Editing Vertigo Comics (section)

==History==
=== Development ===
Vertigo originated in 1993 under the stewardship of [[Karen Berger]], a former literature and art-history student, who had joined [[DC Comics]] in 1979 as an assistant editor. Berger edited proto-Vertigo titles from the start of her time with DC, beginning in 1981 with ''[[House of Mystery]]''.<ref name="Touch of V">[http://www.sequentialtart.com/archive/feb01/berger.shtml ''Sequential Tart'': "A Touch of Vertigo – Karen Berger" by Jennifer M. Contino] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070322123940/http://www.sequentialtart.com/archive/feb01/berger.shtml|date=2007-03-22}}. Retrieved June 5, 2008.</ref> She took over editorship of [[Alan Moore]]'s ''[[Swamp Thing]]'' run from Swamp Thing co-creator [[Len Wein]] in 1984, and in 1986 "became DC's British liaison", bringing to DC's pre-Vertigo titles the individuals who would be instrumental in the creation and evolution of Vertigo seven years later,<ref name="Ten Years">[http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=36&t=000836 "Vertigo at Ten": Karen Berger interviews by Jen Contino, March 25, 2003] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605164803/http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=36&t=000836|date=June 5, 2011}}. Retrieved June 5, 2008.</ref> including [[Neil Gaiman]], [[Jamie Delano]], [[Peter Milligan]], and [[Grant Morrison]].<ref name="nytimes">[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02E2D61F3BF936A2575AC0A9659C8B63 "MEDIA; At House of Comics, a Writer's Champion"] (p. 2), by [[Dana Jennings]], ''The New York Times'', September 15, 2003</ref> She "found their sensibility and point of view to be refreshingly different, edgier and smarter" than those of most American comics writers.<ref name="nytimes" />

Berger edited several new or revived series with these writers, including [[superhero]]/[[science fiction]] series such as ''[[Animal Man (comic book)|Animal Man]]'', ''[[Doom Patrol]]'' vol. 2, and ''[[Shade, the Changing Man (Vertigo)|Shade, the Changing Man]]'' vol. 2, [[fantasy]] series ''[[The Sandman (comic book)|The Sandman]]'' vol. 2, and [[horror fiction|horror]] titles ''[[Hellblazer]]'' and ''[[Swamp Thing|The Saga of the Swamp Thing]]''.<ref>Retitled ''Swamp Thing'' vol. 2 from issue #39-on.</ref> She also edited limited series such as ''[[Kid Eternity]]'', ''[[Black Orchid (comics)|Black Orchid]]'' (Gaiman's first work for DC)<ref name="vert-ency">{{Cite book | last = Irvine | first = Alex | author-link = Alexander C. Irvine | contribution = Black Orchid | editor-last = Dougall | editor-first = Alastair | title = The Vertigo Encyclopedia | pages = 32–34 | publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]] | place = New York | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-0-7566-4122-1 | oclc = 213309015}}</ref> and ''[[The Books of Magic]]'' limited series.

These six ongoing titles, all of which carried a "Suggested for Mature Readers" label on their covers,<ref>''Hellblazer'' from issue #1 (Jan. 1988), ''Doom Patrol'' from vol. 2, #37 (Oct. 1990), ''Shade, the Changing Man'' from vol. 2, #1 (July 1990), ''The Sandman'' vol. 2, #1 (Jan. 1989), ''Animal Man'' from #51 (Sept. 1992) and ''Swamp Thing'', initially reading simply "For Mature Readers", from vol. 2, #57 (Feb. 1987)</ref> shared a sophistication-driven sensibility the comics fan media dubbed "the Bergerverse".<ref name="pulse">{{cite web |url=http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=36&t=000836 |title=Contino, Jen. "Vertigo at Ten: Karen Berger" Comicon.com ''Pulse'', March 23, 2003|publisher=Comicon.com|access-date=2011-02-02|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605164803/http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=36&t=000836|archive-date=June 5, 2011}}</ref> In a 1992 editorial meeting with [[Paul Levitz]], publisher [[Jenette Kahn]], and [[managing editor]] [[Dick Giordano]], Berger was given the mandate to place these titles under an imprint that, as Berger described, would "do something different in comics and help the medium 'grow up'".<ref name="pulse" /> Several DC titles bearing the age advisory, such as ''[[Green Arrow]]'', ''[[Blackhawk (DC Comics)|Blackhawk]]'', and ''[[The Question (comics)|The Question]]'' (the last two cancelled before the launch of Vertigo), did not make the transition to the new imprint.<ref>''Green Arrow'' (vol. 2) ran for 137 issues, concluding in October 1998. [[Mike Grell]]'s final issue on the series was #80, so the loss of the label did *not*, contrary to some sources, coincide with Grell's departure.</ref>

