The Humans - by Tom Neely & Keenan Marshall Keller (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Dive into the wild, gritty world of The Humans with this definitive hardcover omnibus from Uncivilized Books, collecting the complete cult classic comic series originally published by Image Comics. Written by Keenan Marshall Keller, illustrated by Tom Neely, and vividly colored by Kristina Collantes, this 320+ page tome compiles The Humans, Vol. 1: Humans for Life (issues #0-4) and The Humans, Vol. 2: Humans Till Deth (issues #5-10) into one unmissable edition for fans of graphic novels, underground comix, and 1970s exploitation culture.

Set in an alternate 1970s Bakersfield, California, The Humans thrusts readers into the leather-clad, booze-soaked lives of the Humans MC, a gang of anthropomorphic apes ruling a world where humans are mere pets. Follow brothers Bobby and Johnny Moore and their crew--Marra, Karns, Crispin, Mojo, Doc, Nada, and Bricks--as they roar through drug deals, bar fights, and bloody turf wars with rival gang the Skabbs. From mourning a fallen brother to battling a ruthless drug kingpin, their journey spirals into a high-octane saga of vengeance, betrayal, and raw rebellion, packed with explicit action, dark humor, and psychedelic passion. Neely's dynamic, hand-lettered artwork and Collantes' lurid colors bring this apesploitation epic to life, channeling the gritty spirit of Planet of the Apes meets Easy Rider.

This omnibus edition preserves the series' visceral energy, including pin-ups by acclaimed artists like Benjamin Marra, Johnny Ryan, and Katie Skelly, and may feature exclusive content from the original issues' newsletters, which paired each chapter with a curated punk and garage rock soundtrack (streamable on the Humans Soundtrack SoundCloud). Perfect for collectors, comic enthusiasts, and readers who crave bold, adults-only storytelling, The Humans Omnibus is a must-have addition to any graphic novel library.

Review Quotes

"The Humans is a brutal, haunting series that is also full of exhilarating action and dark humor, and that combination has made it one of the year's best titles."-- A.V. Club

"The Humans is visually stunning and entirely outrageous. Reading it is an act of hedonism. It is the best crafted, most addictive, least office appropriate comics reading you'll find."-- Elana Brooklyn, Graphic Policy

"Keenan Marshall Keller and Tom Neely do whatever it is they want with this comic, and what they do is wonderful in its madness."-- Comics Bastards

"There are far too few good collaborative comics out there, but the team of Keenan, Tom, and Kristina is very much in sync and I'm buying whatever they're selling."-- Ed Piskor (Hip Hop Family Tree / Wizzywig)

"This is a book that refuses to compromise, hearkening back to the era of cigarette machines and leaded gasoline. The Humans makes the new comic rack that much cooler."-- Tom Scioli (Transformers vs. GI Joe / Godland)

"The only real problem with The Humans is not enough people are talking about how great it is."-- All-Comic.com

"The Humans is a comic for the rest of us, for fans of the Cramps and Russ Meyer movies, for trashhounds and scumbags, for dirtbag fans and burnouts and weirdos, for outsiders and outcasts and square pegs of every caste..."-- Comixology

"Keller and Neely make no apologies as they trash the proverbial hotel room that is the traditional comic book format."-- Coming Up Comics

"This book feels like you're reading a zine from a '70s head shop that you found smuggled between some old Playboys under your uncle's basement couch, and yes, that's a compliment."-- FreakSugar.com

"Keller and Neely have created a subgenre within a subgenre within a subculture that slaps the reader awake and reinvigorates what adult comic books are all about."-- Spartantown.net

"Utterly disgusting."-- Talking Comics

About the Author

Tom Neely is an artist based in Los Angeles, known for his work as the illustrator of the New York Times bestseller The Last Book On The Left. Before that, he gained recognition for his own creations, including the cult-hit indie comic Henry & Glenn Forever and the Image Comics series The Humans, which he co-created with Keenan Marshall Keller. Neely's artwork has been showcased in galleries, magazines, and literary journals, as well as on album covers and posters for bands such as Isis, Melvins, Groovie Ghoulies, Wolves in the Throne Room, Green Day, and John Carpenter. In 2017, he designed and illustrated the branding and merchandise line for the Psycho Las Vegas festival. His debut graphic novel, The Blot, earned him an Ignatz Award and was featured on several "Best of 2007" lists, along with being recognized in The Comics Journal's Best Graphic Novels of the Decade (2000-2010). Neely has authored the Melvins comic book Your Disease Spread Quick and a collection of comic strip poems titled Brilliantly Ham-Fisted, followed by his second graphic novel, The Wolf. In 2012, he collaborated with Roger Langridge on a Popeye series for IDW, and in 2019, he returned to write and illustrate his own Popeye's Cartoon Club Sunday strip for King Features Syndicate. He also published another collection of comic strip poems, Unfinished..., with Silver Sprocket in 2017. Since 2013, Neely has primarily focused on expanding the world of The Humans alongside his comics partner and co-creator, Keenan Marshall Keller.

Keenan Marshall Keller is a Los Angeles-based comics creator and writer, best known for co-creating The Humans comic book series with artist Tom Neely. Originaly, published by Image Comics, The Humans is a gritty, '70s-inspired exploitation comic about a gang of anthropomorphic apes in an alternate universe where they dominate as a biker gang, blending elements of Planet of the Apes with biker and punk aesthetics. Keller's work on the series, which began with a self-published issue #0 in 2014, draws heavily from his love of exploitation films, genre storytelling, and counterculture vibes. He has also contributed to other projects like Galactic Breakdown and is currently working with Neely on a sequel series titled The Jungle, published by Uncivilized Books. Keller's storytelling is noted for its raw, unapologetic energy, often incorporating themes of violence, camaraderie, and rebellion, complemented by a curated soundtrack featuring garage rock and punk influences. He is described as a collaborative creator, working closely with Neely and colorist Kristina Collantes to bring the vivid, chaotic world of The Humans to life.