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Les Normaux: A Graphic Novel by Janine Janssen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


For me this was a 3.5 read rounded up. Why am I being a little hard on this popular webtoon? I'll get to that. I like the idea that all the magical beings live in an alternative world and apparently you can cross over to it and live if you're a human with magic. Sébastien, a gay demisexual Filipino young man, goes to alt-Paris to go to magic school with the support of his magical aunt (and zero support from his parents who are anti-magic and relatively homophobic too). He takes with him his bunny, Pierre (who has an active imaginary world)

At a club, Sébastien shares a drunken kiss with the hot Italian-Indian blue-skinned bisexual vampire Elia, only to find out they live in the same apartment. Clue up the embarrassment and slow-burn romance. Elia is a super model with a highly involved in his life (as in mapping out every second) family, wealthy, involved in the fashion world.

I will say Sébastien's friends and Elia's are fun. They're giving this story multiple side quests especially with Elia's one het friend and her Frankenstein new love interest. Elia is also well fleshed out. That just leaves Sébastien....

I'm not saying he's not fleshed out. It's just I find him not all that engaging as a character. Don't ask me why. I didn't hate him but I also didn't find myself caring all that much if he manages to fall in love with Elia. And that's sort of why it was a 3.5 read. Maybe if the story line goes on and he gains some confidence I'd like him more.

The art and the color scheme are stellar. It's certainly worth the read.



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