CLEO VANDERLIP

Real Name: Cleo Vanderlip

Identity/Class: Human

Occupation: Financier, CEO of Rycom, criminal

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: David, Mister Grey, Luke Jacobson, Jean, Daisy Kane, Kirsch, Mrs. Rossi, Scott "Otto" Shanks, Sheik Ibn Bheik, Anna Stasio, Timas

Enemies: George Cooper, Amos Culhane, Furillo, Caroline North, Dakota North, Ricky North, SJ North

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: New York City, New York

First Appearance: Dakota North I#1 (June, 1986)

Powers/Abilities: A wealthy entrepreneur, Cleo Vanderlip has several criminal contacts and hitmen she uses on a regular basis. She has no qualms about her enemies getting hurt. She is talented at putting together complicated plots to get what she wants.

History:

(Dakota North I#5 (fb) - BTS) - Cleo Vanderlip, the CEO of Rycom, started investing in various criminal dealings. At some point, she came at odds with CIA agent SJ North. When his wife, Caroline, was killed in a car explosion, Cleo was suspected. SJ had to raise his two children, Dakota and Ricky, by himself.

(Dakota North I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Vanderlip decided to branch out Rycom's corporate stocks into fashion. She hired fashion mogul Luke Jacobson to design for her, though his work started being sabotaged soon after. The sabotage included nasty letters and phone calls and even a stink bomb. Vanderlip suggested he hire Dakota North for security. Jacobson was not aware that Vanderlip had appropriated his assistant Anna Stasio into working for her.

(Dakota North I#1) - Vanderlip, while smoking, watched Luke prepare new fashions. Cleo hired Otto Shanks to tail Dakota, promising him $50,000 for his work. She then met with Anna Stasio and professed her plans to ruin Jacobson so she could cash in on him, getting her revenge on the Norths at the same time. Cleo later checked in with her designer, Kirsch, who'd been questioned by Dakota. The next day, Cleo was meeting with Dakota and Luke to discuss the progress on her case when men rushed in and gassed them, kidnapping Luke. Anna helped Otto and Cleo set a trap for Dakota. She tearfully told Dakota and Luke that Otto had attacked the office and let them know where Otto would be, then called in to report to Cleo. Cleo watched Shanks get defeated by Dakota and, while glad not to have to pay Otto, planned even more revenge on Dakota.

(Dakota North I#2) - Cleo hired Timas to find the golden pen of George C. Cooper, knowing it contained a rare experimental nerve gas. She soon received word that Ricky North had the pen. Cleo manipulated up-and-coming model Daisy Kane into finding Ricky, having Anna help dress her. As Luke departed for a trip, he hugged Anna goodbye, leaving Cleo to taunt her for thinking Luke might have feelings for her.

(Dakota North I#3) - One of Cleo's men in Paris called to report that Ricky and Daisy had been seen there. Cleo learned that Dakota was on her way to apprehend them, so she hired Mister Grey to take care of Dakota, promising to pay his total sum and taunting Anna about Luke once again. Cleo soon learned Grey had failed. She hired Parisian operative Jean to handle Dakota in Paris, and got Daisy to meet with him to set a trap. Dakota defeated Jean, who told her Cleo was behind it all.

(Dakota North I#4) - Cleo showed up at the apartment of Dakota's friend Amos Culhane, offering to watch his cat Furillo so his neighbor Mrs. Rossi wouldn't have to. Cleo contacted her ally Sheik Ibn Bheik in Switzerland, who promised to handle things.

(Dakota North I#5) - Cleo was pleased with her revenge on SJ finally wrapping up, explaining things to Anna, who seemed to little care. When Luke came in to show Cleo his new designs based on Dakota, she was frustrated and choked Amos' cat. Cleo confronted SJ when he rushed in furiously. She drew a gun and taunted him about his dead wife, Caroline. Cleo dismissed her guard, David. SJ kept asking her about his children, not knowing they had already made it safely back to the USA.

