This episode the guys decided on an Image Comics double-feature! First up at bat is John Layman and Rob Guillory’s Chew. Set in a world where the FDA is the most powerful law enforcement agency on the planet, Chew is a buddy-cop black comedy that is unlike anything on the stands. Layman and Guillory are expertly crafting a tale that centers around Tony Chu, a Philly cop turned FDA agent with a foodborne psychic ability and deep respect for the law of the land. When Agent Chu is confronted with the idea of the FDA being behind a global conspiracy, things get very interesting. For the second half of the episode the talk focuses on Sam Kieth’s The Maxx. On the surface The Maxx can appear to simply be a product of the Image age, but once the reader begins to peel back the layers of art and narrative it quickly reveals itself to be much more. Kieth uses his cast of characters to not only explore themes of feminism and mental health, but to push the boundaries of his own visual storytelling.
In addition to dissecting theses titles on their own, there is also a bit of discussion about how the two relate to each other. In terms of art and narrative, fan reaction, following, and their places in the Image publishing pantheon, The Maxx and Chew have quite a bit in common.
[audio:http://thenextissue.podomatic.com/enclosure/2013-07-24T17_28_32-07_00.mp3](And here’s the direct download!)It’d be awesome if everyone headed over to NextIssuePodcast.com! That’s where you can find our episode archives, Twitter feed, and more. Be sure to check out The Next Issue podcast’s Facebook group, and please subscribe to our two feeds in iTunes! This one is for our regular episodes, and this one is for all our interviews and specials. If you’ve got a second, we’d sure appreciate it if you’d rate the show and leave a review. That stuff makes it easier for new listeners to find us and join the party!
