King Wulfrun is bedridden, leaving his daughter, Princess Decomposia, to do the work of running the kingdom. Decomposia loves her father and wants to do her best, but she is overwhelmed by the many responsibilities. Can the new cook, Count Spatula, show Decomposia how to stand up for both herself and her kingdom? Decomposia is a plucky main character, so it is easy to understand why the cheerful, young vampire cook would fall for her. Young readers will be rightfully annoyed by King Wulfrun's hypochondria and will root for Decomposia as she learns to stand up to him. Count Spatula doesn't just help Decomposia; he also helps King Wulfrun see the error of his ways and regain his daughter's trust. The offbeat faux-horror setting is adorable, from the onion-headed kitchen worker to the King's man Skulker, who has a giant eyeball for a head. Watson's scratchy black-and-white art won't appeal to all readers, but this sweetly romantic story ding with a touching kiss a nice addition to kids' comics.

Gr 6-10 In this graphic novel by longtime comic artist Watson, harried Princess Decomposia is so busy running the Underworld for her overbearing and hypochondriac father that she never has time to eat properly. With state affairs hanging in the balance, she hires pastry chef Count Spatula as the new cook, hoping he will finally be able to assuage the King Wulfrun's cantankerous belly, so that he can go back to running the gloomy kingdom. When Wulfrun (who could give Jane Austen's Emma Woodhouse's dad a run for his money) discovers the growing friendship and romance between the Princess and the cook, all hell breaks loose as the burgeoning couple take a day trip aboveground. Visual and textual puns abound in this Downton Abbey -esque romp, which balances serious discussions on class, gender, and politics with humor and wordplay. Decomposia learns to stand up for herself, inspired by her new friendships, and comes into her own, a lesson that could border on preachy, but is delivered with nuance. The inky black-and-white illustrations on the mostly three-tier, six-panel pages denote movement and facial expressions with aplomb. The narrative is appended by a section of character sketches that will intrigue visual artists. VERDICT This comedy of manners and errors is a delightful confection for graphic novel fans looking for a quirky, tame romance. Shelley Diaz , School Library Journal