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