Meanwhile, [[Disney Comics (publishing)|Disney Comics]] and former DC editor Art Young had been developing an imprint to be called Touchmark Comics, analogous to Disney's mature-audiences [[Touchstone Pictures]] studio. This project was abandoned following the so-called [[Disney Comics (company)#The "Disney Implosion"|"Disney Implosion"]] of [[1991 in comics|1991]]. Young and those works were brought into the Vertigo fold, allowing Berger to expand the imprint's publishing plans with the limited series ''[[Enigma (Vertigo)|Enigma]]'', ''[[Sebastian O]]'', ''[[Mercy (Vertigo)|Mercy]]'', and ''Shadows Fall''.<ref name="Advance">"Interview with Karen Berger" in ''Advance Comics'' #49 ([[Capital City Distribution]], January 1993)</ref><ref name="Touchstone Legend">{{Cite web |date=2011-07-01 |title=Comic Book Legends Revealed #321 |url=https://www.cbr.com/comic-book-legends-revealed-321/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref>

===Initial year===
Vertigo was launched in January 1993 with a mixture of existing ongoing series continued under the new imprint, new ongoing and limited series, and single-volume collections or graphic novels. Their publishing plan for the first year involved two new titles – whether ongoing/limited series or one-shots – each month. The existing series (cover date March 1993) were ''Shade, the Changing Man'' (starting with #33), ''The Sandman'' (#47), ''Hellblazer'' (#63), ''Animal Man'' (#57), ''Swamp Thing'' (#129), and ''Doom Patrol'' (#64, with new writer [[Rachel Pollack]]).

The first comic book published under the "Vertigo" imprint was the first issue of ''[[Death: The High Cost of Living]]'', a three-issue series by Neil Gaiman and [[Chris Bachalo]]. The second new title was the first issue of ''Enigma'', an 8-issue limited series initially planned to launch Touchmark, written by Peter Milligan (also author of ''Shade, the Changing Man'') and drawn by [[Duncan Fegredo]], the artist from Grant Morrison's earlier ''Kid Eternity'' limited series.<ref name="Advance" /> The following month saw the debut of ''[[Sandman Mystery Theatre|Sandman: Mystery Theatre]]'' by [[Matt Wagner]] and [[Steven T. Seagle]], and illustrated primarily by [[Guy Davis (comics)|Guy Davis]], described as "playing the '30s with a '90s feel... haunting, [[film noir]]-ish...", and starring original [[Sandman (DC Comics)|Sandman]] [[Wesley Dodds]] in a title whose "sensibilities echo [[Crime fiction|crime genre fiction]]".<ref name="Advance" /> Joining it was [[J. M. DeMatteis]] and [[Paul Johnson (comics)|Paul Johnson]]'s 64-page one-shot ''Mercy''.

New series that began in the months that followed include ''Kid Eternity'' (ongoing) by [[Ann Nocenti]] and [[Sean Phillips]] (continuing from the earlier Morrison-penned limited series), Grant Morrison and [[Steve Yeowell]]'s three-issue [[steampunk]] limited series ''Sebastian O'' (another ex-Touchmark project), ''Skin Graft'' by [[Jerry Prosser]] and [[Warren Pleece]], ''The Last One'' by DeMatteis and [[Dan Sweetman]], ''[[Jonah Hex]]: Two-Gun Mojo'' by [[Tim Truman]] and [[Sam Glanzman]], ''Black Orchid'' (ongoing) by Dick Foreman and [[Jill Thompson]] (continuing from the earlier Gaiman/McKean limited series), ''[[The Extremist (comics)|The Extremist]]'' by Peter Milligan and [[Ted McKeever]], ''[[Scarab (Vertigo)|Scarab]]'' by [[John Smith (comics writer)|John Smith]] with [[Scot Eaton]] and Mike Barreiro, and ''[[The Children's Crusade (comics)|The Children's Crusade]]'', a [[Crossover (fiction)|crossover]] involving several of the imprint's ongoing series. ''The Books of Magic'' limited series was relaunched as an ongoing series written by [[John Ney Rieber]], and illustrated by [[Peter Gross (comics)|Peter Gross]] (later also writer), Gary Amaro, and [[Peter Snejbjerg]].

