Nicole Kang’s Mary Hamilton goes full supervillain in next week’sBatwoman.
Kang will debut this startling new look in the superhero drama’s midseason finale airing Wednesday.
“I was really emotional.
Nicole Kang as the new Poison Ivy, Mary Hamilton, on ‘Batwoman’.Justina Mintz/The CW
What I’m most proud of is that it is rooted in history, both comic and fashion history.
And it is culturally conscious.
And then I am what’s inside of it, what’s filling it.
Inspired by her research, Nicole Kang started sketching Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, but turned it into a drawing of Alice as Harley and Poison Ivy Mary.Courtesy of Nicole Kang
And as a Korean girl, that when it all came together.”
It’s really exciting for me to create a fully fledged Asian villain.
I think sometimes Asian villains are not explained, right?
Their humanity is sometimes lost when in telling a story about a hero.
And I think it’s super brilliant.
I am very thrilled."
Episode 6, titled “How Does Your Garden Grow?”
Kang was surprised when Dries first told her about this twist at the beginning of the season.
“I was like, ‘Are you sure?'”
“Pamela Isley traditionally turns into Poison Ivy in the comic.
So truthfully, it came out of left field.”
The two sisters hit the road together in next week’s episode, titled “Pick Your Poison.”
We’ve taken and begged, borrowed, and definitely made our own.
But we’ve taken a ton of inspiration from the two of them."
Given Mary’s powers and entirely anger-driven persona, it might not be all smooth-sailing for this new partnership.
“Who’s in charge?
Alice has always been stronger, smarter, and quicker.
She’s always five steps ahead of the Bat Team.
She knew Mary was Poison Ivy.
So they’re speeding away, but in the same sense, they’re on a rollercoaster.”
But how far gone is Mary once she goes full Poison Ivy?
“What I fear for Mary is that she doesn’t know her power,” said Kang.
That’s not something Mary is ready for at all.
And it’s not something that Alice has ever been concerned with.
And how far is too far is, I think, Mary’s question."
That being said, it won’t be long until wemeet the original Poison Ivy, a.k.a.
Pamela Isley, who has been buried in Gotham for years.
“The vengeance of the OG Poison Ivy is coming.”
Batwomanairs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on The CW.