Comments: Created by Martha Thomases and Tony Salmons.

Profile by Chadman.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Cleo Vanderlip has no known connections to

• George Vandergill, Norman Osborn ally @ Amazing Spider-Man I#249
• Vincent Vandergill, board member of Imperial Industries International @ Strange Tales I#137
• Jaime Vanderwall, Beast ally @ X-Men Unlimited II#10
• or any other "Cleo" or "Vanderlip" characters

David

(Dakota North I#5) - A security guard of Cleo Vanderlip, David was dismissed while she confronted SJ North.

--Dakota North I#5

Furillo

(Dakota North I#4) - The cat of Amos Culhane, Furillo was watched by Cleo Vanderlip while Amos went out of town.

(Dakota North I#5) - Cleo was petting Furillo while talking to Luke Jacobson and Anna Stasio. When she got frustrated, she choked the cat and tossed him off her lap.

--Dakota North I#4 (Dakota North I#4-5

Mister Grey

(Dakota North I#3) - Cleo Vanderlip hired Mister Grey to take care of Dakota North, who was on her way to Paris to stop operative Daisy Kane from manipulating young Ricky North. Cleo promised to pay Grey's sum, and Anna Stasio showed him out. He attacked her in the airplane lavatory, but she managed to defeat him with her plastic boot knife and leave him unconscious during the flight.

--Dakota North I#3

Luke Jacobson

(Dakota North I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Fashion mogul Luke Jacobson was hired by Rycom, owned by Cleo Vanderlip, to produce a new fashion line for them. As he developed his line, his work began being vandalized, leading him to want to hire a bodyguard. The sabotage included nasty letters and phone calls and even a stink bomb. Vanderlip suggested he hire Dakota North.

(Dakota North I#1) - Jacobson called to hire private investigator Dakota North to act as security. As he requested the information, soon giving his address to secretary Mad Dog, he was shocked by the sounds of gunfire on their end of the line. Vanderlip, while smoking, watched Luke prepare new fashions. When Dakota arrived, Luke explained the problem he was having while smoking a cigarette. The next day, Cleo was meeting with Dakota and Luke to discuss the progress on her case when men rushed in and gassed them, kidnapping Luke. Dakota rushed after them, chasing their car on a motorcycle down the street and into a Bleumie's store, bursting in through a window and up an escalator. The men opened fire on Dakota, who narrowly evaded the bullets. They finally abandoned Luke, who was completely impressed by Dakota. That night, his office was attacked again and Anna claimed that a man named Otto Shanks was behind it. Luke went with Dakota to handle things, promising to follow her every order. Jacobson went inside anyway and ended up being held at gunpoint by Shanks. Dakota shot out the light bulb and she and Jacobson fought their way free. When they got out to the car, they found an armed Ricky waiting on his skateboard, as he'd followed them looking for action and having been clued in by Anna where they were. Dakota forced him behind the car to save him from the gunfire. Shanks came out to get them and Dakota shot him, knocking him into the river. Jacobson designed clothes inspired by Dakota and he threw a launch party weeks later, attended by Dakota and Amos Culhane.

(Dakota North I#2) - Luke continued working on new designs, discussing his successful new line with Anna, who praised his work. Luke asked Anna to help design his accessories. Luke later left for a trip, hugging Anna goodbye and bidding farewell to Cleo.

(Dakota North I#5) - Luke showed Cleo and Anna his new designs based on Dakota North, frustrating Cleo. Anna stood up for Luke, supporting his designs. Luke and Anna were discussing accessories, but Luke wanted things more tough and like Dakota. They were shocked when SJ North rushed in demanding to see Cleo.

