BUZZBOY REVIEWS>>

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Buzzboy has all the clean cut elements--dialogue, design, costumes--of a classic sixties comic. The story follows the misadventures of a costumed hero, Buzzboy, former sidekick to this world's greatest hero, Ultra a.k.a. Captain Ultra. Ultra has turned rogue and is terrorizing all of Paradise City. Most of the other heroes and sidekicks of Paradise City have disappeared, with many presumed dead. Buzzboy was one such hero, and has been thought lost forever, but he's resurfaced just in time to help combat Ultra's evil and save the world. Buzzboy's return sparks the emergence of the rest of the super powered element in Paradise City, and now all of the superheroes have banded together with one common goal: restoring order and peace. With a cartoony style very reminiscent of classic Archie Comics, Gallagher introduces his cast and world. Within a few pages, the gist of the story is revealed, drawing readers into Buzzboy and the duty he must fulfill. Gallagher's gray tones add lots of flavor and flair to the artwork and give each page more depth and dimension, and in fact, seem appropriate for the book's retro feel. Buzzboy is also a "Where's Waldo" of sorts with cartoon, comics, TV, movie, and other characters drawn into the crowd and background scenes. From page to page the reader never knows whose name will be dropped or who or what may appear next. It's that unpredictability and fun that makes Buzzboy something accessible to everyone.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

COMICSWORTHREADING.COM
by Johanna Draper Carlson
The superhero Ultra has taken over, and people live in fear. His former sidekick, Buzzboy, previously thought dead, has teamed up with a teenage witch named Becca and Dr. Cyber, a baked-goods-obsessed ex-supervillain, to try and fix things. Buzzboy's actions even inspire other former members of the Teen Extreme team to come out of hiding.

The thick black lines and high-contrast layouts give the whole thing a cartoony feel, which helps keep the story upbeat. If Squadron Supreme and Brat Pack were whipped cream, this is Cool Whip with multicolored sprinkles -- similar ideas, much lighter approach.

In keeping with the diner culture approach of the book, the milkshake is the perfect metaphor for this story. It's made up of basic genre ingredients tossed in a blender, flavored with sitcom references and pop culture allusions. For instance, when Buzzboy is held prisoner, his visions are TV show parodies.

After the story, there's a sketchbook section patterned after Chip Kidd's Batman Animated with background information and samples of toys fans have made. This is one of the best independent superhero books I've read. It's not just a copy of other people's work but a loving treatment of an original character with a distinctive voice.

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