Although the books did not have a consistent "[[Corporate identity|house style]]" of art, the cover designs of early Vertigo series featured a uniform [[trade dress]] with a vertical bar along the left side, which included the imprint logo, pricing, date, and issue numbers.<ref name="Advance" /> The design layout continued with very little variation until issues cover-dated July 2002 (including ''[[Fables (comics)|Fables]]'' #1) which introduced an across-the-top layout ahead of 2003's "Vertigo X" 10th anniversary celebration. The "distinctive design" was intended to be used on "all Vertigo books except the hardcovers, trade paperbacks, and graphic novels".<ref name="Advance" /> Berger noted that DC was "very" committed to the line, having put a "lot of muscle behind" promoting it, including a promotional launch kit made available to "[r]etailers who order[ed] at least 25 copies of the February issue of ''Sandman'' [#47]", a "platinum edition" variant cover for ''Death: The High Cost of Living'' #1 and a 75-cent ''Vertigo Preview'' comic featuring a specially written seven-page ''[[Morpheus (DC comics)|Sandman]]'' story by Gaiman and [[Kent Williams (artist)|Kent Williams]].<ref name="Advance" /> In addition, a 16-page ''Vertigo Sampler'' was also produced and bundled with copies of [[Capital City Distribution]]'s ''Advance Comics'' solicitation index.<ref name="Advance" />

Vertigo publications generally did not take place in a shared universe, but several of the early series which had begun as part of the main [[DC Universe]] had a "crossover" in 1993-94: ''The Children's Crusade''. The event "did not yield smashing results" or garnered many positive reviews, in large part due to its "gimmicky" nature, which ran counter to Vertigo's quirky, non-mainstream appeal and customer-base.<ref name="Sequart: CC">[http://www.sequart.com/columns/index.php?col=12&column=736 Anatomy of the Crossover #5: "DC/Vertigo's The Children's Crusade: Child Culture and Reflexivity, Suggested For Mature Readers" by Robert A. Emmons, Jr., November 1, 2005]. Accessed May 29, 2008  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213053914/http://www.sequart.com/columns/index.php?col=12&column=736|date=February 13, 2009}}</ref> The event was defended as "no marketing ploy" by one of the event's editors, [[Lou Stathis]], who wrote of his dislike of the often "crass manipulation" of crossover events, defending ''The Children's Crusade'' as having come not from marketing, but the writers' minds, and therefore being "story-driven" rather than manipulative.<ref>Lou Stathis, writing in the Vertigo column ''On the Ledge''. Quoted in [http://www.sequart.com/columns/index.php?col=12&column=736 Anatomy of the Crossover #5: "DC/Vertigo's The Children's Crusade: Child Culture and Reflexivity, Suggested For Mature Readers" by Robert A. Emmons, Jr., November 1, 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213053914/http://www.sequart.com/columns/index.php?col=12&column=736|date=February 13, 2009}}. Accessed May 29, 2008</ref> The crossover did not become an annual event, however — indeed, "annuals" linked to Vertigo series rarely reappeared after this event.

Works previously published by DC under other imprints, but which fit the general character of Vertigo, have been reprinted under this imprint. This has included ''[[V for Vendetta]]'', earlier issues of Vertigo's ongoing launch series, and books from discontinued imprints such as ''[[Transmetropolitan]]'' (initially under DC's short-lived [[sci-fi]] [[Helix (comics)|Helix]] imprint) and ''[[A History of Violence (comics)|A History of Violence]]'' (originally part of the [[Paradox Press]] [[line (comics)|line]]).

Two of the new ongoing series did not last long: ''Kid Eternity'' was cancelled after 16 issues, and ''Black Orchid'' continued for only 22. ''Sandman Mystery Theatre'' and most of the pre-existing series continued for several years, including ''Sandman'' which reached its planned conclusion with #75. ''Hellblazer'' was the last of the original ongoing series to be canceled, ceasing publication in February 2013 with #300.<ref name="vert-hell">{{Cite book | last = Irvine | first = Alex | author-link = Alexander C. Irvine | contribution = John Constantine Hellblazer | editor-last = Dougall | editor-first = Alastair | title = The Vertigo Encyclopedia | pages = 102–111 | publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]] | place = New York | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-0-7566-4122-1 | oclc = 213309015}}</ref>

Berger won [[Eisner Awards]] for her editing in 1992, 1994 and 1995 for her work on the proto- and early Vertigo titles ''Sandman'', ''Shade'', ''Kid Eternity'', ''Books of Magic'', ''Death: The High Cost of Living'' and ''Sandman Mystery Theatre''.

