In Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red #9, a major DC villain just found their way into the Lazarus Pit, which can and will spell trouble for all.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red #9, by Joe Quinones and Clayton Cowles, available now.
The adventures of Harley Quinn have been plentiful in Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red. She’s done everything from imagine a future for herself, to continue her tale from Batman: White Knight. Now she’s bringing the Lazarus Pit into her latest adventure.
The Lazarus Pit does have a way of rearing its head, time and time again, within the DC Universe. Some characters mistakenly seek it out, thinking it’s the Fountain of Youth. It’s a hard lesson that only those who find it will be forced to learn. Unfortunately, that’s the lesson taught in Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red #9. Harley isn’t setting out to seek eternal life for herself, but her partner has other ideas for the Pit.
Poison Ivy has long been searching for a way to bring plants to the top of the food chain. It’s always been her goal to protect the plants she loves, ideally in a way that also deals with the threat of humanity at the same time. In a way, it really isn’t all that surprising that she would seek out the mythical Fountain of Youth. Imagine what the water from that fountain could do when combined with some of Ivy’s oldest and most powerful seeds.
With that goal in mind, Ivy sets out, following a map that should theoretically lead her to the riches she seeks. Naturally, Harley comes along for the ride — despite all of Ivy’s attempts to discourage her from doing so.
Harley certainly brings chaos to the journey, but she also proves quite useful. Without Harley, Ivy probably wouldn’t be able to work her way through the locks. She also concocts a plan to essentially save Ivy from herself.
Harley leaves a trail for her allies to follow and Batman and Batgirl show up at just the right time, stopping Ivy before she can drop her bag of seeds into the Lazarus Pit. When Ivy realizes where she is, it’s clear this is not the solution Ivy was looking for, but the confrontation escalates far too quickly for her to see reason.
In the end, Ivy willingly takes the opportunity to achieve her goal — while sticking it to Batman. It does grant both her and her plants power, but with the expected cost alongside. What comes out of the Lazarus Pit is not a sane or stable Poison Ivy. This is a version of the character more bent on power and domination than anything else.
Luckily, Batman and Batgirl are there to help Harley get control of Ivy and prevent her from causing significant damage. That said, Ivy quickly overpowers the Bat-Family and are forced to retreat. Harley stays and uses her skills to bring Ivy back to herself, proving her skills as a former mental health professional.
