Chew #40 – Review

By: John Layman (writer) and Rob Guillory (art)

The Story: Tony Chu is tripping…

Review (with SPOILERS): I felt a lot better after reading this issue.  For some time, the over-arching “big story” of Chew has been slipping from my grasp like a greasy rope.  With easy issue, I had less and less of a grasp on what was really going on.  I still laughed at all the jokes and still found Toni to be really a touching character, but I was missing a lot of the bigger picture.

This issue kinda locked things back down.  Now I understand why Toni was involved and why NASA was involved, what the alien sky-writing means, etc.  I wouldn’t say that I could write the entire Wikipedia article about Chew, but I feel a lot more secure.  Things make sense instead of being random – still FUNNY, but random.  Nice job by the creators.  It has to be really hard to manage the big story for these series because what is a nice reminder for one reader is boring and repetitive for another.  I honestly have no idea where I fall on the spectrum of readers in terms of remembering plot details, but *I* enjoyed the reminders and summaries in this issue.

Also, mega-bonus points for the glossary of food powers in the back!

Chew #39 – Review

By: John Layman (writer/letters) & Rob Guillory (art/colors)

The Review: Remember the Gallsaberries from the 2nd (?) arc of Chew?  Those things that looked like a mash-up of a pineapple and an octopus?  Well, it seems like those things are going to be important.

I can’t tell you how fascinated I am by the transition that Chew is making from (A) the funniest comic on the market where plot didn’t seem to really matter to (B) a comic where multiple plot threads are converging.  These creators had a GREAT thing in the early issues of Chew and I give them huge credit for being bold enough to try to massage a wonderful story out of the whole thing.  That’s especially true because it isn’t clear that the overall story of the series is going to be as dramatic as the early issues were funny.  When Chew is funny, it is a perfect 10.  So far, when Chew is merely trying to be dramatic, it is more of a promising 6.

The big thing this issue makes me feel is that I should have paid closer attention to the early story arcs.  I mean, there is obviously something very important going on between the gallsaberries and the alien-language skywriting we’ve seen.  That means the cult that worships that alien skywriting is important.  And, it probably means that Agent Poyo is more than just a joke about how vicious roosters are.

Chew #37 – Review

By: John Layman (writer/letters) and Rob Guillory (art/colors)

The Story: Tony eats a toe.

Review (with SPOILERS): This is one of those issues where I feel like I’m reviewing a 15 minute snippet of a TV show: I’m a little underwhelmed by the issue itself, but am also very confident that if I just sit here quietly….everything will rectify itself.  So, take this review with a massive grain of salt.  It’s akin to someone writing a detailed review of the second 20 minutes of Gravity.

This is an issue that is doing work.  As Chew moves away from just being wet-your-pants-funny, it needs to develop more of a central story.  And…..as that story develops, you’re going to get some transitional issues.  This is one of those issues.  It’s still got all the silly sight gags and funny food-powers, but it is a transitional issue where Layman and Guillory start to squarely position the players on the game-board.

After seeing the insane scene of Tony Chu and his daughter sitting down at the table to eat their family members’ toes, I was a little disappointed with how the Toni Chu apparition played out.  I’m pretty sure we haven’t seen the last of Toni, but if this was “it,” it was kinda weak.  It was almost too weak, because it leaves me assuming that Toni will appear again.  I mean, this obviously cannot be the last of Toni….  Layman and Guillory have spent WAY too much time on Toni’s character and worked out the toe-thing in too much detail to let it come to nothing but THIS.  So, when Toni makes he heroic return to assist Tony in 5-6 issues (like Obi-Wan on Hoth), I’ll kinda be expecting it, and that will weaken that future moment.  Anyway, even though it was nice and touching and all that that Toni insisted Tony go help his brother Chow, it still felt a little too small; Toni isn’t dumb or rash, she would know how much time her apparition has left and wouldn’t waste it on a Chow Chu problem IF it meant that she wouldn’t have time to help Tony with the vampire cibopath problem.

Chew #36 – Review

By: John Layman (writer/letters) and Rob Guillory (art)

The Story: A flashback through the final weeks of the recently deceased ____________.

