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Count Werner Vertigo is a supervillain and both a member and the field commander[4] of the Injustice League. He is a member of the royal family of Vlatava, and the maternal[3] uncle of Perdita Vladek. Once next-in-line for the throne, he was removed from succession following his attempts to kill Perdita.[5]

Personality[]

Arrogant and cold, Vertigo cares for no one but himself. He is also ruthless and power hungry, willing to kill his own niece to gain the crown of Vlatava.

Physical appearance[]

Count Vertigo is a Caucasian male with blue eyes, white hair slicked back and a widow's peak hairline. He wears a lime blazer on top of a brown waistcoat and a dark green ascot with a golden broche. He also dons a dark green cape and matching pants and gloves. He speaks with a thick eastern European accent.[6]

History[]

2010[]

On the night of September 29,[7] Vertigo arranged for assassins to kill his niece Perdita Vladek at Star City International Airport. When Merlyn failed due to interference from Green Arrow, Vertigo moved in to finish the job himself, claiming to have come to protect his niece. He was stopped by the arrival of Black Canary, who knocked him out with a Canary Cry.[8]

 
Bayou Bartholomew
October 1, pre-18:52 CDT
The Injustice League announces

Vertigo unveiled the Injustice League to the world, and issued an ultimatum to the United Nations.

With the Injustice League, Count Vertigo set up a plan to extort money from the United Nations. They created plant creatures to attack world cities. Count Vertigo acted as spokesperson, demanding a ransom of ten billion US Dollars.[6]

 
Bayou Bartholomew
October 1, 18:52 CDT

When the Team came to the Injustice League's base, Count Vertigo used his powers to bring their ship down. With Black Adam, he ambushed them. Black Adam defeated them with ease.

Robin and Miss Martian broke their teammates out of Wotan's magical prison and destroyed the main plant creature. This made Count Vertigo determined to kill them all. Vertigo helped Poison Ivy attack Miss Martian, but was taken out by Kid Flash and Artemis. Shortly after, the Justice League arrived, and the Injustice League surrendered.[6] Unlike his teammates, Vertigo did not go to prison, as he had diplomatic immunity.[1]

 
Seattle
November 11, 17:08 PST
Vertigo reveals himself

Vertigo intercepted Kid Flash on his way to save Queen Perdita.

Vertigo coveted the throne of his home country Vlatava, and saw the perfect opportunity when his niece, 10-year old Queen Perdita, had to undergo a heart transplant. If the heart could not reach her in time, she would die, and he would be crowned King without being accused of treason and regicide. For the plan to succeed, he called upon his connections to blanket the United States with snow, grounding all air traffic. Vertigo stayed in Seattle, posting his henchmen inside the hospital to intercept the heart should it arrive. Additionally, Vertigo had managed to even enlist the aid of Vandal Savage in preventing the heart from reaching Perdita, resulting in Savage intercepting and stalling Kid Flash (who was carrying the heart).

Kid Flash brought the heart to the hospital on time. However, one of Vertigo's henchmen (who disguised as a surgeon) tricked Kid Flash into thinking Perdita was already dead and took the heart from him. After real medical staff inquired about the heart, Kid Flash realized he was conned and took the heart back in the parking garage, where he encountered Vertigo. The Vlatavan used his technology to bring Kid Flash to his knees, but his moment of victory had to wait. Eventually Kid Flash got the upper hand, knocking out Vertigo and giving the heart to the surgeons.[1]

 
Seattle
November 12, 06:39 PST
Vertigo's boast

Vertigo prematurely boasted of his victory over Kid Flash.

Count Vertigo was elated to learn his niece had died on the operating table. He boasted to Kid Flash, who had collapsed and was kept in a hospital bed. In the end, his plot was not even necessary. He would be crowned King without it being considered a coup d'état. Kid Flash counted on this connection and revealed Perdita alive and well behind a curtain; he had come up with the plan to declare that she was dead, then maneuver Vertigo into admitting his plot while the queen recorded it. Vertigo was shocked to see his niece, who promptly revoked his diplomatic immunity. Disarmed by Kid Flash when he angrily tried to attack her, Count Vertigo grudgingly congratulated them on their impressive ploy, but as he was escorted off by security stated that he only considered it to be his loss that time around.[1]

 
Belle Reve
November 13, 12:03 CST

Now incarcerated with other common criminals, Vertigo was mocked by Brick for his failed plan and had food splattered on him.[1]

