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 tries to save herself, she makes a deal with the Parliament of Trees, giving them Gotham in exchange for her life, as Vandal Savage is coming for her head and the people have turned against her. 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, collected in Poison Ivy Vol. 8: Grassroots Monarchy, 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 – The Collected Editions
The whole Batman: Bad Seeds event is being collected in three trade paperbacks (those same books will also be available as hardcover editions).
- Batman: Bad Seeds [2027]
Collects Bad Seeds—Sunset #1, Batman #13-14, Detective Comics #1113-1114, Poison Ivy #48-49, and Batman: Bad Seeds—Sunrise #1. - Batman: Bad Seeds – Streets of Gotham [2027]
Collects Batman: Bad Seeds—Gotham Central #1-2, Batman: Bad Seeds—Gotham General #1-2, and Batman: Bad Seeds—Streets of Gotham #1. - Batman: Bad Seeds – Sowing & Reaping [2027]
Collects Nightwing #142-143, Catwoman #91-92, Harley Quinn #66-67, Batgirl #23-24, and Batwoman #7-8.
Batman: Bad Seeds Reading Order & Checklist
All those issues take place in one night. Most of them have little to no time connection to the others beyond the setting. Some books can easily be read at any time, but I place them to make the reading more “organic.”
💡This event is a must-read for readers of Matt Fraction’s Batman and G. Willow Wilson’s Poison Ivy. Other characters’ appearances are mostly limited to their own series, and you can skip the rest of the event if you are only reading for them. If you are looking for a prelude to Anarky and Stephanie Brown’s Gangs of Gotham, it is set up in Gotham Central and Gotham General.
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 – The city is turning green, and soon no one will be able to breathe. The Bat-family must help, but how?
- Batgirl #23 – Plants grow, and Batgirl needs a mission. Starts just before the plant invasion began.
- Batwoman #7 – Kate is back in town and receives her mission orders.
- Harley Quinn #66 – Harley can’t eat in peace. Plants start destroying her neighborhood, and people ask her to save them. Ivy will have to wait for their reunion.
- Batman #13 – Batman is going to get the cops.
- Detective Comics #1113 – Batman vs. Vandal Savage’s poison.
- Batman: Bad Seeds – Gotham Central #1 – There’s a real murder, and despite the chaos, Gordon is investigating it while Anarky robs the mob.
- Batman: Bad Seeds – Gotham Central #2 – Aboard the last train out of Gotham, right into the jungle.
- Nightwing #142 – The Bad Seeds reach Blüdhaven.
- Catwoman #91 – It may be a good night for a heist… or not.
- Catwoman #92 – The plants are growing too big, even for a cat.
- Batman: Bad Seeds – Streets of Gotham #1 – People of Gotham living through another end-of-the-world situation. Feat. The Signal and Tim Drake.
- Poison Ivy #48 – Poison Ivy realizes what she has done.
- Batman #14 – Batman’s looking for a way to fight the Green.
- Batman: Bad Seeds – Gotham General #1 – Doctors on high alert for a crazy night. Starts at the beginning of the Green invasion, but ends after Gotham Central #2 events.
- Batman: Bad Seeds – Gotham General #2 – Not published yet, but there’s a little spoiler in Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunrise #1, so be aware.
- Nightwing #143 – Nightwing and Robin team up, like in the old days.
- Batgirl #24 – Batgirl is in the streets.
- Batwoman #8 – Batwoman and Huntress between two enemies.
- Harley Quinn #67 – Harley fights for survival in the Green world.
- Detective Comics #1114 – The Sun is rising. The clock is ticking.
- Poison Ivy #49 – Ivy is facing consequences. Set at the same time as DC #1114, but read after to avoid spoilers.
- Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunrise #1 – The Conclusion.
What will happen after Batman: Bad Seeds?
Gotham City’s mayor often dies, but Poison Ivy is not easily killed. One thing’s for sure: she’s not going to keep her job. Vandal Savage isn’t either. Gotham may once again need to go through large reconstruction projects, but Batman and his allies are still here to protect the citizens.
As Batman, Poison Ivy, and every other book go back to their regular programming, Anarky and Stephanie Brown are leading a new series, Gangs of Gotham.