Editing Vertigo Comics

{{short description|Imprint of comic-book publisher DC Comics}}
{{distinguish|Vertigo Entertainment|Vertigo Films}}
{{Redirect|DC Vertigo|the DC Comics villain|Count Vertigo}}
{{Infobox publisher
| name         = DC Vertigo
| image        = [[File:DC Vertigo 2024.svg|200px|class=skin-invert]]
| caption      = Logo used since 2024
| parent       = [[DC Comics]]
| founded      = {{Start date and age|1993}} (original)<br>{{Start date and age|2024}} (revival)
| founder      = [[Karen Berger]]
| predecessor  = 
| country      = [[United States]]
| headquarters = [[New York City]]
| distribution = 
| keypeople    = 
| publications = [[Comic books]]
| topics       =  
| imprints     = {{collapsible list|
{{ubl|Vertigo Visions|Vertigo Voices|Vertigo Vérité|V2K|Vertigo Pop!|Vertigo X|Vertigo Crime}}
}}
| revenue      = 
| numemployees = 
| nasdaq       = 
}}

'''DC Vertigo''', also known as '''Vertigo Comics''' or simply '''Vertigo''', is an [[Imprint (trade name)|imprint]] of the [[American comic book]] publisher [[DC Comics]]. Vertigo publishes comics with [[adult comics|adult content]], such as nudity, drug use, profanity, and graphic violence, that do not fit the restrictions of DC's main line. Its comics include company-owned series set in the [[DC Universe]], such as ''[[The Sandman (comic book)|The Sandman]]'', ''[[Swamp Thing]]'', and ''[[Hellblazer]]'', and [[Creator ownership in comics|creator-owned]] works, such as ''[[Preacher (comics)|Preacher]]'', ''[[Y: The Last Man]]'', and ''[[Fables (comics)|Fables]]''.

Vertigo originated from DC's 1980s adult comic line, which began after DC stopped submitting ''[[Swamp Thing (comic book)|The Saga of the Swamp Thing]]'' for approval by the [[Comics Code Authority]]. Following the success of two adult-oriented 1986 [[Limited series (comics)|limited series]], ''[[Batman: The Dark Knight Returns]]'' and ''[[Watchmen]]'', DC's output of adult comics, edited by [[Karen Berger]], grew. By 1992, DC's mature readers' line was editorially separate from its main line and Berger received permission to manage them under a separate imprint. Vertigo was launched in January 1993 with a mix of existing DC [[ongoing series]] and new series.

Although its initial publications were primarily in the [[horror fiction|horror]] and [[fantasy]] genres, Vertigo expanded to publish works dealing with crime, [[social commentary]], [[speculative fiction]], biography, and other genres. Vertigo also reprinted comics previously published by DC under other imprints, such as ''[[V for Vendetta]]'' and ''[[Transmetropolitan]]''. In North America, Vertigo pioneered a publishing model in which monthly series are periodically collected into editions for bookstore sale. Vertigo became DC's most popular and enduring imprint; several Vertigo series have won the comics industry's [[Eisner Award]] and have been adapted to film and television.

Vertigo began to decline in the 2010s, as certain properties like ''Hellblazer'' and ''Swamp Thing'' were re-integrated into DC's main comic books, while Berger departed in 2013. Berger's departure was followed by a series of editorial restructures. An attempted relaunch in 2018 suffered a multitude of setbacks, including numerous cancellations. DC discontinued Vertigo in January 2020 as part of a plan to publish all comics under a single banner. Most Vertigo series moved to [[DC Black Label]] until 2024, when DC revived the imprint.<ref name="vertigo-back" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Brooke |first=David |date=2024-10-19 |title=DC Vertigo will return from the dead, headed by Chris Conroy • AIPT |url=https://aiptcomics.com/2024/10/19/dc-vertigo-return-chris-conroy-dc-comics/ |access-date=2024-11-25 |language=en-us}}</ref>

==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>

==Creators==
{{More citations needed|section|date=January 2020}}

===Editors===
[[Image:Vertigo panel.jpg|thumb|300x300px|Panel of Vertigo comics creators at San Diego [[ComicCon]] 2007.|alt=]]In addition to Berger, several other editors have become linked to the imprint:

'''Art Young''' started out as [[Karen Berger]]'s assistant<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shannon |first=Hannah Means |date=2013-12-09 |title=Unsung Masterpieces - Enigma With Peter Milligan, Duncan Fegredo, And Art Young |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/unsung-masterpieces-milligan-fegredos-enigma/ |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=bleedingcool.com |language=en}}</ref> and worked on pre-Vertigo issues of ''[[Animal Man (comic book)|Animal Man]]'', ''[[Hellblazer]]'', ''[[Swamp Thing (comic book)|Swamp Thing]]'', ''[[The Sandman (comic book)|The Sandman]]'', ''[[Doom Patrol]]'', ''[[The Books of Magic]]'', ''[[Skreemer]]'', and ''[[Kid Eternity]]''. He then left DC in 1991 to work for Disney in setting up Touchmark, before returning with those projects to Vertigo in early 1993, when he edited debut title ''[[Enigma (Vertigo)|Enigma]]'',<ref name="Touchstone Legend" /> and later miniseries and one-shots such as ''[[Sebastian O]]'', ''[[The Extremist (comics)|The Extremist]]'',<ref name="TCJ Milligan interview">{{Cite web |last=Frisch |first=Marc-Oliver |date=2023-01-02 |title=The Past Does Not Exist: An Interview with Peter Milligan |url=https://www.tcj.com/the-past-does-not-exist-an-interview-with-peter-milligan/ |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=The Comics Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Mercy'', ''[[Rogan Gosh (comics)|Rogan Gosh]]'', ''[[The Mystery Play]]'', and ''[[Tank Girl]]: The Moovy''. He edited all four of the "Vertigo Voices" titles in 1995, as well as ''Shadows Fall'', ''Ghostdancing'', ''[[Egypt (comics)|Egypt]]'', ''Millennium Fever'' and both ''Tank Girl'' miniseries. Young's last editorial credit for Vertigo was ''[[Flex Mentallo]]'' #1 (June 1996).

