Here’s your chance to join the cult of Palahniuk

If you get the chance to say hi to Chuck Palahniuk at his 5 p.m. signing on Saturday at the Baileys Crossroads Borders, I only have one suggestion: Don’t talk about “Fight Club.” He wrote the rules, you know. But feel free to chat about his latest novel, “Pygmy,” which follows a group of 12 kids from a foreign state sent to America to pose as exchange students while they plan a huge terrorist act on U.S. soil. A thriller? No. This is Palahniuk, known for an intriguing assortment of offbeat tales — from “Fight Club” and “Choke” to “Haunted” and “Lullaby” — and he’s billing it as both a comedy and romance.

NPR’s Andrea Seabrook will be doing an interview before the Q&A and signing periods. And maybe he’ll break the rules and talk a little “Fight Club.” If you ask REEEEAAALLLY nicely.

For those who can’t make it, you can order your official “Pygmy” tour shirt online or join his Operation Havoc Photo Challenge by uploading a pic of yourself doing your favorite sparring maneuver. (Thanks to Warren for the tip.)

I hope everybody got their free comics for Free Comic Book Day over the weekend. It’s back to paying for them, unfortunately, but this week brings a must-read: “Power Girl” No. 1! The JSA member gets her own ongoing series, finally, beginning with her trying to build a secret identity for herself. What isn’t a secret is that NO ONE draws Power Girl quite like Amanda Conner. “Run!” also debuts this week, the first of the “Final Crisis Aftermath” titles, but it doesn’t look nearly as good with the Human Flame being targeted by all the good guys and all the baddies.

With “Wolverine” in theaters, Marvel Comics is mining the mutant again with a relaunch of “New Mutants” No.1, with the original team back in action to throw down with Legion. Speaking of epic battles, those who want to see more of Deadpool after his mini-appearance in the aforementioned movie will want to see him take on the new Hawkeye (aka Bullseye) in “Deadpool” No. 10. And those who like prefer more comedy with their city-wrecking monsters will want to check out the “Fin Fang Four Return!” one-shot featuring Fin Fang Foom, Elektro, Googam and Gorgilla.

Got a favorite Chuck Palahniuk novel? Tell us at novapoppin@gmail.com.

Tags: book signing, books, comics