Vertigo Comics titles considered the best or most underrated
I prefer to categorize the works on my lists according to their genre, content, or historical period, rather than the brand under which they were published. There are few better candidates for an exception to that rule, however, than Vertigo, the legendary imprint of DC Comics. Founded in 1993 to house adult-oriented comics penned by the “British Invasion” writers under the direction of visionary editor Karen Berger, it has evolved into a symbol of refined creator-owned comics on the US market. It is difficult to overestimate Vertigo’s importance in the contemporary comic book landscape, as well as its lasting influence over popular culture at large. While I share the consensus view that the imprint became a shadow of its former self after the departure of Berger in 2013, I still find it difficult to accept that it no longer exists since its dissolution in 2020.
I have special fondness for Vertigo’s early years, and I still get a sense of something special and magical whenever I look at the covers from that period. The releases of that time were dominated by dark fantasy or supernatural storylines with psychological depth, a penchant for formal experiments, and a typically 1990s postmodern sensibility. Vertigo of the later eras cannot be summed up in a single formula since it has opened its doors to diverse genres and creative approaches. I will only comment on its “adult” or “mature readers” designation, which is frequently associated with more daring themes and overall sophistication. While typical Vertigo titles were smart, inventive, and often weird, it is worth remembering that they still stood apart from the underground, alternative, or artistic comic scenes; although they rarely featured superhero-style action, they were fun and engaging, and just a tad pulpy. The fact that they weren’t that highbrow was an key component of their success formula.
A popular pastime of Vertigo fans on internet forums consists in pointing out that certain comics that at some point were published with a Vertigo logo on the cover are not proper Vertigo comics. This is due to the fact that, aside from the “Vertigo originals”, many titles were only reprinted under the Vertigo label. First and foremost, this applies to “proto-Vertigo” releases: pre-1993 DC runs that were either edited by Karen Berger, or simply similar in tone and content to the core works of her future imprint. Furthermore, many of the more recent comics were transfers from other imprints or publishers, often becoming Vertigo titles only in collected form. I’m afraid I was not orthodox enough to purge my lists from the supposed Vertigo impostors; if my sources mentioned a particular comic as a Vertigo publication, I simply included it in my data.
Given its prolific output, it’s no surprise that Vertigo’s publication history is full of hidden gems and unfairly overlooked minor masterpieces. Unfortunately, many of these cult classics are now difficult to find, even in reprinted or digital form. To help make them more discoverable, I based my list not only on the “best of” and “crowd favorite” sources, but also on articles and forum discussions about mostly forgotten Vertigo comics. I took the same approach when compiling my list of mainline DC Comics, which I recommend as a more mainstream supplement to this one.
The Sandman
by Neil Gaiman
(1989–1996)
Ongoing series · 75 issues · Vertigo since #47
5 figs out of 5
Hellblazer
by Jamie Delano, Garth Ennis, et al.
(1988–2013)
Ongoing series · 300 issues
5 figs out of 5
Fables
by Bill Willingham
(2002–2015, 2022–)
Ongoing series · 158 issues · #1–75 considered essential reading
5 figs out of 5
Preacher
by Garth Ennis
(1995–2000)
Ongoing series · 75 issues (including specials)
4.5 figs out of 5
Y: The Last Man
by Brian K. Vaughan
(2002–2008)
Ongoing series · 60 issues
4.5 figs out of 5
Transmetropolitan
by Warren Ellis
(1997–2002)
Ongoing series · 60 issues · Originally published by Helix
4.5 figs out of 5
Scalped
by Jason Aaron
(2007–2012)
Ongoing series · 60 issues
4.5 figs out of 5
Lucifer
by Mike Carey
(2000–2006)
Ongoing series · 75 issues
4.5 figs out of 5
Saga of the Swamp Thing
by Alan Moore
(1984–1987)
Ongoing series run · 44 issues · pre-Vertigo
4.5 figs out of 5
100 Bullets
by Brian Azzarello
(1999–2009)
Ongoing series · 100 issues
4.5 figs out of 5
The Unwritten
by Mike Carey
(2009–2015)
Ongoing series · 71 issues
4.5 figs out of 5
Shade, The Changing Man
by Peter Milligan
(1990–1996)
Ongoing series · 70 issues · Vertigo since #34
4.5 figs out of 5
Sandman Mystery Theatre
by Matt Wagner
(1993–1999)
Ongoing series · 71 issues
4.5 figs out of 5
Doom Patrol
by Grant Morrison
(1989–1993)
Ongoing series run · 45 issues · pre-Vertigo
4.5 figs out of 5
The Invisibles
by Grant Morrison
(1994–2000)
Ongoing series · 59 issues
4.5 figs out of 5
Animal Man
