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Chew Omnivore Edition #3
Chew: The Omnivore Edition, Vol. 3
Tony Chu is a detective with a secret. A weird secret. Tony Chu is cibopathic, which means he gets psychic impressions from whatever he eats. It also means he's a hell of a detective - as long as he doesn't mind nibbling on the corpse of a murder victim to figure out whodunit and why. He's been brought on by the Special Crimes Division of the FDA, the most powerful law enforcement agency on the planet, to investigate their strangest, sickest, and most bizarre cases. Winner of the 2011 Eisner Award for "Best Continuing Series," this gorgeous, oversized edition collects issues #21-30, the fifth and sixth story-arcs of the acclaimed series, "Major League Chew" and "Space Cakes," as well as the blockbuster spin-off featuring America's favorite homicidal bionic rooster, "Secret Agent Poyo."
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2013
13 people are currently reading
261 people want to read
About the author
John Layman
813 books584 followersJohn Steele Layman is an American comic book writer and letterer. Layman is most known for writing Chew, published by Image Comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
May 7, 2022
4.5 stars - Funny and gross - love the artwork. Poyo rulz 😂
February 2, 2019
Історія розвивається у своєму традиційному абсурдному ритмі, долучаючи нових психопатів (чи пак фобів) та героїв до пост-апокаліптичного світу. Звісно, якщо вважати апокаліпсисом заборону на курочку та все, що з нею пов'язане. Все добре, але мені починає трохи приїдатись історія, яка хоча і десь має на горизонті метанаратив, але все ж дуже далеко. Працює все за попередньою формулою: з'являється новий лиходій, наші детективи починають розслідувати якесь паскудство цього лиходія (чи лиходійки, до речі), а тоді все вертається на статус кво. Навіть харизматичний півень-убивця Пойо не рятує серію. Можливо, у мене не той настрій був, щоб насолоджуватись відрубаними й відірваними кінцівками, черговими приколами на тему "хто кого вкусив" чи наступним рівнем божевільної фантазії Джона Леймена. Повірте, я проковтнув попередні томи (навіть більше перший), але коли спочатку концепт Леймена видається геніальним, то чергове його тиражування мимоволі викликає нудьгу. Беру паузу.
August 27, 2021
This is where the book lost the whole steam for me and became boring and disconnected. The sexual misadventures of Colby (and Toni for the same reasons) become repetitive quickly. They don't drive neither the story nor his character (why is he doing this?). Toni was annoying at best and boring at worst. And at some point I've just started to skim through the pages w/o reading for the 20th time the explanation of the cibopathy (imagine each X-Men book starting with explanation of how Cyclops laser eyes work, meh). But where the book really lost me was during Poyo's special. That was a perfect example how the concept was finally stretched too thin: you can't make a great movie about a funny side character (yep, that's why Joey show was doomed from the very beginning).
You can read the whole baseball story arc as the history of comics book industry. Where creators like Siegel and Shuster where beaten and used by the industry to make profits. And only now we have a publisher like Image who allows creators to get their fair share w/o any type of creative control. But Chew is not a great book to make this claim. Yeah, the creators ran wild w/o any limits, but all that they were able to deliver was a disgusting story about cannibalism. So overall, art lost anyway.
You can read the whole baseball story arc as the history of comics book industry. Where creators like Siegel and Shuster where beaten and used by the industry to make profits. And only now we have a publisher like Image who allows creators to get their fair share w/o any type of creative control. But Chew is not a great book to make this claim. Yeah, the creators ran wild w/o any limits, but all that they were able to deliver was a disgusting story about cannibalism. So overall, art lost anyway.
August 18, 2015
the extras in this volume were kickass!
March 22, 2019
القصة في توسع كالعادة
و أخذت منحى جديد
نهاية غير متوقعة و تقطع القلب
مصدومة
و أخذت منحى جديد
نهاية غير متوقعة و تقطع القلب
مصدومة
April 13, 2017
POYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
getting better and better as the series continues
getting better and better as the series continues
August 21, 2014
More things! More death! More Poyo!
I think I liked this volume slightly better than the last one because there's a lot of Poyo in it. But all the volumes are good; it's a strong series -- maybe a little rote at this point, but it's probably not bad when being rote consists of being really good.
For some reason I feel like John Layman is kind of a putz, though. I don't know why.
I think I liked this volume slightly better than the last one because there's a lot of Poyo in it. But all the volumes are good; it's a strong series -- maybe a little rote at this point, but it's probably not bad when being rote consists of being really good.
For some reason I feel like John Layman is kind of a putz, though. I don't know why.
December 6, 2015
NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! NOOOOOO!!!
Hilarious and an ever-evolving weird set of characters. I'm despondent over the ending! I thought the series was done! I was wrong!! Gaaaaah!!
Hilarious and an ever-evolving weird set of characters. I'm despondent over the ending! I thought the series was done! I was wrong!! Gaaaaah!!
February 16, 2020
The reason this volume in particular stands out for me is that the 7th chapter came out well before the rest of the entire volume. In the original run of Chew issue 27 came out between issues 18 and 19 of the series, some ten months early because Layman knew what that issue was going to be and thought it slotted in really nicely as a good introduction of Antonelle (Toni) Chu.
I think this is the reason I gravitated so hard to Toni in the original run, and reading what comes after this (the Chew I remember in lucid waved) Toni's presence (or lack thereof) carries a strong weight through the entire rest of the series (as far as I can tell). She's a phenomenal character, and taking an entire arc away from Tony while he recuperates from the events of "Major League" to have five issues of fun and frolic with Toni... I find that I enjoyed it so much more here than I did in the initial reading.
Unsure what this has to say about Tony, but I always appreciate when a series goes off and explores some ancillary adventure that sidebars the main players. Exploring NASA is fun, seeing a madcap interlude towards Poyo is fun, seeing the relationships Toni doesn't build (Paneer, Caesar) is fantastic.
And it's weird. In the first half I complained about slowness, wasting my time with explaining Tony's powers, etc. But by the end there's such an insane economy of storytelling, it's wicked fast and terribly dense, but I don't feel robbed of any sort of... time spent or page wasting. Maybe this is Layman learning; I'll find out soon enough. It's crazy to be halfway through this series already, but it's odd that it's only with this volume that the Chew I remember crystalizes. Even though Tony spends the entirety of this volume (mostly) on the periphery, this is the volume that has the guy who creates weapons out of chocolate, starts to introduce the intrigue of Olive, and paints a larger picture as to where this series seems to be going.
And of course, Toni. God. I love Toni.
3 stars for Major League
5 stars for Space Cakes
4 stars for average
I think this is the reason I gravitated so hard to Toni in the original run, and reading what comes after this (the Chew I remember in lucid waved) Toni's presence (or lack thereof) carries a strong weight through the entire rest of the series (as far as I can tell). She's a phenomenal character, and taking an entire arc away from Tony while he recuperates from the events of "Major League" to have five issues of fun and frolic with Toni... I find that I enjoyed it so much more here than I did in the initial reading.
Unsure what this has to say about Tony, but I always appreciate when a series goes off and explores some ancillary adventure that sidebars the main players. Exploring NASA is fun, seeing a madcap interlude towards Poyo is fun, seeing the relationships Toni doesn't build (Paneer, Caesar) is fantastic.
And it's weird. In the first half I complained about slowness, wasting my time with explaining Tony's powers, etc. But by the end there's such an insane economy of storytelling, it's wicked fast and terribly dense, but I don't feel robbed of any sort of... time spent or page wasting. Maybe this is Layman learning; I'll find out soon enough. It's crazy to be halfway through this series already, but it's odd that it's only with this volume that the Chew I remember crystalizes. Even though Tony spends the entirety of this volume (mostly) on the periphery, this is the volume that has the guy who creates weapons out of chocolate, starts to introduce the intrigue of Olive, and paints a larger picture as to where this series seems to be going.
And of course, Toni. God. I love Toni.
3 stars for Major League
5 stars for Space Cakes
4 stars for average
May 22, 2023
After teetering quite long on the edge between fun side stories and going off the rails, Chew's 5th and 6th story-arcs finally stumble that fine balance by being... just a bit too weird and random. While still fairly enjoyable to those who appreciate the artstyle and humor, the major questions the story so far has brought up seem to be ignored quite entirely in favor of just more.
Both arcs seem disconnected from the overarching story of Chew, which I thought to be quite good. Though it has branched out and expanded a lot from the very beginning, is the avian flu "real" and what caused it, it always felt something that was part of the world and the main story, whether it was chogs or the chicken-esque plants. Now, we have those that want to abuse Tony's powers in their own favor and just a ton more new foodrelated powers.
