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Human Nature Book 1: A Satirical Science Fiction Graphic Novel
From Academy Award–winning filmmaker Darren Aronofsky comes the first volume of his spectacular sci-fi trilogy,
Human Nature
The visionary minds behind Black Swan and The Whale, Darren Aronofsky and Ari Handel, team up with writer Jeff Welch and acclaimed artist Martín Morazzo (Ice Cream Man) for Human Nature, a razor-sharp social-satire trilogy about ambition, power, and humanity’s desperate quest for immortality.Meet once just an ordinary nobody, now an ego-driven billionaire chicken magnate with nearly limitless wealth and power. But even endless fortune has limits—and Duke is obsessed with breaking the final death itself. Can he buy the key to defy death, or has his unchecked ambition finally gone too far?Overflowing with twisted humor, surreal adventures, and dazzling visuals, Human Nature hurtles readers into a bizarre yet unsettlingly familiar future, confronting unimaginable obstacles at every turn.It’s a gripping, audacious ride that only Aronofsky could conjure—one that races forward at breathtaking speed, promising even greater thrills as the trilogy unfolds.
- GenresComics
208 pages, Hardcover
Published March 31, 2026
22 people want to read
About the author
Darren Aronofsky
38 books175 followersDarren S. Aronofsky (born February 12, 1969) is an American film director, screenwriter and film producer. He attended Harvard University and AFI to study both live-action and animation film theory, where he met long-time collaborator Matthew Libatique. He won several film awards after completing his senior thesis film, "Supermarket Sweep", starring Sean Gullette, which went on to become a National Student Academy Award finalist.
Aronofsky did not make a feature film until five years later, creating the concept for his debut feature, π, in February 1996. The low-budget, $60,000 production, starring Sean Gullette, was sold to Artisan Entertainment for $1 million, and grossed over $3 million; it won both a Sundance Film Festival award and an Independent Spirit Award. Aronofsky's followup, Requiem for a Dream, was based on the novel of the same name written by Hubert Selby, Jr. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Ellen Burstyn's performance. After turning down an opportunity to direct Batman Begins, Aronofsky began production on his third film, The Fountain. The film was released to mixed reviews and poor box office results.
However, his next film, The Wrestler, rebounded with positive reviews and healthy box office. Both of the film's stars, Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei, received Academy Award nominations. Rourke also won a Golden Globe for Best Actor and Bruce Springsteen won for Best Original Song for his title song. Aronofsky's next film, Black Swan, received further critical acclaim and many accolades, being nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, four Golden Globes including Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Director, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, a record 12 BFCA nominations and a DGA nomination.
Aronofsky did not make a feature film until five years later, creating the concept for his debut feature, π, in February 1996. The low-budget, $60,000 production, starring Sean Gullette, was sold to Artisan Entertainment for $1 million, and grossed over $3 million; it won both a Sundance Film Festival award and an Independent Spirit Award. Aronofsky's followup, Requiem for a Dream, was based on the novel of the same name written by Hubert Selby, Jr. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Ellen Burstyn's performance. After turning down an opportunity to direct Batman Begins, Aronofsky began production on his third film, The Fountain. The film was released to mixed reviews and poor box office results.
However, his next film, The Wrestler, rebounded with positive reviews and healthy box office. Both of the film's stars, Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei, received Academy Award nominations. Rourke also won a Golden Globe for Best Actor and Bruce Springsteen won for Best Original Song for his title song. Aronofsky's next film, Black Swan, received further critical acclaim and many accolades, being nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, four Golden Globes including Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Director, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, a record 12 BFCA nominations and a DGA nomination.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 23, 2026
3.25? 3.5?
This was alright and I enjoyed my time reading it. The art style didn't do much for me but the story was interesting enough. I could've predicted this but I feel it'd be much better as a movie, though I'm not even sure this feels like an Aronofsky story lol
I don't typically read graphic novels but I enjoy one every so often. I requested this from NetGalley as I'm a big fan of Aronofsky's movies (specifically The Whale, that one needs more love 😭)
This was alright and I enjoyed my time reading it. The art style didn't do much for me but the story was interesting enough. I could've predicted this but I feel it'd be much better as a movie, though I'm not even sure this feels like an Aronofsky story lol
I don't typically read graphic novels but I enjoy one every so often. I requested this from NetGalley as I'm a big fan of Aronofsky's movies (specifically The Whale, that one needs more love 😭)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My thanks to NetGalley and Abrams ComicArts for an advance copy of this graphic novel by a noted filmmaker that deals with life after the body fails, the lessons learned from awakening in a place where wealth and power mean nothing, and how odd and weird the universe can be.
