For the most part, this timeline includes only books that are set in the Vertigo Universe. Occasional references to other DC titles may be made for the sake of clarity or curiosity value, but generally only where an established Vertigo character appears in a DC Universe title. (Notably, this timeline does not track appearances of Zatanna, Etrigan the Demon, or the Phantom Stranger.) Such volumes are marked with a * preceding the title.

Part 1 of this timeline covers only those books released by DC prior to the beginning of the Vertigo Imprint, with the addition of those that were published later, but set earlier in the continuity.

The Time of Myth:

Books of Faerie: Auberon’s Tale

The Books of Faerie

The Books of Faerie volumes occur outside any reference to human history, but clearly predating any other appearances by these characters.

Sandman: The Dream Hunters

Although the exact dating of this story is never made clear, it is certain that it predates the first Sandman volume.

Historical Times:

Destiny: A Chronicle of Deaths Foretold

Although set in what now appears to be an alternate 2009, the greater part of this book is taken up in flashbacks to recorded historical events, hence its placement here.

Madame Xanadu: Disenchanted

This book includes events from the Arthurian era through to the 1920s.

Chiaroscuro: The Private Lives of Leonardo da Vinci

Although Chiaroscuro has no direct connection to any other DC or Vertigo title, it also poses no contradictions to place it here. Also, Leonardo da Vinci is an ancestor of sometime Vertigo character Zatanna. This title also appears in the 

The Twentieth Century:

Sandman Mystery Theatre: The Tarantula

Sandman Mystery Theatre: The Face & the Brute

Sandman Mystery Theatre: The Vamp

Sandman Mystery Theatre: The Scorpion

Sandman Mystery Theatre: Dr. Death and the Night of the Butcher

Sandman Mystery Theatre: The Hourman and the Python

Madame Xanadu, vol. 2: Exodus Noir

Unlike the Sandman Mystery Theatre volumes, which provide detailed dates, this Madame Xanadu story is harder to place. This placement is tentative pending further information, but works well enough.

Sandman Mystery Theatre: The Mist & the Phantom of the Fair

Swamp Thing: Roots

Madame Xanadu, vol. 3: Broken House of Cards

This story takes place in 1957.

Madame Xanadu, vol. 4: Extra Sensory

This story takes place in 1963.

Swamp Thing: Dark Genesis

This story begins in 1972, but Swampy’s encounter with Batman towards the end of this volume must take place later – presumably, there are longer gaps between individual stories than is apparent.

Swamp Thing: Saga of the Swamp Thing

Swamp Thing: Love and Death

The Mystery Play

Despite being published in 1994, The Mystery Play is actually set ten years earlier, and generally makes more sense if it occurs during the Thatcher years.

Swamp Thing: The Curse

* Crisis on Infinite Earths

Swamp Thing and John Constantine both appear in the Crisis.

Swamp Thing: A Murder of Crows

Includes the issues of Swamp Thing that feature crossovers with Crisis on Infinite Earths

Swamp Thing: Earth to Earth

Swamp Thing: Reunion

Swamp Thing: Regenesis

* Millennium

The first few issues of Regenesis cross over with Millennium.

Swamp Thing: Spontaneous Generation

Hellblazer: Original Sins

Spontaneous Generation and Original Sins crossover with other, but can be read more or less in any order

* Invasion!

Swamp Thing: Infernal Triangles

Animal Man

Infernal Triangles and Animal Man both feature stories connected to Invasion!.

Doom Patrol: Crawling From the Wreckage

This story starts in the aftermath of Invasion!.

The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes

Hellblazer: The Devil You Know

Preludes and Nocturnes and The Devil You Know cross over with each other.

Doom Patrol: The Painting That Ate Paris

Hellblazer: The Fear Machine

Animal Man: Origin of the Species

Doom Patrol: Down Paradise Way

Hellblazer: Family Man

Sandman: The Doll’s House

Doll’s House specifically occurs after Family Man.