 
Belle Reve Penitentiary
December 30, post-09:48 CST

After an ambush on the Team involving Belle Reve in-mates made it clear the prison was under the Light's control, Vandal Savage called Hugo Strange to alert him, instructing him to open all the doors.[9]

2010-2018[]

Vertigo began working with the Bedlam Syndicate and Baron DeLamb in Markovia, a country neighboring Vlatava. One of the group's aims was to put DeLamb on Markovia's throne.[10]

2018[]

 
Markovburg
July 4, post-22:16 EEST

Vertigo and Helga Jace watched from the observation booth of Bedlam's lab as the Tar procedure was performed on Ana von Furth.[11]

 
Markovburg
July 30, post-19:23 EEST

Vertigo discovered two intruders in Bedlam's secret lab. He sent Plasmus after them. One escaped, but Plasmus brought back the other. Vertigo was surprised he had survived Plasmus until he took off his mask, revealing Superboy. Soon after, Vertigo found Simon Ecks had brought Brion Markov into the lab. Vertigo disabled Brion and berated Ecks, before having the doctor put both Superboy and Brion in Tar pods. Ecks assured Vertigo he had been acting under order, and Vertigo went to confirm it.

Vertigo then met with Henchy, who told him that their burial of the failed test subjects had gone awry when one came back to life with meta-powers and was helped to escape by a woman in combat gear. Frustrated, Vertigo called DeLamb to inform him that the operation had been compromised.[12]

 
Markovburg
July 31, post-00:02 EEST

Vertigo had his team prepare to shut down the facility and move the pods of meta-humans. He went back into the lab to find Ecks and Jace had Tarred Brion. Jace admitted she had made arrangements for Brion's meta-activation against orders as she thought DeLamb was out of control and needed someone to oppose him. Vertigo used his power to bring Jace down, just as DeLamb arrived. Not long after, they hear the Super-Cycle fighting Plasmus, and DeLamb had Vertigo get the metas out, and Vertigo boom tubes them away with a Fatherbox.

Later, Vertigo, Henchy, Ecks and Plasmus boom tubed to where Nightwing, Tigress, Lightning, Superboy, Brion, Jace and the "Halo-girl" had fled. As the battle commenced, Vertigo grew frustrated and used his power on everyone, until Tigress shot him with an electrified net arrow. Once it became clear the fight was lost, Vertigo boom tubed away with Henchy.[10]

2019[]

 
Markovburg
February 15, 05:45 EET

On the Light's order, Vertigo boom tubed into a Markovian prison to extract Baron Bedlam and Simon Ecks.[13]

 
Markovburg
February 16, post-01:33 EET

Vertigo was at the Royal Palace following Bedlam's coup. When a group from the Team boom tubed in, Vertigo used his powers to detain them, allowing Bedlam to flee. Nightwing soon knocked out Vertigo with a thrown escrima stick.[14]

Vertigo was imprisoned at Markovian National Penitentiary.[15] He remained in frequent contact with Joe Henchy, and the pair plotted his escape but never came up with a viable plan.[16]

2020[]

 
Markovburg
November 09, 18:17 EET

Vertigo, Simon Ecks, Piotor Platz and Johann Mintz were extracted from prison by armored attackers, part of a plan of which only Vertigo was aware.[15]

Vertigo's release was part of a larger plan by Lex Luthor to steal a lump of Kryptonite from Perdita Vladek, making it appear Vertigo had abducted Perdita as a smokescreen. Vertigo hid out at the LexCorp Robotics factory in Madinat Altharwati, where Perdita was also being held.[8]

 
Madinat Altharwati
November 11, post-22:44 UTC+2

Vertigo and Queen Bee interceded when the Team came to rescue Perdita. While using his Vertigo waves to subdue the Team, Bee attempted to use her powers to enthrall half of them and had them kill the others,[8] but the Team had counteracted her powers and only played along.[17]

 
Madinat Altharwati
November 11, 22:48 UTC+2
Team Year Ten

Perdita was awakened from Psimon's thrall. Vertigo explained the plot to her, confirming it was not his plan but that he was happy to go along with it to gain his freedom and have the opportunity to lead a revolt in Vlatava following the Markovian border crisis. Bee then ordered Halo to kill Perdita, but Halo broke the facade of obeying Bee and knocked her, Vertigo and Psimon out.[17]

Equipment[]