by Grant Morrison
(1988–1990)
Ongoing series run · 26 issues · pre-Vertigo
4 figs out of 5
DMZ
by Brian Wood
(2005–2012)
Ongoing series · 72 issues
4 figs out of 5
Sweet Tooth
by Jeff Lemire
(2009–2021)
Limited series · 46 issues
4 figs out of 5
The Books of Magic
by Neil Gaiman
(1990–1991)
Mini-series · 4 issues · pre-Vertigo
4 figs out of 5
The Books of Magic
by John Ney Rieber, Peter Gross
(1994–2000)
Ongoing series · 75 issues
4 figs out of 5
American Vampire
by Scott Snyder
(2010–2021)
Ongoing series · 55 issues + specials
4 figs out of 5
Enigma
by Peter Milligan
(1993)
Limited series · 8 issues
4 figs out of 5
We3
by Grant Morrison
(2004)
Mini-series · 3 issues
4 figs out of 5
Daytripper
by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá
(2010)
Limited series · 10 issues
3.5 figs out of 5
The Sheriff of Babylon
by Tom King
(2015–2017)
Limited series · 12 issues
3.5 figs out of 5
Punk Rock Jesus
by Sean Murphy
(2012–2013)
Limited series · 6 issues
3.5 figs out of 5
Human Target
by Peter Milligan
(1999–2005)
Mini-series (4 issues), 1 graphic novel, ongoing series (21 issues)
3.5 figs out of 5
Northlanders
by Brian Wood
(2008–2012)
Ongoing series · 50 issues
3 figs out of 5
Unknown Soldier
by Joshua Dysart
(2008–2010)
Ongoing series · 25 issues
3 figs out of 5
Unknown Soldier
by Garth Ennis
(1997)
Mini-series · 4 issues
3 figs out of 5
The Exterminators
by Simon Oliver
(2006–2008)
Ongoing series · 30 issues
3 figs out of 5
V for Vendetta
by Alan Moore
(1982–1989)
Limited series · 10 issues · pre-Vertigo
3 figs out of 5
Trillium
by Jeff Lemire
(2013–2014)
Limited series · 8 issues
3 figs out of 5
Death: The High Cost of Living
by Neil Gaiman
(1993)
Mini-series · 3 issues
3 figs out of 5
Joe the Barbarian
by Grant Morrison
(2010–2011)
Limited series · 8 issues
3 figs out of 5
Black Orchid
by Neil Gaiman
(1988–1989)
Mini-series · 3 issues · pre-Vertigo
3 figs out of 5
The Wake
by Scott Snyder
(2013–2014)
Limited series · 10 issues
3 figs out of 5
iZombie
by Chris Roberson
(2010–2012)
Ongoing series · 28 issues
3 figs out of 5
Astro City
by Kurt Busiek
(1995–)
Ongoing series · Over 100 issues · Only Volume 3 published in Vertigo
3 figs out of 5
The Losers
by Andy Diggle
(2003–2006)
Ongoing series · 32 issues
3 figs out of 5
House of Secrets
by Steven T. Seagle
(1996–1998)
Ongoing series · 25 issues
3 figs out of 5
Flex Mentallo
by Grant Morrison
(1996)
Mini-series · 4 issues
3 figs out of 5
Kid Eternity
by Grant Morrison
(1991)
Mini-series · 3 issues · pre-Vertigo
3 figs out of 5
Kid Eternity
by Ann Nocenti
(1993–1994)
Ongoing series · 16 issues
3 figs out of 5
Clean Room
by Gail Simone
(2015–2017)
Limited series · 18 issues
3 figs out of 5
The Extremist
by Peter Milligan
(1993)
Mini-series · 4 issues
2.5 figs out of 5
Ex Machina
by Brian K. Vaughan
(2004–2010)
Ongoing series · 50 issues + 4 specials · originally published by Wildstorm
2.5 figs out of 5
Air
by G. Willow Wilson
(2008–2010)
Ongoing series · 24 issues
2.5 figs out of 5
Pride of Baghdad
by Brian K. Vaughan
(2006)
Graphic novel
2.5 figs out of 5
Madame Xanadu
by Matt Wagner
(2008–2011)
Ongoing series · 29 issues
2.5 figs out of 5
Young Liars
by David Lapham
(2008–2009)
Ongoing series · 18 issues
2.5 figs out of 5
Seaguy
by Grant Morrison
(2004–2009)
Mini-series · 6 issues
2.5 figs out of 5
House of Mystery
by Lilah Sturges
(2008–2011)
Ongoing series · 42 issues + 2 specials
2.5 figs out of 5
The Filth
by Grant Morrison
(2002–2003)
Limited series · 13 issues
2.5 figs out of 5
Sebastian O
by Grant Morrison
(1993)
Mini-series · 3 issues
2.5 figs out of 5
Unfollow
by Rob Williams
(2015–2017)
Ongoing series · 18 issues
2.5 figs out of 5
American Virgin
by Steven T. Seagle
(2006–2008)
Ongoing series · 23 issues
2.5 figs out of 5
The Dreaming
by Terry LaBan, Alisa Kwitney, Bryan Talbot, Caitlín R. Kiernan
(1996–2001)
Ongoing series · 60 issues
2.5 figs out of 5
Saucer Country
by Paul Cornell
(2012–2013)
Ongoing series · 14 issues
2.5 figs out of 5
Loveless
by Brian Azzarello
(2005–2008)
Ongoing series · 24 issues
2 figs out of 5
Nevada
by Steve Gerber
(1988)
Limited series · 6 issues
2 figs out of 5
Moonshadow
by J.M. DeMatteis
(1985–1987)
Limited series · 12 issues · pre-Vertigo
2 figs out of 5
Coffin Hill
by Caitlin Kittredge
(2013–2015)
Ongoing series · 20 issues
2 figs out of 5
Kill Your Boyfriend
by Grant Morrison
(1995)
One-shot
2 figs out of 5
Demo
by Brian Wood
(2003–2010)
Limited series · 18 issues · first volume published by AiT/Planet Lar
2 figs out of 5
Face
by Peter Milligan
(1995)
One-shot
2 figs out of 5
Spaceman
by Brian Azzarello
(2011–2012)
Limited series · 9 issues
2 figs out of 5
Swamp Thing
by Rick Veitch
(1987–1989)
Ongoing series run · 23 issues · pre-Vertigo
2 figs out of 5
Uncle Sam
by Steve Darnall
(1997)
Mini-series · 2 issues
2 figs out of 5
Deadenders
by Ed Brubaker
(2000–2001)
Ongoing series · 16 issues
2 figs out of 5