'''[[Shelly Bond]]''' was Vertigo's executive editor until 2016. Berger hired her as an assistant editor in the winter of 1992, making her the last of the original Vertigo team to join.<ref name="PW podcast interview">{{cite podcast |title=More To Come 335: Shelly Bond Interview |website=Publishers Weekly |publisher=Publishers Weekly |date=14 September 2008 |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/podcasts/index.html?channel=2&podcast=908|time=10:48 |access-date=2 June 2023}}</ref> Bond worked on many of Vertigo's top titles over the course of her tenure, including ''The Sandman'', ''[[Shade, the Changing Man (Vertigo)|Shade, the Changing Man]]'', ''[[Sandman Mystery Theatre]]'', ''[[iZombie (comic book)|iZombie]]'', [[Paul Pope]]'s ''[[Heavy Liquid (comics)|Heavy Liquid]]'', ''[[Fables (comics)|Fables]]'', [[Ed Brubaker]]'s ''[[Deadenders]]'', [[David Lapham]]'s ''[[Young Liars (comics)|Young Liars]]'', [[Mike Carey (writer)|Mike Carey]]'s ''[[Lucifer (DC Comics)|Lucifer]]'', and ''[[The Invisibles]]''.<ref name="PW podcast interview" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=MacNamee |first=Olly |date=2022-08-15 |title=Kickstarting Comics: Talking With Shelly Bond About 'Fast Times In Comic Book Editing' |url=https://www.comicon.com/2022/08/15/kickstarting-comics-talking-with-shelly-bond-about-fast-times-in-comic-book-editing/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=COMICON |language=en-US}}</ref> She was promoted to executive editor and vice president of Vertigo Comics in 2013, taking the place of Berger.<ref>{{cite web |first=Calvin |last=Reid |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/55197-dc-comics-names-shelly-bond-to-head-vertigo.html |title=DC Comics Names Shelly Bond to Head Vertigo |work=[[Publishers Weekly]] |date=December 19, 2012 |accessdate=April 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011112610/http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/55197-dc-comics-names-shelly-bond-to-head-vertigo.html |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=42740 |title=Shelly Bond Promoted to Executive Editor of Vertigo |publisher=Comic Book Resources |date= 19 December 2012|accessdate=2016-04-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Shivener |first=Rich |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/61834-shelly-bond-leads-dc-s-vertigo-line-into-a-new-era.html |title=Shelly Bond Leads DC's Vertigo Line Into a New Era |website=Publishersweekly.com |date=2014-04-11 |accessdate=2016-04-21}}</ref> In April 2016, Bond was fired by DC Comics after restructuring.<ref>{{cite web |first=Albert |last=Ching |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/dc-comics-reastructuring-vertigo-imprint-announces-shelly-bonds-departure |title=DC Comics 'Restructuring' Vertigo Imprint, Announces Shelly Bond's Departure |work=Comic Book Resources |date=April 21, 2016 |accessdate=April 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422142320/http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/dc-comics-restructuring-vertigo-imprint-announces-shelly-bonds-departure |archive-date=April 22, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> "Shelly will never get full credit for all of the amazing things she did at Vertigo", [[Mike Allred]] wrote in 2016 in a tribute to Bond that featured many of the creators she worked with over the years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Heidi |date=2016-04-29 |title=A tribute to Shelly Bond: the most mod editor of them all |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/a-tribute-to-shelly-bond-the-most-mod-editor-of-them-all/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}</ref>

'''[[Tom Peyer]]''' was a founding editor of Vertigo.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=2018-01-10 |title=The Wrong Earth, by Tom Peyer and Jamal Igle, From Ahoy Comics in August |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/wrong-earth-tom-peyer-jamal-igle-ahoy-comics-august/ |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=bleedingcool.com |language=en}}</ref> Tom was editor in 1990 with Karen Berger what would become the pillars of Vertigo: ''Hellblazer'', ''Sandman'' (taking over from Art Young), ''Swamp Thing'' and ''Shade, the Changing Man''. He later edited ''Doom Patrol'', ''Animal Man'', ''Kid Eternity'', and ''[[Black Orchid (comics)|Black Orchid]]'', as well as two "Vertigo Visions" one-shots. Peyer left editing behind in 1994, returning to DC as a writer.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}

'''[[Stuart Moore]]''' edited a wide range of Vertigo titles between 1991 and 2000, including ''Swamp Thing'', ''Books of Magic'', ''Hellblazer'', ''The Invisibles'', ''[[Preacher (comics)|Preacher]]'' and ''[[Transmetropolitan]]''. One of his most important contributions to the line was hiring Garth Ennis to write ''Hellblazer''. He helped start the DC imprint [[Helix (comics)|Helix]], and brought ''Transmetropolitan'' to Vertigo after Helix's demise.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-08-23 |title=Talking Comics with Tim {{!}} Stuart Moore, Part I |url=https://www.cbr.com/talking-comics-with-tim-stuart-moore-part-i/ |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref>

'''[[Axel Alonso]]''' began his editorial career at Vertigo editing titles like ''Hellblazer'', [[Brian Azzarello]] and [[Eduardo Risso]]'s ''[[100 Bullets]]'', and [[Garth Ennis]] and [[Steve Dillon]]'s ''Preacher''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-01-04 |title=Alonso Named Marvel Editor-in-Chief |url=https://www.cbr.com/alonso-named-marvel-editor-in-chief/ |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref> He left Vertigo for [[Marvel Comics]] in 2000 and eventually ascended to the role of editor-in-chief, a title he held until 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Heidi |date=2017-11-17 |title=Marvel "wishes Axel Alonso the best" |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/marvel-wishes-axel-alonso-the-best/ |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}</ref>

