Michael Ian Black loves the ‘80s. He loves the ‘70s, the ‘90s and the new millennium, too. Over the last few months, the (very famous) basic cable star has taken his show on the road to promote his new book, “My Custom Van: And 50 Other Mind-Blowing Essays that Will Blow Your Mind All Over Your Face.”

The wordiness of the title is in direct contrast to that of the stories themselves, none of which exceed a couple pages. And there is humor in Black’s terseness. Each tale offers a cynical, other-worldly perspective on any of life’s common elements, but that’s not to call him depraved. “What I Would Be Thinking If I Were Billy Joel Driving to a Holiday Party Where I Knew There Was Going to Be a Piano” is as hilarious as its title, while “Hey, David Sedaris--Why Don’t You Go Ahead and Suck It?” is an abrasive look into Black’s blog-fueled feud with the humorist.

There is nothing hard-hitting or profound about the book, and perhaps that is for the best. Black uses his powerfully sarcastic, sardonic rhetoric to his advantage more often than not, pausing infrequently for more heartfelt essays such as, “Now We Will Join Forces, You and I.” His ability to stray from the formula he’s found himself so comfortable in shows not only depth of character, but potential outside the world of comedic storytelling.

Black’s crusade for the absurd has transcended VH1 and the book shelves, as he also runs his own Web site, the main feature of which is a blog. Updated multiple times a week, the entries cover the alternate universe that is the comedian’s very serious personal and familial life. That said, his daily routines, his children and his wife are all fair game for a riff. One of the better entries, “My Daughter’s First Day of School” equally profiles classroom bullying and parental negligence, all in the name of love and laughter.

Through the years, Black has proven his worth as an undervalued comic gem relegated to the confines of basic cable. But with his new book and blog, he has also proven that he can handle the responsibilities that come with being a (very famous) author.

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