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Always Human #1

Always Human

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First serialized on the popular app and website WebToon, Always Human ran from 2015-2017 and amassed over 76,000 unique subscribers during its run. Now reformatted for a print edition in sponsorship with GLAAD, Always Human is a beautifully drawn graphic novel about a developing relationship between two young women in a near-future, soft sci-fi setting. Always Human is drawn in a manga-influenced style and with an incredible color palette that leaps off the page!

In the near-future, people use technology to give the illusion of all kinds of body modifications—but some people have “Egan’s Syndrome,” a highly sensitive immune system that rejects these “mods” and are unable to use them. Those who are affected maintain a “natural” appearance, reliant on cosmetics and hair dye at most to help them play with their looks. 

Sunati is attracted to Austen the first time she sees her and is drawn to what she assumes is Austen’s bravery and confidence to live life unmodded. When Sunati learns the truth, she’s still attracted to Austen and asks her on a date. Gradually, their relationship unfolds as they deal with friends, family, and the emotional conflicts that come with every romance. Together, they will learn and grow in a story that reminds us no matter how technology evolves, we will remain . . . always human.

Rendered in beautiful detail and an extraordinary color palette, Always Human is a sweet love story told in a gentle sci-fi setting by a queer woman cartoonist, Ari North.

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 2015

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About the author

Ari North

2 books319 followers
She is trying to keep most private information because she used to work as a primary school teacher. She has a husband, was born and grew up in Australia, now she is living in England.

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5 stars
1,629 (41%)
4 stars
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3 stars
687 (17%)
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34 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 732 reviews
Profile Image for Melanie.
1,209 reviews102k followers
April 12, 2020


This was truly everything I've ever wanted. My queer heart and soul are so very happy and so very full. Please, oh please, give this a try! <3

Read For Free HERE!

Rep: wlw disabled Chilean-Australian MC, wlw Asian-Australian MC, aroace side characters,
side genderqueer and agender characters, side mlm characters, side poly relationship (mfm)

Trigger and content warnings: eating disorder & discussion of body image (ty, Silvia!)

Youtube | Instagram | Twitter | Blog | Spotify | Twitch

This was our April 2020 pick for the Dragons and Tea Book Club! 🐉☕
Profile Image for Era ➴.
223 reviews669 followers
July 27, 2021
The LGBTQ+ representation was fucking amazing and the racial diversity was gorgeous and the plot and emotions have me on the ground.
I just -
This is so perfect.
The art and characters are incredible.
How the FUCK
I am aware that this is incomprehensible but I hope you get the gist of how good this webtoon is.
Profile Image for jade.
489 reviews369 followers
May 28, 2020
“and i think you should look however you want. it won’t change the way i feel about you.”

a very dreamy, sugary-sweet sci-fi webcomic about two girls who fall in love.

sunati is a VR environmental artist and designer who loves using fashion mods: nanobots which can easily change one’s appearance, from simple things like eye and hair color to the more imaginative like adding wings or tails. every day during her commute, sunati runs into austen, a chem major whose appearance never changes.

and that, of course, is intriguing to sunati, who looks entirely different every month.

i wish i could tell you more about the story, but there honestly isn’t any plot beyond the blossoming relationship between the two main characters. we’re offered a slice-of-life look into both their lives: friends, work, university, goals and dreams. the biggest struggles that pop up there are getting through exams for austen, and dealing with a heavy workload for sunati.

all the other stuff is focused on their relationship -- overcoming differences in personality, overcoming differences in how they view the world, learning how to communicate in a healthy way, etc. it’s cute, but it remains standard Relationship Pitfalls territory.

the story also seems to be self-aware about being very much insta-love; austen even mentions this at one point, and despite that sunati still asks her unironically if they’re now proper girlfriends after the very first date they go on. in much the same way, the dialogue often made me cringe; it’s very on the nose and stilted.

the comic plays around with disability as a theme; austen is unable to use fashion mods due to her immune system. this, of course, causes a myriad of conflicts for how sunati views her, diving into how abled people love to use disabled people as inspiration porn. which was a nice touch that offered a bit of depth to the story.

in the end, most of the appeal for me came from this comic’s illustrations. they’re gorgeously soft and wispy, with a beautiful watercolor-style in pastels. the architecture and environments look stunning, especially the night skies. it made me wish i could walk around in its world, and it felt like a feel-good version of the darkish noir of a movie like bladerunner.

anyway, a sweet f/f story in a vaguely sci-fi-ish setting. as long as you’re not expecting too much plot and don’t mind instant love, this might be just what the doctor ordered.

(if just for the visuals, i would’ve rated this higher, but the writing didn’t hold up for me.)

you can read it here.

2.5 stars.
Profile Image for Chelsea.
238 reviews102 followers
March 1, 2022
AAAAAA I AM WEEPING THIS WAS P R E C I O U S

I adored this graphic novel. The art is absolutely stunning—so soft and ethereal. I loved the accompanying music too, it was an element I hadn't experienced before while reading something like this, and it fit the art style so well (soft! and! ethereal!) The story and relationship(s) were so sweet, but also portrayed in such a realistic way. And the diversity and inclusivity was so refreshing. This was such a positive, hopeful story and I loved every beautiful panel of it :')
Profile Image for m ♡.
97 reviews84 followers
March 27, 2022
always human is a graphic novel about two girls falling in love in a futuristic, sci-fi world. it’s a beautifully illustrated story that is engaging from start to finish. the characters and plot are compelling and there is rarely a dull moment.

the two main characters, sunati and austen, learn to accept and understand each other’s differences while they navigate their relationship while living in a world where seemingly anything is possible due to technology. they’re both well-rounded characters with flaws and complexities.

there are many notable aspects of this novel. the relationships between the characters were so authentic, and the novel as a whole had so much heart. the representation was amazing and i related to many of the characters.

i don’t read graphic novels very often, but this one made me want to. i definitely want to read the sequel soon.

3.5/5 stars
Profile Image for destiny ♡ howling libraries.
1,918 reviews6,116 followers
April 10, 2020
This was an absolutely beautiful story with some of the most precious art I've ever seen, and more diversity in one place than I've probably ever found elsewhere. Two queer women of color as our leads, tons of QPOC and POC side characters, disabilities, disordered eating, anxiety, polyamorous relationships, and more. It was gorgeous.

As far as the storyline itself went, the plot is definitely a bit thin here, and things tend to feel pretty "slice of life", which I didn't mind at all but I know won't work for every reader. That said, even if you generally prefer more solid plots, it's such a quick-moving and lovely read that I don't think most people will mind. Austen frustrated me for a while with some emotionally manipulative behaviors, but everything we see these characters struggle with is used as a launching pad for growth, development, and important conversations, so I'm glad I was patient and didn't write her character off too early on! And, of course, the love story itself was soft, sweet, and genuine.
Profile Image for Maëlys.
379 reviews277 followers
July 21, 2020
Dragons & Tea Book Club's April pick ☕

☆ 4 / 5 ☆

“When I see you the universe comes into focus.”

This webtoon was so cute, had a very comforting feel-good vibe to it and of course the sapphics always make me happy.

The art style is not necessarily what I would gravitate towards naturally but it works so well with the overall feel of the story with beautiful colours that come together to match the soft tone of the story. I also loved the background music that was incorporated; it's always a struggle for me to find something not too distracting and this was perfect.

And every time I make this choice I’ll get to ask myself, once again: “Will this make me happy?”

More than anything, this story is about life and the choices we make. It’s about feeling lost and frustrated, feeling left behind, but ultimately making the conscious choices that will lead to a happier life. This can be seen with both Austen and Sunati and their different aspirations.Things are a bit more complicated for Austen in a world where most people can use mods to change their appearance, not get sick, have access to databases of information and a myriad of other things while she can’t. I think the author strikes a delicate balance of not showing her as lesser or helpless but also having her learn how to let people in and relying on them. She struggles a lot with her body image and with the perception other people have of her and her character definitely goes through the most growth in this story.

“You are warm and brilliant and you make everything better.”

The romance between Sunati and Austen is so very sweet and turned my heart into pure mush. What I really loved about it is that while the communication between them wasn’t always perfect the plot points that revolved around that always led to important and healthy conversations.They were always so supportive of one another and you could just feel the trust and love between the two of them.

“I don’t remember exactly when I fell asleep. But I do remember feeling safe, and warm, and quiet.”

Beyond some very cute dates and romantic moments they also shared all of the inbetweens, all the quiet and toned down moments, they shared their sadness and doubts and more than anything they were just there for each other in all possible ways. I loved how their personalities bounced off of one another and how they managed to grow as individuals and together. Their relationship made me smile so much and made me so happy to experience.

“I have to believe that we’ll always find each other.”

My second favourite dynamic was Sunati’s and Rae’s friendship and I can’t stress enough how much I loved it. These two have known each other since childhood and we get to see key moments where they were what pushed the other one forward. It was so beautiful to have a story show how much the friends you make also change your life for the better. We also get to see how hard it can be when you want to be happy for your friend’s success while feeling left behind. And sometimes it can be hard to say the simplest words like “I miss you.” I really love that we got to see how much they relied on each other and that it was never just one-sided. Circumstances might separate them and mistakes pop up along the way but as they said themselves “As long as we refuse to drift apart this won’t be goodbye.”

“Oh, this is it. Right there, right now, I’m home.”

I also loved seeing the families of our main characters and how different they were. A moment that really stuck with me was Sunati coming back home after being away for so long and wondering if she still could call a place home if she wasn’t living there anymore. The instant she reaches her family she understands that she can.

The casual rep in this webtoon was impeccable, everything was very effortless but still shown as important. I think the author is really good at bringing forward important discussions in a very thoughtful way and I really appreciated that.

“I will never be brave like Austen. I can only be brave like me.”

I loved this story, it just gave me all the best feelings and I didn’t mind the ending where things were resolved very neatly. This was a wholesome read filled with simple but effective one liners that were everything I needed.

I would also recommend reading through the little Q&As because I found them pretty cute and interesting too!

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November 21, 2021
A huge happy YES to recommending this webtoon! It was such a wholesome Sapphic romance with the focus largely on difficult topics like insecurities, careers, self image, and difficult decisions. Genuinely liked each and every episode. Love the character(s) growth! Loved the representations from asexual & aromantic to polygamous relationships and more. A very relaxing read.
Profile Image for giulia ✿.
374 reviews356 followers
April 19, 2020
someone shoot me with the cuteness overload gun.

This was so beautiful. I am completely in awe of the art style and the bubbles were so wholesome and aesthetically pleasing.

"They're nice. They're not a girl, Cayli is agender."
The genderfluid normality of the story touched my heart so very much. I also screamed when I saw the poly rep. It was so genuine and beautiful to see.

I loved how the art style changed as the story progressed. It looked so different and yet the same.
The music really helped me getting into the story, it made it all so much more real, it was lovely.

"You act as if I can do no wrong, as if everything I say and do is justified. But I'm not perfect, I make mistakes all the time. I can be petty and angry and insecure. And I can't live up to the pedestal you've put me on. "

I love how relatable and realistic the plot and characters were. Austen’s immune system and her inability to use most mods is so well done and developed. I'm also glad how the creator dealt with her eating disorder. I could totally understand both points of view. We don't see easy going situations or decisions being made for the plot. The characters are flawed, they're real. They aren't reacting in a perfect way. They mess up, hurt each other and themselves but also have growth and development.

I also appreciated how the plot isn't just fixated on the romance, but we have a lot of platonic friendships, family relationships, backstories and supportive teachers.
The plot is really easy and the angst is not extremely unrealistic, but instead, revolves around events that could absolutely happen to each and everyone of us. It shows that a story to be good doesn't need angst and plot twists every 2 pages and it was truly refreshing.
Profile Image for Romie.
1,193 reviews1,372 followers
April 10, 2020
this was such a lovely story! the art is simply beautiful, and the characters are so fleshed out! I love that we not only got to see Sunati and Austen in their relationship, but we also got to see them on their own, we got to read about their families and friends, and it made them even more real to me. in the end I think it's a beautiful story about finding what (and who) makes you happy and go for it! (4.25)
Profile Image for bangchan&books • wari.
64 reviews29 followers
April 27, 2022
this was so cute! i cant wait to read season 2. i felt like i was a bit dumb to get the concept straight away, but when i did i felt confused, warm, and everything else you can think of. i feel like some of it was rushed hence the 4 stars instead of 5, but it was definitely worth reading ♥️
Profile Image for Noria.
202 reviews
September 7, 2020
Sometimes you want the sweetest, cutest, warmest, most fluffiest comic to make you believe in love again, one that is filled with lots of pining and awkward gay moments and a love so pure it takes your breath away. Add in a bit of science fiction, futuristic premise and I am sold completely. This was such a warm-hearted read and I had an absolute blast reading it!!! Definitely can't wait to read the second comic and get more of Sunati and Austen!!!!
Profile Image for Bek (MoonyReadsByStarlight).
373 reviews81 followers
January 17, 2021
This was a cute story about the characters getting to know each other. There were some important lessons in there and I really liked the art style. Parts of it were a bit clunky and rushed, but I did enjoy it for the most part.
Profile Image for Emma L..
697 reviews24 followers
October 18, 2020
*** This review is spoiler-free! ***

