US publisher Fantagraphics have been publishing the Love and Rockets series by the Hernandez brothers for over 40 years – and there’s a lot to read!
If you’re not sure where to start reading this epic series, head to the Fantagraphics blog for a handy guide. If you’ve read The Love Bunglers, Hypnotwist/Scarlet By Starlight, or another book by Gilbert or Jaime Hernandez, and are Love and Rockets-curious but don’t know where the Love and Rockets reading order begins, this article is the perfect primer.
Or maybe you’ve heard of Love and Rockets and its long history, but aren’t sure what to make of the myriad omnibuses, collected editions, and comic books out there. What’s a new Love and Rockets reader to do?
Of course, the answer is pretty simple: start with the Love and Rockets Library series, which, for British fans, is also available to order from your Local Comic Shop, or online stores like AmazonUK (Affiliate Link).
This affordable series of trade paperbacks starts at the very beginning of Love and Rockets Volume I from 1982 and collects all of Jaime and Gilbert’s Love and Rockets work more or less chronologically.


“Start with Jaime’s Maggie the Mechanic and Gilbert’s Heartbreak Soup, and you’re on your way to enjoying two of the great bodies of work in comics history,” Fantagraphics suggest. “If you want to jump right into today’s newest stories, start with Love and Rockets Volume IV, our ongoing comic book series.”
The article offers plenty of entry points and suggestions, but what if you’re already set to take the plunge and begin your journey into one of the most celebrated comics series of all time?
Then visit the publisher’s Love and Rockets comics page to get started, or, as noted above, head to your Local Comic Shop, or online stores like AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) to join the fun!
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
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