Cover from Essential Vertigo Masterpieces

Essential Vertigo Masterpieces

versedb 25 Series Apr 7, 2026

Staff Ranked

The foundation of the modern 'mature' comic landscape, blending literature and myth.

Series

Animal Man (1988)

DC Comics

89 issues

Broke the fourth wall and redefined the character for adult audiences.

Hellblazer (1988)

DC Comics

300 issues

The long-running urban fantasy series starring John Constantine.

The Sandman (1989)

DC Comics

75 issues

The definitive work on mythology and dreams by Neil Gaiman.

Books of Magic (1990)

Limited Series

DC Comics

4 issues

The coming-of-age story of Tim Hunter, the future's greatest magician.

Preacher (1995)

DC Comics

66 issues

A gritty, irreverent road trip through a supernatural America.

Transmetropolitan (1997)

DC Comics

60 issues

Aggressive gonzo journalism in a cyberpunk future.

Sheriff of Babylon (2015)

DC Comics

12 issues

A modern war-torn crime story set in Iraq.

100 Bullets (1999)

DC Comics

100 issues

A stylish, complex noir crime saga involving an enigmatic conspiracy.

Daytripper (2010)

Limited Series

DC Comics

10 issues

A beautiful, poetic exploration of the moments that define a life.

Y: The Last Man (2002)

DC Comics

60 issues

A character-driven epic about the last male on Earth.

Fables (2002)

DC Comics

161 issues

A brilliant reimagining of fairy tale characters in the modern world.

Lucifer (2000)

DC Comics

75 issues

A spin-off from Sandman that explores free will and creation.

DMZ (2006)

DC Comics

72 issues

Explored a near-future America divided by a second civil war.

American Vampire (2010)

DC Comics

34 issues

Reinvented vampire lore through different eras of American history.

Enigma (1993)

Limited Series

DC Comics

8 issues

A groundbreaking queer superhero deconstruction.

Northlanders (2008)

DC Comics

50 issues

An anthology of gritty, historically grounded Viking stories.

iZombie (2010)

DC Comics

28 issues

A quirky and heartfelt take on the supernatural detective genre.

The Wake (2013)

DC Comics

10 issues

A high-concept sci-fi horror story spanning thousands of years.

Joe the Barbarian (2010)

DC Comics

8 issues

A visually stunning fantasy set in the imagination of a diabetic boy.

Sweet Tooth (2009)

DC Comics

40 issues

Jeff Lemire's 'Mad Max meets Bambi' post-apocalyptic story.

The Unwritten (2009)

DC Comics

59 issues

A meta-fictional look at the power of stories and literary legacy.

Scalped (2007)

DC Comics

60 issues

A brutal crime drama set on a modern Native American reservation.

The Invisibles (1994)

DC Comics

25 issues

Grant Morrison's psychedelic counter-culture conspiracy epic.

Shade, the Changing Man (1990)

DC Comics

70 issues

A surreal exploration of madness and American culture.

Essential Vertigo Masterpieces

Series

Animal Man (1988)

Hellblazer (1988)

The Sandman (1989)

Books of Magic (1990)

Preacher (1995)

Transmetropolitan (1997)

Sheriff of Babylon (2015)

100 Bullets (1999)

Daytripper (2010)

Y: The Last Man (2002)

Fables (2002)

Lucifer (2000)

DMZ (2006)

American Vampire (2010)

Enigma (1993)

Northlanders (2008)

iZombie (2010)

The Wake (2013)

Joe the Barbarian (2010)

Sweet Tooth (2009)

The Unwritten (2009)

Scalped (2007)

The Invisibles (1994)

Shade, the Changing Man (1990)

Doom Patrol (1987)

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