Book Review: The Pass by Katriona Chapman

Katriona Chapman’s third graphic novel takes a stunning leap in artistry over her prior works, announcing the arrival of a cartoonist in her prime. There’s an obvious upgrade in the depth and richness of her images, most evident in her color design utilizing life-like gradiated hues instead of flat tones. The book’s entirely full-bleed pages are bursting with visual splendor and dynamic panel layouts, with Chapman using thick white borders for panels typically overlaid on full-page spreads to give the appearance of a scrapbook. If you’ve been following her comics career, The Pass is an entirely new level of artistic excellence.

All of the pretty pictures can only take the book so far, but thankfully Chapman’s story measures up as well. She drops us right into the setting without explanation, introducing rising London chef Claudia Grace as she manages the daily routines of her burgeoning restaurant, Alley. We meet her best friend and business partner, Lisa, who has settled into her supporting role as Claudia’s sous chef, even as she harbors some resentment due to originally entering the business as equal creative partners. Various other restaurant workers flit in and out of Claudia’s attention as she frets about improving her industry standing and rising above the shadow of her famous chef father. When she learns about her eligibility to enter a prestigious “Chef of the Year” competition, her stress increases as she balances her ongoing obligations with her quest for recognition.

The story is very much a slice-of-life snapshot of a restaurant in motion. It has the feel of an understated French film, where small, everyday interactions count for more than any grand overarching narrative. We’re observers of the daily restaurant life, gradually figuring out the relationships and motivations of the players even as it’s clear nothing too groundbreaking is going to occur. Chapman’s characters are well developed, especially Claudia with her obvious talent and crushing self-doubt, making this a case where it’s a joy just to spend time with the restaurant crew. There are shades of films such as Waitress and Chocolat, but Chapman’s tale feels organic and original, a deeply affecting portrait of a chef in transition to her next stage.