Editing Vertigo Comics (section)

=== 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]]".