Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula

December 22, 2014
In loosely sketched and tidily framed b&w panels, British author/artist Watson creates a sweetly spooky underworld setting for a story that’s part coming-of-age romance, part comedy of manners. Princess Decomposia, a young woman whose black gowns and bat-wing pigtails suggest a grown-up Wednesday Addams, is working herself to the bone to keep her invalid father’s kingdom running smoothly, meeting with delegations (including werewolves and Japanese yokai monsters) and trying to find a replacement for the cook who left for a prison “where the food is more nourishing.” The princess gains a much-needed ally—and potential love interest—in Count Spatula, the dapper vampire she hires as a chef, whose adventurous recipes are a hit (the visiting Zombie General is thrilled to do battle with a Mud Monster Cake that comes alive at dessert). But persuading the woebegone king of Count Spatula’s virtues isn’t easy, threatening to stop this nascent romance (un)dead in its tracks. With an amusing (and occasionally decomposing) cast of floating skulls, eyeballs-on-skeleton-legs, and more, it’s a comic that will charm younger readers and adults alike. Ages 13–up.

February 1, 2015

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

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