Written by John Layman
Illustrated by Rob Guillory“FLAMBÉ,” Part 1 of 5
Mother Clucker’s Homestyle Fried Chicken Palace is open for business!
THIS YEAR’S EISNER AND HARVEY AWARD WINNERS FOR BEST NEW SERIES, BELIEVE IT OR NOT!
Is that… chicken? No way!! Chicken is illegal. There’s no way that could make sense… could it?
Chew is one of the strongest titles of 2010, and after last issue’s double sized awesomeness, let’s find out how Layman and Guillory choose to follow it up! Find out after the cut.
There are few comics on stands today that one can instantly pick up and have a smile forced upon their face. As far as comics go, few comics match the tone of comedy and drama so well and in such a glorious presentation, and few comics come out consistently on time and never fail to satisfy the reader – but the few that do consistently stick out on shelves. Right at the top of that list? Chew.
The last issue of Chew found a great close to a fantastic arc, setting up the next story tremendously and leaving us as readers eagerly anticipating this issue. With Chew #16, not only to we get a fantastic follow up, but this issue sets up the next arc in such a perfect and exemplary fashion that it’s a shame that most big titles don’t take frequent cues from the proper presentation of storytelling that Chew has. Chew has a great motto of “show, not just tell,” and with the first quarter of the story reportedly in the can with issue #15, issue #16 starts off the next big 15 issue arc-set by showing us just the impact that a thing like chicken has on the world contained within the comic. With panels that are both a mix of hilarity and severity, Chew gives us our first concrete look into the past and the devastation that the bird flu had on the world as Tony Chu sets out to solve the mystery of the words in the sky. We even get a brief moment of Savoy as he continues to lurk in the shadow of Tony, which ultimately helps set the tone of the upcoming arc even further than the final (rather shocking, as far as the story is concerned) page does.
Layman continues to prove exactly why his name is worth knowing among top independent writers everywhere. His mix of comedy and drama allows the comic to plug away at an even and somewhat quick pace. This issue of Chew sees Layman expanding the mythos of the world a tad bit more, introducing a new type of food-related power as well as a scene which seems as if it’s a cross between Slither and straight out of the finale of a Monty Python sketch. It’s this balance of horror/drama and poor and unadulterated comedy that makes Chew such an incredibly joyous read issue after issue that one can’t help but need to be following this story on an issue to issue basis.
Then there’s the absolutely outstanding work by Guillory this issue. While one might fly through early pages of Chew due to the lack of dialogue, Guillory’s humorous sensibility and love of tiny details allow us to go back and spend more time with each non-dialogue panel for little inside jokes akin to the way Brandon Graham sets up entire pages in King City. All of the early sequences showing the passage of time in relation to the rise and fall of Mother Clucker are absolutely fantastic, and I dare you not to laugh as you read the various signs and newspaper headlines along the page. Guillory also manages to handle the ensuing anarchy that envelops as humanity reacts to the “alien presence” with such a fashion that adds a sincere and comedic tone to what otherwise should be considered a rather serious look at unruly behavior and rioting. As I’ve mentioned multiple times: it’s that great tone that is established in both the writing and art that truly makes Chew the piece of work that it is, and it’s through that that Chew becomes such a unique stand out on the shelves.
What else can I say about such a fantastic title? I missed buying the first issue (something I’ll always regret) and had resolved to collect in trade, but the infectious charm of the book pulled me into a single issue buyer and I haven’t looked back. Every issue I buy of Chew on the stands always sits at the top of my read pile, and it’s issues like this that show why. The comic is an absolute blast to read, with Layman and Guillory effectively making an absolute dream team of storytelling. This issue was an absolute stand out as far as I’m concerned, and it proves why Chew makes for a comic you should be buying in singles.
Final Verdict: 9.5 – So what are you waiting for? Go buy it, Mother Clucker!
