Barbara Kesel

Barbara Kesel is a comic book writer and editor who has contributed to various publishers, including DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Crossgen, Image Comics, and Dark Horse Comics. While at Dark Horse, Kesel served as the editor for Tom Veitch and was among the first editors involved in the creation of the Tales of the Jedi series during its development. Additionally, she contributed to the Star Wars: Dark Empire series, which was also authored by Veitch.

Kesel's entry into the comics industry began with a detailed 10-page letter to editor Dick Giordano, expressing her views on the depiction of female characters in comic books. She was previously married to fellow comic book writer Karl Kesel, but they are now divorced.

In 1995, she received a Harvey Award nomination for both Best Anthology and Best Graphic Album of Previously Published Material, specifically for Instant Piano and Hellboy: Seed Of Destruction, respectively. She received another nomination in 1996 for Hellboy: The Wolves of St. August and secured the award for Best Graphic Album of Previously Published Work.

Kesel is a vocal critic of sexism within the comic book industry. Her reputation is built on her strong female characters, which influenced her former husband's work on Lois Lane in the Superman comics and led to the creation of Grace, the leader of the Golden City within the Comics' Greatest World universe.