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The primary signifier of a great comedian is the ability to make things that should not be considered funny elicit fits of ROFL laughter. In theory, autism is the farthest thing from fertile comedic material. One out of 91 children here in America are diagnosed with the mysterious condition each year, for which there is still no known cure, and it is a heartbreaking stressor on the lives of the afflicted's families on account of the condition's myriad behavioral symptoms.

But with that said, indie comic Eugene Mirman manages to transform the story of how a recent gig he had a NYC bookstore that was nearly derailed by, yes, a 12-year-old boy with Asperger's Syndrome - a mild, highly functional form of autism - who claimed to be God and wondered why Mirman wasn't focusing on him, into a genuine LOL riot. The reason being is that he does it in such a deadpan subtlety that is neither confrontational nor outright crude. And it is in this observational approach to stand-up where the Mir's strengths lie, whether he is talking about autism, airlines or the political incorrectness of online polls in his native Russia over the course of this hour-odd set recorded in late 2008 at the Lakeshore Theatre in Chicago.

Other topics he touches upon here include Classmates.com, whale watches, online banner ads and his dealings with Con Edison over his gas bill, all achieved with top humor and candor. He even turns his comedic sword on himself, admitting to a brief stint in Special Education during his middle school years, quipping, "I went to Special Ed because I was forced to, but I stayed for the ladies!" In short, you will not find a better comedy album that came out in 2009 than God is a Twelve-Year-Old Boy with Asperger's

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Standout Tracks:  "My Gas Got Shut Off - Boo!", "The Questionable Polls of Russia Today", "The Will to Whatevs Book Tour and an Amazing Boy with Asperger's", "Classmates.com" RON HART