Count Werner Vertigo is a DC Comics supervillain. First appearing in World's Finest Comics #251 (July 1978), Count Vertigo is the last descendant of the royal family that ruled the small eastern European country of Vlatava, that was taken over by the Soviets, and would later become devastated by the Spectre. DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... In comic books, first appearance refers to first comic book to feature a character. ... Robert Haney (1926 - November 25, 2004) was a comic book writer. ... Vince Colletta (born Oct. ... George Tuska (born April 26, 1916, Hartford, Connecticut) a. ... The Secret Society of Super Villains (SSoSV) is a group of comic book villains that exist in the DC Universe. ... Checkmate is a fictional covert operations agency within the DC Comics universe. ... Suicide Squad is a name for a number of fictional organizations created for and owned by DC Comics. ... The Injustice Society (also called the Injustice Society of the World) is a group of fictional supervillains in the DC Comics universe. ... DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... Doctor Doom, one of the most archetypal supervillains and his arch-enemies The Fantastic Four (in background). ... Worlds Finest Comics was a comic book series published by DC Comics from 1941 to 1986. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... Eastern Europe is, by convention, a region defined geographically as that part of Europe covering the eastern part of the continent. ... Soviet redirects here. ... The Spectre is a fictional cosmic entity and superhero who has appeared in numerous comic books published by DC Comics. ...

Character history

Starting his career

Count Vertigo first appeared in Star City, where he attempted to steal back the jewels his parents had sold when they escaped to England after the war. The victim of a hereditary inner ear defect that affected his balance, Vertigo had a small electronic device implanted in his right temple that compensated this problem. Tinkering with the device, Vertigo learned he was able to affect other people’s balance as well, distorting their perceptions so that they literally couldn’t tell up from down, an effect known as vertigo. This would bring him in conflict with the heroes Green Arrow and Black Canary. Star City is a fictional city that appears in stories published by DC Comics, best known as the traditional home of the superheroes known by, or affiliated with, the shared alias of the Green Arrow. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification  -  by Athelstan 967  Area... A pierced human ear. ... Vertigo, a specific type of dizziness, is a major symptom of a balance disorder. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this comics-related article or section may require cleanup. ... Black Canary is a fictional character, a DC Comics superheroine. ...

Running with the Suicide Squad

He would later come to join the Suicide Squad in exchange for a shortened prison sentence, and it was revealed that he was plagued by bipolar disorder. After the Suicide Squad disbanded for the first time, Count Vertigo was captured by Vlatavan rebels, who wished to use his powers to overthrow the current Vlatavan government. They used a variety of drugs on him, each with a differing effect on the Count, as he would for example suddenly see himself as an Angel of Vengeance, sent to wreak havoc on the current rulers. Although he largely believed himself master of his own will, his mood swings were completely subject to his captors. Suicide Squad is a name for a number of fictional organizations created for and owned by DC Comics. ... For other uses, see Bipolar. ... It has been suggested that Blockbuster drug be merged into this article or section. ...

He was captured by Poison Ivy when the Suicide Squad came in and resolved the conflict and Kaligari (then-ruler of Vlatava) was murdered. Count Vertigo was Poison Ivy's slave for a long period of time, during which he grew to hate Poison Ivy and frequently threatened to kill her when he was free of her control. Amanda Waller was able to free Vertigo of her control so that he could stop a group of missiles hitting Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem at the behest of the villain Kobra. Poison Ivy (Pamela Lillian Isley) is a fictional character, a DC Comics supervillain who is primarily an enemy of Batman. ... Slave redirects here. ... The Dome of the Rock in the center of the Temple Mount, or Mount Moriah The Dome of the Rock (Arabic: مسجد قبة الصخرة, translit. ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... Kobra is a DC Comics supervillain. ...

Vertigo going cold turkey.

Vertigo succeeded, and it turned out that as he went into rehab and expunged the chemicals that had been pumped into his body by both Ivy and the rebels, that he was unwittingly cured of the disorder that had plagued him for so long. This was something he found hard to deal with and he approached Deadshot, one of his teammates, hoping that Deadshot would be willing to end his life. Image File history File links VertigoCold. ... Image File history File links VertigoCold. ... Deadshot (real name Floyd Lawton), is a fictional character in the DC Universe. ...

In the meantime, he was also approached by members of the Vlatavan government, who sought to see Count Vertigo reclaim his rightful place as ruler. He declined, stating that he wasn't fit to rule at this point, as he wasn't even sure if he wanted to live or die.

The depressed Count Vertigo.

