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Farmhand #1-5
Farmhand, Vol. 1: Reap What Was Sown
Jedidiah Jenkins is a farmer--but his cash crop isn't corn or soy. Jed grows fast-healing, plug-and-play human organs. Lose a finger? Need a new liver? He's got you covered. Unfortunately, strange produce isn't the only thing Jed's got buried. Deep in the soil of the Jenkins Family Farm, something dark has taken root, and it's beginning to bloom. From ROB GUILLORY, Eisner-winning co-creator and artist of Image Comics' CHEW, comes a new dark comedy about science gone sinister and agriculture gone apocalyptic. Nature is a Mother...
Collects FARMHAND #1-5.
Collects FARMHAND #1-5.
152 pages, Paperback
First published January 22, 2019
36 people are currently reading
955 people want to read
About the author
Rob Guillory
209 books167 followersBorn, raised and currently based in Lafayette, Louisiana, Rob Guillory is most known for his art on Image Comics' longrunning series CHEW. Written by John Layman, the book has achieved much success, winning two Harvey Awards (including Best New Talent for Guillory) and two Eisner Awards (Best New Series in 2010 and Best Continuing Series in 2011).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
January 24, 2019
things are aFOOT!!
review TK
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hello, you! welcome back! now gimmie gimmie gimmie!
review TK
**************************************
hello, you! welcome back! now gimmie gimmie gimmie!
December 12, 2018
Old Jedidiah had a farm,
E-I-E-I-O,
And on that farm he grew some human body parts,
… Eeeeeeeeee!
Jedidiah Jenkins has figgered out a way to grow human body parts, like crops, on his farm, ready for transplantation. Surprisingly, there’s some controversy around his franken-farming and he has to contend with multiple rivals in the form of industrial espionage, jelly rednecks, demented former colleagues and the gosh-dern-gov’mint! And then there’s the problem with his crops – they’re… changing… their new owners…!
Chew artist Rob Guillory writes and draws his first creator-owned Image series, Farmhand, and it’s not bad but you can tell Guillory isn’t the most experienced writer from the somewhat clumsy execution of the story. The main problem for me was the lack of focus in general.
There’s a lot of characters: Jed, the mercurial patriarch of the Jenkins family who walks the line between hero and villain a la Walter White; his estranged son Zeke (essentially Guillory, being a black thirtysomething comics artist) and his family; Andrea, his daughter and business partner who’s got some secrets; and a whole mess of others. But who’s the protagonist – who’re we meant to be rooting for?
Which segues into the unclear overall storyline. What exactly are the characters’ storylines/motivations/goals? Zeke wants to reconnect with his dad – is that it? Jed’s… chuntling along with his organ-growing, easily dealing with the occasional problem? Andrea’s up to something but… why? And the others – eh, they got nothing. I suppose Monica Thorne, the elderly Poison Ivy, is the villain but only because that’s how she’s framed – I’m not really sure why she’s the villain though. Or even why the organs turning on its transplantees are a bad thing – are they shortening their lives? Turning them into monsters? One dog gets monstrified but nobody else is affected quite so dramatically so was that a freak one-off?
Guillory hints at sinister goings-on but doesn’t really give any real reason to the reader what the implications are. And then there’s the overall lack of anything happening. Besides the monster dog and an attempted abduction, it’s an entire book of table-setting which doesn’t even set the table all that well!
That said, it’s great to see Guillory’s art again. It was arguably the best part of Chew and his style is remarkably eye-catching, imaginative and playful (not to mention the gleefully sarky comments inserted in the backgrounds!). In what I’ll generously call a “storyline”, Zeke’s kid sees this weird caterpillar dog everywhere, which goes nowhere but the caterpillar dog design is so delightful, I can easily see this being the next Chog fans will want to buy toys/plushies of. If nothing else, Guillory has a bright future as a toy designer!
And I don’t want to seem too down on the writing. There weren’t any obvious clunkers in the dialogue and, while I didn’t feel that strongly toward any of the characters or was all that taken by the premise, I wasn’t that bored and parts of it were entertaining.
It’s a little shaky and feels like an average opening episode to an average TV show, but Farmhand, Volume 1: Reap What Was Sown is an ok read and the series could well grow into something great – or not.
E-I-E-I-O,
And on that farm he grew some human body parts,
… Eeeeeeeeee!
Jedidiah Jenkins has figgered out a way to grow human body parts, like crops, on his farm, ready for transplantation. Surprisingly, there’s some controversy around his franken-farming and he has to contend with multiple rivals in the form of industrial espionage, jelly rednecks, demented former colleagues and the gosh-dern-gov’mint! And then there’s the problem with his crops – they’re… changing… their new owners…!
Chew artist Rob Guillory writes and draws his first creator-owned Image series, Farmhand, and it’s not bad but you can tell Guillory isn’t the most experienced writer from the somewhat clumsy execution of the story. The main problem for me was the lack of focus in general.
There’s a lot of characters: Jed, the mercurial patriarch of the Jenkins family who walks the line between hero and villain a la Walter White; his estranged son Zeke (essentially Guillory, being a black thirtysomething comics artist) and his family; Andrea, his daughter and business partner who’s got some secrets; and a whole mess of others. But who’s the protagonist – who’re we meant to be rooting for?
Which segues into the unclear overall storyline. What exactly are the characters’ storylines/motivations/goals? Zeke wants to reconnect with his dad – is that it? Jed’s… chuntling along with his organ-growing, easily dealing with the occasional problem? Andrea’s up to something but… why? And the others – eh, they got nothing. I suppose Monica Thorne, the elderly Poison Ivy, is the villain but only because that’s how she’s framed – I’m not really sure why she’s the villain though. Or even why the organs turning on its transplantees are a bad thing – are they shortening their lives? Turning them into monsters? One dog gets monstrified but nobody else is affected quite so dramatically so was that a freak one-off?
Guillory hints at sinister goings-on but doesn’t really give any real reason to the reader what the implications are. And then there’s the overall lack of anything happening. Besides the monster dog and an attempted abduction, it’s an entire book of table-setting which doesn’t even set the table all that well!
That said, it’s great to see Guillory’s art again. It was arguably the best part of Chew and his style is remarkably eye-catching, imaginative and playful (not to mention the gleefully sarky comments inserted in the backgrounds!). In what I’ll generously call a “storyline”, Zeke’s kid sees this weird caterpillar dog everywhere, which goes nowhere but the caterpillar dog design is so delightful, I can easily see this being the next Chog fans will want to buy toys/plushies of. If nothing else, Guillory has a bright future as a toy designer!
And I don’t want to seem too down on the writing. There weren’t any obvious clunkers in the dialogue and, while I didn’t feel that strongly toward any of the characters or was all that taken by the premise, I wasn’t that bored and parts of it were entertaining.
It’s a little shaky and feels like an average opening episode to an average TV show, but Farmhand, Volume 1: Reap What Was Sown is an ok read and the series could well grow into something great – or not.
October 21, 2020
This was an absolutely fantastic first volume, and I can't wait to continue this series. It's a great mix of horror, dystopia, and humor, with a really fun art style — and, most of all, an extremely intriguing storyline that I can't say I've read anything quite like in the past. The whole idea of this literal farm of body parts is creepy enough on its own, but you've got to know going into it that nothing is going to go the way it should, right...? Plus, the characters are just so much damn fun.
November 12, 2018
Rob Guillory, the artist best known for drawing Chew, is back as both the writer and the artist on his latest Image series, Farmhand. I usually try to avoid the works of artists who turn writers since that usually doesn’t work out very well, but I was so into Chew (well, most of it, anyway) that I had to give Farmhand a read.
At its core, Farmhand is a family drama set on an innovative farm where Jed, the oldest of the Jenkins family, is farming trees that can grow human organs. These miraculous organs don’t require any matching, surgery or physical therapy, they simply attach to humans, match their skin tone and that’s that. Of course, such a business attracts a lot of attention from all sorts of people from politicians to criminals, which causes a lot of problems for Jed, his children and their families.
Farmhand has an interesting premise, and Guillory has a solid grip on all of his characters, each of them has something going on. The cast is quite big and will require a couple of issues to remember who is who, but the family dynamics and interactions are the heart of the book and are pretty fun to follow. Guillory shows that he's a capable writer in his own right, especially considering that this is his writing debut.
Tone-wise, Farmhand is a bit of a mess though. Guillory is going for a Chew-like mix of comedy, drama, thriller and mystery, but he doesn’t always juggle all of those as well as they did with John Layman on Chew. Farmhand is usually funny when it needs to be and serious when the story requires, but occasionally there are moments that stick like a sore thumb. What personally bothered me the most was that there was an uncomfortable amount of gratuitous animal violence which often felt out of place and unnecessarily over the top, though I enjoyed the rest of the story enough that it didn’t ruin the book for me. Still, not cool.
What is cool about Farmhand is Guillory’s artwork. Those who read Chew know exactly what to expect from it — expressive characters with fun designs, a lot of attention to detail, tons of background gags and jokes, inventive paneling and overall a delightful look that comes with its own specific tone and feel.
Overall, Farmhand is a strong debut for Rob Guillory as a writer and a welcome comeback for him as an artist. For anybody who was waiting for the spiritual successor to Chew, Farmhand is the one. Here's to hoping that it can get even better in the future.
At its core, Farmhand is a family drama set on an innovative farm where Jed, the oldest of the Jenkins family, is farming trees that can grow human organs. These miraculous organs don’t require any matching, surgery or physical therapy, they simply attach to humans, match their skin tone and that’s that. Of course, such a business attracts a lot of attention from all sorts of people from politicians to criminals, which causes a lot of problems for Jed, his children and their families.
Farmhand has an interesting premise, and Guillory has a solid grip on all of his characters, each of them has something going on. The cast is quite big and will require a couple of issues to remember who is who, but the family dynamics and interactions are the heart of the book and are pretty fun to follow. Guillory shows that he's a capable writer in his own right, especially considering that this is his writing debut.
Tone-wise, Farmhand is a bit of a mess though. Guillory is going for a Chew-like mix of comedy, drama, thriller and mystery, but he doesn’t always juggle all of those as well as they did with John Layman on Chew. Farmhand is usually funny when it needs to be and serious when the story requires, but occasionally there are moments that stick like a sore thumb. What personally bothered me the most was that there was an uncomfortable amount of gratuitous animal violence which often felt out of place and unnecessarily over the top, though I enjoyed the rest of the story enough that it didn’t ruin the book for me. Still, not cool.
What is cool about Farmhand is Guillory’s artwork. Those who read Chew know exactly what to expect from it — expressive characters with fun designs, a lot of attention to detail, tons of background gags and jokes, inventive paneling and overall a delightful look that comes with its own specific tone and feel.
Overall, Farmhand is a strong debut for Rob Guillory as a writer and a welcome comeback for him as an artist. For anybody who was waiting for the spiritual successor to Chew, Farmhand is the one. Here's to hoping that it can get even better in the future.
February 8, 2025
A farmer growing human organs and body parts!
February 13, 2019
Imagine if you can grow new parts of people on plants? Like you need a new arm? No problem, let me cut that off my tree and give it to you.
This is a story about a family trying to come together once more. The Jenkins family was ripped apart when the father went into the business of growing organs. His son left and now years and years later, with a family of his own, he tries to fix that. What's happening though behind the scenes as others are trying to sabotage the Jenkins family farm? You'll have to find out by reading this!
Good: The art is solid and pretty funny but at the same time can bring out the horror of the series. That's pretty tough to do. The dialogue can change from endearing to comedy in a second and works pretty well without feeling forced. Enough mystery in the series to make me want a volume 2.
Bad: The pacing is a little off with some huge exposition dumps throughout. I also didn't love the comedy and nothing really made me do much more than a smirk. The ending is interesting though kind of like "That's where we're going to end?"
Overall, good, but not great. It's very different than anything else I've read so that's a plus. I'll hit it with a 3 out of 5.
This is a story about a family trying to come together once more. The Jenkins family was ripped apart when the father went into the business of growing organs. His son left and now years and years later, with a family of his own, he tries to fix that. What's happening though behind the scenes as others are trying to sabotage the Jenkins family farm? You'll have to find out by reading this!
Good: The art is solid and pretty funny but at the same time can bring out the horror of the series. That's pretty tough to do. The dialogue can change from endearing to comedy in a second and works pretty well without feeling forced. Enough mystery in the series to make me want a volume 2.
Bad: The pacing is a little off with some huge exposition dumps throughout. I also didn't love the comedy and nothing really made me do much more than a smirk. The ending is interesting though kind of like "That's where we're going to end?"
Overall, good, but not great. It's very different than anything else I've read so that's a plus. I'll hit it with a 3 out of 5.
