...but Satrapi, author of the excellent Persepolis, director of the animated film of the same title, and creator of the criminally underrated Chicken with Plums, has single-handedly brought comics to the book-club set without condescending to write a Kite Runner–style crapfest. This is less a reading than a free-form chat, and Satrapi is a raconteur, funny and engaging and everything you wouldn't expect a comic-book artist to be. It's the worst case of Betty-or-Veronica syndrome ever. (Moore, 1932 Second Ave, 467-5510. 7:30 pm, $25–$32.)