Cryonics, the freezing of the human body before or just a few minutes after death, has been the basis of many famous stories in science fiction. People have always feared death, but those with wealth, power and even more hubris especially detest the idea of dying. Not just the usual what happens next, heaven, hell, limbo, nothing, but the fact they wealth, esteem, fear, mean nothing. Everything dies. Freezing someone for the future, well the odds are not good. However those with money to spare will take those odds. Maybe one will be frozen for a few years, until a cure can be found for whatever ails them. Maybe a decade, half a century, maybe more. Who cares, as long as one has a few more moments of life. However as we have learned the future isn't always bright. In fact it can be a little dark, weird and scary. And that is where our protagonist finds himself. From chicken billionaire to Elvis impersonator, in the brave new world of the future. Human Nature Book 1, written by famed filmmaker By Darren Aronofsky, with Ari Handel and Jeff Welch, illustrated by Martin Morazzo and colorist Chris O'Halloran, is a story about life, death, chickens, family, the future, and living up to expectations, from yourself, your children, and our future alien overlords.
Duke was born poor, and made even poorer by the death of his father, and loss of the chicken farm he grew up on. Duke however had persistence, and a lack of empathy which served him well. Eventually Duke was able to corner the market on chickens, making himself a billionaire a few times over, though at the expense of others. Duke automated his farms, squeezing every penny he could out of his chickens, giving him a horrible reputation and the focus of many groups wanting to end his cruelty to animals. Duke's true enemy was his own body, a cancer that couldn't be cured. At least now. Maybe in the future something could be done, but Duke wouldn't see it. Unless he froze himself. At the same time Duke finds that he is a father, though his attempts to do right by his daughter lead to a seizure, and allows his second in command to seize the company, and place Duke literally on ice. Duke awakes in a future that is not expected, one that no one planned on, and one that gets worse and worse. Duke must go on, for his daughter might be sharing this future with him. And Duke is just to ornery to give up, no matter what happens.
A odd story, one that is a parody of today, and a look at a future that seems out of Rick and Morty. There should be a style clash, but the creative teams does a good job of taking disparate storylines and making them, well not gel, but not clash. This is the first of a trilogy, and I must say I am intrigued to see where this story is going. Duke shows real growth through the story. From a one-sided capitalist, to a man with reasons, to a man clutching all the straws he can to stay alive. And maybe be the father he never had. There is a learning curve but those familiar with the movies of Aronofsky know enough to just sit back and see where Aronofsky is going to take us. The art is really good, as should be expected from an artist like Martin Morazzo, who might be familiar from the Ice Cream Man comics, or his Superman work. Morazzo can draw industrial, characters and surreal alien landscapes well, giving the comic a grounded and yet really otherworldly look. Seriously the chicken scenes have really made me question my love for meat in all forms.
An interesting comic, one that I want to read more of, mainly to see where it is going, and what crazy oddness happens next. A comic hard to classify, and that is all the fun.
Cryonics, the freezing of the human body before or just a few minutes after death, has been the basis of many famous stories in science fiction. People have always feared death, but those with wealth, power and even more hubris especially detest the idea of dying. Not just the usual what happens next, heaven, hell, limbo, nothing, but the fact they wealth, esteem, fear, mean nothing. Everything dies. Freezing someone for the future, well the odds are not good. However those with money to spare will take those odds. Maybe one will be frozen for a few years, until a cure can be found for whatever ails them. Maybe a decade, half a century, maybe more. Who cares, as long as one has a few more moments of life. However as we have learned the future isn't always bright. In fact it can be a little dark, weird and scary. And that is where our protagonist finds himself. From chicken billionaire to Elvis impersonator, in the brave new world of the future. Human Nature Book 1, written by famed filmmaker By Darren Aronofsky, with Ari Handel and Jeff Welch, illustrated by Martin Morazzo and colorist Chris O'Halloran, is a story about life, death, chickens, family, the future, and living up to expectations, from yourself, your children, and our future alien overlords.
Duke was born poor, and made even poorer by the death of his father, and loss of the chicken farm he grew up on. Duke however had persistence, and a lack of empathy which served him well. Eventually Duke was able to corner the market on chickens, making himself a billionaire a few times over, though at the expense of others. Duke automated his farms, squeezing every penny he could out of his chickens, giving him a horrible reputation and the focus of many groups wanting to end his cruelty to animals. Duke's true enemy was his own body, a cancer that couldn't be cured. At least now. Maybe in the future something could be done, but Duke wouldn't see it. Unless he froze himself. At the same time Duke finds that he is a father, though his attempts to do right by his daughter lead to a seizure, and allows his second in command to seize the company, and place Duke literally on ice. Duke awakes in a future that is not expected, one that no one planned on, and one that gets worse and worse. Duke must go on, for his daughter might be sharing this future with him. And Duke is just to ornery to give up, no matter what happens.
