Carla Speed McNeil is an American

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

writer, cartoonist, and illustrator of

comics a Media (communication), medium used to express ideas with images, often combined with text or other visual information. It typically the form of a sequence of Panel (comics), panels of images. Textual devices such as speech balloons, Glo ...

, 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 the internet, such as on a website or a mobile app. While many webcomics are published exclusively online, others are also published in magazines, newspapers, or ...

. 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, manga and Artist's book, art book publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon, by Mike Richardson in 1986. The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, O ...

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 an English 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 drawn by Darick Robertson; it was published by the American company DC Comics in 1997–2002. The series was originally part of the short-lived DC C ...

: 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 ...

on the

Oni Press Oni Press is an American independent comic book and graphic novel publisher based in Portland, Oregon, best known for publishing such series as '' Scott Pilgrim'' and ''Rick and Morty''. In 2019, it became an imprint label following the company's ...

series '' Queen & Country'' in 2004. In 2008, McNeil adapted and illustrated D. J. MacHale's first Pendragon 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 LLC (, ) is an American publishing house owned by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts since 2023. It was founded in New York City in 1924, by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. Along with Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group US ...

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) and is recognized as the fifth-largest comic ...

. They also did illustrative work for

Devin Grayson Devin Kalile Grayson (born July 19, 1970) 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 Grayso ...

's ''Legends of Red Sonja''. Together with Sara Ryan, 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 and colored by Jenn Manley Lee. The series is published by

Image Comics Image Comics is an independent American American comic book, comic book publisher and is the third largest direct market comic book and graphic novel publisher in the industry by market share. Its best-known publications include ''Spawn (comics) ...

, 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, PBC is an American Benefit corporation, public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York City, that maintains a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. The company's stated mission is to "help bring creative project ...

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 (originally DC Comics, Inc., and also known simply as DC) is an American comic book publisher owned by DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC is an initialism for "Detective Comics", an American comic book seri ...

Awards

In 1997, at

San Diego Comic-Con San Diego Comic-Con is a comic book convention and multi-genre entertainment event held annually in San Diego, California, at the San Diego Convention Center. Founded in 1970, originally showcasing primarily comic books and science fiction/fant ...

, McNeil won the Lulu Awards'

Kimberly Yale Award for Best New Talent The Lulu Awards were a group of literary awards in the field of comics, presented by the Friends of Lulu from 1997 to 2010. The awards were intended to "recognize the people and projects that help open the eyes and minds to the amazing comic and c ...

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 a ...

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. It may refer to: People * Ignatz Bubis (1927–1999), German Jewish leader * Ignatz Greenberg, birth name of Ukrainian baritone and music teacher Igor Gorin (1904–1982) * Ignatz Gresser (1835–1919), American ...

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 awards for creative achievement in American comic books. They are regarded as the most prestigious and significant awards in the comic industry and often referred ...

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 ''Los Angeles Times'' Book Prize currently has nine categories: biography, current interest, fiction, first fiction (the Art Seidenbaum Award added in 1991), his ...

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

ComicsAlliance ComicsAlliance is 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 categ ...

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) is an American public broadcasting organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It serves as a national Radio syndication, syndicator to a network of more ...

'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 American female comics writers Year of birth missing (living people) Living people