=== Middle period ===
As the imprint's initial ongoing series came to their ends, new series were launched to replace them, with varying degrees of success. ''The Sandman'' was replaced following its completion by ''[[The Dreaming (comics)|The Dreaming]]'' (1996–2001) and ''[[List of The Sandman spinoffs|The Sandman Presents]]'', which featured stories about the characters from Neil Gaiman's series, written by other creators. Other long-running series have been ''[[The Invisibles]]'' by Grant Morrison and various artists (1994–2000); ''[[Preacher (comics)|Preacher]]'' by [[Garth Ennis]] and [[Steve Dillon]] (1995–2000); ''[[Transmetropolitan]]'' by [[Warren Ellis]] and [[Darick Robertson]] (1997–2002); ''[[100 Bullets]]'' by [[Brian Azzarello]] and [[Eduardo Risso]] (1999–2009); ''[[Lucifer (DC Comics)|Lucifer]]'' by [[Mike Carey (writer)|Mike Carey]], Peter Gross, and [[Ryan Kelly (comics)|Ryan Kelly]] (2000–2006); ''[[Y: The Last Man]]'' by [[Brian K. Vaughan]] and [[Pia Guerra]] (2002–2008); ''[[Daytripper (DC Comics)|Daytripper]]'' by [[Fábio Moon]] and [[Gabriel Bá]] (2010); ''[[DMZ (comics)|DMZ]]'' by [[Brian Wood (comic creator)|Brian Wood]] and [[Riccardo Burchielli]] (2005–2012); and ''Fables'' by [[Bill Willingham]], [[Mark Buckingham (comic book artist)|Mark Buckingham]], and various other artists (2002–2015), which launched spin-offs including ''[[Jack of Fables]]'' by Willingham, [[Lilah Sturges]] (credited as "Matthew Sturges"), and various artists (2006–2011), and ''Fairest'' by Willingham and various artists (2012–2015).

In 2003, the Vertigo imprint celebrated its 10th anniversary<ref>The official ''Vertigo X'' slogan.</ref> by branding its books cover-dated April 2003 to February 2004 (i.e. released between February and December [[2003 in comics|2003]]) with the label '''''Vertigo X'''''. This special subtitle was debuted on the ''Vertigo X Anniversary Preview'' (April 2003), a 48-page special previewing Vertigo's upcoming projects and featuring a short ''Shade, the Changing Man'' story by Peter Milligan and [[Mike Allred]]. Other projects highlighted included ''[[Death: At Death's Door]]'', [[Jill Thompson]]'s first [[manga]]-ized version of the "[[The Sandman: Season of Mists|Season of Mists]]" storyline, and Gaiman's own return to the mythos with the hardcover ''[[Sandman: Endless Nights]]'' collection of short stories spotlighting the seven members of the [[Endless (comics)|Endless]] (an eight-page ''Endless Nights Preview'' issue was also released before the hardcover).

Berger oversaw the entire Vertigo line, and she was promoted to the position of "Senior Vice President—Executive Editor, Vertigo" in July 2006.<ref name="Senior">[http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,1215691,00.html TimeWarner Newsroom, July 17, 2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212214138/http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,1215691,00.html|date=February 12, 2007}}. Retrieved June 5, 2008.</ref> Her promotion came as Vertigo was said to be equivalent to "the fourth largest American comic book publisher" in 2005, with Paul Levitz praising her personally as having "built Vertigo into an imprint which is simultaneously one of comics' leading creative and commercial successes".<ref name="Senior" />

The financial success of many Vertigo titles relied not on monthly issue sales but on the subsequent "trade paperback" editions that reprinted the monthly comics in volumes, which were also sold in general-interest bookshops. Vertigo's success in popularizing this approach, beginning with ''Sandman'', led to a wider take-up in the American comics industry of routinely reprinting monthly series in this format.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=2019-06-24 |title=Paul Levitz on How Vertigo Changed Comics |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/paul-levitz-vertigo-changed-comics/ |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=bleedingcool.com |language=en}}</ref>

====Vertigo Visions====
Vertigo Visions was an irregular series of self-contained short stories featuring characters from the DC Universe, reinterpreted or recontextualized.

