Vertigo was once a huge name in the world of comics. Vertigo was an imprint of DC Comics that came about as a way for DC to publish more mature books. After the success of several darker stories in the 80s, DC decided they needed a way to distinguish their adult content from their mainline books, and Vertigo was born. The imprint sold multiple successful comics, like The Sandman, Preacher and Fables. Many fans view the '90s and early 2000s as the golden era for Vertigo. While many of the imprint's biggest books did come from this period, they still had success beyond it.

It is largely agreed that Vertigo began winding down in the 2010s after John Constantine and Swamp Thing (two of the imprint's biggest characters) were brought to the DC universe. However, the imprint continued for many years after and kept publishing great stories. While it is currently defunct, Vertigo's spirit is carried on by DC's new mature line: DC Black Label. However, there are still plenty of wonderful stories from the twilight years of Vertigo. Whether it be the final misadventures of fan-favorite characters, new bewitching tales of horror, or spine-tingling mystery, Vertigo after 2010 had much to offer.

10 Hellblazer: City of Demons

A Farewell to Constantine

The Hellblazer books are one of the most popular comics from Vertigo. The comic stars John Constantine as the titular Hellblazer, an amoral warlock who repels the forces of Hell by any means necessary. City of Demons was the last Hellblazer title to be released by Vertigo.

Constantine was moved to the DC universe with Swamp Thing in 2012, where he became one of the most powerful magicians. Unfortunately, this meant that the Hellblazers's books lost some of the dark, moody tone, art style, and mature edge that they were known for with Vertigo. Luckily, DC Black Label has since begun experimenting with the character.

9 Django/Zorro

Two Western Heroes Team Up

Crossover stories are the bread and butter of comic books. Often, this just means characters from the same universe team up to fight evil, like the Justice League or Avengers. However, it can also lead to wild combinations, like Django and Zorro crossing paths.

Django/Zorro is an awesome western starring both characters on a mission to free an aboriginal population from slavery. The story highlights the strengths of both characters, with Zorro's status as a masked champion of the oppressed and Django's history of standing against slavery in all forms. The story was originally meant to be a film but makes an awesome comic as well.

8 Bodies

Time-bending Mystery Madness

It's easy to forget that DC got its start with detective stories despite still carrying the name "Detective Comics." However, Vertigo's Bodies realigns the brand with incredible mysteries. Written by Si Spencer and drawn by a variety of incredible artists, this is a detective story for the ages.

Bodies is actually four interwoven stories set throughout history. Each story follows a detective in a different era: 1890, 1940, 2014, and 2050, respectively. Each detective struggles with the societal pressures of their day while attempting to solve a mystery. The kicker? Each detective is investigating the same victim, who has appeared in each time period with the same apparent cause of death.

7 American Vampire

A Reimagining of a Classic Myth

Vampires and their mythology are some of the oldest and most popular stories out there. From Dracula to Twilight, there are an incalculable number of iconic bloodsuckers haunting fiction. Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque's American Vampire sought to add another and did so to great success.

Titans of their respective industries co-created American Vampire, making it an all-star title. The story follows Skinner Sweet and his vampiric progeny, Pearl, the first of the American vampires. Unlike their traditional cousins, these creatures are stronger, faster, and impervious to sunlight, although they have other weaknesses. The result is a new take on a classic character.

6 Coffin Hill

A Witchy Take on Horror

Coffin Hill is a perfectly creepy tale of Witches, blood sacrifice, and dark magic. Created by the dark fantasy author Caitlin Kittredge, the series is steeped in black magic and intrigue, much like the sleepy New England towns it is set in.

Coffin Hill follows Eve Coffin, the heir of the Coffin family. Her entire bloodline has been cursed with darkness, and as a young woman, Eve embraced that power. This led to the disappearance of her best friend and subsequent disappearances. Now an adult, Eve must return to her hometown and set things right.

5 Sweet Tooth

Post-Apocalyptic Adventure Done Well

Sweet Tooth is a pretty different take on the fantasy and post-apocalyptic genres. The story is set in middle America after a virus has ravished the population and caused all children to be born as human-animal hybrids. The main character, Gus, is a deer-boy hybrid attempting to find a legendary safe-have for his kind.

Sweet Tooth is an iconic Vertigo title that received a sequel a few years back and was recently adapted into a Netflix show. It has amazing art and a gripping story, making it a must-read for any indie comic fan looking for something a little different.

4 Clean Room

Cultic Horror Done Masterfully Well

Gail Simone is one of the best comic book writers, consistently delivering moving and enjoyable books no matter the genre. Clean Room is her take on horror, and it's a good one. It explores the realm of modern-day business-cults in a uniquely terrifying fashion.

Clean Room follows the adventures of Chloe Pierce, a young woman whose fiance has committed suicide. His death is wrapped up in the Honest World Foundation, a cultish group that has some pretty dark secrets. With an awesome twist and Simone's usual panache, this is an enjoyable (and disturbing) read.

3 The Wake

Underwater Mysteries and Creepy Mermaids

The ocean is one of the scariest places on the planet. Humanity has only discovered a fraction of what it holds. The Wake explores exactly what hasn't been discovered below the waves but does so with an eerie paranormal twist.

Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Sean Murphy, The Wake follows a group of scientists studying a real-life merman. However, the creature is a bit more animalistic and powerful than Ariel. The result is a gripping story exploring folklore, biology, and humankind's relationship with the natural world.

2 Saucer Country

An Alien Invasion with Political Intrigue

Stories of aliens and alien abductions have haunted American mythology since the mid-twentieth century. While there have been many stories from folks claiming to have been taken by extraterrestrials, none of these rumors have ever been substantiated and are often dismissed outright. Saucer Country turns this concept on its head.

Saucer Country follows Arcadia Alvarado, the New Mexico governor poised to run for President. However, she wakes up one day sure that she has been abducted by aliens. Alvarado and her team decided to seriously investigate this abduction, resulting in a slick and engaging story about how mythology meets reality.

1 Daytripper

A Dreamy Story That Wears Its Influence Proudly