This October, SelfMadeHero will publish Bone Broth, the debut graphic novel from Alex Taylor, winner of the 2023 First Graphic Novel Award. The book is described as a “kitchen gothic” tale and a coming-of-age queer thriller set in a London ramen restaurant.
The 208-page full-colour paperback introduces Ash, a young transmasculine man starting his first job as a sous-chef. The noodle bar, located beneath London’s railway arches, is run by the temperamental owner, Bug, who entrusts Ash’s training to the existing kitchen crew: Honey, Blue, Sock, and Creamy. Ash’s main task is to prep the bone broth, the secret at the heart of the restaurant’s menu.
According to the publisher, the story takes a dark turn when Ash begins to feel part of the team. During a staff party, the owner suddenly dies, and the staff’s immediate, unsettling reaction is to take selfies with the body. From there, the team must decide what to do with their boss, and their knowledge of recipes takes on a grim new significance.
Alex Taylor is a London-based queer visual artist working across several mediums, including illustration, comics, and film. His win at the First Graphic Novel Award, a biennial prize supported by the Arts Council England and run in partnership with The Cartoon Museum and publisher SelfMadeHero, has paved the way for this debut.
Bone Broth is set for a UK release on 23 October 2025, with a US and Canadian release following on 2 December. It will be priced at £17.99 in the UK, $22.99 in the US, and $32.99 in Canada.
Quick Links
- Bookshop.org: Bone Broth
