American Vampire Reading Order Guide

Before Scott Snyder became one of DC Comics‘ biggest writers, with a massive run on Batman, he made his name with the Vertigo Comics series American Vampire. Primarily collaborating with Rafael Albuquerque and Dave McCaig, the comic follows the American bloodline of vampires – a breed that’s more vicious and able to withstand sunlight – and their various conflicts.

Though tracking their movements over the span of decades, the comic also explores the evolution of the United States. Readers see the country from the Wild West all the way up to the 1970s and see how it has changed for better or worse.

With American Vampire gearing up for it’s final phase in October, it’s never been a better time to dive into this horror series. Read on to find out how to read American Vampire and its spin-offs in this handy reading order.

What’s the deal with Stephen King’s involvement?

Before diving into the reading order, I thought I would quickly explain Stephen King’s (yep, that Stephen King) involvement with American Vampire. King wrote the back-up stories, based on Scott Snyder’s detailed outlines, in issues #1-5 that explore Skinner Sweet’s origin as the first American Vampire.

Apparently, Snyder contacted King in order to get a pull quote and King liked the idea so much that he wanted a piece of the action.

American Vampire Reading Order

Below is the recommended reading order for American Vampire main series and it’s spin-offs. There are three unique phases in the comic, known as cycles, and these are broken up as such below.

First Cycle

The first cycle includes the original American Vampire series as well as the various spin-off miniseries and one-shots.

American Vampire #1

American Vampire #2

American Vampire #3

American Vampire #4

American Vampire #5

American Vampire #6

American Vampire #7

American Vampire #8

American Vampire #9

American Vampire #10

American Vampire #11

American Vampire #12

American Vampire #13

American Vampire #14

American Vampire #15

American Vampire #16

American Vampire #17

American Vampire #18

American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest #1

American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest #2

American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest #3

American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest #4

American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest #5

Note: American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest is a five-issue spin-off miniseries with art by Sean Murphy. It features Felicia Book and Cash McCogan from issues #6-9.

American Vampire #19

American Vampire #20

American Vampire #21

American Vampire #22

American Vampire #23

American Vampire #24

American Vampire #25

American Vampire #26

American Vampire #27

American Vampire: Lord of Nightmares #1

American Vampire: Lord of Nightmares #2

American Vampire: Lord of Nightmares #3

American Vampire: Lord of Nightmares #4

American Vampire: Lord of Nightmares #5

Note: American Vampire: Lord of Nightmares is another five-issue spin-off miniseries which features Dustin Nguyen on art. It follows Felica Book and The Vassals of the Morning Star in post-war Europe.

American Vampire #29

American Vampire #30

American Vampire #31

American Vampire #32

American Vampire #33

American Vampire #34

American Vampire: Long Road to Hell

American Vampire Anthology #1

Note: American Vampire: Anthology is a special issue which features multiple stories by a range of creators.

Second Cycle

After the end of the first cycle, American Vampire went on a hiatus so that Scott Snyder could focus on high profile comics as DC such as Batman. It did return briefly so an eleven issue series known as American Vampire – Second Cycle.

American Vampire – Second Cycle #1

American Vampire – Second Cycle #2

American Vampire – Second Cycle #3

American Vampire – Second Cycle #4

American Vampire – Second Cycle #5

American Vampire – Second Cycle #6

American Vampire – Second Cycle #7

American Vampire – Second Cycle #8

American Vampire – Second Cycle #9

American Vampire – Second Cycle #10

American Vampire – Second Cycle #11

American Vampire Anthology #2

Third Cycle

After American Vampire – Second Cycle concluded, the series went on another hiatus but will return in October 2020. American Vampire 1976 will conclude the long running series with its nine issue run.

As DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint no longer exists, American Vampire 1976 is published by DC Black Label.

American Vampire 1976 #1

American Vampire 1976 #2

American Vampire 1976 #3

American Vampire 1976 #4

American Vampire 1976 #5

American Vampire 1976 #6

American Vampire 1976 #7

American Vampire 1976 #8

American Vampire 1976 #9

Buy American Vampire comics on…

Collected Editions

If you prefer to read your comics in the collected format, track down the following American Vampire collections.

American Vampire Volume 1
Written by Scott Snyder and Stephen King. Art by Raphael Albuquerque.
Collects: American Vampire #1-5

American Vampire Volume 2
Written by Scott Snyder. Art by Raphael Albuquerque and Mateus Santolouco.
Collects: American Vampire #6-11

American Vampire Volume 3
Written by Scott Snyder. Art by Raphael Albuquerque, Danijel Zezelj, and Sean Murphy.
Collects: American Vampire #12-18 and American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest #1-5

American Vampire Volume 4
Written by Scott Snyder. Art by Raphael Albuquerque and Jordi Bernet.
Collects: American Vampire #19-27

American Vampire Volume 5
Written by Scott Snyder. Art by Raphael Albuquerque and Dustin Nguyen.
Collects: American Vampire: Lord of Nightmares #1-5 and American Vampire #28-34

American Vampire Volume 6
Written by Scott Snyder. Art by Raphael Albuquerque.
Collects: American Vampire: Second Cycle #1-5

American Vampire Volume 7
Written by Scott Snyder, Jason Aaron, Albuquerque, Jeff Lemire, Becky Cloonan, Francesco Francavilla, Gail Simone, Fábio Moon. Gabriel Bá, and Greg Rucka. Art by Raphael Albuquerque, Declan Shalvey, Ivo Milazzo, Ray Fawkes, Becky Cloonan, Francesco Francavilla, Tula Lotay, Fábio Moon, Gabriel Bá, and J.P. Leon.
Collects: American Vampire: Long Road to Hell and American Vampire Anthology

American Vampire Volume 8
Written by Scott Snyder. Art by Raphael Albuquerque.
Collects: American Vampire: Second Cycle #6-11

American Vampire Volume 9
Written by Scott Snyder. Art by Raphael Albuquerque.
Collects: American Vampire 1978 #1-10

The above collections are available in softcover and hardcover (harder to track down) and can be found at all good comic book stores, online stores, eBay, and Amazon/Kindle.

There is also two omnibus editions that collect the entire series.

American Vampire Omnibus Volume 1
Collects: American Vampire #1-27, American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest #1-5, and American Vampire: Lord of Nightmares #1-5

American Vampire Omnibus Volume 2
Collects: American Vampire #28-34, American Vampire: The Long Road to Hell #1, American Vampire: Anthology #1-2, American Vampire: Second Cycle #1-11, and American Vampire 1976 #1-10

DC Comics are also rolling out American Vampire in their new Compact Comics editions too. These are affordable novel-sized graphic collections that retail for $9.99 (USD).

American Vampire (Compact Comics edition) Book One
Collects: American Vampire #1-11

American Vampire is also being published in larger trade paperback editions too. Usually these editions replace the thinner trade paperbacks.

American Vampire Book One
Collects: American Vampire #1-12

Have Your Say!

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