Carla Speed McNeil
Template:Short description Template:Infobox comics creator Carla Speed McNeil is an American science fiction writer, cartoonist, and illustrator of comics, best known for the science fiction comic book series Finder.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
CareerEdit
McNeil's chief work is the ongoing science fiction comic series Finder, which they began self-publishing in 1996. In 2005, they started to publish Finder as a webcomic. The comic was published and available to read on their website until it began to be published by Dark Horse Comics in 2011.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
A majority of McNeil's career is focused on collaborations with other comic artists and writers. In 2001, McNeil provided a two-page guest-illustrator spot for Warren Ellis' Transmetropolitan: Filth of the City.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They continued their work with him in 2005 by illustrating the one-shot "Frank Ironwine" in Ellis' Apparat Volume 1."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> McNeil also worked as an illustrator alongside Greg Rucka on the Oni Press series Queen & Country in 2004.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2008, McNeil adapted and illustrated D. J. MacHale's first Pendragon book, The Merchant of Death, into a graphic novel, and it was released by Simon and Schuster on May 20, 2008.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2013, McNeil participated in multiple collaborations with other artists. They collaborated with Alex de Campi for two comics: they illustrated a few pages of the graphic novel Ashes, as well as the first issue of My Little Pony: Friends Forever, which was released by IDW Publishing.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They also did illustrative work for Devin Grayson's Legends of Red Sonja.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Together with Sara Ryan, they released Bad Houses in 2013 from Dark Horse Comics,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which received general acclaim upon release. In April 2015, McNeil started illustrating No Mercy, a series written by Alex de Campi and colored by Jenn Manley Lee.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The series is published by Image Comics, and is ongoing.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
McNeil has also worked on numerous anthologies throughout their career. In 2005, McNeil wrote a comic for the anthology Dignifying Science, which is a collection about women scientists.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> They have also illustrated Elizabeth Genco's "Here. In My Head" for the 2008 anthology Comic Book Tattoo, which is a collection based on the songs of Tori Amos.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They have done work for Saucy Goose Press' anthology Smut Peddler, which is a collection of comics centered around sex positivity. <ref>Template:Cite book</ref> McNeil wrote and drew a story in the first edition, and illustrated the cover and end piece of Smut Peddler: 2014 Edition, which was one of the most successful Kickstarter comics of 2014.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They wrote and drew the story "Frog and Snake Never Play Together" for the popular anthology Cautionary Fables and Fairy Tales Vol 2: Africa Edition in 2014.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In 2015, McNeil wrote and illustrated "Both Ends of the Leash," a story that appeared in Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman, for DC Comics.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
AwardsEdit
In 1997, at San Diego Comic-Con, McNeil won the Lulu Awards' Kimberly Yale Award for Best New Talent for their work on Finder and Shanda the Panda.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> McNeil also won the Ignatz Award for Promising New Talent in 1998.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
McNeil was nominated for Lulu Award Lulu of the Year in 2001<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and 2002,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and for an Ignatz Award for Outstanding Artist in 2001.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Finder won the Ignatz for Outstanding Series in 2004<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and 2005.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Their work has been nominated for Eisner Awards in several categories over the years (including "Best Writer/Artist" in 2002<ref>2002 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Comic Book Awards Almanac</ref> and 2003,<ref>2003 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Comic Book Awards Almanac</ref> and "Best Lettering" for Finder and Bad Houses in 2014), and won "Best Webcomic" for Finder in 2009.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Finder: Voice won the 2011 Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Graphic Novel).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In recognition of their work Finder, ComicsAlliance listed McNeil as one of twelve women cartoonists deserving of lifetime achievement recognition.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2017, Finder was nominated by readers for NPR's "Let's Get Graphic: 100 Favorite Comics and Graphic Novels," and was chosen for the list by a panel of award-winning comic artists.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
BibliographyEdit
As writer and artistEdit
- Cautionary Fables and Fairy Tales Vol. 2: Africa Edition (2014)
- Finder (1997–present)
- Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman #15 (2015)
- Smut Peddler: Impeccable Pornoglyphics for Cultured Ladies (and Men of Exceptional Taste!) (2012)
Illustrator
- Ashes (2013)
- Bad Houses (2013)
- Comic Book Tattoo (2008)
- Legends of Red Sonja (2013)
- My Little Pony: Friends Forever #1 (2013)
- No Mercy (2015 - ongoing)
- Pendragon Graphic Novel: The Merchant of Death (2008)
- Warren Ellis' Apparat Volume 1 (2005)
- Queen and Country, Vol. 5: Operation Stormfront (2004)
- Transmetropolitan: Filth of the City (2001)