In the latest edition of Comics to Read Before You Die, Jessie Robertson looks at Chew Vol. 1…
Chew #1-5 ( Jun 09 – Oct 09)
Written & Lettered by John Layman
Drawn & Coloured by Rob Guillory
As we continue on our journey through the annals of comic book history, I wanted this series to be not only a refresher course (or introduction) to some of the most seminal, lauded stories but also a platform to promote some of my favorite books as well. Chew is one of those books. Now, it’s like I’m shilling some underdog title that no one knows about; this is a multiple time Eisner Award winning book, that had multiple re-printings of its first issue and was on the New York Times Bestseller list. But people have a short memory so just in case, I’m here to bring it back into the foreground.
John Chu is what is called a Cibopath, which is someone who can get a psychic impression from whatever that person is eating. There are only 3 of these people in the world. The FDA has become a big deal in this world because of a massive Bird Flu that infected much of the population; now chicken is outlawed for health reasons and it’s become the new black market commodity. The first issue of Chew is brilliant, in everything it accomplishes. It introduces characters, sets up a premise, gives background into the world we find ourselves in and has a climax that is both horrific and unforgettable.
The first time we see John enact his ability is an amazing 2 page spread of some soup he is eating, where he can see what has went into this soup and the paths of all the ingredients. It’s simply outstanding. Another great thing about Chew is all the small jokes in every issue; it’s almost like an Easter egg hunt to catch all the little jokes. The underground restaurant John gets into has a billboard above it that says “Dine with us” but the N has fallen down.
This first volume introduces you to most of the main players as you go through this series: John Colby, his original partner who delivers dialogue ripped straight from any 80’s cop movie; Mason Savoy, John’s parter in the FDA, another Cibopath with a lot of dark secrets, Applebee, John’s boss at the FDA who despises him and would be quite pleased if John found himself on the bad end of a fight with a gun or a knife; and Amelia, the woman John falls for after seeing her for the first time. She’s a food critic who can write about food so detailed that anyone reading it can actually taste the dish she is writing about. She’s referred to as a Saboscrivner. She’s a perfect match for John because the only thing he can eat without getting his impression is beets.
The great thing about Chew is it’s a book that continues to grow its own mythology as the series goes on, and the first volume is so entertaining all you want to do is continue the series. It’s also been announced that Chew will only run for 60 issues, so it has an end date to give you the full satisfaction of the story concluding, tying up loose ends, something that never happens in the comics medium. So, pick up Chew, unless you have a weak stomach. Then just read it with a brown sack next to you.
Next Week: Who Watches the Watchmen?
Jessie Robertson
Originally published September 17, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
