Reinhard Kleist

Reinhard Kleist was born on 11 February 1970 in Hürth, Germany, and has built a career as a graphic designer and cartoonist known for blending reportage with graphic narrative. He entered comics in the early 1990s, bringing a sharp, expressive line and a keen eye for atmosphere to his work. Kleist is best recognized for his biographical and historical graphic novels, often tackling true stories with empathy and visual grit. His signature projects include *Berlinoir*, a crime series steeped in the city’s shadowy underbelly, and *The Secrets of Coney Island*, which captures the faded glamour of the New York landmark. He also illustrated *An Olympic Dream – The Story of Samia Yusuf Omar*, a poignant account of the Somali runner’s life and tragic death, and *Cash*, a biography of Johnny Cash that earned international acclaim. Over the years, Kleist has served as artist, colorist, inker, letterer, and writer on nearly fifty issues, collaborating with writers and editors on titles such as *Fuck 2000*, *Berliner Mythen*, and the anthology series *Berlinoir*. His work often explores outsiders, musicians, and the overlooked corners of history. Kleist continues to be active in the German comics scene, his influence felt in the way he merges documentary-style research with the intimacy of the comic page. He has received multiple awards for his graphic novels, including the Max & Moritz Prize and the German Youth Literature Prize, cementing his reputation as one of Germany’s most important contemporary cartoonists.