Space Battle Lunchtime Vol. 1

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE -- In this graphic novel, contestants from all over the galaxy compete on a cooking show. Readers will watch as, for the first time ever, a contestant from Earth, Peony, joins the competition. Peony is spunky and determined to do her best (even though she mostly just made cupcakes in the past-though none of the alien judges really know what cupcakes are). Of course the competition is intense and some of the other competitors are downright evil and cunning; so not only is Peony's chance at winning in question but her very life is at stake. The illustrations are a good mix of sweet for Peony (her chef's jacket has hearts on it after all) and oddly quirky for all the unknown aliens and their alien cooking ingredients. However, readers who really want to know the whole story will need to look for further installments. This particular book ends on quite the dramatic cliffhanger-like almost every good television show might. This is a good graphic novel for those who love quirky cooking reality shows and aliens all mixed together.



KIRKUS -- An Earth patissiere is beamed up to an intergalactic cooking competition reminiscent of Iron Chef. With oversized glasses, light skin, and a hairstyle reminiscent of Lucy's from “Peanuts,” Peony spends her days whipping up culinary delights at the bakery where she works. However, one fateful day, she is visited by a bespectacled frog who invites her to participate in a competition to find ""the greatest chef in the galaxy."" Suddenly, Peony finds herself on Space Battle Lunchtime, a televised show staged in an out-of-this-world kitchen with alien ingredients (literally) and odd appliances unlike anything she's ever seen. Undaunted by her exotic surroundings, Peony finds that her relentless optimism and cooking know-how help her persevere and woo the extraterrestrial judges. Threatened by her success, her ET opponents are not above sabotage, and Peony soon discovers the lengths some of them would go to ensure she does not win. Will Peony survive, or is this just the way her cookie crumbles? Riess' series opener is highly imaginative and enjoyable, with strong worldbuilding working joyfully alongside bright and humorous illustrations. An odd yet well-spun mixture of food fiction and space tales, with a dash of pop culture, this unusual charmer defies genre conventions and seems to revel in its own sheer individuality and campy wonder. Delicious fun that's out of this world. (Graphic science fiction. 7-14)



BOOKLIST -- Peony feels she is one of the best bakers in the universe; now she's been given a chance to prove it. Accepting a challenge from an odd customer, she is instantly transported into space to perform on a head-to-head competitive cooking show. With no knowledge of the weird alien ingredients she has to use, Peony must forge alliances and friendships to stay ahead of the cutthroat competition. The story moves quickly, focusing less on introductions and more on the competitions between the characters. Although this makes the delivery feel rushed, it certainly matches the quick pace of a televised cooking show. But the centerpiece is Reiss' artwork: simple yet vivid, her anime-inspired character design makes everything look adorable and pop off the page. Riess ends the piece on an interesting note, sending Peony onto a competing cooking show where chefs must fight and literally cook their competition, so it definitely will be interesting to see where the series goes. Cute and lots of fun-kids will eat it up.



PUBLISHERS WEEKLY -- Peony knows her way around a kitchen, especially where baked goods are concerned, but her experience might not be enough to help her when she's conscripted to participate in an extraterrestrial reality TV show, Space Battle Lunchtime. Now, she's making friends and whipping up desserts with foods she's never encountered (and machines she can't even turn on), but enemies are conspiring against her with deadly plans. Riess, creator of the Snarlbear webcomic, makes a highly promising print debut with a comic that will delight SF diehards and cooking show devotees alike. It has all the hallmarks of reality cooking competitions ("Time may be an illusion, but yours is up," announces Zorp, the floating polyhedron that hosts the show) while balancing laughs, quirky characters, and plot developments, including a potential romance with one of Peony's competitors, Neptunia. Riess uses a vivid palette to emphasize the unfamiliarity of the alien environment Peony finds herself in, keeping readers as off-balance as she is. Part Top Chef, part Doctor Who, it's a thoroughly entertaining start to this space drama, and the dire cliffhanger ending will have readers eagerly awaiting volume two.



"Sweet but filling, Space Battle Lunchtime has given us a fantastic opening issue which leaves you wanting more." - Mairghread Scott


"Natalie Riess delivers a comic that lives up to its exciting name, Space Battle Lunchtime! With gorgeous layouts, unique character designs and an intriguing premise, I am excited to read the next installment and find out who will be the toughest cookie in this tasty new series!" - Sarah Graley (Rick and Morty: Lil' Poopy Superstar)