October 12, 2023
Four volumes in and I'm still adoring this horror / sci-fi / magic series about a Black family who owns a farm that grows plug-and-play human organs. If you're in the mood for something off the wall, but with suspense AND creepiness AND emotional layers about parents and children, give Farmhand a try.
November 27, 2022
I see that Old Jedidiah grows a lot of things on his farm, yet one thing I can’t seem to find are all the cares I’m supposed to give.
If a story could ever be the embodiment of “what?!” then this was it. The storyline was so all over the place that none of the events seemed connected or important or worth the time I spent reading about them.
The concept was cool but the art style was odd and the potential was wasted by the lack of purpose. I do feel as though the story might improve in the next vol, but I’m not sure if I’m willing to endure another volume like this if it turns out that’s not the case.
If a story could ever be the embodiment of “what?!” then this was it. The storyline was so all over the place that none of the events seemed connected or important or worth the time I spent reading about them.
The concept was cool but the art style was odd and the potential was wasted by the lack of purpose. I do feel as though the story might improve in the next vol, but I’m not sure if I’m willing to endure another volume like this if it turns out that’s not the case.
February 2, 2019
Very Chew-like in its wacky goriness. Love the art. But needs more humor.
August 18, 2019
So there's this farmer. Instead of growing corn or soy or food stuff, he grows organs. Human organs.
This graphic novel is the tale of said farmer and his family, some estranged, with corporate espionage and creepy horror stuff thrown in for good measure. I really liked the art and the diversity on the page, but the humor doesn't shine, the plotting is rather uneven, and it ended at a strange spot. Good enough that I'll read the next installment.
This graphic novel is the tale of said farmer and his family, some estranged, with corporate espionage and creepy horror stuff thrown in for good measure. I really liked the art and the diversity on the page, but the humor doesn't shine, the plotting is rather uneven, and it ended at a strange spot. Good enough that I'll read the next installment.
June 14, 2021
Well that was different!
June 13, 2021
Zeke Jenkins had a falling out with his dad a few years ago. Now he‘s taking the family back to the farm and his old hometown to make up and find a new/old place to live.
Which is a bit odd, because his father is growing body parts on that farm...
Can you hear the zombies shuffling along in the background? This has to turn into something really weird, right? Well, not just yet... The body parts are grown for a good purpose: to heal people and replace those lost body parts...
Issue/Chapter #1 was mostly introductions and a little set-up and Issue #2 started with a little backstory on Zeke‘s youth. Things started to become interesting and moved in unexpected directions. No zombies in sight…. but other strange things made an appearance. Mutations, anyone? And not just plants… However, towards the end of Issue #5 this was seriously lacking in narrative tension and my mind kept wandering off. Nice ominous ending though, that might tempt me into picking up the next book.
I liked the artwork.
This read is part of my attempt to clear my TBR pile of owned books and my #ReadBIPOC2021 challenge (entry for June).
Which is a bit odd, because his father is growing body parts on that farm...
Can you hear the zombies shuffling along in the background? This has to turn into something really weird, right? Well, not just yet... The body parts are grown for a good purpose: to heal people and replace those lost body parts...
Issue/Chapter #1 was mostly introductions and a little set-up and Issue #2 started with a little backstory on Zeke‘s youth. Things started to become interesting and moved in unexpected directions. No zombies in sight…. but other strange things made an appearance. Mutations, anyone? And not just plants… However, towards the end of Issue #5 this was seriously lacking in narrative tension and my mind kept wandering off. Nice ominous ending though, that might tempt me into picking up the next book.
I liked the artwork.
This read is part of my attempt to clear my TBR pile of owned books and my #ReadBIPOC2021 challenge (entry for June).
August 3, 2019
The same great art style as he drew in "Chew", this time with a story he wrote himself that bends a little more towards weird horror than "Chew", but still with plenty of humor.
A failed creole farmer in South Louisiana finds success growing plants that produce spare body parts. There are complications....
A failed creole farmer in South Louisiana finds success growing plants that produce spare body parts. There are complications....
March 1, 2019
Farmhand is a new ongoing series by Rob Guillory (artist on Chew) and the over-the-top craziness is making Farmhand kinda simillar. So if you are a fan of Chew (I am not), you'll most likely love it.
Anyways Jedediah Jenkins has a farm where he grows spare human body parts. His business draws a lot of attention from various groups like international spies or Louisiana rednecks. And there is a pretty good reason for that because some odd shit is happening around from time to time.