'''Will Dennis''' attended film school with Bond, who later recruited him as an assistant editor. He was promoted to editor a few months after Alonso departured for Marvel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Contributor |first=Kevin Sharp, Fanbase Press |title=Fanbase Press - Between the Panels: Editor Will Dennis on Cursed Comics, His Big Pay Cut, and One Very Bad Day on the Job |url=https://fanbasepress.com/index.php/press/interviews/between-the-panels/item/12812-between-the-panels-editor-will-dennis-on-cursed-comics-his-big-pay-cut-and-one-very-bad-day-on-the-job |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=fanbasepress.com|date=5 October 2022}}</ref> Dennis took over the editing of ''100 Bullets'' and later edited [[Brian K. Vaughan]] and [[Pia Guerra]]'s ''[[Y: The Last Man]]''  and Vaughan's ''[[Pride of Baghdad]]'' graphic novel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Will Dennis Editor - Previous works |url=https://www.bespokecomics.com/back-catalogue |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=bespoke comics + graphic novels |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Shelly Bond and Will Dennis Talk Vertigo, Part 1 |url=https://www.dc.com/blog/2013/10/08/shelly-bond-and-will-dennis-talk-vertigo-part-1 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=DC |language=en}}</ref> Dennis was responsible for bringing writers [[Brian Wood (illustrator)|Brian Wood]] (''[[DMZ (comics)|DMZ]]'') and [[Jason Aaron]] (''[[Scalped (comics)|Scalped]]'') to Vertigo and teamed writer [[Andy Diggle]] and artist [[Jock (artist)|Jock]] on their breakout series ''[[The Losers (Vertigo)|The Losers]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-02-15 |title=WILL DENNIS INTERVIEW {{!}} Live From The DMZ - by Justin Giampaoli |url=http://dmzthecomic.com/post/11869499644/will-dennis-interview |access-date=2023-06-17 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215015146/http://dmzthecomic.com/post/11869499644/will-dennis-interview |archive-date=2012-02-15}} {{Cite web |last=Aaron |first=Jason |date=2019-10-11 |title=Hello From My Face |url=https://jasonaaron.substack.com/p/newsletter-1-hello-from-my-face |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=Jason Aaron's Beard Missives}} {{Cite web |date=2003-06-16 |title=The Vertigo Bloke: Jock talks 'The Losers' |url=https://www.cbr.com/the-vertigo-bloke-jock-talks-the-losers/ |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref> He was the editor who presided over the Vertigo Crime line of graphic novels.

'''[[Jonathan Vankin]]''' was hired as an editor at Vertigo in 2004 after previously writing two of the line's Vertigo Pop miniseries and several entries in the [[Paradox Press]] "Big Book" series as well as several other non-comics works. He edited [[Harvey Pekar]]'s Vertigo work: ''The Quitter'' hardcover and eight issues of Pekar's ''[[American Splendor]]'' autobiographical series. His other Vertigo editing credits include ''[[The Exterminators (comics)|The Exterminators]]'', [[Douglas Rushkoff]]'s ''[[Testament (comics)|Testament]]'', novelist [[Denise Mina]]'s run on ''Hellblazer'', ''[[Incognegro (comics)|Incognegro]]'' by [[Mat Johnson]], and ''The Alcoholic'' by novelist and essayist [[Jonathan Ames]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dallas |first1=Keith |title=Editing on the Ledge: Vertigo's Jonathan Vankin |url=http://www.comicsbulletin.com/features/114713500422964.htm |website=Comics Bulletin |access-date=1 June 2023 |date=2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407084015/http://www.comicsbulletin.com/features/114713500422964.htm |archive-date=2010-04-07}}</ref>

===Writers===
====Early writers====
'''[[Alan Moore]]''' is strongly associated with the imprint for his work on ''Swamp Thing'' and his creation of [[John Constantine]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dave |date=2016-10-24 |title=Best Vertigo Comics Series & Graphic Novels of All Time! |url=https://www.comicbookherald.com/best-vertigo-comics/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=Comic Book Herald |language=en-US}}</ref> but he never produced work for the Vertigo imprint, having refused to work for parent company DC in the late 1980s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Itzkoff |first=Dave |date=2006-03-12 |title=The Vendetta Behind 'V for Vendetta' |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/12/movies/the-vendetta-behind-v-for-vendetta.html |access-date=2023-06-12 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> His ''Swamp Thing'' work and the ''[[V for Vendetta]]'' reprint-maxiseries were retroactively collected as Vertigo-issued TPBs.<ref name="What the Heck">{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Heidi |date=2019-06-05 |title=What the heck is happening at DC and Vertigo? |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/what-is-happening-at-vertigo/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}</ref>

'''[[Grant Morrison]]''' left ''Animal Man'' and ''Doom Patrol'' before the launch of Vertigo, but their work on those titles was similarly retroactively branded as "Vertigo" when collected. They wrote three volumes of ''The Invisibles'' between [[1994 in comics|1994]] and [[2000 in comics|2000]]. In addition, they had produced a number of one-shots and miniseries including ''Sebastian O'' (1993), ''The Mystery Play'' (1994), ''[[Kill Your Boyfriend]]'' (1995), the Doom Patrol spin-off ''Flex Mentallo'' (1996), ''[[The Filth (comics)|The Filth]]'' (2002–2003), ''[[Seaguy]]'' (2004), ''[[Vimanarama]]'' (2005), ''[[We3]]'' (2004–2005) and ''[[Joe the Barbarian]]'' (2010).

'''[[Neil Gaiman]]''' came to prominence four years pre-Vertigo with the launch of ''The Sandman'' for DC Comics, a title that became the backbone of the initial Vertigo line-up. His ''Death'' mini-series was part of the Vertigo launch, and his work on the first ''The Books of Magic'' miniseries (also released as a DC title, 1990–1991) laid the groundwork for the long-running Vertigo Universe series of the same name, which featured young wizard [[Timothy Hunter]].

'''[[Peter Milligan]]''' contributed two titles to the Vertigo launch. His ''Shade, the Changing Man'' was launched in 1991, pre-Vertigo, and ran 70 issues until 1996, by which time it was under the Vertigo imprint. He also wrote the creator-owned eight-issue miniseries ''Enigma'' (1993). Milligan and [[Brett Ewins]]'s 1989 mini-series ''Skreemer'' was subsequently collected by Vertigo. Milligan also wrote both a ''[[Human Target]]'' mini-series and ongoing series, the one-shots ''The Eaters'' and ''Face'' for the "Vertigo Voices" sub-imprint, and a number of other miniseries, including ''The Extremist'', ''Tank Girl: The Odyssey'', ''Egypt'', ''Girl'', ''The Minx'', and ''Vertigo Pop!: London''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter Milligan |url=https://www.dc.com/talent/peter-milligan |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=DC |language=en}}</ref><ref name="TCJ Milligan interview" />

'''[[Jamie Delano]]''' was the original writer of Vertigo's flagship series ''Hellblazer'', which spun-off from Moore's run on ''Swamp Thing''.<ref name="Delano Hellblazer">Original writer: {{Cite web |last=Riesman |first=Abraham Josephine |date=2014-10-23 |title=The Secret History and Uncertain Future of Comics Character John Constantine |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/10/secret-history-of-john-constantine.html |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}} Flagship series: {{Cite web |last=Means-Shannon |first=Hannah |date=2013-02-21 |title=Review: Down at the Pub with HELLBLAZER #300 |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/review-down-at-the-pub-with-john-constantine-hellblazer-300/ |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}} {{Cite web |date=2022-06-08 |title=Why John Constantine Isn't In The Sandman |url=https://screenrant.com/why-john-constantine-isnt-in-the-sandman/ |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> Moore himself recommended Jamie Delano for ''Hellblazer''.<ref>{{cite podcast |title=Syfy Wire: Behind the Panel Episode 1: The Story of Vertigo Comics |website=Syfy Wire |publisher=Syfy Wire |date=8 January 2019 |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/behind-the-panel-episode-1-the-story-of-vertigo-comics-part-1-of-4 |time=10:48 |access-date=24 May 2023}}</ref> Delano left the series in 1991, before the launch of Vertigo, and was writing the imprint's ''Animal Man'' series at the time. His other Vertigo works included ''[[Outlaw Nation]]'', ''Ghostdancing'', and two ''Hellblazer'' miniseries, ''[[The Horrorist (comics)|The Horrorist]]'' and ''[[Hellblazer Special: Bad Blood]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Delano |first=Jamie |title=Bibliography |url=https://www.jamiedelano.co.uk/?page_id=13 |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=Jame Delano's website |language=en-US}}</ref>

'''[[Garth Ennis]]''' took over ''Hellblazer'' from Delano and wrote it at the time of Vertigo's launch. Ennis's best-known Vertigo work was his and artist Steve Dillon's creator-owned ''Preacher'', which ran for 66 issues and six spin-off specials between 1995 and 2000. Ennis has also written several miniseries for Vertigo, including ''Goddess'' (1995–96), ''Pride & Joy'' (1997), ''[[Unknown Soldier (DC Comics)|Unknown Soldier]]'' (1997), and ''[[Adventures in the Rifle Brigade]]'' (2001–2002), as well as eight one-shot ''[[War Stories (comics)|War Stories]]'' between 2001 and 2003. Two of his pre-Vertigo works — ''[[True Faith (comics)|True Faith]]'' (serialized in ''[[Crisis (British comics)|Crisis]]'') and the four-issue DC/Helix miniseries ''[[Bloody Mary (Helix)|Bloody Mary]]'' (1996–1997) – have had collections released under the Vertigo label.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Garth Ennis |url=https://www.dc.com/talent/garth-ennis |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=DC |language=en}}</ref>

'''[[Rachel Pollack]]''', who was writing ''Doom Patrol'' when Vertigo launched, continued on that title until #87 (Feb. 1995), the final issue. She is known for creating the first openly trans superhero, [[Coagula]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaplan |first=Rebecca Oliver |date=2023-04-12 |title=Syndicated Comics |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/remembering-rachel-pollack-and-what-she-meant-to-the-trans-community/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}</ref> She also penned two "Vertigo Visions" specials — 1993's ''[[Brother Power the Geek|The Geek]]'' and 1998's ''[[Tomahawk (character)|Tomahawk]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dueben |first=Alex |date=2022-05-23 |title="One Of The Things They Definitely Are Is Queer": An Interview With Rachel Pollack |url=https://www.tcj.com/one-of-the-things-they-definitely-are-is-queer-an-interview-with-rachel-pollack/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=The Comics Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>

'''[[Nancy A. Collins]]''', who wrote ''Swamp Thing'' #110–138 (Aug. 1991 – Dec. 1993), also wrote the 1996 one-shot ''[[Dhampire: Stillborn]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-15 |title=Looking back on Nancy Collins' Swamp Thing |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/looking-back-on-nancy-collins-swamp-thing |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=SYFY Official Site |language=en-US}}</ref>

'''[[Matt Wagner]]''' wrote the early Vertigo series ''Sandman Mystery Theatre'' and co-wrote the ''[[Sandman Midnight Theatre]]'' special with Neil Gaiman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Quaintance |first=Zack |date=2020-04-22 |title=Syndicated Comics |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/dc-round-up-sandman-mystery-theatre/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}} {{Cite web |last=eddy |first=d emerson |date=2022-07-25 |title=Syndicated Comics |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/classic-comic-compendium-sandman-midnight-theatre/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}</ref> Wagner later wrote the 29-issue ''[[Madame Xanadu]]'' series.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-11-29 |title=Madame Xanadu #29 |url=https://www.cbr.com/madame-xanadu-29/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=CBR |language=en}} {{Cite web |date=2010-03-18 |title=Wagner Makes "Madame Xanadu" Extra-Sensory |url=https://www.cbr.com/wagner-makes-madame-xanadu-extra-sensory/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref>

====Later writers====
'''[[John Ney Rieber]]''' has produced most of his output for Vertigo, working exclusively for the company between [[1994 in comics|1994]] and 2000. Reiber wrote the first 50 issues of the first ongoing ''The Books of Magic'' series (May 1994 – July 1998), as well as a number of miniseries, mostly set in the wider Vertigo universe (and particularly the Sandman/Books of Magic sections) – ''Mythos: The Final Tour'' (1996–1997), ''Hellblazer/The Books of Magic'' (1997–1998), ''[[The Trenchcoat Brigade]]'' (1999), ''[[The Books of Faerie|The Books of Faerie: Molly's Story]]'' (1999). Reiber's ''Shadows Fall'' (with artist John Van Fleet) was a self-created horror story grounded in a reality which made the tale "all the more creepy than if the story was played out in the realm and scope of superheroes".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080321025703/http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/4728/comix.html Review of ''Shadows Fall'' by Rena Tom]. Retrieved June 1, 2008.</ref> Reiber's ''Tell Me Dark'', produced for DC, was collected in softcover by Vertigo, and he also contributed to various anthologies.

