normalman #4 [1984] (Random Comics Theatre)

Random Comics Theatre

normalman #4 [1984]

This is part of the 13 chapter series (1-12 and a concluding Annual) created by Jim Valentino and published from 1984 to 1986. Valentino made a few returns to the character in later years, and it's been collected a few times (most recently in THE COMPLETE NORMALMAN [2007] with all the various later stories), but never in the original colour version, which really takes away from the work.

As you can probably tell, this is a parody series very much of its time, rooted in the comic market of the mid-1980s. Each issue has a logo and cover treatment based on a particular other comic that is a part of the parody in that issue, in this case ElfQuest, the fantasy comic by Wendy Pini. The story inside contains some mockery of that series (mostly how often it's dismissed by its cute surface elements), as well as other aspects of comics of the era while advancing the series overarching plotline of normalman, a man without powers who finds himself trapped in a world (and now other worlds) full of fantastical beings.

This is a pretty fun series overall. I'm not sure how it would read to someone not as versed in the trivia and minutiae of that era of comics as I unfortunately am (it even took me a bit to realize what "Hairy Sloth" was meant to be). There are even creator-approved guest appearances by E-Man, Fred Hembeck, Cutey Bunny and The Wraith in here.

There's probably enough general humour that will apply to everyone, and the overall story hangs together with stuff you can figure out from what's in the series itself.  So pick it up, ideally the original comics if you can find them, and also the 2007 collection which has all sorts of extras (including the original preview short stories from CEREBUS, the JOURNEY crossover issue and more).