Also, his son is getting back to town after some time away and he's trying to fix their relationship cause apparently, some bad shit went down in the past (we get only a glimpse of that).
The first 5 issues don't really show much. They are establishing the world, introducing the characters and hinting some stuff from the past. Do not expect to understand everything after reading the first volume but the world and its characters are well written. ANd of course, there is plenty of humor, action and crazy ideas.
I'll be back for Vol. 2 but right now it's not enough for 4*.
Anyways Jedediah Jenkins has a farm where he grows spare human body parts. His business draws a lot of attention from various groups like international spies or Louisiana rednecks. And there is a pretty good reason for that because some odd shit is happening around from time to time.
Also, his son is getting back to town after some time away and he's trying to fix their relationship cause apparently, some bad shit went down in the past (we get only a glimpse of that).
The first 5 issues don't really show much. They are establishing the world, introducing the characters and hinting some stuff from the past. Do not expect to understand everything after reading the first volume but the world and its characters are well written. ANd of course, there is plenty of humor, action and crazy ideas.
I'll be back for Vol. 2 but right now it's not enough for 4*.
January 15, 2019
The artwork is wacky and gorgeous but something about the story didnt feel like it ever got going. I also found there were too many characters and very dialgoue heavy, with some dialogue unnecessary for the movement of the plot.
November 1, 2019
Läskigt bra! 👁
February 1, 2019
An intriguing premise, bright, distinct artwork, and a gruesome but comedic undertone, Farmhand Volume One has a lot going for it.
Writer Ezekiel returns home near his family’s farm after an unspecified fallout with his father years earlier, his wife and two children in tow. The Jenkins Family Farm is now a ‘Farmaceutical Institute’ where the family business is in growing crops of human organs, limbs, teeth, and more.
Filled with humorous dialogue and characters, we quickly discover there may be more of a sinister undertone to the farm’s seemingly good intentions.
Encompassing the first five comic issues of Farmhand, despite this multi-issue inclusion, Volume One still feels like it doesn’t quite get off the starting block. We have so many strands of stories being introduced, alongside countless characters who we don’t have the space and time dedicated to letting us get to know them better...it leaves us feeling like we’ve barely got started as the first volume comes to a close, and readers are bound to lose track of some of the plot threads that are started but remain (within this volume) unexplored.
Along with the slow pacing in places, fairly early on, we have an awful ‘and it was all a dream...or was it?’ cliché that at this point, can’t help but seem cheap and overdone.
Overall, an intriguing (if slow) read, with a great premise and a strong blend of comedy and sci-fi/horror elements. I look forward to reading the next volume.
Writer Ezekiel returns home near his family’s farm after an unspecified fallout with his father years earlier, his wife and two children in tow. The Jenkins Family Farm is now a ‘Farmaceutical Institute’ where the family business is in growing crops of human organs, limbs, teeth, and more.
Filled with humorous dialogue and characters, we quickly discover there may be more of a sinister undertone to the farm’s seemingly good intentions.
Encompassing the first five comic issues of Farmhand, despite this multi-issue inclusion, Volume One still feels like it doesn’t quite get off the starting block. We have so many strands of stories being introduced, alongside countless characters who we don’t have the space and time dedicated to letting us get to know them better...it leaves us feeling like we’ve barely got started as the first volume comes to a close, and readers are bound to lose track of some of the plot threads that are started but remain (within this volume) unexplored.
Along with the slow pacing in places, fairly early on, we have an awful ‘and it was all a dream...or was it?’ cliché that at this point, can’t help but seem cheap and overdone.
Overall, an intriguing (if slow) read, with a great premise and a strong blend of comedy and sci-fi/horror elements. I look forward to reading the next volume.
September 15, 2024
I absolutely love Rob Guillory’s work! I read Chew years ago and enjoyed the story lines. Now that I started this series I know that I’m going to be in for a wild ride. The main characters are a family that have problems but you actually learn to love them because they all feel very human and real. The story itself and the concept are pretty original. I’m starting volume 2 immediately because I’m so invested in the story.
Also, pay attention to the illustrations fully because you will see some funny stuff in the background.
Also, pay attention to the illustrations fully because you will see some funny stuff in the background.
October 24, 2020
It's all over the place. I have no idea who I'm supposed to care about, so I end up not caring about any of the characters, or about any of the things that happens to them. And I don't like the art.
