Given a good homology theory E and a topological space X, the E-homology of X is not just an E_{*}-module but also a comodule over the Hopf algebroid (E_{*}, E_{*}E). We establish a framework for studying the homological algebra of comodules over a well-behaved Hopf algebroid (A, Gamma). That is, we construct the derived category Stable(Gamma) of (A, Gamma) as the homotopy category of a Quillen model structure on the category of unbounded chain complexes of Gamma-comodules. This derived category is obtained by inverting the homotopy isomorphisms, NOT the homology isomorphisms. We establish the basic properties of Stable(Gamma), showing that it is a compactly generated tensor triangulated category. ; Comment: 43 pages