Karen Berger

Karen Berger
Born Karen Berger
February 26, 1958
Nationality American
Area(s) Writer, Editor
Awards "Best Editor" Eisner Award (1992, 1994 and 1995)

Karen Berger (born February 26, 1958) is an American comic book editor. She is best known as the Executive Editor of DC Comics' Vertigo imprint.

Biography

Berger majored in English literature and art history at Brooklyn College, and upon her graduation in 1979, she entered the comics profession as an assistant to editor Paul Levitz at DC. She later became Levitz's editor when he was writing Legion of Super-Heroes. More interested in horror comics, she soon became editor of House of Mystery,[1] and was instrumental in nurturing Alan Moore's Swamp Thing book, taking over the editing from co-creator Len Wein. She also edited Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld. She later helped bring Neil Gaiman's work to a mass audience by having him write The Sandman.

The success of these titles, and her willingness to help the writers who worked with her push the envelope of what could be done in mass-circulation comic books, led to the creation of the mature-reader Vertigo line in 1993. Her critically and popularly successful titles under that imprint include Fables, Hellblazer, The Invisibles, 100 Bullets, Preacher, V for Vendetta, and Y: The Last Man.

Berger is married to Richard Bruning,[2] who also formerly worked at DC.

In 2007 Berger was named supervising editor (along with Senior Editor Shelly Bond) of Minx, a new comic book imprint published by DC. Minx published comics and graphic novels aimed at teenage girls until they were cancelled in 2008.[3]

On December 3, 2012, she announced that she would be stepping down from her post as Executive Editor & Senior Vice President of DC Entertainment’s Vertigo imprint and that she would remain on through March 2013 to assist in the transition to a new editorial team.[4]

Awards

Berger won the Inkpot Award in 1990, three Eisner Awards (1992,[5] 1994[6] and 1995[7]), and the Comics Buyer's Guide Award for Favorite Editor every year from 1997 through 2005.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Irvine, Alex (2008). "House of Mystery". In Dougall, Alastair. The Vertigo Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley. p. 88. ISBN 0-7566-4122-5. OCLC 213309015.
  2. ↑ "Chains of command unfolding at DC" by Heidi MacDonald for The Beat, February 18, 2010. Accessed February 18, 2010.
  3. ↑ Schneider, Karl (2006-11-29). "DC to launch "Minx" comic for girls". Mania: Beyond Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  4. ↑ "Karen Berger Steps Down as Vertigo Executive Editor, SVP". 2012-12-03. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
  5. ↑ 1992 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees and Winners at the Comic Book Awards Almanac
  6. ↑ 1994 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees and Winners at the Comic Book Awards Almanac
  7. ↑ 1995 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees and Winners at the Comic Book Awards Almanac

External links