Tiger 14th December 1974

Christmas is fast approaching with today's issue of Tiger dated 14th December 1974. The characters on the pages of the comic are blissfully unaware of the fact, and thankfully there has been not a single mention of  Christmas so far. That will change next week as no doubt every story will lean towards the festive season, but for now there is plenty happening in each story and there is not a moments thought of Christmas. 

Tiger
14th December 1974

Roy Of The Rovers

Roy is back on the front cover and we are back to the league as Melchester Rovers take on Kingstown. 

The excitement of the front cover as Roy crosses the ball gives way to dismay over the page as Jumbo Trudgeon takes a nasty boot to the head. Forced to leave the field, he is replaced by the young Dave Shaw. Shaw finds the faster pace of league football too much and by the end of the game, it is clear that he won't work out as a long-term replacement. 

New scout Archie Miller is sure he has the answer to Rover's problems, and he takes Roy out to see a potential replacement. Roy is surprised when they arrive at a circus tent, and further surprised when Archie points out his player - the juggler Sammy Spangler.

I was totally on board, right up until the point when the juggler appeared. Injury problems and the frustrations of trying to find replacements are familiar to most football fans and I was entirely sympathetic to Roy's plight. But quite how Archie Miller found a potential replacement at a circus boggles my mind, and not in a good way. Pulling players from unusual backgrounds is par for the course, so this should be an appealing storyline. My issue is that last issue we saw Archie Miller working as a manager, and I find it hard to believe that he has been at the circus scouting for players. I want to like it, all the pieces are in place, yet this final panel has me walking away from the story with a bad feeling. Could have done better, but fell short at the finish. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Sorry, Roy.... everything's happening so fast! You...you all seem to be thinking ahead of me!" 

Skid Solo

Christmas is rapidly approaching, as is the snowy weather in this week's Skid Solo. Keen to get some tire testing in before the weather breaks, Skid and his team arrive at the track, only to find a sports car already out on the circuit. 

Not only is the sports car trespassing but it is also being poorly driven. Ignoring Sandy's attempt to flag him down, he drives off the circuit and away before anyone can stop him. However, the quick-thinking Sandy manages to get his number plate as Skid continues his test. 

The test goes well, and Skid decides that he will write a positive report when they get home. As he finishes his report Sandy makes a call to the local police and gains the address of the driver of the mystery car. 

Heading off to post the report, Skid and Sandy drop by the address given by the policeman. It is here that they meet a middle-aged couple who tell him that it is their son John who owns the sports car. He is crazy about driving and even as they speak he is once again at the track in his car.

Racing back to the track, Skid arrives just as John spins his sports car off the track. The car is wrecked, and John has suffered a broken arm. Dropping him home to his parents, Skid delivers a warning about trespassing and being a responsible motorist. The strip ends with Sandy, Sparrow and Skid all reflecting on what has happened, and how it is experience that makes a driver. 

Not my favourite type of Skid Solo story, but a nice off-season winter storyline. Nothing too taxing on the page here, just the warmth of the characters and their easy friendship. I did enjoy the parents' appearance in the strip, the best panels in the story revolved around them, and they brought an authentic slice of life to the highspeed world of Skid Solo. Likable, and forgettable in equal measure, this left me feeling a lot happier than the previous Roy Of The Rovers story. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "His mother said it took him three years to save up for that car. At times, gaining experience can be a costly business!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

A spectacular start to the strip sees George the mini upside down as it launches off the ramp. The following panel emphasises this stunt, with both Tiny and Martin upside down, along with all their dialogue. 

One safe landing later, and the race is on to catch Mister Eazzi, the circus boss who has absconded with all the money. A high-speed chase sees them catch up with the quarry just as he boards a launch to make his escape. Acting quickly Tiny and Martin tie the boat to their car. This temporarily stops Mister Eazzie, but he cuts the robe and now free from towing duties George topples off the edge of the wharf and into the water below.

Some eye-catching panels on the first page set a standard that the rest of this week's strip never quite reached. The first image of George upside down looked fantastic, and the clever follow-up panel of Tiny and Martin upside down matched it for interest. However, once we got over the page my interest waned as it became a standard car chase, and not a particularly good one at that. The sight of George trying to pull the boat back failed to ignite my interest, and it was only in the final panel as George threatened to fall into the water that I was again engaged in the story. Just in time, some might say. Spectacular art couldn't hide the fact that this is a storyline seemingly going nowhere fast. A brief set-up last week, a chase this week, and by the end of the next issue I expect this to be resolved and we will be looking forward to the next adventure. This is lukewarm at the moment, but as a long-time fan of Martin's Marvellous Mini, I know that it will heat up again soon. 

Rating: 5.5/10

Best line:  "Phew! Good job they don't build solid fences out here!"

Billy's Boots

While out cycling last week, Billy met a man who taught him one of Dead-shot Keen's ball control tricks. 

Enthusiastic to try out the trick himself, Billy practises in his Gran's lounge, only for the rug to slip under his feet and send a vase and side table flying. Once again in trouble with his Gran, Billy can only hope the trick works better when he's wearing the old boots. 

Still out of the school team due to his bruised leg, Billy still attends their next game. The ground is muddy, and not wanting to risk a slip Billy puts on his old boots to help him get a firm grip. Groundwood scores first, and as the ball is kicked back it rolls Billy's way. Despite the referee asking for the ball to be kicked back, Billy instead dribbles it, controlled by the boots of course, and does the trick he has recently learnt as he extravagantly dribbles around the referee.

The referee is not amused, and neither is the Groundwood sports master who promptly sends Billy back to the classroom where he will be dealt with later. Poor Billy can only trudge away, worried about what fate is to befall him. 

Billy just can't catch a break, and even when injured he still finds the boots getting him in trouble. The story took a while to get into its groove this week, and the first half page was Billy still trying to get home from his cycling trip. This meant most of the heavy lifting was done in the second half of the issue as Billy first tried the trick at home, and then later at the sports field. These parts of the story were enjoyable and more than made up for the languid start. I left with a positive feeling about the story overall, and although Billy is facing more trouble next week, this is exactly the hook I need to bring me back. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "What on Earth are you doing? For goodness sake, Billy...I've told you before, not to football in the house!"

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

It's tied at a pinfall each in Johnny Cougar's match against The Cowboy. There is still some trash-talking, and the first panels emphasise this niggle between the two combatants as Johnny ignores The Cowboy's words and delivers a series of heavy blows.

The Cowboy responds with some dirty tricks, but Johnny has seen it all before and some fast-moving high-flying action soon sees The Cowboy in a prone position as Johnny locks him into a submission hold. 

It's enough to win the contest, and the strip ends with Splash congratulating Johnny on top of the league while warning him that his next opponent could be his toughest ever. 

Nothing groundbreaking here, but I loved it for what it was - in-ring wrestling with no distractions and no extra storylines. It is easy to want more from the strip, yet this is what it does best and what lays at the core of all stories -  a simple matman trying to make his way in the world. Johnny's opponent, The Cowboy, was never the most compelling character and the best thing about him was he never strayed too far from wrestling. Even when he fought dirty it was one might expect from any wrestler, a stiff punch rather than a wild plot line involving poison or guns. A wrestling story about a wrestler who wrestles. Sometimes the simple things are the best.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "He's going for a surfboard! That's a submission hold!"

Nipper

The more things change the more they stay the same, and we begin this week's Nipper story with Andy Stewart fuming at Nipper. Nipper is distraught that the English selectors are looking like they might leave, but there's no sympathy from Andy Stewart who makes it quite clear that it is Nipper's own fault.

However angry Andy Stewart may be, he still tells Nipper that he will sub him into the game. With Blackport scoring while Nipper is changing it looks like he will have to wait a while for his chance, but an injury to Mike Beatson swings the situation to Nipper's favour and he's soon running onto the pitch.

A sly wink from Mike as Nipper comes on suggests he's not as injured as he makes out. The rest of the story is all about Nipper as he is all over the pitch, energising the team with his enthusiasm. A lobbed goal by Nipper is richly deserved, but Nipper is horrified to look at the stands and see that the English selectors have indeed left the stadium. 

All the key ingredients are here for a good Nipper story. Nothing beats an angry Andy Stewart while Nipper is on the field scoring goals and pulling off audacious moves. We also got an insight into the friendship between Nipper and Mike Beatson, and the wink that Mike gave Nipper as he came on was worth a thousand words. Beautifully done, and something that comics do so well, a simple movement in a panel expressing more than words can say. While I'm not enthralled by this English Selectors storyline, I still appreciate what we have here, and it is because all the key ingredients are on the page, no matter the situation. I would be happy with any story as long as we get the required football action, the friendship with Mike and Nipper, and a few good panels of an angry Andy Stewart.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Yahoooo! That's the stuff Blackport! You've got 'em now! Stick another one in the lobster-pot and they'll be finished!"

Tallon Of The Track

We are still in Russia, where David Trent's hand has been injured by a strong handshake from the Soviet captain, Vladmar Debenko. With his hand feeling like putty, Dave is unable to ride and Jo sends a reserve to race in his place.

The first race against the Ukrainian Bears does not go well, although the Ospreys do start strongly. They have a slim lead, but later in the race, Vladmar Debenko pushes his way through between the two Ospreys riders, sending them tumbling into a crash. 

After the race, Jo complains to the officials, but they refuse to enter into any discussion about the incident. Jo is fuming, and as Debrenko approaches she threatens that she will wipe the smile right off his face in the next couple of hours. 

Plenty of seething rage from Jo in this issue, and it's all the better for it. After meandering for a few weeks, it finally feels like we are on firm ground with this story. It has become focussed, and once again returned to what it does best with the Ospreys on track, driven hard by the tempesturous Jo. We even got a crash which always goes down well in Tallon Of The Track. A sharper story coupled with fine artwork and suddenly I'm feeling a lot more positive about the Ospreys' trip to Russia. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "I think Debenko rode through like a human bull-dozer...so this is where I lodge a complaint!"

Hot-shot Hamish

After failing to win their first four matches, Princes Park has come back from two nil down to win their fifth game. However, it has come at a heavy price as we begin this issue with Hamish being stretched off and taken to the hospital. 

Things aren't as bad as they initially seem, and Hamish is simply suffering from exhaustion. Twenty-four hours of rest at the hospital is all he needs, and he'll soon be back on his feet. 

The children at the hospital are delighted to have Hamish with them, and he entertains them with some of his football skills, culminating with the hot-shot which unfortunately catches the coach Mr McBrain full in the face. While McBrain is stunned and hurt, Mr McWhacker is delighted to see Hamish almost back to full fitness, and just in time too with their return match against the Spanish team in the European game scheduled for Wednesday. 

There is one more thread to the plot, as Hamish spends time in the children's ward he finds that not all of them will be able to see his game on Wednesday, with the TV too small for them all to view. Being a kind gentle giant, he pays a visit to the TV store where he buys the largest he can find for the children. With his good deed down, he arrives at the ground determined to deliver a win for the children watching from the hospital. 

What a beautiful feel-good episode. No football, but we did get the hot-shot and some gentle comedy to go with it. While not as standout as last week's episode, this was a strong follow-up that demonstrated the other side of a hot-shot Hamish story away from the football field. A nice insight into the well-rounded character of Hamish, and as I read here I couldn't help but think what a great job the writer has done of making Hamish a well-developed character. With his comedy and hot-shot on the field, it would be very easy for him to become a two-dimensional character, but throughout the story, we get little insights into the man and his family and this fleshes him out more than many of the other characters elsewhere in Tiger comic. You can't help but love Hamish, and although I don't rate this issue as highly as last week, I love this story just as much.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Send that telly up to the Children's ward at yon hospital, mister! They've got a wee bitty one that's no good at all! I'll pay..."

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Hot-shot Hamish  

Best Line: "No way! My hand is so numb, it feels like a lump of putty!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: