{{short description|American cartoonist and illustrator (born 1979)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox comics creator
| image = Ron Wimberly at Small Press Expo.jpg | imagesize = | caption = Wimberly moderates a panel at Small Press Expo 2016 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|4|28}} | birth_name = | birth_place = United States | death_date = | death_place = | cartoonist = y | write = | pencil = | art = y | ink = | letter = | color = | alias = | collaborators = | signature = <!-- very optional --> | notable works = ''Sentences: The Life of MF Grimm''<br />''Prince of Cats''<br />"Lighten Up" | awards = see full list | website = {{URL|https://ronaldwimberly.com}} }} '''Ronald Wimberly''' (born April 28, 1979) is an American cartoonist. He has published several graphic novels, as well as shorter works for ''The New Yorker'', DC/Vertigo, Nike, Marvel, Hill and Wang, and Dark Horse Comics. Wimberly was the 2016 Columbus Museum of Art comics resident, and was a two-time resident cartoonist at Angoulême's Maison des Auteurs. He is the recipient of the 2008 Glyph Comics Award, and has been nominated for two Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards.
== Early life and education == Ronald Wimberly was born on April 28, 1979, and raised in and around Washington, D.C.<ref>Sheena C. Howard, ''Encyclopedia of Black Comics'', 2017, p. 228</ref> He studied illustration in Brooklyn at Pratt Institute from 1997 to 2001, and now lives and works in New York City.
== Career == Wimberly's first professional published work was ''Gratuitous Ninja: Tangerine'' which was published in the 2004 Dark Horse Comics anthology ''Strip Search''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/indie-comic-spotlight-ronald-wimberly-on-prince-of-cats|title=Indie Comic Spotlight: Ronald Wimberly is one of the most breathlessly talented people in comics|last=Horne|first=Karama|date=August 23, 2018|website=SYFY WIRE|language=en|access-date=February 3, 2019}}</ref> Wimberly quickly established a reputation as a cartoonist and storyteller with a particular interest in physical action and human anatomy, and in stories exploring narrative subjectivity.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} By 2007, he had worked for various companies as an artist and designer on a number of titles, including ''Swamp Thing'', ''Lucifer'', ''Metal Hurlant'', ''Deadman'' and ''Dark Horse Presents''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.comicbookdb.com/creator.php?ID=2013|title=Ronald Wimberly - 'D-π' - Comic Book DB|website=www.comicbookdb.com|access-date=February 3, 2019}}</ref>
In 2007, Wimberly illustrated his first book-length project, ''Sentences: The Life of MF Grimm'', a collaborative graphic memoir written by the hip hop artist Percy Carey (better known as MF Grimm), and released by DC/Vertigo. ''Sentences'' was nominated for two 2008 Eisner Awards,<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/2008-eisner-nominations-announced/|title=2008 Eisner Nominations Announced {{!}} CBR|website=www.cbr.com|date=April 14, 2008 |access-date=February 3, 2019}}</ref> and received two 2008 Glyph Awards (for Best Story and Best Cover).<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/2008-glyph-award-winners/|title=Syndicated Comics|date=May 19, 2008|website=The Beat|language=en-US|access-date=February 3, 2019}}</ref>
In 2012, Wimberly created, wrote and illustrated his first solo graphic novel, ''Prince of Cats'', a modern urban remix of ''Romeo and Juliet''. It was released by DC/Vertigo to wide acclaim, and later come out in a hardcover edition from Image Comics.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=http://sktchd.com/interview/image-expo-ron-wimberly-talks-the-return-of-prince-of-cats-at-image/|title=Image Expo: Ronald Wimberly Talks the Return of Prince of Cats at Image|website=SKTCHD|language=en-US|access-date=February 3, 2019}}</ref>
Following a stint on Marvel's ''She-Hulk'', Wimberly wrote and illustrated a comic for The Nib entitled "Lighten Up," in which he analyzed the approach to race, skin color, and continuity by the Marvel Comics editorial team, as well as the comics industry in general. The strip was widely read and discussed, and was nominated for a Will Eisner Comics Industry Award for Best Digital Comic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/03/20/394246367/a-cartoonists-story-about-the-time-he-was-told-to-lighten-up-a-character|title=The Time A Cartoonist Was Told To 'Lighten Up' A Character|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=February 3, 2019}}</ref>
In 2016, Image Comics announced an ongoing partnership with Wimberly that included the new edition of ''Prince of Cats'', 2017's ''Black History In Its Own Words'', and several other forthcoming projects.
