ONI Press 2016
By Natalie Riess
Peony was a breakout contestant on the hit cooking show, Space Battle Lunchtime. But right before the final episode, she disappeared! Now it’s up to Neptunia and Aris to find out where Peony’s gone—and whether fellow chef Melonhead had anything to do with it. Meanwhile, Peony finds herself on the set of a different—and deadlier—cooking show.
I’ve come to really look forward to this series who knew that a cute all-ages offering about a woman who realises a dream come true would be so gosh darn entertaining? Of course her dream comes true in the most wild way possible on a television show broadcast galaxy wide that takes her off Earth to do a cooking show contest. Along the way she makes friends, enemies and proves to herself that there’s more to her than she ever thought.
Trying your hardest, never giving up and being a real friend to those you meet are kind of the cornerstones of this series so far and her infectious happiness and optimism has definitely rubbed off on those around her. I love the characterisation that Natalie to brings to these characters. The way she’s able to take a concept like those cooking shows that are prevalent today and setting it in space like this is genius.
Sometimes something comes along at the right place at the right time to make that huge impact on you and I wholeheartedly think this is that. This issue demonstrates everything i’ve said so far and how the cast and other contestants react to Peony “leaving” the show and in disbelief of the fact that she would quit go out of their way to see find out exactly what’s happened. You don’t do things like that for just anyone only those who’ve left that kind of impression on you. Much like this series has for me.
The all-ages artwork that Natalie brings has all the elements of cute, cuddly and out there and scary that combine to make this as wondrous as possible. The way the book flows through the page layouts with the use of angles and perspective is delightful. The imagination and creativity on display is superb.
This will strike a chord with everyone who reads it. Whether you’re a fan of cooking shows, reality television, or just plain old fashioned good storytelling this is something you need to be reading. There’s so much here that adult can read between the lines and stuff that folks young and old should taught and reminded of. This is fun, unique, creative and just entertaining as all get out.