Poison Ivy’s New, Dark Costume Is So Badass, It Might Turn Me into a Cosplayer

WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for POISON IVY #29!I’m typically a die-hard Wonder Woman cosplayer, but Poison Ivy’s dark new costume might have just swayed me to the villainous side of cosplay. This stunning yet sinister look has sparked a surge of creative inspiration, and I’m already immersed elbow-deep in planning the costume design and special effects makeup details.

As an avid lover of special effects makeup—particularly in the horror genre—I was drawn to the idea of Ivy having black vines that resemble sickly veins…

With a release date set for January 1, 2025, G. Willow Wilson and Marcio Takara’s Poison Ivy #29 is already kicking off the New Year with stunning variant covers and a synopsis promising a major development in Ivy’s battle against her newest foe, the Order of the Green Knights.

This issue will finally reveal whether the Gotham City Siren chooses to embrace their mission or burn it to the ground. However, this potential plot twist isn’t what excites me most about this issue—my true interest lies in a variant cover by Douglas P. Lobo that has sparked my next cosplay hyperfixation.

Poison Ivy Variant Cover Makes Me Want to Cosplay the Gotham City Siren

Cover F 1:50 Card Stock Variant for Poison Ivy #29 (2025) by Douglas P. Lobo

While browsing DC’s January 2025 solicitations, Lobo’s variant cover immediately caught my eye. The bold, dark colors and the strikingly unique background, showcasing what appears to be dead foliage, stood out in a way that felt uncharacteristic for Poison Ivy art, which usually bursts with vibrant plant life. The contrast of wilting, decayed plants instantly grabbed my attention. However, it was Ivy’s costume that truly captivated me. The Gotham Siren is wearing a design that closely resembles her classic look—one of my all-time favorite Ivy costumes—yet with a darker, more intricate twist.

The costume stays true to Ivy’s iconic design, featuring a green bodysuit—also known as a teddy in fashion—along with thigh-high boots and matching elbow-length gloves. This maintains the provocative, well-loved style fans often associate with her. The darker twist comes through in the details: a deeper, more intense color palette of dark greens, with some shades nearly black. The outfit also incorporates more varied plant life, including winding black vines that give it a harder, edgier feel, setting it apart from the classic look.

Poison Ivy’s Dark, New Costume Is the Perfect Look to Showcase My FX Makeup Skills

Cover B Card Stock Variant for Poison Ivy #29 (2025) by Jenny Frison

One of my favorite details about Lobo’s design is how the vines emerge from the costume, seamlessly melding into Ivy’s skin, especially around her neck and face. Once I noticed this detail, I knew I had to cosplay this look. As an avid lover of special effects makeup—particularly in the horror genre—I was drawn to the idea of Ivy having black vines that resemble sickly veins running across her skin. This concept aligns perfectly with the zombie looks I’ve created using a similar technique, which I plan to adapt for Ivy’s vines.

I intend to treat the vines more dramatically, making them rise from the skin and incorporating brambles and thorns. While Lobo’s design artfully utilizes the vines, I’m eager to lean into the horror aspect and modify the look to feature more black vines than his artwork depicts. That said, I will strive to remain true to his design, as I am absolutely smitten with the costume, especially the darker foliage and classic cut. Another detail I plan to include is the headpiece from Lobo’s art. Though the specifics are hard to discern, it appears to be a tiara made of brambles.

Jessica Fong’s Art Is the Perfect Inspiration For My Horror-Based Poison Ivy Cosplay

Main Cover for Poison Ivy #28 (2024) by Jessica Fong

Since I want to lean into the horror aspects of Lobo’s design for this Poison Ivy cosplay, I plan to draw inspiration from various Jessica Fong variant covers. As a regular cover artist for Wilson’s Poison Ivy series, Fong creates exceptionally gorgeous art with a horror twist. For instance, her cover for Poison Ivy #28 depicts the Gotham Siren choking as mushrooms erupt from her throat. While I don’t plan to recreate this dramatic scene, I believe Fong’s art aligns well with the vibe I’m aiming for and complements Lobo’s cover. Therefore, her artwork will be instrumental in anchoring my Poison Ivy cosplay in the horror genre.

Poison Ivy #29 will be released on January 1, 2025, from DC Comics!