The Review (with SPOILERS): This is a case where the spoiler warning is serious because it involves a main character in the series who died recently.

This is another very, very strong issue for Chew.  I love how it is turning the corner from merely being the funniest comic of recent memory to having a nice story with some very human moments.

The issue is basically an examination of the question, “What would you do if you knew you were about to die?”  It’s interesting how many of these deep philosophical questions have to do with facing our own mortality: “Would I sacrifice myself to save children from a burning building?” or “Would I be brave if asked to go to war?” or “Could I be as stoic and admirable as a child with terminal cancer?”  We ask these questions because we worry (deep down) that we won’t confront our own end so admirably.  Instead of dying a “warrior’s death”, we’ll go screaming with urine running down our pants leg.  Or we’ll make up our bucket list and it’ll be full of mindless crap like making sure we reach 100% completion on Grand Theft Auto V or getting to second base with the hot girl in accounting.

Anyway, Toni Chu basically shows us an ending that we should all aspire to.  Because of her prognostication powers, she knows she’s doing to die, but instead of focusing on self-centered wishes, everything she does is for her family and loved ones.  We already saw last issue how she cuts off her toe to pass some knowledge to her brother and in this issue we see how she helps her little sister (Sage) out of a pretty sticky situation with a mafia boss.  She’s enlisting all these crazy NASA resources to help Sage that she’s obviously thinking, “Who cares if I get in trouble….  By the time they punish me, I’ll already be dead.”  As I said, some dying people might apply that same logic to stealing or whatever; Toni applies it to helping her family out.  We should all be so good.  The moment that really struck me was when she bites Sage (which always looks very comical) and tells her she’s going to have a good life, then there is this great look on her face as they say good-bye because for Toni, it really is good-bye and not just “see you later”.

Chew #35 – Review

By: John Layman (writer/letters) & Rob Guillory (art/colors)

The Story: Tony Chu discovers a secret weapon in his battle against the collector vampire.

Review (with SPOILER): When Chew went past issue 30, I recall seeing somewhere that the creators stated that the series would take on a more serious tone.  The Bad Apples story-arc (this was issue 5 of 5) has really proven that statement to be true.  In this arc, Layman & Guillory have defined the broad outline of Tony Chu’s (seemingly) ultimate nemesis: The Vampire Cibopath.  This guy doesn’t just get weird senses of the past of his food (like Tony), but he adopts their entire powerset. For us comic fans, you could say he’s a little like Rogue from the X-Men who absorbs the powers of others via physical touching.

Has it ever been made clear why the Vampire needs to kill and eat his victims?  Could he acquire their powers via a single nibble or is there some sort of 51% rule?  But I digress…

Chew #34 – Review

By: John Layman (writer & letters) and Rob Guillory (art & colors)

The Story: Tony Chu comes face-to-face (?) with The Collector.

Review: I always say that Chew is the funniest comic on the stands.  Most months offer several belly laughs and a ton of snicker-inducing sight gags.  By Chew‘s lofty standards for humor, this was an off-issue as I only counted ONE belly-laugh and a handful of snickers.  Hard to really know how to grade such an issue.  On one hand, it is still funnier than anything else I’ve read this month.  On the other, it was a bit of a disappointment because when I download an issue of Chew onto my iPad, I anticipate a certain level of humor and when the product is only 80% of the humor I expected, well, it’s hard not to feel a little let down.

Chew #33 – Review

By: John Layman (writer/letterer) & Rob Guillory (art/colors)

The Story: Tony Chu goes on a secret mission with the Navy.

Review (with minor SPOILERS): This issue highlights two things that I love about Chew.  One thing is how unflinching Layman and Guillory are in their approach to humor.  These guys take chances and push the envelope into edgy areas.  But the other thing they excel at is never seeming to push the joke too far.  That balance is really hard, especially when you consider that much of the humor of Chew is coming at the expense of people’s racial or sexual identity.  You’re playing with fire in those areas because a lot of people will snicker along with you one minute and then call you a racist/homophobic the next.

