Editing Count Vertigo

{{Short description|Fictional character}}
{{Infobox comics character
|image=CountVertigo.jpg
|imagesize=200
|caption=Count Vertigo as depicted in ''Who's Who in the DC Universe'' #3 (October 1990). Art by Trevor Von Eeden.
|character_name=Count Vertigo
|full_name=Count Werner Vertigo <small>(1978&ndash;2011)</small><br/>Count Werner Zytle <small>(2011&ndash;present)</small>|publisher=[[DC Comics]]
|debut=''[[World's Finest Comics]]'' #251 (July 1978)
|creators= [[Gerry Conway]] (writer)<br>[[Trevor Von Eeden]] (penciller)<br>[[Vince Colletta]] (inker)
|species=[[Metahuman]]
|alliances=[[Secret Society of Super Villains]]<br />[[Checkmate (comics)|Checkmate]]<br />[[Suicide Squad]]<br />[[Injustice Society]]<br />[[Longbow Hunters]]<br />[[Injustice League]]
|aliases=White Queen's Knight
|powers=
*Flight
*Superb hand-to-hand combatant
*Magnetic boots
*Vertigo effect to alter the balance of others and induce dizziness or nausea
}}
'''Count Vertigo''' ('''Werner Zytle''') is a <!--Do not add "fictional" as it is tautological; supervillains (and characters in general) are by definition implied to be fictionalized to some extent.-->[[supervillain]] created by [[Gerry Conway]], [[Trevor Von Eeden]] and [[Vince Colletta]] as an enemy of [[Black Canary]], [[Batman]] and later [[Green Arrow]] in the [[DC Comics]] [[DC Universe|Universe]]. 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 [[Soviet Union|Soviet]]s and later became devastated by the [[Spectre (DC Comics character)|Spectre]].<ref name="dc-ency">{{Cite book|last = Wallace|first = Dan|contribution = Count Vertigo|editor-last = Dougall|editor-first = Alastair|title = The DC Comics Encyclopedia|page = 88|publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]]|place = New York|year = 2008|isbn = 978-0-7566-4119-1|oclc = 213309017}}</ref>

Two incarnations of Count Vertigo, '''Cecil Adams''' and Werner Zytle, appear in ''[[Arrow (TV series)|Arrow]]'', portrayed by [[Seth Gabel]] and [[Peter Stormare]] respectively.

==Publication history==
Count Vertigo first appears in ''[[World's Finest Comics]]'' #251 (July 1978) and was created by [[Gerry Conway]], [[Trevor Von Eeden]], and [[Vince Colletta]].<ref name=Guide>{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Korte |first3=Steve |last4=Manning |first4=Matt |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |last6=Wilson |first6=Sven |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe |date=2016 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-5357-0 |page=72}}</ref>

==Fictional character biography==
Werner Vertigo is a descendant of the royal family of Vlatava who can distort the balance of others using a small electronic device that he uses to treat a hereditary inner ear defect.<ref>{{cite book |last =Rovin |first =Jeff |title =The Encyclopedia of Supervillains |publisher =Facts on File |date =1987 |location =New York |isbn = 0-8160-1356-X |page=68}}</ref> As Count Vertigo, he becomes an enemy of [[Green Arrow]] and [[Black Canary]].<ref name="dc-ency"/>

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 disbands, Count Vertigo is captured by Vlatavan rebels, who intend to use his powers to overthrow the government and manipulate him using drugs.<ref name="dc-ency"/> However, [[Amanda Waller]] frees Vertigo, after which he undergoes therapy to remove the drugs' effects.<ref>''Suicide Squad'' #45 (September 1, 1990)</ref><ref>''Suicide Squad'' #66 (June 1992)</ref> Furthermore, he forgives [[Poison Ivy (character)|Poison Ivy]], who previously worked to capture him.<ref>''Suicide Squad'' #58 (October 1, 1991)</ref>

