Karen Berger

Karen Berger was born on February 26, 1958, in the United States. She is best known as the founding executive editor of DC Comics' Vertigo imprint, which launched in 1993 and which she helmed until 2013. Berger's path into comics began in the early 1980s, when she joined DC as a freelance reader and quickly rose through the editorial ranks. Her sharp eye for unconventional, mature storytelling became her signature, and she is widely credited with reshaping the landscape of American comics by championing creator-owned work and literary horror, fantasy, and crime.

At Vertigo, Berger was the guiding force behind landmark series such as *Sandman*, *Preacher*, and *Hellblazer*, collaborating closely with writers like Neil Gaiman, Garth Ennis, and Grant Morrison. She co-created the character Death (alongside Gaiman) and oversaw the *Death: The High Cost of Living* special. After leaving DC, she launched Berger Books, an imprint of creator-owned comics at Dark Horse Comics, continuing her legacy of nurturing distinctive voices. Berger has received multiple Eisner Awards for her editorial work, and her influence is felt across generations of comics creators. She remains active in the industry, curating new talent and stories through her imprint.