Tiger 24th November 1973

Skid Solo on the front cover is usually a good indication of how the rest of an issue of Tiger will be, and looking at the cover of 24th November 1973, I can safely say we are in for a good one. You might think that I am easily swayed by the color, but there are many things I like about it, so let us jump straight into the Skid Solo story. 

Tiger
24th November 1973

Skid Solo

Mustachioed villains. Old racing cars. An island location. This Skid Solo story is putting it all out there. I must admit, I'm a sucker for a mustachioed villain, and in the bandit "Speedo" we have a classic of the genre. The story begins with a race about to begin between Skid and this bandit before we flashback to the preceding events that lead us to this point. It all began with Skid and Sandy taking a boat out for the day before they decided to land on an island (palm trees, white beaches). Here they run into some gunman who takes them before their leader, the wonderfully mustached Speedo. Speedo offers to race Skid in some of the cars from his collection, an offer that Skid declines, that is until he finds that Speedo has sabotaged his boat and he is stuck with no option but to race. Skid selects a car, which Sandy dutifully brings up to race speed overnight, before we finish as the race begins, setting up a nice cliffhanger into next week's issue. Without any racing action, this story holds my attention throughout, and there is plenty that catches my eye on the pages. The old cars look great, the location is exciting, and the villains are superb. This is all building for the next issue, but even so, I find I dwell over this story for a long time, soaking in every piece of the artwork.  

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line:  "Och, mon, it's sheer madness to go racing in these things! They're museum pieces" 

Roy Of The Rovers

Roy of the Rovers returns to the Jumbo Trudgeon/Pudley village storyline this week. Colonel Chadwick is still leading the protest against the heavy traffic when Roy and Jumbo arrive directly from their game via helicopter. With Henry Trudgeon beside them, they propose a solution., The bad blood between the families began with a gold game, and Jumbo suggests it could be resolved with a golf game. Roy goes one better and suggests a penalty shoot-out between himself and a professional player of Henry Trudgeon's choosing, with the winner deciding the fate of Pudley's traffic bypass. The twist in the tale comes with Colonel Chadwick choosing Jumbo to represent him in the shootout. A penalty apiece sees the issue ends with all to play for and the rest of the Melchester players wondering aloud who will win, and suggesting that surely Jumbo has to let Roy win for the sake of peace in the village. An improvement from last week, the story is slowly coming together, although, I must admit, I already have my eye on the horizon in the hopes that we can move past this soon. It's good to see some conflict within the team, even if it is only slight, and I too am wondering how this shootout will end. Next week we will all find out together. 

 Rating: 5/10

Best Line: "What the heck is going to happen?"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Things move pretty fast in Martin's Marvellous Mini, and this week's issue slides across the pages in great style. Finding themselves unexpectedly in a stock car race on ice, the boys made a good go of it. After a slow start, they gain traction, and after a couple of slippery laps, they find an escape when another car crashes through a barrier. Taking their chance, they drive into the woods and freedom. The story ends as Tiny and Martin board a train for Paris, only for the villains to board the same train in the very next panel.  It was hard to get a grip on this story, it all flashed by so fast, one minute they were negotiating the race, the next they escaped and we were on a train to Paris. I do like it for this, it is non-stop and lifts the pace of the comic, especially after the pedestrian Roy Of The Rovers story that preceded it. Fast and likable, this week sums up all I like about Martin's Marvellous Mini.  

 Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Gosh, what a pile-up! Put the brakes on!"

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

Splash Gorton takes centre stage as we begin a new Johnny Cougar adventure. The story begins with Splash about to dive from a cliff-top for charity. After a safe dive, and avoiding a treacherous current Splash and Johnny are approached to take part in an expedition for sunken treasure. Splash's diving skills are required in the dangerous waters of the Pacific. Wrestling is bought into the fold as the expedition leader invites Johnny, it seems wrestling is also popular in the South Seas. A pleasant enough introduction to their next adventure, I appreciate that we get to see Splash showing some of his swimming skills, and I think this bodes well for future issues. It's also nice that we get to see Splash's pet penguin, it all adds to the kooky vibe of his character. I wonder how the wrestling in the South Seas will go, it does feel shoehorned in at this stage, but I understand that it is Johnny Cougar's name at the top of the title. A light issue this week, but enjoyable. 

Rating: 6/10

Best Line:  "Cougar foolish to worry...Splash heap fine diver and swimmer!"

A Horse Called Ugly

Last week Julian Carr's horse, Guardsman, missed a jump but finished strongly before Joe and Ugly started on the show course. This week we see the outcome of Joe and Ugly's round. Things start well enough for them, and Angela in particular is excited by the prospect of a clear round. However, on the second-page things take a turn as Joe's saddle breaks and he is left clinging to Ugly. Things go from bad to worse, Ugly crashes into a fence, and then takes off, leaving Joe calling him in dismay.  This week is on par with last week, and the story works well in two halves, on the first page everything goes well, the second page everything goes bad. I do like the dramatic drawings of the horses in action, and there is a couple of panels that stand out this week in that respect. Even if I'm not a fan of the overall storyline, each issue is exciting and dramatic, key ingredients in these comics. 

 Rating: 6.5/10

Best line:  "What a ghastly thing to happen. Joe could be badly hurt" 

Football Family Robinson 

Fred Robinson still has his mind on the information that Kevin has in regard to Rodney Bull. Last week their home match was delicately poised, the opening panels this week see them pull out a 2-1 victory with only minutes remaining before Fred and Kevin abandon Viv and Ma to go have a look at what could be vital information. Viv is not to be outsmarted however and finds them staking out well-known crinal Bernie Maxwell's place. She confronts them, just as the man they were watching disappears, and they miss a vital chance to help Alf. This week's issue has great interaction between the characters, and Viv steals every science she is in. She really is a firecracker, and the telling-off she gives Kevin is relatable to anyone that has ever had to face an angry wife. Great art conveys all the emotion, and the story feels as if it is picking up steam again. We have learnt a lot more about the criminals this week, and things are developing apace.  

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line:  "Dad and Kev have both spun us yarns to get out of going to the pictures. What's their game?"

The Tigers

Chunky is the mist help for his punting team when he's asleep. At least that is how it seems in the opening panels as his punt overtakes another, while Chunky takes a nap.Once he awakes the story pics up, although by the end it reaches a point where I wish he was still sleeping. First, his punting pole gets stuck, and he ends up having to be pulled from the water. Then, when the river forks, the Tigers seemingly stake the wrong fork. Several hours later in the darkness, Chunky finds himself suddenly hooked by a passing air balloon, and come morning we see our hero floating above the competing punts, although it seems his balloon is rapidly sinking. I'm going to put my cards on the table. I don't like it. The punting was ho-hum, but the air balloon was all too much for me, and even though it was only a couple of pages, it was all too much for me. I know, I am generally harsh on The Tigers, I try to be fair when I can, but I just don't get it. I'm scoring it lowly, but only because it's not my cup of tea. I'm sure there is an audience for it, just not at my house.   

 Rating: 3/10

Best line: "It-it's a blooming great b-balloon! I know I get carried away sometimes, but this is ridiculous!" 

Tallon Of the Track

Jo is still on the trail of those that tried to take her life, although the clue of the matches associated with the bathhouse is temporarily put on the back-burner as Jo prepares the Ospreys for their next competition. There is some resistance to her, given that she is a woman, but she deals with this quickly enough with a display of outstanding riding ability. After a training montage worthy of a Rocky movie the story swings back to the mysterious bathhouse as Jo approaches in a dingy part of town. However, her approach has been seen by the two criminals within who intend on dealing with her. What a great cliffhanger to end the issue on, and as tough as Jo Tallon is, I fear for her being alone in this part of town. The story has riding action and this larger story in equal measure, and I enjoy seeing a strong female character like Jo take charge, the way she dealt with the dissent in the team is great, and anytime she is on a bike things happen. A strong finish to yet another solid issue of Tiger. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line:  "Look at that dame go! She's as steady as a rock!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Skid Solo 

Best Line: Jo Tallon - "So you think you're the tops, eh, big mouth? Okay, let's see how well you can control that speed-iron of yours"

Best Panel:

Tiger 17th November 1973

There were several cliffhangers in last week's issue that I am looking forward to seeing the resolution of this week. Johnny Cougar, Martin's Marvellous Mini, and Tallon of the Track all vie for my attention, but first, there is the small matter of Roy Of The Rovers and their game against Wakeford.  

Tiger
17th November 1973

Roy Of The Rovers

Wakeford got off to a fast start last week in Roy of the Rovers. This week Roy tempers that by slowing play down and passing the ball, thus tiring Wakeford to Rovers level. It takes some time, but eventually, this pays off as Roy scores the equalizer in the final minutes. The end is a cliche, as is much of the match, and this week's episode feels like a placeholder until the broader storyline picks up again. There is hope that the larger story of the road by-pass will be resolved next week as Roy looks to get things settled before the replay.  I felt this week's Roy Of the Rovers was a little weak, and for me, the best part of the story was the first color panel of Charlie pulling off a great save. Luckily there is plenty more to look forward to in the coming pages.

 Rating: 4/10

Best Line: "Oh, no..it's there!  Where the heck did Race come from...?"

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

Johnny's match with the imposing Tovaritch comes to its conclusion this week, and after several weeks of intense action, I have to say that this week is a letdown. After several rounds of back and forth, the story this week begins with Johnny taking control as they each grab each other in submission holds. The high point this week comes immediately after as they both take to the robes looking to body-check their opponent. This results in CJohnny catching Tovaritch with a boot which swings the rest of the match his way as he goes on the offense. In a dramatic final move, Johnny uses his body to throw Tovaritch over his head and into the ring post for a knock-out win. It sounds good as I see it here, put in the comic it never comes to life as much as I hoped it would. However, the writers do sow some seeds for future storylines as Tovaritch promises to train another champion worthy of taking on the almighty Johnny Cougar. I was invested in this story throughout, but the ending leaves me cold, and I can't quite pinpoint why. As always though, things move pretty fast and another adventure awaits us next week with a new start.   

Rating: 6/10

Best Line:  "Super show, Daddy-O... Now that big boaster knows who's the top man around here!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Martins's Marvellous Mini is a story of two parts this week, as the first page deals with the resolution of last weeks cliff hanger, and the second page sets up what's going to happen next. We last left Tiny on an out-of-control bedstead rolling downhill, while martin did his best to catch him. With some skillful driving, some good timing, and a shot of luck, Martin manages to catch Tiny on the roof of George. However, they are still being pursued, and manage to shake the thugs and hide in the car. It is this that brings us to the second half of the adventure, as they find themselves caught up in a race, a stock car race on ice! I wasn't taken by the first half of this week's story, but I'm loving the second half set up and I can't wait to see how our pals will go in the stock car race. As always, this strip gets an extra boost as it is in color, but it deserves it as it consistently delivers action and adventure. How can one little car get into so many madcap adventures, I just don't know.     

 Rating: 7/10

Best line: "On ice! We can't afford to slip up in this race!"

Tallon Of the Track

Things looked grim for Jo Tallon as she burst from the burning building last week, only to find herself hurtling at a concrete wall. Some amazing riding in the first few panels this time around, see her avoid disaster as she jumps her bike sideways, letting the tyres take the impact, before she crashes to earth, shaken but not hurt. Meanwhile, her bike isn't so lucky and is a mangled mess. The veer alert Jo spots the two men who started the fire and rushes their vehicle, hurling her crash helmet through the windshield, before they make a desperate getaway.  From here the story becomes a detective story as Jo finds a vital clue in the form of a folder of matches with the name of a Turkish bathhouse. I think we can see where the story will go from here, but with a strong character like Jo Tallon anything could happen, and my thoughts are rapidly moving towards the next issue already. This is a solid installment, with both action and intrigue, and things are well-balanced as we move forward. We have moved away from the action on the track, but the story is still engaging throughout.  

