On sale date: January 20, 2026
In this keenly observed character study, up-and-coming London chef Claudia struggles to balance the weight of ambition with her personal life.
In her early thirties, Claudia is fast becoming a sensation on the culinary scene. While putting her chic London restaurant, Alley, on the map, she decides to enter the upcoming Chef of the Year competition. All this, as she is also attempting to make a name for herself beyond the shadow of her famous chef father. As the day of the competition nears, tensions simmer as the pressures of ambition, business, family, and friendship threaten to throw her world awry.
In The Pass, NYT-reviewed British comic artist Katriona Chapman brings to life the fast-paced, high-pressure atmosphere of restaurant life, with a lived-in cast of characters including chef Claudia, her best friend and sous chef Lisa, and barman Ben. Chapman delves into themes of identity, the pains of expectation and success, and the allure of running from the life you’ve built. A sensitive and affecting slice of life, rendered in soft digital coloring.
Praise
"Chapman is a London-based illustrator whose stories are informed by mixed emotions and tough choices." — New York Times Book Review
"Chapman is doing some of the best cartooning of her generation, telling stories firmly rooted in, and adding depth to our understanding of the human condition. Wherever she goes next, any reader would be wise to follow." — Solrad
"A tender portrait of a culinary life that will make your heart ache. Chapman is a master of capturing the beauty all around us." — Tillie Walden
"Chapman's graceful art, muted color scheme, and focus on character development serve her storytelling. The details of restaurant operations lend the proceedings an insider's view, while the many parent-child relationship stresses and strains touch upon universal emotions." — Publishers Weekly
Specs
- Pages
- 184
- Format
- Hardback
- Color
- Full-color.
- Dimensions
- 7" × 10.1"
- ISBN-13
- 9798875000652