Barbara Kesel Information

Comic Writer
USA

Biography:
Barbara Randall Kesel is a writer and editor of comic books; her bibliography includes work for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Crossgen, Image Comics and Dark Horse Comics. At Dark Horse, Kesel was part of Team CGW, responsible for most of the design and creation of the setting and characters in the Golden City location. Kesel initially came into the comics world after writing a 10-page letter to editor Dick Giordano regarding the portrayal of female comic book characters. She was married to fellow comic book writer Karl Kesel; they have since divorced.

In 1995, she was a Harvey Award Nominee for Best Anthology and Best Graphic Album of Previously Published Material for, respectively, Instant Piano and Hellboy: Seed Of Destruction. She was nominated again in 1996 for Hellboy: The Wolves of St. August and won the award for Best Graphic Album of Previously Published Work.

Kesel is a very outspoken opponent of sexism in the comic book industry. She is known for her strong female characters, influencing her husband's work on Lois Lane in the Superman titles and creating Grace, the ruler of the Golden City location in Comics' Greatest World.

She is currently part of book packaging company The Pack, alongside Lee Nordling, Brian Augustyn, Gordon Kent and Dave Olbrich.