Review: Tony Osmond is a Movie Star!

Yesterday I brought a digital copy of the new comic from Tony Esmond called Tony Osmond is a Movie Star!  It's the latest release from Tribute comics who have previously released The Whore Chronicles and the brilliantly funny, Atomic Hercules.  Tony's collaborators on this one are Cliff Cumber on art and Ken Reynolds lettering.

First up this is definitely one for a mature reader, this ain't no all ages special to pass to little Billy to read.  Page one opens with the sight of the titular leads cock and balls swinging in the breeze and a very naked satiated woman, or two on the bed surrounded by discarded bottles of booze.  Tony Osmand, who I'm sure bears no resemblance whatsoever to the author, is a hard drinking, womanising and violent actor.  Imagine Ollie Reed, Richard Burton, and Richard Harris had a love child with Charlie Bronson and that's Mr O. 

We see the type of 80s action films he makes reflect his character like "Always Bet on Automatic" where he uses two pistols to dispatch a gambling rival, leaving more than a little claret on the walls, table, floor….you get the idea. As was typical of a film star of that generation Tony makes an appearance on Wogan with Bananarama performing but this is no ordinary performance.  Much like when a drunken Oliver Reed appeared on Michael Aspels 80s chat show, Tony leaves his mark on the audience. All this and we're only halfway in.

My old man was a bit of a lad, in his day, with a penchant for a Saturday night drink and even a punch up.  The blokes would knock seven bells out of each other, then go back in the pub for a pint together. For me this comic just gave me the feel of that era and the hellraiser actors that my dad loved to watch.  The days when films were just balls out action and no fucks given for political correctness.  Tony Osmond wants to bring some of his reality to the boring lives of his audiences, just in a very visceral way.

The story is brought to life by Cliff Cumbers black and white artwork, I love a bit of black and white and this is just great work.  His eye for the small details, facial expressions and violence reminded me of Geof Darrows work on Hard Boiled. Great shading and sound effects too, I'll definitely be searching out more of his work. The angular speech bubbles and letters used by Ken Reynolds add to the hard edged feel and really lets you hear the characters voices.

Tony Osmand is the ideal antidote to the sterile picture perfect movie stars of today, no Hugo Boss ads for him, more likely to be splashing the Brut all over.  For me Tonys Osmands first outing hit all the right beats and, like the best films, gave us a cliffhanger.  I can't wait for the sequel.

You can get your digital or physical copies of Tony Osmond is a Movie Star from: 

https://neverironanything.bigcartel.com/products