* ''Vertigo Visions: [[Brother Power the Geek|The Geek]]'' (June 1993) by Rachel Pollack and Mike Allred
* ''Vertigo Visions: [[Phantom Stranger]]'' (October 1993) by [[Alisa Kwitney]] and Guy Davis
* ''Vertigo Visions: [[Doctor Occult]]'' (July 1994) by Dave Louapre and Dan Sweetman
* ''Vertigo Visions: [[Prez (character)|Prez]]'' (September 1995) by [[Ed Brubaker]] and [[Eric Shanower]]
* ''Vertigo Visions: [[Tomahawk (character)|Tomahawk]]'' (July 1998) by Rachel Pollack and [[Tom Yeates]]
* ''Vertigo Visions: [[Doctor Thirteen]]'' (September 1998) by [[Matt Howarth]] and [[Michael Avon Oeming]]<ref>Details from the [http://www.comics.org/search.lasso?type=title&query=vertigo+visions&sort=alpha Grand Comics Database] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314140056/https://www.comics.org/series/name/vertigo%20visions/sort/alpha/|date=2022-03-14}}. Accessed May 29, 2008</ref>

''Vertigo Visions: Artwork from the Cutting Edge of Comics'' was a 2000 collection of artwork from various Vertigo titles, with commentary by Alisa Kwitney.<ref>[http://www.comics.org/details.lasso?id=64955 The Grand Comics Database: ''Vertigo Visions: Artwork from the Cutting Edge of Comics''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314140057/https://www.comics.org/issue/64955/ |date=2022-03-14}}. Accessed May 29, 2008</ref>

====Vertigo Voices====
The Vertigo Voices featured creator-owned "distinctive one-shot stories".<ref>{{comicbookdb|type=title|id=1365|title=''Kill Your Boyfriend''}}. Accessed May 29, 2008</ref>

* ''Face'' (Jan. 1995) by Peter Milligan and Duncan Fegredo, a horror story involving [[plastic surgery]].
* ''[[Tainted (comics)|Tainted]]'' (Feb. 1995) by Jamie Delano and [[Al Davison]], a [[Kafkaesque]] tale involving repressed memories, blackmail, and murder.
* ''[[Kill Your Boyfriend]]'' (June 1995) by Grant Morrison and [[Philip Bond]] (with [[D'Israeli (cartoonist)|D'Israeli]]), the protagonist takes on the persona projected by her new, murderous, bad-boy boyfriend.
* ''The Eaters'' (Nov. 1995) by Milligan and [[Dean Ormston]], a [[black comedy]] dealing with a family of cannibals.

====Vertigo Vérité====
The short-lived "Vérité" line, evoking the realism of [[Cinéma vérité]], "was a 1996–98 attempt to promote new Vertigo projects devoid of the supernatural qualities that had gotten to define the publisher".<ref name="Savage Critic">[http://savagecritic.com/2007/09/my-life-is-choked-with-comics-9-kill.html ''The Savage Critic'': "My Life is Choked with Comics #9 – Kill Your Boyfriend & Girl #1–3", September 14, 2007] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080326211335/http://savagecritic.com/2007/09/my-life-is-choked-with-comics-9-kill.html|date=March 26, 2008}}. Accessed May 29, 2008</ref>

* ''Seven Miles a Second'' (May 1996) by [[David Wojnarowicz]] and [[James Romberger]], published after Wojnarowicz' death from [[AIDS]], about his experiences of living with the disease.<ref name="Seven Miles">[http://www.gayleague.com/forums/display.php?id=484 Gay League: ''Seven Miles a Second'' by Joe Palmer]. Accessed May 29, 2008 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309123733/http://www.gayleague.com/forums/display.php?id=484|date=March 9, 2008}}</ref>
* ''The System'' #1–3 (May–July 1996) by [[Peter Kuper]], dealt wordlessly with "class warfare in the big city".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peterkuper.com/comix/C-n-B16.html|title=Comics and Books by Peter Kuper|publisher=peterkuper.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011045525/http://www.peterkuper.com/comix/C-n-B16.html|archive-date=2008-10-11|access-date=May 29, 2008}}</ref>
* ''[[Girl (Vertigo)|Girl]]'' #1–3 (July–September 1996) by Peter Milligan and Duncan Fegredo, a hyper-realistic tale of a disaffected teenage girl prone to "all-consuming daydreams...needed to cope with life itself" caught up in a tale of murder and mundanity.<ref name="Savage Critic" />
* ''The Unseen Hand'' #1–4 (September–December 1996) by [[Terry LaBan]] and [[Ilya (comics)|Ilya]], a college student caught up in an [[Illuminati]]-like conspiracy.<ref>[http://www.atomicavenue.com/Atomic/TitleDetail.aspx?TitleID=965 Atomic Avenue – ''The Unseen Hand''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707184147/http://www.atomicavenue.com/Atomic/TitleDetail.aspx?TitleID=965|date=2011-07-07}}. Accessed May 29, 2008</ref>
* ''Hell Eternal'' (April 1998) by Jamie Delano and Sean Phillips

