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. In the midst of 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.

This is a brief examination of the whirlwind life of chef Claudia, who owns and runs her own restaurant, Alley. Her friend from culinary school, Lisa, also works with her as the sous chef, and the two have supported each other’s dreams for years. On top of that crew is Ben, who works as the barman, who has dreams of his own despite making creative drinks from scratch. We get snapshots of each of these character’s lives and how they intertwine with and affect Claudia’s.

We also see Claudia’s overbearing family, consisting of her father, a celebrity chef, and a mother who tries to be helpful but is a bit closer to being nagging. There’s also Claudia’s younger brother Marc, who is hinted at as being a bit of a loser and not successful with his life at all.

Through illness and drug abuse, dashed dreams and even criminal activity, the found family of Alley is tested thoroughly as Claudia and the restaurant grow even more in renown and popularity.

I could identify with a lot of the characters’ struggles, and they were well-examined, though a lot of things happened quickly. The ending happened quickly, too, and due to its abruptness, it kind of…hurt. There was a resolution, but not a sense of closure. But…I suppose life is like this, and this is a slice-of-life work, after all.

I think this comic will resonate with people who are ambitious, busy, have dreams, and struggle with people supporting or understanding them. Whether you are into cooking or not, there’s something familiar with Claudia’s (and the other characters’) story here. The art is digital painting but to me it looks like it was created using chalks or oil pastels–brilliant coloring and shading and texture. It makes for a lovely series of images.

It kind of feels like there is potential for a part two with the comic, with the way that it ended. If there is, I’ll gladly continue reading.

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The Pass releases January 20, 2026 from Fantagraphics Books. You can preorder it now directly from the publisher in hardcover or in digital and hardcover from a variety of online booksellers.