The story flows along like a “Seinfeld” show, which I guess is the most fitting tribute for narratives like this.

The question is, if comics are just for kids and dorks, then why does The Non-Adventures of Trenchcoat & Kim #1 seem more appealing to distained intellectuals of a college age, than anyone else?

Written and drawn by local comic artist Matt (Chic) Chicorel, The Non-Adventures is the first in a new series filled with interesting conversations and unconventional situations, rather than super-powers and mutants.

The first issue of the new comic series follows the craving-to-be hero Trenchcoat, and Kim, Trenchcoat’s not quite heroic support. The story begins as Trenchcoat attempts to prevent a man from jumping off the roof of a building.

Trenchcoat is a hero who has all the making of a hero, an amazing costume, a quirky sidekick and vigorous self-doubt. His problem is that he is hesitates to do what heroes do: act. He has all the tools he needs to act in a given crisis situation, but he is not sure if the outcome will be the desired one if he intervenes.

This fear to act is something that connects well with the reader and holds strong throughout the comic.

Kim, who is more of Trenchcoat’s best friend than a sidekick, is around for moral support more than anything. She doesn’t really want to get involved with the superhero business, but just can’t help getting involved because Trenchcoat hesitates so much in campaign to save the world.

The story flows along like a “Seinfeld” show, which I guess is the most fitting tribute for narratives like this. It tells the story of a normal but weird day for a man with a mask over his face. How he tries to achieve his tasks without really getting too involved.

One could say the story is an adventure, but really no super villain to battle leaves the story so non-adventurous.

The story is very interesting, but the awkward panels in which no character speaks stand out as the comic’s best feature. While looking at panels a reader lingers on them wondering what goes through the character’s minds when stuck in these impasses.

The artistic choice not to give characters a “thought bubble” during the awkward moments was an amazing stylistic choice that leads the reader to take a deeper look into the comic. Readers pay more attention to the illustrations than taking a quick glance the drawings then just reading the dialogue. Most comics don’t for moments like these, and I would have to wonder why. It works so well for The Non-Adventures of Trenchcoat and Kim.

Each panel of comic is drawn exquisitely. Chic’s style is interesting and unique. His characters are a little more cartoonish than super-sexy hero-ish. They have a great depth and detail to them.

The inking of each illustration is a strong point, where line thickness makes each character fill their space nicely and gives great dimension to each panel.

The Milwaukee comic produced comic comes from Night Light Comics, which has produced comics since March 2004. The Non-Adventures of Trenchcoat and Kim #1 can be purchased of Night Light Comic’s Website, nightlightcomics.com, or at The Collector’s Edge on Farwell Avenue.

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