And as said, it's lighthearted fun but it does feel like a spin-off happening in the world of Chew instead of the main course that I had been hoping for. The previous stories, and the world at large, feel lesser now that neither Tony, his powers, or the avian flu are not that important anymore. I'm still hoping the story gets back on track and stays focused, as while this was fairly enjoyable, it was not what I had hoped to experience and learn from the world of Chew.
Both arcs seem disconnected from the overarching story of Chew, which I thought to be quite good. Though it has branched out and expanded a lot from the very beginning, is the avian flu "real" and what caused it, it always felt something that was part of the world and the main story, whether it was chogs or the chicken-esque plants. Now, we have those that want to abuse Tony's powers in their own favor and just a ton more new foodrelated powers.
And as said, it's lighthearted fun but it does feel like a spin-off happening in the world of Chew instead of the main course that I had been hoping for. The previous stories, and the world at large, feel lesser now that neither Tony, his powers, or the avian flu are not that important anymore. I'm still hoping the story gets back on track and stays focused, as while this was fairly enjoyable, it was not what I had hoped to experience and learn from the world of Chew.
May 12, 2023
(Zero spoiler review) 4.25/5
My oh my, I really kinda thought the quality might have dipped by now, but this series is still going strong. And quite frankly, is probably better than it has any right to be. I've mentioned a number of times in other reviews that 'silly' comics and stories are usually like some strange, mutant brain cell spermicide to me. But for some reason, Chew, despite being absurdly silly for the most part, still manages to tick all the boxes and keeps me coming back for more. Well crafted plots, great characters, some top tier artwork, all wrapped up in a charming and occasionally quite impactful little package. Whilst the lack of a couple of my favourite characters in this book did give my the slightest hint of sandy crotch syndrome, it at least made some amount of sense narratively. And as long as it corrects itself in the next arc, all will be right with the world. If you haven't been reading Chew, you really need to. 4.25/5
OmniBen.
My oh my, I really kinda thought the quality might have dipped by now, but this series is still going strong. And quite frankly, is probably better than it has any right to be. I've mentioned a number of times in other reviews that 'silly' comics and stories are usually like some strange, mutant brain cell spermicide to me. But for some reason, Chew, despite being absurdly silly for the most part, still manages to tick all the boxes and keeps me coming back for more. Well crafted plots, great characters, some top tier artwork, all wrapped up in a charming and occasionally quite impactful little package. Whilst the lack of a couple of my favourite characters in this book did give my the slightest hint of sandy crotch syndrome, it at least made some amount of sense narratively. And as long as it corrects itself in the next arc, all will be right with the world. If you haven't been reading Chew, you really need to. 4.25/5
OmniBen.
November 6, 2018
So. The main story about the Cibopath Agent Chu in the FDA after the chicken apocalypse is brilliantly absurd and super fun! Main characters are well written and the plot line is more or less in constant development.
Sadly the series as a whole is somewhat difficult to read due to psychedelic trips into nonsense.
The first 40ish isues of Chew are just excellent ranging from 4 to 5 stars - but around vol 8 the absurdist side stories about devilish cyberneticly enhanced fda animal agents takes the series a bit of a detour towards unreadable - maybe if you kick some of those psychedelic chogs you’d be able to keep up but alas - I didn’t have any available. Vol 11 / issues 49-55 remedy the nonsensical a bit and land on 3 stars but the last 10 issues are also marred with sporadic detours away from the center story about Agent Chu into Hell ect and land on 2 stars.
Sadly the series as a whole is somewhat difficult to read due to psychedelic trips into nonsense.
The first 40ish isues of Chew are just excellent ranging from 4 to 5 stars - but around vol 8 the absurdist side stories about devilish cyberneticly enhanced fda animal agents takes the series a bit of a detour towards unreadable - maybe if you kick some of those psychedelic chogs you’d be able to keep up but alas - I didn’t have any available. Vol 11 / issues 49-55 remedy the nonsensical a bit and land on 3 stars but the last 10 issues are also marred with sporadic detours away from the center story about Agent Chu into Hell ect and land on 2 stars.
November 11, 2020
The third Omnivore Edition of Chew contains Major League Chew and Space Cakes. In the former, the lead characters we've come to know are separated, each following their own path. After the second Omnivore Edition volume I felt a little let down by Major League Chew. I felt like it lacked the spark and pizzazz of the previous issues.
However Space Cakes was fantastic. Focused on Toni Chu, we learn more about her, including her personality and relationships with other characters in the series so far. Each short case that features in the individual chapters, or issues, is entertaining and the Space Cakes storyline, strong on its own, adds depth and emotion to the overall Chew narrative.
However Space Cakes was fantastic. Focused on Toni Chu, we learn more about her, including her personality and relationships with other characters in the series so far. Each short case that features in the individual chapters, or issues, is entertaining and the Space Cakes storyline, strong on its own, adds depth and emotion to the overall Chew narrative.
June 23, 2024
Chew is a terrific read. It does a great job of peeling back the silly side of the comic in general and exposing just how dark it is under the surface. There's only so much you can say about Chew without giving important bits away. As far as half-points go, this one is a doozy, and it's ultimately flawless in terms of execution or scope. The art remains strong, and one scene isn't as brutal as it could be, although it's still pretty grim. Layman and Guillory have expanded the core of the book without losing focus. They're not afraid to turn the series on a dime and branch off in new directions. It has served the book well for 30 issues, and here's hoping the next 30 are just as impactful and memorable.
April 28, 2021
This is where the series really takes a turn for the best. This collection has it all: the kidnapping and torture at the hands of a roid rage ex, intent on utilizing Chu’s talents for a book on the sex lives of former baseball players; the first Poyo solo adventure into hell and back; that shocking demise of Toni. It’s so funny and abruptly emotional; the components of the story fit so well when the characters of the universe interact with each other, really emphasizing their individual traits. It just keeps getting better and better from here on out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2017
I still can't get enough of the story or the artwork in CHEW., and volume three delivers. The CHEW universe expands in this volume. We get more characters and more complex relationships between the already established characters. Volume one introduced us to the world. Volume two took us on a nice tropical adventure (unless the vampire ate you). But volume three shows there's way more to this story than we've seen. The volume is called JUST DESSERTS, but we've only just finished the appetizer.
May 13, 2020
I kinda see its charm now. Just like those 90's cartoons where you think the premise is weird enough already but the episodes (or in this case the arcs) get much more weirder and goofy.. but in a good way.
There is a visible plotline or big picture but the smaller details dont make that much sense, in a whimsical kind of way- which is not a bad thing at all. The art style is also weirdly reminiscent of 90's to early 00's cartoons and matches the story perfectly
There is a visible plotline or big picture but the smaller details dont make that much sense, in a whimsical kind of way- which is not a bad thing at all. The art style is also weirdly reminiscent of 90's to early 00's cartoons and matches the story perfectly
October 11, 2018
Wow. The best Chew yet. The stars of the show: Amelia, Toni and the indestructible trillion dollar luchador rooster POYO! (get it?) I was shocked, and may have kinda thought about potentially shedding a tear. Why, Layman, why!? I mean, I get it: the "vamp" is basically , but... geeze. WHY!? Oh for cryin out loud, where are the @!$#% tissues....
March 3, 2024
Reading all of the chews. The omnivore hardback editions are beautiful. It’s such an insane and interesting story, which unfolds perfectly across the entire series. A world of cibopaths (individuals who get psychic impressions from things they eat) and a whole host of other food-related superpowers. At its heart it’s a crime thriller, perfectly told and depicted.
December 26, 2017
The story has been violent all along but it became tragic in this one I’m going to miss Toni. Would like to get more of Olive’s story. Loved the extra mini story at the end lots of cool art showing off Ray’s talent
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2017
I always hate losing a good character but I still love the series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2018
Loving the journey
October 14, 2018
Wonderful series that I can’t wait to keep following. Funny, entertaining and unique.
April 30, 2019
I approve of all the Poyo content.
POYO!
POYO!
May 13, 2019
Мясо, каннибализм, суперспособности и конечно спецагент Пойо - киберпетух!
November 9, 2019
Great series! No matter how far ahead I think I'm getting they've always got a surprise waiting for me. Love it
November 25, 2019
Noooo Toni...!!! Why??!!?!?!?!
December 11, 2019
It just gets better and better! I loved this volume’s twists and turns!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews