The Getting Tree

In DC Comics there is a slew of plant-related characters like Swamp Thing, Poison Ivy, and Black Orchid, but one grassy-guy nobody really talks about is a certain man named Jason Woodrue, The Floronic Man! Let's settle down talk about this green-thumbed Z-Lister!

Created by Gardner Fox and Gil Kane in "The Atom #1" in 1962, Jason Woodrue first went by the name "Plant Master" and was an exile from a world called Floria. When he came to Earth he planned on using botanical powers to take over the planet, but he was stopped by Ray Palmer/The Atom. He later used experiments to become a human/plant hybrid called The Floronic Man and was continuously beaten by the like of The Flash, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman before joining The Secret Society of Super-Villains. Then he got beat up by The Justice League.

He later returned under the hiring of a U.S. general to study the creature known as Swamp Thing. When the general ignored Woodrue and insisted Swamp Thing was dead, Woodrue intentionally locked the general in a room with Swamp Thing-who killed the general. From there, Floronic Man constantly tried to further access "The Green" through other characters. "The Green" is a mystical force shared between all plants on Earth, and because Swamp Thing is the avatar of "The Green" Woodrue attacked Swamp Thing imminently. He is also mentioned in the story of Black Orchid, another plant-related character. He became a hero for a short time on The New Guardians, but returned to villainy after his teammates died.

Floronic Man returned to Gotham-now a disembodied head on limb-like roots-and met up with Poison Ivy, who he taught botany before either of them got superpowers. Floronic Man's new plan is to start a marijuana crime organization and corrupt the streets of Gotham with Poison Ivy. He also wants Poison Ivy to "have his child", this obviously causes Ivy to release a captured Batman so he can stop the botanical villain. After the 2011 reboot "The New 52", Woodrue returned as "The Seeder" to fight Swamp Thing for the power of "The Green".

So, let's break this down: First he's from another dimension, then he's fighting Swamp Thing, then he becomes a superhero, but ditches that after his teammates die, then he goes to Gotham to traffic weed, corrupt the streets and impregnate his former student. Coupled with the photo above, this guy is a real creep! Hard to believe he tried to be a hero. Turn over a new leaf, you may say. The Floronic Man is said to appear in Guillermo Del Toro's "Dark Universe" film about DC's mystical characters, if that ever happens. You may have seen Woodrue in the "Batman & Robin" film as the professor who created Poison Ivy, check out The Panel Biter's movie commentary for more (plug!). This character acheives in the creepy factor, but is obviously a tangled mess of pushover. Just carry some pesticide and I'm sure your walk through the dark forest won't be plagued by this plundering plant-perpetrator.
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