The 25 Best Vertigo Books

Once the list is decided, readers get to view it and a whole new round of debate begins. People are introduced to titles they never knew about. Others make certain their favorites that didn't make the list are known by all with angry emails or impassioned message board rants. Remember, just because a book isn't in our top 25, doesn't mean it's not worth reading. It just means we're idiots and couldn't find a way to fit 40 titles into a list of 25. The list is an origin point for discussion of some of the finest comics of the past two decades. Disagree, debate and most of all -- read some of these books!

Tell us your picks of the 25 Best Vertigo Books. Or you can discuss this and many other topics on our free message board.

Neil Gaiman's lesser-known vertigo miniseries is a coming of age story that connects the origins of DC's plant-based heroes and villains. Black Orchid is a plant-woman, a clone of a dead love reborn with great power. Trapped between the memories of the woman she once was and the mystery of what she has become, the Orchid seeks out those who knew her creator. Among them -- Poison Ivy and Swamp Thing. Also in the mix is a devilish Lex Luthor, who's eager to uncover Black Orchid's secrets. A great companion to Swamp Thing, Black Orchid is a smart and beautifully painted book.

Morrison has proven time and time again that he can take obscure heroes and make them interesting. With Animal Man, he took a b-list DC hero and placed him in the life of an "ordinary" suburban man. Animal Man is a hero tip-toeing the line between fame and disaster. Things aren't so easy, though, as his wife who doesn't want any of this superhero business in her house. Naturally, a man with a special bond to the animal kingdom would also be an outspoken animal rights activist, but as would-be-hero Buddy Baker discovers, there is not definitive right or wrong. Every decision he makes requires some sacrifice of morality. It's a complex world made all the more difficult by the powers and responsibilities bestowed on Animal Man.

The original nine-part miniseries ended with a lot of questions unanswered. Though an unsatisfying sequel followed, Motter and Lark's first stab at sci-fi noir remains a highlight of the genre. Terminal City is a futuristic city that never escaped the '50s. Imagine if the Jetsons and Happy Days crashed into one another. The former Utopia is now a hollow shell of its once glorious days. So to is the life of Cosmo Quinn, the former Human Fly. Terminal City has outgrown the need for daredevils and so the once-great wall-scaler is now a high-rise window washer. When an amnesiac handcuffed to an impenetrable briefcase falls from the sky, Terminal City (and its unique residents) is turned on its head.

Christopher Chance is a master of disguise. He doesn't just play the role of another person, he becomes that person. Chance is a human target, a substitute for those whose lives are in danger. He can master any voice and make himself appear as any person. The problem is, Chance so totally dedicates himself to his roles, he begins to lose touch with his true self. As Chance is drawn deeper into his identities, he begins to question the man in the mirror. Is he going crazy or is even his "real life" not his own? Filled with humor and fantastic action sequences, Human Target is a top-notch psychological thriller.

In the late '80s, Neil Gaiman was tasked with remaking the Golden Age Sandman into a modern-day figure. Suffice to say, in Morpheus he created a whole new entity with little connection to Wesley Dodds. But with the success of Gaiman's Sandman, interest in his Golden Age counter-part produced a new series from Matt Wagner. Set in the '30s, Wagner examines the growing class separation as America falls into the Great Depression. In Wesley Dodds he finds an unexpected hero, who is hardly a strapping obsessive normally accustomed to wearing a mask. Dodd solves mysteries as the Sandman, but more intriguing is watching his tenuous relationship with socialite Dian Belmont blossom. You'll be hard-pressed to find a comic that better illustrates the social climate of the '30s.

Imagine being given 100 untraceable bullets. Each one suddenly has a purpose, each shot has a meaning. You could end 100 lives or you could squander them like a fool. This is the premise behind Brian Azzrello's noir masterpiece. The series shows the lives of a variety of unique characters, eschewing the notions of good and evil and instead focusing on gunslinger morality. Though the characters may come and go, the theme of revenge vs. redemption remains strong throughout. There's no finer crime book, month-to-month than this.

Set, as seemingly every Pope story is, in the not-so-distant future, New York is now a high-tech metropolis. Though it may be the future, little has changed in man's nature. Our hero, S., is addicted to Heavy Liquid, a unique drug that is also art. S searches half the world for an artist that can turn Heavy Liquid into the perfect sculpture. Though his journey is noble, S finds himself battling his own demons and coming to grips with his addiction. Pope peels back the subculture to reveal man's need for love, art and a life beyond normal.

Vertigo is no stranger to strangeness. Few books are odder (or funnier) thank J.M. DeMatteis' crowning achievement, Moonshadow. This utterly bizarre adventure follows a hero from pre-birth to death. Moonshadow leaves earth as a young boy, traveling across the universe with an odd collection of allies. His father, a giant smiley face, may be godly, but he sure acts like any other absent father. Muth's watercolors paint a dreamlike universe perfectly fitting the almost hallucinogenic story. There's plenty of humor and a touch of melancholy in this emotional, but whimsical fairy tale.

Baker's breakout graphic novel is a hilarious look at the shackles of family. Columnist Anne Merkel is unhappy with just about everything in the world. She can't help but complain about every little thing. But her comfortable world of gripes gets a big kick in the behind when Anne's sister shows up on her doorstep in a strange costume claiming to be Queen of the Leather Astro-Girls. The limits of Anne's patience are put to the test with her long-lost sister remaining as a house guest, but could it be that her sister really is an Astro-Girl?

Seagle's semi-autobiographical tale of the struggles with writing Superman is fascinating for a number of reasons. As Seagle questions the relevancy of Superman in the modern world. How can Seagle expect the readers to connect with the Man of Steel when he can't related at all to DC's most notable superhero? It's A Bird... is a smart examination of the Superman mythos with great insight into the creative process. Superman anecdotes spring to life from Seagle's mind as he attempts to find a commonality with an omnipotent space alien. What we gain is a greater understanding of the Last Son of Krypton and a newfound appreciation for the writers tasked with turning Superman into a worthwhile read.

What if Vertigo made the A-Team? That's pretty much the concept behind Andy Diggle's The Losers. Wanted by the CIA, this band of brothers (and sister) decide to turn the table, attempting to blackmail the government into giving them back their lives. The Losers are a bunch of colorful characters, skilled in espionage, and each with a grudge to settle. Along the path to revenge, the Losers find themselves double-crossed at every turn. How do you put your life in your teammates hand when you've learned you can't trust anyone? The action is almost non-stop and Jock's art is as colorful and over-the-top as any high-budget cinema. There may be better Vertigo books, but there's certainly none cooler.

While Vertigo's Books of Magic ongoing series had some high-points, it never came close to the quality of Neil Gaiman's original four-issue miniseries. Tim Hunter is your ordinary boy, but he has the potential for some extraordinary gifts. He has a choice to make -- will he follow the path or magic or will he life a normal life? Visited by four of the universes greatest mages, not all of whom have his best interests at heart, Tim is given a tour of the world of magic. This is Harry Potter before Harry Potter, with Neil Gaiman at the helm and four industry greats providing the art. Will Tim Hunter choose a life of magic?

The three-issue miniseries is somewhat like a Disney movie gone horribly wrong. A trio of house pets -- a rabbit, cat and dog -- have become the subjects of a grotesque military experiment. WE3 have been transformed from cute little animals to incredible weapons of mass destruction. But these three are merely prototypes and their success has made them obsolete. It's time to move on to the next level of production and that means WE3 needs to be decommissioned. That won't be so easy when the trio makes a daring escape. Hunted by the government, their only desire is to find "home," an almost mythical place. Adorable and deadly, WE3 will steal your heart and blow up your house.

John Constantine is so much more than Keanu Reeves can portray. The indignant, Brit magician is one of Vertigo's best characters. Constantine has experience all manner of personal hell. He's nearly died from cancer -- and that was one of his better days. The series has had some low points, but James Delano's original crack set the tone for the character. Garth Ennis did some of his best work in his long stint on Hellblazer. Some of Vertigo's best have taken a crack at Constantine, including Warren Ellis, Mike Carey and Brian Azzarello. That's not bad company to keep.

Spinning off from his popular series Sandman, Death: The High Cost of Living showcases Gaiman's most beloved character. Forget the dark robes and scythe of myth, the true embodiment of death is an ancient Goth girl who loves and respects life more than any other immortal. One day every century, Death must walk the Earth as a human being to gain a better understanding of those she helps transition into the next world. So often Death is portrayed as an imposing figure symbolizing the finality of life. Gaiman's smart enough to offer something more honest, a caring and delightful Death who's insightful and charming. Her purpose is to ease you from one world into the next. With her, this little Endless on the job, dying doesn't seem like such an awful thing.

Set in a totalitarian England, Alan Moore's classic miniseries is eerily relevant to our world today. England's citizens have been stripped of their freedom following the devastation of a recent war. But a man in a porcelain mask wants to change that and his tool is terror. Is a bombing ever a good thing? Even in a country of corruption and evil men? V's acts are seemingly justified by his true origins, which are shocking, disturbing and, frankly, worthy of a Kurt Vonnegut novel. The series itself had a staggered release and the quality gets notably stronger in the second half of the tale.

