About this Collection
This collection gathers the complete run of Fred Hembeck's satirical superhero series 'Normalman,' originally published by various indie presses in the 1980s and early '90s. The book follows the adventures of Normalman, the sole ordinary human on a planet of bizarre super-beings, as he navigates a world filled with parodies of iconic comic characters. Featuring Hembeck's signature cartoony style and meta-humor, this volume includes crossovers and guest appearances by numerous cult-favorite characters from the indie comics scene of the era.
"Something Like an Origin" introduces normalman in a striking, self-contained origin story by Jim Valentino, who handles every aspect of the interior—writing, art, inking, and lettering. The tale begins with a sudden, desperate act: normalman’s father launches him into space, believing Earth is doomed, only for him to crash-land on a planet where everyone possesses super-powers. The cover, also by Valentino, captures the moment with stark, expressive detail.
Contains 24 stories
Something Like an Origin
4 pp · Humor, Superhero
Fanatic Four [Mr. FanaticalHelpless WomanThe Humane TouchThe Lunk]The Ultra-ConservativeNasty-Girl
In a chaotic twist of fate, normalman is rocketed into space by his overzealous father, only to crash-land on a planet where everyone—yes, everyone—has superpowers. Now, stranded among the Fanatic Four, the Ultra-Conservative, and Nasty-Girl, he’s the only one without a single super ability, forcing him to rely on sheer normalcy in a world built on excess.
The Man Called normalman
4 pp · Humor, Superhero
Nasty-GirlThe Ultra-ConservativeThe Cephalopod
Let's Get normal, Man!
4 pp · Humor, Superhero
The Ultra-ConservativeFanatical Four [Mr. FanaticalHelpless WomanThe Humane TouchThe Lunk]Doctor DerrangedWok Man
The Panties and Capes Syndrome
22 pp · Humor, Superhero
Legion of Superfluous-Heroes [Lightweight LadUranus GirlAmbiguous Boy (cameo)Ample-Lass (cameo)Androgenous Person (cameo)Brain-Damaged Kid (cameo)Burned-Out Boy (cameo)Colossal Bore (cameo)Comix-Boy (cameo)Crustacean Kid (cameo)Dastardly Dame (cameo)Diptheria Kid (cameo)Do-Nut Boy (cameo)]The Ultra-Conservative [The Liberalator]The Fanatical Four [Mr. FanaticalHelpless WomanThe Humane TouchThe Lunk]Justice League of Society [The Flesh (cameo)Flat Man (cameo)Green Heartburn (cameo)Human Person (cameo)Waterlogged Man (cameo)Nasty Girl (cameo)Robin Hoodlum (cameo)Useless Kid (cameo)]AimlessRotten KidNeil the Horse (cameo)
...And One Shall SLAY Him!
20 pp · Humor, Superhero
Ultra-ConservativeFanatic Four [Mr. FanaticalHelpless WomanThe Humane TouchThe Lunk]Legion of Superfluous Heroes [Entropy Empress (cameo)Euphemism Lad (cameo)Fan Boy (cameo)Flaccid Lad (cameo)Flatulent Lass (cameo)Gangrene Girl (cameo)Generic Lad (cameo)Generous Lass (cameo)Glutinous Girl (cameo)Hackneyed Kid (cameo)Half-Wit Lad (cameo)Hedonistic Girl (cameo)]Rotten KidAimless (flashback cameo)Old MaidThe TrendoidMan-ManThe Pope of Pain
In "...And One Shall SLAY Him!", Rotten Kid hatches a scheme to sell Normalman to the Ultra-Conservative, setting off a chain of absurdly over-the-top confrontations. Amidst the chaos, Captain Everything squares off against Sgt Fluffy in a battle with no clear cause—only pure, ridiculous intent.
The Pope of Pain
22 pp · Humor, Superhero
Pope of PainThe WatchdogOld MaidThe TrendoidMan-manRotten KidLegion of Superfluous Heroes [Iconoclastic Kid (cameo)Ignoramus Lass (cameo)Incoherent Kid (cameo)Irrational Girl (cameo)Jiggle Queen (cameo)Jocular Lad (cameo)Juvenile Kid (cameo)Kinky Kid (cameo)Klassy Dame (cameo)]Rotton Kid (flashback)Ultra-Conservative
Crisis on Earth-Twinkey
22 pp · Humor, Superhero
Smelfs [Slime Slider]Mr Nose-Et-AlRonaldThe WraithThe CephalopodThe Trendoid (cameo)Hairy SlothLegion of Superflous Heroes [Lackadaisical Lad (cameo)Lady Laxative (cameo)Lightweight Lad (cameo)Lobotomized Lass (cameo)Misnomer Maid (cameo)Malnutrition Kid (cameo)Napalm Nate (cameo)Nihilistic Kid (cameo)Oblique Kid (cameo)Obnoxious Boy (cameo)Orbiculated Kid (cameo)Oxymoran Miss (cameo)]Mickey Money
normal Times
24 pp · Humor, Superhero
Ojibwa
Crisis? WHAT Crisis?!
20 pp · Humor, Superhero
Mickey MoneyRags Rabbit [as Rugcleft]Dipstick DuckPunky PigDon the Mean Old GhostSlow WhineCephalopodCar ManLegion of Superflous-Heroes [Pathetikid (cameo)Pithecanthropus Princess (cameo)Pyromaniac Pete (cameo)Quadrilateral Queen (cameo)Quandry Kid (cameo)Quean Queen (cameo)Rambunctious Boy (cameo)Repugnent Kid (cameo)Ruthless Lass (cameo)Lightweight LadUranus Girl]
normalman, P.I.
20 pp · Humor, Superhero
Ultra-ConservativeCephalopodCar ManRotten KidThugLegion of Superflous-Heroes [Tawdry Trollop (cameo)Temerity Kid (cameo)Ulterior Kid (cameo)Lightweight LadUnavoidable Boy (cameo)Uncouth Kid (cameo)Unscrupulous Lass (cameo)Vacuous Lad (cameo)Vicarious Kid (cameo)Witless Lass (cameo)Wretched Woman (cameo)]Justice League of Society [The Flesh (cameo)Nasty-GirlHuman Person (cameo)Flatman (cameo)Useless Kid (cameo)]Aimless
Who Killed Sgt. Fluffy THIS Time?
24 pp · Humor, Superhero
Ultra-ConservativeCephalopod (flashback cameo)Mr. Nose Et AlRotten KidFanatic Four [Mr. FanaticalHelpless WomanThe Humane TouchThe Lunk] (flashback cameo)Pope of Pain (flashback cameo)Man-Man (flashback cameo)Ojibwa (flashback cameo)Mickey Money (flashback cameo)Rags Rabbit (flashback cameo)Justice League of Society [Human PersonThe FleshFlatmanNasty-GirlUseless KidWater-Logged ManGreen HeartburnRobin Hoodlum]Legion of Superflous-Heroes [Xenophobikid (cameo)X-Rated Girl (cameo)X-Ray Roy (cameo)Lightweight LassYellingirl (cameo)]The Unnecessary A-Men [The AardvarkSneaky PeteMetalusWindbreaker]The Tight Teens [NebulaSwelll GuyCopy CatBionikid]The Cloned Kids [TerrifikidPsuedoladNymphetRustbucket]Max the MagnificentLord R. Nader
Misery in Space
20 pp · Humor, Superhero
Max the MagnificentLord R. NaderMiss MeteoriteRD22Ultra-ConservativeUnion ManOrdinary Guy
normalman Has Gaul
21 pp · Humor, Superhero
Countess of Monte CriscoGeneral Gluteus MaximusDavidCleoAbdulUnion ManOrdinary Guy
Captain Everything Goes to the Collector's Con
1 pp · Humor, Superhero
normalman for President
20 pp · Humor, Superhero
Countess of Monte CriscoUltra-ConservativeDr DerangedOrange JuliusPaste-Pasta PeteTelepatheticUnion ManOrdinary Guy
The Prez's Old Clothes
22 pp · Humor, Superhero
Countess of Monte CriscoAnchormanThe WatchdogRotten Kid (flashback cameo)Mickey Money (flashback cameo)Max the Magnificent (flashback cameo)Miss Meteorite (flashback cameo)Ultra-Conservative (flashback cameo)Mr. Tough GuyThe Neo-Fascist Fun BoysNaughty-GirlThe Italian-Indian Liberation League
Love Stinks
20 pp · Humor, Superhero
Countess of Monte CriscoMajor TroubleUltra-ConservativeRotten KidMan-ManUnion Man
There's No Place Like Home
28 pp · Humor, Superhero
Countess of Monte CriscoMajor TroubleUltra-ConservativeRotten KidDark FluffyAnchormanUnion GuyLegion of Superflous-Heroes [Lightweight Lad]Fanatic Four [Mr. FanaticalHelpless WomanThe Humane TouchThe Lunk] (cameo)Man-Man (cameo)Wok-Man (cameo)Orange Julius (cameo)Paste-Pasta Pete (cameo)Telepathetic (cameo)Nasty-Girl (cameo)Doctor Derranged (cameo)Mickey Money (cameo)Rags Rabbit (cameo)Max the Magnificent (cameo)Miss Meteorite (cameo)Lowra (normalman's mother)
normalman Goes Hollywood
9 pp · Humor, Superhero
Rotten Kid (flashback cameo)Nasty-Girl (flashback cameo)Man-Man (flashback cameo)Countess of Monte Crisco (flashback cameo)Dark Fluffy (flashback cameo)Mr. Agent ManMr. Studio HeadAvergage Guy
Deni Sim presents... normalman
1 pp · Humor, Superhero
Lest No Bridge Be Unburned
23 pp · Humor, Superhero
Splitting Image characters [VaporTractionShockPittstop [Pit-Stop]MallSpasmJolly Green Drag-QueenSandbox] (cameos)Neil the Horse (cameo)Dr. Radium (cameo)Mystery Incorporated [Crystal Man [Craig Crandall]Neon Queen [Jeannie Morrow]The Planet [Biff Baker]] (cameos)Junior Jackalope (cameo)Squirrley (cameo)Starchild (cameo)Dynamo (cameo)CheesewizLittle NemoNeil GaimanBeanishBodé Broad (cameo)Scott McCloudYellow Kid (statue)Slimy (Stan Lee parody)Watchers (cameos)Jenette KahnHardcase (cameo)Tom MasonUglyverse characters (parodies of the Ultraverse characters)Peevish Diversion (Peter David parody)Mike RichardsonTodd McFarlaneProfessor GarbanzoBoom'r BandGran'Ma'Paa Sprout-Butta Goofy Jerk
normalman - Captain Everything
1 pp · Humor, Superhero
Captain Everything -- Super-Star
19 pp · Humor, Superhero
Johnny BurnoutSaul PlevitzRich MikersonJoey DeQueElric WithholdingStony EsmereldaPrincess TuloogaMan-Man
Untitled Humor story
1 pp · Humor, Superhero
Rags Rabbit
