Sad news to report, Karen Berger is leaving Vertigo after being there for almost two decades. Not really surprising with characters that had become popular under the imprint (Animal Man, Swamp Thing, John Constantine) being integrated into the New 52, Vertigo has been gutted. Few titles that remain include AMERICAN VAMPIRE (which is about to go on hiatus) and the FABLES titles. However, Newsarama is reporting that a sci-fi anthology series TIME WARP will be debuting from Vertigo in March. Here's the offical announcement...
Karen Berger, Executive Editor & Senior Vice
President of DC Entertainment’s Vertigo brand, has announced she is stepping
down from her post after nearly 20 years at the helm of the award-winning
literary imprint. She will remain on through March 2013 where she will be
assisting in the transition to a new leadership team which includes veteran
staffers whom she has mentored over the years.
Karen is responsible for shepherding critically-acclaimed
and best-selling publishing titles including perennial favorites: THE SANDMAN,
HELLBLAZER, V FOR VENDETTA. FABLES, PREACHER, THE INVISIBLES, 100 BULLETS, Y -
THE LAST MAN and AMERICAN VAMPIRE. Vertigo has published nearly 300 new
literary properties during the last 20 years. Berger notes she is ready for a
professional change and is looking forward to pursuing exciting new
opportunities.
“I've been incredibly proud to have provided a home where
writers and artists could create progressive and provocative stories that
broadened the scope of comics, attracting a new and diverse readership to
graphic storytelling,” said Berger. “I'd like to thank all the many immensely
talented creators who have helped make Vertigo into a daring and distinctive
imprint and I’m grateful to everyone at DC Entertainment and the retail community
for their support and commitment to Vertigo all these years. It’s been quite an
honor.”
DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson stated, “We are
extremely grateful for Karen’s commitment and dedication to Vertigo, its books
and its incredibly talented team of staff and creators. In Vertigo she leaves a
legacy to which we remain committed and on which we intend to build for the
future. She will always be a deeply valued and respected member of the DC
family.”
DC Entertainment is planning a celebration next year - to
help salute Karen, her 33 years with the company and her many accomplishments,
befitting her legendary status within DCE and across the publishing and comics
industries.