In 2018 ''Prince of Cats'' was optioned for cinematic adaptation by Legendary Entertainment, and is now in development by screenwriter Selwyn Hinds with actor Lakeith Stanfield attached to star.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/prince-of-cats-lakeith-stanfield-legendary-movie-deal-1202437823/|title=Legendary Lands Graphic Novel 'Prince Of Cats' As Star Vehicle For Lakeith Stanfield|last= Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=August 1, 2018|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=February 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsarama.com/41193-prince-of-cats-film-adaptation-in-the-works.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209165323/https://www.newsarama.com/41193-prince-of-cats-film-adaptation-in-the-works.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 9, 2019|title=PRINCE OF CATS Film Adaptation in the Works - Report|website=Newsarama|language=en|access-date=February 3, 2019}}</ref> Wimberly has also created ''LAAB'', an ongoing newspaper-format art magazine, a "pop-culture dialectic".
Wimberly's forthcoming books include ''Slave Punk'' and ''Sunset Park'' for Image Comics,<ref name="auto1"/> and the ongoing project ''LAAB Magazine'' for Beehive Books.
== Awards and honors == * 2008 – Eisner Award nominee for Best Reality-Based Work (for ''Sentences'')<ref name="auto2"/> * 2008 – Glyph Award for Best Cover (for ''Sentences'')<ref name="auto"/> * 2008 – Glyph Award for Best Story (for ''Sentences'')<ref name="auto"/> * 2016 – Eisner Award nominee for Best Digital Comic (for "Lighten Up")<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/2016-eisner-nominees-include-squirrel-girl-giant-days-1798246376|title=2016 Eisner nominees include Squirrel Girl, Giant Days, and Bitch Planet|last=Barsanti|first=Sam|website=News|date=April 20, 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=February 3, 2019}}</ref> * 2015 – Angoulême Maison Des Auteurs Cartoonist In Residence<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.vancaf.com/2018/04/30/new-featured-guests-for-vancaf-2018-craig-thompson-ronald-wimberly-and-steve-skroce/|title=New Featured Guests for VanCAF 2018: Craig Thompson, Ronald Wimberly, and Steve Skroce {{!}} VanCAF 2019 - May 18 & 19|last=Andrea Demonakos|language=en-CA|access-date=February 3, 2019}}</ref> * 2016 – Angoulême Maison Des Auteurs Cartoonist In Residence<ref name=":0" /> * 2016 – Graphic Novel Residency - Columbus Museum of Art<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/cr_sunday_conversation_ronald_wimberly/|title=The Comics Reporter|website=www.comicsreporter.com|access-date=February 3, 2019}}</ref> * 2019 – Eisner Award nominee for ''LAAB Magazine'' No. 0: Dark Matter, edited by Ronald Wimberly and Josh O'Neill (Beehive Books) * 2020 – Eisner Award nominee for''LAAB Magazine, vol. 4: This Was Your Life,'' edited by Ronald Wimberly and Josh O’Neill (Beehive Books) * 2024 – Eisner Award nominee for ''LAAB Magazine, vol. 2: Eat / Shit'' edited by Ronald Wimberly and Josh O’Neill (Beehive Books); designed by Chloe Scheffe and Natalie Shields.
