Vertigo Universe is the unofficial designation of a world from the Pre-Flashpoint Multiverse which is the setting of many Vertigo comics, like Hellblazer (Volume 1) and Lucifer (Volume 1). Vertigo was DC Comics' established imprint for mature readers and, despite some of its series, like Swamp Thing (Volume 2) and Doom Patrol (Volume 2), being also canonical to the Pre-Flashpoint DC Universe, their characters usually did not cross paths with mainstream superheroes.
History
Out-of-Universe History
Following the introduction of Vertigo in 1993, there was an editorial measure to make sure that younger readers didn't mistakenly purchase adult stories after seeing a character make guest appearances in their favorite comics. Because of this, many DCU characters seemed to vanish from continuity while they appeared exclusively in their solo titles.
Despite this, occasional crossover between Vertigo titles was not unheard of, especially within Vertigo's one-shots such as Vertigo Jam. Some Vertigo characters did continue to occasionally appear within the mainstream DCU as well, such as Batman and Swamp Thing crossing over in 1995 and Death appearing in Action Comics in 2010.
Geoff Johns made the concept of the Vertigo Universe an explicit part of continuity during the Flashpoint storyline, where it appeared as an alternate timeline next to the mainstream DCU and the Wildstorm Universe. Pandora uses all of them to create one greater timeline with elements from all three.[10] On Prime Earth, many of these Vertigo characters reappear as members of Justice League Dark.[11]
In-Universe History
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Residents
- Hellblazer (John Constantine)
- Chas Chandler
- Tim Hunter
- Swamp Thing
- Animal Man (Buddy Baker)
- Shade the Changing Man/Rac Shade (Earth-85) (Displaced)
- Madame Xanadu
- Zatanna
Notes
- Despite all of John Constantine's original adventures from Swamp Thing (Volume 2)— originally set on Earth-One and, after Crisis on Infinite Earths, on New Earth— also being part of Vertigo continuity, the first official appearance of the Vertigo Universe is technically Hellblazer #1.
- Many series published by Vertigo Comics are creator-driven and are set in their own self-contained universes. They do not traditionally exist in a shared universe: this concept only applies to characters who were formerly in the mainstream DCU before crossing over.
- All the events from the Sandman continuity, including sequels and spin-offs, technically occur in both the New Earth and the Vertigo Universe continuities.
- Dan DiDio stated in a Wondercon '08 interview that the Vertigo Universe was not part of the Pre-Flashpoint 52 worlds.[12] Its Earth designation has never been revealed.
Related Articles
See Also
- Appearances of Vertigo Universe
- Concept Gallery: Vertigo Universe
- Catalogued images related to Vertigo Universe
- ↑ The Books of Magic #3
- ↑ Vertigo: Winter's Edge #3
- ↑ Death: At Death's Door #1
- ↑ Swamp Thing Annual (Volume 2) #7
- ↑ The Children's Crusade #1
- ↑ The Children's Crusade #2
- ↑ The Books of Magic (Volume 2) #2
- ↑ The Books of Faerie #1
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 The Books of Magic (Volume 2) #53
- ↑ Flashpoint (Volume 2) #5, see excerpt
- ↑ Justice League Dark #1
- ↑ Matt Brady WonderCon '08 - DC National Panel Newsarama