--Dakota North I#1 (Dakota North I#1 (fb) - BTS, 2, 5

Jean

(Dakota North I#3) - Cleo Vanderlip hired Jean in Paris to help take care of Dakota North at the Pompidou Museum. Her operative, Daisy Kane, ensured the trap would be set by sending Dakota's brother, Ricky, to the museum. Jean found Dakota in the museum and drew his gun, following her until he got her alone, hiding behind a statue as a group of kids past. When a security guard approached, Jean shot him, then he fired repeatedly on Dakota, who rushed away. She drew her gun and returned fire, but quickly ran out of ammunition as she rushed across a catwalk. She managed to trip him in a rope and hang him from the roof, demanding information on Ricky and learning that Cleo was behind everything. Jean drew his knife and accidentally cut himself loose, falling several stories.

--Dakota North I#3

Daisy Kane

(Dakota North I#2) - Up-and-coming 16 year old model Daisy Kane was recruited by Cleo Vanderlip and her assistant Anna Stasio into finding young Ricky North and getting a golden pen from him. Daisy met up with Ricky, and he agreed to escort her to the airport, and she shamelessly flirted with him on the way.

(Dakota North I#3) - In Paris and with few resources, Ricky convinced Daisy to find his dad's ally Guy Beaumontain so they could find some cash. Ricky and Daisy found Guy, who called SJ and arranged for Ricky to have funds to get home. He escorted them out, recounting his history with SJ as they walked. As Guy waited, Ricky forged his dad's signature to obtain more funds as Daisy flirted with him. Ricky and Daisy listened to Guy's long stories, but rushed into the subway when Guy left for the bathroom. Ricky waited while Daisy went shopping, and she soon returned to tell him she'd bought train tickets for that evening. She gave him a ticket to the Pompidou Museum while she went on an assignment. Daisy reported to Cleo's operative, Jean, who planned to take care of Ricky's investigative sister, Dakota. Ricky later met Daisy on the train and he nearly heard Dakota shout a warning to him, but Daisy distracted him.

(Dakota North I#4) - At Cleo's orders, Ricky and Daisy moved to the car of Sheik Ibn Bheik, who she claimed to know from her modeling days. In the car, she said hello to her friends, including Bianca, then pulled Ricky into a private car to be alone with him. The butler Pettishford agreed to get him a chocolate malt. Ricky was surprised to see a change in terrain out the window, not knowing the entire train car had been dislodged. Daisy distracted him further by showing him all the Sheik's guns. Ricky kept playing poker with Daisy, not knowing the car was moving independently in Switzerland toward the Sheik's estate. When she asked about his pen again, Pettishford grew furious and grabbed a gun as she seized the wheel. Pettishford demanded the pen, but Ricky kicked him in the stomach, kissed Daisy, and jumped free of the car as it crashed into the building. Daisy and Pettishford, in bandages, were picked up by the Sheik, who was furious at their failure, though he believed the publicized wreckage would bring Ricky's allies to them in Grindelwald. He let his falcon Brutus scratch at Pettishford's face, seemingly killing him and disgusting Daisy, who he let live as Cleo had her own plans for Daisy.

(Dakota North I#5) - Daisy was flying back to the USA with an armed guard as she realized that she actually cared about Ricky. She went to Dakota's office, asking to stay with Ricky, as George Cooper, Amos Culhane, Dakota, and Mad Dog watched.

--Dakota North I#2 (Dakota North I#2-5

Kirsch

(Dakota North I#1) - Fashion designer Kirsch (his legal name) listened to a supposed reporter ask questions about his rivalry with Luke Jacobson. Realizing she wasn't a reporter, Kirsch had his bodyguard toss knives at her to intimidate her into revealing who she was, but she threw a knife back and left. Kirsch checked in with his boss, Cleo Vanderlip.

--Dakota North I#1

Mrs. Rossi

(Dakota North I#4 - BTS) - A neighbor of Amos Culhane, Mrs. Rossi sometimes watched his cat Furillo.

--Dakota North I#4 (Dakota North I#4 - BTS

Scott "Otto" Shanks

(Dakota North I#1 (fb) - BTS) - CIA agent SJ North fought international crime leader Otto Shanks at some point.

(Dakota North I#1) - Cleo Vanderlip hired Otto Shanks to tail Dakota North, who'd been hired by Luke Jacobson to act as security. Otto called in to Cleo to report, punching down a security guard who asked about his gun. Cleo promised to get Otto his $50,000. With Cleo's aid Anna Stasio, Otto set a trap for Dakota at a local warehouse. Otto met Cleo there and she gave him papers he needed, promising to pay him later. She departed just as Dakota entered, but she was held off by Shanks' men having Jacobson at gunpoint. Dakota shot out the light bulb. His men fired on them as they run. Shanks came out to get them and Dakota shot him, knocking him into the river.

--Dakota North I#1 (Dakota North I#1 (fb) - BTS, 1

 Anna Stasio

(Dakota North I#1 (fb) - BTS) - When fashion mogul Luke Jacobson was hired by Rycom to design clothing for them, his secretary Anna Stasio took the contract with him. The sabotage included nasty letters and phone calls and even a stink bomb. Vanderlip suggested he hire Dakota North for security.

(Dakota North I#1) - Anna met with Cleo Vanderlip and listened to her plans to ruin Luke and his security guard Dakota North, having hired Otto Shanks to track them. Anna helped Otto and Cleo set a trap for Dakota. She tearfully told Dakota and Luke that Otto had attacked the office and let them know where Otto would be, then called in to report to Cleo. When Dakota's brother Ricky called to find her, Anna told him where to find her.

(Dakota North I#2) - Luke continued working on new designs, discussing his successful new line with Anna, who praised his work. Luke asked Anna to help design his accessories and she agreed, overcome with thoughts of love for Luke and wondering how Cleo would react. Cleo manipulated up-and-coming model Daisy Kane into finding Ricky, having Anna help dress her. As Luke departed for a trip, he hugged Anna goodbye, leaving Cleo to taunt her for thinking Luke might have feelings for her.

(Dakota North I#3) - Cleo learned that Dakota might interrupt a plot, so she hired Mister Grey to take care of Dakota, promising to pay his total sum and taunting Anna about Luke once again.

(Dakota North I#5) - Cleo was pleased with her revenge on SJ finally wrapping up, explaining things to Anna, who seemed to little care. When Luke came in to show Cleo his new designs based on Dakota, she was frustrated and choked Amos' cat. Anna stood up for Luke, supporting his designs. Luke and Anna were discussing accessories, but Luke wanted things more tough and like Dakota. They were shocked when SJ North rushed in demanding to see Cleo.

--Dakota North I#1 (Dakota North I#1 (fb) - BTS, 2, 3, 5

Timas

(Dakota North I#2) - Soviet-connected assassin Timas was recruited by Cleo Vanderlip to secure a golden pen filled with experimental nerve gas. Timas waited outside the Rainbow Room to see Dakota and Ricky North approaching. He fired a crossbow bolt at them, missing Dakota on purpose, and the arrow had a note attached that warned her off the case. He then approached her inside at the table of SJ North and George Cooper, asking her to dance. Dakota realized Timas was the would-be assassin, but he dissuaded her by kissing her. As they finished dancing, Dakota walked back to the table and announced she would take the case, showing them the arrow and revealing that Timas had been behind the attack. They saw Cooper lose a gold pen to Ricky in a poker match and Ricky rushed out with it, passed armed guards. Timas posed as a television specialist Roger Nitz and called publicist Dianna Glenn to find out Cooper's itinerary. He later attacked Dakota and George in the park, holding a knife to Dakota's throat. He kissed her again, warning her to get off the case, then rushed off. Timas drove in a monster truck after Dakota and George's car, but she evaded him on a small sidewalk. After crashing, Timas was rushed to the hospital and put in a body cast. He saw Cooper on the news and regretted his failure and having come at odds with Dakota.

--Dakota North I#2

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Dakota North I#1, p14, pan2 (main)