====V2K====
The "[[fifth-week event]]" brand '''''V2K''''' (Vertigo 2000), was a "much hyped concept" whose titles were designed to "usher...in the new millennium" and, as such, several of them were limited series rather than one-shots.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070703003258/http://www.swampthingroots.com/intro.html ''Roots of the Swamp Thing'': "NEW SEEDS TAKE ROOT"]. Retrieved June 2, 2008.</ref>

* ''[[Brave Old World (comics)|Brave Old World]]'' #1–4 (February–May 2000) by [[William Messner-Loebs]], Guy Davis and [[Phil Hester (comics)|Phil Hester]]
* ''The Four Horsemen'' #1–4 (February–May 2000) by [[Robert Rodi]] and [[Esad Ribić]]
* ''I Die at Midnight'' by [[Kyle Baker]]
* ''Pulp Fantastic'' #1–3 (February–April 2000) by [[Howard Chaykin]] with [[David Tischman]] and [[Rick Burchett]]
* ''Totems'' by [[Tom Peyer]] with [[Richard Case]], Duncan Fegredo, and Dean Ormston

====Vertigo Pop!====
The Vertigo Pop limited series were designed "to be about pop culture around the globe in some vaguely defined way".<ref name="X Axis London">[http://www.thexaxis.com/misc/vertigopoplondon1.htm "The X-Axis" Review: ''Vertigo Pop: London #1, 10 November 2002''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719201501/http://www.thexaxis.com/misc/vertigopoplondon1.htm|date=July 19, 2008}}. Accessed May 29, 2008</ref>

* ''Vertigo Pop: Tokyo'' #1–4 (September–December 2002) by [[Jonathan Vankin]] and [[Seth Fisher]]
* ''Vertigo Pop: London'' #1–4 (January–April 2003) by Peter Milligan and Philip Bond
* ''Vertigo Pop: Bangkok'' #1–4 (July–October 2003) by Vankin and [[Giuseppe Camuncoli]]

====Vertigo Crime====
Vertigo Crime, a line of graphic novels published in black and white, and hardcover,<ref name="newsarama080815">{{cite news|url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080815-VertigoCrime.html|title=Karen Berger on the Vertigo Crime Line|last=Arrant|first=Chris|date=August 15, 2008|work=[[Newsarama]]|access-date=August 18, 2008|archive-date=January 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107173229/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080815-VertigoCrime.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cbr17461">{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17461|title=CCI: Vertigo: View of the Future|last=Callahan|first=Timothy|date=July 27, 2008|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|access-date=August 18, 2008|archive-date=August 28, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828203556/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17461|url-status=live}}</ref> was launched in 2009 with two titles: Brian Azzarello's ''Filthy Rich'' and [[Ian Rankin]]'s ''Dark Entries'', the latter featuring [[John Constantine]].<ref name="newsarama080815" /><ref name="cbr17461" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/030925-Vertigo-Rankin.html|title=Starting Vertigo's Crime Line: Ian Rankin on Dark Entries|last=Smith|first=Zack|date=March 25, 2009|work=[[Newsarama]]|access-date=April 13, 2009|archive-date=March 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328003345/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/030925-Vertigo-Rankin.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index.ssf/2009/04/ian_rankin_vs_brian_azzarello.html|title=Ian Rankin vs. Brian Azzarello|last=Duin|first=Steve|date=April 7, 2009|work=[[The Oregonian]]|access-date=April 13, 2009|archive-date=April 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411105013/http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index.ssf/2009/04/ian_rankin_vs_brian_azzarello.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Each volume features a cover illustration by [[Lee Bermejo]]. Vertigo Crime ended as a sub-imprint in 2011.

