Chopping Block Review- Chew: Secret Agent Poyo #1
Review by Nolan P. Smith-Pastrami Nation
Writer: John Layman
Artist: Rob Guillory
Publisher: Image Comics
Website: www.imagecomics.com
FOR MATURE READERS
A death defying, tough as nails, secret agent rooster; if that premise doesn’t scream about the originality in comics, then I don’t know what does. Spinning out of one of Image Comic’s critically acclaimed titles, Chew, we now get a one shot focusing on the amazing, the unrelenting fighting machine, Poyo. But does such an eccentric character have what it takes to hold the spotlight for a full issue?
Story: Poyo is a secret agent, who at the start of the issue is already on his deathbed. The specifics of the story are all spelled out in the issue, but I won’t go into detail on it. What you really need to know is that this is a fowl who literally looks the devil in the face and doesn’t back down. Brought back to life with cybernetic enhancements, which just help in the violence factor, Poyo is quickly back to fighting the good fight. John Layman, the scribe behind this issue and the smash hit Chew, crafts an extremely fun story filled with intrigue, humor, and the over the top element that we all love from the comic book art form.
Art: Rob Guillory has been amazing in the pages of Chew since the beginning, and he continues to amaze here with Secret Agent Poyo. I have always liked that Guillory’s art walked a fine line between realistic and abstract. With dimensions and figures slightly exaggerated, it provides the perfect feel for Chew and the solo run for this feathered friend.
Overall: Being a huge fan of Chew since around the time it debuted, I was anxious to see what would be done in this one shot. It could have either gone really good, or really bad, as many companies milk spin offs for whatever they are worth, with the quality suffering greatly. Thankfully, Secret Agent Poyo continues the high level of excellence seen in the award-winning Chew, and brings a story that is unique, one that could only exist in the world of comics. Highly Recommended, I give Chew: Secret Agent Poyo a perfect FIVE out of 5, which ranks it as a WELL DONE for Pastrami Nation, the highest achievement for a review.