Pinball Punks (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780692933565)

It all starts when the president explodes (metaphorically) during a press conference. Annoyed at the reporters' questions (and their inability to remember to call him Mr. Awesome), the presi-sorry, Mr. Awesome-issues a challenge to the nation. Want to improve society? E-mail your proposal to Mr. Awesome, and he'll pay a hundred grand for any idea he likes.

Mikey of the punk band Piss Rats fires off an idea for social change based on playing pinball machines. Mr. Awesome loves the idea, and so Mikey and his fellow Piss Rats find themselves touring on behalf of the political establishment. Their new role as pinball ambassadors doesn't sit well with the Piss Rats-punks don't have much love for politicians.

As the band bickers over selling out and compromising the purity of punk, they notice Mikey's pinball plan is working, despite an increasing number of pinball players who are acting strangely-well, even more strangely. There's also the fact Mr. Awesome, despite being a surprisingly entertaining party animal, is hiding something from the band.

Oh, and then there's the rat that keeps showing up. No one knows what he wants, but man, does the little fur ball reek of piss.