Review by Michael Smith

Writer: John Layman

Artist: Rob Guillory

Published by Image Comics

Everything old is new again. It seems like most of the comics being released these days are just reboots of what we have already seen. Now don’t get me wrong there are some great “new” versions of old favorites. I would however like to read something that is fresh and new. I did not think that was really possible and then I saw the previews for Chew and I have to admit it caught my eye.

Chew is the story of Tony Chu, a police detective that is always hungry but never eats. The problem for Tony is that he is cibopathic. This means that anything Tony eats he can tell you everything about that specific piece of food. Where it was grown, what pesticides were used, or who picked it from the tree. Tony is able to visually see and experience the life of the food. That makes it difficult for him to enjoy anything he eats.

The story of this book takes place after the bid flu epidemic has hit our country and the FDA has stepped in and outlawed poultry. The criminal underground is now selling wings and thighs on the black market to the highest bidder. We are beckoned back to a time of the speak-easy, only instead of martinis and beer on the other side of the door we find deep fried chicken.

Tony and his partner John are on stakeout to take down one of the biggest chicken dealers in the city when they learn they might be in over their head as they come into conflict with the strongest government agency in the land, the Food and Drug Administration. Since the bird flu scare the FDA has been elevated to be one of the highest police authorities in the country. As with any great story, things don’t end up going as planned and by the end we learn that Tony’s future might be bigger than he ever imagined.

This first issue is a true gem. It is a blast to read about a cop that suffers from a condition that in the end could help him break crimes wide open, depending on what he is willing to eat. I cannot say enough about the writing or the art. They compliment each other perfectly and really draw the reading into the story. Layman and Guillroy have delivered a winner on a silver platter with this book. Chew is a breath of fresh air in this overcrowded comic book world of reboots. I found myself craving more as the first issue came to a close.

How do I describe Chew? The perfect recipe for your comic book appetite:a healthy helping of police drama, a dash of humor, sprinkle in some action, and throw in some cannibalism for good measures. Chew has it all, just be sure not to read it on an empty stomach.

Rating: 9 out of 10 (Excellent!)