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Trans History: A Graphic Novel: From Ancient Times to the Present Day
An essential introduction to trans history, from ancient times to the present day, in full-color graphic nonfiction format. Deeply researched, highly readable, and featuring a broad range of voices.
What does “trans” mean, and what does it mean to be trans? Diversity in human sex and gender is not a modern phenomenon, as readers will discover through illustrated stories and records that introduce historical figures ranging from the controversial Roman emperor Elagabalus to the swashbuckling seventeenth-century conquistador Antonio de Erauso to veterans of the Stonewall uprising Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.
In addition to these individual profiles, the book explores some of the societal roles played by trans people beginning in ancient times and shows how European ideas about gender were spread across the globe. It explains how the science of sexology and the growing acceptance of (and backlash to) gender nonconformity have helped to shape what it means to be trans today. Illustrated conversations with modern activists, scholars, and creatives highlight the breadth of current trans experiences and give readers a deeper sense of the diversity of trans people, a group numbering in the millions. Extensive source notes provide further resources.
Moving, funny, heartbreaking, and empowering, this remarkable compendium from trans creators Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett is packed with research on every dynamic page.
What does “trans” mean, and what does it mean to be trans? Diversity in human sex and gender is not a modern phenomenon, as readers will discover through illustrated stories and records that introduce historical figures ranging from the controversial Roman emperor Elagabalus to the swashbuckling seventeenth-century conquistador Antonio de Erauso to veterans of the Stonewall uprising Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.
In addition to these individual profiles, the book explores some of the societal roles played by trans people beginning in ancient times and shows how European ideas about gender were spread across the globe. It explains how the science of sexology and the growing acceptance of (and backlash to) gender nonconformity have helped to shape what it means to be trans today. Illustrated conversations with modern activists, scholars, and creatives highlight the breadth of current trans experiences and give readers a deeper sense of the diversity of trans people, a group numbering in the millions. Extensive source notes provide further resources.
Moving, funny, heartbreaking, and empowering, this remarkable compendium from trans creators Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett is packed with research on every dynamic page.
384 pages, Paperback
Published May 13, 2025
51 people are currently reading
1149 people want to read
About the author
Alex L. Combs
3 books9 followersI live in the San Francisco Bay area where I teach and make art. I earned a BA in art with a focus in printmaking and a BA in Gender Studies from the University of North Carolina at Asheville in 2011, and in 2019 I earned an MFA in Comics from California College of the Arts. Right now I’m working on my first full-length graphic novel about transgender history.
I first started exhibiting my self-published comics and art at conventions in 2009. My first comics were fanzines and I love to connect with fan communities since a lot of my art is related to being a geeky queer human. I enjoy working with a variety of mediums and my visual influences include anime, fine art, lettering, illustration, portraiture, tattoo, and sign painting.
I first started exhibiting my self-published comics and art at conventions in 2009. My first comics were fanzines and I love to connect with fan communities since a lot of my art is related to being a geeky queer human. I enjoy working with a variety of mediums and my visual influences include anime, fine art, lettering, illustration, portraiture, tattoo, and sign painting.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
October 2, 2025
In a Nutshell: A non-fiction graphic novel detailing trans history from ancient times to contemporary times. Very informative and fairly well-researched. Contains many examples of historical as well as current-day trans people. Generalises some facts at times and gets a bit dry in the historical bits. But a good option for those who wish to learn more about the topic.
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While there are many labels about gender and sexual identities these days (Sometimes, I feel like I can't even catch up with the existing ones before there's another new label in circulation!), one label that has existed for quite some time now is "transgender". Though we now know that a trans identity isn't just "transgender" people, many of us don't realise what the term actually encompasses. Worse, a few of us dismiss "trans-ness" as a mental disease or an abnormal condition that goes against what God (and/or nature) intended. *eye roll!*
“Trans” is increasingly an umbrella term that encompasses several identities and experiences. This graphic novel, OwnVoices because it's written and illustrated by trans authors, aims to expound upon the entire history of the trans identity. Going from ancient times (taking cues from archaeological finds of early human settlements) to present-day activism and awareness, the book covers every important aspect of trans history and trans people across the eras.
The information is powerful. Presented in a structured way, it takes us through the centuries and helps us understand the evolution of the trans identity. It begins with the obvious question: “What does it mean to be trans?”, then goes to the more common doubt asked these days: “Is it a new "trend" to be trans?” The book successfully refutes this second question, highlighting several historical figures who may or may not have been trans and the difficulties they faced in more conservative/ignorant times. Misinformation about trans people has been rampant in ancient times as well as modern days, so this book helps to dispel several misconceptions.
As you can guess, there's a lot of tragedy and heartbreak in this book. The introductory note makes it clear that the term “trans” is rooted in Western European and US cultures, so we get to see clearly what damage the colonialists did in their conquered lands with their regressive thinking. It was very aggravating to read the historical parts even as a cis-het BIPOC person. I can't imagine how much more infuriating and traumatising it would be for a trans person to read about such atrocities.
While the book means well and even does fairly well, there are a couple of points where it could have worked better for me. The chapters are divided based on era, with the very first chapter coming from the “ancient world”. This is very history-intensive and dry, which might turn off readers who aren’t fond of history as a subject. I should not really complain about this because the title does promise us trans *history*, but I wish the presentation had been a bit more accessible to lay people. Further, there is an underlying assumption in the initial two chapters (both of which cover older time periods) that any woman of the past who dressed up as a man was likely trans. Not necessarily, right? Maybe they just enjoyed better freedom dressed up as men? Of course, there’s nothing conclusive in their life history for us to guess either way, but we cannot necessarily take one side over the other.
The *history* part of the book ends on page 258. The remaining hundred-or-so pages are dedicated to “Community Voices”, containing trans experiences and perspectives of gender nonconforming and trans people in their own words. While this section started off well for me, it got repetitive after a point. A hundred continuous pages of life-stories with many similar experiences of trauma and self-acceptance can easily generate feelings of déjà vu. I appreciate the story of every single contributor to this section. I just wish these personal narratives had been more scattered across the book instead of being clumped together into one huge section at the end. A special shoutout to Bengali-American illustrator Bishakh Som’s writeup about her experience as a trans femme woman, highlighting her visit to India and her interaction with some members of the hijra community. I loved her writeup so much! I wish Indian people would remember that long before the West even made up such inclusive terms, the hijra/kinnar community in India had not only a label but also a rightful place, which has sadly degraded over the years. We need to return to the old levels of acceptance minus the discrimination.
Overall, this was a worthy and insightful read, offering a detailed look at what it means to be trans, both in terms of definition as well as lived experiences. The graphic format helps make the content more accessible to those who don’t like reading textual history tomes.
Definitely recommended. To anyone who assumes that trans history is modern history, this OwnVoices graphic novel is a great way of updating/rectifying your thinking.
3.75 stars.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While there are many labels about gender and sexual identities these days (Sometimes, I feel like I can't even catch up with the existing ones before there's another new label in circulation!), one label that has existed for quite some time now is "transgender". Though we now know that a trans identity isn't just "transgender" people, many of us don't realise what the term actually encompasses. Worse, a few of us dismiss "trans-ness" as a mental disease or an abnormal condition that goes against what God (and/or nature) intended. *eye roll!*
“Trans” is increasingly an umbrella term that encompasses several identities and experiences. This graphic novel, OwnVoices because it's written and illustrated by trans authors, aims to expound upon the entire history of the trans identity. Going from ancient times (taking cues from archaeological finds of early human settlements) to present-day activism and awareness, the book covers every important aspect of trans history and trans people across the eras.
The information is powerful. Presented in a structured way, it takes us through the centuries and helps us understand the evolution of the trans identity. It begins with the obvious question: “What does it mean to be trans?”, then goes to the more common doubt asked these days: “Is it a new "trend" to be trans?” The book successfully refutes this second question, highlighting several historical figures who may or may not have been trans and the difficulties they faced in more conservative/ignorant times. Misinformation about trans people has been rampant in ancient times as well as modern days, so this book helps to dispel several misconceptions.
As you can guess, there's a lot of tragedy and heartbreak in this book. The introductory note makes it clear that the term “trans” is rooted in Western European and US cultures, so we get to see clearly what damage the colonialists did in their conquered lands with their regressive thinking. It was very aggravating to read the historical parts even as a cis-het BIPOC person. I can't imagine how much more infuriating and traumatising it would be for a trans person to read about such atrocities.
While the book means well and even does fairly well, there are a couple of points where it could have worked better for me. The chapters are divided based on era, with the very first chapter coming from the “ancient world”. This is very history-intensive and dry, which might turn off readers who aren’t fond of history as a subject. I should not really complain about this because the title does promise us trans *history*, but I wish the presentation had been a bit more accessible to lay people. Further, there is an underlying assumption in the initial two chapters (both of which cover older time periods) that any woman of the past who dressed up as a man was likely trans. Not necessarily, right? Maybe they just enjoyed better freedom dressed up as men? Of course, there’s nothing conclusive in their life history for us to guess either way, but we cannot necessarily take one side over the other.
The *history* part of the book ends on page 258. The remaining hundred-or-so pages are dedicated to “Community Voices”, containing trans experiences and perspectives of gender nonconforming and trans people in their own words. While this section started off well for me, it got repetitive after a point. A hundred continuous pages of life-stories with many similar experiences of trauma and self-acceptance can easily generate feelings of déjà vu. I appreciate the story of every single contributor to this section. I just wish these personal narratives had been more scattered across the book instead of being clumped together into one huge section at the end. A special shoutout to Bengali-American illustrator Bishakh Som’s writeup about her experience as a trans femme woman, highlighting her visit to India and her interaction with some members of the hijra community. I loved her writeup so much! I wish Indian people would remember that long before the West even made up such inclusive terms, the hijra/kinnar community in India had not only a label but also a rightful place, which has sadly degraded over the years. We need to return to the old levels of acceptance minus the discrimination.
Overall, this was a worthy and insightful read, offering a detailed look at what it means to be trans, both in terms of definition as well as lived experiences. The graphic format helps make the content more accessible to those who don’t like reading textual history tomes.
Definitely recommended. To anyone who assumes that trans history is modern history, this OwnVoices graphic novel is a great way of updating/rectifying your thinking.
3.75 stars.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
May 11, 2025
A well-researched, thoughtful, engaging look at trans and gender nonconforming people through history and from all around the world. This book is very welcoming to newcomers, but also full of little gems for those of us who have been reading trans histories for years. Combs and Eakett come from within the trans community, but they also pass the mic to many other trans folks of different ages, races, nationalities, and identities to share non-white and non-Western experiences. A beautiful and compassionate primer!
June 29, 2025
There’s an incredible amount of research, care, and love put into Trans History ✨🏳️⚧️
This is also very thorough and detailed for a graphic novel.
Diversity in human sex and gender is nothing new - Alex. L Combs and Alex Eakett takes us through records from ancient times to the present day. What does it mean to be transgender? What kind of hardships do trans people face?
The growing acceptance of (and backlash) to gender non-conformity has shaped what it means to be trans in the modern world.
I truly think this would help educate anybody on this subject, regardless of your own gender expression. Maybe some of those who act against the existence of Trans people (the dreaded TERFs) should even give this a read. It is truly is an eye-opening read, even for a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, like myself.
5 Stars
This is also very thorough and detailed for a graphic novel.
Diversity in human sex and gender is nothing new - Alex. L Combs and Alex Eakett takes us through records from ancient times to the present day. What does it mean to be transgender? What kind of hardships do trans people face?
The growing acceptance of (and backlash) to gender non-conformity has shaped what it means to be trans in the modern world.
I truly think this would help educate anybody on this subject, regardless of your own gender expression. Maybe some of those who act against the existence of Trans people (the dreaded TERFs) should even give this a read. It is truly is an eye-opening read, even for a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, like myself.
5 Stars
September 26, 2025
I truly believe everyone’s world will be richer with an understanding of trans history. When ideas of gender are subconsciously deeply-integrated into all aspects of your society, it's revealing to see how people perceived as crossing or defying its boundaries have lived and been treated.
This book is a really excellent and incredibly accessible, thoughtful, easy to read explanation on the subject, even if you're totally new to it - and one I’d really recommend.
Why it's good:
The authors have talked to so many experts and historians, carefully citing sources, and aren’t afraid to also tackle the intertwined history of colonialism, race and eugenics head-on in a way that feels vital, illuminating and valuable - even if you broadly know those topics!
At the same time, the book manages to include all this rich detail without feeling bogged down by it at all. It's an empathetic, friendly, graphic explanation that’s not too text-heavy, making the subject truly accessible - both teen-friendly but honestly also just great for anyone who doesn’t want to read a dense textbook.
Worth knowing:
It didn’t hit every figure I know of & it’s centred on where the authors are from (the US) - that's always going to be true & the book absolutely didn’t feel the lesser for it.
The end section also interviews trans people now on their personal histories and sense of gender, which is quite different from the historical section. Obviously it can only fit a small amount about each of these people’s points of view, which I think is inevitable in a graphic book so ambitious and wide-ranging, when trans experience is so varied (insofar as it can be grouped together at all). I still found those stories valuable and interesting and often very emotional, even if I was left wanting to know more - each one could be their own book.
You should read this because looking at queer history really refutes the idea of gender variation and transness as new, learned, harmful or going 'against nature'. Fixed, reductive ideas of gender also link so deeply with people in power trying to control women, race and sexuality that whether you're queer or not, I think seeing how these ideas evolved - and what’s always existed outside and beyond that - opens up a vital world of understanding the past and the present.
This book is a really excellent and incredibly accessible, thoughtful, easy to read explanation on the subject, even if you're totally new to it - and one I’d really recommend.
Why it's good:
The authors have talked to so many experts and historians, carefully citing sources, and aren’t afraid to also tackle the intertwined history of colonialism, race and eugenics head-on in a way that feels vital, illuminating and valuable - even if you broadly know those topics!
At the same time, the book manages to include all this rich detail without feeling bogged down by it at all. It's an empathetic, friendly, graphic explanation that’s not too text-heavy, making the subject truly accessible - both teen-friendly but honestly also just great for anyone who doesn’t want to read a dense textbook.
Worth knowing:
It didn’t hit every figure I know of & it’s centred on where the authors are from (the US) - that's always going to be true & the book absolutely didn’t feel the lesser for it.
The end section also interviews trans people now on their personal histories and sense of gender, which is quite different from the historical section. Obviously it can only fit a small amount about each of these people’s points of view, which I think is inevitable in a graphic book so ambitious and wide-ranging, when trans experience is so varied (insofar as it can be grouped together at all). I still found those stories valuable and interesting and often very emotional, even if I was left wanting to know more - each one could be their own book.
You should read this because looking at queer history really refutes the idea of gender variation and transness as new, learned, harmful or going 'against nature'. Fixed, reductive ideas of gender also link so deeply with people in power trying to control women, race and sexuality that whether you're queer or not, I think seeing how these ideas evolved - and what’s always existed outside and beyond that - opens up a vital world of understanding the past and the present.
February 4, 2025
This is an excellent introduction to trans history in graphic novel format. It's divided into 5 chapters: Ancient history, Europeans from the old world into the new, sexology/sex studies, transness in the US. and a collection of comics where trans people today speak. It's a broad yet thorough glimpse into the myriad of ways gender has been expressed, and the ways in which trans people have been oppressed and erased from history. A very important book to read right now, when another attempt at erasure is happening.
It's list as being young adult, but I would recommend this for anyone from 10 to 70 who wants to better understand the history of gender expression and transness. My only complaint is that I wanted an entire book for each chapter. I want more! It's going to be gorgeous in color; I read a black and white arc. A good book to read afterward for adult readers is Before We Were Trans: A New History of Gender by Kit Heyam.
It's list as being young adult, but I would recommend this for anyone from 10 to 70 who wants to better understand the history of gender expression and transness. My only complaint is that I wanted an entire book for each chapter. I want more! It's going to be gorgeous in color; I read a black and white arc. A good book to read afterward for adult readers is Before We Were Trans: A New History of Gender by Kit Heyam.
May 8, 2025
What a beautiful graphic novel exploring the history of transness and what it means to be trans in the Western world.
The book gives a broad image of transness through the ages to contextualize our existence, while remaining respectful to the fact that we can't impose modern understandings on people of the past, and especially people of other cultures in the past. It's very humanizing, focussing on the people and their experiences, without trying to whittle anything down into hard facts in a way that would take away from the real complexity of gender experience.
I think this book is an amazing starting place for anyone looking to understand trans life and history more, no matter how old you are! It's welcoming and friendly, packing a lot into less than 400 pages without feeling dense or overwhelming. It also feels like you could open this book to any page and find a subject worthy of further research--which I mean as a compliment! Like I said, this feels like the perfect starting place. A great jumping off point to give people ideas of specific topics they might want to delve deeper into that they might never have known about!
And the art is lovely! I read an ARC copy sent by Penguin, so I missed out on the full colour illustrations that will be in the final version, but even in greyscale the art is excellent.
Definitely worth picking up.
The book gives a broad image of transness through the ages to contextualize our existence, while remaining respectful to the fact that we can't impose modern understandings on people of the past, and especially people of other cultures in the past. It's very humanizing, focussing on the people and their experiences, without trying to whittle anything down into hard facts in a way that would take away from the real complexity of gender experience.
I think this book is an amazing starting place for anyone looking to understand trans life and history more, no matter how old you are! It's welcoming and friendly, packing a lot into less than 400 pages without feeling dense or overwhelming. It also feels like you could open this book to any page and find a subject worthy of further research--which I mean as a compliment! Like I said, this feels like the perfect starting place. A great jumping off point to give people ideas of specific topics they might want to delve deeper into that they might never have known about!
And the art is lovely! I read an ARC copy sent by Penguin, so I missed out on the full colour illustrations that will be in the final version, but even in greyscale the art is excellent.
Definitely worth picking up.
August 24, 2025
a fantastic anthology chronicling various trans figures—from hatshepsut, to those only known from trials and prison records, to laverne cox—that also doubles as a tribute to progress. trans history did a wonderful job of dispelling things i thought i knew and reinforcing empathy. i'm still wrapping my brain around the facts around "eunuchs":
it completely made me rewire my brain to rethink what eunuchs could have been like without the western bias. i immediately thought of the mmc in apothecary diaries, a cozy(-ish) medical mystery series set in ming dynasty imperial china. this definitely inspired me to do more and look into trans history throughout asia. the graphic novel format works well for this informative style of storytelling by bringing historical facts in a way that could be taught in schools. i hope this becomes a series or that someone else takes up the mantle and continues to branch out to other parts of the world's trans history. this book needs to be required reading in western history and medical classes.
dr. howard chiang, a chinese historian, explains about eunuchs working in chinese imperial courts did not necessarily have cross-gender feelings:
"modern definitions of masculinity and femininity tend to be articulated in a western biomedical lexicon and its cognate understandings of the human body.
the absence of a chinese word for sex until the 1910s suggests that the popular depictions of eunuchs as a third gender tells us more about our modern conceptual preoccupations than the historical experiences of eunuchs themselves."
it completely made me rewire my brain to rethink what eunuchs could have been like without the western bias. i immediately thought of the mmc in apothecary diaries, a cozy(-ish) medical mystery series set in ming dynasty imperial china. this definitely inspired me to do more and look into trans history throughout asia. the graphic novel format works well for this informative style of storytelling by bringing historical facts in a way that could be taught in schools. i hope this becomes a series or that someone else takes up the mantle and continues to branch out to other parts of the world's trans history. this book needs to be required reading in western history and medical classes.
July 22, 2025
Trans history in a graphic novel style. You’ll learn a lot
AND get to look at great art too - win win!
Easy to read, easy to digest, and a great starting point for digging deeper.
Very moving in parts, because *gestures at the world in flames*
Grateful to all who worked on this book!
AND get to look at great art too - win win!
Easy to read, easy to digest, and a great starting point for digging deeper.
Very moving in parts, because *gestures at the world in flames*
Grateful to all who worked on this book!
July 29, 2025
This is a fantastic visual synthesis of previous trans histories which uses accessible, utilitarian art mixed with accurate portraits based on cited documentary sources to build an understanding of transness (and things similar to transness) over all of recorded history. There's a lot of interviews with trans community historians living now, and a lot of uses of primary sources to support people's own narrative of their selves and subjectivities. I appreciate the way that the authors contextualize the emergence of specific terms like "drag queen" and "transgender" in terms of when they first appeared, I think the treatment of historical transition and trans court cases and medical records is appropriately critical, there's great, clear explanations of how worldwide, people may be doing things that are similar to one another across time, but words and internal and cultural understandings can vary. Herculine Barbin is contextualized by Bogi Takacs, transgriot.com is given a write up and shout out, Hapshetsut is discussed in terms of what is and isn't clear from the archeological record, and pre-modern classical and medieval understandings of sex and sex roles are contrasted with western modern medical understandings, in a way that makes clear that both are socially constructed and incomplete.
There's a clear condemnation of Antonio de Erauso, when he comes up, and the authors point out that trans people participating in colonialism are clearly not part of a community with the people they're murdering. Sympathetic portrayals of trans people mix with acknowledgement of the power and access that many early white transsexuals had that enabled them to get hormones and surgery when they were still experimental treatments, and the abuse endured by trans people seeking care in the mid-20th century.
While not every culture or historical site is mentioned, and as with many histories it's US-centric, there's an effort to discuss trans activism and history in multiple places and talk to as many people as possible.
I loved the dramatization of Roberta Cowell's rejection of Michael Dillon; I appreciated that the narrative is up-to-the-minute in terms of discussing Trump backlash.
I think it's great for teens and adults.
There's a clear condemnation of Antonio de Erauso, when he comes up, and the authors point out that trans people participating in colonialism are clearly not part of a community with the people they're murdering. Sympathetic portrayals of trans people mix with acknowledgement of the power and access that many early white transsexuals had that enabled them to get hormones and surgery when they were still experimental treatments, and the abuse endured by trans people seeking care in the mid-20th century.
While not every culture or historical site is mentioned, and as with many histories it's US-centric, there's an effort to discuss trans activism and history in multiple places and talk to as many people as possible.
I loved the dramatization of Roberta Cowell's rejection of Michael Dillon; I appreciated that the narrative is up-to-the-minute in terms of discussing Trump backlash.
I think it's great for teens and adults.
June 22, 2025
Since I read this one via audio, I didn't get to enjoy it visually. But it's chock full of great, important information about the history of trans people, and how it isn't a 'new' thing.
I might have to see if my library has the graphic novel so I can get that full experience.
I might have to see if my library has the graphic novel so I can get that full experience.
May 16, 2025
To read a graphic novel in a form of an audiobook seemed a bit ridiculous but at the same time exciting. I am happy to say it worked.
This audiobook was a narrated by a full cast (even some that english was not the first langage), sound effects and background musik. It really felt like listening to a graphic novel.
When it comes to content... It was a little bit of everything. I would recommend it as a starting point of conversation on the topic with your teen.
This audiobook was a narrated by a full cast (even some that english was not the first langage), sound effects and background musik. It really felt like listening to a graphic novel.
When it comes to content... It was a little bit of everything. I would recommend it as a starting point of conversation on the topic with your teen.
December 19, 2025
Saw it in a bookstore in Eureka and had to give it a read. Very fun! Brief but it gives a good overview of notable figures and historical events.
August 27, 2025
I'm personally super tortured at the moment by how trans-ness is defined and in particular the unwritten rule in trans-affirming spaces that we should avoid specifically talking about biological sex. Of course I can't separate my own struggles with mainstream trans discourse from my experience of this book, which is probably unfair to the book.
But I think this book is weakest in having a critical perspective on the ways in which "trans" and "nonbinary" are hyper-contemporary, primarily western identities, ones that are rapidly morphing as we speak, and at the same time are pretty evidently connected to sex and gender diversity across history and geography. To articulate this is to solve a puzzle of language that requires some Andrea-Long-Chu level fluency because you are making claims on some "thing" that has existed for a long time and in a lot of places but you are using language that has existed for a very short time and is particular to very specific places.
It would be simple to say "there have always been males who lived as women, and females that lived as men"... but we don't say that, we are not supposed to say that. (We can add, there have always been intersex people who have confounded the categories of male and female as well as the gender roles assigned to them.) And so when discussing historical figures, we don't learn whether they were male, female, intersex, or we aren't sure... because we aren't supposed to talk about that. However, it seems like a really glaring omission in some of these stories, that takes away from their groundedness in reality.
Nonetheless, the historical figures in this book are... interesting, fun. The history is relatively deep and well researched. The drawings are lovely. This was a good read. I learned many things I didn't know (and I thought I knew a lot). My own sadness and ambivalence about 2025 trans-ness is another story.
But I think this book is weakest in having a critical perspective on the ways in which "trans" and "nonbinary" are hyper-contemporary, primarily western identities, ones that are rapidly morphing as we speak, and at the same time are pretty evidently connected to sex and gender diversity across history and geography. To articulate this is to solve a puzzle of language that requires some Andrea-Long-Chu level fluency because you are making claims on some "thing" that has existed for a long time and in a lot of places but you are using language that has existed for a very short time and is particular to very specific places.
It would be simple to say "there have always been males who lived as women, and females that lived as men"... but we don't say that, we are not supposed to say that. (We can add, there have always been intersex people who have confounded the categories of male and female as well as the gender roles assigned to them.) And so when discussing historical figures, we don't learn whether they were male, female, intersex, or we aren't sure... because we aren't supposed to talk about that. However, it seems like a really glaring omission in some of these stories, that takes away from their groundedness in reality.
Nonetheless, the historical figures in this book are... interesting, fun. The history is relatively deep and well researched. The drawings are lovely. This was a good read. I learned many things I didn't know (and I thought I knew a lot). My own sadness and ambivalence about 2025 trans-ness is another story.
May 25, 2025
A wonderfully intersectional introduction to trans history for young adults. I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in trans history and trans futures. Even if you think you're all caught up on the literature, it's always good to listen in and see how perspectives and language are changing over time.
June 2, 2025
"People are too complex and varied to reduce to one of two sets of stereotypes. And everyone deserves to express their gender the way that feels right to them, even if it doesn't always make sense to other people."
An excellent blend of stories and history, and how to continue moving forward. I learned a lot! :)
An excellent blend of stories and history, and how to continue moving forward. I learned a lot! :)
June 28, 2025
Really well-made, easy to understand, intersectional, and sensitive to both modern bias and unknowable history.
I can’t believe how often trans history overlaps with history were taught in schools, yet their stories are completely avoided. There are so many trailblazers and brave activists whose names deserve a place in the history books, and I’m glad they are given a time to shine in this graphic novel.
I can’t believe how often trans history overlaps with history were taught in schools, yet their stories are completely avoided. There are so many trailblazers and brave activists whose names deserve a place in the history books, and I’m glad they are given a time to shine in this graphic novel.
May 15, 2025
Typically I’d never admit I listened to the audiobook of a graphic novel but this was such a wonderful audiobook!! The many voices and stories made it such a dynamic experience. Can’t wait to actually see the graphics when I re-read this with a physical copy soon :)
June 6, 2025
I am beyond grateful to Hear Our Voices Tours for inviting me to be part of the book tour for this book and I am thrilled that this book exists!
Trans History: A Graphic Novel by Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett is a wonderful exploration of and introduction to trans history. What makes it even better is that it’s presented in a way that makes these pieces of history easier to access for a lot of people. You don’t have to be a history buff or even a huge reader to pick this book up and dive in.
Trans History is a beautiful combination of thoroughly researched history, hope, humor, beautiful art, joy, and love. The whole last chapter contains stories and information from a diverse tapestry of trans* folx. There are stories from Ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Rome; stories from Medieval Europe, the Spanish Inquisition, and the Americas. You’ll find information about how language and ideology around sex, gender, sexuality, transness, intersexuality, and the existence of people who live outside or beyond the “gender binary" have evolved over the centuries. There’s also a chapter outlining the progress and backlash around trans existence, identity, and rights in the USA from the 1800s to 2000s. While this graphic novel is nearly 400 pages and packed full of historical information, it is just the tip of the iceberg and only briefly touches on non-western cultures. I hope there's more to come!
This book’s existence could also not have come at a more important time - as trans people are being literally erased from history by our g0vernment. I wore my “I Support Black Trans Futures” t-shirt in this picture for a reason. Because we can’t truly fight for a better future if we don’t understand our history.
THIS BOOK MATTERS. TRANS HISTORY MATTERS. TRANS STORIES MATTER. TRANS PEOPLE MATTER.
We will not be erased! And we will not let them erase our history either! Keep sharing these stories. Learn about our transcestors. Show up for trans people. And keep fighting for trans rights! 🩵🩷🤍
Trans History: A Graphic Novel by Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett is a wonderful exploration of and introduction to trans history. What makes it even better is that it’s presented in a way that makes these pieces of history easier to access for a lot of people. You don’t have to be a history buff or even a huge reader to pick this book up and dive in.
Trans History is a beautiful combination of thoroughly researched history, hope, humor, beautiful art, joy, and love. The whole last chapter contains stories and information from a diverse tapestry of trans* folx. There are stories from Ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Rome; stories from Medieval Europe, the Spanish Inquisition, and the Americas. You’ll find information about how language and ideology around sex, gender, sexuality, transness, intersexuality, and the existence of people who live outside or beyond the “gender binary" have evolved over the centuries. There’s also a chapter outlining the progress and backlash around trans existence, identity, and rights in the USA from the 1800s to 2000s. While this graphic novel is nearly 400 pages and packed full of historical information, it is just the tip of the iceberg and only briefly touches on non-western cultures. I hope there's more to come!
This book’s existence could also not have come at a more important time - as trans people are being literally erased from history by our g0vernment. I wore my “I Support Black Trans Futures” t-shirt in this picture for a reason. Because we can’t truly fight for a better future if we don’t understand our history.
THIS BOOK MATTERS. TRANS HISTORY MATTERS. TRANS STORIES MATTER. TRANS PEOPLE MATTER.
We will not be erased! And we will not let them erase our history either! Keep sharing these stories. Learn about our transcestors. Show up for trans people. And keep fighting for trans rights! 🩵🩷🤍
November 9, 2025
I love it when I'm reading two different books, and the intersection of those two unique books at that unique time gives me something I could have achieved in no other way. I got that feeling reading this book along with listening to Factfulness at the same time. Factfulness reminded me that we naturally only see things through the lens of our own time period and culture. To really understand something, we have to be curious enough to seek out more information and more viewpoints. This book gave me that. I am a proud ally who shamefully doesn't know much about the Trans community, though I have Trans people in my life whom I love and respect.
The first four chapters of this book are historical and factual and fascinating. They were probably my favorite parts because they made me realize the limitations of my own lens and let me try to look through another. The last chapter gives biographies about specific people. This section was less enjoyable, but maybe more important. It reminded me a lot of the book I read called One Drop: Shifting the Lens on Race, in that I saw that there is no "formula" for being Trans, just as there is no formula for being Black. I think humans want categories and labels, but sometimes we have to realize that most labels are messy, when it comes to human beings. People are never simple; we all live within the complicated middle shades of gray. Everyone has their own story. We need to hear those stories, and when can put their humanity before labels, we'll start to make real progress as people.
The first four chapters of this book are historical and factual and fascinating. They were probably my favorite parts because they made me realize the limitations of my own lens and let me try to look through another. The last chapter gives biographies about specific people. This section was less enjoyable, but maybe more important. It reminded me a lot of the book I read called One Drop: Shifting the Lens on Race, in that I saw that there is no "formula" for being Trans, just as there is no formula for being Black. I think humans want categories and labels, but sometimes we have to realize that most labels are messy, when it comes to human beings. People are never simple; we all live within the complicated middle shades of gray. Everyone has their own story. We need to hear those stories, and when can put their humanity before labels, we'll start to make real progress as people.
September 27, 2025
I thought I knew everything there was to know about trans history. After all, I knew about two-spirited people and about Hatshepsut, the pharaoh who wore a false beard because she was a woman, as well as Christine Jorgensen, the first modern person to undergo surgery to become a woman.
This book goes beyond that bringing up all the people that have passed, and not passed as the gender they feel they are. Once the history part is done, the book goes into people in the modern world, and where the trans movement is. This of course, is an ever evolving situation, but at the time of publication, this covered where the United States and the world was.
Heart wrenching on one hand, and very informative on the other. This should be required reading for everyone who thinks that ��this trans thing” is something that just appeared in the modern world, like Athena, being born fully formed from the head of Zeus.
While I was reading this, I had to keep stopping and starting, as my heart ached for everyone one of the people in these stories.
Well written and well researched, perhaps this will become a way to teach about trans history in the future, if we are allowed to still have books on the subject, the way the present world is going.
This book came out in 2025 from Candlewick Press.
This book goes beyond that bringing up all the people that have passed, and not passed as the gender they feel they are. Once the history part is done, the book goes into people in the modern world, and where the trans movement is. This of course, is an ever evolving situation, but at the time of publication, this covered where the United States and the world was.
Heart wrenching on one hand, and very informative on the other. This should be required reading for everyone who thinks that ��this trans thing” is something that just appeared in the modern world, like Athena, being born fully formed from the head of Zeus.
While I was reading this, I had to keep stopping and starting, as my heart ached for everyone one of the people in these stories.
Well written and well researched, perhaps this will become a way to teach about trans history in the future, if we are allowed to still have books on the subject, the way the present world is going.
This book came out in 2025 from Candlewick Press.
June 3, 2025
Super fascinating history of trans people throughout history. I need to do a more complete write up, but this was one that taught me a lot and gave me more to think about every time I stepped away from it.
Trans History is a graphic nonfiction book that offers an engaging and deeply researched introduction to trans history, spanning from ancient times to the present. The five chapters of the book highlights stories, historical profiles, and conversations with modern activists, to explore the diversity of trans experiences and tracks the evolution of the concepts of gender and sexuality across cultures and eras.
As someone who has studied and taught world history, I found this text incredibly helpful for illustrating how history is shaped and how voices are often excluded from the historical record based on past and present cultural norms and values. Even though I have read a lot of LGBTQIA+ literature, there is still so much that I didn’t know about the trans experience. I felt like this book taught me a lot and gave me more to think about every time I stepped away from it. It is not a “how-to become trans” book, merely a well-researched and easily digestible history of trans people from ancient times through to the present day. I don’t see it as something that will be widely circulated, but for those that need it, it will be incredibly valuable.
Trans History is a graphic nonfiction book that offers an engaging and deeply researched introduction to trans history, spanning from ancient times to the present. The five chapters of the book highlights stories, historical profiles, and conversations with modern activists, to explore the diversity of trans experiences and tracks the evolution of the concepts of gender and sexuality across cultures and eras.
As someone who has studied and taught world history, I found this text incredibly helpful for illustrating how history is shaped and how voices are often excluded from the historical record based on past and present cultural norms and values. Even though I have read a lot of LGBTQIA+ literature, there is still so much that I didn’t know about the trans experience. I felt like this book taught me a lot and gave me more to think about every time I stepped away from it. It is not a “how-to become trans” book, merely a well-researched and easily digestible history of trans people from ancient times through to the present day. I don’t see it as something that will be widely circulated, but for those that need it, it will be incredibly valuable.
November 27, 2024
An essential introduction to trans history from ancient times until now.
⚧️
What does it mean to be “trans”? This nonfiction book explores how transgender people have been a part of our history since ancient times. We learn about a wide range of historical figures from a swashbuckling conquistador to a Roman emperor to the Stonewall Riots. Trans identities and experiences are explored as well, making it the perfect title to learn more about trans figures in our world’s history.
🏳️⚧️
I learned so much about trans history is this graphic novel The authors did their research thoroughly and provide lots of context and resources for readers to explore more on their own. In this world of misinformation and fear surrounding trans people & lgbtqia in general, everyone should read this title because information allows for growth, empathy and understanding. Read this when it releases May 13!
CW: transphobia, violence, abuse, suicide, racism, antisemitism, ableism, misogyny, homophobia, violence against intersex people
⚧️
What does it mean to be “trans”? This nonfiction book explores how transgender people have been a part of our history since ancient times. We learn about a wide range of historical figures from a swashbuckling conquistador to a Roman emperor to the Stonewall Riots. Trans identities and experiences are explored as well, making it the perfect title to learn more about trans figures in our world’s history.
🏳️⚧️
I learned so much about trans history is this graphic novel The authors did their research thoroughly and provide lots of context and resources for readers to explore more on their own. In this world of misinformation and fear surrounding trans people & lgbtqia in general, everyone should read this title because information allows for growth, empathy and understanding. Read this when it releases May 13!
CW: transphobia, violence, abuse, suicide, racism, antisemitism, ableism, misogyny, homophobia, violence against intersex people
May 10, 2025
3 stars rounded up to 4 because I listened to this instead of reading it, so I know I missed out on the pictures and other graphic novel features that could’ve made this better!
However, I’ve never listened to a graphic novel before and this was a really neat experience. The full cast helped a lot and made it come to life. I really enjoyed the last chapter and hearing from actual trans voices and their stories. I think this entire book is pretty informative and gives a lot of history for anyone who has literally never thought about trans history before. But I think that’s still much needed! I learned some new names and information as well. I look forward to seeing the full graphic novel when it comes out!
I’m also not entirely sure who the intended audience is. I would say it’s appropriate for high school and above as it does go into details about genitalia and gender-affirming surgeries that some middle grades readers genuinely don’t know about yet!
Thanks Libro.fm for the ALC!
However, I’ve never listened to a graphic novel before and this was a really neat experience. The full cast helped a lot and made it come to life. I really enjoyed the last chapter and hearing from actual trans voices and their stories. I think this entire book is pretty informative and gives a lot of history for anyone who has literally never thought about trans history before. But I think that’s still much needed! I learned some new names and information as well. I look forward to seeing the full graphic novel when it comes out!
I’m also not entirely sure who the intended audience is. I would say it’s appropriate for high school and above as it does go into details about genitalia and gender-affirming surgeries that some middle grades readers genuinely don’t know about yet!
Thanks Libro.fm for the ALC!
June 8, 2025
This was a FABULOUS intro to transgender history that's done in a manner that makes it really accessible for younger readers (as well as adults) and shares the history of trans people from the past and present through their own words/voices as much as possible. I loved that the authors included their own stories and thought this book was so incredibly well done. I learned a lot and would recommend it to everyone! A perfect read for Pride Month!! It also pairs well with the audiobook version but I definitely suggest reading the physical copy in tandem for the best experience.
Fav quotes:
"Ignorance and fear lead to hatred and oppression."
"And everyone deserves to express their gender the way that feels right to them, even if it doesn't always make sense to other people."
Fav quotes:
"Ignorance and fear lead to hatred and oppression."
"And everyone deserves to express their gender the way that feels right to them, even if it doesn't always make sense to other people."
December 12, 2025
Cuando me encuentro con novelas gráficas que buscan informar de X tema, a veces siento que se quedan un poco cortas. Lo cual es entendible por el formato. Ese no es el caso para Trans History.
Quedé impresionada por la cantidad de información que se entrega en este libro, el ojo al detalle, la elocuente forma de recorrer miles de años, el ingenio para elegir relatos e historias, y las hermosas ilustraciones. Es sumamente informativo y ya hay varias cosas que anote en las cuales quiero profundizar.
Es un libro que abre la curiosidad y aleja la ignorancia.
Bien pensado, investigado y armado. Voy a estar revisando este libro constantemente.
Quedé impresionada por la cantidad de información que se entrega en este libro, el ojo al detalle, la elocuente forma de recorrer miles de años, el ingenio para elegir relatos e historias, y las hermosas ilustraciones. Es sumamente informativo y ya hay varias cosas que anote en las cuales quiero profundizar.
Es un libro que abre la curiosidad y aleja la ignorancia.
Bien pensado, investigado y armado. Voy a estar revisando este libro constantemente.
August 9, 2025
this was very good up until the last third, when it skips from stonewall to modern-day with no explanation of what happened in between, which was kind of bizarre considering the first two-thirds were pretty thorough. i liked that it ended with interviews from modern-day trans people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, but then the book just kind of ends without a conclusion or anything to tie it all together. it felt a little abrupt. it seemed like the authors ran short on time and just rushed through the ending.
November 13, 2025
This is an all the stars read for subject and research, but I struggled with how dense the information overload is at times. Also there are panels and pages that have hard to read text based on the font or the color palate. Some of that is on purpose due to sensitive subject matter being discussed, but both panels were almost impossible to read the text.
I think this is an important graphic novel to have on the shelf, but given the size I don't think this will be an easy hand sell to our teen patrons.
I think this is an important graphic novel to have on the shelf, but given the size I don't think this will be an easy hand sell to our teen patrons.
December 4, 2025
To be honest, I thought this was kind of boring. As a graphic novel, I expected more engaging stories and great art. The art is meh, the story-telling is meh, it's all just meh. The ending was also felt random and lacked any sort of conclusion. It just ended.
While the entire thing felt underwhelming to me, I can definitely see the value of this framework for this topic, especially for young readers. I think it's an excellent starting place for introducing Trans history and related topics to young people, or anyone with little knowledge or understanding of the trans community. I wouldn't recommend ONLY this and would suggest additional readings/books on individual figures from the trans community, and even fiction or poetry written by trans people to get a fuller picture.
While the entire thing felt underwhelming to me, I can definitely see the value of this framework for this topic, especially for young readers. I think it's an excellent starting place for introducing Trans history and related topics to young people, or anyone with little knowledge or understanding of the trans community. I wouldn't recommend ONLY this and would suggest additional readings/books on individual figures from the trans community, and even fiction or poetry written by trans people to get a fuller picture.
May 25, 2025
This is an excellent book. It’s informative, visually interesting, and makes the reader an active part of the experience.
I loved that the end of each section includes reflective questions posed to the reader based on the section. I didn’t know they were there but I plan to revisit the discussion questions!
Disclosure: I received a gifted copy from the publisher.
I loved that the end of each section includes reflective questions posed to the reader based on the section. I didn’t know they were there but I plan to revisit the discussion questions!
Disclosure: I received a gifted copy from the publisher.
July 13, 2025
A great primer to learn more about trans history in a graphic format. I was really impressed how much it covered from ancient history to present day interviews with trans people today. I learned so much on how gender has been expressed throughout time and the ways trans people have been oppressed and erased from history. I only wished there was a further reading sources page in addition to the index and primary sources page.
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