Sigh…

Once again I must write a review on why Chew is one of, if not, THE best comic on the stands. Once again I must make a John Layman/Rob Guillory book Pick of the Week. Once again I must bring up some hilarious jokes you wouldn’t notice in one read through. Sigh….

Okay joking aside, this is a pretty damn good issue of Chew. We’re out of the depressing and brutal story of Tony Chu right now and back into the mess Olive Chu is stuck in. Once again (phrase of the day) Layman introduces another great character with a very cool power. I hope we see some sort of Chocolate Ray Gun at SDCC or NYCC by Image in the near future. Apart from that and the obvious hidden jokes by Guillory, the overall mystery of just why Olive is so damn important is a pretty good story. Sometimes you forget that with all of these jokes, Layman is telling an intriguing story here with great characters. Its a slow plot progression but you see it every time an issue comes out.

It’s been twenty four issues so how many times can I praise Rob Guillory’s pencils. The pages are gorgeous and filled with so many great designs, hidden jokes, and great details you won’t see in any other comic. I particularly love you can tell the wind is blowing in a lot of scenes because of leaves or ribbons in the background. Touches like that make the world feel alive which a lot of artists should learn now a days. This issue does however have, quite possibly, the best background joke ever and it’s referenced twice. I won’t spoil it for you but keep on the look out of Image’s very own bearded tycoon…

Every issue I read of this series tells me one thing: There is no way it can work in the medium of Television. Don’t get me wrong, I want to see Chew being made for TV (which by the way, what is going on with that? No news since last year I think since it was greenlit) but it’s clear the real magic comes from these pages. John Layman delivers incredible scripts filled with great plot progression and hilarious jokes. But really, Rob Guillory’s pencils are the reason you’ll love this series. If you open up this title and you don’t see the magic that I see every issue then I question your sanity.