The following original graphic novels have been published under the Vertigo Crime imprint (in order of publication):

* ''[[Filthy Rich (comics)|Filthy Rich]]'' by Brian Azzarello and [[Victor Santos (author)|Victor Santos]], 2009
* ''[[Dark Entries (comics)|Dark Entries]]'' by Ian Rankin and [[Werther Dell'Edera]], 2009
* ''The Chill'' by [[Jason Starr]] and Mick Bertilorenzi, 2010
* ''[[The Bronx Kill]]'' by Peter Milligan and James Romberger, 2010
* ''Area 10'' by [[Christos N. Gage]] and [[Chris Samnee]], 2010
* ''The Executor'' by [[Jon Evans]] and Andrea Mutti, 2010
* ''Fogtown'' by [[Andersen Gabrych]] and [[Brad Rader]], 2010
* ''A Sickness in the Family'' by [[Denise Mina]] and Antonio Fuso, 2010
* ''Rat Catcher'' by [[Andy Diggle]] and Victor Ibanez, 2011
* ''Noche Roja'' by [[Simon Oliver]] and [[Jason Latour]], 2011
* ''99 Days'' by Matteo Casali and [[Kristian Donaldson]], 2011
* ''Cowboys'' by [[Gary Phillips (writer)|Gary Phillips]] and Brian Hurtt, 2011
* ''Return to Perdition'' by [[Max Allan Collins]], 2011

=== Editorial changes, attempted relaunch, and discontinuation ===
Karen Berger left the company in March 2013.<ref>[[Hauman, Glenn]] (December 3, 2012). [http://www.comicmix.com/news/2012/12/03/karen-berger-leaving-vertigo/ "Karen Berger leaving Vertigo"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204035837/http://www.comicmix.com/news/2012/12/03/karen-berger-leaving-vertigo/ |date=2013-02-04}}. [[ComicMix]].</ref> Berger's position at the head of Vertigo was filled by [[Shelly Bond]], who had begun editing for the imprint in 1993. In 2016, however, DC "restructured" Vertigo, eliminating Bond's position,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbr.com/dc-comics-restructuring-vertigo-imprint-announces-shelly-bonds-departure/|title=DC Comics 'Restructuring' Vertigo Imprint, Announces Shelly Bond's Departure|date=20 April 2016|access-date=2016-09-29|archive-date=2016-10-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002121435/http://www.cbr.com/dc-comics-restructuring-vertigo-imprint-announces-shelly-bonds-departure/|url-status=live}}</ref> and oversight of Vertigo was placed under [[Jamie S. Rich]], until May 2017 when Mark Doyle became the new editor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2017/05/05/dc-entertainment-expands-editorial-leadership-team|title=DC Entertainment Expands Editorial Leadership Team|date=5 May 2017|access-date=11 May 2017|archive-date=13 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513042600/http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2017/05/05/dc-entertainment-expands-editorial-leadership-team|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2018, DC Comics began a "line-wide relaunch and rebranding" as "DC Vertigo", including 11 new ongoing titles planned for the coming year, under Doyle's editorship.<ref name=June7/><ref name="March1" /> These included a new sub-imprint based on Neil Gaiman's ''Sandman'' with four new ongoing series, announced in March,<ref name="March1">{{Cite news |url=https://www.vertigocomics.com/blog/2018/03/01/vertigo-reunites-with-author-neil-gaiman-on-the-sandman-universe |title=VERTIGO REUNITES WITH AUTHOR NEIL GAIMAN ON THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE |date=1 March 2018 |access-date=11 June 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143535/https://www.vertigocomics.com/blog/2018/03/01/vertigo-reunites-with-author-neil-gaiman-on-the-sandman-universe |archive-date=2018-06-12 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and seven new series announced in June.<ref name="June7">{{cite web |url=https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2018/06/07/dc-entertainment-announces-vertigo-returns-to-its-roots-with-a-line-wide-relaunch |date=7 June 2018 |title=DC ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES VERTIGO RETURNS TO ITS ROOTS WITH A LINE-WIDE RELAUNCH AND DC VERTIGO REBRAND, HELMED BY NEW EXECUTIVE EDITOR MARK DOYLE |work=DC |access-date=7 June 2018 |archive-date=7 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180607190810/https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2018/06/07/dc-entertainment-announces-vertigo-returns-to-its-roots-with-a-line-wide-relaunch |url-status=live}}</ref>

