Advance Review – Chew #40 (Image)

Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: John Layman
Artist: Rob Guillory
Release Date: 26th February 2014

This serves as the final issue of the family values arc, where questions are answered from the very first arc, more questions are asked, and a merry acid trip is had by all.

Chew is a Marmite book if ever I read one. While I love it and will argue until I’m blue in the face that’s its one of the most consistent books on the market, this issue more than most is what will divide people. Following on from last issue, Tony is on a trip like no other which makes his view of the world ever so slightly skewed. While I enjoyed it, especially Rob Guillory’s animorphic character designs, I did find it slightly distracting form the story and I think this could put a lot of people off.

While the arc did wrap up nicely, it did leave more questions unanswered than we had last the start of the issue, and while I’m sure Layman has a plan in place, I genuinely can’t guess where its going from here. Not a bad thing necessarily, just something to keep in mind….this book will frustrate you, but in a good way (so long as the final payoff is worth it).

Something else that should be added on, at the end of the issue in the mail section, someone has created a chart that list all of the powers that have been seen in the book and what volume they can be found in. Even someone like me, who has been with the book from the start, found this useful and a welcome addition for any fan. I know I’d buy a print of it!

Rating: 4/5 (gains a point for the chart)

INTERIOR ARTWORK PREVIEW
(Click image to view full page)