Was That Normal? (Paperback)

Alex Potts

ISBN 10: 1917355254 / ISBN 13: 9781917355254

Published by Avery Hill Publishing Ltd, 2026

About this Item

Paperback. 'It was like he'd missed the main part of the story and arrived between the big climax and the end credits. A new order had established itself and everyone, apart from him, was living happily ever after. Nothing interesting could possibly happen between now and the ending.' Philip is looking for something: a new life, a new friend, a new relationship. Having moved during the pandemic, he's adrift, unmoored, and stuck inside his own head. Working all day from his rented room, he haunts cafes and bars around town in search of a connection with anyone but his landlady. When he meets Gina, a local musician, he finds that spark - but the discomfort of navigating a relationship leaves him isolated, frustrated and always feeling like he's getting something wrong. This thoughtful, absurd graphic novel about the relatable nature of modern loneliness gives us glimpses inside Philip's head, telling the relatable, emotional story of one socially awkward hapless man's journey through midlife. Praise for previous work by Alex Potts: 'Gripping and propulsive to its end - but even better, its final page instils an instant desire to go back and reread it. Potts is a master of ratcheting up the tension. His colour palette and shading are subtle but effective.' - Peter Dabbene, Foreword Reviews. 'An intriguing and entertaining read that is all the more interesting and enjoyable for not being what you expect it to be.' - Alex Thomas, Pipedream Comics. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781917355254

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Was That Normal? (Paperback)
• Publisher: Avery Hill Publishing Ltd
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1917355254
• ISBN 13: 9781917355254
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

“It was like he’d missed the main part of the story and arrived between the big climax and the end credits. A new order had established itself and everyone, apart from him, was living happily ever after. Nothing interesting could possibly happen between now and the ending.”

Philip is searching.
For meaning. For connection. For someone to share a moment with.
By day, he works from a rented room. By night, he drifts through cafés and bars, dodging awkward chats with his landlady and hoping for something more. When he meets Gina, a local musician, things begin to shift. But relationships are messy, and Philip’s discomfort grows as he stumbles through miscommunications, emotional misfires, and the looming presence of Gina’s intense ex.

Add in a crumbling tower, gong baths (whatever they are), and the quiet ache of modern life, and you have a story that’s tender, funny, and deeply human.

A beautifully observed graphic novel about connection, confusion, and the spaces in between.

About the Author

Alex Potts is an animator and comic artist based in London. He is the author of the psychological horror graphic novel It’s Cold in the River at Night. He is known for his Instagram comics and his self-published work, including Depressed Mermaid, Drinking on Your Own, Standing Outside the Station Sweating, and Gravitational Collapse, and he has contributed to numerous anthologies including Off Life, The Broken Frontier Yearbook, Dirty Rotten Comics, Stripburger, and The Comix Reader.