Yo…

Seeking A Summer Read?

How about…

A slow burn mystery loaded with witticisms wrapped around sharp commentary about the classic suburban life. Veneers, fears, smears and sneers it’s all happening in West Windsor, New Jersey. Cheers.

Oh Yes. Let’s Get After It.

One of the benefits of hosting a podcast is it gives you an excuse to connect with creators whose work you dig.

I’ve been reading Fabian Nicieza since the 90s…mostly in Marvel Comics. Notable notables: New Warriors (incredible!), Nomad (fun!), New Mutants (astonishing!), Cable & Deadpool (stunning!) and so much more.

In fact, it was during his work on the various X-Books where he was co-created Deadpool with Rob Liefeld. (The second Deadpool movie is fresh filthy fun!)

Have no fears; stay with me…this is not about nostalgia and my wayward youth where comics corrupted my innocence. (RIP Little Sammy’s innocence…)

Fabian has also written two murder mystery novels: The Self-Made Widow just came out June 21, 2022. It’s still got that new book smell: mmm.

The Self-Made Widow is a follow up to his 2021 novel Suburban Dicks. (If you know Deadpool you can quickly gather how his co-creator could also issue a novel called Suburban Dicks. Everybody you know is a blessed with different gifts.)

I highly recommend Suburban Dicks if you’re searching for your next Summer read for the following significant reasons.

One: it is super funny. I hope you picked up on that from our attached My Summer Lair conversation. Dude is a really funny writer.

Like the novel practically begins:  “The pregnant woman said nothing. The child peed like a racehorse. She was the Secretariat of urination. Finally, the stream trickled to a drip.”

So in between a typical murder mystery thriller kind of thing where they’re solving dead bodies kind of thing it’s dope to have a couple of jokes every so often grenaded into the mix.Two: it keeps you guessing as you try to figure it all out; it’s one of those novels where you have to establish who the killer is or…the killers.

The murder of a gas station attendant in a small New Jersey suburb of West Windsor and its sister town Plainsboro revealed a conspiracy; perhaps the police department and/or the town government are hiding a much older crime. Is this all connected or are these coincidences?

I’m not providing any clues whatsoever. I enjoy those books where you hafta get involved. I did a bad job… figuring it out. I didn’t get it right.

This novel is a slow burn. It patiently sets up the New Jersey universe that it is set in. Just like Gotham City is a major character in Batman, New Jersey is a prominent character in Suburban Dicks.

And it is a character that comes with its own vibe, its own history, its own moods. So while this is a novel about Andrea and Kenny attempting to solve a mystery, they happen to be solving this mystery in a New Jersey town that’s struggling to embrace its present evolution.

Not everybody accepts gentrification or Fabian frames it: white flight.

Fabian describes the novel “as a sarcastic suburban mystery.” However in our conversation he added: “When you ask me what Suburban Dicks is about; it’s about white fear of change and white fear of demographic upheavals that actually happened gradually, over the course of time in the areas in which you live in.”

As an example…here’s an electrifying line from page 138: “Does the institution lead the individuals to act in a certain way, or do the consistent actions of many individuals create institutionalized, system racism?” Kenny…a main character who is a reporter is speaking to the Mayor. Solid question right?

All of this empowers the novel with some ethnic spice. (But like tolerable ethnic spice…may God have mercy on your soul if you visit in Scarborough an Indian family for dinner and there are no white people coming over.)

Three: Suburban Dicks is shaping up to become a series. I like that too with the kind of these murder mystery thriller happenings. You can spend time in these “dangerous” locations, with these compelling characters. (Sorta like Norm on Cheers! Gimme the usual…)

As I said book 2: The Self-Made Widow hasn’t even been out for a week. Fabian also mentioned a third book. After that who knows? (Technically I’m giving you two book recommendations. Tell your single friends!)

Circling back to the conversation I had with him; it was such a treat for me. I get to talk to this dude? Yes. We cover…the subtle pressure of being children of immigrant parents, the validation of a creator, his Marvel Comics (not enough…sadly so…) and the tragic passing of his dog…

“The death of my dog was a big surprise; I wasn’t expecting that one. And she was my office assistant. She did all of my accounting and my filing so it really threw off the business aspect of things.” #Gold

So…what are you reading?

A Human Bookmark,Sammy Younan-28-

Sammy Younan is the affable host of My Summer Lair podcast: think NPR’s Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mypalsammy.substack.com