30 Day Of Night Reading Order Guide

Back in 2002, I don’t think anyone predicted that 30 Days of Night would be an indie hit. It began its life as a rejected screenplay by writer Steve Niles, but found a new life when Niles teamed up with artist Ben Templesmith at the relatively new IDW Publishing. However, the concept of vampires attacking a remote Alaskan town during a period of 30 days of darkness became a hit. The concept and Templesmith’s surreally splattered artwork appealed to horror and comics fans alike, becoming a hit. In the subsequent years, 30 Days of Night has spawned numerous comic sequels, crossovers, and a reboot, as well as being adapted into two films.

This reading order will guide you through the various 30 Days of Night comics so you can focus on reading the vampire action. Not only does it highlight the recommended order, but it also highlights the different collected formats and other helpful advice, so you can focus on reading and spend less time figuring things out.

30 days of Night movie poster.

Are the 30 Days of Night comics different from the movies?

Many people discovered 30 Days of Night through the film adaptations of the comics. If you’re one of those people, you might be wondering how the comics and films are different. The 2007 30 Days of Night movie is faithful to the comic in broad strokes. However, there are a few differences, mostly the relationship dynamics between Eban and Stella.

30 Days of Night: Dark Days is a straight-to-video sequel with a reduced budget. As a result, it is less ambitious and strays further from the source material.

Where to start reading 30 Days of Night

It might sound obvious, but the best place to start reading 30 Days of Night is with the original 2002 three-issue series. 30 Days of Night #1-3 are the pillars for everything else to come, with future stories referring back to or expanding upon these issues. As a result, you’ll want to read this to get the base knowledge before going into any of the sequels.

For reading the sequels, the “reading order” section provides guidance on what to read next. The sequels vary in quality. Due to this, it’s best to read it up until the point you’ve decided you’ve had enough.

Where to find 30 Days of Night comics

30 Days of Night can be found at all good comic book shops, online retailers, eBay, and Amazon/Kindle.

You may also be able to find copies at you local library.

30 Days of Night trade paperback cover by Ben Templesmith.

Reading order

Below is the recommended 30 Days of Night reading order for anyone who wants to read all the comics. I have broken it out in three sections – original run, crossovers, and reboot – to help differentiate the different types of comics.

Original run

Below is the recommended reading order for the various 30 Days of Night miniseries that form the original run.

It’s worth noting that some of the below collections are out of print. However, many of these stories have been collected in the deluxe editions (see below). Alternatively, they’re available digitally or affordably on eBay.

30 Days of Night
Written by Steve Niles. Art by Ben Templesmith.
Collects: 30 Days of Night #1-3

30 Days of Night: Dark Days
Written by Steve Niles. Art by Ben Templesmith.
Collects: 30 Days of Night: Dark Days #1-6

Note: 30 Days of Night: Dark Days is a direct sequel to 30 Days of Night.

30 Days of Night Annual 2004
Written by Steve Niles. Art by Ben Templesmith, Szymon Kudranski, Brandon Hovet, and Josh Medors.

Note: 30 Days of Night feature four short stories featuring the original creative team and a slew of newcomers. This was Szymon Kudranski first US published work. He would go onto make a name for himself illustrating Spawn, The Punisher, and his own creator-owned series.

30 Days of Night: Eben and Stella
Written by Steve Niles and Kelly Sue DeConnick. Art by Justin Randall.
Collects: 30 Days of Night: Eben and Stella #1-4

Note: 30 Days of Night: Eben and Stella is the seventh miniseries, released after 30 Days of Night: Spreading the Disease. However, it is set directly after 30 Days of Night: Dark Days.

30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow
Written by Steve Niles. Art by Ben Templesmith.
Collects: 30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow #1-6

Note: 30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow is the third miniseries, set three years after the original series. It features early work by Kelly Sue DeConnick.

30 Days of Night: Bloodsucker Tales
Written by Steve Niles and Matt Fraction. Art by Kody Chamberlain and Ben Templesmith.
Collects: 30 Days of Night: Bloodsucker Tales #1-8

Note: 30 Days of Night: Bloodsucker Tales is an eight issue series that consists of two stories. The first four issues feature a story called ‘Dead Billy Dead’ by Steve Niles and Kody Chamberlain. Issues 5 to 8 serialise ‘Jaurez or Lex Nova & the Case of the 400 Dead Mexican Girls’ by Matt Fraction (one of his earliest works) and Ben Templesmith. These tales don’t add to the overarching story but are vampire tales set in the comic’s world.

30 Days of Night: Three Tales
Written by Steve Niles and Dan Wickline. Art by Nat Jones and Milx.
Collects: 30 Days of Night Annual 2025, 30 Days of Night: Dead Space #1-3, and 30 Days of Night: Picking up the Pieces

Note: The material written by Steve Niles reintroduces characters featured in 30 Days of Night: Dark Days and 30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow. 30 Days of Night: Dead Space is a story about a vampire on board a shuttle to the International Space Station.

30 Days of Night: Spreading the Disease
Written by Dan Wickline. Art by Alex Sanchez and Tony Sandoval.
Collects: 30 Days of Night: Spreading the Disease #1-5

Note: 30 Days of Night: Spreading the Disease picks up on threads of 30 Days of Night: Dead Space and build upon the established vampire elements from previous stories.

30 Days of Night: Red Snow
Written and art by Ben Templesmith.
Collects: 30 Days of Night: Red Snow #1-3

Note: 30 Days of Night co-creator Ben Templesmith goes solo with this miniseries set on the Russian-front in 1941.

30 Days of Night: Beyond Barrow
Written Steve Niles. Art by Bill Sienkiewicz.
Collects: 30 Days of Night: Beyond Barrow #1-3

Note: Bill Sienkiewicz adds his surreal style to this three-issue miniseries that sees a billionaire adventurer relocate to Barrow to see if the vampire attacks are real.

30 Days of Night: 30 Days ‘Til Death
Written and art by David Lapham.
Collects: 30 Days of Night: 30 Days ‘Til Death #1-4

Note: David Lapham goes solo for a miniseries that sees the European High Council of Vampires setting an order to eliminate the “cowboy vampires” that have caused havoc since the original attack of Barrow in the first 30 Days of Night story.

30 Days of Night: Night, Again
Written Joe R. Lansdale. Art by Sam Kieth.
Collects: 30 Days of Night: Night, Again #1-4

Note: 30 Days of Night: Night, Again is a standalone story of vampires and Nazi-monster action and suspense.

30 Days of Night Volume 1: Beginning of the End
Written by Steve Niles. Art by Sam Kieth.
Collects: 30 Days of Night (2011 series) #1-4

30 Days of Night Volume 2: Blood-Stained Looking Glass
Written by Steve Niles. Art by Sam Kieth.
Collects: 30 Days of Night (2011 series) #5-8

30 Days of Night Volume 3: Run, Alice, Run Volume 3
Written by Steve Niles. Art by Sam Kieth.
Collects: 30 Days of Night (2011 series) #9-12

Note: The 2011 30 Days of Night series ran for 12 issues and was collected in three trade paperback collections.

30 Days of Night: Falling Sun
Written by Rodney Barnes. Art by Chris Shehan.
Collects: 30 Days of Night: Falling Sun #1-3

Note: 30 Days of Night returned in 2025-2026 with 30 Days of Night: Falling Sun as part of the IDW Dark imprint. This miniseries picks up two decades after the original series and is a good one to pick up if you have only read the original series.

Buy 30 Days of Night on…

30 Days of Night (2017 series) trade paperback cover by Piotr Kowalski and Aurore Folny.

Reboot

Steve Niles returned to 30 Days of Night in 2017 to redo the original story. This reimagined version is expanded to six issues, instead of the original’s three.

30 Days of Night
Written by Steve Niles. Art by Piotr Kowalski.
Collects: 30 Days of Night (2017 series) #1-6

The X-Files/30 Days of Night cover.

Crossovers

30 Days of Night has crossed over with other properties. These are non-canon and mostly out of print.

The X-Files/30 Days of Night
Written by Steve Niles and Adam Jones. Art by Tom Mandrake.
Collects: The X-Files/30 Days of Night #1-6

Note: Just before IDW Publishing acquired the rights to publish The X-Files comics in the early 2010s, they collaborated with Wildstorm Comics, who held the rights at the time, in 2010-2011 for this crossover. It sees sees Mulder and Scully investigate Barrow and the rumours of vampires.

Infestation 2: 30 Days of Night
Written by Duane Swierczynski. Art by Stuart Sayger.

Note: This one-shot is part of IDW Publishing’s Infestation 2 crossover.

Criminal Macabre: Final Night – The 30 Days of Night
Written by Steve Niles. Art by Christopher Mitten.
Collects: Criminal Macabre: Final Night – The 30 Days of Night #1-4

Note: Criminal Macabre: Final Night – The 30 Days of Night is a crossover with Criminal Macabre, Steve Nile’s other well-known comic book series that was running at the time. Dark Horse Comics has reprinted this crossover series in Criminal Macabre Omnibus Volume 3.

30 Days of Night Deluxe Book One cover by Ben Templesmith.

Deluxe editions

The deluxe editions of 30 Days of Night are comprehensive hardcover collections that collect multiple stories. They also include a bunch of extra material.

As of writing, there are three deluxe edition volumes. However, it’s likely IDW will continue to publish more in the future.

30 Days of Night Deluxe Book One
Collects: 30 Days of Night #1-3, 30 Days of Night: Dark Days #1-6, 30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow #1-6, and 30 Days of Night Annual 2004

30 Days of Night Deluxe Book Two
Collects: 30 Days of Night: Bloodsuckers Tales #1-8, 30 Days of Night Annual 2025, 30 Days of Night: Dead Space #1-3, 30 Days of Night: Picking up the Pieces, and 30 Days of Night: Spreading the Disease #1-5

30 Days of Night Deluxe Book Three
Collects: 30 Days of Night: Eben and Stella #1-4, 30 Days of Night: Red Snow #1-3, 30 Days of Night: Beyond Barrow #1-3

Buy 30 Days of Night Deluxe Editions on…

30 Days of Night Omnibus Volume 1 cover by Ben Templesmith.

Omnibus editions

IDW published 30 Days of Night in softcover omnibus editions in 2017. It’s worth noting that the they didn’t get too far with this format, only publishing two volumes, which are both out of print.

They are not available digitally, but Volume 1 can be found at a decent price on eBay. Volume 2, less so.

The material differs slightly to the deluxe editions, skipping some material in favour of others.

30 Days Of Night Omnibus Volume 1
Collects: 30 Days of Night #1-3, 30 Days of Night: Dark Days #1-6, and 30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow #1-6

30 Days Of Night Omnibus Volume 2
Collects: 30 Days of Night: Bloodsuckers Tales #1-8, 30 Days of Night: Eben and Stella #1-4, 30 Days of Night: Red Snow #1-3, and 30 Days of Night: Beyond Barrow #1-3

Have your say

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