February 18, 2024
This was suggested to me. I was nervous yet my interests were peaked when I saw the farm and the relationship between dad and son.
Jedidiah Jenkins created and cultivates a farm of human parts. He is “healing” the residents of his town, yet changing the DNA make up as well. The mystery behind his wife’s death leads to a break in the relationship with his son and a war injury changes his daughter. Volume 1 has been interesting.
The illustrations are beautiful and very grotesque at the same time. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Jedidiah Jenkins created and cultivates a farm of human parts. He is “healing” the residents of his town, yet changing the DNA make up as well. The mystery behind his wife’s death leads to a break in the relationship with his son and a war injury changes his daughter. Volume 1 has been interesting.
The illustrations are beautiful and very grotesque at the same time. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
January 12, 2020
A dark and imaginative science fiction tale. For me, this was a very original graphic novel that explore a medical break through and its impact on a family. The plot line was great and the art was beautiful. I really am enjoying how they are exploring different aspects of how this breakthrough could impact this family, this world, and their relationships with each other and others. Like I said, this a dark one and I can see it getting even more grim. I can't wait to jump into the next volume.
November 27, 2018
3.5 stars
Though not the best, this was a pretty decent book with an intriguing (and somewhat original) concept. Can't wait to see where it goes next
Though not the best, this was a pretty decent book with an intriguing (and somewhat original) concept. Can't wait to see where it goes next
September 30, 2019
MYCKET BRA
April 1, 2023
Bio-SF/Horror graphic novel about a farmer who grows body parts for transplants.
July 19, 2020
I'm not really sure what to make of this. Zeke returns home to make peace with his dad only to find that his dad's business has changed somewhat. He no longer has a little failing farm, because years ago he had a dream and in that dream he saw a formula that showed him how to grow body parts.
The comic is tonally all over the map and never coalesces into a story. These first 5 issues all feel like setup for something else with a shocking lack of coherence or substantial character development. I just never felt invested or even particularly interested. I'll probably read the next one though, both because I have it anyway and because I would like to see if the author ever does anything with the chessboard he's been setting up.
The comic is tonally all over the map and never coalesces into a story. These first 5 issues all feel like setup for something else with a shocking lack of coherence or substantial character development. I just never felt invested or even particularly interested. I'll probably read the next one though, both because I have it anyway and because I would like to see if the author ever does anything with the chessboard he's been setting up.
January 16, 2019
Another hit from 2018!
This book was a really fun and creepy experience. At first I thought it was gonna be more serious but really it had me giggling instead. There were a few panels that I'd just looked at and busted out laughing, its pretty great. But just because its funny, doesnt make it any less spooky. A man moves his family back to his hometown so they can all work on the family farm. Only its no normal farm, this farm grows human body parts! Is it man, science, or something even more sinister thats brought this miracle to this small rural town? Dont expect too many answers in this book, it all feels like a big set up for the next arch. And actually, my complaint for this book would be that it seems they got the "okay' for a longer series in the middle of this story and switched gears accordingly. Nothing wrong with that, it just feels like a long intro because of it. Super excited to see where this story goes.
This book was a really fun and creepy experience. At first I thought it was gonna be more serious but really it had me giggling instead. There were a few panels that I'd just looked at and busted out laughing, its pretty great. But just because its funny, doesnt make it any less spooky. A man moves his family back to his hometown so they can all work on the family farm. Only its no normal farm, this farm grows human body parts! Is it man, science, or something even more sinister thats brought this miracle to this small rural town? Dont expect too many answers in this book, it all feels like a big set up for the next arch. And actually, my complaint for this book would be that it seems they got the "okay' for a longer series in the middle of this story and switched gears accordingly. Nothing wrong with that, it just feels like a long intro because of it. Super excited to see where this story goes.
January 22, 2019
Another reason to go vegan. Macabre fun.
February 13, 2019
Hoo boy, this book is a wild ride. Family secrets, political drama, disabled Russian child spies; Rob Guillory’s “Farmhand” has a little bit of something for everyone, and those things are just the subplot stuff. The main plot is about a farm that grows human limbs, organs, and other bits and pieces for transplantation. Like I said, it’s a wild ride.
