Sedaris brings the essay noise, ‘Berzerker’ brings the pain

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

Remember those essays you used to HATE reading in school? David Sedaris doesn’t write those — his rock and are in no way lame. The acclaimed humorist and frequent NPR contributor stops by the Baileys Crossroads Borders at 7:30 p.m. Friday to read from and sign copies of his latest book of essays, “When You Are Engulfed in Flames.” His other books might not have as cool a cover (it doesn’t get much more awesome than a chain-smoking skeleton), but tomes such as “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” “Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim” and others are well worth a buy while you’re there. The store is also hosting local jazz musician Marcus Roberts at 4 p.m. Saturday, when he’ll be performing and putting his John Hancock on copies of his new album “Poetically Justified.”

This week is a good one for comics fans, beginning with the debut issue of “Berzerker.” Presented by “Heroes” star Milo Ventimiglia’s DiVide Pictures and written by “Friday Night Lights” scribe, the brand new Top Cow title follows a couple of two dudes with primal rage issues leading to an insane level of strength and power, and the mysterious group that wants to use them for their own means. There’s a lot of good buzz on this one, so check it out. (For a preview of some of the carnage, read the issue zero preview here.) The “Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men” miniseries takes “Dark Reign” out to San Francisco, where mutant riots break out in the X-Men’s new neighborhood and leads Norman Osborn and his crew out that way for a major-league throwdown. The storyline also spawns “Lethal Legion,” where bad guys such as Mr. Hyde and the Absorbing Man aren’t brought into Osborn’s fold and act up out of spite; “The Sinister Spider-Man,” featuring the new Venom (and old Scorpion), Mac Gargan; and a new supervillain who’s ready to shake up everything in “Zodiac.” There are a trio of Bat-titles worth picking up, too. “Gotham City Sirens” is a new monthly series starring the city’s femme fatales Poison Ivy, Catwoman and Harley Quinn. Batwoman, a breakout star from “52,” gets a lead role starting in “Detective Comics” No. 854 (it’s worth it just for the insanely top-notch art of JH Williams, who might be the next Jim Lee). And fans of Frank Miller’s “The Dark Knight” will enjoy the collection of his work in  “All Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder,” now in softcover form.

With July 4 quickly approaching, what’s your favorite American history book, fiction or nonfiction? Let me know in the comments below.

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Tags: book signing, books, comics