Posts Tagged chew
Cammy’s Comic Corner – Holiday Gift Suggestions 2010
Posted by Cammy in Special Episode on December 12, 2010
In this special episode, Cammy the elf helps you with some gift suggestions for that special geek in your life.
Cammy’s Comic Corner – Book Of The Month – Chew: The Omnivore Edition Vol. 1
Posted by Cammy in Book Of The Month on November 5, 2010
Book Of The Month – November
Chew – The Omnivore Edition Vol. 1 
Written by John Layman
Illustrated by Rob Guillory
Now usually I don’t do themed Book Of The Month selections. I mean October is always fun to review a horror comic, but that’s about as usually far as I’ll go theme-wise. However when you see a holiday and a graphic novel go together like Native Americans & Pilgrims, you just have to take advantage of it. That’s why I decided to choose the first hardcover of Chew by John Layman and Rob Guillory. I can’t help it if I think of Thanksgiving and eating & Chew. After you’ve read the graphic novel, it’ll all make sense to you. Trust me.
Chew debuted back in 2009 and became an instant success. So much so, that the first issue alone went back for multiple printings. Now that may be normal for some series, but for a comic nobody heard anything about? That’s pretty fantastic. The story takes place in a world where chicken is illegal. There was an avian flu outbreak that killed tens of thousands of people across the country, and the FDA is the government agency in charge of keeping the peace. The main character of the series, Tony Chu, is a police detective from Philadelphia who has an uncanny ability to get psychic impressions of anything he eats. He’s cibopathic, which means if he eats a burger, he gets the entire history of where it came from. The only food he’s able to eat to keep from getting these horrible images is beets. They’re boring, bland, and bearable. After a recent bust on a restaurant serving chicken, he’s scooped-up by a special section of the FDA dedicated to investigating food and anything weird or bizarre involving it. Along the way we’re introduced to the rest of the players; his veteran new partner Mason Savoy, the love of his life Amelia Mintz, and so on and so forth.
Each character is truly unique in this ingenious setting. While cibopaths like Tony and Mason can get a mental image of food when eaten, Amelia is a saboscrinver, who can write about food so vividly and precisely, that you can taste what she’s writing about. It doesn’t stop there! All throughout this volume you’re introduced to several characters along the same vein of Tony and Amelia, only they’re abilities are slightly different but still revolving around food. I can just imagine John Layman giggling like a little school girl in front of his typewriter, thinking up the abilities no one has dared to think-up yet.
The art in this book is to die for. Rob Guillory’s designs are fun yet action-packed page after page. Each character has his or her own quirky style, and it never strays from the original design; consistency is a dish best served warm. One of my favorite parts about the art is the things that you don’t notice at first in the background. You might catch it on the second read, and suddenly burst out laughing like I’m one to do. I don’t want to ruin the little jokes, so I’ll just leave it at this; inspect every little sign, bottle logo, or writing on papers. It’s little Easter eggs like those that add the cherry on top of this cake of awesome.
The hardcover itself is wonderful quality. Myself owning all of The Walking Dead hard covers, I’ve come to love Image’s consistency from volume to volume. It makes my bookshelves look nice, with some feel of organization and unity. And the extras in the back are well worth the purchase too; you get scripts, sketches, and the original pitch. I love me some DVD-esque extras!
So in conclusion, this series is one of my new favorites that I look forward to every month. Humor, action and romance all rolled-into one floppy comic for $3. However, it’s so good that I also plan on buying all the hard covers to lend to friends and family in the future. It’s just that good to buy twice. Of all the independent comics that have come out in the past decade, I put Chew in my Top 5, no question. It’s one of those comics that anyone can enjoy, and I’ve already had reports of people getting hooked on the plot alone, who have never picked-up a comic before in their life. We need more comics like that; fun, and a gateway comic to several thousand other stories hidden away in local comic shops across the globe, waiting to be read by virgin eyes.
This Thanksgiving, be thankful you’re not a cibopath, and pass along the stuffing to Aunt Sally, followed by the Chew – Omnivore Edition Vol. 1. She’ll like it so much, she’ll want seconds.
Book Of The Month – June – LOCAL
Book Of The Month – July – Sub-Mariner: The Depths
Book Of The Month – August – Superman: Secret Identity
Book Of The Month – October – Welcome To Hoxford
Book Of The Month – November – The Nightly News
Book Of The Month – December – CLA$$WAR
Book Of The Month – January – The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite
Book Of The Month – February – Locke & Key: Welcome To Lovecraft
Book Of The Month – March – Mini Marvels Ultimate Collection
Book Of The Month – April – Asterios Polyp
Book Of The Month – May – Green Lantern: Secret Origin
Book Of The Month – June – Titanium Rain: Book One
Book Of The Month – July – Irredeemable Vol. 1
Book Of The Month – August – Marsh Rocket
Book Of The Month – September – Invincible Ultimate Collection 1
Cammy’s Comic Corner – Geeky Talky – Episode 34
Posted by Cammy in Geeky Talky on October 13, 2010
In this special episode, I interview writer extraordinaire John Layman. We discuss influences, his experience as an editor at WildStorm, and the monumental success of CHEW from Image.
Cammy’s Comic Corner – Episode 137 (8/22/10)
Posted by Cammy in Weekly Reviews on August 22, 2010
Alas, a Pick Of The Week AND a Fast Five all in one packed episode! Pick Of The Week goes to John Layman & Rob Guillory for Chew #13 (Image). Fast Five picks include Hulk #24 (Marvel), DC Universe: Legacies #4 (DC), G.I. Joe: Cobra #7 (IDW), Air #24 (Vertigo), and Secret Avengers #4 (Marvel).
I’d apologize for this episode being longer than normal, but I APOLOGIZE FOR NOTHING!
Cammy’s Comic Corner – Episode 130 (6/13/10)
Posted by readmin in Weekly Reviews on June 13, 2010
The good titles return this week after a very disappointing last week! Pick Of The Week goes to John Layman & Rob Guillory for Chew #11 (Image). Fast Five picks include Booster Gold #33 (DC), House Of Mystery #26 (Vertigo), G.I. Joe: Cobra #5 (IDW), Daytripper #7 (Vertigo), and Batman #700 (DC).
Remember to go watch the World Cup games after you’re done reading your comics!
Cammy’s Comic Corner – Episode 90 (8/7/09)
Posted by Cammy in Weekly Reviews on August 7, 2009
A nice variety of comics in this episode! Pick of the Week goes to John Layman & Rob Guillory for Chew #3 (Image). Fast Five picks include The Boys #33 (Dynamite), Secret Six #12 (DC), Absolution #1 (Avatar), House of Mystery #16 (Vertigo), and War of Kings #6 (Marvel).
I cannot praise the series Chew enough! Such a spectacular comic.
Links
