Tiger 28th December 1974

It seems like only yesterday I was celebrating the Christmas issue of 1973 and here we are already with the Christmas 1974 issue in hand. It is true what they say, time really does fly when you're having fun. With Christmas comes Christmas storylines. I don't want to sound like a Grinch, but I'm not a fan of them. I don't like how they are shoehorned into the regular story arch and I find that they detract from my enjoyment of the comic. Much like real Christmas then in the way that it arrives every year and no matter where you are with life you have to acknowledge the day and all that comes with it. Now I really do sound like a Grinch, time to step away from the keyboard and pick up this week's comic. 

Tiger

28th December 1974

Johnny Cougar and Splash Gorton

It is Johnny Cougar who kicks off the 1974 Christmas issue with a scene familiar to most, walking past shops with their Christmas message and a Christmas tree prominent.

This is just a scene setter and soon Johnny and Splash are at a nearby swimming pool, where Splash is putting on a special free show for all the children who normally wouldn't be able to come to a show like this. 

There is a lot of clowning involved, and Splash entertains the children with some slapstick with Johnny and the pool. It's a lot of fun and the kids are entertained, especially with the appearance of a certain red-suited man in the final panels.

Interspersed with the main story, we see Johnny's next opponent, Stoneage Man. He is sitting in a cave alone, with Christmas having no meaning for him. In the final panel of the story, we see a close-up of his face and the promise that he will be seeing Johnny Cougar in the wrestling ring very soon. 

This was a filler episode, with neither plotline enough to hang my hat on. The entertaining of the children was light and didn't seem to have any serious element to it. Splash rode a bike and fell into the pool, as did Cougar. Later we saw them executing perfect dives, but neither felt particularly thrilling. The images of Stoneage Man weren't enough to whet my appetite for next week, and it felt like the story failed to commit fully to either plot thread. Understandable given that this is the Christmas issue, but I would have liked just a little more from the characters. Uneventful and unmemorable. 

Rating: 4/10

Best line: "Okay, kids... now it's time to eat...and we've got a giant-sized cake...with enough for everyone! Come and get it!" 

Billy's Boots

Billy is keeping match fit by playing for local club Welldale Wanders. Being a boy among men Billy is finding it tough and although he has scored one goal, the burly defender he is playing against is making it a tough afternoon for him. 

Switching to the other side for the second half Billy finds it easier, and although he doesn't score he acquits himself well. The rest of the team is happy with how he played, and he finds himself asked to play in a five-a-side Christmas match.

Billy agrees, and Christmas appears again as he buys some flowers for his Gran with the last of his money. His Gran is pleased, and when he mentions he is playing in a five-a-side she asks if he can bring home the turkey from the butchers nearby after the game.

Game day arrives, and Billy plays well, although he plays in goal all game. Heading home he realises that he has forgotten to pick up the turkey, and he fears for the worst. However, we finish the story on a high as his Gran tells him that the butcher has already delivered it and Billy needn't worry. 

Much better than other preceding Johnny Cougar, this story managed to feel proper Christmassy, as well as cramming in a good amount of football. The cliffhanger of last week with Billy tangling with the tough defender is quickly dealt with and was a non-event this week and Billy simply swapped sides. There was no drama in the five-a-side game, but it did give us some fantastic images of Billy playing in goal. The artwork was outstanding throughout this story, and we not only have some dynamic panels of Billy diving in goal, but also some excellent images of his face as he forgets the turkey, and then finds out that everything is going to be OK. This story was better for the lack of Billy's special boots, and with those being a non-factor the story felt refreshed and far more focused on Billy and his family. There was a surprising mention of Billy's Aunt Kate, an Aunt I can't recall ever hearing about before, although to be fair it is thirty years since I last read this story. My Christmas spirit is restored with this story and its tasteful Christmas artwork once again fills the cockles of my heart.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "The turkey! I forgot it! And the shops are closed now!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

It's always nice to see Martin's family and home, and we begin with the family carving a turkey and wondering how Martin and Tiny are doing in hot and sunny Australia. 

Tiny and Martin are doing alright and with some extra cash in their pockets about to organise a free kid's party. It's a beach BBQ and proves most successful. The kids enjoy themselves, with a surprise appearance by Father Christmas (Martin dressed up and feeling hot) giving out toys. They even take the kids for rides in George, going so far as to let them steer, that is until one comes too close to the sea for their liking.

The day winds down with one of the children showing Martin an article in a book about a new type of car race - a relay race. It takes two cars, but Martin thinks they could buy an old banger for the race. The children tell them that lots of cars get smashed up, to which Tiny is worried, but Martin remains confident and is already thinking about the prize money and heading home to Britain. 

Another typical Christmas story and a kid's party. This one gave off a nice Australian vibe, and having Martin's family at home in Britain wondering how the boys were doing in Australia was a nice touch and highlighted the difference between the two Christmas celebrations. Having the strip in colour certainly helped in that respect, and I appreciated seeing the sun and suf looking as they should. We have a nice introduction to the boy's next challenge, and that was seamlessly worked into this week's story. Drama-free pages throughout the story yet it left me feeling good and wanting to read next week's issue. If it looks as good as this week I will be happy for the boys to be stuck in Australia for as long as possible. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Have you seen the card Martin sent us from Australia? He says it's hot, with lots of sun!"  

Skid Solo

Last week Skid was in sunny Florida, and this week he is back in Britain facing a cold and dark Christmas Eve. There's even snow falling as we embark on this week's adventure with a mysterious van parked outside of Skid's house. 

A note under the windscreen wipers explains all - a lorry load of Christmas toys left from Reverand Tommy Harbour to be delivered to the Weyburn orphanage. It's Christmas Eve, snow is falling, and Skid and his pals have to drive twenty miles to deliver the toys in time. 

Putting on their Father Christmas robes they set off. It's not easy, with the van slipping and sliding on the road from the start. As the snow gets worse they find themselves driving off the road several times, and we have a few occasions when they have to dig themselves out. 

They eventually arrive at the orphanage. The head of the orphanage is surprised to see them, especially as he had previously thought Skid was in Florida. He is further surprised when Skid tells him they have toys in the van for the kids, and quickly tells Skid that the kids already have their toys. He further explains that Reverand Tommy Harbour didn't think that Skid would return from Florida in time and had taken it upon himself to bring the toys in the van over in the morning. The three friends open the van and see that what he says is true - they have just driven an empty van through a dark and stormy night for nothing. 

With this misunderstanding cleared up, Sparrow, Sandy and Skid can only sit in their tired state and watch the children play. A late arriving Reverand comments on how tired they look, while the headmaster tells him that it wouldn't be advisable to ask them why they're so tired. 

I'm sure we saw Skid driving through snow this time last year as well, although I'm not going to go back and confirm it. An enjoyable enough story, it is a shame that it wasn't on the front cover this week - a splash of colour would have sold the story better than what we have here. For that though, it was a good story and delivered what it needed to. On the pages of Tiger Christmas is all about charity work for young kids, and Skid excels himself as he goes to the aid of an orphanage. The outcome may not have been what was expected, but I fully expected to see a story such as this somewhere in the issue. In the wider context, it was slight, and in a few months I won't remember it at all, but for a feel-good Christmas, story it checks all the boxes and has me walking away feeling good about myself and the work of Skid Solo. As always, the art was sympathetic to the story, and although it will be forever rooted in Christmas of 1974, it remains a fine example of the synergy between artist and writer on the pages of Tiger. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Hoots, I'm glad we've got these Father Christmas robes...we need 'em in this weather. It's freezing!"

Roy Of The Rovers

Tony Storme was on the cusp of signing an exciting young talent from a circus background by the name of Sammy Splanger when we last left Roy and his team. We pick up on the thread immediately this week as Roy and Tony watch on as Sammy Spangler gives a further display of his talents. With their minds made up, they go ahead and offer him a contract. Although he is eager to start, there is just one more thing between Sammy and his first game - Christmas.

The Rovers come together at Jumbo Trudgeon's for a Christmas party, and it becomes quite an affair, with Sammy Spangler not only delighting with his tricks but also with an elephant and half the circus he has he has brought along.

Roy considers it one of the best Christmases he has ever had, although he isn't so happy when he sees the rest of the team draped across the furniture, weary from the celebrations. With a vital league game the following day he is concerned, and even more so when he realises that Sammy Spangler isn't there and they are a man short. 

It was great to see this story moving forward and the Christmas party becoming part of the wider arc rather than a temporary diversion. Sammy Spangler remains the centre of the story, and he is right in the thick of the action throughout here. From his on-field trial at the beginning to his hijinks at the party, we saw plenty of what he was about. His final disappearance could be a red herring, but I'm happy to go along with it for now. Surprisingly there were no children involved in this story and it remains rooted in the adult world, although we never did get to see Roy sipping a whiskey as the night went on. Well crafted around the Christmas intrusion, next week the story should be off to a fast start as we easily put this behind us, and I look forward to hopefully seeing Sammy Spangler finally on a football field. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Football on stilts! Now I've seen everything!"

Nipper

Last week we saw Nipper approaching a mysterious figure in the crowd who had been watching him play, but there is no mystery this week as in the first panel we find that it is Gordon Jackson, manager of the England youth team. 

Gordon Jackson tells Nipper that is now in charge of the England under-23 team, and although the selectors have left early he will be putting in a good word for Nipper based on his performance on the field. There is one caveat though, Nipper must keep his nose clean for the next few weeks.

A tough ask, especially as Nipper has all sorts of troubles on his plate. Still, it's Christmas time and Nipper thinks it's time to relax for a bit. As his foster family heads out of town, Nipper decides it might be a good time to throw a party. With a few days to clean up after the party, Nipper feels he is on safe ground, but as the party gets into full swing his foster parents appear outside, their own plans having been cancelled due to the flu in the family. Nipper doesn't know it yet, but he's just about to face a whole lot of trouble. 

After a Christmas-heavy issue so far, I quite enjoyed the Nipper storyline. The party was a Christmas party, but it could have been any type of party, and just like Roy Of The Rovers, the Christmas theme was folded into the story that we are already following. Mike and Nipper's friendship is again played up, and I think that works well given the age of Nipper. Most young boys have a friend who they do everything with, and it was great here seeing Mike helping Nipper off the football field, before being the very first person to arrive at the party. I appreciate that this story has two or three threads running at once as Nipper not only battles to make the English football team but also breaking the club's goal-scoring record, as well as his ongoing antagonism with the journalist Brian Crawford. A lot going on, and all of it is condensed into two pages. I was slow to warm to Nippoer, but now we are steaming ahead and it is one of the stronger strips in the comic. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "I think I can say my journey wasn't wasted! But what's all this about suspensions...and rows with reporters? Sounds as if you've been getting into trouble again!"

Hot-shot Hamish

Needing to win their European Cup tie by three goals, Princes Park and Hamish Balfour are on all-out attack as we are dropped into the action on the first panel of this week's story. A diving header from Hamish hits the crossbar, leading to a series of bad luck moments and eventually a goal to their opposition. 

With twenty minutes to go, and needing four goals, Hamish explodes into action. A scorching hot-shot ignites the Princes team, and they follow up with a frenzied second goal. As their livewire winger Alex McTwitter scores a third it looks like the impossible might be possible, but a last-gasp attempt from Hamish comes to nothing and the team comes off the pitch as the winner of the game, but ultimately losers of the draw - knocked out by away goals.

Hamish fronts up at the hospital where he had promised the children a victory. It's a warm welcome, and although the children are disappointed with the outcome, they are delighted to see Hamish, and even more so when the rest of the team appears right behind him. We end on a high note as Hamish hands out gifts and everyone offers a hearty merry Christmas. 

Don't be fooled by the final panels, this story was all football action, and it was superb. An angry Hamish is quite a sight to behold, and watching him lead his team through the last twenty minutes was worth the cover price alone. We saw the hot-shot, we saw the team and all their diversity, both strengths and weaknesses, and we saw the polar opposite of Hamish in wee Alex McTwitter score the goal that almost saved the tie. It all looked splendid on the page, and although I'm not sure where we are going to go next in the storylines, this ending of their chances in the European Cup was everything I could have hoped for. Being knocked out by away goals is tough, but it felt right for the story being told and at the end of the day I was more than satisfied with what I read here. Once again, when it comes to football action, Hot-shot Hamish leads from the front. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "What a tangle...it's going everywhere but in the net!"

Tallon Of The Track

Ospreys are not going well against their Ukranian opposition as Jo Tallon takes her place on the track to race against the Ukrainian Bears captain, Vladimir Debenko. Debenko is unhappy to see a girl racing against him and promises her that he will ride her into the dust. 

It does quite work out that way, and Jo snatches victory on the line after some hard-fought racing. This demoralises the Bears team while giving the Ospreys and lift, and it changes the tenor of the whole race meet. After this, it is Ospreys all the way, and they triumph in the competition 40-38.

The next day, Debenko meets the British team at their hotel and takes them out on a sleigh into the countryside, where they enjoy a full Russian Christmas with all the trimmings. All's well that ends well, and the story ends with Jo wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. 

All the drama of the last few weeks washed away in just a couple of panels as Jo wins her race and the Ospreys the meeting. I like seeing Jo on the track, but her race wasn't much, there was nothing of note in the race, and only a close finish made it noteworthy. The rest of the competition was dispensed with far too easily, and it was a letdown after the building tensions of the last few weeks. The Christmas party made amends somewhat, and I enjoyed seeing a table of food and some very happy people celebrating. Perhaps this would have been better if Christmas could have been part of the overall storyline, but with the competition ending it made for a sudden halt, and the Christmas party came as a garnish rather than a heavy meal. We are still in Russia, and with only the first race meeting behind us we still have someway to go, so hopefully future stories will pick up from this strong start. It was a pleasant ride, and I can only hope that next time the finish will be as good as the start. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "I am disgraced...humiliated! Me, the great Debenko, beaten by...a girl!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6.5/10

Best Story: Billy's Boots  

Best Line: "Twenty minutes left! I'm no' giving up without a struggle! The wee bairns in the children's ward are expecting us to win! I promised 'em!""

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: