|
Normal u.s.a. is a lot different than Mike's The Norm work, which is part of the fun of reading it. We get to see the same imagination at play, but from a younger and different angle. The art style is different, the feel of the writing is different, the lettering is different, the characters are different, even the signature is different (I'm taking Mike at his word that he is, in fact, the author of both). But Mike's clear strength remains constant: his uncanny grasp of the human experience and what makes it funny. To be sure, this is not a perfect work. There's a Bloom County influence that's a touch too strong at times, and some of the exaggerated behavior might have worked better if it were less so. But there's a humanity to these characters (even the non-human ones) that is genuine and touching and not a common find in the funnies by a cartoonist of any age. The insecurities and idiosyncrasies of Norman and Lynne's relationship are explored wonderfully and at times uniquely, and I'm glad I had a chance to get to know them. And A.C. And Max. |