Tiger 13th April 1974

 I don't know much about April of 1974, I was only six months old at the time, but I do know that I greatly enjoyed reading this week's Tiger comic from that month. Perhaps it's my holiday mood, but I found that reading this in the summer sun, with a beer in hand rather than my usual cup of tea, was a soothing experience and the low-key drama of these stories suited my mood perfectly. 

Tiger

13th April 1974

Roy Of The Rovers

It feels like a long time since the last issue of Roy Of The Rovers, such is that holiday feeling between Christmas and New Year when the days seem to drag on. If I remember correctly when we last saw Roy and the team they were facing the aptly named Bridgewall in the semifinal of the FA Cup. Bridgewall is ready for the occasion, especially after seeing a photograph of Noel Baxter rugby tackling a player in training, and expects this to be a tough physical game. This week things escalate, although not as quickly as I expect, with the game unfolding across several pages. Jimmy Slade is the first to feel the physicality of the match, with a fearsome tackle from a Bridgewall player knocking him to the ground. An incensed Jimmy lets his feelings be known, but Roy is on hand to defuse the situation. Falling behind by a goal, Melchester Rovers pull a goal back just before halftime with the tactics they worked out on the training ground. With it all to play for, this week's strip reaches its climax with a fifty-fifty ball that sees Jimmy Slade bearing down on the Bridgewall keeper, and the game threatening to explode into violence if he flattens the keeper. Although the story didn't move as fast as I wanted, there are dark clouds gathering for what might be an explosive next issue. It was good to see Jimmy in action earlier on, laying the groundwork for these final panels and raising the stakes for what follows. The game itself is proving to be even, and Bridgewall is certainly living up to its name with its wall defence. It may not be the beautiful game in these panels, but it is high-stakes drama, and next week should see things boil over. You can bet that I'll be here for it.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "It's a race for the ball...and Jimmy's going in like a bomb!"

  

Johnny Cougar and Splash Gorton

I didn't much care for the Trickster when we met him last week, and I don't much care for him now either. As they say in the wrestling business, he's got heat - but the wrong sort of heat. There is no wrestling action this week, it is all about the Trickster and his tricks. The problem for me is that his tricks aren't funny, and he is annoying rather than dangerous. On the beach he plays several jokes on Johnny and Splash, before disappearing with a smoke grenade, The next day and our two heroes are travelling across the desert when they find the Trickster waiting for them, he has hired a helicopter and flown in just to surprise them. A couple of annoying gags later and Johnny has had enough and wraps up the Trickster in an umbrella, saying he doesn't want to see him again until the match. Here at home, I nod vigorously in agreement, and I for one can't wait to see the back of this guy. If you needed an incentive to come back next week, this is it, the chance to see Johnny deal to the Trickster good and proper. Maybe not the best way to create a page-turner, having a character so annoying that people just want to see him dealt with, but it works on a basic level, and I already have the next issue ready to go in anticipation of Johnny Cougar handing out an ass-whipping. 

Rating: 4.5/10

Best line: "Cougar tired of your foolish jokes. Take care that the joke is not soon on you..."

Martin's Marvellous Mini

A dad joke appears in the first panel of Martin's Marvellous Mini, but I forgive it as elsewhere there is some cracking dialogue that speaks directly to me. The first panel sees Tiny and Martin speaking with the piper who had previously knocked Martin out with his bagpipes. All is quickly forgiven and our chums return to their lodgings. It is in the third panel that Martin tries to speak with Tiny, who is already in bed with the covers on his head. In a line that I have heard many times coming out of my own mouth when speaking to my wife, Tiny shortly tells him that all he wants to do is sleep, so turn off the light. Ah yes, Martin and Tiny are indeed just like a married couple. The next day, Tiny and Martin enjoy the hospitality of the Highland games, where they find there is a chance to race George with a prize of one hundred pounds. While Martin rushes off to enter, Tiny is left to his own devices, and finding a stray caber, tries his hand at caber tossing. He's no expert, that's for sure, and he ends up tossing it onto an expensive-looking car. With Martin returning to confirm that they have entered the event, Tiny points out the damage he has caused and explains that they must win it for the repair bill. In many ways this is a typical episode for Martin and Tiny, short on money, getting into scrapes and the chance to make it all good again with their driving skills.  While it is typical, it is also highly enjoyable, and I never tire of these events. The highlight of this week's story was the dialogue, not just in the two panels I have previously mentioned, but also later in the story there are several times when our two pals were talking that had me smiling from ear to ear. Not a lot of action, but this one reads so well that I can't help but rate it highly. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Not have I! An' I've never been to sleep in this bed before...but I'd like to! So put the light out!" 

Skid Solo

Skid Solo is back in Britain, but there's no Grand Prix this week, instead, we see Skid appear in a storyline that has him taking part in a challenge. We have seen a lot of these types of stories before, but this one is still enjoyable throughout. Attending a dinner, a gentleman called Payne challenges Skid to a ten-mile race, from his house to a village called Hadbury. The twist is that it is across country and while Skid will be driving, Payne will be on horseback. The race starts quickly, with the horse in front all the way as Skid struggles with the rough terrain. However, he keeps Payne in sight and has some luck when a storm hits. With a bolt of lightning spooking Payne's horse, Payne is knocked to the ground unconscious. Skid takes matters in hand, he drives Payne to the village and medical help, while towing the horse. Winning the race and saving Payne, Skid earns one hundred pounds for charity, and we end with a couple of panels of clever lines and puns alluding to the race, all par for the course in a Skid Solo story. Warm and likeable, but without breaking new ground, this is very much the stereotypical Skid Solo story. It was not as dramatic as some of the recent issues, and the change of pace served the story well as we have more time to enjoy the characters. With no high-speed action, we get some lovely close-ups of the faces involved, and I feel I know Skid a lot better after this story. Not earth-shattering, but well worth the time I took to read it. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Aye, and ye ken what they say...lightning never strikes the same place twice!" 

Football Family Robinson

Things finally reach boiling point in this week's Football Family Robinson, as Digger finally has his chance to confront Crash. Although locked in a back office, Digger kicks his way out as Crash is making a match-winning save. As the game ends, Digger storms the pitch and things get ugly, only for Ma Robinson to take a hand and drag Digger off by the crook of her umbrella. Back in the dressing room, harsh words are spoken, wild punches are thrown, and the strip ends with balls flying through the window while the hooligans responsible for the hoax smirk at the havoc they've caused. This is the episode I've been waiting for, and it delivered all I could have wanted and more. The onfield save by Crash was spectacular, and seeing Digger off-field finally blowing his top and breaking-out matched it for dynamic artwork. No real damage has been done yet, it's mostly angry words, but I like the drama and fury of it all.  We have been building to this point for several weeks now, and I can only hope that this story has a few twists and turns still left in it.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Right, you traitor- I'm gonna start by knockin' yer block off!" 

The Tigers

Chunky Clark was wildly out of control in a land yacht when we left him last issue, and the first half of this issue has him fighting to bring it back under his steady hand. Luckily (how often do we say that in these adventures?) his line gets caught around a horse's neck, so not only does the yacht slow down, but Chunky also has the horse tow him back to his waiting friends. The second half of the story we see the early rounds of the land yacht racing, with both Chunky and Ron winning their respective heats. Next week we will see the final, but it may not bode well for Chunky as in the final panel we see Ron loosening the wheels of his yacht. Again, this was a middling episode of The Tigers, but as I always say, less is more, and especially so in these slapstick stories. There was just enough humour to make me smile, and just enough drama to make me want to keep reading. Overall, nicely balanced and although I walk away with it making very little impression on me, I did enjoy it as I read it. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "He is Chunky Clark - Ron never tells a fib!"

Tallon Of The Track

There is still a lot of finger-pointing going on in regard to who is responsible for the mechanical failures Ospreys are experiencing on the track. With Oggie facing the heat, Jo sends him to wait in the office for the remainder of the racing. The rest of the racing meeting doesn't go well, as the Ospreys ride well within themselves, all scared that they could suffer mechanical failure. After losing to the Larchester Lions, Jo and Dave speak between themselves about their wavering faith in Oggie, only for him to overhear every word and walk away from the team. We leave the strip with Jo having doubts that it was Oggies fault and for the first time utters the words "sabotage." Of course, when this story first started my thoughts were on sabotage straight away, so this comes as no great surprise here. But it does mark a turning point in the story and in the coming weeks, I expect the focus will turn away from Oggie as Jo's hunt for a saboteur will begin. No high-speed action, but a pivot point in the story makes this a more interesting read than perhaps a quick skim of the page would suggest.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "They have no faith in their machines anymore! They're scared to open up in case something goes badly wrong again and they pile up!" 

A Horse Called Ugly

This week Joe and Ugly arrive back in Britain and my worst fears are realised as the story dips in form. The fun and adventure of South America are put behind us as Joe and Ugly land in Britain and are immediately taken to a garden party at Angela's fabulous house. Joe being announced to the party as "Joseph Larcombe-Mate" is funny, but the rest of the story is Joe facing the class divide and Angela telling him she wants him to do a job for her brother. We end with a slapstick moment as Ugly eats the apples off a lady's hat, but the story can't compete with the colourful characters we have met over the last three months. I do like that a lot of information is given to us through each panel, and even though Joe is at the party for barely a page a lot happens there in both dialogue and artwork. Overall I feel it is a slow start for Joe back in England, although it is only the very first days and there is plenty of time for this story to grow and develop. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "M'lords, ladies and gentlemen...Mister Joseph Larcombe-Mate" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6.5/10

Best Story: Football Family Robinson

Best Line: "It-it's OK, chum...no harm done! I've always been 'knocked out' by Scottish music!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: