Vertigo's true origins remain a mystery. She was a native to the Savage Land in Antarctica when she was mutated by advanced genetic engineering by the similarly mutated Brainchild in order to join the Savage Land Mutates. (It has even been suggested that Vertigo's appearance was possibly quite different prior to her transformation.) She fought the mutant team, X-Men, alongside her teammates.
At some point, she left the Savage Land and joined a band of assassins led by the enigmatic villain Mr. Sinister, under circumstances yet to be revealed. She was first seen with the Marauders during the Morlock massacre, and has continued to be with them ever since.
Vertigo's powers induce an extreme and debilitating disorientation to victims' senses of balance (inducing vertigo and possibly unconsciousness).