Although willing, Deadshot warned him to think it through, because Deadshot would not hesitate, and Vertigo had better be sure this is what he wanted. The running subplot would ultimately culminate in the last pages of the first volume of the Suicide Squad, in which Deadshot and Vertigo stood across one another, Deadshot ready to kill him. Count Vertigo realised that this was ultimately an indirect suicide, and that would ruin his chances for the afterlife. Deciding for now that he would deal with the disease that now indirectly plagued him, he walked away from the duel. Image File history File links Count_Vertigo_2. ... Image File history File links Count_Vertigo_2. ... Suicide (Latin sui caedere, to kill oneself) is the act of intentionally taking ones own life. ... Spoiler warning: The afterlife, or life after death, is a generic term referring to a continuation of existence, typically spiritual, experiential, or ghost-like, beyond this world, or after death. ...

Vertigo also resolved his grudge with Poison Ivy. During the War of the Gods crossover, he was perfectly willing to let her die when he found her abandoned on an Amazonian island. Still, Ivy was saved, and Count Vertigo would later reluctantly work alongside her in the Suicide Squad, leaving their grudge be. War of the Gods is a crossover and 4-part miniseries storyline published in 1991 by DC Comics. ...

The destruction of Vlatava

Ultimately, Count Vertigo did return to his homeland in order to ensure that he would once more become the country's rightful ruler. While his forces were at war with the government's army, the Spectre appeared, and already unhinged, was horrified by the slaughter that occurred. In a fit of rage he deemed the entire country and its inhabitants to be full of sin and decided to cleanse it, leaving behind only Vlatava's president at the time and Count Vertigo. The Spectre is a fictional cosmic entity and superhero who has appeared in numerous comic books published by DC Comics. ...

Grudges and a new Injustice Society

Working for the American government for a while, Count Vertigo eventually sought out his old enemy Green Arrow and after the two had a fight, Count Vertigo decided to leave the vendetta behind and focus on more positive prospects, getting his life back on track. Afterwards he showed up as a member of the new Injustice Society. He still maintains contact with various government agencies that employ metahumans. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this comics-related article or section may require cleanup. ... The Injustice Society (also called the Injustice Society of the World) is a group of fictional supervillains in the DC Comics universe. ...

Infinite Crisis and One Year Later

Count Vertigo has been seen among Lex Luthor's ranks in the Secret Society of Super Villains in the pages of Infinite Crisis. He appears "One Year Later" in the revamped Checkmate title as part of its regular cast as the White Queen's Knight under White Queen Amanda Waller. Lex Luthor is a fictional DC Comics supervillain. ... The Secret Society of Super Villains (SSoSV) is a group of comic book villains that exist in the DC Universe. ... Infinite Crisis was a seven-issue limited series of comic books published by DC Comics, beginning in October of 2005. ... One Year Later event logo. ... Checkmate is a fictional covert operations agency within the DC Comics universe. ... Dr. Amanda Blake Waller is a fictional character from the DC Universe, first appearing in Legends #1 in 1986. ...

Powers and abilities

Being raised in a noble family, Vertigo was trained in classical martial combat and the sports of boxing, fencing, and equestrianism. He has also been trained in judo and general karate. Judo ), meaning gentle way, is a modern Japanese martial art (gendai budō) and combat sport, that originated in Japan in the late nineteenth century. ... Karate ) ( ) or karate-dō ) is a martial art that developed from a synthesis of indigenous Ryukyuan fighting methods and Chinese kempo [1]. Karate originally meant Te, or hand, i. ...

Upon joining Task Force X and Checkmate, he learned other hand-to-hand combat skills.

His "Vertigo Effect" has long since been internalized through circumstances that have not yet been revealed. He uses his power to disrupt his enemies' balance. In hand-to-hand and melee combat, Vertigo uses his power to disorient his opponents. He also uses the Vertigo Effect to disrupt the aim of gunmen, snipers and the like. The exact range of the power is as of yet undetermined seeing as how on one mission, guards watching him in action on camera were also affected by his power. This odd ability is also capable of disrupting guidance systems on missiles, vehicles and detection systems of all kind (lasers, cameras, pressure sensitive floor plates, infra-red, thermal and night vision). Count Vertigo also wears magnetic boots with which he can walk walls or ceilings. He also has the ability of flight.

Appearances in other media

A character loosely based on Count Vertigo, simply called Vertigo (voiced by Michael York), was seen in Batman: The Animated Series in the episode "Off Balance," where Batman has to escape with Talia al Ghul from his castle. He is defeated when Talia rings the castle's bells. The bells are so loud that Vertigo jumped off the tower into the river, where he presumably died. Her father, Ra's Al Ghul makes a first, brief appearance at the end of the episode. The "Vertigo Effect" ability was utilized through an eye piece he wore. For the American hockey player, see Mike York. ... The animated Batman shoots his grappling gun from a rooftop in a scene from the episode, On Leather Wings. ... Off Balance is an episode of the critically acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series. ... Talia al Ghul is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe, the now-estranged daughter of the supervillain Ras al Ghul, and a love interest of Batman. ... Ras al Ghul, sometimes written Rās al Ghūl (Arabic: رأس الغول), is a DC Comics supervillain and an enemy of Batman. ...