A odd story, one that is a parody of today, and a look at a future that seems out of Rick and Morty. There should be a style clash, but the creative teams does a good job of taking disparate storylines and making them, well not gel, but not clash. This is the first of a trilogy, and I must say I am intrigued to see where this story is going. Duke shows real growth through the story. From a one-sided capitalist, to a man with reasons, to a man clutching all the straws he can to stay alive. And maybe be the father he never had. There is a learning curve but those familiar with the movies of Aronofsky know enough to just sit back and see where Aronofsky is going to take us. The art is really good, as should be expected from an artist like Martin Morazzo, who might be familiar from the Ice Cream Man comics, or his Superman work. Morazzo can draw industrial, characters and surreal alien landscapes well, giving the comic a grounded and yet really otherworldly look. Seriously the chicken scenes have really made me question my love for meat in all forms.
An interesting comic, one that I want to read more of, mainly to see where it is going, and what crazy oddness happens next. A comic hard to classify, and that is all the fun.
Read
March 23, 2026I've not felt up to attempting an Aronofsky film since Mother!; I recognise his skill at creating intensely stressful cinematic experiences, I'm just not sure what benefit I derive from continuing to put myself through them. On top of which, I'm a little sceptical of screenplays become comics, as I am of comics which are too openly screen pitches. So at times I did wonder why exactly I'd requested this from Netgalley. But part of the difference between films and comics is precisely that the reader has more control than the viewer over the experience, which makes it easier to pick out the actual story from the thrum of panic. Similarly, Ice Cream Man's Martín Morazzo is a great choice of artist, bringing a suitably queasy and unhealthy look to everything, even as the cartoonish edge stops events from feeling quite as horrible as they would if you were watching flesh and blood humans going through them. And frankly, it's no wonder Aronofsky and regular collaborator Ari Handler have been trying and failing to get Jeff Welch's script made since Requiem For A Dream, because based on this opening act, it would be a bastard to film. We begin in a small post-apocalyptic community, surrounded by inexplicable...things. It's time for the initiation rite, in which one of the elders tells the youngsters the story of how they came to be. Which cheats a little, in that it's pure flashback; I didn't understand all the business bits myself, and I live under late capitalism, so a future tribe would have no chance. At first it seems like a familiar tale, the old 'you can't take it with you' warning/gloat: Duke has worked his way up from nothing, made vast amounts of money, overcome every obstacle, then finds he can't do that with cancer. Except, just as he upended the chicken industry, he resolves to do the same with cryonics, and succeeds. And then, some time later, he wakes up, and...well, it's not what he expected, though this rather begs the question of what he did expect. From there we're in a sort of reality TV riff, except (even more) cosmic horror, and into the territory where even with advances in special effects, it would still be a struggle to realise this as convincingly on film as on the page. And from there...well, I still have scant idea how we're going to steer back around from the cliffhanger to the framing story, but I'm quite enjoying coming out of an Aronofsky experience with questions about what happens next, instead of simple relief that it's over.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Human Nature Book 1 is a graphic novel with loads of interesting ideas, but lacks a character and narrative hook to truly draw me into its world. The story of Human Nature centres on Duke, a billionaire whose chicken empire has given him the power to conquer everything. Everything, that is, until he's given a medical death sentence. Duke discovers the world of medical preservation, an industry where people pay a premium to pause their lifespan in hope for a future where medical science has caught up. Duke wakes up in an unfamiliar place, and is left grappling with a cosmic loss of control.
This is a terrific world-building hook that presents the collapse of ego and what happens when we seek to defy death. There's some immediately compelling artwork by Martín Morazzo -- chicken farms for miles, the sunset on an ending life, the bizarre architecture of future technology. Sadly, the novel is underserved by thin characterisation that prevented me from being truly absorbed in the story and the characters within it. When I read the first volume of a graphic novel, I look for a (usually) contained arc that sets the stage for a wider story. This disappointed in that regard, as it didn't give me enough to contemplate beyond its imagery, nor did it draw me in to the point of needing to know where the story goes next. Sadly a very strong concept and presentation with a story that didn't draw me in.
My huge thanks to Abrams ComicArts for providing a review copy via NetGalley in exchange for a sincere review.
