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Books of Magic Reading Order, The Adventures of Tim Hunter

Launched in 1991 by Vertigo with a miniseries, The Books of Magic is a creation of Neil Gaiman (with artists John Bolton, Scott Hampton, Charles Vess, and Paul Johnson). Contrary to some beliefs, it was not developed as a spin-off of The Sandman, even if the Endless appeared in it. DC Comics commissioned it as a way to highlight the already existing mystical characters in its universe.

The original miniseries introduced us to Timothy Hunter, a twelve-year-old boy who could be the most powerful magician in the world (a character inspired by T. H. White’s The Once and Future King and other classic fantasy stories). The question is: does he really want to be? To find the answer, Tim goes on a trip through the magical world, guided by John Constantine, Phantom Stranger, Mister E, and Doctor Occult, a group of magicians (aka the Trenchcoat Brigade). They want to aid Timothy in his decision.

Once the original Books of Magic miniseries concluded, the story continued with an ongoing 75-issue series written by John Ney Rieber (who penned the first 50 issues) and illustrated by Gary Amaro, Peter Gross, and Peter Snejbjerg. We reconnected with Tim when an enigmatic man named Tamlin decided that he was the key to saving the dying world of Faerie. But exactly how is Tim supposed to do that? And who is Tamlin? Read the book to discover the answers!

After that, Tim Hunter went through what most DC Comics characters have to deal with, from relaunches to alternate versions. He grew up, then later came back to being a 12-year-old boy. It’s a magical life after all. 

Books of Magic Reading Order

  1. Books of Magic: The Omnibus Collection
  2. Books of Magic: The Paperback Collection
  3. Books of Magic: The Issue-by-Issue Guide

Books of Magic Reading Order: The Omnibus Collection

Like with a lot of Vertigo-era comic books, it may be hard to find trade paperback collected editions of the Books of Magic, but everything has been reprinted in an omnibus collection.

Those three big volumes do not collect the more recent Books of Magic series relaunch in the New Sandman Universe.

  • The Books of Magic Omnibus Vol. 1
    Collects The Books of Magic #1-32, The Children’s Crusade #1-2, Vertigo Gallery: Dreams and Nightmares #1, Vertigo Preview #1, Vertigo Visions – Doctor Occult #1, Who’s Who #15, Arcana Annual #1, Mister E #1-4, and The Books of Faerie: Auberon’s Tale #1-3
  • The Books of Magic Omnibus Vol. 2
    Collects The Books of Magic #33-75, The Books of Magic Annual #1-3, The Books of Faerie #1-3, Vertigo: Winter’s Edge #1-3, Hellblazer: Books of Magic #1-2, Books of Faerie: Molly’s Story #1-4, and Vertigo Secret Files: Hellblazer #1.
  • The Books of Magic Omnibus Vol. 3
    Collects The Trenchcoat Brigade #1-4, The Names of Magic #1-5, Hunter: The Age of Magic #1-25, and Books of Magick: Life During Wartime #1-15. 

Books of Magic Reading Order: The Paperback Collection

This next part is very incomplete. A lot has not been collected in this format and can only be found in the omnibuses. This is not the recommended road to follow if you want to read the complete series, but if you put your hands on those books, here is the order to read them. 

Tim Hunter in the New Sandman Universe

In 2018, when Neil Gaiman launched a new Sandman Universe imprint, The Books of Magic was partially rebooted (by writer Kat Howard). Timothy Hunter is back to being a 12-year-old boy destined to be the world’s most powerful magician who has to learn how to control his burgeoning abilities, as well as figure out whom he can trust—and who wants him dead. Even if it was somewhat of a fresh start, past events were referenced.

Books of Magic Reading Order: Issue by Issue

The original Books of Magic ongoing series was punctuated with other miniseries. There was even a two-issue crossover miniseries with Hellblazer. Once it concluded, Tim’s story continued in a five-part miniseries by Dylan Horrocks called Names of Magic that opened the way for a new ongoing series, Hunter and the Age of Magic.

  • Vertigo Rave #1 – “The Lot”
  • The Books of Faerie: Auberon’s Tale #1-3
  • The Books of Magic #26-33
  • Vertigo Winter’s Edge #1 – “Thanks for Nothing”
  • The Books of Magic Annual #1
  • The Books of Magic Ongoing Series #36-50
  • Vertigo Winter’s Edge #2 – “We Three Things”
  • The Books of Magic Annual #3
  • The Books of Magic #61
  • The Books of Magic #62-67
  • Vertigo Winter’s Edge #3 – “Waiting For Good Dough”
  • The Hellblazer/Books of Magic #1-2
  • The Trenchcoat Brigade #1-4
  • Hunter and the Age of Magic #1-25

An alternate Tim Hunter was introduced in 2004 with Si Spencer’s 15-issue series called “The Books of Magick: Life During Wartime.” Another version of Timothy was also created during the New 52 era in a Justice League Dark storyline.

  • Books of Magick: Life During Wartime #1-15

Following the company-wide DC reboot in 2011 (the New 52 publishing initiative), Tim Hunter made an appearance in the Justice League Dark title, which is not part of the Vertigo series.

  • Justice League Dark #11-18.

Tim Hunter in the New Sandman Universe

  • The Sandman Universe #1
  • Books of Magic #1-23

In recent years, Tim Hunter made what barely qualified as cameo appearances in Batman vs. Robin #1 and Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 & Omega #1, next to other members of the magic community.

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