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 (4/5 stars).

If it wasn´t for the amazing Melanie (MelToTheAny) and her equally epic friends I would have never known about this webtoon´s existence and honestly, that would have been a huge shame. So thank you lovely people for shouting about this book. So here are some of my opinions:


I loooooved it💙💗💙💗

This is exactly the kind of science fiction I like and love. I am really picky with my science fiction and the majority of it sadly ends up as something I dislike, so I was extremely happy when it didn´t happen with this one. It truly was the perfect combination of science fiction and contemporary everyday life.

Also, don´t even get me started on the artwork of this webtoon, cause then we will be here for a few hours. Not only is the art just so fucking stunning (it is definitely the kind of art I´m a hoe for) but also the color palette of it was just superb. It really fits so well with both the story, the romance, and the characters.

The characters were also so cute and I honestly shipped them from the moment both protagonists arrived/showed up. Truly the representation was epic (like both the LGBTQ+ and racial diversity).

I also really liked the side characters of this story (both friends of the main characters were really cute and I liked how involved both parents of both girls were).


I honestly don´t have much to say about it besides that it is such a cute love story with amazing and likable characters. And that it is just that stinking cute. Besides, the story isn´t only great since it also has amazing artwork, great diversity and LGBTQ+ rep, and science fiction at its best. But the best part may be that you can read the entirety of this novel on the interwebs for free. Since I am such a lovely person (I totally do not have an ego or anything xD) the link to this webtoon will be provided down below (so at the end of this review). I would say if you want to read more comics, graphic novels, or webtoons I would definitely suggest that you take a look at this one. I also think Always Human is a great introduction to the comic/webtoon/graphic novel world.

https://www.webtoons.com/en/romance/a...
Profile Image for Frank-Intergalactic Bookdragon.
655 reviews276 followers
November 24, 2020
A cute and wholesome sapphic love story brimming with queer rep (not a single straight in sight). Though I wish there was more of a build up to the main relationship, but that's just a personal preference because one of my favorite part of romances is all the yearning-filled build up.

Would recommend to lesbians, sapphics, friends of mara, women who love women, homosexual females, girls who have felt attraction to other girls (even if they've felt attraction to guys and nonbinary pals too because we're bi and pan inclusive in this house), and people who just generally appreciate wlw ships.
Profile Image for Mary ツ⋆.
94 reviews96 followers
May 25, 2020
THIS WAS SO ADORABLE AND PRECIOUS AND PURE AHHHHH I LOVED IT SO MUCH <3

The art and graphics in this book are astonishing! It is absolutely stunning and I love the background music. The diversity, romance, representation, and the characters are wonderful! This was such a delightful read <33
Profile Image for Malli (Chapter Malliumpkin).
891 reviews113 followers
May 29, 2023
description

Content/Trigger Warnings: Eating disorder, discussion of body image, anxiety

“When I see you, the universe comes into focus”


Friends, I absolutely adored this webcomic! Everything about this comic was so beautiful, so endearing, and everything I never knew I needed until I had it. My soul is so filled with warmth, happiness, and all the best vibes. I don’t think I can recommend this enough and you can read it for free on Webtoons!

☄️ Sunati – 22 year-old Asian-Australian, has anxiety and loves mods, works for a company on VR environment design, dreams of being an astronaut and loves space.

☄️ Austen – 18 year-old Chilean-Australian, can’t use mods due to an autoimmune disorder, struggles with an ED, also a college student.

description

Our story follows Sunati and Austen, our main characters who fall in love with one another. They’ll navigate their relationship, the struggles they’ll face, and learning what it means to be truly human with one another. Oh yeah, there’s also a lot of topics addressed like living with an autoimmune disorder and how that impacts your relationships, subtle talks of gender fluidity, addressing the struggles and pressure of college, and oh yeah, navigating the complexities of feelings in the relationships around us.

Let me start by saying the representation in this graphic novel is fantastic ! Not only are our two main characters in a sapphic relationship, but there’s many side characters who are agender or asexual. We even have a polyamorous relationship with Sunati’s parents. We also have the representation for autoimmune disorders and eating disorders in this webcomic as well. Not to mention, there are many people of color throughout this story. It’s just a wonderful way to represent so much diversity.

description

Speaking of side characters, I absolutely adored Rae. Not only is she absolutely gorgeous, but she truly is a magnificent friend to Sunati. I wish we saw more of her through this comic and I’m secretly hoping the author will give her a spin-off series. I can’t get over her and I adore her, so much!

I also need to go off on a side tangent on how beautiful the art style is. I absolutely adored the colors and the music the author paired with this webcomic was fantastic. When I say I fell in love with this webcomic, I mean I really fell in love with how stunning it all is. My heart has never felt so at peace and at home with a comic the way I did with this one because that’s how alluring and captivating the art is.

I also really enjoyed Sunati and Austen’s relationship. Despite how hard they struggled and the challenges they faced, they always found a way to work it out, talk it out. I liked how the author really showed the complexities of a relationship and how things in a relationship aren’t always easy. Seeing that, I think many couples who have walked into hell and have come back will be able to appreciate this relationship. I know for myself, there were many parts of their relationship that hit close to home and it makes a person pause to appreciate walking through the fire, and coming out on the other side.

“And even though she’s leaving, and even though I’m staying behind, I have to believe distance won’t matter. I have to believe we’ll always find each other.”


description

One thing I wish we had more of was Austen. The reason I say that is because Austen felt like the weaker of the two main characters. Suntai felt like a stronger force for me and had a way of capturing my attention over Austen. Even when we had panels of just Austen, I found myself wanting more from her and wanting to know so much more about her. I’m hoping we’ll see these characters again and I refuse to believe that this is the end of the story for these two.

Overall, I really enjoyed this comic. It was the perfect read, the perfect pick me up, and something I really needed to lift my spirits. I think many readers are going to fall in love with this comic, with these characters, and everything it has to offer. I wish I could sit here and gush about every little thing, but I think you need to find out for yourselves what I’m talking about. After all, you can read this graphic novel for free!



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Profile Image for Jenna.
240 reviews430 followers
October 20, 2021
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Rep: main sapphic couple, agender, asexual, and non-binary rep, Achillean Dads, Spanish-language usage, chronic illness rep

I’m still trying to figure out how to rate graphic novels, but I did like the art style of this. I know it was adapted from a mobile formatted comic, which was evidenced by some of the text being rather small.

My only real complaint about this story was it is incredibly Insta-lovey. I am very aware this is the reality for some, it’s just not my preference for romance. Also, while this is labeled as YA, Sunati is 21 and turns 22 and Austen is 18 and in college.

This was such a fun and sweet romance, graphic novel focusing on Sunati and Austen. In this world, technology has advanced and people can modify what they look like on a pretty routine basis. Sunati loves changing her look and using this to boost her confidence, however she becomes intrigued by Austen, a girl who always looks the same.

After an eventual encounter, Sunati learns that Austen has Egan’a Syndrome, making her own of the rare people unable to accept most body modifications. In their budding romance Austen and Sunati must learn to communicate and come to truly understand their feelings and how they interact giving their varying life experiences.

I can’t wait to read the sequel to see what’s next for our sci-fi girls. This is great for fans of Heartstopper and wholesome sapphic romances.
Profile Image for Maria Cecilia.
299 reviews96 followers
January 9, 2023
Que cosa más tierna 🥺 es una novela gráfica muy linda, con un montón de representación (el primer poliamor que veo en alguna historia) y con una idea muy bonita.

Me hubiese gustado menos contexto y más desarrollo en la relación de las protagonistas, pero es una idea súper fresca y sobre todo muy bien ilustrada.

Intenten revisar las advertencias ya qué hay temas que pueden ser delicados para varios lectores.
106 reviews34 followers
May 4, 2020
This is so cute haily recommend it, I read in webcomic formet wtuch have music it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 732 reviews

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