Brave Chef Brianna #[nn]

Beaming with warmth and culinary ambition, this 2017 BOOM! Studios series from writer Sam Sykes and artist Selina Espiritu drops Brianna — blonde, aproned, and utterly determined — right in the middle of a bubbling pot surrounded by a wonderfully weird cast: a winged figure in glasses, a stern woman in a headwrap, a pale long-haired specter, a snake-haired Medusa-like creature, a grinning skull-faced figure, a fox-person, a small red demon, and a scattering of strange ingredients including a very unsettling eyeball. Cover artist Bridget Underwood packs the cityscape backdrop with bridges, towers, and just enough urban grit to remind you that Brianna's kitchen exists in a world full of monsters — all of whom, judging by the crowd, may be her customers. Sarah Stern's soft, inviting color palette makes the whole chaotic scene feel oddly cozy, setting a tone that's equal parts fairy tale and food competition.