'''[[J. M. DeMatteis]]''' began his comics career on DC's ''[[House of Mystery]]'' title over a decade before the formation of Vertigo, and later became one of the earliest Vertigo creators thanks in large part to his proposed Touchmark projects. DeMatteis' ''Mercy'' one-shot and miniseries ''The Last One'' both debuted in 1993, with reprints of two creator-owned [[Epic Comics]] projects following in subsequent years: his 1985-87 creator-owned maxiseries ''[[Moonshadow (comics)|Moonshadow]]'' was reprinted between 1994 and 1995, with the miniseries ''[[Blood: A Tale]]'' seeing print again in 1996–7. DeMatteis also wrote fifteen issues of ''Seekers into the Mystery'' (1996–7) for Vertigo.

'''[[Mike Carey (British writer)|Mike Carey]]''', having started his American comics career with [[Caliber Comics]] in the mid-1990s catapulted to prominence in March [[1999 in comics|1999]] with the first issue of his ''Sandman'' spin-off miniseries ''Sandman Presents: Lucifer'', which would lead to an ongoing series a year later and considerable praise and projects for Carey. A second ''Sandman'' miniseries, ''[[Sandman Presents: Petrefax]]'' (2000), soon followed, before the June 2000 debut of ''Lucifer''. Neil Gaiman's preferred ''Sandman'' spin-off had not had an easy time being published, due to its title and main character, but Carey was able to helm it for a ''Sandman'' - equalling 75 issues (and a 2002 one-shot: ''Nirvana'') for 6 years. During this time, Carey also wrote the hardcover OGN ''Sandman Presents: The Furies'' (2002), over 40 issues of ''Hellblazer'' between 2002 and 2006 and a 2005 Hellblazer original graphic novel, ''[[All His Engines]]''. He also wrote a non-''Sandman'' miniseries, ''My Faith in Frankie'' (2004), the comic book adaptation of ''[[Neverwhere|Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere]]'' (2005–6) and the OGN ''[[God Save the Queen (comics)|God Save the Queen]]'' (2007). In 2007 he launched the ongoing series ''[[Crossing Midnight]]'' (2007–2008) and the miniseries ''[[Faker (comics)|Faker]]'' (2007–8).

'''[[Brian K. Vaughan]]'''{{'}}s first Vertigo work was a short story in 2000's ''Winter's Edge'' #3 anthology, which led to him relaunching ''Swamp Thing'' (vol. 3) (2000–2001), which lasted for 20 issues. In September [[2002 in comics|2002]], his (and Pia Guerra's) ''Y: The Last Man'' launched. It would ultimately run for 60 issues until March 2008. Vaughan also wrote the 2006 OGN ''Pride of Baghdad'' for Vertigo.

'''[[Ed Brubaker]]'''{{'}}s first Vertigo work was on the "Vertigo Visions" ''[[Prez (character)|Prez]]'' one-shot (1995), and intermittent contributions to a couple of anthology titles preceded his ''[[Scene of the Crime (comics)|Scene of the Crime]]'' (1999), effectively laying the groundwork for his later crime comics. His next Vertigo project, the post-apocalyptic series ''Deadenders'' (2000–2001), ran for 16 issues while Brubaker wrote for both ''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' and ''[[Detective Comics]]'' for parent-company DC. His 2001 miniseries ''[[Dead Boy Detectives|Sandman Presents: The Dead Boy Detectives]]'' told the story of some incidental Sandman characters, and was later retold by [[Jill Thompson]] in [[manga]] form (2005). Brubaker subsequently took his Vertigo/crime sensibility to work from [[WildStorm]], [[Icon Comics|Icon]] and the mainstream DC and Marvel universes.

'''[[Bill Willingham]]''' came to Vertigo after a plethora of small press work in 1999 to launch his poker miniseries ''[[Proposition Player]]'' (1999–2000), and contribute to the ''Sandman'' universe with a one-shot spy-spoof, ''Sandman Presents: Merv Pumpkinhead, Agent of D.R.E.A.M.'' (2000), and a single issue contribution to ''[[The Dreaming (comics)|The Dreaming]]'' ongoing series. A second ''Sandman'' one-shot, ''The Sandman Presents: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Dreams...'' (2001), also led to a 4-issue miniseries, ''Sandman Presents: The Thessaliad'' (2002). Willingham's best-known work soon followed, with the July [[2001 in comics|2001]] debut of ''[[Fables (comic)|Fables]]'' (with artist [[Lan Medina]]). In 2004, he returned to the world of the Sandman with ''Sandman Presents: Thessaly: Witch for Hire'', and 2006 saw the debut of the Vertigo-esque magical—but mainstream DCU title—''[[Shadowpact]]'' and ''Fables'' companion series ''[[Jack of Fables]]''. In July 2008, with ''Fables'' nearing a major turning point in its run, Willingham relaunched ''[[House of Mystery]]'' as a Vertigo title with [[Lilah Sturges]] (then known as Matthew Sturges).

Other notable people who have written for Vertigo include [[Kyle Baker]], [[Warren Ellis]], [[David Lapham]], [[Mark Millar]], Brian Azzarello, Paul Pope, [[James Dale Robinson|James Robinson]], and Brian Wood.

===Artists===
Several artists have also produced a large amount of notable work for Vertigo, several (Steve Dillon, Pia Guerra, Eduardo Risso and [[Darick Robertson]]) mainly producing lengthy runs on individual creator-owned titles (in Guerra's case, ''Y: The Last Man'' makes up around 80% of her output to date),<ref>[http://www.comicbookdb.com/creator.php?ID=1027 Pia Guerra at the Comic Book Database] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021041130/http://comicbookdb.com/creator.php?ID=1027 |date=2007-10-21}}. Retrieved June 2, 2008.</ref> but others on a number of titles. Vertigo's main Universe titles, ''The Sandman'', ''Hellblazer'' and ''Swamp Thing'', have been particularly artistically diverse, and home to many talents, while the large number of creator-owned miniseries has seen large numbers of individuals producing work for Vertigo.

