Chew: Volume 4: Flambé

by John Layman (story) and Rob Guillory (art), 115 pages

Tony investigates a school rampage instigated by a mind-controlling recipe, goes on a USDA suicide mission to stop production of a bio-weapon, sneaks into Area 51 with his twin sister to foil domestic E.G.G. terrorists, and infiltrates a Kool-Aid-drinking egg cult, all in pursuit of truth, justice, and illegal fowl.

All we learn this volume is that Tony's sister's got a secret of her own, that his boss really wants him dead (which isn't new or surprising, but it's still pretty funny), and that messing with Poyo the fighting rooster is a bad idea (ditto). But in between, we get to watch Tony and John banter as they try to piece together the clues, Savoy expand his mind, the Russian "vampire" gloat, and Tony blush and project little pink hearts whenever he talks to his girlfriend. There's more--some of it icky, some of it cute, most of it amusing. And now I must wait for the next trade (out in April!).

Chew: Volume 3: Just Desserts

by John Layman (story) and Rob Guillory (art), 121 pages

Tony tries to balance his personal life (dates with "persuasive" food writer! family Thanksgiving [complete with illicit bird]!) and his work (hateful boss! wonderful nutjob partner! still-at-liberty villain!), with both silly and serious results. Is a double agent really a triple agent? And what's Tony going to do when his nemesis figures out his shocking weak spot?!

Ooh, surprises! And guffaws. Also, uh-oh. I need the next book!

Chew: Volume 2: International Flavor

by John Layman (story) and Rob Guillory (art), 121 pages

When Tony takes an off-the-record trip to a chicken-loving resort island in pursuit of a lead, what begins as curiosity quickly turns personal. Now he's got to coordinate with a crazy Agriculture Department agent, dig up a grave, locate a stolen fighting rooster, talk his greedy chef of a brother out of job, rescue the woman of his dreams, and deal with a potential Russian vampire linked to the vigilante conspiracy theorist from volume one. And of course he has to eat a lot of questionable stuff to do it.

I keep cracking up over every little thing in this series. Notes on walls and bulletin boards ("Colonel Sanders wanted for questioning"--"TPS Reports must be filed by end of day!"). All the different brands of artificial chicken products, such as Poult-Free and my favorite, Fricken (think "ribbit"). And the undefeated rooster's wall of fame ("Poyo: Behind the Mask"--"Cockfight will be followed immediately by BBQ"--"Could Poyo Beat a Man?"--the answer is "yes," by the way). And those are just from the backgrounds. :)

Chew: Volume 1: Taster's Choice

by John Layman (story) and Rob Guillory (art), 121 pages

Tony Chu is a cibopath. That means he gets psychic glimpses into the life of whatever he puts into his mouth, be it broccoli, chicken soup, or...a murder victim.

Ew! Also, kewl!

After a devastating outbreak of bird flu, world governments strictly regulate chicken and make it illegal to buy or sell the real deal. This leads to the rise of black market poultry and a good many conspiracy theories about whether or not there was ever any bird flu in the first place. When cop Tony draws attention after a chicken speakeasy stakeout goes belly-up (and he coincidentally identifies a previously-unknown serial killer working in the kitchen), he gets drafted by the FDA's Special Crimes Division. But his new job draws him into a messier, wider, deadlier web than he's expecting.

And the reader happily follows him in. This is hilarious and gross and smart with perfectly matched, quirky art. And I want more!