When I first heard about CHEW I knew this was a comic with serious potential to snag a varied and loyal reader base mainly due to the sheer genius of the idea, and especially if the writing backed up the plot with intelligent humor. I was more than supported in my suspicions, so please read on to learn more about one of the most innovative and all-around successful ideas in the market today.

Welcome to the world of Officer Tony Chu, a straight-laced Philadelphia cop with a bit of a bizarre talent. When Tony Chu bites into a piece of food, he can discern the life and history of that foodstuff from seed to saucepan, or from fetus to finger food, depending on if it’s vegetable or animal. Unfortunately Chu’s ‘gift’ translates to a limited diet, as beets are the only snack on which his power has no sway.

Some years ago, the FDA declared a national emergency due to an alleged outbreak of the bird flu and pulled all poultry products from the market, declaring them to be illegal for the safety of the citizens. This is prohibition with a twist, as many people are on board with the new law, and many believe there is a government conspiracy to keep people from feasting on fowl.

In the introductory issue, Officer Chu and his polar opposite partner are on a stakeout in an attempt to snag violators of the anti-poultry law. What they find is more than they expected, including a bit of Chu’s personal history, the worst soup EVER and an unlikely alliance with the most powerful agency in the United States: the Food and Drug Administration.



CHEW has something for everyone, both in script and visuals. The writing ranges from smart jokes to gross ones, conspiracy theories to superhero powers, and includes cop drama with creative humor while never letting go of a certain level of intelligence. Layman has produced a unique and likeable ‘hero’ of remarkably unremarkable proportions, which in turn makes him all the more endearing.

Meanwhile, the artwork is incredible. The appropriately exaggerated characters are a little bit Manga, a little bit ‘mainstream’ and ALL in sync with the story. The two-page spread in the first issue where Chu has a bite of Satan’s soup is amazing. Miniature individual panels show a myriad of images demonstrating the pain of the victims, the twisted lust of the murderer, and the suffering of Chu as he unwillingly experiences both in his head. The attention given to background detail was certainly appreciated (look closely at the signs displayed; many will have you in stitches), as was the extra effort on the part of the letterer, who draped certain sarcastic word balloons with blue tint and icicles.

CHEW is a book worth its weight in gold, delivering a solid script with wonderfully magnificent artwork and tons of twisted laughs guaranteed to supply many smiles and, depending on the strength of your stomach, a few belly laughs as well. Highly recommended for all forms of comic connoisseurs.

Avril Brown