The Chowderhead Crusades

Comic-Con, 2036. The world is rocked by the bizarre and inexplicable materialization of Cateklysm Catholicon - a colorfully clad whack job decreeing that humanity's only hope lies in the lessons found in superhero comic books. "Cateklysm's Challenge" is born, enticing even the most skeptical with a prize that promises "the power to change the world".

But two decades later, the world has gone to crap. The prize, the challenge, and Cateklysm himself have all been forgotten by everyone but the Chowderheads - diehard superhero worshippers, who champion the progressive ideology infused into comics.

Enter Clayton Clayborn, a tragically orphaned, 17-year-old, second-generation Chowderhead living a dystopian nightmare existence on a Martian space freighter. Obsessed with the challenge, he'll face a gauntlet of comic book nerdery that will take him to alien worlds, thrust him into gladiatorial combat against supervillain look-alikes, and push him to the brink of annihilation in the heart of what seems to be the Batcave. But as Stan Lee would put it, "Excelsior."

"The comic book nerd's Ready Player One... Fun, frenetic, creative, and the ending hits like a ton of bricks." (Portland Book Review)

©2020 Severed Press (P)2021 Severed Press

Comic book fans must read

I loved The Chowderhead Crusades and Patton Oswalt’s reading of it. Both truly delivered more than I was expecting. The book has an abundance of action and comic moments that couldn’t have been read any better. Between the witty writing and some hilarious delivery by Oswalt there’s a lot of fun to be had here.

Such a treat !

This is an amazing book ! I listened on audible and have the book with prime . It’s such a trip and a half. I see why critics compare it to ready player one. It’s very very similar, but at the same time kinda completely its own thing. Ie the whole world was captivated by the events leading into ready player one , where as, the world was relatively unaffected by the events , besides the fact that the villain is a “true believer” and it set everything down an amazing twist. And Patton oswalt is a treasure as the narrator.

Solid book, solid casting.

Not an academic study of superhero lore, but not too far off, wrapped in a well-constructed story. And Patton Oswalt was so perfect for the role.

Fast-paced and fun

I say "fast-paced" but that really starts 20-30 minutes in, because there's a good amount of world-building like most sci-fi. After that it really takes off. I loved Ready Player One and this really was the comic book version. And Patton Oswalt is such a comic book buff – I don't think anyone else could have done it justice.

Ready Player One for comic fans!

The PDX Book Review nailed it. It really is “the comic book nerd’s Ready Player One.” And Patton Oswalt reading it makes even more what it is. If you’re really into comics, you’ll love the book for nostalgia. If you’re just kind of into them, you’ll learn a ton...while the main characters fight for their lives. Lol.