As far as I can tell, I’ve never seen Layman and Guillory cross the line into poor taste!  It’s an amazing highwire act that they pull off every month and I love them for it.  

WCBR’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best of the past week: Saga #12 – This probably wasn’t the best issue of Saga, but it shows what a strong series Saga is that a relatively weak effort is still pick of the week.  I really enjoy the character of Prince Robot IV just because he seems so different than everyone else.  I want to know more about him and his people, why he has a TV for a head and why his subconscious thinks of wagon wheels when he is wounded on the battlefield.  Brian K. Vaughn probably writes smoother dialog than anyone else in the industry right now and Fiona Staples is just wicked with her artwork.

Most anticipated this week: My goodness, it’s like the comic publishers got together and said, “Let’s not publish anything that Dean wants to read this week.”  It’s a good thing we don’t do a Top 6 because I’ve only got five comics coming out this week….

1). Chew #33 – I always love the cutting, black humor of Chew.  This comic is always willing to push the jokes just slightly into the area of poor taste and I love it for that.  I also love the dedication to putting sight gags into 50% of the panels in the issue.  You see lots of artists doing sight gags in issue #1, but not so many still going strong this far into the series.

2). Mara #4 – This series isn’t as great as I’d hoped, but as always, Brian Wood has something deeper to say than “Biff, Bang, Pow!”  I really enjoy the contrast between how offended the public is with Mara and her superhuman athletic performances and how rah-rah they probably will be when those same abilities are used by the military.  I guess in sport you want fairness, but in war you want domination?

3). The Sixth Gun #30 – This series feels like it is heading for a crescendo.  Everything about the action indicates that cute little Becky is getting very comfortable with The Sixth Gun and that won’t bode well for the bad guys (or anyone else for that matter).  Last issue was aces.

4). Age of Ultron #6 – Art change!  The story has been pretty enjoyable despite the really mediocre art of Bryan Hitch.  Remember, this guy used to be THE hot artist.  What the hell happened?  Anyway, the story is hopping along.  I really appreciate the weekly release schedule because this would feel WAY too decompressed if it was spread over an entire year.

5). Wolverine and the X-Men #27 – This wouldn’t make the Top 5 most weeks, but since I only have 5 comics coming out this week…  I guess some of the novelty has worn off of Jason Aaron’s run on this title.  I still greatly enjoy it, but it just doesn’t feel like THE X-Men title anymore.  Still, you can do a lot worse than reading a Jason Aaron comic, especially when he is paired with the types of artists who have been on this book.

——-

Hugo’s Top Picks

Pick of the week: Thor: God of Thunder #7 – This was a strong week in many aspects, with titles such as Saga getting a new issue, yet to me, Jason Aaron’s take on the god of thunder proved to be a better book this time. With an epic scope, some good character work and art to die for, issue 7 was just absolutely great and is my pick of this week.

Most anticipated this week: 1) Daredevil: End of Days #7 – This series is approaching its climax, as Bendis and Mack proved that they have a definitely great take on the character and his whole mythology. The series has been fantastic so far and with all the wild cards and the mysteries thrown in, I get the feeling this one is going to be just as great as the latest ones.

2) Captain America #6 – This weird sci-fi take on the sentinel of liberty’s adventure proved to be very imaginative so far and it makes me eager to see where Rick Remender is going with this. If John Romita Jr. could manage to bring back the quality artwork he proved he could do in the first issues of this series, this could very well be a strong contender this week as a memorable book.

3) X-O Manowar #12 – This title introduced me to Valiant and it has been my very favourite so far, providing cosmic and utterly good stories thanks to a promise that’s a bit silly, yet is all kind of awesome. With Planet Death going on, there is no way to know just what kind of things will happen to Aric, yet I really want to find out.

4) X-Men Legacy #9 – This definitely weird title is quite different from the other X-titles, which is what makes it so good. The adventures of David Charles Haller are surprisingly creative and well-written, as both the question of actual legacy, infinite power and the fate of mutant kind is discussed and shown in this terrific title. Simon Spurrier made me care about Legion, which is the highest of praise I can give to someone who made me love a character I despised before.

5) Superior Spider-Man #8 – The way the latest issue ended proved to be too good a cliff-hanger. If Dan Slott can actually manage to pull something like this off and surprise us even further, he’ll have proved that he knows very well how to play with our expectations yet again, something he has shown ever since the debut of this series. With Ramos on art, this is something worth being eager about.

Chew #31 – Review

By: John Layman (writer & letters) and Rob Guillory (art & colors)

The Story: After the death of ______, Tony Chu must get back to the business of fighting food-based crime.

Review (with SPOILERS): Last issue featured a BIG event as Tony Chu’s sister was killed.  It was shocking because she had become such a fun and important character in the series and her death came out of the blue.  Honestly, you don’t really expect a humorous comic series like Chew to show a major character die, much less die so horribly: arms and legs severed and eaten by the killer and her neck snapped.  Ugh. It was really awful and I wondered how Chew would be able to continue to be the bouncy and black-spirited book that I’ve come to love so much.

It turns out that the creators decided to just turn the page.  We get a brief bit about Antonella Chu’s funeral, but then we’re tossed right back into Tony Chu and his partner fighting food-based crime.  It was a smart choice because the previous storyline was getting a little complex.  It wasn’t like a Grant Morrison comic, but there was getting to be a lot to remember from issue to issue.  By putting Tony Chu back “on the case”, the creators are returning to what made Chew great in the first place.

Chew #30 – Review

By: John Layman (writer & letters), Rob Guillory (art & colors)

The Story: We see some possible future paths for Tony’s sister.

Quick Review (with a SPOILER): The first 6-7 pages of this comic were darn funny.  I don’t want to get hyperbolic and say it was “the best thing EVER” or anything like that, but the Toni/Paneer wedding was funny enough that I (a) laughed aloud several times and (b) attempted to show the comic to other people in the room who don’t even care about comics.  Chew has a consistent ability to put a simile on the reader’s face and that is a very special thing in an era when a lot of comics are trying to be gritty and grim.

Chew #29 – Review

By: John Layman (writer & letters), Rob Guillory (art & colors)

The Story: The USDA, FDA & NASA team-up to catch a vampire.

Review: Chew is so fun.  This is one of those series that I somehow missed despite the fact that I’m usually pretty liberal about sampling new Image #1s.  But, thanks to digital comics, I was able to catch up a couple of months ago during one of Comixology’s 99-cent sales.  It’s an amazing series…..all my friends were right on the money when they said I should read it.

This issue really embodies everything that Chew does so well.  The biggest selling point of the series is its wicked and unrelenting sense of humor.  Whether it is the sight gags that Guillory puts into just about every panel, the recurring jokes or the inventive food-based superpowers, this is one of the only comics that actually makes me snicker while reading it and attempt to explain (poorly) the jokes to spouses and co-workers.

Chew #27 – PREVIEW

CHEW #27

story JOHN LAYMAN

art & coOB GUILLORY

32 PAGES / FC / ONGOING SERIES

“Space Cakes,” Part Two
Delivered from the future! We jump ahead and show you exactly where Tony Chu is nine issues and two story arcs from now. Yes, CHEW presents its version of “One Year Later.” A brilliant jumping on-point, or a pathetic cry for attention? You decide!

Also: Those frickin’ chogs return!

Chew #16 – Review

by John Layman (writer & letterer) and Rob Guillory (art & colors)

The Story: Tony discovers someone with a food-based power he’d never heard of while the chicken prohibition grows slack in light of the “alien fire writing.”

What’s Good: Chew’s easily the funniest book on my pull list and it’s issues like this that cement that.  Like some of the series’ best issues, while the atmosphere of the book is always full of light-heartedness and jokes, there’s that one big gag that’s utterly hilarious and guaranteed to stick with you.  In this case, it’s Tony’s discovery of a new food-based power that ends up being absolutely hilarious on multiple levels.  The “dialogue” is mind bogglingly absurd and the sight gag and grotesque slapstick are guaranteed to stick with you for a very, very long time.  John Layman and Rob Guillory and two very “unique” individuals in their ability to conjure up stuff like this.

Given that this is the first issue of a new arc, much of this comic is devoted to setting up numerous plot elements.  I’m happiest about Layman’s promotion of Toni, who remains an awesome character and as ludicrously upbeat and high energy as ever.  It’s great to see Layman elevate the character to a series mainstay, who looks to have a much bigger role in the future.  We also get a little bit of D-Bear, who has the best line in the comic, one that made me laugh out loud due to just how absurdly and pointlessly asshole-ish it was.

Judging from this issue, the series is going in new and interesting directions, but the real star this month is Rob Guillory, who Layman gives a lot of leg-room to this month.  We get two double page spreads that are gorgeous and absolutely loaded with detail and little easter eggs.  More than that, that sight gag I mentioned would not be anywhere near as good under any other artist’s hand.  Guillory does absurd comedy so very well.

Chew #15 – Review

by John Layman (writer & letterer) and Rob Guillory (art & colors)

The Story: We meet Tony’s dysfunctional family as they gather for a less than legal Thanksgiving dinner.

What’s Good: It’s a cliché, I know, but Layman really puts the “fun” in dysfunction when it comes to Tony’s family.  There’s really no other way to describe it; it’s a mixture of realistic familial animosity and issues with the utterly ridiculous (there’s a really bizarre cross-dresser thrown in their just for good measure).  Then there’s Chow Chu, who’s always a blast to read.

Better still is Tony’s twin sister, Toni, whose endless energy and optimism make for a character that’s impossible to dislike, particularly when paired with Guillory’s always likable facial expressions and poses.  She’s a great addition to the cast, with a bouncy, gleeful, and unflappable personality that’s unique in the comic and certainly works well with the other characters.

Of course, Toni is not the only major character introduced this month.  There’s also a character that is an absolute bombshell of a reveal and is a total game-changer for the series.  The fact that Layman has put off even hinting at this character’s existence until issue fifteen is downright crazy.  It’s a moment that’s sure to catch you off-guard and, most likely, shock you.  The fact that it’s taken this long for the character to show up, and the fact that she was always around, just never spoken of, makes it all the better and all the more impactful.

All told, it’s a fun issue.  Amelia and Tony are as adorable as ever, Tony’s family is both fun and intriguing, and Chow Chu does something truly dastardly and, meanwhile, Tony’s ethical dilemma over the illegal turkey hangs over it all.  It’s an easy read that’s a bit like comfort food.

Chew #14 – Review

by John Layman (writer & letterer) and Rob Guillory (art & colors)

The Story: Tony’s past love life is detailed and John has the unfortunate task of confronting the always deadly Mason Savoy.

What’s Good: While Chew is a very funny book, it’s issues like this that remind you that John Layman’s ongoing series isn’t just a series of gags and jokes.  It’s also about human relationships, and that’s what shines through this month.  Amelia and Tony’s relationship continues to be a fun read; it’s always touching, tender, and lovable, while always being just self-aware enough, especially thanks to Guillory’s art, to keep it from ever becoming nauseating.

Then there’s the relationship shared by John and Tony.  Never has there been a stronger proof of John’s loyalty for Tony than what we get this month.  It’s so strong that it could easily enter bromance territory.  It’s also a great character moment for John, again showing that he really does care a great deal about Tony, though he’ll never outright say it to Tony’s face.  It’s stuff like this that makes John such a great character and far more than just a two-dimensional sarcastic joker.

There are laughs to be had as well though.  Layman introduces us to Tony’s psychotic ex-girlfriend Mandy through a series of flashbacks, leading us to believe she’ll be important in the long run of the series.  Suffice it to say that Layman takes the qualities of your typical psycho girlfriend and drives it to over-the-top excess.  It’s great fun.

Rob Guillory’s artwork also helps with all of this.  His illustrations of the despairing Mandy are hilarious and across this issue, he once again proves why he’s one of my favourite comic artists when it comes to characters’ facial expressions.  Guillory’s figures are also great, especially when it comes to portraying the ludicrous action scenes involving the absurdly ninja-like Savoy.

Chew #13 – Review

by John Layman (writer & letters) and Rob Guillory (art & colors)

The Story: Tony discovers the truth behind Montero Industries and Poultplus, their new chicken substitute that everyone is talking about.

What’s Good: It’s rare these days for an artist to get big laughs out of me more or less solely on the merits of his own talents, but that’s exactly what Rob Guillory does this month.  Guillory is quite possibly the most humorous artist in comics today and it’s a good part of what makes his work on Chew so strong.  Everything he does glows with innate comedy, which gives everything that much more life.

This month, Guillory gets us with a number of sight gags.  Obviously, the facial expressions are as good as ever, but I particularly enjoyed other jokes as well, like the inexplicably hostile sports writer in Amelia’s office.  Then there’s the secret behind why Montero’s Poultfree tastes as good as it does.  I won’t spoil it, but Guillory’s art makes the reveal truly laugh out loud funny.  It’s easily the most hilarious artistic concept I’ve seen this month.

Layman’s script is also as good as ever, delivering what makes Chew strong month in and month out.  Tony and Colby’s relationship, for example, is always a treat to watch.  Behind all of his snarkiness, there’s a clear bond between John and Tony and whether either will admit it, Layman makes it clear that the two do like each other.  The dialogue only gets more interesting this month when Colby visits Amelia’s workplace along with Tony; the entry of Amelia into the partners’ unique relationship makes for a fresh twist to an already to fun relationship.  You can imagine the jabs Colby can gleefully dish out at this sort of thing.

Then there’s Applebee, who’s as much of a treat as ever, even if he’s getting weirder by the month.  The ridiculous double-standard he shows this month between Tony and John is really funny and I do like the fact that Layman is slowly going back Applebee giving Tony hell.  I loved awkward Applebee, but I missed the hatred.  Seeing him treat John so much better only makes it even more enjoyable to watch.

Chew #5 – Review

by John Layman (Writer) and Rob Guillory (Artist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Chew is definitely something special. There just isn’t anything even remotely like it on the stands right now. Uniqueness can only get something so far though. Thankfully, Chew’s got enough personality and cool ideas to earn an easy recommendation from me. That said, the series certainly isn’t going to be for everyone. The characters are odd, the language is quite rough, and the basic concept is as grim as it is bizarre.

The Story: Tony Chu and Mason Savoy bust a chicken smuggling ring, rescuing Chow Chu in the process. A splash of blood changes everything, however, as Tony Chu discovers he has much to learn about his partner Mason Savoy.

What’s Good: After a few strange twists last month, I worried that John Layman was going to steer Chew into a ridiculous direction that would, sooner than later, make me long for the days before Chew #4 hit stores. Thankfully though, Chew #5 quickly gets the series back on track and sets the stage for things to come. The conclusion of “Taster’s Choice” is funny, full of action, and satisfying not only because of how it wraps up the arc but also because of how it proves that Chew has the legs necessary to keep readers hooked for the long-term.

The latest issue of Chew features the creative team’s best work yet. And that’s saying something considering what an impression the team made with the series debut. While Chew #5 feels very “indie” as a whole (as it has since the series started conceptually, artistically, and as far as the dialogue is concerned), there’s a level of polish to the book that simply can’t be ignored.

Writer John Layman’s storytelling style and clever plotting keeps Chew #5 moving at a fast pace without ever allowing the characters to take a backseat to the action. From the likeable asshole Tony Chu’s insistence on being by the book to the wordy, sophisticated Mason Savoy’s sense of confidence in the greater good, Layman’s characters are just a lot of fun to follow. Also worth mentioning is how great Layman’s scripting is as far as revealing information is concerned. While I like to avoid spoilers, I will say what’s particularly impressive is the way that Layman has Tony Chu discover the truth about his partner, Mason Savoy. The scene and the eventually confrontation that follows it really pulls everything that’s so great about the series into one violent, funny, somewhat disgusting string of events. A string of events that, visually, is executed extremely well by artist Rob Guillory.

Guillory’s colorful, lively style is as offbeat as Layman’s story. As a result, Guillory’s work proves to be a perfect fit for the series. While I’ve enjoyed Guillory’s artwork in every issue of Chew so far, his style really shines in Chew #5. The violent action is satisfyingly brutal and blood-soaked, the body language of the characters effortlessly compliments the emotions on display, and the vivid color work elevates every single panel and various bits of dialogue. Special mention must be made of Guillory’s design for Mason Savoy. The character manages to somehow be a jolly, menacing badass in every scene he’s in. Thanks to Layman’s dialogue and Guillory’s design, Savoy is quickly becoming one of my favorite new characters.

What’s Not So Good: While there is a whole heck of a lot to like about Chew #5, it happens to be a bit rough at times. Layman tends to dump a lot of dialogue onto the page at times in order to drive the story forward and Guillory tends to cut corners here and there visually. Neither issue really takes away from the overall quality of Chew #5, but flaws are flaws.

Conclusion: Chew’s first arc definitely ends on a high note creatively. If you haven’t been following Chew, be sure to pick up the “Taster’s Choice” trade when it hits stores. You’ll quickly see why the series is quickly gaining quite the following.

Grade: A-

-Kyle Posluszny

 



Chew #1 – Review

by John Layman (writer and letterer) and Rob Guillory (art)

The Story: In a strange world gripped by a chicken prohibition, Detective Tony Chu solves crimes with his unique ability to gain psychic impressions from whatever he eats.

The Good As you can tell by the story synopsis, the concept is incredibly inventive, fresh, and unlike anything else on the stands. As a first issue, this comic does a great job of showing just how strong the legs are on this concept. It’ll have you BELIEVING that there’s a lot of potential here. The ending of this comic alone was proof of this, as Chu’s method of getting the information he needs was both shocking and hilariously inventive.

The world created by Layman is no less creative. Chicken becoming outlawed, creating a poultry-centred bootlegger’s industry, speakeasies and all? Pure genius and utterly madcap… How Layman came up with all of this, I have no idea. Certainly, it lends itself well to a great deal of situational comedy.

Technically speaking, Layman’s dialogue is quick and his panels are fluid and dynamic. Furthermore, his intersection of styles is very self-conscious– absurdity meets cop drama meets cannibalistic nastiness.  Best of all though is Layman’s pacing of this issue. The book starts out slowly and lightheartedly, introducing the characters and setting, and then, out of nowhere, things go completely insane in a shower of gore and cannibalism.

Meanwhile, on the art end, Guillory’s work is a perfect match for Layman’s script. Quirky, offbeat, and cartoony, it’s fun to look at and it fits the comic to a tee. Guillory’s layouts are endlessly inventive and some of the funniest bits of the book are his drawings of Chu’s morified facial expressions after having eaten something particularly terrible.

The Not-So-Good: Unfortunately, Chew’s greatest strength, it’s quirkiness, is also what works against it. Make no mistake, this is a VERY indie comic. Readers of “the big two” will be left scratching their heads, while hard-nosed Vertigo devotees will perhaps hunger for something heavier or more substantial. Ultimately, whether or not you enjoy Chew will depend almost entirely on what sort of reader you are and what you expect out of your comics. This is an off-beat title with a very “indie” art style and carries that “small, low budget” feel.  This may very well turn off some readers.

Also, a major problem for this issue is that its lead character, Tony Chu, just isn’t very likable at the moment. His only distinguishing characteristic is his unflappable dedication to the law. He’s a “by the book” cop in the utmost, and this makes for a character that is neither unique nor particularly enjoyable. In fact, it makes for a character that can be downright boring or irritating, if weren’t for his special ability. Given the book’s ending, I expect this to change dramatically as Chu develops. But as a single issue, Tony himself just isn’t a strong character. That gets to the heart of the problem, really: this first issue really feels more like a “prologue” than an actual first issue.

Conclusion: Appropriately enough, Chew’s quality is entirely a matter of taste.

Grade: B-

-Alex Evans