Space Battle Lunchtime Vol. 1 by Natalie Riess

The soft, romantic artwork evokes hazy watercolors. The story also successfully weaves in agender, genderfluid, and asexual characters as well as the subjects of parenting and colorism into the natural arc of Sunati and Austen’s developing story. This beautifully illustrated slice-of-life tale that shows two young women of color getting to know each other and creating a relationship is so warm and charming that readers will hardly notice how much they are learning about how to better interact with folx who are different from themselves and the importance of not making assumptions. As they gradually grow closer, Sunati learns how to interact more respectfully with those who have overactive immune systems as well as to share her feelings more honestly. As Sunati and Austen chat more, Austen bluntly asks Sunati if she only wants to get to know her more because of her medical condition, which prevents her from using mods. Since Austen never changes, Sunati admires what she assumes is her bravery and confidence. In a not-so-distant future where changing one’s physical features is as easy as purchasing nanobot mods, Sunati falls for Austen, a girl who always looks the same. Heavily awash in a spectrum of bubble-gum pinks, this is a fun, fierce, and inventive tale that will appeal to those seeking read-alikes for Noelle Stevenson’s fan-favorites Nimona (2015) and Lumberjanes.Ī genre-buster, for sure, and a delightful mashup at that. In less deft hands, this seemingly arbitrary assemblage could fall as flat as a dropped soufflé, but Riess’ offbeat sensibility and inventiveness shine. Riess’ candy-hued charmer is like a recipe that incorporates myriad ingredients: there’s sci-fi elements, comedic action, a tentative and sweet queer intergalactic romance, and, of course, the culinary aspect.

As Peony tries to stay alive in the cutthroat kitchen, her friends from Space Battle Lunchtime-including the quietly intense, blue-skinned Neptunia, whose affections for Peony have now blossomed into a relationship-must save her before it’s too late. On the set, Peony meets one of her challengers, the very pink, wide-eyed, manga-styled, and adorably vicious unicorn Ariella Magicorn. She’s dropped onto the set of their sinister competitor, Cannibal Coliseum, where the contestants could literally become lunch.

In this graphic-novel sequel, a human chef must battle her way out of a murderous intergalactic cooking show.ĭiving right in where predecessor Lights, Camera, Snacktion! (2016) left off, this sequel finds Peony, an aspiring white earthling chef, double-crossed and kidnapped from the cooking show Space Battle Lunchtime.

Space Battle Lunchtime Vol. 1 by Natalie Riess