One of Batman’s most monstrous enemies has just landed in the middle of Gotham City’s newest mystery.

“Boots and Handbags” by writer Gretchen Felker-Martin, artist Atagun Ilhan, and colorist Déborah Villahoz brings readers to the dark, murky waters of Slaughter Swamp just on the edge of Gotham City. There, a pair of overly confident hunters believe themselves capable of sniffing out and bringing down none other than Gotham’s very own Killer Croc, all in the name of “boots and handbags.” While their fates are sealed the moment they happen upon their so-called prey, their gruesome deaths are hardly the most unnerving aspect of the story. Instead, that title belongs to the mysterious city that popped up overnight on the other side of the bayou, and even Killer Croc knows that nothing good could ever come from exploring what it has to offer.

Written by G. WILLOW WILSON, JOANNE STARER, GRACE ELLIS, GRETCHEN FELKER-MARTIN, and DAN WATTERS Art by MARCIO TAKARA, HAINING, BRIAN LEVEL, ATAGUN ILHAN, and DANI Colors by ARIF PRIANTO, IVAN PLASCENCIA, DÉBORAH VILLAHOZ, ARIF PRIANTO, and BRAD SIMPSON Letters by HASSAN OTSMANE-ELHAU Main cover art by JESSICA FONG Variant covers by MARCIO TAKARA, NOOBOVICH, and BRIAN BOLLAND

Located just a few miles away from Gotham City, Slaughter Swamp has been a part of the DC Universe ever since it was introduced in Alfred Bester and Paul Reinman’s story “Green Lantern: Fighters Never Quit,” from the pages of 1944’s All-American Comics #61. This marshy patch of wetlands is at least partially protected as a State Park, though that hasn’t kept it from being at the heart of some truly horrifying stories. Among the most infamous of these is the origin of Solomon Grundy, formerly Cyrus Gold, who was transformed into the hulking brute fans know today when his corpse was submerged in the swamp for over fifty years.

Waylon Jones, better known as Killer Croc, made his DC Comics debut in 1983’s Detective Comics #523 by Gerry Conway and Gene Colan. Born with an incredibly rare genetic condition that accounts for his size, strength, and reptilian appearance, Waylon was abandoned by his father, orphaned by the death of his mother, and left to suffer constant ridicule due to his appearance. Eventually, Waylon made his way into a life of crime, where his appearance and attributes would be appreciated for the fear they instilled and the shocking violence they made Killer Croc capable of wreaking.

While Killer Croc has always been a member of Batman’s rogues gallery, he has taken on more varied roles in recent years. Killer Croc’s long stints of incarceration in places like Arkham Asylum have made him a prime target for various iterations of Amanda Waller’s Suicide Squad. At the same time, Killer Croc’s bent for anti-hero antics over wanton acts of cruelty has also drawn the attention of numerous heroes, landing him squarely on the roster of the Justice League Reserves.

Poison Ivy #25 is on sale now from DC Comics.

Source: DC Comics