“Farmhand” follows Zeke Jenkins and his family as they move back to his boyhood hometown, which has become a lively technological haven thanks to Zeke’s estranged father, Jedidiah, the creator of a miracle seed. Crafted via divine inspiration, the seed is a stem cell-like botanical that has the ability to adapt to and replicate all kinds of missing body parts, a variety of which Jedidiah grows on his fortress-like farm. It becomes clearer as the comic goes on, however, that there’s a dire cost associated with the Jenkins family’s breakthrough. “Farmhand” is labeled a horror comic and sure, there are some gruesome body horror moments, but these first five issues really have more of a mystery/drama kind of feel; maybe the horror elements will emerge more as the series goes on. Guillory’s art has a rubbery, stylized Jim Mahfood-y feel which works well with the brisk, upbeat, and very funny tone of the book. His character designs are fresh, animated, and unique while he smartly balances those cartoon-ish qualities with mature themes about family strife, religion, etc. No doubt it’s a fun book but Guillory definitely has more than slapstick gags on his mind.
It’s hard to critique too much about “Farmhand” because this first volume feels like an extended prologue, just setting the stage for future craziness. I love that Image Comics publishes these collections for $9.99 (that’s a bargain!) but part of me wishes they’d include a few more issues to really get the story humming along, even if it meant paying another $5 or whatever. Regardless, I’ll definitely be buying the next volume because “Farmhand” is the kind of wild ride that I don’t want to get off of.
“Farmhand” follows Zeke Jenkins and his family as they move back to his boyhood hometown, which has become a lively technological haven thanks to Zeke’s estranged father, Jedidiah, the creator of a miracle seed. Crafted via divine inspiration, the seed is a stem cell-like botanical that has the ability to adapt to and replicate all kinds of missing body parts, a variety of which Jedidiah grows on his fortress-like farm. It becomes clearer as the comic goes on, however, that there’s a dire cost associated with the Jenkins family’s breakthrough. “Farmhand” is labeled a horror comic and sure, there are some gruesome body horror moments, but these first five issues really have more of a mystery/drama kind of feel; maybe the horror elements will emerge more as the series goes on. Guillory’s art has a rubbery, stylized Jim Mahfood-y feel which works well with the brisk, upbeat, and very funny tone of the book. His character designs are fresh, animated, and unique while he smartly balances those cartoon-ish qualities with mature themes about family strife, religion, etc. No doubt it’s a fun book but Guillory definitely has more than slapstick gags on his mind.
It’s hard to critique too much about “Farmhand” because this first volume feels like an extended prologue, just setting the stage for future craziness. I love that Image Comics publishes these collections for $9.99 (that’s a bargain!) but part of me wishes they’d include a few more issues to really get the story humming along, even if it meant paying another $5 or whatever. Regardless, I’ll definitely be buying the next volume because “Farmhand” is the kind of wild ride that I don’t want to get off of.
March 21, 2019
I was wondering how much responsibility Rob Gulliroy should take for all the fucked up shit in
Chew
... based on this book, it seems like all of it. Chew was batshit insane, but this cranks it up to eleven.
I loved Gulliroy's art right from the beginning... it was so unique and cartoony, which is perfect for the wackiness of both the Chew and Farmhand universes. But the part I love the most is when there's a fairly emotionally intense moment and Gulliroy always nails it in a way you wouldn't expect because of the style... it always makes it even more impactful.
I like the characters a lot, there feels like a lot of truth in them, and based on the setting and physical similarity between the artist and protagonist I suspect Gulliroy is drawing on some part of his own life... although if it turns out his dad is farming human parts for transplanting it would explain a lot about his drawing style.... and hilariously weird sense of humour.
It's too early to say whether this will be as good as Chew ended up, but it's definitely heading in the right direction.
I loved Gulliroy's art right from the beginning... it was so unique and cartoony, which is perfect for the wackiness of both the Chew and Farmhand universes. But the part I love the most is when there's a fairly emotionally intense moment and Gulliroy always nails it in a way you wouldn't expect because of the style... it always makes it even more impactful.
I like the characters a lot, there feels like a lot of truth in them, and based on the setting and physical similarity between the artist and protagonist I suspect Gulliroy is drawing on some part of his own life... although if it turns out his dad is farming human parts for transplanting it would explain a lot about his drawing style.... and hilariously weird sense of humour.
It's too early to say whether this will be as good as Chew ended up, but it's definitely heading in the right direction.
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