'''[[Peter Gross (comics)|Peter Gross]]''' worked on a pre-Vertigo issue of ''Swamp Thing'' and an early Vertigo issue of ''Shade the Changing Man'' (#36, June 1993) before penciling & inking a story featuring Timothy Hunter in the "Children's Crusade" crossover ''Arcana Annual'' (Jan. 1994). This led to a regular inking role on the newly launched ''Books of Magic'' series, taking over as regular penciler and inker with #6; he would stay with the title for most of its run, writing as well as drawing its final 25 issues (1998–2000). Gross also inked Reiber's ''Mythos'' one-shot, and provided full artwork on the first ''[[The Books of Faerie|Books of Faerie]]'' miniseries (1997) and pencils on the following year's ''The Books of Faerie: Auberon's Tale'' (1998). After ''Books of Magic'', Gross moved to ''Lucifer'' (beginning with #5, Oct. 2000) and penciled 56 of the remaining issues, as well as inking a handful. He also co-penciled 2005's ''Constantine: The Official Movie Adaptation'' and several issues of [[Douglas Rushkoff]]'s ''[[Testament (comics)|Testament]]'' from 2006 to 2007.

'''[[Dean Ormston]]''' has similarly produced a disproportionate amount of his artwork for Vertigo titles, including the lion's share of the alternate reality ''[[Books of Magick: Life During Wartime]]'' series (2004–5). His first Vertigo work was as one of several pencilers in the pages of ''Sandman'' #62 (Aug 1994), and in 1995 he penciled and inked Peter Milligan's ''The Eaters'' one-shot. His artwork appears in most (14) of the non-Peter Gross issues of Mike Carey's ''Lucifer'', and he also handled art duties for [[Caitlin R. Kiernan]]'s 4-issue ''The Girl Who Would be Death'' (1998–1999). In addition, he has worked on a number of single (and jam) issues of other Vertigo titles, including ''[[Crusades (comics)|Crusades]]'', ''House of Mystery'', ''The Invisibles'', ''Mythos'', ''Sandman Mystery Theatre'', ''Swamp Thing'' and ''Testament'' between 1994 and 2007.

'''[[Duncan Fegredo]]'''{{'}}s first major American work was on the 1991 ''Kid Eternity'' miniseries with Grant Morrison. A 1992 cover for ''Doom Patrol'' similarly fell in Vertigo territory ''pre''-Vertigo, while Fegredo's first "true" Vertigo work was also on the joint-first new series released by the imprint: Peter Milligan's ''Enigma''. Immediately after the end of the eight-issue series, Fegredo took over as cover artist on Milligan's long-running ''Shade, the Changing Man'' (issues #42–50), collaborated with Milligan on 1995's one-shot ''Face'' (Jan) and then returned to cover duties on ''Shade'', producing all but one of the remaining pieces of art. He produced pencils and inks for the miniseries ''Millennium Fever'' (1995) and (with Milligan) for ''Girl'' (1996). Between 1997 and 2002, he contributed artwork on fill-in issues (or to jam issues) of ''Crusades'', ''The Dreaming'', ''[[Flinch (comics)|Flinch]]'', ''[[House of Secrets (Vertigo)|House of Secrets]]'', ''The Sandman Presents: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Dreams...'', ''Totems'', ''[[Weird War Tales]]'' and ''[[Weird Western Tales]]''. In addition, his cover work graced the 1999 miniseries ''Sandman Presents: Love Street'', six issues of ''The Books of Magick: Life During Wartime'' and the first fifteen issues of Mike Carey's ''Lucifer''.

'''[[Jill Thompson]]''', although primarily known as an artist, has also produced scripts for Vertigo, producing as writer-artist three Sandman tie-ins: ''[[The Little Endless Storybook]]'' (2001) and two manga retellings of storylines: ''[[Death: At Death's Door]]'' (2003) and ''The Dead Boy Detectives'' (2005). Between 1993 and 1994, she penciled the first six issues of the ongoing ''Black Orchid'' series and the 4-issue miniseries ''[[Finals (comics)|Finals]]'' (1999). She has contributed ten issues each to the high-profile Vertigo series ''Sandman'' (penciling the complete "[[The Sandman: Brief Lives|Brief Lives]]" storyline, part 7 of which was the first Vertigo issue) and ''The Invisibles'', and penciled four of the last five issues of ''Seekers into the Mystery''. She has produced fill-in issues of ''Books of Magic'', ''The Dreaming'' and ''Swamp Thing'' and contributed artwork to the anthology comics ''Fables'' #59 (in addition to a story in the hardcover OGN ''[[1001 Nights of Snowfall]]'') and ''Transmetropolitan: Filth of the City''.

'''[[Jon J Muth]]''', a painter, has produced several lavish volumes for Vertigo, including writing, penciling, inking and coloring the 1998 one-shot ''Swamp Thing: Roots''. Primarily, his Vertigo output has been in collaboration with J. M. DeMatteis, an issue of ''Blood: A Tale'', the maxiseries ''Moonshadow'' (and its coda, ''Farewell, Moonshadow'' (1997)) and three issues of ''Seekers into the Mystery''. Muth painted Grant Morrison's ''The Mystery Play'' (1994) and the 2002 ''Lucifer: Nirvana'' special for Mike Carey. His work also effectively ended Neil Gaiman's ''Sandman'' series, Muth painting issue #74, the final issue of ''[[The Sandman: The Wake|The Wake]]'' storyline, and second-to-last main issue.

The artwork of '''[[Charles Vess]]''' has infrequently but notably accompanied the words of Neil Gaiman on Vertigo projects, including the 4-issue ''[[Stardust (Neil Gaiman novel)|Stardust]]'' (1997–8) miniseries, later reprinted as an illustrated hardcover book. Vess' work can also be seen in the two [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]] adaptations in the pages of ''The Sandman'', the first of which (pre-Vertigo) won the comic and duo the [[World Fantasy Award]] for Best Short Story, and the last of which was also the final (75th) issue of the series. Vess also contributed a story to the ''Fables'' OGN ''1001 Nights of Snowfall'', illustrated a ''Books of Magic'' cover and produced an issue of ''The Dreaming'' (2000).

'''[[Sean Phillips]]''' earliest American comics work was in the pages of pre-Vertigo ''Hellblazer'', and in May 1993 he became one of the early Vertigo artists by illustrating (with assists from [[Paul Peart]] and Sean Harrison Scoffield) the entire 16-issue run of ''Kid Eternity'' (1993–4). He drew the covers for twenty-three of the twenty-five issues of the first ''The Invisibles'' series and also returned to ''Hellblazer'' (switching from artwork and covers to just covers after around 20 issues) between 1995 and 1998. He drew three issues of ''Shade, the Changing Man'' (1994), the one-shot ''Hell Eternal'' (1995) and the miniseries ''The Minx'' as well as inking most of [[Michael Lark]]'s work on ''Scene of the Crime''. He penciled four issues of the final ''Invisibles'' series between 1999 and 2000, produced covers for the ''Hellblazer Special: Bad Blood'' miniseries, and shared art chores with John Bolton on the 2001 miniseries ''User''.