  • Vertigo wave[8] headset: Count Vertigo uses a headgear that unleashes a wave of psychic force that distorts his target's balance or makes them feel dizzy to the point that they fall unconscious.[6][1] It works by directly stimulating the inner ear and central nervous system.[18]
  • Fatherbox: By 2018, Vertigo had been given a Fatherbox, allowing him to open boom tubes.[10]

Appearances[]

Background information[]

  • Werner Vertigo was originally created as a Black Canary villain. He later joined the Secret Society, Injustice Society and Checkmate, but the majority of his adventures was as a member of the Suicide Squad.
  • This is Vertigo's third animated appearance. He first appeared in The Batman as the villain of a Batman/Green Arrow team-up, and he was the main villain in Greg Weisman's DC Showcase: Green Arrow (where he was also voiced by Steve Blum) and had a similar storyline where he tried to kill the queen. A similar character, only called "Vertigo", appeared in Batman: The Animated Series.
  • In the comics, Vertigo has never made an attempt to seize the throne of his country. Even though he was the last surviving member of the royal family, the country was part of the Soviet Union. Vlatava was eventually destroyed by The Spectre in a fit of rage after witnessing a war between Vlatava's and Vertigo's armies, leaving only Vertigo and Vlatava's ruler alive.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Weisman, Jon (writer) & Cook, Victor (director) (March 10, 2012). "Coldhearted". Young Justice. Season 1. Episode 20. Cartoon Network.
  2. Weisman, Greg (2012-05-07). Question #14835. Ask Greg. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Weisman, Greg (2022-01-07). Question #25388. Ask Greg. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
  4. Weisman, Greg (2012-05-07). Question #14837. Ask Greg. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  5. Weisman, Greg (w). Jones, Christopher (a). Wright, Jason (col). Abbott, Wes (let). Meares, Ben, Kubert, Katie (ed). "Ominous Tidings" Young Justice: Targets (July 12, 2022), DC Universe Infinite: DC Comics
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Hopps, Kevin (writer) & Chang, Michael (director) (October 14, 2011). "Revelation". Young Justice. Season 1. Episode 14. Cartoon Network.
  7. Weisman, Greg (2022-07-12). Tweet. Twitter. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Weisman, Greg (w). Jones, Christopher (a). Wright, Jason (col). Abbott, Wes (let). Meares, Ben, Kubert, Katie (ed). "Metallic Aftertaste" Young Justice: Targets (October 11, 2022), DC Universe Infinite: DC Comics
  9. Weisman, Greg (2014-01-06). Question #19367. Ask Greg. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Vietti, Brandon (writer) & Berkeley, Christopher (director) (January 4, 2019). "Eminent Threat". Young Justice. Season 3. Episode 3. DC Universe.
  11. Weisman, Greg (writer) & Berkeley, Christopher (director) (January 4, 2019). "Princes All". Young Justice. Season 3. Episode 1. DC Universe.
  12. Robinson, Andrew (writer) & Zwyer, Mel (director) (January 4, 2019). "Royal We". Young Justice. Season 3. Episode 2. DC Universe.
  13. Weisman, Greg (writer) & Berkeley, Christopher (director) (August 27, 2019). "Overwhelmed". Young Justice. Season 3. Episode 25. DC Universe.
  14. Krieg, Jim, Adams, Jeremy (writers) & Zwyer, Mel (director) (August 27, 2019). "Nevermore". Young Justice. Season 3. Episode 26. DC Universe.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Weisman, Greg (w). Jones, Christopher (a). Wright, Jason (col). Abbott, Wes (let). Meares, Ben, Kubert, Katie (ed). "Cherry Gig" Young Justice: Targets (June 14, 2022), DC Universe Infinite: DC Comics
  16. Weisman, Greg (w). Jones, Christopher (a). Wright, Jason (col). Abbott, Wes (let). Meares, Ben, Kubert, Katie (ed). "Evocative Intel" Young Justice: Targets (August 9, 2022), DC Universe Infinite: DC Comics
  17. 17.0 17.1 Weisman, Greg (w). Jones, Christopher (a). Wright, Jason (col). Abbott, Wes (let). Meares, Ben, Kubert, Katie (ed). "Last Rights" Young Justice: Targets (November 8, 2022), DC Universe Infinite: DC Comics
  18. Weisman, Greg (2022-04-29). Question #25852. Ask Greg. Retrieved 2022-04-29.
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