Rating: 7/10

Best line:  "L-look! She managed to get out of that inferno alive!"

The Tigers

Chunky's punting adventure picks up as they have their first try in a punt that Chunky borrows. As expected, there are a couple of spills, before the gang runs into Ron Burton as his mates. Ron tries to tip Chunky's punt but instead tips up the wrong punt. After being thrown in the water by some older angry boys, Ron swears revenge in the race a couple of days later. As the race begins, Chunky looks for a fast start but only succeeds in throwing mud into Ron's ear, the story ending as again Ron swears to get revenge. Sometimes I enjoy the humor in The Tigers, and other times I find the story tiresome as a never-ending back and forth between Chunky and Ron. Sadly, this is the mood the story finds me in this week, and as much as I try to focus on it, I find it all too similar to what I've seen before. Maybe it's just me, and the miserable weather, but this one's not for me. A solid story, but I'm scoring it lowly.     

 Rating: 4/10

Best line: "Oh, no! we-we've sunk the wrong punt!"

Football Family Robinson 

Plenty of football action in this week's Football Family Robinson. The drama of Kevin's threatening phone call is temporarily put to one side as the game against Westhall Wanderers continues. After a spectacular goal from Ron puts the family up, Westhall equalizes with a goal that could uncharitably be called a fluke. At half time the plot swings back to Kevin being threatened as he tells Fred Robinson what has transpired. This doesn't bode well for the second half as Fred takes the picture with his mind still lingering on what Kevin has told him. We end this week with the sideline conversation surmising that if Fred carries on daydreaming they could lose the match. The story here treads a fine line between on-field and off-field action, and both overlap, driving the story on. I particularly like the artwork this week, it gives it a proper 1970s feel, and the hairstyles and clothing firmly root it in the time it was written. Maybe a little more Viv would be nice, but it's great as it is, and I have to move on from my love for Viv!   

Rating: 7/10

Best line:  "But one thing's for sure. No one is going to scare me off with threats!" 

Skid Solo

I yearn for Skid Solo to the track as we have another curious between-season story. This week skid is in an unnamed Central European city when he is caught up in a "follow-that-man!' story. Skid almost hits a cyclist, before a plainclothes police officer leaps into Skid's car and tells him to give chase. The police officer looks to shoot the cyclist, but Skid isn't havening it and stops the vehicle. The frustrated police officer arrests him and Skid drives to the Police Headquarters, where they arrive just in time to see the cyclist has been apprehended. That's just merely the beginning of the story, as the cyclist pulls out a hand grenade and demands Skid drive him to the border. After crashing through the border, Skid, the cyclist, and the plainclothed policeman are arrested. It is then revealed that the cyclist is a bank robber and facing a long stretch, leading Skid to conclude that you can't judge by appearances. The conclusion is fine, but it takes a long time to get there. As much as I love the artwork, and I can't stress that enough, I do find myself losing interest in these one-off Skid stories, and I can only think of a future time when we are back into the Grand Prix racing. Solid, but not my cup of tea. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line:  "Frontier ahead! Sure you didn't want to stop and talk it over?"   

A Horse Called Ugly

Julian Carr's horse, Guardsman, missed the triple jump in the final panels of  A Horse Called Ugly last week, but both horse and rider recover to make a strong finish and incur no other penalties. Although Julian blames Joe for the fault, every other horse also fails at the triple jump. On the final page and we have Joe and Ugly taking on the course and lining up the triple jump as this week's issue concludes. After the convoluted previous Skid Solo story, I like this for its simplicity and straightforward plot. There is enough action in the story, with plenty left in the tank for the following issue. I never thought I would be hooked by horse action, yet here I am enjoying this story just as much as any other. A pleasant surprise and a fine way to end this week. 

 Rating: 7/10

Best line:  "Let him go, Joe - I've got no time for a rider who blames his horse for his own mistakes" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6/10

Best Story: Football Family Robinson  

Best Line: Johnny Cougar - "Ouch! The big fella thought Cougar would jump over him..and he dived straight into the Indian's knee! That hurt!"

Best Panel: