Overall I really enjoyed this collection! The variety in art was all quite pleasing, and the length of the stories all flowed well.
I do think some of them felt slightly repetitive, and I think thats because it skewed more from the perspective of AFAB artists.
I definitely recommend, and hope they make a second collection with more variation :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for letting me read this e-ARC.

I loved how short and compact each illustrator's story was. I liked most of the artwork.

I think that this would be a great addition to school libraries. Informative, yet not dreary.

The stories in this anthology are very short which makes it easy to read, and they've all got one or two nuggets of Trans (& Non-binary) truth. Some are about transitioning, some are about living in a Trans body, and many are about learning self-love. There are step-by-step instructions for how not to choose a gender label, and there are quiet stories composed of color and emotion. A few of these resonated strongly with me, and others made me think of my friends. I'll be excited to share this anthology with other people. I appreciate the diversity of voices represented here and it was fun to read each of the artist's tiny bios of what they want readers to know about them.

A common theme in this book is the insidious gender binary of western culture, and how everything gets assigned one of two labels. I think these comics will definitely help some young Trans and Non-binary folks understand what they're experiencing. Systemic cisgenderism can be difficult to explain but it's done really well here.

This is a "read now" on NetGalley rn so go check it out! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this! (Tho, the PDF I downloaded was blurry so that was a bummer.)

Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is an uplifting read filled with personal stories from trans and nonbinary cartoonists. There's a wide range of art and writing styles, and it'd be a great addition to a school or classroom library.

I liked this collection of comics! It was really nice that all the artists varied in their artistic styles and each had their own experience with gender. It enhanced my reading and helped me understand different people’s perspectives. I hope this book can help all young souls who are searching for answers to their gender identity.

This collection of comics by trans and nonbinary creators is full of heart and soul. I would be happy to add this to our collection.

"The Outside: Trans and Non-Binary Comics" is an exceptional collection of diverse and empowering stories that celebrate the experiences of transgender and non-binary individuals. This remarkable anthology, edited by Hida Viloria and Bishakh Som, showcases the immense talent and creativity within the trans and non-binary community. What makes "The Outside" truly remarkable is its ability to bring forth authentic and relatable narratives through the medium of comics. Each story beautifully captures the joys, struggles, and resilience of trans and non-binary individuals, creating a sense of connection and understanding that is both powerful and necessary. The artwork in this collection is nothing short of breathtaking, with each artist bringing their unique style and perspective to the pages. From vibrant and colorful illustrations to more subdued and introspective visuals, the variety of artistic approaches adds depth and richness to the stories being told. "The Outside" also features a wide range of themes and genres, ensuring that there is something for everyone within its pages. Whether it's a heartwarming coming-of-age tale, a thought-provoking exploration of identity, or a thrilling adventure, each story offers a fresh and captivating perspective on the lived experiences of trans and non-binary individuals. Moreover, the diversity within the collection is truly commendable. "The Outside" showcases a wide spectrum of gender identities, ethnicities, backgrounds, and intersecting experiences, providing a platform for underrepresented voices that deserve to be heard.

I loved this book. It was a lovely collection of very personal stories about discovering and accepting your gender identities and how useful labels are in discovering communities and resources but they are just building blocks to build upon on your journey to gender euphoria.

Thank you so much to all the artists/authors, as well as Net Galley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this eARC!

This was a great collections of comic stories from trans and non binary people. I enjoyed reading and seeing the difference in everyone.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved this so much! So many talented trans and non binary artist sharing their stories through mini art comics! I would recommend this to everyone! Honestly a must read especially for anyone questioning their journeys.

I loved discovering new artist, I have so many new books I want to check out and art I want to buy! It was also great to see someone from the East Coast.

physical copies come out September 26th 2023 💃

💓💛💙💓💛💙💓💛💙💓💛💙

thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review! I appreciate it! *all my opinions are my own!*

This was a cute compilation, but the sections were so short that most of them lacked any sort of depth. So while the stories themselves were moving based on sheer content, I was left without any lasting or memorable reading experiences throughout the book. With all of that being said, I still think this book has a TON of value and is a beautiful cross-section of Trans and Nonbinary artists that we should be looking out for moving forward. There were a few that I was left thinking "hm, I should look them up."

I loved this little collection of comics devoted to self-love and discovery. What a great resource for those grappling with their gender identity & expression, as well as those seeking to understand and open their minds.

Thank you so much to all the artists/authors, as well as Net Galley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this eARC!

I wish I had this book when I was younger and beginning to realize my queer identity. So many of the experiences these creators share about their own journey of self-discovery validate the feelings of confusion and uncertainty that I, and many others, have also felt.

There is a huge variety of trans and nonbinary experiences in this book—trans men, trans women, nonbinary and gender fluid people—and all of them showcase different ways that gender identity can be valid. It's okay to be a transmasculine person and still enjoy femininity. It's okay to be uncertain of the exact definition of your identity and why you feel that way. It's okay to know from a young age that your gender doesn't match the label you were born with, and it's just as valid to not realize until much later in life.

This book will help so many people in the future and will be a wonderful asset to any reader questioning their identity or seeking validation about their gender expression.

Reviewed for NetGalley:

Honest review from my 10 year old daughter:

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. It was very sweet and cute. I also really enjoyed seeing the different styles throughout the book.

This is a neat collection of short comics from a a lot of different trans comic artists--from non-binary to full trans, and even two spirit, they all share stories about how it feels to finally come to terms with who you are...or might become. Comics on top surgery, about coming out to supportive and non-supportive friends and family, about grappling with your own inner demons and feelings. I really enjoyed this collection, and definitely will be recommending it to some of my friends and family.

Thank You, Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the e-Galley.

The Out Side: Trans & Non-Binary Comics was wonderful, and for me was extremely relatable. This graphic novel will give some readers a sense of hope if they are at the beginning of their journey, that they are not alone, and other readers will read this with a smile and think "yea, I know that feeling" or "ahh, I remember those days", it's wonderful. For who ever reads this it's a reminder that there is no right way to be any gender, just focus on what feels right to be you.

All the illustrations were well done and I enjoyed the fact that they were all different in styles and layouts.
Thank you to all the authors who shared a part of themselves in this book.

i can't wait till this is published to get for my kid.
they need more representation in this world
and to be told how it feels from more than just me and two books max
seeing how many writers/illustrators there were out there, really gave me hope for the future.

I can't wait to share this on my social media platforms. This was by far the best graphic novel anthology I have read to date in terms of self expression, diversity, depth and art.

I really enjoyed the little snippet at the beginning of every story that told us about the author.

My hope is that the world will continue to go in this direction and we will see more open, honest and true stories of perseverance and self discovery. I can see this anthology helping many people.

Absolutely enjoyed this collection of short comics with trans rep.

I will definitely be looking out to buy a copy to revisit some of the stories.

When I started reading this comics anthology the first word coming to my mind was powerful. These comics are short memoirs and though they are usually just glimpses of each artist's lives there are a lot of them that hit really powerful, regardless of whether you share that particular experience or not.
This collection is also very emotional and fragile and a huge respect to all the artists for sharing these intimate feelings.

The art styles have a huge variation both in drawing styles and panel usage. Some pieces are stronger visually, some are stronger in their text emotionally.
It's interesting to see how the different artists unintentionally expressed some shared experiences in a similar way visually, e.g. the mirror shards of identities or the overwhelming information once they researched gender identities.
Some visualizations of emotions and experiences were amazingly creative and intense.

This particular selection of artists has a majority of trans men or non-binary individuals moving away especially from feminine gender expression, so I can especially recommend this collection if you are interested in reading about experiences of these people. Of course, apart from some shared basic experience, the individual experiences and personal voices are strikingly different.
Also, there is a wide range of ethnicities represented in this collection.

Both the art style and text are suitable for younger audiences as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC.