Picture the scene: a small costal town at the end of the world. Not much happens here. In fact, it’s pretty mundane. Which is why residents look forward to the biggest event of the year with such excitement – the annual cookery combat competition. Best friends Charlie and Cherry always compete, with Cherry consistently taking the crown – a pretty bitter pill to swallow for Charlie when he works himself to the bone, whilst Cherry seems to coast through easily without putting in any work. Will this be his year, in Alex Newton’s self-published Artichoke Knight?
“I don’t want to do my best – I want to do better. I want to win – to be the best, even if it’s just for a day”. So laments Charlie, the evening before the competition starts. Having become a bit of a laughing stock after winning runner-up so many years in a row, Charlie is understandably feeling a bit down about the whole thing, but refuses to give up hope. Cooking is his passion, and he wants to share it with the world. The meaning behind the title of Artichoke Knight soon becomes clear, as the competitors arrive in full-costume, with Charlie turning up as, you guessed it, an artichoke knight. Up against him are the likes of Gyoza Knight, Pear Knight and Pineapple Knight – all worthy opponents, we assure you.
Newton is clearly inspired by classic manga in these panels, with the onomatopoeic blubs, sizzles and chops of food frantically being prepared being separated by sharp zig-zig panels, similar to a manga-style epic battle. Newton also uses the chance to make the generally standard lettering a bit more experimental; each sound has a different font style evoking the way it might feel, with a bold, thick ‘crack!’ for the breaking of eggs, and thin, small ‘chops’ for the finely chopped onions. Charlie is smashing every challenge, beating his opponents with ease, until only one remains… Cherry.
We won’t spoil the results of the cook off, but soon after, the pair decide they are sick of the limitations of their little town and make a drunken pact; to set off on a wild adventure to build the greatest restaurant the world has ever seen. I’m a sucker for cartoon foods in general, so seeing the creations come to life through Newton’s signature style was a real treat. The road trip paves the way for a bunch of fun locations and gorgeous visuals as the duo struggle onwards, from the sparse desert to the bustling big city, which are only bolstered through Newton’s quirky, bright illustrations. Alongside the main storyline, there’s an intriguing sub-plot about Charlie’s fascination with the chef-knights of yore, and whether they truly exist, allowing for some transcendental dream-like sequences where Charlie questions his reality, plus some stunning ancient church, castle and forest backdrops.
Artichoke Knight collects all of the single issues written so far, with a promise of a second volume at the end. If the first volume is anything to go by, the second will be well worth picking up.
Alex Newton (W/A) • Self-published, £18.00
Review by Lydia Turner