The relaunch experienced a number of complications. ''Border Town'' by [[Eric M. Esquivel]] and Ramon Villalobos dealt with immigration and Latino identity, for which Esquivel received death threats in advance of its publication.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://remezcla.com/features/culture/border-town-comic-book/|title=This Latino Writer Got Death Threats for 'Border Town', a Comic Book About Healing Racial Tensions|date=2018-10-18|website=Remezcla|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-29|archive-date=2020-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129184550/https://remezcla.com/features/culture/border-town-comic-book/|url-status=live}}</ref> The series was well received by critics, but after four issues were published, Esquivel was accused of sexually and emotionally abusing a former partner.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.adventuresinpoortaste.com/2018/12/12/artist-and-colorist-leave-border-town-in-response-to-abuse-allegations-against-writer-eric-m-esquivel/|title=Artist and colorist leave DC Vertigo's 'Border Town' in response to abuse allegations against writer Eric M. Esquivel|last=Hollingsworth|first=Forrest|date=12 December 2018|access-date=2020-01-29|archive-date=2020-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129165213/https://www.adventuresinpoortaste.com/2018/12/12/artist-and-colorist-leave-border-town-in-response-to-abuse-allegations-against-writer-eric-m-esquivel/|url-status=live}}</ref> Villalobos and colorist Tamra Bonvillain withdrew from the project, and DC cancelled the series, including issues that were ready for publication.<ref name="BorderTown">{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/comics/2018/12/14/18136702/border-town-canceled-eric-esquivel-sexual-misconduct-allegations |date=14 December 2018 |title=DC Vertigo cancels Border Town after sexual misconduct allegations against writer |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215215720/https://www.polygon.com/comics/2018/12/14/18136702/border-town-canceled-eric-esquivel-sexual-misconduct-allegations |url-status=live}}</ref> Meanwhile, ''[[Second Coming (comic book series)|Second Coming]]'' by [[Mark Russell (writer)|Mark Russell]] and Richard Pace came under criticism from Christians and conservatives who considered its announced premise – in which Jesus Christ returns and lives as a roommate with a modern-day superhero – blasphemous and offensive. The series was cancelled before the first issue was published; Russell and Pace later published the series through [[Ahoy Comics]].<ref name="SeconComing">{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/second-coming-comic-book-canceled-by-dc-vertigo-controversy-1186499 |date=13 February 2019 |title=DC Vertigo Cancels 'Second Coming' of Jesus Comic Book Series |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-date=14 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214135840/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/second-coming-comic-book-canceled-by-dc-vertigo-controversy-1186499 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/12/arts/second-coming-jesus-comic-book.html|title=Comic Book With Jesus as a Character Finds a New Publisher|last=Gustines|first=George Gene|date=2019-03-12|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-01-29|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2019-12-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231130136/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/12/arts/second-coming-jesus-comic-book.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Safe Sex'' by Tina Horn and Mike Dowling was also cancelled before its debut, and later published as ''SFSX'' by [[Image Comics]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/06/20/image-comics-endorses-safe-sex-when-dc-comics-doesnt/|title=Image Comics Endorses Safe Sex When DC Comics Doesn't|website=www.bleedingcool.com|date=20 June 2019|access-date=2019-06-22|archive-date=2019-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622134451/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/06/20/image-comics-endorses-safe-sex-when-dc-comics-doesnt/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsarama.com/45703-dc-vertigo-s-safe-sex-jumps-to-image-comics.html|title=DC/Vertigo's SAFE SEX Jumps to IMAGE COMICS|website=Newsarama|language=en|access-date=2020-01-29|archive-date=2019-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828061840/https://www.newsarama.com/45703-dc-vertigo-s-safe-sex-jumps-to-image-comics.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

DC Comics discontinued Vertigo imprint in January 2020. The DC Zoom and DC Ink imprints for children and young adolescents were also eliminated. Under the new plan, all of the company's comics were published under the "DC" brand, and categorized by intended reader age: DC Kids (8–12 years), DC (13+), and [[DC Black Label]] (17+).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/06/21/dc-officially-rebrands-closes-vertigo-renames-zoom-and-ink/|title=DC Officially Rebrands, Closes Vertigo, Renames Zoom and Ink|website=www.bleedingcool.com|date=21 June 2019|access-date=2019-06-22|archive-date=2019-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622005301/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/06/21/dc-officially-rebrands-closes-vertigo-renames-zoom-and-ink/|url-status=live}}</ref> The ''Sandman''-related titles retained their new branding as "[[The Sandman Universe]]".

=== 2024 relaunch ===
In 2024, DC relaunched Vertigo imprint, after its discontinuation in 2020. Chris Conroy, editor of DC Black Label, became the main editor for Vertigo imprint.<ref name=":0" /> In addition, [[James Tynion IV]] and Álvaro Martínez Bueno's series ''[[The Nice House|The Nice House by the Sea]]'' was transferred from DC Black Label to Vertigo. ''The Sandman Universe'' line of books was folded back into the imprint as well.<ref name="vertigo-back">{{Cite web |date=2024-10-19 |title=DC Comics Confirms They Are Bringing Back Vertigo Imprint |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/dc-comics-confirms-they-are-bringing-back-vertigo-imprint/ |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=bleedingcool |language=en}}</ref>