World's Finest Comics #251
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeWorld's Finest Comics #251 is the debut issue of Count Vertigo — the disorienting, aristocratic villain who would go on to become one of the most durable recurring antagonists for both Black Canary and Green Arrow across decades of DC storytelling, later appearing in animation, the Suicide Squad, and the live-action Arrow television series. The issue arrives one month after the landmark #250 that formally assembled the 'World's Finest Team' of Superman, Batman, Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Wonder Woman, making #251 the first regular anthology instalment to carry that expanded roster forward in separate back-up features. As one of DC's 80-page Dollar Comics — a format the company pioneered starting with #244 in 1977 — it represents the creative ambition of that brief era, cramming five distinct hero-driven stories into a single package at a time when such density was editorially radical. The issue is also a showcase for the early career of Guyanese-American artist Trevor Von Eeden, whose stylistically distinctive pencils on the Black Canary feature gave the series a visual energy that distinguished it from contemporaries.
In "Invasion of the Deathless Brain," Aquaman and Aqualad find themselves in the middle of a strange and sudden crisis when a tidal wave threatens a tiny research submarine. After rescuing the scientists, the team shares a moment of levity with Hostess Twinkies—though the dolphins, who did most of the work, are left out. Written by E. Nelson Bridwell and brought to life with Curt Swan’s precise art and Vince Colletta’s inks, this 1978 adventure blends underwater drama with a touch of whimsy. The cover by Jim Aparo captures the moment with bold, dynamic flair.
In "Invasion of the Deathless Brain," Superman and Batman find their costumes tainted by a Green Kryptonite explosion in the Fortress of Solitude, setting off a chain of events that turns Batman into an unwitting pawn. When the mind of George "Gorilla Boss" Dyke takes control, he convinces Batman to destroy the Fortress—unwittingly unleashing a monstrous entity fueled by absorbed chlorophyll, a substance deadly to alien invaders who’ve long manipulated Dyke to pave the way for Earth’s colonization.
In "The Vertigo Version," a bizarre thief known as Blitzschwalbe strikes with a disorienting flair, leaving chaos in his wake. Count Vertigo, a master of sonic manipulation, exploits ultrasonic waves to twist perception, turning the world upside down for anyone in his path. Black Canary, armed with her powerful sonic scream, must confront the villain and restore order—before the city itself loses its sense of reality. Detective Morgan stands at the edge of the mystery, racing to uncover the truth behind the chaos.
In "No Home for the Hero," Green Arrow and Speedy team up with Lt. Mack Morgan to take down a dangerous gang, but a botched operation leaves one criminal free to escape—shattering Speedy’s confidence. Determined to make amends, the young hero pushes too hard, drawing himself into a trap that tests his resolve and forces him to confront the cost of heroism. With Green Arrow and Black Canary’s past efforts looming in flashback, and the mysterious Stinger closing in, Speedy must prove he belongs in the fight—before it costs him everything.
In "A Kiss of Death Times Three," Wonder Woman finds Poison Ivy in her hidden sanctuary, only to be attacked again by the plant-based villain Blattkopf and knocked out by a gas. Though she manages to escape, her capture was part of a larger scheme — one that puts Steve Howard in deadly peril. With Sumac, Buckeye, and Redwood caught in the web of intrigue, the fate of the team hangs in the balance as secrets buried in the jungle begin to surface.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
Issue #251 sits squarely in the 80-page Dollar Comics phase of World's Finest, a format DC launched with #244 (April–May 1977) as one of the first publishers to sell an all-new, ad-light anthology at a dollar. Writer Gerry Conway oversaw the bulk of the issue's back-up content, collaborating with Trevor Von Eeden and inker Vince Colletta on the Black Canary story that introduced Count Vertigo, while Bob Haney scripted the Superman/Batman lead over George Tuska's pencils and Steve Ditko contributed the Creeper chapter as both writer and artist. Von Eeden had been drawing the Green Arrow feature in the title since 1977 — still a very young artist who had entered DC Comics as one of its youngest-ever hires — and co-designed Count Vertigo's costume himself, reportedly considering the character among his most rewarding villain creations. The issue's Statement of Ownership, printed inside, recorded an average press run of 377,678 copies with average paid circulation of 161,148, offering a rare concrete snapshot of Bronze Age Dollar Comic readership.
Trivia · 7 facts
- First appearance of Count Vertigo (Werner Vertigo), created by writer Gerry Conway and artists Trevor Von Eeden and Vince Colletta in the Black Canary back-up story 'The Vertigo Version.'
- Count Vertigo is depicted as the last heir of the royal family of Vlatava, a fictional Eastern European nation; a hereditary inner-ear disorder led him to implant a device in his temple that he weaponized to project disorienting 'vertigo effects' on others.
- Five original stories in one issue: Superman & Batman in 'Invasion of the Deathless Brain' (Bob Haney/George Tuska); Black Canary in 'The Vertigo Version' (Gerry Conway/Trevor Von Eeden); Green Arrow & Speedy in 'No Home for the Hero' (Conway/Jerry Bingham/Bob Layton); The Creeper in 'The Disruptor' (script and art by Steve Ditko); Wonder Woman in 'A Kiss of Death Times Three' (Conway/Ric Estrada).
- The Green Arrow back-up also features Speedy (Roy Harper), exploring the emotional aftermath of the Teen Titans' breakup and the evolving, more distant dynamic between Oliver Queen and his former ward.
- The Creeper story 'The Disruptor,' entirely written and drawn by Steve Ditko, was later reprinted in DC's collected edition The Creeper by Steve Ditko.
- Trevor Von Eeden personally designed Count Vertigo's distinctive costume; he later cited the character as one of his favorites among the villains he helped develop during his World's Finest run.
- Count Vertigo went on to feature prominently in Suicide Squad, Checkmate, and multiple animated adaptations, including DC Showcase: Green Arrow, and was portrayed by two different actors in the CW series Arrow.
Cast · 6 characters
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Reprints
Reprinted in Superman #18/1978 (1978), Superman #19/1978 (1978), Wundergirl #30 (1978), Wundergirl #31 (1978), Stålmannen #1/1979 (1979), Super Adventure Album #10 (1979), Superman Taschenbuch #14 (1979), Supermann #1/1979 (1979), Super Action Album #17 (1980), Supermán #1315 (1981), Supermán #1321 (1981), The Creeper by Steve Ditko #[nn] (2010), Batman Arkham: Poison Ivy #[nn] (2016)
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