Love is in the air—or is that the aroma of garlic and butter sizzling in a pan? For fans of culinary romance, it’s about to be both: Oni Press will publish Chef’s Kiss Again!, the sequel to the Alex Award-winning graphic novel Chef’s Kiss. The new volume arrives in stores next August.
Series co-creator Jarrett Melendez returns to write the continuation of Ben and Liam’s love story, this time teaming with artist Irene Flores (Heavy Vinyl, Disney’s Mirrorverse: Belle).
“The response to the first volume of Chef’s Kiss was better than I ever could have dreamed,” Melendez said. “I knew right away I wanted to pick up where our dear crew leaves off. Now we get to see the aftermath of Ben’s article, what that does for the restaurant, Watson’s ego, and the relationship between Ben and Liam. Like the first volume, this chapter is deeply personal to me, and I hope it will resonate with readers as it deals with all sorts of new universal problems: how to balance life and work, the horrors and delights of a new relationship, and the many varied flavors of anxiety. This volume is bigger, gayer, and has what volume one was missing: DRAG!”
Chef’s Kiss Again! picks up where the original left off, following food writer Ben Cook as he navigates the challenges of maintaining both his flourishing career and his new relationship with boyfriend Liam:
Ben Cook seems to have it all. An awesome new cooking job at Cochon Doré, a steady writing gig, amazing roommates, and—best of all—super-dreamy boyfriend, Liam. Even better, reservations at the restaurant have skyrocketed thanks to Ben’s recent viral article, and the staff is buzzing with excitement. But between the pressures of the growing restaurant, looming writing deadlines, and nosy parents, Ben is worried about making sure everything is perfect in his new relationship with Liam. When Ben can’t quite figure out the perfect Halloween couples costume or the perfect Christmas plans, and Liam gets more and more overwhelmed with all the new responsibilities at Cochon, the new couple starts to grow distant rather than rely on each other. When pressure mounts and signals get crossed, will Ben and Liam be able to overcome their anxieties and learn that striving for love is better than striving for perfection?
Melendez brings his unique perspective as both a GLAAD and Eisner-nominated comics writer and an accomplished food journalist. His cookbook credits include tie-ins for Pokémon, Percy Jackson, Wednesday and The White Lotus, among others. His food writing has appeared in Bon Appétit, Epicurious and Saveur.
Flores, known for her work blending manga and American comic influences, has illustrated projects ranging from BOOM! Studios’ R.L. Stine’s Just Beyond series to Disney’s Mirrorverse: Belle for VIZ Media.
Chef’s Kiss Again! arrives August 26, 2026 from Oni Press.