Let's Begin Anew with "Chew"

Sorry to have disappeared folks, but I was on sabbatical the last two weeks. Uh yeah, let's go with that. Sabbatical sounds much more professional than "I fell behind."

But I'm back! Let's begin anew with the latest book to join the ranks of my pull box-- Chew by John Layman and Rob Guillory.

Now let me just say, I'm a sucker for first issues. I like to check out first issues when I can get my hands on them because I like getting into a story when it starts and not having to go back and play catch up. I picked up Runaways #1 on a whim because it was a first issue and it ended up becoming one of my favorite comics at the time.

I can only hope Chew will join the ranks and so far I can say that this is probably the case. Chew is the story of Tony Chu, a detective with the ability to obtain a psychic impression from whatever he eats. If he bites into an apple, he can tell what kind of pesticides were used on it. If he eats your face, he can tell where you hid the bodies. The concept alone got the book in my hands, but I still had a level of skepticism.

It's not enough these days to present me with a detective-with-a-shtick story because it's been done before. From Heroes to Medium and even Pushing Daisies, I feel like I've seen this genre a million times. Although the concept in Chew, that being Cibopathy, is different enough to make me take the chance on buying it, I knew once I opened the book that it had to razzle-dazzle keep me coming back for more.

Consider me razzle-dazzled.

Beyond it's genre-detective exterior is a book that explores much deeper themes about society, the government and even fried chicken. In the world of Chew, an outbreak of bird flu has caused a ban on poultry in the United States. That means, if you want to rock out with a six piece Chicken McNugget, you've got to get it from a speakeasy or some skiivy poultry dealer or learn to simply learn to deal with the fake meat alternative.

So in essence, Chew is the combination of two interesting and unique concepts into one amazing story. When it's funny, you're in stiches, and when the action pick up it is completely electric thanks to the artistic talents of Rob Guillory. But the most important thing the story has going for it is good timing. With swine flu mania reaching a critical mass, it's interesting to see a story that deals with the reprocussions of a bird flu pandemic. Even after the book is done, the concepts will linger for days.

One thing's for sure though, I am definitly hungry for more Chew. Serve me up a second helping!

You Should be Reading: The Walking Dead

As yesterday was Wednesday, the all-important NEW COMIC DAY, I was planning on having a review for you folks today on something from my pull box. The Walking Dead seemed as good a book as any to talk about, so I cracked open issued number 61 one with that in mind.

Holy cow! I can't do it! This issue was so good, so utterly crazy, that to give a review would be to post major spoilers and I just don't have it in me to ruin such a huge plot point for anyone, whether they care or not. It's too good. You need to experience it for yourself.

One of my favorite movies growing up (and to this day) was The Neverending Story, but I always hated the scenes where Bastian is reading and reacting outloud to the book. I've heard of people talking at the screen when watching a movie, but I always thought it was hokey to have him reading and somehow commenting at the same time.

However, that's exactly what I did while reading the latest issues of The Walking Dead. It was worse than the audience members at a taping of Jerry Springer. I was all "No he didn't!" and "Oh snap!"

And that's when it hit me. EVERYONE needs to experience this book. Call in sick to work tomorrow, drop a hundred bucks on the trade paperbacks and get this sucker into your brain. You'll thank me later.

The Walking Dead is, simply put, the best zombie story ever crafted. If you've ever watched a zombie flick, wishing there was more about the day-to-day struggle the survivors must face and less about constantly running away from mobs of people, then you'll find the change of pace pretty exhilarating. After setting up the downfall of the human race, Robert Kirkman offers readers a bold look at the people left behind. The book never holds back and not a single person is safe. Every day is a struggle and every issue makes you ask yourself "how are they going to hold together after going through all of that."

What makes The Walking Dead such a great book, however, is that Kirkman is not afraid to break the rules. While zombie movies tend to be gore-fests, The Walking Dead is beautifully illustrated in black-and-white by artist Charlie Adlard, making gory scenes much easier to stomach. While most zombie flicks feature hot, young actors and actresses this cast is much more diverse, and includes a fair amount of children. Which brings up another factor, the cast.

While any one of them can go at any time, they are the furthest thing from zombie fodder. Most zombie film characters are forgettable, only there to serve a role or to get eaten up in the ensuing climax (Shawn of the Dead, of course, being a big exception.) The focus in The Walking Dead is clearly on the people and not on the horrors. Watching very real, genuine characters fall apart because of this new threat makes the book such an amazing read. Watching characters like leading man Rick eventually be worn down to literal insanity is both fascinating and heartbreaking. Even more so is his son, Carl, who slowly loses his innocence and is forced to grow up quickly through the course of the book. Having such a vested interest in these characters keeps you coming back for more and has you on pins and needles when their fate is in the balance. Like I said before, Kirkman pulls absolutely no punches and beloved characters often meet their doom in shocking, terrifying and downright tear-jerking ways.

I seriously cannot stress how much each and every one of you needs to be reading this book. It is the highlight of my month getting to get back into this terrifying world with the characters I love once more. If you're not reading this, you're missing out.