After the [[Spectre (DC Comics character)|Spectre]] destroys Vlatava, Vertigo joins the [[Injustice Society]] and the [[Secret Society of Super Villains]] while continuing to work with the Suicide Squad.<ref name="dc-ency" /><ref>''JLA: Salvation Run'' #2</ref><ref>''Infinite Crisis'' #3</ref><ref>''52'' Week 34</ref><ref>''Final Crisis'' #4 (2008)</ref>

===The New 52 / Werner Zytle===
In ''[[The New 52]]'' continuity reboot, Count Vertigo is renamed Werner Zytle. He is the ruler of Vlatava who lost his fortune and seeks to regain it via crime.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dccomics.com/comics/green-arrow-2011/green-arrow-22 | title = Green Arrow #22 | work = DCComics.com | date = 2012-04-08 | access-date =2012-04-23}}</ref><ref>''Green Arrow'' (vol. 5) #31. DC Comics.</ref><ref>''Green Arrow'' (vol. 6) #19</ref>

==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]].

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 yet to be determined, seeing as how on one mission, guards watching him in action on camera were also affected by his power. This ability is also capable of disrupting guidance systems on missiles, vehicles, and detection systems. Count Vertigo also wears magnetic boots with which he can walk walls or ceilings. He also has in recent years gained the ability of flight.

==Other versions==
An alternate universe variant of Count Vertigo appears in the ''[[Flashpoint (comics)|Flashpoint]]'' tie-in ''[[Deadman and the Flying Graysons]]''. This version lost his family during the [[Amazons (DC Comics)|Amazon]]-[[Atlantis (DC Comics)|Atlantean]] war. He attempts to retrieve [[Doctor Fate]]'s helmet before being killed in battle and giving the helmet to [[Dick Grayson]].<ref>''[[Deadman and the Flying Graysons|Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons]]'' #2 (July 2011)</ref><ref>''Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons'' #3 (August 2011)</ref>

==In other media==
===Television===
[[File:Vertigobatmantas.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Vertigo as he appears in ''Batman: The Animated Series''.]]
[[File:TB vertigo.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Count Vertigo as he appears in ''The Batman''.]]
* Count Vertigo, referred to simply as '''Vertigo''', appears in the ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'' episode "Off Balance", voiced by [[Michael York]].<ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Count Vertigo Voices (Green Arrow) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Green-Arrow/Count-Vertigo/ |access-date=April 26, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref> This version is a German leading member of the [[League of Assassins#In other media|Society of Shadows]] whose "Vertigo Effect" is derived from an eyepatch, which Batman theorizes to be radioactive. After being defeated by Batman and [[Talia al Ghul]], Vertigo is presumed dead.
* Count Vertigo appears in ''[[The Batman (TV series)|The Batman]]'' episode "Vertigo", voiced by [[Greg Ellis (actor)|Greg Ellis]].<ref name="btva" /> This version is a scientist and ex-employee of [[Oliver Queen]] who wields a mechanical eyepiece, which he used to strand Queen on a deserted island for years.
* Count Vertigo appears in ''[[Young Justice (TV series)|Young Justice]]'', voiced by [[Steve Blum]].<ref name="btva" /> This version is a member of the [[List of Young Justice characters#The Light|Light]] and leader of the [[Injustice League]].
* Two incarnations of Count Vertigo appear in ''[[Arrow (TV series)|Arrow]]'', with both being involved in the distribution of the street drug "Vertigo" and displaying great skill in using it as an offensive weapon via syringes.
** The first, '''[[Cecil Adams (Arrowverse)|Cecil Adams]]''',<ref name="Arrow: Kapiushon ep">{{Cite episode |title=Kapiushon |episode-link=Kapiushon |series=Arrow |series-link=Arrow (TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |airdate=March 22, 2017 |season=5 |number=17}}</ref> appears in the [[Arrow season 2|second season]] episode "[[State v. Queen]]", portrayed by [[Seth Gabel]]. While he goes unnamed in the episode, his name is revealed in the [[Arrow season 5|fifth season]] episode "[[Kapiushon]]". This version is a secretive drug dealer who initially goes by the street name "The Count", based on the needle marks of his drugs resembling vampire bites, before taking the name "Count Vertigo" and poisoning [[Starling City]]'s citizens, such as [[Thea Queen]], with his namesake drug. Upon learning of this, Thea's brother [[Oliver Queen (Arrowverse)|Oliver Queen]] develops a bitter rivalry with Adams, eventually killing him to protect [[Felicity Smoak]].
** The second is Adams' successor [[Werner Zytle (Arrowverse)|Werner Zytle]], portrayed by [[Peter Stormare]]. In the [[Arrow season 3|third season]] episodes "The Calm" and "Canaries", he becomes the new "Vertigo" and takes advantage of Queen capturing his mob rivals to rapidly build a criminal empire. Additionally, Zytle modified his namesake drug so that it causes the user to experience their deepest fears. Throughout his appearances, he battles Queen and [[Laurel Lance (Arrowverse)|Laurel Lance]] until they capture him.

