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.