Bruce and Selina, Ivy knows that he and Batman are one and the same. This isn't treated as some big revelation, but as a matter of fact. What's more, since she's has control the Justice League, it stands to reason that she is aware of their identities as well. It would have been interesting to see this played up more. 

With the end of "DC Metal" approaching and the restructuring of the Justice League with "Justice Lost", the flagship books, such as Batman, Superman, and Green Lantern, seem to be treading water, waiting for the status quo to change. This issue's conflict feels a bit superfluous. The past few issues of Batman haven't exactly been about an overarching story, but each one has made strides to deepen the connection between Batman and Catwoman. While they are the only ones left to fight Ivy, there's no indication that this reflects on their relationship. This just feels like a buffer for the next big story. That's not to say it isn't enjoyable. The characterization and dialogue is still as strong as ever is coming from Tom King, who has perfected the banter between Bruce and Selina. Poison Ivy is legitimately intimidating, reminding why she is one of Batman's greatest foes. This issue is like a standalone episode of a TV show, has nothing to do with the larger plot, but a fun side story.   

This issue sees the return of Mikel Janin and June Chung on art and Batman is all the better for it. The past issues weren't bad in the art department by any means, but Janin has an intense eye for detail and that, coupled with Chung's beautiful bold colors, makes for gorgeous pages.

It remains to be seen if this arc will have any far reaching ramifactions in the Batman mythos, but so far its offered, at least, a glimpse into what adventures with The Bat and The Cat will be like in the future. 

B-