Executive Editor Shelly Bond

As expected, following the departure of Vertigo founder Karen Berger, remaining editors Shelly Bond, Will Dennis and Mark Doyle have been promoted, with Bond ascending to Executive Editor. After nearly 20 years at the imprint,  its safe to say no one knows Vertigo better than Bond. Despite all the eulogies over Vertigo when Berger left, it appears the imprint is very much alive, although obviously its direction was already subtly shifting. We’ve been hearing that the call has gone out to creators for more pitches, so you might be seeing some interesting things from Vertigo  in 2013.

“Shelly Bond has been promoted to Executive Editor of the Vertigo imprint for DC Entertainment. Joining Bond in her new leadership role are Will Dennis, who has been promoted to Group Editor, Vertigo and Mark Doyle who has been promoted to Editor, Vertigo. All three staffers have spent years under the guidance of outgoing SVP & Executive Editor Karen Berger, creating a continuity in editorial experience.

“’I’ve been incredibly lucky to have worked for many years with these three smart and talented editors. Shelly has been by my side since the beginning of Vertigo, so I couldn’t be happier about passing the baton to her,’ Berger said. ‘She brings so much creativity, passion and professionalism to everything she edits with special note to the wildly successful FABLES, which she launched and has overseen for over 10 years. Will is a highly regarded story editor of many critically acclaimed series including 100 BULLETS, DMZ and SCALPED and has procured many European and South American artists for our titles. Mark has a great eye for new writing talent, and his avid interest in up-to-the-minute fiction has been a real asset to the line. I look forward to reading many great comics and graphic novels from these three for many years to come. Vertigo is in the best of hands.’

“Bond began her career at Vertigo in 1993 as Assistant Editor. Her unique pop culture sensibility and love of all things British – plus a knack for discovering new, uncompromising and inspired talent – helped launch some of the most beloved Vertigo series and OGNs, including FABLES, FAIREST, THE INVISIBLES, LUCIFER, HEAVY LIQUID, SLOTH, iZOMBIE, AMERICAN VIRGIN, DEADENDERS, HOUSE OF SECRETS, YOUNG LIARS, THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS and DEATH: AT DEATH’S DOOR. The list of talented creators Bond has worked with over the years is equally long and impressive, including Michael Allred, Mark Buckingham, Mike Carey, Howard Chaykin, Becky Cloonan, Neil Gaiman, Peter Gross, Gilbert Hernandez, James Jean, Phil Jimenez, Peter Milligan, Grant Morrison, Paul Pope, Steven T. Seagle, Jill Thompson, Bill Willingham and many more.

“Before DC, Bond was a video/film editor and talent agent. She also served as the editor for THE ELEMENTALS – a comic book by Willingham. The friendship and working relationship continues to this day, as FABLES celebrates 10 years of publication.

“‘It’s been a great privilege, both personally and professionally, to work with Karen Berger since Vertigo’s inception,’ says Bond.  ‘I look forward to honoring her legacy by continuing to push the imprint to arresting new heights ably abetted by a fiercely talented editorial team.  Expect nothing but the deft storytelling, incomparable artistry and the bravado that has made Vertigo an industry leader.’

“Dennis has had a long and critically-acclaimed editorial career at Vertigo and DC Comics, which saw him form long-lasting relationships with some of the most renowned creators in comics, including Jason Aaron, Brian Azzarello, Lee Bermejo, R.M. Guera, Jim Lee, Denise Mina, Eduardo Risso, Brian K. Vaughan, Brian Wood and the legendary Joe Kubert. Dennis has edited a number of award-winning ongoing series and special projects for the imprint, such as 100 BULLETS, SPACEMAN, SCALPED, THE LOSERS, PRIDE OF BAGHDAD, DONG XOAI: VIETNAM 1965, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, NORTHLANDERS and DMZ to name a few. Additionally, Dennis has edited many best-selling projects outside of Vertigo, including the JOKER graphic novel, Azzarello and Lee’s SUPERMAN: FOR TOMORROW and the current BEFORE WATCHMEN mini-series.

“A lifelong fan of crime fiction and music, Dennis began his career at Vertigo as Assistant Editor. Prior to Vertigo, Dennis worked at a boutique music and film publicity agency. One of his first jobs was at his local comic shop after college. Dennis points to his current gig as ‘the best job I’ve ever had.’ While he’s worked with some of the best and brightest talent the comic book industry has to offer, Dennis says few come close to the experience of working with one of comics all-time greats, writer/artist Joe Kubert, describing it as ‘a dream come true.’

“Doyle began his career at Vertigo as Assistant Editor in 2006. Always on the lookout for new talent, he launched Scott Snyder’s first ongoing comic book series AMERICAN VAMPIRE with Stephen King and award winning artist Rafael Albuquerque in 2010. He has worked on such titles as SWEET TOOTH, THE NEW DEADWARDIANS, NORTHLANDERS, THE EXTERMINATORS and AMERICAN SPLENDOR by Harvey Pekar and currently assists on the current BEFORE WATCHMEN mini-series.”

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13 COMMENTS

  2. Shelly Bond, Will Dennis, and Mark Doyle are all very very very good at their jobs, and have been nothing but gracious at the conventions I’ve met them at. For all the doom and gloom speak that has gone on, this is very good news for Vertigo. Very excited to see what they do in the future.

    (And just as an aside, it also very nice to see DC keep a woman in such a highly visible and influential position in their company.)

  4. There is no one else in comics who can do what she does. No one.

    Shelly has a unique flair for finding, developing and managing talent. Add to that her distinct creative vision. Working at Vertigo gives both her and her creators the latitude to make books no one else could, really wonderful risk taking works that have changed the industry.

    Being a latter day editor is hard anywhere, but Shelly has worked harder than anyone else to do her job right.

    It’s nice to see a great editor get rewarded for hard work and creative risks. Bravo!

  5. I’m glad to see this continuity retained. I know of one project that’s been in development with Vertigo for a while (going through a few editors in that time) that I’m very much looking forward to seeing.

  6. I’m confused by the positive reception this news is getting. I know a few people who worked on the Minx books and they have described that time in very negative ways. I know all people have good sides and bad sides and not everyone will like someone, but why is there unbridled optimism for this incarnation of Vertigo? Has the Minx experience been a big learning opportunity? I hope so, because DC Comics on the whole has been a confusing entity lately. I’m pretty cynical with any corporation, I pretty much hate them all, but I truly hope the happiness is warranted and Bond can bring some really good strengths back to Vertigo.

  7. @Chris Hero: Would you at least concede that it’s a positive note that 3 of the first four comments above are directly from creators? All three of which I believe have worked with her directly, and Paul Pope And Dean Haspiel being well known and well regarded as I would argue independent creators first?

    Sure, Minx wasn’t a success but Shelly Bond has been working for the company for much longer than Minx, has had a direct hand in creating and guiding some of my personal favorite books of the last decade and far more successes in her role as editor then what happened with the Minx line.

    I just don’t understand why everything always has to be so negative.

  8. @blaucaucasian

    The people I know worked on the Minx books. They were creators. They’ve told me, at length, of their very miserable time working on the books. I don’t know what else to go on than the word of people who worked for the person. I’m not exaggerating when I say they don’t have one positive thing to say about anyone at DC they were in contact with. One of the people swore off ever working for a corporation again due to the experience. So, yes, I am confused by the optimism. Either the people I know fabricated some really awful stories or Minx was run very, very poorly (to put it nicely).

    I know you’re generally pretty optimistic in regards to DC, and that’s cool, but I’ve spoken, at length, to enough people who have worked there and didn’t like it to have a pretty dour outlook on them.

  9. What about the people who would have seemed to have positive experiences working on the Minx/and or for DC and Shelly Bond or Will Dennis or Mark Doyle.

    Ryan Kelly and Brian Wood continued to work on their New York Five stuff even after Minx closed shop and it was moved to Vertigo. Cecil Castellucci had work in the last anthology Vertigo put out and is actually going to have work in the new DC Valentine’s anthology in February. Mike Carey continues (I believe) to work with Shelly Bond on the Unwritten.

    I just don’t think it’s fair to show the environment there as a complete nightmare as you choose to portray things. Sure, editors and creators don’t always get along and DC isn’t always the place for lots of indie creators. But you can’t discount those like Paul Pope and Gene Ha who are giving her praise, nor can you discount her track record of past works she’s edited and creators she clearly has had long standing fruitful and creative relationships with. Even including Minx, I think her track record, as well of the track records of Will Dennis and Mark Doyle point to being more optimistic them pessimistic.

  10. Minx was a gamble that failed. It happens. As the old saying goes, “Victory has a thousand fathers; defeat is an orphan.” There are inevitably bad feelings coming out of a failed enterprise. As Blacaucasian says, the fact that other respected creators are applauding the promotion of “Ms. Bond. Shelly Bond” says more than the sentiments of frustrated creators on an imprint that was shuttered four years ago. One more thing: As well-respected as Karen Berger was, she could also be a tough boss — as, I believe, The Beat’s founder has noted. No one in this world is perfect. Not Berger, not Bond, no one.

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