===Film===
* Count Vertigo was reportedly featured in [[David S. Goyer]]'s script for ''[[Green Arrow in other media#Escape from Super Max|Escape from Super Max]]{{Broken anchor|date=2024-12-19|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Green Arrow in other media#Escape from Super Max|reason= The anchor (Escape from Super Max) [[Special:Diff/1263986691|has been deleted]].}}'' as an inmate of the titular metahuman prison.<ref name="SuperMax">{{cite web|url=http://latinoreview.com/news/supermax-green-arrow-story-details-villains-inmates-gallery-4673|title=Supermax: Green Arrow Story Details + Villains/Inmates Gallery|last=Mayimbe|first=El|work=LatinoReview.com|date=May 19, 2008|access-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013133359/http://latinoreview.com/news/supermax-green-arrow-story-details-villains-inmates-gallery-4673|archive-date=October 13, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
* Count Vertigo appears in ''[[DC Showcase: Green Arrow]]'', voiced by [[Steve Blum]].<ref name="btva" />
* Count Vertigo appears in a flashback depicted in ''[[Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay]]'', voiced by [[Jim Pirri]].<ref name="btva" /> This version was the leader of a previous iteration of the [[Suicide Squad]] who allied with [[Punch and Jewelee|Jewelee]] in an attempt to betray [[Amanda Waller]], only to be killed by the latter for it.

===Video games===
* Count Vertigo appears as a character summon in ''[[Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 4, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - ''Scribblenauts Unmasked'' Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=April 26, 2024 |website=IGN}}</ref>
* Count Vertigo appears as a playable character in ''[[Lego DC Super-Villains]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Michael |first=Jon |last2=Veness |first2=John |date=February 15, 2019 |title=Characters - ''LEGO DC Super-Villains'' Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/lego-dc-super-villains/Characters |access-date=April 26, 2024 |website=IGN}}</ref> voiced again by Steve Blum.

===Miscellaneous===
The ''Arrow'' incarnation of Werner Zytle appears in the non-canonical tie-in comic ''[[Arrow: Season 2.5]]''.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Green Arrow}}
{{Black Canary}}
{{Batman characters}}
{{Suicide Squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vertigo, Count}}
[[Category:Black Canary characters]]
[[Category:Characters created by Gerry Conway]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1978]]
[[Category:DC Comics male supervillains]]
[[Category:DC Comics metahumans]]
[[Category:DC Comics martial artists]]
[[Category:DC Comics scientists]]
[[Category:Fictional characters with bipolar disorder]]
[[Category:Fictional counts and countesses]]
[[Category:Fictional deaf characters]]
[[Category:Fictional henchmen]]
[[Category:Green Arrow characters]]
[[Category:People from fictional European countries]]
[[Category:Suicide Squad members]]