'''[[John Bolton (illustrator)|John Bolton]]''', another frequent Gaiman collaborator has rarely worked with that author directly for Vertigo, but has utilised his characters, including in the OGN ''Sandman Presents: The Furies'' and the ''Books of Magic'' lead-in ''Arcana Annual''. He also contributed to the ''Sandman Mystery Theatre'' annual, and the ''Fables'' OGN ''1001 Nights of Snowfall''. With Sean Phillips, he produced the artwork for [[Devin Grayson]]'s 2001 miniseries ''User'', and individually fully illustrated the OGN's ''Menz Insana'' (1997) and ''God Save the Queen'' (2007).

Other artists include [[Chris Bachalo]], [[Mark Buckingham (comic book artist)|Mark Buckingham]], [[Guy Davis (comics)|Guy Davis]], [[Phil Jimenez]], Jock, [[Warren Pleece]] and [[Liam Sharp]].

====Cover artists====
'''[[Dave McKean]]''' is the artist who provided all of the covers to the Vertigo's highest profile series ''The Sandman'' (1989–96). The first 46 of these covers were created for the DC imprint, but McKean's work also includes a number of ''Sandman'' spin-off issues, miniseries and galleries. These include the two ''Death'' miniseries and all 60 issues of ''The Dreaming'' (1996–2001). He provided the first 24 DC published covers to ''Hellblazer'', and all 22 covers to the 1993-1995 ''Black Orchid'' Vertigo series (which spun off from his (and Gaiman's) 1988 DC miniseries). He produced the first cover for ''Sandman Mystery Theatre'' and his work was featured in a 1997 artbook incorporating his ''Sandman'' covers, "Dust Covers: The Collected Sandman Covers, 1989–1997".

In addition, McKean's artwork also graced the inside pages of the public service comic ''Death Talks about Life'' (1994), an issue of ''The Dreaming'' (#8), two issues of the DC-published ''Hellblazer'' (#27 with Gaiman and #40 with Delano) and his and Neil Gaiman's OGN ''Mr. Punch'' (1994). The duo's ''Black Orchid'' was similarly produced for DC, but was retroactively deemed a Vertigo title.

'''[[Brian Bolland]]''' and '''[[Glenn Fabry]]''' have also produced a large number of iconic covers for the Vertigo line, Fabry probably being best known for his work on one title: Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's ''Preacher'' (and the spin-off miniseries). Bolland, one of the earliest British creators whose work was brought to America, drew the first 63 covers for ''Animal Man'', mostly for DC, but also the first six Vertigo issues before handing over to a succession of other artists. Bolland also drew the cover for Vertigo's first ''Doom Patrol'' issue and for the entire second and third volumes of Morrison's ''Invisibles'' (1997–2000) (and in addition provided artwork for the TPB collections of Morrison's ''Doom Patrol'' run, and all volumes of ''The Invisibles''). Bolland provided covers for three issues of Mark Millar's ''Swamp Thing'' run (1995), and miniseries including ''[[Vamps (comics)|Vamps]]'' (1994–5), both Vertigo ''Tank Girl'' (1995–1996) miniseries and ''[[Blood & Water]]'' (2003) as well as the one-shot ''Zatanna: Everyday Magic'' (2003). Bolland also wrote and illustrated stories for the anthology titles ''[[Heart Throbs|Heartthrobs]]'' and ''[[Strange Adventures]]'' (1999) and OGN ''1001 Nights of Snowfall'', as well as providing a cover each for the ''Gangland'' and ''Winter's Edge'' anthologies. With issue #12, Bolland took over cover duties (from ''Fables'' cover artist [[James Jean]]) on ''Fables'' spin-off ''Jack of Fables'', which he continues to produce as of June 2008. Fabry, in addition to his ''Preacher'' covers, provided covers for Ennis' miniseries ''Adventures in the Rifle Brigade: Operation Bollock'' (2001–2002) and most<ref>Issues #52–83. Ennis' first run on the title was ''Hellblazer'' #41–83.</ref> of that authors first run on ''Hellblazer'' (1992–94) - which included the first Vertigo issue - as well as his return to the title in 1998–1999. In addition, Fabry has also penciled a couple of short ''Hellblazer'' stories for various specials, and drew the covers for the ''Hellblazer: The Trenchcoat Brigade'' miniseries. He contributed to the multi-artist ''Transmetropolitan'' special "I Hate It Here" and provided three covers each to the ongoing ''Transmetropolitan'' (2002) and ''Swamp Thing'' <small>(Vol. 3)</small> (2001); covered the complete ''[[Scarab (Vertigo)|Scarab]]'' (1993–1994) miniseries, all 19 issues of ''Outlaw Nation'' and one issue each of the anthology titles ''Gangland'', ''Heartthrobs'' and ''Weird War Tales''. Between 2005 and 2006, Fabry fully illustrated Mike Carey's adaptation of ''Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere'', having previously collaborated with the man himself on a story in the 2003 OGN ''[[The Sandman: Endless Nights]]''. At the start of 2008, he provided a cover for an issue of ''Exterminators'', before taking over from [[Lee Bermejo]] as on-going cover artist on, again, ''Hellblazer''.

Other notable cover artists include [[Dan Brereton]], [[Tim Bradstreet]], Duncan Fegredo, James Jean, [[Dave Johnson (comics)|Dave Johnson]] and [[J. G. Jones]].

==Publications==
{{Main|List of Vertigo Comics publications}}

==Adaptations in other media==
===Film===
* ''[[Swamp Thing (1982 film)|Swamp Thing]]'' (1982), based on [[Swamp Thing (comic book)|the comic book series]] by [[Len Wein]] and [[Bernie Wrightson]], directed and written by [[Wes Craven]].
* ''[[The Return of Swamp Thing]]'' (1989), based on comic book series by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson, directed by [[Jim Wynorski]].
* ''[[Constantine (film)|Constantine]]'' (2005), based on the ''[[Hellblazer]]'' series of comics.
* ''[[A History of Violence]]'' (2005), based on the graphic novel [[A History of Violence (comics)|of the same name]] by [[John Wagner]] and by [[Vince Locke]], directed by [[David Cronenberg]].
* ''[[V for Vendetta (film)|V for Vendetta]]'' (2006), [[V for Vendetta|based on the comics series]] by [[Alan Moore]] and [[David Lloyd (comics)|David Lloyd]], and produced by the [[The Wachowskis|Wachowskis]].
* ''[[Watchmen (2009 film)|Watchmen]]'' (2009), [[Watchmen|based on the comics series]] by Alan Moore and [[Dave Gibbons]], directed by [[Zack Snyder]].
* ''[[The Losers (2010 film)|The Losers]]'' (2010), based on the monthly series [[The Losers (Vertigo)|of the same name]], created by [[Andy Diggle]] and [[Jock (artist)|Jock]].
* ''[[The Kitchen (2019 film)|The Kitchen]]'' (2019), based on the series, created by Ollie Masters and [[Ming Doyle]].

===TV===
* ''[[Human Target (1992 TV series)|Human Target]]'' (1992), [[Human Target (Vertigo)|based on the comic book series]] by [[Peter Milligan]] for [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] and another TV series of [[Human Target (2010 TV series)|the same name]] in 2010 for [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]].
* ''[[Constantine (TV series)|Constantine]]'' (2014–2015), based on the comic book series ''Hellblazer'' by Alan Moore and developed by [[David Goyer]] and [[Daniel Cerone]] for [[NBC]].
* ''[[iZombie (TV series)|iZombie]]'' (2015–2019), loosely based on the [[iZOMBIE|comic book series of the same name]] by [[Chris Roberson (author)|Chris Roberson]] for [[The CW]].
* ''[[Lucifer (TV series)|Lucifer]]'' (2016–2021), loosely based on the ''[[The Sandman (comic book)|Sandman]]'' character [[Lucifer (DC Comics)|Lucifer]] by [[Neil Gaiman]] and [[Mike Carey (writer)|Mike Carey]] for FOX (season 1–3) and [[Netflix]] (season 4–6).
* ''[[Preacher (TV series)|Preacher]]'' (2016–2019), based on the [[Preacher (comic)|comic book series]] by [[Garth Ennis]] and developed by [[Seth Rogen]] for [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]].
* ''[[Watchmen (TV series)|Watchmen]]'' (2019), based on the comic book series by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons for [[HBO]].
* ''[[Swamp Thing (2019 TV series)|Swamp Thing]]'' (2019), based on the [[Swamp Thing (comic book)|comic book series]] by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson for [[DC Universe (streaming service)|DC Universe]].
* ''[[Sweet Tooth (TV series)|Sweet Tooth]]'' (2021–2024), based on the [[Sweet Tooth (Vertigo)|comic book series]] by [[Jeff Lemire]] for Netflix.
* ''[[Y: The Last Man (TV series)|Y: The Last Man]]'' (2021), based on [[Y: The Last Man|comic book series]] by [[Brian K. Vaughan]] and [[Pia Guerra]] for [[FX on Hulu]].
* ''[[The Sandman (TV series)|The Sandman]]'' (2022–present), based on [[The Sandman (comic book)|comic book series]] by Neil Gaiman for Netflix.
* ''[[Bodies (2023 TV series)|Bodies]]'' (2023), based on the [[Bodies (comics)|comic book series]] by [[Si Spencer]], and developed by [[Paul Tomalin]] for Netflix.
* ''[[Dead Boy Detectives (TV series)|Dead Boy Detectives]]'' (2024), based on the [[Dead Boy Detectives|characters]] created by Neil Gaiman for Netflix.

===Video games===
* ''[[100 Bullets (video game)|100 Bullets]]'' was optioned and partly developed as a game, but was canceled in 2004. The license has been bought and an unconnected game was in development as of 2007,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.d3publisher.us/d3_100_bullets.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929031425/http://www.d3publisher.us/d3_100_bullets.pdf|url-status=usurped|title=Press release (May 3, 2006): "D3Publisher of America Inc. and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Ink Licensing Agreement for Dc Comics/Vertigo ''100 Bullets''"|archivedate=September 29, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sinclair |first=Brendan |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6148880.html |title=GameSpot News (May 3, 2006): "E3 06: ''100 Bullets'' gets another shot at gaming", by Brendan Sinclair |publisher=Gamespot.com |date=2006-05-03 |access-date=2011-02-02 |archive-date=2011-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524161343/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6148880.html |url-status=live}}</ref> but was again canceled several years later.
* ''[[Constantine (video game)|Constantine]]'', a spin-off based on the [[Constantine (film)|film]] of the same name.
* ''[[The Wolf Among Us]]'' is an [[Episodic video game|episodic]] [[Graphic adventure game|graphic adventure]] [[video game]], a prequel to [[Bill Willingham]]'s [[Fables (comics)|''Fables'' comic book series]].<ref name="Wired">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/02/telltale-games-walking-dead-fables/ |title=Telltale Games Snags Walking Dead, Fables |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=2011-02-18 |access-date=2012-05-07 |first=Jason |last=Schreier |archive-date=2011-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129161723/http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/02/telltale-games-walking-dead-fables/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=33523 | title=CCI: "Fables" Creators Panel Recap | website=[[Comic Book Resources]] | date=2011-07-24 | access-date=2012-05-07 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040829/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=33523 | url-status=live}}</ref>

==Logo==
<gallery>
Vertigo-Comics-Logo.svg|1993–2018 logo
DC Vertigo Logo.svg|2018–2020 logo
DC Vertigo 2024.svg|2024–present logo
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of Vertigo Comics publications]]
* [[Adult comics]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* {{gcdb brand group|id=4581|title=Vertigo}}
* {{comicbookdb|type=imprint|id=1|title=Vertigo}}
* [http://comicbookrealm.com/search/comics/?a=search&publisher=3285&x=3&y=7&series=Search+by+Series&method=all Vertigo on Comic Book Realm]

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[[Category:Vertigo Comics| ]]
[[Category:1993 comics debuts]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:2020 comics endings]]
[[Category:2020 disestablishments in the United States]]
[[Category:DC Comics imprints]]
[[Category:Publishers of adult comics]]

[[he:DC Comics#שנות ה-90]]