TUFF STUFF (ONE-SHOT), from Source Point Press on October 19, 2022, follows a drug-addicted loser of an alley cat who runs afoul of a greedy developer’s plot to torch valuable beachfront property during Spring Break.
The Details
- Written by: Kevin Delgado
- Art by: Kevin Delgado
- Colors by: Kevin Delgado
- Letters by: Kevin Delgado
- Cover art by: Kevin Delgado
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: October 19, 2022
Is It Good?
TUFF STUFF (ONE-SHOT) is a weird little story that has a certain kind of charm if you’re a fan of early John Waters films or the Troma Films of the 1980s. TUFF STUFF (ONE-SHOT) has a plot that sorta makes sense and the main character that doesn’t make any sense, but Kevin Delgado’s enthusiasm for finding entertainment in everything tasteless creates a form of shock value that holds your attention while repulsing you at the same time.
Delgado’s story centers around Tuff Stuff, a drug-addicted alley cat with a prosthetic hand, who can’t seem to get his act together. When the nearby beachfront clubs become a target for “disasters,” Tuff Stuff rises to the occasion to become the hero this world needs. On its face, this issue is a typical type of hero’s journey, but the characters (heroic and villainous) are so over-the-top to the point of ridiculousness, you have no choice but to laugh at the absurdity of it all. In short, this entire comic is absurd.
However, absurd doesn’t necessarily mean bad. Troma Films build an entire niche market on absurd, over-the-top versions of horror, sci-fi, and action films. Delgado’s script is keenly focused on delivering the wildest, craziest, most bug-nut-crazy story possible, even if it is held together with the metaphorical equivalent of a shoestring and used chewing gum. Absurdity can be charming, and this comic comes pretty darn close.
Conversely, this is not a perfect comic by any stretch of the imagination.
Delgado’s art style is very typical of underground comics where art quality takes a back seat to making a visual point. The plot progression is silly, the dialog is corny, and the gory violence is so shocking, it’s almost funny.
Does all that critiquing mean this comic is good or bad? Neither. Chalk this one up to an “it’s so bad it’s good” review.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with loud partying at Sol Dia Beach in 1993. The booze, sex, and drugs are flowing in all directions. Suddenly, a toxic-waste-infused tidal wave destroys one of the beachfront bars, killing many and injuring many more. Soon, more “disasters strike several bars along the Sol Dia Beach coastline.
Tuff Stuff, a strung-out alley cat, emerges from his slumber. Desperate for his next hit of crack, and saddened by his girlfriend’s continual disappointment, TS decides to clean up his act and get a job at Dyngus Development. TS accidentally learns Danny Dyngus is secretly orchestrating the beachfront destruction to lower property prices so he can buy it all for himself.
We conclude the issue with deadly dealings, a cat on a mission, and turning over a new leaf.
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Final Thoughts
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TUFF STUFF (ONE-SHOT) falls into the “so bad it’s good” category with outlandish setups, the main character who doesn’t make a bit of sense, villains more over-the-top than a wild Looney Tunes cartoon, and all the drugs and violence you can cram into a one-shot. Shlock has a certain charm, and this comic is shlocky to the max.
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