Karen Berger
Encyclopedia
Karen Berger is an American
comic book
editor. She is best known as the Executive Editor of DC Comics
' Vertigo imprint.
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
, 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.
Berger is married to fellow DC employee Richard Bruning
.
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.
in 1990, three Eisner Awards (1992, 1994 and 1995), and the Comics Buyer's Guide Award for Favorite Editor every year from 1997 through 2005.
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
editor. She is best known as the Executive Editor of DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
' Vertigo imprint.
Biography
Berger majored in English literatureEnglish literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
and art history
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
at Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
, and upon her graduation in 1979, she entered the comics profession as an assistant to editor Paul Levitz
Paul Levitz
Paul Levitz is an American comic book writer, editor and executive. The president of DC Comics from 2002–2009, he has worked for the company for over 35 years in a wide variety of roles...
at DC. She later became Levitz's editor when he was writing Legion of Super-Heroes
Legion of Super-Heroes
The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
. More interested in horror comics, she soon became editor of House of Mystery
House of Mystery
The House of Mystery is the name of several horror-mystery-suspense anthology comic book series. It had a companion series, House of Secrets.-Genesis:...
, and was instrumental in nurturing Alan Moore
Alan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
's Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing, a fictional character, is a plant elemental in the created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson. He first appeared in House of Secrets #92 in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century . The Swamp Thing then returned in his own series, set in the contemporary world and in...
book, taking over the editing from co-creator Len Wein
Len Wein
Len Wein is an American comic book writer and editor best known for co-creating DC Comics' Swamp Thing and Marvel Comics' Wolverine, and for helping revive the Marvel superhero team the X-Men...
. She also edited Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld. She later helped bring Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
'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.
Berger is married to fellow DC employee Richard Bruning
Richard Bruning
Richard Bruning is an American graphic designer and comics creator who is currently the Senior Vice-President-Creative Director of DC Comics.-Biography:...
.
In 2007 Berger was named supervising editor (along with Senior Editor Shelly Bond) of Minx
Minx (comics)
Minx was an imprint of DC Comics that published graphic novels aimed at teenage girls. It ran from 2007 to 2008.-History:Minx was announced in November 2006, following several years of planning...
, a new comic book imprint published by DC. Minx published comics and graphic novels aimed at teenage girls until they were cancelled in 2008.
Awards
Berger won the Inkpot AwardInkpot Award
The Inkpot Award, bestowed annually since 1974 by Comic-Con International, is given to some of the professionals in comic book, comic strip, animation, science fiction, and related pop-culture fields, who are guests of that organization's yearly multigenre fan convention, commonly known as...
in 1990, three Eisner Awards (1992, 1994 and 1995), and the Comics Buyer's Guide Award for Favorite Editor every year from 1997 through 2005.