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Carla Speed McNeil is an American science fiction writer, cartoonist, and illustrator of comics, best known for the science fiction comic book series Finder.[1]
| Carla Speed McNeil | |
|---|---|
 McNeil at the New York Comic Con in Manhattan, October 10, 2010 | |
| Nationality | American |
| Area(s) | Cartoonist, Writer, Penciller, Inker, Editor, Publisher, Letterer |
Notable works | Finder |
| Awards | Lulu Award, Ignatz Award, Eisner Award |
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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.[2]
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.[3] They continued their work with him in 2005 by illustrating the one-shot "Frank Ironwine" in Ellis' Apparat Volume 1."[4] McNeil also worked as an illustrator alongside Greg Rucka on the Oni Press series Queen & Country in 2004.[5][6] 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.[7] 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.[8] They also did illustrative work for Devin Grayson's Legends of Red Sonja.[9] Together with Sara Ryan, they released Bad Houses in 2013 from Dark Horse Comics,[10] 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.[11] The series is published by Image Comics, and is ongoing.[12]
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.[13] 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.[14] They have done work for Saucy Goose Press' anthology Smut Peddler, which is a collection of comics centered around sex positivity. [15] 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.[16] 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.[17]
In 2015, McNeil wrote and illustrated "Both Ends of the Leash," a story that appeared in Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman, for DC Comics.[18]
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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.[19] McNeil also won the Ignatz Award for Promising New Talent in 1998.[20]
McNeil was nominated for Lulu Award Lulu of the Year in 2001[21] and 2002,[22] and for an Ignatz Award for Outstanding Artist in 2001.[23] Finder won the Ignatz for Outstanding Series in 2004[24] and 2005.[25] Their work has been nominated for Eisner Awards in several categories over the years (including "Best Writer/Artist" in 2002[26] and 2003,[27] and "Best Lettering" for Finder and Bad Houses in 2014), and won "Best Webcomic" for Finder in 2009.[28] Finder: Voice won the 2011 Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Graphic Novel).[29]
In recognition of their work Finder, ComicsAlliance listed McNeil as one of twelve women cartoonists deserving of lifetime achievement recognition.[30]
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.[31]
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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)
- Transmetropolitan: Filth of the City (2001)
Cover work
- Smut Peddler: 2014 Edition: A Superior Pornucopia for Classy Dames (and the Forward-Thinking Gentleman) (2014)
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