Vera Sweet

Vera Sweet is a fictional character, that appears in comic books published by DC Comics as a supporting character of the Creeper. The character was created by writer and artist Steve Ditko, as the love interest to Ditko's other creation the Creeper.

Publication history
Vera Sweet (born Vera Swetowski), was created by Steve Ditko for the Beware the Creeper title back in 1968 appearing in issue #1. Intended to be the love interest of Jack Ryder (AKA The Creeper).

Fictional character biography
When Jack Ryder was rehired by WHAM-TV's head of security Bill Brane, one of his assignments was to babysit the beautiful, but spoiled TV Weather Girl Vera Sweet. Ryder soon took an instant disliking to her because of the prissy and flirty nature she had. Vera came to return the same disliking to Jack as well; when Ryder abandoned her several times to secretly become the Creeper and investigate some masked villainous enforcers known as the Terror and Proteus. Despite that, Vera continued to be an annoyance to Jack, she even went as far as to publicly announce a false engagement between them for the sake of publicity purposes.

But even through all the misadventures they shared, Jack (as The Creeper) came to her rescue when she was trapped on the island hideout of Claw, The Supreme One. When Jack was framed for crimes committed by his arch nemesis Proteus, Vera was one of the few people to believe in his innocence, revealing that deep down she had romantic feelings for him even if she didn't show it on the outside.

1990's
During a storyline written by Writer Len Kaminski and artist Shawn Martinborough in a modern setting; "The Creeper" series. Offering a psychological examination into the mind of The Creeper's alter ego Jack Ryder. After escaping from Arkham Asylum, The Creeper goes through Gotham City on the rooftops and sees a group of street punks bothering an old guy and beats the teens to defend the elderly man. After that the Creeper returns to his alter ego Jack Ryder's old apartment and converts to his human form as he dives into the closed window which awakens Vera Sweet who knocks him out with a vase. Ryder wakes up on the floor of his apartment with Vera confronting him; She's taken over the least on his old apartment while Ryder The Creeper, fighting Eclipso and recuperating at the asylum.

After he showers, his Creeper persona appears to him in the bathroom mirror, telling him to transform. Ryder resists and enters the living room, where Vera has ordered Chinese food for dinner. He immediately recognizes that she's really Proteus in disguise' who claims to have killed the real Vera and the two fight each other as Proteus turns into a Creeper himself! As it turns out this was all just an illusion in Creeper's mind as he is still strapped to a table with Prof. Yatz about to operate on him. Creeper manages to break free; while the real Vera turns out to be still safe and sound.

Rebooted origin
In 2006, a new version of the Creeper appears in the Brave New World one shot, published following the events of Infinite Crisis. In the one shot, Jack Ryder is now the host of a controversial TV show, You Are Wrong!, promising $1,000,000 to the person who catches the Creeper. Following this, a six-issue Creeper mini-series revealed the new origin, seemingly taking place during Batman's early years.

And during that time Vera was shown to be a professional reporter and Jack's rival/colleague in the news business. She often berates Jack on his reckless behavior and self centered attitude on and off screen. There is some display of romantic feelings when she is concerned for his recent whereabouts after Jack secretly becomes the Creeper and starts fighting crime, but their full relationship has yet to be explored.

New 52
Vera hasn't made an appearance in the New 52.

Powers and abilities
Vera has no special powers or abilities, but she is a skilled investigative reporter.