Ivy Town (comics)
Encyclopedia
Ivy Town is a fictional city set in the DC Universe
. It was created in 1961 by Gardner Fox
and Gil Kane
.
and Gil Kane
, it served as the main backdrop to many of the stories published by DC Comics
featuring the adventures of the second (or Silver Age
) Atom
. Ivy's most notable landmark was Ivy University, whose physics department employed the Atom, initially unwittingly, in his true identity of Raymond Palmer as a member of its faculty. After Palmer went public, he rejoined the University faculty as a celebrity lecturer on an irregular basis.
By the mid-1970s, Ivy Town was described by some resources, including a geography article in the then-official fanzine Amazing World of DC Comics # 14 (1977), as being located in Connecticut
. However, by the late 1980s, writer Roger Stern
, possibly with input from Tom Peyer
, explicitly placed the city in New York State's Finger Lakes
region in Power of the Atom #8. In several issues, place names that exist in real life in the city of Ithaca
(home of Cornell University
, an Ivy League
school) were mentioned. Its nearest notable neighbours included Calvin City, home of the Golden Age Atom, described by Stern as being directly south of Ivy in Pennsylvania
.
As introduced in Brave New World (July 2006), the newest Atom is a resident of Ivy Town. It seems that, while Ray Palmer was working with the JLA, strange things have become a regular feature of news here, and Ivy Town has become a mecca for UFOlogists, parapsychologists, and would-be alien invaders.
Ivy Town's current police chief is Liza Warner, the character formerly known as Lady Cop
who debuted in 1st Issue Special #4. Other DC comics characters that have attended (or may currently be attending) Ivy University include Isaiah Crockett and Ronnie Raymond (part of the first Firestorm
).
episode "Sword of the Atom!" Aquaman
visits the school in order to contact Ryan Choi, who he needs to help rescue Batman
.
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
. It was created in 1961 by Gardner Fox
Gardner Fox
Gardner Francis Cooper Fox was an American writer best known for creating numerous comic book characters for DC Comics. Comic-book historians estimate that he wrote over 4,000 comics stories....
and Gil Kane
Gil Kane
Eli Katz who worked under the name Gil Kane and in one instance Scott Edward, was a comic book artist whose career spanned the 1940s to 1990s and every major comics company and character.Kane co-created the modern-day versions of the superheroes Green Lantern and the Atom for DC Comics, and...
.
Publication history
Created in 1961 by Gardner FoxGardner Fox
Gardner Francis Cooper Fox was an American writer best known for creating numerous comic book characters for DC Comics. Comic-book historians estimate that he wrote over 4,000 comics stories....
and Gil Kane
Gil Kane
Eli Katz who worked under the name Gil Kane and in one instance Scott Edward, was a comic book artist whose career spanned the 1940s to 1990s and every major comics company and character.Kane co-created the modern-day versions of the superheroes Green Lantern and the Atom for DC Comics, and...
, it served as the main backdrop to many of the stories published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
featuring the adventures of the second (or Silver Age
Silver Age of Comic Books
The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the...
) Atom
Ray Palmer (comics)
The Atom is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero introduced during the Silver Age of comic books in Showcase # 34 . He was named after Raymond A...
. Ivy's most notable landmark was Ivy University, whose physics department employed the Atom, initially unwittingly, in his true identity of Raymond Palmer as a member of its faculty. After Palmer went public, he rejoined the University faculty as a celebrity lecturer on an irregular basis.
By the mid-1970s, Ivy Town was described by some resources, including a geography article in the then-official fanzine Amazing World of DC Comics # 14 (1977), as being located in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. However, by the late 1980s, writer Roger Stern
Roger Stern
Roger Stern is an American comic book author and novelist.-Early career:In the early 1970s, Stern and Bob Layton published the fanzine CPL , one of the first platforms for the work of John Byrne...
, possibly with input from Tom Peyer
Tom Peyer
Tom Peyer is an American comic book creator and editor.He is probably best known for his 1999 revisioning of Golden Age super-hero Hourman, as well as his work on the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 1990s. An editor at DC Comics/Vertigo from 1987 to 1993, he served as assistant editor on Neil...
, explicitly placed the city in New York State's Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
region in Power of the Atom #8. In several issues, place names that exist in real life in the city of Ithaca
Ithaca, New York
The city of Ithaca, is a city in upstate New York and the county seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca-Tompkins County metropolitan area...
(home of Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, an Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
school) were mentioned. Its nearest notable neighbours included Calvin City, home of the Golden Age Atom, described by Stern as being directly south of Ivy in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
As introduced in Brave New World (July 2006), the newest Atom is a resident of Ivy Town. It seems that, while Ray Palmer was working with the JLA, strange things have become a regular feature of news here, and Ivy Town has become a mecca for UFOlogists, parapsychologists, and would-be alien invaders.
Ivy Town's current police chief is Liza Warner, the character formerly known as Lady Cop
Lady Cop
The Lady Cop is a fictional police officer, a comic book character published by DC Comics. She debuted in 1st Issue Special #4, , and was created by Robert Kanigher and John Rosenberger.-Origin:...
who debuted in 1st Issue Special #4. Other DC comics characters that have attended (or may currently be attending) Ivy University include Isaiah Crockett and Ronnie Raymond (part of the first Firestorm
Firestorm (comics)
Firestorm is the name of several comic book superheroes published by DC Comics. Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein, the first Firestorm, debuted in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #1 , and was created by Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom. Martin Stein, by himself as Firestorm, debuted in Firestorm the Nuclear...
).
In other media
Ivy Town University appears in the Batman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the Bold
Batman: The Brave and the Bold is an American animated television series based in part on the DC Comics series The Brave and the Bold which features two or more super heroes coming together to solve a crime or foil a super villain...
episode "Sword of the Atom!" Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
visits the school in order to contact Ryan Choi, who he needs to help rescue Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
.