This is a terrific world-building hook that presents the collapse of ego and what happens when we seek to defy death. There's some immediately compelling artwork by Martín Morazzo -- chicken farms for miles, the sunset on an ending life, the bizarre architecture of future technology. Sadly, the novel is underserved by thin characterisation that prevented me from being truly absorbed in the story and the characters within it. When I read the first volume of a graphic novel, I look for a (usually) contained arc that sets the stage for a wider story. This disappointed in that regard, as it didn't give me enough to contemplate beyond its imagery, nor did it draw me in to the point of needing to know where the story goes next. Sadly a very strong concept and presentation with a story that didn't draw me in.
My huge thanks to Abrams ComicArts for providing a review copy via NetGalley in exchange for a sincere review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Abrams Comic Arts for an arc. All opinions are my own.
Rating: ★ ★ ★
Genre: Sci Fi/Satire
Are There Gay People in this?*: ❌
I think this book has the potential to become a cult classic, but it didn't quite land for me. Since this is the first volume in a series, most of what we see is setting up dominoes without getting to see many fall. Which is totally fine, but since I never felt myself getting hooked, I ended up feeling a bit underwhelmed. I loved the illustration for the environment and aliens, but the way the people were drawn doesn't appeal to me personally even though I think it is skillfully done.
Unfortunately, I found the protagonist so annoying (which I do believe is intentional, since this is a satire), that I truly did not want to spend any more time reading about it. I don't mind a protagonist who is a bad person, or who is unlikable, but I felt like our protagonist, Duke, kept repeating himself too much.
* I count a book as including gay people if any of the main or secondary characters are implicitly or explicitly queer or trans. This does not necessarily mean the protagonist is queer or that there is a queer romance
Rating: ★ ★ ★
Genre: Sci Fi/Satire
Are There Gay People in this?*: ❌
I think this book has the potential to become a cult classic, but it didn't quite land for me. Since this is the first volume in a series, most of what we see is setting up dominoes without getting to see many fall. Which is totally fine, but since I never felt myself getting hooked, I ended up feeling a bit underwhelmed. I loved the illustration for the environment and aliens, but the way the people were drawn doesn't appeal to me personally even though I think it is skillfully done.
Unfortunately, I found the protagonist so annoying (which I do believe is intentional, since this is a satire), that I truly did not want to spend any more time reading about it. I don't mind a protagonist who is a bad person, or who is unlikable, but I felt like our protagonist, Duke, kept repeating himself too much.
* I count a book as including gay people if any of the main or secondary characters are implicitly or explicitly queer or trans. This does not necessarily mean the protagonist is queer or that there is a queer romance
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Human Nature was very interesting, I liked the novel idea a lot! The main character is Duke, a former nobody and now a billionaire. His ego is out of this world and he wants to rule everything and needs wealth and power like food and shelter. He's made his money from chickens, but is now dying of a disease. Of course his ambition is to defy death and survive, since he has so much to offer (at least he thinks that way). Well, he avoids death on some level as he wakes up in a weird world ruled by aliens that are big eyeballs surveying everyone. He can outdo this too, right?
The art looks interesting and I enjoy the color theme. There's this nice crudeness to the art and it works well with the world depicted. Perhaps I wanted some likability more? Duke isn't multifaceted character, which makes him a bit boring. The daughter part was good though. Duke needs some inner turmoil more. Otherwise this is surely interesting and hard to say what he will encounter before we are at the campfire where he is telling all this to a group of kids. Let's see?
The art looks interesting and I enjoy the color theme. There's this nice crudeness to the art and it works well with the world depicted. Perhaps I wanted some likability more? Duke isn't multifaceted character, which makes him a bit boring. The daughter part was good though. Duke needs some inner turmoil more. Otherwise this is surely interesting and hard to say what he will encounter before we are at the campfire where he is telling all this to a group of kids. Let's see?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I wanted to read "Human Nature" the moment I saw who wrote it, and that didn't change for the months I was kept waiting for my request to be approved.
This reminded me of The Matrix mixed with Cloud Atlas mixed with The Arrival. The themes it touches on, such as cryofreeze, late stage capitalism and a rich mfer thinking rules don't apply to him are very timely.
That also meant that no matter what happened to Duke, including some very graphic things, I couldn't bring myself to feel anything but satisfaction because I don't feel sorry for billionaire CEOs. Not even fictional ones.
The art is interesting to look at and fits the story, and is unsurprisingly very cinematic. The recurring theme of human nature was interesting, the plot twists were surprising, but all in all, I found it very underwhelming.
I was expecting something spectacular, and it was just written by a man.
Thank you to NetGalley and Abrams ComicArts for this DRC.
This reminded me of The Matrix mixed with Cloud Atlas mixed with The Arrival. The themes it touches on, such as cryofreeze, late stage capitalism and a rich mfer thinking rules don't apply to him are very timely.
