Carla Speed McNeil is an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

writer, cartoonist, and illustrator of

comics a medium used to express ideas with images, often combined with text or other visual information. It typically the form of a sequence of panels of images. Textual devices such as speech balloons, captions, and onomatopoeia can indicate ...

, best known for the science fiction comic book series '' Finder''.

Career

McNeil's chief work is the ongoing

comic series '' Finder'', which they began self-publishing in 1996. In 2005, they started to publish ''Finder'' as a

webcomic Webcomics (also known as online comics or Internet comics) are comics published on a website or mobile app. While many are published exclusively on the web, others are also published in magazines, newspapers, or comic books. Webcomics can be co ...

. The comic was published and available to read on their website until it began to be published by

Dark Horse Comics Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book, graphic novel, and manga publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon by Mike Richardson in 1986. The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, Oregon comic book shops known ...

in 2011. 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 Warren Girard Ellis (born 16 February 1968) is a British comic book writer, novelist, and screenwriter. He is best known as the co-creator of several original comics series, including ''Transmetropolitan'' (1997–2002), ''Global Frequency'' ( ...

' ''

Transmetropolitan ''Transmetropolitan'' is a cyberpunk transhumanist comic book series written by Warren Ellis and co-created and designed by Darick Robertson; it was published by the American company DC Comics in 1997–2002. The series was originally part of t ...

: Filth of the City''. They continued their work with him in 2005 by illustrating the one-shot "Frank Ironwine" in Ellis' ''Apparat Volume 1''." McNeil also worked as an illustrator alongside

Greg Rucka Gregory Rucka (born November 29, 1969) is an American writer known for the series of novels starring his character Atticus Kodiak, the creator-owned comic book series '' Whiteout'', ''Queen & Country'', '' Stumptown'' and '' Lazarus'', as well as ...

on the

Oni Press Oni Press is an American independent comic book and graphic novel publisher based in Portland, Oregon. In 2019, it became an imprint label following the company's merger with Lion Forge Comics. The merged company, Oni–Lion Forge Publishing Grou ...

series ''

Queen & Country ''Queen & Country'' is an American comic book published by Oni Press and written by Greg Rucka with various artists illustrating. It was inspired by the British ITV television series ''The Sandbaggers'' (1978–1980), which was created and prima ...

'' in 2004. In 2008, McNeil adapted and illustrated D. J. MacHale's first

Pendragon Pendragon or ( wlm, pen dreic, ''pen dragon''; composed of Welsh , 'head, chief, top' and / ''dragon'', 'dragon; warrior'; borrowed from the Latin word , plural , 'dragon , br, Penn Aerouant) literally means 'chief dragon' or 'head dragon', but ...

book, ''

The Merchant of Death ''The Merchant of Death'' is the first book in the Pendragon series by D. J. MacHale. It follows the adventures of Bobby Pendragon as he travels to Denduron. Plot introduction The story takes place in a "territory" (Universe separate from the ...

'', into a graphic novel, and it was released by

Simon and Schuster Simon & Schuster () is an American publishing company and a subsidiary of Paramount Global. It was founded in New York City on January 2, 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. As of 2016, Simon & Schuster was the third largest publ ...

on May 20, 2008. 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 IDW Publishing is an American publisher of comic books, graphic novels, art books, and comic strip collections. It was founded in 1999 as the publishing division of Idea and Design Works, LLC (IDW), itself formed in 1999, and is regularly recog ...

. They also did illustrative work for

Devin Grayson Devin Kalile Grayson is an American writer of comic books and novels. Titles that she has written include ''Catwoman'', '' Gotham Knights'', '' The Titans'', the Vertigo series ''USER'', and ''Nightwing''. Early life Grayson was born in New Hav ...

's ''Legends of Red Sonja''. Together with

Sara Ryan Sara Ryan (born 1971) is an American writer and librarian living in Portland, Oregon. Biography Ryan was raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she graduated from Pioneer High School in 1989. Her first novel, '' Empress of the World'', was publ ...

