Where to Start with Brian K. Vaughan
For readers new to Brian K. Vaughan (often referred to by fans as BKV), the sheer scope of his award-winning bibliography can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, BKV's major works are standalone universes, meaning you do not need to worry about overlapping continuities between his top series. The best way to dive in depends on your favorite genre:
- For Space Opera & Fantasy Fans: Start with Saga. It is BKV’s magnum opus, blending star-crossed romance, intergalactic war, and a deeply emotional family journey.
- For Post-Apocalyptic Thrills: Start with Y: The Last Man. A classic completed epic exploring a world where every mammal with a Y chromosome suddenly dies, save for one young man and his pet monkey.
- For Time-Travel & Nostalgia: Start with Paper Girls. Think Stranger Things meets Terminator, following four suburban paper delivery girls caught in a chronological war.
- For Politically Charged Sci-Fi: Start with Ex Machina. It follows the world's first real-life superhero who gets elected Mayor of New York City in the shadow of 9/11.
Saga Reading Order
Co-created with artist Fiona Staples, Saga is a continuous narrative that should strictly be read in numerical order. It is currently published in two primary formats: standard Trade Paperbacks (Volumes) and oversized Deluxe Hardcovers (Books).
Standard Trade Paperbacks (Volumes)
If you prefer standard trade paperbacks, read them in this order. Note that the series took a creative hiatus between Volume 9 and Volume 10.
- Saga, Volume 1 (2012)
- Saga, Volume 2 (2013)
- Saga, Volume 3 (2014)
- Saga, Volume 4 (2014)
- Saga, Volume 5 (2015)
- Saga, Volume 6 (2016)
- Saga, Volume 7 (2017)
- Saga, Volume 8 (2017)
- Saga, Volume 9 (2018)
- Saga, Volume 10 (2022)
- Saga, Volume 11 (2023)
- Saga, Volume 12 (2025)
Deluxe Hardcovers (Books)
For collectors, the Deluxe Hardcovers collect 18 issues each (the equivalent of three trade paperbacks per book). They should be read in this sequence:
- Saga Deluxe Edition: Book One (Collects Volumes 1–3)
- Saga Deluxe Edition: Book Two (Collects Volumes 4–6)
- Saga Deluxe Edition: Book Three (Collects Volumes 7–9)
- Saga Deluxe Edition: Book Four (Collects Volumes 10–12)
Y: The Last Man Reading Order
Illustrated by Pia Guerra, this Hugo Award-winning series is fully completed. Because the story follows a linear quest across the globe, it must be read sequentially. Readers can choose between standard paperbacks, Deluxe editions, or a single massive omnibus.
Standard Trade Paperbacks
- Vol. 1: Unmanned (2003)
- Vol. 2: Cycles (2003)
- Vol. 3: One Small Step (2004)
- Vol. 4: Safeword (2004)
- Vol. 5: Ring of Truth (2005)
- Vol. 6: Girl on Girl (2005)
- Vol. 7: Paper Dolls (2006)
- Vol. 8: Kimono Dragons (2006)
- Vol. 9: Motherland (2007)
- Vol. 10: Whys and Wherefores (2008)
Alternative Collections
- Y: The Last Man Deluxe Editions: A five-volume hardcover collection compiling the entire 60-issue run. Read numerically from Volume 1 to Volume 5.
- Y: The Last Man Omnibus: A single, comprehensive volume containing all 60 issues of the series.
Paper Girls Reading Order
Co-created with artist Cliff Chiang, Paper Girls is a completed time-travel adventure. While the characters jump back and forth through various historical eras (including 1988, 2016, and the far future), you should follow the publication order to understand the character development and unfolding mystery.
Standard Trade Paperbacks
- Paper Girls, Vol. 1 (2016)
- Paper Girls, Vol. 2 (2016)
- Paper Girls, Vol. 3 (2017)
- Paper Girls, Vol. 4 (2018)
- Paper Girls, Vol. 5 (2018)
- Paper Girls, Vol. 6 (2019)
Omnibus Edition
- Paper Girls: The Complete Story (2021) – This single trade paperback collects the entire 30-issue series.
Ex Machina Reading Order
Combining superhero action with political drama, Ex Machina (with artist Tony Harris) is a completed 50-issue epic. Like BKV's other works, it is best read in simple numerical order.
Standard Trade Paperbacks
- Vol. 1: The First Hundred Days (2005)
- Vol. 2: Tag (2005)
- Vol. 3: Fact v. Fiction (2006)
- Vol. 4: March to War (2006)
- Vol. 5: Smoke, Smoke (2007)
- Vol. 6: Power Down (2007)
- Vol. 7: Ex Cathedra (2008)
- Vol. 8: Dirty Tricks (2009)
- Vol. 9: Ring Out the Old (2010)
- Vol. 10: Term Limits (2010)
Deluxe Hardcovers
- Ex Machina: The Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1 (2008)
- Ex Machina: The Deluxe Edition, Vol. 2 (2009)
- Ex Machina: The Deluxe Edition, Vol. 3 (2010)
- Ex Machina: The Deluxe Edition, Vol. 4 (2010)
- Ex Machina: The Deluxe Edition, Vol. 5 (2011)
Runaways (Marvel Era) Reading Order
Before launching his major indie hits, BKV co-created Runaways for Marvel Comics alongside artist Adrian Alphona. It follows a group of teenagers who discover their parents are supervillains. To read BKV's specific contribution to this franchise, look for the Runaways: The Complete Collection editions. BKV wrote the first major era of the series before passing the torch to Joss Whedon.
- Vol. 1 (2015 Complete Collection / Originally 2004): Collects the entire initial 18-issue run and the first 6 issues of the relaunch.
- Vol. 2 (2015 Complete Collection / Originally 2006): Collects issues #7–18 of the relaunch, completing BKV's core storylines.
- Vol. 3 (2015 Complete Collection): Collects issues #19–30. Note that BKV wrote up to issue #24, with Joss Whedon taking over writing duties from issue #25 onward.
- Vol. 4 (2015 Complete Collection): Collects issues #31-38, written by Terry Moore and Kathryn Immonen. Read this if you want to follow the characters beyond BKV's original era.
Standalones, Graphic Novels, and Collaborations
If you are looking for shorter, self-contained stories by Brian K. Vaughan, these works are highly recommended and can be read at any time:
- Pride of Baghdad (2006): A critically acclaimed, standalone graphic novel inspired by the true story of a pack of lions that escaped from the Baghdad Zoo during an American bombing raid in 2003. Illustrated by Niko Henrichon.
- We Stand On Guard (2016): A standalone military sci-fi story featuring giant robots, set in a future where the United States invades Canada. Illustrated by Steve Skroce.
- The Private Eye (2015): Originally published digitally on Panel Syndicate, this futuristic detective story examines a world without the internet where privacy is protected at all costs. Co-created with Marcos Martín.
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8 (Vol. 2: No Future for You): BKV joined Joss Whedon's canonical comic continuation of Buffy, writing the highly praised Faith-centric arc in issues #6–10.
- The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist (2004–2006): BKV contributed several stories to this anthology series, based on the fictional superhero created in Michael Chabon’s novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.