Comic Book Review: Chew #57

Jared Leatzow |

Sep 7, 2016

Chew #57 has just dropped, and with just three more issues left in the series, the comic will soon be coming to an end. However, despite the series coming to end it is chock full of excellence; there isn’t any filler. Before, all the fans of the series can weep and go into some sort of depression they need to first read this issue. Also if you aren’t up to date, this probably isn’t the best jumping on point.

[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”B01G4HABRY” locale=”US” src=”http://boundingintocomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/51pXTl0GbDL.jpg” tag=”bounintocomi-20″ width=”325″]

Previously,, Tony Chu was forced to consume his rival Mason Savoy’s remains in order to gain the knowledge he had about an ensuing apocalypse that has been hinted at since the beginning of the series.

In eating the body of Mason, Tony not only gains the man’s abilities and information, he also inherits a series of stern lectures intended specifically for him. Even in the afterlife, Mason manages to annoy Tony, only serving as a reminder as to why the two didn’t get along.

In [easyazon_link identifier=”B01G4HABRY” locale=”US” tag=”bounintocomi-20″]Chew #57[/easyazon_link], we learn the bird flu Mason was first investigating in the beginning of the series, is somehow connected to the strange alien writing in the sky. The ghostly spirit of Mason Savoy leads Tony and his partner John Colby on a wild goose chase in search of information. In the end Mason, tells Tony something awful that he doesn’t want to hear.

This particular issue was not my favorite from a writing standpoint. For the most part I have had nothing but praise for John Layman and his scripts. This series is one of my favorites. However, in this particular issue the plot was a little hard to follow. The explanation of how the deceased are responsible for the bird flu is not very clear especially the point where it all went wrong.You may have to go back and a re-read a couple of pages to clarify some of the details.

Art-wise, the comic looks great. Rob Guillory has a great cartoony style, although this issue lacks the usual food based superhuman action wes have come to expect. Only Fatanyeros, a chef with the ability to encode messages in food, is seen doing anything interesting with his abilities. Although, Guillory does draw an excellent meatball taco in this issue.

Tony is still chowing down on the remains of Mason. The food is prepared by his brother, and this particular taco has meatballs that resemble Mason’s face. This is both disturbing and funny to look at.

The Verdict

[easyazon_link identifier=”B01G4HABRY” locale=”US” tag=”bounintocomi-20″]Chew #57[/easyazon_link] is not a bad issue, and it is very much essential reading up to this point in the series. But at times the plot was a little confusing and may require some re-reads. Action wise there wasn’t much as well. The comic is moving in a positive direction, despite it sadly coming to an end.