That also meant that no matter what happened to Duke, including some very graphic things, I couldn't bring myself to feel anything but satisfaction because I don't feel sorry for billionaire CEOs. Not even fictional ones.
The art is interesting to look at and fits the story, and is unsurprisingly very cinematic. The recurring theme of human nature was interesting, the plot twists were surprising, but all in all, I found it very underwhelming.
I was expecting something spectacular, and it was just written by a man.
Thank you to NetGalley and Abrams ComicArts for this DRC.
November 19, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Abrams ComicArts for an eARC in exchange for my review!
I really enjoyed this first installment! I am familiar with this art style from the Ice Cream man comics and I thought it fit this theme similarly. I loved seeing elements of the main character's past and I am invested to learn the rest of what happened based on the glimpse we see of him in the future. I think that the MC is one of those characters that you love to hate and I think there is a lot of room for character development.
I really enjoyed this first installment! I am familiar with this art style from the Ice Cream man comics and I thought it fit this theme similarly. I loved seeing elements of the main character's past and I am invested to learn the rest of what happened based on the glimpse we see of him in the future. I think that the MC is one of those characters that you love to hate and I think there is a lot of room for character development.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
There are a few graphic scenes and full nudity to be aware of.
I can dig a funky and odd futuristic adventure with giant eye ball aliens. The graphics are okay, not my favorite style. The main character is a little to quick to need sex. Can't say I connect to or care much for any of the characters. But the story left on a fun cliffhanger and I got through this so quickly.
For readers that enjoy SAGA, you might enjoy this. Also had a little bit of Octavia Butler themes from her books sprinkled in there. It was a fun little time.
I can dig a funky and odd futuristic adventure with giant eye ball aliens. The graphics are okay, not my favorite style. The main character is a little to quick to need sex. Can't say I connect to or care much for any of the characters. But the story left on a fun cliffhanger and I got through this so quickly.
For readers that enjoy SAGA, you might enjoy this. Also had a little bit of Octavia Butler themes from her books sprinkled in there. It was a fun little time.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 🌟
Thanks to NetGalley and Abrams Comic Arts, I got to read this gem early. On vacation and thought why the heck not. Read it quite quickly and left asking questions as the cliff hanger is a banger for sure! Don't know why, but I'm absolutely rooting for Duke even though hes a bit of a douche. Can't wait to see whats gonna happen next. Will be posting review on Amazon once release date hits.
Thanks to NetGalley and Abrams Comic Arts, I got to read this gem early. On vacation and thought why the heck not. Read it quite quickly and left asking questions as the cliff hanger is a banger for sure! Don't know why, but I'm absolutely rooting for Duke even though hes a bit of a douche. Can't wait to see whats gonna happen next. Will be posting review on Amazon once release date hits.
Read
March 12, 2026I can imagine this appealing to fans of Dungeon Crawler Carl I’m curious to see where this goes.
Thanks to Abrams ComicArts and NetGalley for the advance reading copy.
Thanks to Abrams ComicArts and NetGalley for the advance reading copy.
March 7, 2026
Thank you to Abrams ComicSrts and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this comic. All thoughts are my own.
I found this one to be interesting. It managed to cover quite a big chunk of the story without feeling rushed of incomplete. It's a unique premise about how a community of people came to exist and I'm excited to see how it ends and how everything is tied together.
I found this one to be interesting. It managed to cover quite a big chunk of the story without feeling rushed of incomplete. It's a unique premise about how a community of people came to exist and I'm excited to see how it ends and how everything is tied together.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC provided by NetGalley
I am very intrigued by this comic. It is so strange and I really want to know what is going on. The strangeness was to be expected, as this is a project by Darren Oronofsky.
Of course I also want some comeuppance for the pain character, as he is quite the AH.
I am very intrigued by this comic. It is so strange and I really want to know what is going on. The strangeness was to be expected, as this is a project by Darren Oronofsky.
Of course I also want some comeuppance for the pain character, as he is quite the AH.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I like it enough so far. Curious to see where it goes from here.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Got this ARC for a quick read, but it didn't impress me all that much. Nothing all that new or interesting here, so I doubt I will pick up the next volume.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy to me
the concept of the story sounded so interesting and I was very excited to read this book
sadly i really didn’t enjoy it
the art style wasn’t really my taste, and the story confused me so much - nothing made sense
I won’t continue on with the serie
the concept of the story sounded so interesting and I was very excited to read this book
sadly i really didn’t enjoy it
the art style wasn’t really my taste, and the story confused me so much - nothing made sense
I won’t continue on with the serie
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews