With the recent rise in popularity of barbarian fantasy comics like “Red Sonja” or “Conan”, you might suspect the latest one-shot from the “Chew” franchise feels like every other sword and sorcery book out there. If so, then you’re dead wrong. “Chew: Warrior Chicken Poyo” #1 doesn’t taste like the other chicken. It tastes like Poyo.
Written by John Layman
Illustrated by Rob GuilloryComics’ most beloved homicidal cybernetic kung fu rooster returns for what we humbly anticipate as the most important literary achievement of the 21st Century. All other comics will be made irrelevant. The best thing that’s ever happened to comics, and possibly the best thing that’s ever happened…EVER!
Plus: an all-star pin-up gallery from some of the most staggeringly talented artists in the industry! DO. NOT. MISS.
“Chew” has long been one of the most consistently entertaining titles of the last five years and “Warrior Chicken Poyo” #1 is yet another example of Layman and Guillory’s creative genius. With Layman’s penchant for ridiculously epic plots, puns, and concepts working in tandem with Guillory’s ability to jam more easter eggs into his art than the White House’s lawn, “Chew” has always been a cornerstone of comics; there has never been a bad issue of it, or any of its spin-offs.
That said, this makes the series hard to talk about at times. “Chew” is so ubiquitous that any attempts to find a flaw in it are rendered moot — they’re not flaws so much as one of the title’s quirks. If anything, the common reader might just experience an overwhelming sense of radness; a wave of righteous moments, organic character development, and delightful visual gags that wash over you like a relaxing bath.
And then we get the “Poyo” one-shots. The “Poyo” one-shots are the harsh rock hidden in “Chew”‘s relaxing ocean. And you will smash your face against Poyo. And you will enjoy it. All the attempts to do otherwise are tossed out the window in the world of “Poyo.”
The comic opens with Poyo attending a $56 million parade for saving the president’s life and then immediately go off the edge into an insane swords and sorcery comic full of killer carrots. “Warrior Chicken Poyo” amps up the scales from 2012’s “Secret Agent Poyo” by just not caring in the slightest; I don’t want to spoil what Poyo actually does in the book, but it’s epic to say the least. Essentially, it’s like a reboot of Conan the Barbarian the writers made as a joke, but no one’s told the actors and Arnold Schwarzenegger is committed to staying in his chicken costume for the entire production. Then imagine if Ahnald’s chicken suit was laced with aerosol PCP. That’s Poyo.
Of course, you probably knew that (unless you’ve never read “Chew” before, in which case, you might be a little out of luck). If you’re looking for a book with substance then diving straight into “Warrior Chicken Poyo” may not be the best idea since it acts more as an extension of what “Chew” can be when the creators don’t hold anything back. It’s incredibly enjoyable on a surface level (the page where the main villain is defeated alone deserves a Hugo award) but as a first impression it may just leave you sort of questioning why this was ever made, but if you fall into that latter category then you may as well just go read all of “Chew”. Really. I’m not going to wait, you should’ve been reading the series in the first place, you jabroni.
Even if you don’t see beyond the surface level of “Poyo”, it’s still a visual wonder to behold with some truly epic fight scenes and excellent visual comedy from Guillory. And when you’re in on the joke, so to speak, Poyo rises from one-note character to absolute champion. Though I wouldn’t recommend “Warrior Chicken Poyo” to your Johnny-come-latelys who haven’t had prior experience with “Chew”, I’m still certain “Warrior Chicken Poyo” is the most ambitiously epic comic of the week.
And really, even if you’re not an avid reader of this title’s sister series, you still have to appreciate a cyborg chicken’s bloody quest through a fantasy kingdom — especially the final page, which rocketed a certain crossover up my wish list for 2015.
Final Verdict: 9.3 – It’s a book by John Layman and Rob Guillory where they take their already insane world and forcefeed it LSD. You know it’s going to be great. If you’re not familiar with Layman and Guillory’s work, then reading “Chew” will definitely make you appreciate the taste of their cock.
