After reading and enjoying The Norm #2, I started following the strip online, only to find that the protagonist and his friend Reine had gotten married. This issue sort of bridges that gap, and it's a stronger read than the second one was, with a lot more I can relate to as well as some outlandish gags and guest stars. Jantze writes Norm as an enjoyable everyman, a tad neurotic and with unusual problems but generally just like normal guys you might know, and he contrasts that with some elements of whimsy that make for several laugh-out-loud moments as well as surprisingly genuine and touching relationships.
While this issue of The Norm does range a bit, it has a strong central plot that follows Norm and Reine (and her parents) on a trip to Hawaii to celebrate their engagement. Which is fake. Except that Norm likes Reine, and Reine may like him as well. And then Sting shows up on the plane to give Norm some advice. If you're getting the sense that there's a lot going on, you're right. This is the finest kind of farce with a modern twist, the sort of thing you'd find in a sitcom like Frasier or Friends.
What makes the book work for me is the central relationship between Reine and Norm. Both of them have their weaknesses, and their inability to admit their feelings to one another, but they are also both very likable characters and the complications in their lives are clever and intriguing. The heartache of Norm and Reine as they deal with their feelings for each other and the screwed up situation they put themselves into are as real and touching as the rest of the book is funny. Jantze pushes the edge of realism with his take on her over-the-top parents, but it works because of how grounded and real Reine and Norm are.
In fact, some of the more enjoyable and funny moments for me came out of the outlandish events, a surprise since so much of the comedy comes from everyday recognizable situations. But Norm meeting up Sting, and a variety of other celebrities, is so out of thin air that it's hilarious, and Jantze writes Sting as an enjoyable character, reminiscent of the celebrity guests on Simpsons, who are clearly recognizable as parodies of themselves.
The Norm is an enjoyable read that grows on me more with each comic I read. While the quirky style and outlandish elements make for some great comedy, Jantze also brings a strong sense of reality to the relationships and friendships in the book, and the result is a blend of drama and comedy that is a rare find in comics.
