Chew #5

5 issues in and Chew has solidified its stance at the top of my read pile. This perfect mix of comedy, gore and government conspiracies keeps the book fresh and interesting beyond the basic premise of Tony Chu as a cibopath. This first arc wraps up quite nicely. As many had suspected, Mason Savoy is not what he appears to be. We learn that he has some ulterior motive for working with the FDA and he'll stop at nothing to learn the truth about the avian flu outbreak. But as expected, straight-laced Tony ain't having any of that. This leads us to our gory confrontation at the end of the issue that allows the book to progress in a variety of different directions and possibilities. One of my favorite portions of this issue is the opening page. It's very reminiscent of the pages that Alan Moore used in the Top Ten and Tom Strong trades; you are told a few snipets of what to expect in the issue, but not the context in which they will appear. A great way to hook the audience in at the beginning and get them to stick around for the whole ride. Perhaps what works best in Chew is the perfect comedic timing. This is due to the fantastic synergy between Layman and Guillory. Yes, the word "synergy" gets thrown around a lot in offices and team building exercises, but bare with me here. The two work perfectly together and the love from both creators can clearly be seen in each issue. Guillory has the ability to convey emotion very effectively in his artwork. The confusion, anger and surprise that is felt by these characters just pops off the page, and his use of shadows goes a long way to give the book a creepy vibe when needed. It's worth mentioning that Guillory also colors the book, and does an excellent job of complementing his pencils and conveying the mood effectively. I'd be remised if I didn't mention the sound effects in this book. Normally I hardly notice them, but here, I couldn't help it. SMWACK! SPABLAM! SHACK! Great lines that, again, go a long way in setting the tone and feel of this quirky book. A great opening arc that leads the way for more great stories. If you aren't already reading Chew, do yourself a favor and pick up the trade next month. You won't regret it. And if you tried this book and it didn't click for you, that sucks. You're missing out on a fantastic, fun and entertaining story.