For the “villains month,” comic book writer Jeff Lemire will take on the classic Green Arrow rogue, Count Vertigo. Since the fall of 2011, fans have been waiting for the updated versions of their favorite characters in DC’s New 52, and this September, DC will re-introduce one of its more recognizable, if one of its stranger, villains.
In a recent interview with Kotaku, Lemire revealed that the character would be “darker” than the incarnations that have been written previously. Considering that his powers consist of “dizzying” and “looking like green Liberace,” a darker version seems about appropriate, and Lemire assures us that his battle with Green Arrow will be a “turning point” in the history of the New 52’s Oliver Queen.
“Count Vertigo’s debut in Green Arrow #22 will turn Oliver Queen’s world upside down once more,” said DC’s Bob Harras. “After Ollie takes something precious away from Count Vertigo, this new adversary will stop at nothing to track him down to get revenge and take back what he feels his rightfully his.”
Don’t worry, classicists, this Count Vertigo won’t be too weighty of a character. He’s not a Joker or Lex Luthor, claims Lemire, and he works better “on the fringe.”  Still, he’ll be taken a lot more seriously, which makes sense. With a show like Arrow and Lemire’s current title, Green Arrow has come a long way from shooting arrows that turn into stink bombs. If there’s anyone to trust with realistically portraying the character of Vertigo, it’s Lemire, and this is the time to do it.