Sandman: Dream Country

The Books of Magic

Animal Man: Deus Ex Machina

Doom Patrol: Musclebound

Doom Patrol: Magic Bus

Sandman: Season of Mists

Flex Mentallo: Man of Muscle Mystery

Sandman: A Game of You

The Sandman: Fables and Reflections

Doom Patrol: Planet Love

The final issue of the regular series to be reprinted in this volume was also the last issue before the series became a Vertigo title.

Sandman: Brief Lives

Reprints the first issues of Sandman to bear the Vertigo logo.

Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits

Hellblazer: Bloodlines

Hellblazer: Fear and Loathing

Reprints the first issues of Hellblazer to bear the Vertigo logo.

For the most part, this timeline includes only books that are set in the Vertigo Universe. Occasional references to other DC titles may be made for the sake of clarity or curiosity value, but generally only where an established Vertigo character appears in a DC Universe title. (Notably, this timeline does not track appearances of Zatanna, Etrigan the Demon, or the Phantom Stranger.) Such volumes are marked with a * preceding the title.

Sandman: Brief Lives

Sandman: Worlds’ End

Sandman: The Kindly Ones

Sandman: The Wake

The Dreaming: Beyond the Shores of Night

The Dreaming: Through the Gates of Horn & Ivory

The Sandman: Endless Nights

The Sandman Presents: The Furies

The Sandman Presents: Thessaly – Witch for Hire

Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits

Hellblazer: Bloodlines

Hellblazer: Fear and Loathing

Hellblazer: Tainted Love

Hellblazer: Damnation’s Flame

Hellblazer: Rake at the Gates of Hell

Hellblazer: Son of Man

Hellblazer: Haunted

Hellblazer: Setting Sun

Lucifer: Devil in the Gateway

Hellblazer: Hard Time

Lucifer: Children and Monsters

John Constantine appears in this book, and mentions the events of Hard Time, placing it after that collection.

Lucifer: A Dalliance with the Damned

Lucifer: The Divine Comedy

Lucifer: Inferno

Lucifer: Mansions of the Silence

Lucifer: Exodus

Lucifer: The Wolf Beneath the Tree

Lucifer: Crux

Lucifer: Morningstar

Lucifer: Evensong

Hellblazer: Good Intentions

Hellblazer: Freezes Over

Hellblazer: Highwater

Sandman Mystery Theater: Sleep of Reason

Haunted Tank

Published in 2009, but set in 2003.

* JLA: Strength in Numbers

This JLA collection includes a Gaiman-approved and Morrison-written tale in which the JLA meets the Sandman.

Hellblazer: Red Sepulchre

Hellblazer: Black Flowers

Hellblazer: Papa Midnite

Pape Midnite occurs during Black Flowers, but is best read after.

Hellblazer: Staring at the Wall

John Constantine, Hellblazer: War Lord

Original prose novel by John Shirley.
Takes place about a year after Red Sepulchre.

Hellblazer: All His Engines

Although released later, All His Engines fits in best here so as to not disrupt the ongoing storyline.

Hellblazer: Stations of the Cross

Hellblazer: Reasons to Be Cheerful

Hellblazer: The Gift

Swamp Thing: Bad Seed

Spins out of Staring at the Wall, but is best read here to avoid interrupting Carey’s run.

Hellblazer: Empathy is the Enemy

Hellblazer: The Red Right Hand

Hellblazer: Joyride

Hellblazer: The Laughing Magician

Hellblazer: Roots of Coincidence

John Constantine, Hellblazer: Pandemonium

Hellblazer: Scab

* JSA: Lost

* JSA: Mixed Signals

These two volumes include appearances by Dream and other Sandman characters.

* The Brave and the Bold: Lords of Luck

* The Brave & the Bold: The Book of Destiny

These two volumes include appearances by Destiny and his book.

House of Mystery: Room and Boredom

House of Mystery: Love Stories for Dead People

John Constantine: Hellblazer – City of Demons

John Constantine: Hellblazer – Bloody Carnations

John Constantine, Hellblazer – The Devil’s Trenchcoat