World Literary Awards

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Carla Speed McNeil

カーラ・スピード・マクニール

Kāra Supīdo Makunīru

Profile

Gender
Unknown
Nationality
United States
Languages
English

Career

Occupations
cartoonist, writer, illustrator, penciller, inker, editor, publisher, letterer
Active Years
1996-
Nominations
Lulu of the Year (Lulu Award) nominee 2001, Lulu of the Year (Lulu Award) nominee 2002, Ignatz Award - Outstanding Artist nominee 2001, Eisner Award - Best Writer/Artist nominee 2002, Eisner Award - Best Writer/Artist nominee 2003, Eisner Award - Best Lettering (Finder / Bad Houses) nominee 2014

Awards

Kimberly Yale Award (Lulu Award) - Best New Talent
1997
Work: Finder / Shanda the Panda (works)
Category: Best New Talent
Organization: Friends of Lulu / Lulu Awards
Result: winner
Ignatz Award - Promising New Talent
1998
Work: Finder
Category: Promising New Talent
Organization: Small Press Expo (Ignatz Awards)
Result: winner
Ignatz Award - Outstanding Series (Finder)
2004
Work: Finder
Category: Outstanding Series
Organization: Small Press Expo (Ignatz Awards)
Result: winner
Ignatz Award - Outstanding Series (Finder)
2005
Work: Finder
Category: Outstanding Series
Organization: Small Press Expo (Ignatz Awards)
Result: winner
Eisner Award - Best Webcomic (Finder)
2009
Work: Finder
Category: Best Webcomic
Organization: Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards
Result: winner
Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Graphic Novel)
2011
Work: Finder: Voice
Category: Graphic Novel
Organization: Los Angeles Times
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Finder

1997 Science fiction; comic / graphic novel

A long-running science fiction comic series noted for expansive worldbuilding and detailed character work. Set in a multilayered city spanning cultures and eras, it blends detective elements with social themes and intimate human relationships.

worldbuildingsociety and powerinterpersonal relationshipshidden communities

Bad Houses

2013 Graphic novel, fiction

A graphic novel co-created with Sara Ryan that explores relationships and the darker aspects of urban life.

family relationshipsurban alienationtrauma and recovery

Pendragon Graphic Novel: The Merchant of Death

2008 Children's adventure / graphic novel

Graphic novel adaptation of D. J. MacHale's 'The Merchant of Death', with McNeil responsible for adaptation and artwork.

adventurecoming-of-age

No Mercy

2015 Comic, suspense

A series written by Alex de Campi with McNeil contributing illustrations. Published by Image Comics.

suspensecrimefemale agency

Bibliography

  • Finder (1997–present)
  • Bad Houses (2013)
  • Pendragon Graphic Novel: The Merchant of Death (2008)
  • Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman #15 (contribution, 2015)
  • Cautionary Fables and Fairy Tales Vol.2: Africa Edition (contribution, 2014)
  • Smut Peddler (contributions & cover, 2012/2014)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
meticulous worldbuildingrestrained emotional expression and quiet depictionvisual storytelling
Recurring Motifs
layers of cities and communitiesdetails of daily life and food cultureinvisible connections

Legacy

A writer and cartoonist who progressed from self-publishing to webcomics and commercial publication. 'Finder' has earned critical acclaim and multiple awards, and is regarded as an influential work in independent comics and representation of women/LGBTQ themes.

Archives

  • Wikimedia Commons (related media)

In Popular Culture

  • NPR's 'Let's Get Graphic: 100 Favorite Comics and Graphic Novels' reader nomination

Trivia

  • Finder began as a self-published work in 1996 and was published as a webcomic beginning in 2005.
  • Finder won the 2009 Eisner Award for Best Webcomic.
  • Finder: Voice won the 2011 Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Graphic Novel).
  • McNeil has contributed to numerous anthologies and collaborated with other writers and artists.