A love story told across a thousand years, The Fountain is like a last dance that doesn't want to end. Darren Aronofsky's story, based on the original script for the movie, follows one man through three distinct time periods as he attempts to conquer death for his one true love. How much would you sacrifice for the one you love? Would you go so far as to visit a dying star? Aronofsky never over-compensates with unnecessary narrative or dialogue, instead wisely allowing Williams' gorgeous paintings to deliver the emotional potency of each scene. The Fountain is science-fantasy at its best.

Paul Pope can be a bit of a head trip, perhaps too much for the general public. His best work, however, is also his most accessible. 100% takes us into the near future, where sex clubs broadcast the inner workings of the female orgasm to please the clientele. 100% is more about love and inspiration than sex, drugs or politics. Pope's art is dark, but spirited, much like this bittersweet tale of loves won and lost. As with all great science fiction, the technology and future prognostication is merely a vehicle to examine the human condition.

Morrison takes readers on one hell of a wild ride in the seven-volume Invisibles series. The Invisibles are a secret society, who have battled for centuries against our oppressors. The things you see in your day-to-day life, they aren't real. It's just what the few in control want you to see and think and feel. The Invisibles questions every facet of life we take for granted. <part They Live and part Matrix (which came after the comic, coincidentally), this acid-trip is one of the strangest and most fascinating books in the Vertigo line-up. p>

Yorick Brown is the last man on Earth following the sudden death of every other male on the planet. He, along with his helper monkey, must traverse a savage world in search of answers. Why was Yorick spared? Is there a cure for whatever caused this plague? The journey is repeatedly hampered by Yorick's stubborn nature and the conflicting needs of the women of the world. The 60-issue journey is just past the half-way point, but is already one of the strongest series every produced by Vertigo. Vaughan mixes humor with tragedy to create an incredible work that is socially relevant, but also great fun.

Warren Ellis struck gold with his satirical tale of a media-obsessed future. Crack journalist Spider Jerusalem is lured out of his early retirement and convinced to once again experience the s--- life of the city. The pill-popping, body-modding culture is part of a very unpleasant but memorable vision of the future. Ellis provides regular tours of the city, taking us from the highest political stage to the lowest den of ill repute. Corruption is rampant, violence is customary and everyone is more than a tad perverted. Funny, insightful and sometimes shocking, Transmet remains Ellis' crowning achievement in comics.

The nursery rhymes you heard as a child are all true stories. In fact, the characters that populated those stories are living in a forgettable corner of New York City having fled their homelands from a menace known only as The Adversary. That's the premise for Willingham's refreshing and inventive Fables. The true twist is that each Fable is given a heavy dose of humanity and is fraught with bad traits. This is, in a way, what happens when the fairy tale comes to an end. Willingham plays off of our childhood attachments to these fantasy characters and then gives them grit and emotion and vices to spin us on our heads. Though the series is far from complete, it could end tomorrow and have easily earned its place at #4.

God has left the building. And preacher, Jesse Custer, has been granted the voice of the Almighty, allowing him to command anyone to do anything. That is just the tip of the blade for Garth Ennis' unforgettable Preacher. An unforgiving look at faith and hypocrisy, Preacher is overflowing with humor and violence. Its true power comes from its fascinating cast of characters, including the vampire Cassidy. With Heaven, the law and the Saint of Killers in hot pursuit, Custer and crew search for God, hoping He can set things straight. The journey isn't an easy one and Ennis never once pulls a single punch.

There have been some good Swamp Thing runs over the past two decades, including Andy Diggle's recent stint, but none come close to what Moore did. Moore took a b-rate monster and turned him into a complex anti-hero. Moore's Swamp Thing is filled with environmental concerns, psychedelic moments and one very smart and powerful earth elemental. A being that begins as little more than a monster grows quickly to discover incredible power and the strength of love. The crowning moment comes when Swamp Thing ventures to Gotham City in search of his girlfriend. The confrontation with Batman is an unforgettable moment that may not fit perfectly into the context of the series, but defined Swamp Thing's new place among DC's elite.

The choice for #1 was not even close. There is Sandman and then there is everything else. One of the few comics that truly changed the industry, Gaiman's Sandman is as deep as any Alan Moore tale (even Watchmen), but far more accessible and enjoyable. Sandman imagines a world where seven beings, more powerful and long-lived than any god, guard over different emotional and physical states of life. The lord of dreams, Morpheus, experiences the most challenging years of his existence through the ten-volume set.

As Gaiman weaves the tragic story of Morpheus' fall from power, he also brings to life forgotten fairy tales and lost dreams. Sandman is a tribute of the power of human creativity throughout history. It is a testament to great storytelling and one of the finest works in DC's historic library.