Since Matt Fraction became the new writer of the Batman series, Gotham City’s official stance on its heroes has notably soured, especially since Poison Ivy became the new Mayor and bought into Vandal Savage’s plan to get rid of the Bat-family. But with such a mayor, problems arise on all fronts, not just the ones full of bats, and now the city is on the verge of exploding.
Led by Matt Fraction and Poison Ivy’s writer, G. Willow Wilson, Batman: Bad Seeds is a Gotham-wide comic book crossover dealing with a plant-shaped crisis over one long night (told across ten weeks) involving the Batman and Poison Ivy series, but also Detective Comics, Batgirl, Batwoman, Catwoman, Nightwing, Harley Quinn, and numerous one-shots.
As Ivy’s plants spread, Gotham transforms, with buildings being engulfed by vines, streets overtaken by carnivorous flora, and entire neighborhoods reverting to a primordial state. The Bat-Family is on the run, the GCPD is at war with Commissioner Vandal Savage’s militarized regime, and the city’s residents are turning against each other. Gotham City has become a war zone, with each chapter bringing a new twist to the story… You just have to follow our guide to reading Bad Seeds in order!
The Road to Batman: Bad Seeds
No comic book event truly begins with a number one issue. Batman: Bad Seeds is rooted in both Matt Fraction’s run and G. Willow Wilson’s Poison Ivy series. Here is what you need to know and read to get ready before going into the crossover.
First of all, if you are asking yourself, when did Vandal Savage become GCPD’s police commissioner? It was in Batman (vol. 3) #147, collected in Batman Vol. 4: Dark Prisons, towards the end of the Dawn of DC era.
When was Gotham’s previous mayor killed? It was at the beginning of the All In Era, during the last storyline written by Chip Zdarsky, in Batman Vol. 5: The Dying City.
Mayor Ivy, when did that happen? In Poison Ivy #41, Pam decides to enter the mayoral race to save herself from jail. In Poison Ivy #42, she’s the newly elected mayor of Gotham City. She won by a landslide. At least, that’s what we are told. There’s a time jump between the two issues, and the whole electoral campaign has been skipped, and now she’s breaking up with Harley Quinn.
In Batman (vol. 4) #8, Vandal Savage convinces Mayor Isley to sign on to his plan to launch a war against the Bat-family. The hunt began in the following issues (#9-10), but the results are not to Poison Ivy’s taste (see Poison Ivy #45).
The War against the Green? Ivy’s action against the Green, putting herself between the Parliament of Trees and the Grey, started some time ago, when she was also dealing with the Order of the Green Knight. Really, you need to go back to the beginning of the All In era, starting with Poison Ivy Vol. 5: Human Botany, Poison Ivy Vol. 6: A Death in Marshview, and Poison Ivy Vol. 7: Amuse-bouche. But the essential is that, during the conflict, Ivy and Janet-from-HR were caught up in a web of manipulations that was resolved by them eating their enemy, who was a member of The Parliament. And now, Ivy must face the consequences.
Batman: Bad Seeds Reading Order & Checklist
This Batman: Bad Seeds Reading Order is a work in progress. It will be updated weekly while it is ongoing.
Prologue
- Poison Ivy #42-44 – Mayor Isley wants to make Gotham great again, but she’s no politician.
- Batman #8-10 – Vandal Savage wants to hunt down Batman.
- Poison Ivy #45-47 – The fall of Mayor Isley.
Batman: Bad Seeds main event starts here!
- Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunset #1
- Batman #13
- Batgirl #23
- Batman: Bad Seeds – Gotham General #1
- Batman: Bad Seeds – Gotham Central #1
- Detective Comics #1113
- Nightwing #142
- Catwoman #91
- Batwoman #7
- Harley Quinn #66
- Poison Ivy #48
- Batman #14
- Batgirl #24
- Batman: Bad Seeds – Streets of Gotham #1
- Batman: Bad Seeds – Gotham General #2
- Batman: Bad Seeds – Gotham Central #2
- Detective Comics #1114
- Batwoman #8
- Catwoman #92
- Nightwing #143
- Harley Quinn #67
- Poison Ivy #49
- Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunrise #1
What will happen after Batman: Bad Seeds?
Gotham City’s mayor often dies, but Poison Ivy is not easily killed. We’ll have to wait to discover what’s next for her and the city!