Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Oddly Normal #1
Image Comics
Frampton
Oddly Normal was published way back in 2006 as a graphic novel and is apparently being re-released as single comic books here in 2014 in preparation for the continuation of the series with new material. The Otis Frampton written and illustrated book is an all ages comic book that feels like a good fit for whatever the age or gender of the reader. There seems to be plenty of room for this kind of comic book in the market and a better one couldn't have been picked to reprint as single issues.
Oddly Normal is a little girl that is a mix of a human dad and a witch mother. She tries her best to live a regular life but her natural green hair and scary looking house seem to get in the way. On her 10th birthday, after her "friends" all shun a party invitation she lets her anger get the best of her against her parents. As she blows out the candles she simply wishes for them to disappear. The comic book ends with a very different looking landscape for the ten year-old.
The comic book has a lot of charm to it. Frampton takes the entire opening issue to let the reader into the thoughts of the little girl. It's written in a logic way to help the adult readers identify with the thought process while the ideas themselves are on a child's level to help the younger readers sympathize with Oddly. The book is definitely a character building issue and that will serve the larger story well.
The book does have that "It's A Wonderful Life" quality to it. What would my life be like if "X" did or didn't happen. This book is served well with the idea because it seems that Oddly must forge forward with the new status quo whereas George Bailey had the option to un-wish what he wanted.
Frampton's style is cartoon-like but in an animated way. The comic has a life to it that replicates still shots from an animated show and that works better than simply drawing a cartoon, such as Garfield. It sets the book apart from other all ages comics on the market.
Oddly Normal is a good book to read with your kids, give to your kids or simply kick back and check out and remember what it was like to be a kid. The comic has a lot of charm, strong main character and a good gimmick attached to it. Normally it would be alarming when one creator takes on all duties, but with these being reprints you know you won't have to wait too long for the next issue. I urge you to check this book out.
4 out of 5 Geek Goggles
