‘The Penguin’ Episode 3 Teases Poison Ivy’s Potential Debut in ‘The Batman’ Universe

The Penguin just dropped Episode 3, and by the end, the stakes have never been higher. As you may recall, before his death at the hands of Oz, Alberto Falcone intended to introduce a new drug to the streets of Gotham.

Only two people were aware of his scheme: Sofia Falcone and Oz. Now, both are working together—or at least they did—to bring this plan to life.

Sofia’s time at Arkham Asylum seems to have inspired Alberto’s plan for the new drug, which is something she was given during her stay there.

She even took Oz on a tour of the lab where “Bliss” is being developed. The drug is derived from the basidiospore of the Bleeding Tooth mushroom, which is a reproductive spore found in certain types of mushrooms. In this case, these spores produce euphoric effects that can numb the harsh realities of being in Arkham Asylum.

The drug quickly proved successful, allowing Oz and Sofia to secure a deal with the Triads. However, the future of that deal—and the fate of the new drug—now hangs in the balance, as we are uncertain about Sofia’s survival in upcoming episodes.

But how does all of this connect to Poison Ivy? It’s clear that Sofia first learned about the drug during her time in Arkham, and she even used it herself. However, she must have had someone inside the asylum who explained the drug’s mechanics to her.

Currently, we know Sofia is working with Trey Bloom (more on that later), but it’s unlikely he was the one who informed her about the drug’s origins.

Poison Ivy is one of DC Comics’ most popular villains. A former botanist and expert in plant biology, she becomes a criminal after exposure to toxins during an experiment. This transformation grants her the ability to control plants and produce pheromones that can seduce or manipulate others.

It’s quite possible that Dr. Pamela Isley lost her sanity during one of her experiments with the mushroom, landing her at Arkham around the same time as Sofia. It’s likely that Isley informed both the Arkham doctors and Sofia about the drug’s effects.

While Reeves aims to steer clear of fantastical villains in his narrative, he doesn’t necessarily have to take that route with Poison Ivy. She could easily be portrayed as a mad scientist, even without any superpowers.

Then there’s the intriguing possibility of Trey Bloom. He could potentially be Mr. Bloom, another villain from DC Comics.

Mr. Bloom is introduced as a mysterious figure connected to Gotham’s criminal underworld and poses a significant threat to Batman and his allies in Scott Snyder’s Batman series.

He possesses the ability to create and manipulate various plant life, using them as weapons and tools in his criminal enterprises. He can enhance individuals, granting them powers and creating a new generation of supervillains and henchmen known as “Bloom’s minions.” These minions often gain heightened abilities but frequently at the expense of their humanity.

As you can see, the narrative possibilities are intriguing. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!