Bizarro Among the Savages: A Relatively Famous Guy's Experiences on the Road and in the Homes of Strangers

When Piraro, creator of the nationally syndicated cartoon Bizarro, attempted to plan a tour to promote his latest book of cartoons (Bizarro Number 9), he discovered his publisher, Andrews & McMeel, had no budget for it. The idea then occurred to him that, with a little mooching off fans he'd met through e-mail, he could arrange a tour unlike anything the world had ever seen. Here then is the good-natured account of his experiences wining, dining and crashing with strangers all over America. His memorable sponsors include ""sexy schoolmarms,"" a championship roller skater, a freewheeling Marine, a ""spontaneous nutbag"" and, despite Piraro's preliminary fears, only one (possibly) homicidal maniac. Piraro contends that this undertaking revived his faith in humankind and provided him with a perspective that sustained him through his divorce, which followed on the heels of the tour. His reflections are endearingly candid, but the primary narrative device that drives his quest--Pat Sajak as a recurring hallucinated guru--is improbable. Nevertheless, both Bizarro aficionados and those curious to encounter a colorful cast of real-life Americans will enjoy this offbeat twist on the travelogue/memoir. Illustrations. (Nov.)