, they released ''Bad Houses'' in 2013 from

, which received general acclaim upon release. In April 2015, McNeil started illustrating ''No Mercy'', a series written by

Alex de Campi Alex de Campi is a British-American music video director, comics writer and columnist. Career Comics Alex de Campi wrote 2005's mini-series ''Smoke'' (published by IDW Publishing, art by Igor Kordey), which was nominated for the Eisner Awa ...

and colored by

Jenn Manley Lee ''Dicebox'', by American cartoonist Jenn Manley Lee, is a science fiction webcomic which has been hosted at the subscription-based comics anthology site Girlamatic.Slayter, Mary Ellen (December 12, 2004). "A Shrinking Drawing Board for Cartoonis ...

. The series is published by

Image Comics Image Comics is an American comic book publisher and is the third largest comic book and graphic novel publisher in the industry in both unit and market share. It was founded in 1992 by several high-profile illustrators as a venue for creator-ow ...

, and is ongoing. 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. 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 Tori Amos (born Myra Ellen Amos; August 22, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She is a classically trained musician with a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Having already begun composing instrumental pieces on piano, Amos won a full ...

. They have done work for Saucy Goose Press' anthology ''Smut Peddler,'' which is a collection of comics centered around sex positivity''.'' 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 Kickstarter is an American public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York, that maintains a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. The company's stated mission is to "help bring creative projects to life". As of July 2021, ...

comics of 2014. 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. In 2015, McNeil wrote and illustrated "Both Ends of the Leash," a story that appeared in '' Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman'', for

DC Comics DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with thei ...

Awards

In 1997, at Comic-Con International, McNeil won the Lulu Awards' Kimberly Yale Award for Best New Talent for their work on '' Finder'' and '' Shanda the Panda''. McNeil also won the

Ignatz Award The Ignatz Awards recognize outstanding achievements in comics and cartooning by small press creators or creator-owned projects published by larger publishers. They have been awarded each year at the Small Press Expo since 1997, only skipping ...

for Promising New Talent in 1998. McNeil was nominated for Lulu Award Lulu of the Year in 2001 and 2002, and for an

for Outstanding Artist in 2001. ''Finder'' won the

Ignatz Ignatz is a masculine given name. Notable people with the given name * Ignatz Bubis (1927–1999), German Jewish leader and chairman of the Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland from 1992 to 1999 * Ignatz Leo Nascher (1863–1944), Austrian-born, ...

for Outstanding Series in 2004 and 2005. Their work has been nominated for

Eisner Award The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books, sometimes referred to as the comics industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards. They are named in ...

s in several categories over the years (including "Best Writer/Artist" in 2002 and 2003, and "Best Lettering" for ''Finder'' and ''Bad Houses'' in 2014), and won "Best Webcomic" for '' Finder'' in 2009. ''Finder: Voice'' won the 2011

Los Angeles Times Book Prize Since 1980, the ''Los Angeles Times'' has awarded a set of annual book prizes. The Prizes currently have nine categories: biography, current interest, fiction, first fiction (the Art Seidenbaum Award added in 1991), history, mystery/thriller ( ...

(Graphic Novel). In recognition of their work ''Finder'',

Comics Alliance ComicsAlliance was an American website dedicated to covering the comic book industry as well as comic-related media, and is owned by Townsquare Media. The site has been nominated for multiple awards including a 2015 Eisner Award win in the catego ...

listed McNeil as one of twelve women cartoonists deserving of lifetime achievement recognition. In 2017, ''Finder'' was nominated by readers for

NPR National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...

'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.

Bibliography

As writer and artist

* '' 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) * ''

: Filth of the City (2001)''

Cover work

* '' Smut Peddler: 2014 Edition: A Superior Pornucopia for Classy Dames (and the Forward-Thinking Gentleman)'' (2014)

References

External links

* * *
Saucy Goose Press
{{DEFAULTSORT:McNeil, Carla Speed American female comics artists Female comics writers Year of birth missing (living people) Living people