The mechanically enhanced rooster, Poyo, is back and ready to kick major butt. First imagined within the pages of Chew, John Layman and Rob Guillory bring us a one-shot of the killer secret agent, and Major Spoilers has your review here.
Secret Agent Poyo One-Shot
Writer: John Layman
Artist: Rob Guillory
Letterer: John Layman
Color Assists: Taylor Wells
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
Previously in Secret Agent Poyo: Many say Poyo came into existence by being exposed to near-lethal amounts of radiation while still in his egg; that he was trained in martial arts by Tibetan kung fu monks; that he was given bio-enhancements while abducted by extra-terrestrials. But all of that is false. Poyo is just a really, really badass rooster.
FUNNIEST ISSUE YET?
If you keep up with all things Chew, then you saw Rob Guillory showed his art process for the first page of this one-shot, which is Poyo on the operating table being brought back to life by a team of doctors. That’s all well and good, but upon turning the page I knew this could be the greatest issue of Chew to date. For on page two, we are taken to a place Chew has never been before. Hell. Yes, Poyo is in Hell fighting off hellhounds and the malevolent Beelzebub himself before he returns to the land of the living.
Brilliant, but it gets better.
Poyo is recruited to join forces with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in England to stop Dr. Albrecht Regenbogen. Regenbogen has figured out how to literally make it rain cats and dogs, but leans more towards farm animals for his downpours. The Doctor is clearly in cahoots with E.G.G. agents, even though it is never stated.
Honestly, the plot of the issue makes no difference, the fact that they are able to tell a tale this zany is the real point (but yes, Poyo does fly through Regenbogen’s head making quite a mess). The other fantastic part of Secret Agent Poyo is all the in-jokes Layman throws into the script. For instance: in Poyo’s case file we learn he was apart of the Viltrumite Interstellar Mustache Wars. There are a few other instances of this that are well integrated; making me think Layman should be the architect for DC or Marvel’s next cross-over extravaganza.
LOOK AT THE BACKGROUNDS
Some comics have highly detailed backgrounds to build up the surrounding world, others use almost no background to keep the attention up front, but Rob Guillory uses his backgrounds to makes jokes. The best way he does this is by inserting real-life pictures with an in-frame caption to sell the bit. Osama bin Laden and Michael Bay make appearances this issue by being depicted in Hell’s Hall of Fame. The main story-telling art is entertaining and well done as always from Guillory, just keep your eyes on the background so you don’t miss anything.
BOTTOM LINE: FIGHT FOR IT
I mean this. If there is but a single copy of Secret Agent Poyo at your LCS, it’s time to call Michael Buffer, oil up your body, and get ready to rumble because you need this issue. Layman and Guillory crafted an issue that brings what makes Chew the success that it is and take it up, at least, three notches. If you come into Poyo being a fan of Chew, you will love it. If you pick this up without knowing anything about Chew, well, you may think these two need locked up. They don’t, I promise. Secret Agent Poyo is a piece of work and earns 5 out of 5 stars.
