Watch Out, Poison Ivy: DC Seems to Have Found the Vixen's Perfect Replacement

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Justice League Unlimited #4!Poison Ivy has come far in the DC Universe, but there's another hero that's capable of protecting the Green. The new and improved Justice League has become a home for any metahuman that needs one, but has Pamela Isley already been muscled out?

In the wake of Absolute Power, the Justice League reformed to be bigger and better than ever. But the team's latest incarnation has been under attack by a mysterious terrorist group known as Inferno. When Inferno makes a play for the Green and Swamp Thing isn't around, it isn't Poison Ivy that's called upon, but a surprising other hero.

Tefé Holland is the Justice League's Secret 'Green' Weapon

Poison Ivy Doesn't Get a Chance to Step Up

In Justice League Unlimited #4 by Mark Waid, Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain, and Ariana Maher, Levi Kamei, the Swamp Thing, has just been incinerated by Inferno. Mister Terrific makes a beeline for the Baton Rouge Botanical Garden to recruit Tefé Holland, the daughter of Alec Holland (the former Swamp Thing), into the Justice League. Holland rejects the offer, but with Kamei gone, Holland is the world’s greatest connection to the Green. Tefé is brought to the Amazon Rainforest and her natural powers are enhanced by several magic users, like Constantine and Zatanna.

Holland is able to turn the tide and repopulate some of the rainforest, but Inferno’s attack is unyielding. Holland decides to retreat into the Green, taking Aquaman along for the ride to keep him safe from the flames and smoke. Together, Holland and Aquaman begin to search for Levi, as Tefé reveals an avatar like him can’t die, just withdraw. They find Levi deep inside the Green, where he’s being held prisoner by one of the Inferno members, who manipulates the Green to try and kill Holland and Aquaman.

However, Tefé is still imbued with magic and uses it to call out to the Parliament of Trees. The Green’s elementals attack the Inferno member, allowing Holland and Aquaman to free Levi. Tefé reaches out and shares the loaned magic to Levi, who begins to restore the damage to the Amazon. As the League’s members head back to the Watchtower to debrief from this mission, Aquaman checks in with Tefé. Holland tells the Justice League to lose her number and that she only joined this fight to protect the Green.

Swamp Thing's Daughter is Officially Justice League Material

Poison Ivy Misanthropy and Past Hold Her Back

To be fair to Poison Ivy, Mister Terrific does try to search for her when looking for people who could help during Inferno's attack on the Green. He just couldn't find her. But even if he had, her criminal background put Mister Terrific at ill-ease. Granted DC Comics has been softening Pamela Isley’s image over the last few years, transforming her from a true-blue villain to more of an eco-driven antihero. But at the end of the day, Poison Ivy’s previous attempts to kill off humanity is a bridge too far for the Justice League.

That being said, Tefé Holland is no saint herself. She’s one of the most powerful beings to ever wield the Green’s powers and was created to serve as a potential replacement to Swamp Thing. After gaining a physical form (thanks, in part, to John Constantine), Holland discovered just how powerful she was and refused to ally herself with the Green or humanity. Torn between two worlds, Holland went on a darker path compared to Swamp Thing and even destroyed people who got in her way.

But when it came down to it, Mister Terrific needed someone powerful who could help bring back the Green from the brink of destruction. Would Poison Ivy have done the same thing? Most likely yes. But with the Justice League's new collaborative approach, Terrific needs people who can work with others and Poison Ivy doesn't really like others (except for Harley Quinn, of course). Holland has thankfully chilled out in recent years and while she's not going to be accepting a membership invitation anytime soon, Tefé has proven she’s capable of working with the Justice League at least.

Tefé Holland Might Just Come Around

The League Needs Green-Minded Heroes Like Her

People like Tefé know the Green is always going to be under attack. Holland may have only shown up to stop Inferno, but that's not going to be the last time. The Green is a vital resource to the DC Universe, and it needs strong people able to protect it. Tefé has had a complicated journey, but she's passionate about the Green and extremely powerful. While the jury's out on whether Poison Ivy's going to come around to heroism, the DC Universe has someone just as capable of doing what she does for the Justice League.

Justice League Unlimited #4 is available now from DC Comics.