diamondbookshelf.com t Do you believe having an expanded variety of young adult fiction and non-fiction books is beneficial to the comics industry? Definitely! I think the more diversity in titles the better – the more there is to choose from, the more accessible it will be for different kinds of people to want to pick up and read a graphic novel. Also, different kinds of comics being published means there’s more room to develop unique stories and artistic approaches and more room for folks with different experiences and backgrounds to get into creating and publishing stories, which I think strengthens the medium as a whole. t How do you think having these types of graphic novels available might attract new readers? Kids like comics, but don’t all like the same things. More variety allows them to find stuff that they’re directly interested in. Also, the accessibility of a graphic novel, as opposed to having to track down 4-6 issues, makes picking up comics a lot more doable for someone younger. I remember being able to get all of Bone was a huge deal for me as a kid who really liked fantasy and animation and wanted to get into comics, but didn’t know a whole lot about them. t The second volume of Space Battle Lunchtime is scheduled to release June 2017. Without giving too much away, what can fans expect from Peony and her fellow chefs?
Space Battle Lunchtime Volume 2 (9781620104040, $12.99) is a lot of fun! The story shifts more into a sci-fi/ action-adventure mode with some mystery and intrigue, but there’s still some cute and delicious cooking involved, with a dash of comedic space horror and a sprinkle of romance… plus, some fun extras in the back! I saw some proofs recently and it looks… good enough to eat! t What are some of your favorite young adult graphic novels in the market now or upcoming? If you’re looking for more cooking comics, I recently read and really enjoyed Eric Colossal’s Rutabaga the Adventure Chef, which is a really sweet fantasy cooking adventure. I also love Katie O’Neil’s Princess Princess Ever After. The first issue of Sarah Graley’s Kim Reaper was really sweet and funny too, and I’m excited to read the rest of it! Sam Bosma’s Fantasy Sports series is YA too I think, those are really gorgeous. About the Creator Natalie Riess is a comics writer and illustrator living in Pennsylvania. She has been creating comics for the majority of her life. She is currently working on her five-year-old webcomic Snarlbear, a story about a girl that punches monsters and learns about the power of friendship in a brightly colored yet unforgiving dark fantasy setting, as well as her comic series with Oni Press Space Battle Lunchtime, the story of pastry chef Peony cooking her way through an intergalactic culinary competition.
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Summer 2017