ChewVol 1: Taster's Choice
Written by John Layman
Art by Rob Guillory
2009
Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/
ChewVol 2: International Flavor
Written by John Layman
Art by Rob Guillory
2010
Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/
ChewVol 3: Just Desserts
Written by John Layman
Art by Rob Guillory
2010
Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/
ChewVol 4: Flambé
Written by John Layman
Art by Rob Guillory
2011
Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/
Vol 5: Major League Chew
Written by John Layman
Art by Rob Guillory
2012
Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/
Vol 6: Space Cakes
Written by John Layman
Art by Rob Guillory
2013
Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/
I mean - maybe I'm remembering this wrong: but I'm pretty sure that it's only thanks to the Islington Comic Forum that we have this in stock.
It was one of the very first meetings we had and I was asking people what they were reading that was good and someone at the back piped up [1] and said (with a fat grin across her face): "Chew." I was like: "What? Chew? What kind of name is that for a comic?" And then well: she was like - "Oh it's amazing! It's so funny! And the drawings are so great! And just all so weird and twisted but it's really well done and you need to read it: oh you just have to read it and you'll understand: it's so good - it really is: you just need to read it."
And: so - what the hell - I put through a request to see if we could have it ordered in (or maybe it was I went to put in a request and realised we already had it in stock? Hmmmm. I dunno - whatever). And that's how I fell into a comic where The United States Food and Drug Administration is the most powerful Law Enforcement Agency on the planet and the most illegal substance around isn't heroin or coke or meth but - poultry. Which would be the reason why you get lines like: "Hand over the chicken and nobody gets hurt." delivered completely straight.
So: if you want to know what I knew before I started - then this is it: Tony Chu is a police detective who can detect psychic impressions from whatever he eats. Which is nowhere near as much fun as it sounds (do you really want to know everything about the food you eat?) - although it does have a habit of coming in useful with solving crimes (even if it does entail taking bites out of cadavers). And that's not the only strange thing that's been happening...
With a culinary obsession that twists through on every page Chew (food! food! food!) is a comic that is sick, offbeat, gross, warped and disturbing (reportedly inspired from everything from Lost to Commando) with a sensibility that somehow manages to splice the conspiracy-obsessed stylings of The X-Files [2] with the absurd shenanigans The Mighty Boosh - creating a strange, spicy and exotic flavor all of it's very own. These are people who play a naked fat guy falling out the side of a building and "Skrasshing" on the pavement for laughs: so those of a delicate construction might want to get their sickbags at the ready before they step inside.
With art that manages to be off-kilter, cartoony and bendy with a non-stop energy that keeps you racing through (even for comics - these really don't take that long to read) - although why does every women have such an - erm - ample cleavage? (Surely I can't be the only person to notice it?). Skilfully balancing an off-the-cuff mannerism (it's almost like the whole series - and I mean this in a good way - is just a collection of doodles and sketches: with none of it really feeling like it's been over-thought or particularly strained over [3]) with a sure-footed long term game-plan [4]: the analogy that springs to mind is like the set of a really good comedian [5] who acts as if they're just saying the first thing that comes into their head and it's only a hour later that you realise that everything that they've said all connects together in the most delightful way possible [6].
If it was a food - I'd say it was a light bouncy cake full of sugar and plenty of icing that's going to leave you hungry for more after only one small delicious mouthful.
Bon Appetit.
..............................................................................................................................................
[1] And I really wish I could remember who it was who said it so I could give them the credit: but I can't quite recall (I'm even totally sure it was a girl): but - hell - if whoever it is writes back and tells me then I'll put your name in and give you a shout out or whatever.
[2] Although I think that Guillory and Layman are more into Fringe than The X-Files - judging from the little easter eggs hidden in the artwork (keep your eyes peeled).
[3] Please note: I'm just saying that's the way it feels. I'm pretty sure that the reality is actually they've both poured their blood, sweat and tears into every tiny page - but it's like (I dunno) Revolver by The Beatles (to pick an example off the top of my head): although you know there's a fine level of craftsmanship happening beneath the surface - the effect is like they're just singing the first thing that comes into their heads: yeah?
[4] Kind of like (and this is the book it most reminds me of) The Umbrella Academy: only with half the breakneck speed and manic energy - which I guess makes it easier for people to keep up.
[5] I almost said "really good comic" there - but then realised that could just get confusing (true story: speaking to a random once I mentioned that I ran something called the Islington Comic Forum and they said: "Oh cool - tell us a joke then."
..............................................................................................................................................[2] Although I think that Guillory and Layman are more into Fringe than The X-Files - judging from the little easter eggs hidden in the artwork (keep your eyes peeled).
[3] Please note: I'm just saying that's the way it feels. I'm pretty sure that the reality is actually they've both poured their blood, sweat and tears into every tiny page - but it's like (I dunno) Revolver by The Beatles (to pick an example off the top of my head): although you know there's a fine level of craftsmanship happening beneath the surface - the effect is like they're just singing the first thing that comes into their heads: yeah?
[4] Kind of like (and this is the book it most reminds me of) The Umbrella Academy: only with half the breakneck speed and manic energy - which I guess makes it easier for people to keep up.
[5] I almost said "really good comic" there - but then realised that could just get confusing (true story: speaking to a random once I mentioned that I ran something called the Islington Comic Forum and they said: "Oh cool - tell us a joke then."
Links: Chew Website, The Beat Interview with John Layman, Good Ok Bad Review Vol 1, Graphic Novel Reporter Review, Comic Book Resources Interview with John Layman.
Further reading: Powers, Orc Stain, I Kill Giants, iZombie, B.P.R.D., The Goon, The Umbrella Academy, D.R. and Quinch, Tank Girl: Tank Girl One, The Boys, Hewligan's Haircut, Top 10, Xombi.
All comments welcome.
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