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Published On: Fri, Jan 11th, 2013

Count Vertigo, new ‘Arrow’ villain, was inspired by Ra’s al Ghul, played by Liam Neeson in ‘Batman Begins’

Stephen Amell took home his first award for his role in CW’s “Arrow,” winning a People’s Choice Award on Wednesday, but fans are already looking forward to the return of the show and a new villain.

Seth Gabel will play Count Vertigo on "Arrow," which was inspired by the "Batman Begins" villain.

Seth Gabel will play Count Vertigo on “Arrow,” which was inspired by the “Batman Begins” villain.

Count Vertigo is being reinvented for Fringe star Seth Gabel as a gangster who uses a vertigo-inducing narcotic. Co-creator and executive producer Andrew Kreisberg said there was simply no alternative as “Count Vertigo, I would say after Merlyn, is probably his most well known villain.

The comic-book version of him, the Count Werner von Vertigo… when your last name is Vertigo of course you’re going to grow up to be a super villain who uses vertigo as a weapon. That concept just doesn’t exist in our world, and we’ve never been shy about saying that we’ve taken all of our cues from Chris Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, and how he took somebody like Ra’s al Ghul, played by Liam Neeson, who was immortal in the comics and presented a realistic take on how he could be immortal, by having a front man who could be killed and allowing him to survive, he told ScifiNow.

“We thought of Count Vertigo sort of the same way, with Seth Gabel from Fringe and Dirty Sexy Moneywho’s terrifyingly awesome in the part. First of all, how he gets the nickname ‘the Count’ is kind of fun and spooky, but also how he is able to create this vertigo effect without using certain superpowered means. And that’s what’s fun for us.

“There’s some characters who for the most part have transitioned literally from the comics to the show – like Deadshot, who despite his costume is still the world’s greatest assassin – and Deathstroke, and China White, but Count Vertigo is our first real, complete overhaul. We’re really excited about it.”

Back in December Gabel discussed bringing the Count to life on “Arrow.”

“Count Vertigo in the comic book I believe is Eastern European. In this I play definitely American of some kind, but the adaptation of him being a count, it’s more of a nickname for this street thug drug kingpin who’s selling a drug known as Vertigo on the streets of Starling City. So instead of having a super power, my super power is actually manifested in the drug that I’ve gotten people hooked on,” he tells Crave Online.

“It’s the most fun I’ve ever had,” said Gabel. “[My look is] very street, in a flamboyant, theatrical, grounded way – a lot of black.”

Gabel added that the Count “basically rule[s] the street” and that Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) has “got a long way to go up the chain to get to me.”

"Fringe" star Seth Gabel will bring the Count Vertigo from the comic books to "Arrow"

“Fringe” star Seth Gabel will bring the Count Vertigo from the comic books to “Arrow”

 
Read more at http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/JakeLester/news/?a=72300#H4STiLxEouGacSsh.99

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About the Author

- Stephen is a contributor and writer on The Dispatch. Stephen is the founder and editor for the Steven Spielberg Fan Club website and contributes to pop culture stories on The Dispatch, especially upcoming movie news. Beginning in 2016, Stephen took the role of Managing Editor for the Tampa Dispatch.

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  1. Seth Gabel talks ‘Arrow’ season 2, returning as The Count, setting a trap for Stephen Amell - The Global Dispatch says:

    […] made a memorable appearance in season one and really finds the fun in playing […]

  2. ‘Arrow’ recap: Stephen Amell details season 1, photos, Deathstroke unmasked and Count Vertigo VIDEO - The Global Dispatch says:

    […] the Firefly, Amell vigilante faces Count Vertigo (photo below) who uses a drug to control and wreak havoc on the […]

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