==Bibliography== * {{cite book |author=Wimberly |first1=Ronald |author-link=Ronald Wimberly |others=Written by Mat Johnson |title=Hellblazer: Papa Midnight limited series |title-link=Hellblazer: Papa Midnite |last2=Johnson |first2=Mat |location=USA |language=English |publisher=DC Comics |year=2006 |isbn=978-1401210038}} * {{cite book |author=Wimberly |author-link=Ronald Wimberly |others=Written by Percey Carey |title=Sentences |location=USA |publisher=DC Comics |year=2007 <!--|isbn=--> |isbn=978-1401210465 |publication-date=September 5, 2007 |language=English |first=Ronald}} * {{cite book |author=Wimberly |first=Ronald |author-link=Ronald Wimberly |title=Prince of Cats |title-link=Prince of Cats (graphic novel) |location=USA |language=English |publisher=Image Comics |year=2016 |isbn=978-1632159267}} * (January, 2014) Mighty Avengers Vol. 2; issue #3. Variant cover * (June 11, 2014) ''She-Hulk'' Vol. 3; issue #5. Pencils and inks. * (July 16, 2014) ''She-Hulk'' Vol. 3; issue #6. Pencils, inks, and colors. * (July 2014) ''All-New Ultimates'' Vol 1; issue 2. Variant cover * (August, 2014) [https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/47615/the_superior_foes_of_spider-man_2013_12 ''Superior Foes of Spider-Man'' Vol 1; issue #12]. Cover art * (October 15, 2014) ''Wolverine & the X-Men'' Vol. 2; issue #10; pages 6–11. Artist * {{cite magazine |author=Wimberly |author-mask=1 |date=March 18, 2015 |title=Lighten Up |department=Classic Comics |magazine=The Nib |url=https://thenib.com/lighten-up-4f7f96ca8a7e/|first=Ronald|editor-first=Matt|editor-last=Bors|editor-link=Matt Bors|author-link=Ronald Wimberly}} * {{cite magazine |author=Wimberly |author-mask=1 |date=August 24, 2015 |title=Ten Years After |department=Comic Strip |magazine=The New Yorker |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/08/24/ten-years-after-comic-strip-ronald-wimberly|first1=Ronald|publisher=Condé Nast|editor-first=Francoise|editor-last=Mouly|editor-link=Françoise Mouly|author-link2=Ronald Wimberly|last2=Wimberly|first2=Ronald}} * {{cite magazine |author=Wimberly |author-mask=1 |date=October 5, 2016 |title=A Radio Station Takes Root Inside an Old Shipping Container in Brooklyn |department=Culture Desk |magazine=The New Yorker |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/a-radio-station-takes-root-inside-an-old-shipping-container-in-brooklyn|first1=Ronald|publisher=Condé Nast|editor-first=Francoise|editor-last=Mouly|editor-link=Françoise Mouly|author-link2=Ronald Wimberly|last2=Wimberly|first2=Ronald}} * {{cite book |author=Wimberly |author-link=Ronald Wimberly |title=Black History in Its Own Words |publisher=Image Comics |year=2017|isbn=978-1534301535|language=English|first=Ronald|edition=Print}} * {{cite magazine |date=2018 |title=Various |magazine=LAAB Magazine |volume= |issue=Dark Matter |editor-last=Wimberly|editor-first=Ronald|editor-link=Ronald Wimberly}} * {{cite magazine |date=2019 |title=Various |magazine=LAAB Magazine |volume= |issue=4: This Was Your Life! |editor-last=Wimberly|editor-first=Ronald|editor-link=Ronald Wimberly}} * {{cite magazine |date=2020 |title=Various |magazine=LAAB Magazine |volume= |issue=2: Eat / Shit |editor-last=Wimberly|editor-first=Ronald|editor-link=Ronald Wimberly}} * {{cite book |author=Wimberly |author-link=Ronald Wimberly |title=GratNin: KGMR |publisher=LAAB LLC |year=2020 |language=English |first=Ronald |url=https://webtoons.com/en/canvas/gratnin-kgmr/list?title_no=415176&page=1}} * {{cite magazine |author=Wimberly, Ronald |author-mask=1 |date=December 28, 2020 |title=Pandemic paper doll |department=Comics |magazine=The New Yorker |volume=96 |issue=42 |pages=42–43 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/12/28/pandemic-paper-doll <!--|accessdate=2021-03-15-->}} * {{cite magazine |author=Wimberly, Ronald |author-mask=1 |date=January 17, 2022 |title=King Arrested for Loitering, 1958 |department=Art |magazine=The New Yorker |volume=97 |issue=45 |pages=cover |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/01/17 <!--|accessdate=2022-01-17-->}} * {{cite book |author=Wimberly |author-link=Ronald Wimberly |title=Now Let Me Fly |publisher=Macmillan |year=2023|isbn=9781626728523|language=English|first1=Ronald|last2=Revel|first2=Brahm|author-link2=Brahm Revel}} * {{cite book |author=Wimberly |author-link=Ronald Wimberly |title=GratNin: KGMR |publisher=Beehive Books |year=2024|language=English|first=Ronald|edition=Print|editor-link=Beehive Books}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{official website|https://ronaldwimberly.com}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wimberly, Ronald}} Category:1979 births Category:20th-century African-American artists Category:21st-century African-American artists Category:21st-century American artists Category:African-American comics artists Category:American male artists Category:Artists from New York City Category:Artists from Washington, D.C. Category:Living people Category:Pratt Institute alumni Category:The New Yorker people