Unique premise of literally weaponizing a spelling bee. The premise, the cover art, and my weakness for "masked character(s)" intrigue piqued my interest on this story.

This showdown story takes place in a modern-ish setting and "not everything is as it seems" towards the end. The outlandish sounding premise is taking very seriously among the cast and everyone in it. It could use more worldbuilding and an origin story for this premise. Otherwise, the varied characters, art, and action kept me hooked onto this read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher(s) for the advanced copy.

I really loved the art but found lots of the actual story confusing & not properly explained as far as backstory of the various characters. I also had major difficulties in reading the text of the art of the spelling bee words which was super annoying. It seemed as though the artist was attempting to be stylized but since this was supposed to be a story about spelling bees I was annoyed to be unable to tell what lots of words were. Not sure that the art alone can propel this title but an interesting concept nonetheless.

Thanks to netgalley and Oni Press for the review copy.

This was a fun and quick story. Elements of it reminded me a bit of the more absurd elements of Scott Pilgrim. This story was very fast-paced, and sadly extremely light on the world building. The majority of focus is on the spelling competition and the backgrounds of the contestants. It focuses for the most part, only on the battle royale spelling bee. This novel isn't deep, it's very light-hearted and silly. The art style I did enjoy but the over use of yellow tones hurt my eyes. This is just a personal issue however!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

This was a hilarious romp and I don't know how else to phrase it! A world where spelling bees are so competitive that there are little spelling bee gang battles and an underground secret agency trying to corrupt them??? I loved it! I just had a blast with this one and the illustrations were incredible!

This is an absolute blast of an idea. Think WWF mixed with competitive spelling Bs. What isn’t there to love about this? Absolutely nothing. Loads of chuckles. Does newbie High School Webster have what it takes in this cut throat underground world? Indubitably - 11 letters, means without doubt!! Thank you to ONI Press and NetGalley for the comic ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

A Wordy Adventure with High Stakes and Hilarious Twists

Buzz! by Ananth Hirsh and Tess Stone delivers a vibrant and unique spin on the traditional high school drama by blending competitive spelling bees with an underground, almost gladiatorial atmosphere. The protagonist, Webster, is thrust into a world where words are literal weapons, and spelling matches are high-stakes battles controlled by shadowy figures like the Outlaw King and the Black Queen. The narrative's absurd premise is matched by its engaging and dynamic artwork, reflecting the chaotic energy of the story. The supporting characters shine, each with their quirky personas and inventive word-related backstories, adding depth to this unconventional coming-of-age tale. Fans of offbeat graphic novels like will find Buzz! an enjoyable read, thanks to its comedic timing, vibrant visuals, and imaginative storytelling. Its exploration of self-discovery amidst absurd challenges leaves readers both entertained and reflective.

The art style and colors in this book are absolutely stunning. The character designs are creative and fun, and I loved the clever touch of naming the main characters Webster and Merrium—like the dictionary. The concept of a world centered around spelling bees and battles using words is so unique and full of potential, but unfortunately, the story didn’t quite live up to it.

The pacing felt chaotic, with little to no world-building or setup to help immerse me in the story. Without a stronger foundation or more information about how this word-based world worked, it was hard to get fully invested. While the visuals were gorgeous, the execution of the story left me wanting more.