Chew: The Omnivore Edition Vol. 1
October 17, 2010 | Trades
Reading Chew will turn your stomach. That’s not exactly the ringing endorsement the hottest new comic of the past year deserves, but it’s the honest truth for this delightful hybrid of Fear Factor and Law and Order. Having to witness U.S. Food and Drug Administration agent Tony Chiu noshing on everything from a decomposing finger to a cremated human being to a serial killer’s face is enough for the hardiest stomach.
The twist in Chew: The Omnivore Edition Vol. 1 (Image Comics, 264 pages, $36.95) – a deluxe hardcover collection of the first 10 issues of the series that claimed both the 2010 Eisner and Harvey Awards for best new series – is that Chiu has the rare ability to get psychic visions about everything he consumes. This makes him the perfect man to solve crimes no one else can. In a world where 23 million people have died from avian flu, eating chicken is a crime and the black market for eggs and poultry is booming, he’s got a lot of work on his plate.
The talented tandem of writer John Layman and artist Rob Guillory have served up something special in Chew. It’s worth skipping lunch for.
(This article first appeared in the Toronto Star)
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