Tastes Like Chicken, Reads Like Tofu! Get it? It’s funny, right?

That’s exactly why I don’t write humorous greeting cards, or one-panel comic strips. I’m a funny guy, but looks aren’t everything. (Ba-da-bing!)

Josh Alves is a bit better at this type of humor than I am. He tries hard to be, and occasionally he succeeds. His art style is really perfect for this kind of comic strip – characters types reminiscent of The Far Side without being slavishly imitative, cleaner lines than Rhymes With Orange, less repetitive jokes than The Lockhorns.

And yet, I only found myself laughing about a quarter of the time. Most of the panels in the archive went by quickly with not even a slight chuckle. Comments on the pages show that somebody – many somebodies – is/are laughing and laughing a lot. I wish I could say I was.

The visual jokes seem to work the best for me, like this one as do the puns like this one (no surprise there, since I’ve already stated how much of an art form I think puns are). When the two combine, like here I really chuckled.

I also enjoyed the recurring appearance of the Potato Heads. Almost everyone who does this kind of humor finds a way to use Mr. Potato Head and his clan. So far, they’ve made I think four appearances, with this one - perhaps the funniest - and this one with the most promise but weakest execution.

There are the requisite comic book references, too, but they mostly fall short of the mark, as with one about Superman.
Overall, I think TLC is a comic I’ll check back on occasionally, and I’m sure some of you will enjoy it more than I did. Especially if you like your comics complete with a strong environmental message. Rating:

Tastes Like Chicken
http://tasteslikechicken.smackjeeves.com/
by Josh Alves
Reviewed by Anthony R. Cardno
(2 votes, average: 4 out of 5)

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The website self describes the comic this way:
‘A weekly panel comic offering my unique take on things people might describe as ordinary or as “tasting like chicken”. Updated every Wednesday!‘

Chicken is a full color comic that takes our daily existence and shows us how silly it is. There are plays on words and random thoughts that all of us have had. What would happen if a Mr. Potato Head sneezed? Did Stever Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, garden or pick strawberries the same way he went after snakes and crocs? How easy do gingerbread men sunburn? Just how far will we allow our abuse of GPS technology to go?

They’re pretty entertaining and some take a minute to sink in. Out of 144 Chicken comics in the achive, I didn’t get the joke in about five of them and all the rest (except two) amused me. Not bad. Most of the newspaper comics today are not anywhere near that fun to read.

I don’t want to but I have to say it. Chicken’s kind of humor (and the single panel) reminds me strongly of the Far Side. There are a couple of differences, though. The Far Side had animals (like cows) doing human things and the humor had a little bit of a strange twist. Chicken is a little more down to earth and the humor is warmer and friendlier as a result.

So, I say you should try the Chicken. It’s yummy. Rating:

Tastes Like Chicken
http://tasteslikechicken.smackjeeves.com/
by Josh Alves
Review by Delos Woodruff
(2 votes, average: 3.5 out of 5)

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