And so we come to the finale of the “Chicken Tenders” arc of Chew, a game-changing and shocking arc in so many different ways.
Last issue was no exception, so let’s see how it all comes to a close. Is it good?
Chew #45 (Image Comics)
It’s the aftermath of the FDA assault on the Collector’s hideout and things aren’t looking good for just about every single person who went there; in fact, most of them are just lucky to be alive. If not for help from NASA, things could have been worse. So… what now for our heroes?
As with last issue, I won’t dare say what happens in this comic. This is yet another issue that changes a lot of things, whether it be the characters or the story going forward. There is still plenty of payoff for the events that have been building and answers plenty of the questions that have most likely been floating inside of our heads for a while. The story is not nearly as intense as last time, but it is nevertheless shocking and devastating (especially the ending, which I had to read twice to fully make sure I was seeing what I was seeing).
Yeah, that’s kind of what I felt like saying at the end.
John Layman’s writing remains incredibly strong. The characterization is on point for everyone, with excellent dialogue and just about every bit making perfect sense to help you get wrapped up each characters’ situation (I especially like how this issue tied all the way back to issues #29 and #30). The only exception to this is a character moment at the very end — it honestly doesn’t make much sense to as to why the person did what they did, but perhaps more light will be shed on the subject next time around. The emotion and drama of the book are still very strong and handled very well, the only downside being that the drama interferes a bit with the bits of humor in the book (which are still amusing) and seems a bit overwhelming at times. Hopefully the overall tone of the book isn’t altered going forward too much. Overall though, this is another issue that hits it out of the ballpark in the writing department.
The artwork by Rob Guillory is amazing like usual. The characters look great and their expressions and body language are portrayed expertly. The layouts are decent and the imagery is as vivid as it always is, as Guillory knows exactly when to make something really jump off the page with emphasis. Of course, the bits of background humor and minor details/gags are still great and are able to elicit some good laughs, even during the more heavy moments.
Is It Good?
Chew #45 is a game-changer and one hell of a way to end the arc on. The writing is better than it has ever been, the characters and drama are strong, the ending is jaw-dropping, and the artwork is stunning like always. Just what is there left to say at this point? Chew is amazing and with the next arc on the horizon, I looking forward to it a lot.
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