Tiger 1st February 1975

What a glorious day. It's 9am and already I have crashed my RC Spitfire, watched Chelsea lose four-nil, and now my wife tells me we are off Christmas shopping before lunch. Oh joy - it's no wonder that I seek solace in comics. Let's hope that someone on the pages of Tiger is having a worse day than me and can lift my spirits. Even Roy Race has days like this. 

Tiger

1st February  1975

Billy's Boots 

Not only is Billy playing in front of a crowd of forty thousand against a professional side, but he also graces the cover of this week's Tiger.  

The pace is faster than what he is used to and Billy realises that he has to take up a position where he can make more space for himself. This pays off five minutes later as he receives the ball and his magic boots send him on a run that results in Billy chipping the ball to his striker who duly scores. 

In the stands his headmaster and sports master watch on, the headmaster suggesting that it looks like Billy should be in the first team, and his sports master immediately agrees. 

Back on the pitch, the professional side turns up the heat and quickly scores. There is one final moment for Billy to shine and just before the final whistle, Billy hits a diving header that forces the professional keeper into a full-stretch save. The fact he didn't score is tempered by the goalkeeper's comment that it forced him to make the best save of his season, while Billy replies that it's the best header he has made in his life. 

Arriving home, Billy's Gran is waiting with a letter that has just come through the letter-box. It is of course a note from Miister Renton, the sports master, telling Billy that he has been selected for the first team the next day. This is not good news for Billy as he has already promised Faraday Athletic that he would play for them. The final panel has a stunned-looking Jimmy Dawson telling Billy that Mister Renton will be wild if Billy doesn't turn out for the first team, while Billy is torn between the two teams and obligations.

I enjoyed last week's issue a lot, and this week is even better. The unbelievable parts of the last issue were handled better this week, and we are grounded back in the real world of schoolboy troubles with the first-team selection. We had Jimmy Dawson arrive on the scene a few weeks ago, and in this strip, we can see his worth as he serves as a foil to remind Billy of his obligations and repercussions,. Previously this would have been handled as a monologue by Billy or a conversation with his Gran, and I am pleased to see this handled in a wider fashion. Jimmy Dawson still isn't fully formed, although he is already a strong friend of Billy's and welcomed into Billy's home life with his Gran. The magic boots played their part without being intrusive, and we ended on a good cliffhanger, making for a strong start to this week's issue of Tiger and an excellent instalment of Billy's Boots.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "You don't beat a first-division goalkeeper all that easily, son! But that's still the best save I've made all season!"

Johnny Cougar

Johnny Cougar has the first submission over Big Jim Jackson and this week Jackson looks to equal the score. He starts strongly with a flying head scissors and sends Cougar flying through the air.

However, Cougar is quick and manages to land on his feet. This quickness becomes a recurring theme as he later avoids a head butt, before again managing to land on his feet after Jackson throws him with an Irish whip. This all peaks in round three as Jackosn goes for a double karate chop, only for Cougar to duck and Jackson to chop himself. Now infuriated, Jackson swipes with a forearm, missing again and leaving himself open for Cougar to throw him into a ring post before dragging him into the centre of the ring to pin him for victory. 

After all this highspeed action, we close the story with Splash congratulating Johnny, and Johnny telling the TV camera that he is looking forward to a new challenge. 

Me too, Johnny, me too. As much as I liked this story, it finished at just the right moment and we are ready to move on to what comes next. The strength of this story recently has been its strong focus on wrestling and I can only hope that it stays in this lane for the next story. After a diversion through a Robin Hood storyline, this wrestling tournament, and battle against Big Jim in particular, was just what we needed to reinvigorate the Johnny Cougar strip and remind us what a great character he is. This final bout didn't live up to last week's bout, although the action still looked top-notch and was served well by the artwork and decisions made on the visual front. What comes next week is unknown (I haven't had a sneak peek) and I eagerly await Johnny Cougar's next adventure after finishing this one strongly. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Right...that's it! It's got to be the forearm smash...the biggest knock-out in wrestling!" 

Martin's Marvellous Mini 

George is bound for the crusher at the scrap metal yard, and it looks like our two pals are too late to save him. 

It is the lunchtime whistle that saves the day, and as it sounds the machinery is immediately turned off as the machine operator stops for his lunch. 

After such an eventful morning, Tiny and Martin are offered a free lunch by the scrap yard owner, and over lunch, they learn of a race next week that pays big prizes. The only catch is that the race is in Perth - two thousand miles away. 

A healthy dose of Aussie hospitality helps out, and the boys get a free flight on a cargo plane thanks to the generosity of the scrap yard owner. Not all Aussies are so generous, as Tiny and Martin soon find out as the plane crashes in the middle of the desert. Faced with a long drive to safety, a stowaway emerges from the plane, demanding they take him with them, a loaded rifle pointing at them backing up his argument. 

After a slow start and a slightly unbelievable saved-by-the-bell moment, this story finished strongly and has me hooked for next week. I'm not so sure that the crusher operator would be so desperate for lunch that he would stop his machine at once when hearing the lunch whistle, but it did get us out of a situation and push the story onto greener story-telling pastures. The desert may not be green, but it does offer a lot of potential for Tiny and Martin. The appearance of the stowaway added a new dimension and should place their desert drive in a different context. The only problem I have with him is his physical appearance. In a stereotypical Aussie hat and khaki, he is a throwback to similar characters we have seen in Tiger (Digger from the Football Family Robinson springs to mind). Hopefully, he will be deeper than he appears, and for now, I am prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt. There are shades of Tallon Of the Track's current storyline here, with the plane crash and being taken hostage, although I find this one more enjoyable so far - perhaps because it's in colour, or maybe because it looks much warmer than crashing in Russia. Next week I will have a firmer grasp on this story, until then I will read with an open mind and enjoy the beauty of the artwork.

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Whatever you want, chum...it'll have to wait! It's lunch-time! The crusher's switched off until I come back! Sorry!"

Tallon Of The Track

Jo and Vladimir have crashed out of the first race against the village team they are racing, and the Gorbski Lions have snatched maximum points. 

In the second race, Dave is the victim of bad luck when his bike crashes after hitting a ridge in the track, although they do gain some points through the fine riding of Sven. 

It continues like this throughout the meeting, and slowly the Ospreys fight their way back until finally in heat five they claim all the points and finally snatch the lead with one race to go.

There is one final wrinkle to the story. As Jo goes to replace her wheel she passes a small ramshackle hut. Through the window, she sees a man tied to a chair, bound and gagged.

I'm not surprised - we have seen many people bound and gagged on the pages of Tallon of the Track over the last year and a half. Honestly, it is what stops me from joining the local speedway club myself. If this helps unravel the mystery of why these villagers want to race against the Ospreys, then I'm all for it. If it's another red herring it had better be a good one. The track racing was good, which makes it all the more surprising that I enjoyed the final panels of Jo discovering the bound man the most. I guess I'm finally maturing and realising that there's more to life than sports. Or maybe the rest of the story was a bit boring, which is the more likely. This week's story was more of a lager than a strong stout, and although it's nice to step back from high drama, it looks like we will be back into the heavy stuff next week.

Rating: 6/10 

Best line: "What the blue blazes...? There's a man in there..."

Skid Solo.

As usual Sandy looks worried. His car simply isn't fast enough and he's keen to leave South America as soon as possible and head back to Britain to work on it. 

However, Skid has other plans and is on the track practising for a sports car race on Wednesday. He's fast, and looking good for a strong finish on Wednesday. However, unbeknownst to SKid, he picks up a nail in one of his tyres on his final practice run, and this will have huge consequences later in the story. 

Coming off the track, Skid and Sandy have a disagreement about when to head back to Britain, with Skid telling Sandy that the prize money will come in handy and Sandy doesn't need Skid's help with the new car. Sandy vehemently disagrees, telling Skid that time is vital and it is crucial they get it done. The upshot of all this is Sandy goes to the airport while Skid hits the bar to reflect upon his decision. 

It takes Sandy twenty-four hours to get home, and he begins working on the engine immediately. Meanwhile, back in South America the sports car race has started, and there is drama aplenty as the nail we encountered earlier does its nefarious work, blowing out the tire and sending the car spinning off the track and into the bridge. Things worsen as more cars become involved in the pile-up, and we learn that eight cars are involved with several drivers badly injured. 

Sandy learns this by watching a news report on TV during his tea break and is immediately concerned for Skid. He needn't be, for just at the moment Skid comes through the door behind him. It turns out that after thinking about what Sandy said, Skid decided not to take part in the race and instead took the next flight out after Sandy. Sandy is speechless, and Skid, unaware of the news report Sandy has just watched, asks him what's wrong as he looks like he's just seen a ghost. 

Some fantastic art was the backbone of this story, and the race looks amazing. I hate to say this and sound like a doom merchant, but the crash itself was brilliant and easily provided us with the best three or four panels of this week's Tiger comic. Not only the track racing though, the close-ups of Sandy's face, along with the conflict between the two, also gave us some great visual moments. The story wasn't as strong as the artwork, although it did give some poignant moments with Sandy's thoughts, and again the conflict between Skid and Sandy was handled well. For all that, the story never grabbed me, and although I loved looking at it and seeing the interaction between the two main characters, I never fully embraced it. I'm not sure what the missing magic ingredient is, but if we ever find it, this would easily be my favourite story with its other strong components. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Och, that's Skid's car!"

Roy Of The Rovers

It's the third round of the F.A. Cup and so far new signing Sammy Spangler has been played out of the game. However, redemption is at hand and with only the keeper to beat, Spangler has the ball at his feet. It looks like a certain goal, but Spangler tries to be too clever and hits one of his special 'spinners' - only for the keeper to block the shot before it has time to spin. Roy follows up, blazing his shot over the top from close range. 

Spangler suffers the ignominy of being subbed off before halftime, while Roy and the rest of the Rovers mount a spirited comeback. They pull back one goal, and then after a furious second half of numerous chances, they score in the final seconds, only for the equaliser to be disallowed because of a push by Lofty Peak. 

Rovers have been knocked out of the cup by the non-league side Sleeford, and the directors watching from the grandstands know exactly who is at fault - Tony Storme and his signing of Sammy Spangler. 

No one came out of this game with much credit, especially Spangler and his disastrous start. It looks like Tony Storme will be taking the blame, with a potential sacking, although he wasn't alone in signing Spangler. The action on the page was both gripping and realistic and perfectly captured the feeling of a giant-killing performance in the F.A. Cup. I have watched many a game like this, with a lower-placed team clinging on to a slender lead while being battered by the higher-ranked team. We saw that here with Rovers being denied again and again in dramatic fashion, before the final drama of the game with a disallowed goal. Fantastic stuff, in fact, one could say "Roy of the Rovers Stuff". This is the type of Roy of the Rovers storyline people are referring to when they use that phrase, and it was great to finally see it played out on the page. I'm no fan of Sammy Spangler, yet he has ignited the best game we have seen since I started this blog, and for that I thank him. 

Rating: 9/10

Best line: "Why in thunder's name didn't you hammer it, Sammy?"

Hot-Shot Hamish 

Princes Park was two-nil up when we left them last week, and that's how the game ends this week with Hamish unable to score a third. 

In the changing room after the game, Wallie Campbell receives a telegram from his mother informing him that his father is in trouble and he is to return home immediately. 

Mister McWhacker lets him go and asks that Hamish accompany him to look after him and to get back as soon as they can for training. 

Soon Hamish and Wallie are walking through the snow of the Highlands towards Wallie's family home. Coming across a large house, Hamish wrong assumes that it's Wallie's house, Wallie corrects him, telling him that it's Donald McDonald's house, and his house is a much smaller house just around the corner.

Just as they come across it, a toboggan hurtles towards them, sending them diving into a snow bank. This toboggan is ridden by Wallie's father who, as we soon learn from Wallie's Mother, has challenged the McDonbalds to a toboggan race. Not only that, but he has also staked their house against the McDonald's house. This has Wallie's mother most concerned, and very angry, and it's left to Hamish to reassure her by telling her that he is the toboggan champion of his island and they'll beat the McDonalds together.  

After a run of great stories in Hot-Shot Hamish, this one came up short. Hamish generally gives us great characters, but I found Wallie's family to be a ho-hum and not of the usual high standard. Apart from a couple of tobogganing panels, the artwork was safe and didn't have much to do. The first image of Hamish about to strike the hot-shot was as good as it got, with only two panels of the toboggan coming close to it for interest. The story is still developing, next week we should get something a little more interesting, but until then this felt flat after a recent great run.

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Ye live in a bonny wee part o' the country, Wallie" 

Nipper

A run of three football stories to round out this week's issue, and Nipper is the last of them.

Although the story starts in the hospital, things are looking up for Nipper. He is soon discharged and as he leaves he is accosted by the journalist Brian Crawford. Crawford is making amends for their past troubles, pulling Nipper's dog Stumpy from his car, before telling Nipper that there will be no repercussions as he has made things good with Andy Stewart for him. Not only that, there will be a full explanation of his behaviour published in this evening's edition of the newspaper. There is one more final piece of news for Nipper as Crawford hands him a letter that arrived for him at the ground. 

It's a letter from the manager of the England under-23 team, and Nipper is delighted to find that he has been invited to join the squad for the game against Italy. 

That leaves just one final problem to be resolved - where will Nipper live now that he has walked out on his foster parents after the Christmas party. That too is tidied up in the final two panels as Nipper looks wistfully at a real estate agent's window, a caravan catching his eye - and at a very attractive price. 

I have memories of Nipper living in his caravan, and I love that I am about to see that origin story right here. It feels like this was very much a wrap-up of the stories that have been running in parallel the last couple of months, and we can tidy up some of these loose ends and prepare for new beginnings. The concussion, leaving his foster parents, playing for the selectors, and his troubles with Crawford - all that seems to be behind us now. I am curious to see what Crawford will publish, that could potentially be stretched out further, but overall I'm very happy for some fresh beginnings. Low in drama, nevertheless I found this a succinct issue that sweeps away some of the cobwebs from late last year and leaves us with a clean slate as we march into the new year proper. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "But why bother about a house! Stumpy, old son...how do you fancy the idea of living on wheels?" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Roy Of The Rovers 

Best Line: "Just in case you don't want me to travel with you...I've got a good argument with me! It fires Bullets! Let's go!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: 

Tiger 25th January 1975

There is something for everyone on the pages of Tiger, and especially in this issue as each character, story, and sport is well represented with containing storylines.  In real life I don't have time to follow multiple sports, preferring instead to follow only my beloved football and a little wrestling. It was a different story when I was a youngster, and the spread of sports represented in Tiger closely aligned with what I was following at the time. I'm not sure which came first, following the sports on the pages of the comics, or experiencing them in the flesh, but there is no doubt that the two fed into each other, giving me a lifelong love of both sports and comics.  This week the two come together in an exciting issue with an array of thrills, thoughts and feelings. 

Tiger

18th January 1975

Johhny Cougar

It's Johnny Cougar on the cover of this week's issue, emerging from the clear cylinders that he and his opponent, Big Jim Jackson, were placed in to keep them safe from each other last week. 

After this, the fight is on, and Big Jim Jackson starts the stronger of the two. Johnny gets the first attack in, but from then on it's all Jackson, who eventually floors Johnny with a double-handed karate chop. 

Johnny regains his feet by the count of eight and although groggy responds by locking Jackson into a Boston crab. Jackson does his best to resist a submission, but by the end of the strip he has tapped out, and Johhny leads the bout by one submission. 

The opening picture of the two competitors emerging from their cylinders was a weak start and perhaps we would have been better to start with something a little more dramatic. The drama of the strip lay within the fight itself, and we started well with some heavy blows. The final submission of Jackson in a Boston crab was well done, and we were faced with a page of this hold as panel after panel Johnny applied the pressure. It could have been boring, but for me, it added to the tension as we could see Jackson struggling to free himself, as well as struggling against his impulse to tap out. The slower pace of this week's strip served the story well, and after often complaining about bouts that are over quickly, I was pleased to see that this felt like a real wrestling match. Once again, the story excels when it remains wrestling-focused, and after dispensing with the needless cylinders of the first panel, that is exactly what we got.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "That's it...the classic Boston crab!" 

Roy Of The Rovers

With a collapsed barrier and fans spilling onto the pitch, circus recruit Sammy Spangler is dribbling into a whole heap of trouble. He hastily kicks the ball away, a wayward whack that gifts the non-league side Sleeford a goal. 

Roy's unhappy about it and appeals to the referee, who then points out that the crowd didn't interfere and it was Spangler's panicked kick that gave away the goal. 

Intent on putting this behind them, Roy and the team keep feeding the ball to Spangler. However, he is continually frustrated by the Spleeford team who take the ball from him before he can set up for any of his tricks. As Roy rightfully points out, Sleeford's players aren't giving him any time, something they should have thought about before they signed him. 

Sleeford scores again from a hack upfield, but in the final panels, there is some hope for Melchester Rovers as Roy breaks the defence and delivers a beautiful cross towards Sammy Spangler. A goal seems inevitable, but we'll have to wait until next week to find out. 

I had a feeling this would happen to Spangler, and although this is just a comic, I feel superior to Roy for recognising this early on. I am still not a fan of this storyline. I thought the crowd collapsing onto the field had the potential to move us in a different direction, and offered some chance at depth to this story. It wasn't to be, and it feels like a lost opportunity. Overall, it feels like the story is treading water, and until it begins to move forward again I'm finding it the most frustrating strip in Tiger at the moment. 

Rating: 4/10

Best line: "Well, that's what the scoreboard says! I think it's time we started behaving like the best team in the country!" 

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Martin and another driver are neck and neck in coming into the final straight of the baton race. The Australian driver proves to be aggressive, and with a swerve, he crashes hard into the side of Martin. 

Tiny is not one to stay calm in such a situation, and he runs out onto the track to berate the other driver. This leads to both vehicles taking evasive action, Martin managing to keep control while the other driver isn't so lucky and crashes out of the race. 

Oddly enough the officials are fine with all of this, and Martin and Tiny are presented with the cup and prize money for winning the race. 

Still lumbered with the second car they brought for the race, they decide to sell it to a scrap metal dealer. Parking the vehicles on the road, they speak to the owner of the scrap yard, and over a cup of tea, they recount some of their adventures. This is interrupted by the sudden appearance of their car, George, swinging by the window and into the crusher. Bursting from the office they yell to the man driving the crusher, but the machinery is too loud and he can't hear them. 

I wasn't entirely happy with the end of the baton race. It felt all too easy in the end, and once again they triumphed relatively easily. The standout moment was certainly when Tiny ran onto the track, a moment that not only influenced the outcome but also gave a fine demonstration of the type of person Tiny is. We have seen similar situations where he has lost his cool, and this outburst was entirely fitting with his personality. As I expressed above, I was surprised there were no repercussions for running on the track and causing one of the cars to crash. Even in the fantasy world of comics, I would assume this is frowned upon. I like where we are going with the scrap yard, and even though I am looking forward to them getting back to Britain, this is a pleasant and highly readable diversion.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "You big oaf! You can't knock George about like that!"

Skid Solo

Race day of a major (and unnamed) South American race, and Skid Solo is paying careful attention to the weather. 

Unknown to the other racers, Skid has been speaking to a friend who has been flying a helicopter in the nearby mountains. There he encountered heavy rain, rain that should arrive at the race track sometime just after the race begins. 

Skid is the only one privy to this information, and accordingly, he is the only one on the starting grid with wet weather tires, much to the surprise of the other racers. With no rain forecast, no one else has taken this precaution and they are considerably faster than Skid on the track, with Skid slipping to eighth place, twenty-eight seconds behind the leader. 

With the arrival of unexpected torrential rain, the circumstances change and Skid becomes the fastest man on the track. His wet weather tires pay dividends, and he works his way quickly through the field, snatching a hard-fought victory.

We leave with Skid delivering a lesson to Sparrow Smith, a good driver always pays attention to the weather. 

The outside influence of the weather was too much for me, and I didn't enjoy this story as much as I should have. I always appreciate seeing track racing on the page, and that looked fine, my only issue being the fact that Skid had knowledge the other drivers didn't. It was shoehorned in, with Skid just happening to have a friend who flies a helicopter nearby. It's stretching credibility a little, and in my eyes did the story a disservice. If there was another means by which Skid had this information I should have been happier, it was the delivery of this crucial information that was the sticking point for me. I was also disappointed by Sandy's negative attitude. In one of the panels before the race we see him telling Skid that he he doesn't know why he is racing as he has no chance. Not the type of character that I would want on my team, that's for sure. I would have hoped that Sandy had a little more faith in his car and would have backed Skid all the way. I have a real soft spot for Skid Solo, alas this week's episode didn't speak in my language and overall I walked away from it slightly deflated. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Come on, Skid, tell me...how did you know it was going to rain?"

Nipper

Nipper is still in a daze on the football field after taking a knock to the head before the game. He is still worried that he might not make the England under-twenty-three team if he reports injured and is determined to carry on. 

However, at sideline the reporter Brian Crawford is bending Andy Stewart's ear, telling him that if Blackport loses it would be his fault if he doesn't tell Andy what he knows. 

Out on the field, Len Duggan fires a shot at goal. The keeper clears it with a strong kick that unfortunately hits Nipper in the head. The ball rebounds into the goal for an equalizer, but Nipper is laid out and carried off the field. He thinks he will be in the clear now, this blow to the head will explain away his dizziness on the field, but in the dressing room, Andy Stewart and the physio look at him and confirm what Crawford has told them, the bruise on his head wasn't caused by a football.

A concussed Nipper collapses and is taken away in an ambulance, while onlookers surmise that Andy Stewart will throw the book at him for not reporting it.

A curious story, I haven't warmed to it, but every week I am intrigued by what comes next. It never plays out straight forward and this is something I enjoy about the story. I thought the sideline chat from Brian Crawford would have had a more immediate impact, and I liked that it wasn't resolved immediately and instead is stretching off until next week. I also like that this week wasn't entirely Nipper-focused and it was other characters that carried the bulk of the storyline. Nipper stands out as being different from other stories in Tiger comic, and although this isn't my favourite story, in some ways, it remains the most interesting with all its various threads. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Whatever he's been saying, it...it isn't true! I...I'm all right, Mister Stewart, honest! You can't report this to the England selectors! You can't...!" 

Hot Shot Hamish

An unusual scene for us in the first panel of this week's strip as we see Hamish in the recreational room, playing pool. Tensions are high and after some interference from Hamish's sheep, MacMutton, a fight breaks out. With a pool cue cracked across his head, Hamish upends the table and an all-in brawl ensues. 

All's well that ends well, and as the dust settles Hamish and the team are united. Thoughts may be with their upcoming cup game, but first, they have a league game to play. The team is energetic and enthusiastic, quickly gaining a two-nil lead on the back of Hamish's hot shot and a powerful header. In the stands, two men from Dunferlie, the team the next face in the cup, watch on. Princes Park may be two-nil up, but they are convinced that it's a flash in the pan and when they next face each other Dunferlie will thrash them again. 

The ending was weak in comparison to what came earlier, especially the fight in the recreation room. Seeing Hamish playing pool was a fish out of water situation, and he looked ridiculous. One couldn't help but smile at it. The fight was also humourous, highlighting Hamish's strength and the volatile nature of some of his teammates. It all added to the colour of Princes Park, showing they are more than footballers on the field. The artwork on this opening page was superb, and easily a highlight of this week's Tiger comic. This was a taster of what is to come as we build towards the cup game, and as such wasn't essential this week. However, it remained a lot of fun, and any time we get to see Hamish's hot shot is a treat.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Dinna talk about MacMutton that way! Yon sheep's got more brains in his feet than ye have in yere head!"

Billy's Boots

Billy has teamed up with new boy Jimmy Dawson, and this newfound partnership is reaping rewards as the two carve up the field at the trial game. 

Billy and Jimmy's second eleven end up beating the first team, and on Thursday morning there is excitement in the air as Billy and Jimmy scamper to see the team that has been posted by the sports master. 

There's disappointment for Billy as he hasn't made the first team, although Jimmy Dawson has. Trudging home, he stops by the local amateur club to see if he can get a game with their youth side. He can't, but fate intervenes with the appearance of Mister Slade, whom we met a couple of issues ago as Billy jumped the fence into his property. 

Mister Slade is an ex-England international, and he steps in on Billy's behalf, telling the coach to put Billy on, after all, it's only a training session.

Billy does well, showing that he has learnt how to header the ball properly based on the tips that Mister Slade gave him. Slade is impressed, and after the game, he invites Billy to play in a benefit match for Faraday Athletic. It will give Billy a taste of first-division football as they are playing West Barnworth Albion, a team currently fifth in the first division. 

It is a big game, in front of forty thousand people. Coming on as a sub with thirty minutes to do, Billy is told that he will find it fast, but to do his best. Meanwhile from the stands, the headmaster is watching with the sports master. The headmaster is amused that Billy is playing, but can't get a game for the school team, to which the sports master comments that he thinks that Billy will be out of his depth here. 

Unbelievable, but fun. After a string of bad luck, it looks like things have finally turned for Billy. We had previously seen him jumping the fence and being caught trespassing in Mister Slade's yard, and here that is turned on its head as Billy comes up trumps with the reappearance of this character. I'm in two minds about Billy playing at this high level. My first thought is this is fun and is every young boy's dream. That side of it made me smile, and the thought of it warmed my heart. My second thought was it was all a bit unbelievable, and a stretch for my imagination. Even reading it with a cold beer in hand didn't help me, it still seemed all too much of a coincidence and unlikely. However, it sure beats having miserable Billy moping across our pages, and the last two issues have seen him emerge from the depressing fog with a smile and an extra spring in his step. It makes the reading of it all the more pleasant, and although I'm not totally sold on the idea, I did enjoy the story a lot. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "All right, if they don't want me...that's it! I won't play for the school again...ever! I'll get a game with someone else!" 

Tallon Of The Track 

Held at gunpoint, Jo and her team are ordered to compete against a local Russian team. 

Jo has little choice but to agree and soon they have unloaded their bikes and got changed into their racing gear. They are agog at the ancient Russian bikes they are racing against, but these bikes prove their undoing during the race. Belching heavy black smoke, the bikes throw up a smoke screen that causes Jo and Valdmir to collide, leaving the race wide open for the local team of Gorbski to take maximum points. 

A page to set up the racing and a page is racing is all we have here. We still haven't learnt the motive for this local team to be so desperate to race the Ospreys, but no doubt we shall find out soon enough. I enjoyed the intensity of the faces on the first page, and the thrill of the bikes on the second page, and we have a good balance and contrast between the two. The story isn't speaking to me, but the artwork is and currently, that is the main reason I am drawn to Tallon Of The Track. Each panel is worthy of a close look, and it is time well spent as actions speak louder than words. It is still some way from its best, but it still finds ways to entertain. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Just look at the opposition! Those machines must have come out of the ark!" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6.5/10

Best Story: Johnny Cougar 

Best Line: "Whatever he's been saying, it...it isn't true! I...I'm all right Mister Stewart, honest! You can't report this to the England selectors! You can't..!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: 

Tiger 18th January 1975

I have been waiting for this issue all week, ever since Sparrow Smith left Skid Solo and Sandy to drive for the Martine team. Despite my anticipation that wasn't my favourite story this week - a surprise arrival in Billy's Boots made that a must-read, and in a wider context it is historically significant for the character of Billy. You'll see why below, but it signals a change that will enhance the story and widen the scope of the character.   

Tiger

18th January 1975

Skid Solo

Skid Solo appears on the cover of this issue, although to be honest, the story doesn't live up to this front-page billing.

With Sparrow Smith switching to the Martine team, Skid and Sandy are preparing their car for the next race. With only Sparrow on the track, Skid has a chance to compare the two cars, and he is found wanting as Sparrow and the Martine car put in lap times three seconds faster.

Sandy puts in an all-nighter on the car to coax every last drop of speed out of it, and the next Skid hurls the car as fast as he can around the track, diving at the very limit of control, and manages to eclipse the Martine time by a mere second. 

It's short-lived as the Martine car slips out on the track, and in a display of slick driving beats the time, this time by two seconds. Sandy is shocked, and even more so when he turns around and sees Sparrow Smith standing beside him. It's not been Sparrow out in the Martine car, but rather Skid himself. 

With the Martine car easily confirmed as the fastest in the business, this week's story finishes with Skid and Sandy discussing the need to find a new car as soon as possible. 

Hardly high stakes, nevertheless it was lovely to look at as I flicked through pages. I always appreciate any issue that has Skid Solo adorning the front cover, and there always seems to be a great image of a race car to catch your attention. I didn't find the story overly engrossing, the story of Sandy's car not being fast enough could have been handled better. This story is laying the groundwork for future issues, and one aspect I liked about the story is the interaction between Skid and Sparrow and their respective teams. Odd that Skid could just jump into the Martine car and take it for a lap, hard to imagine that happening today, but it was a demonstration of both how fast the Martine car is and how good Skid is as a driver as it managed to pull a lap time faster than Sparrow could in the car. The future bodes well for this storyline, although this week's strip is a mere taster of what is to come. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "Rubbish! That car's won the championship for ye...and for Sparrow! An' it's still tops!"

Roy Of The Rovers

Melchester Rovers have signed circus juggler Sammy Spangler to the club although we have yet to see him play on the field. Meanwhile, Roy is laid up at home with an injury. In the first panel we learn it's been several days now and he's fully recovered and ready to get back into action. 

At the club, there is talk that signing Spangler was a mistake, and the final decision to pick him to play in the F.A. Cup match against non-league side Sleeford is left entirely down to Tony Storme. 

Tony asserts himself and picks Spangler, but further shocks await when they reach the Sleeford ground and discover how small it is. With tiny dressing rooms to suit, this truly is a non-league team. 

The game starts, with Roy urging his players to get Spangler involved early. That they do, but as Splanger makes a run down the wing a section of the barrier holding back the crowd breaks, and a mass of people fall onto the field in front of him. 

This story is rapidly improving and we had some great panels in this week's issue. The opening image of Roy lying in his garden was fantastic, and I always get a kick out of seeing Roy at home and in his home life. The final panel of the crowd spilling onto the field was equally evocative, although after seeing some of the stadium tragedies of the 80s and 90s this does seem a bit dark for a comic. Still, it's on a smaller scale, and it is a dramatic-looking image. Spangler is still leading the storylines, although the man himself only fleetingly appeared on the pages this week, and it was Roy and Tony Storme who featured heavily throughout. Both have big personalities and I did like that we saw both of them expressing a range of emotions on the page rather than just asserting personal strength panel after panel. A tidy edition, once again next week is where things will pick up again, but for now, this laid out the groundwork in fine stye. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "I heard a rumour that the directors have been having a go at him about signing Sammy Spangler"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Tiny and Martin are watching the first heat of the baton race, hoping to glean some hints for their own race next. It's carnage out on the track, and they decide they desperately need to do something to avoid a pileup at the baton change. 

They start well in their heat, with Tiny reversing towards Martin at the baton change, leaving them clear of the hustle and bustle of the other cars. With their heat won easily, they are through to the finals 

They decide that they can't pull the same trick again in the finals, and it is decided the best thing to do is get a big lead, making the baton change clear of the rest of the field. This they do, although on his leg Tiny finds he loses a lot of ground to the other competitors. However, they manage to avoid trouble at the final baton change and it is left to Martin to battle it out with another driver named Mad Mike in a frantic final lap.

I had low expectations for this story, so I was quietly pleased to see how good it looked on the page as I read it. The baton race offers plenty of exciting racing panels, as well as a couple of obligatory crashes. Excitement aplenty when I read through the eyes of a young lad, and even as an adult I found myself quietly thrilled by the cars piling up. Of course, all this is helped by the fact that it takes place in colour, and Martin's Marvellous Mini is so beautifully coloured I would be quite happy even if they only sat around drinking tea and chatting. With the baton race almost over, I wonder how long the boys have left in Australia, but one senses that perhaps their time is coming to an end and shall soon be back to dear old blighty. We will see, but for now, I'm happy with where we are. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Haw, haw! Those Pommies have pulled a fast one! They're away!"

Billy's Boots

This is an important issue of Billy's Boots, with the introduction of a new character who will be a mainstay of the strip for the next ten years. 

Billy is preparing to play for the reserve team in a game against the first team. He is determined to do well as we see in the first panel s he prepares his boots at home while chatting with his Gran.

The following day brings snow, and in class, Billy is distracted by the weather and the possibility that the game may be called off. There is a further distraction when a new boy arrives late at the class. His name is Jimmy Dawson, and he is told to quickly take a seat next to young Billy Dane. 

He too is a footballer, and Billy and he strike up an easy friendship, taking lunch at the canteen together while Jimmy tells Billy that he too is taking part in the practice game that afternoon. 

Billy plays well but is constantly frustrated by the heavy defence and he never manages to get a shot in. Later in the game, the sports master calls for Jimmy Dawson to come on, and Jimmy immediately tells Billy that he likes what he has seen and he thinks their styles will work well together.

This proves correct, and the two combine well with Jimmy setting up Billy for his first goal. A few minutes later, Billy makes a dummy run that pulls the defenders away from Jimmy, leaving Jimmy with a shot at goal that cannons off the crossbar. Luckily Billy has continued his run into space and is there to emphatically header the ball home for his second goal.  The reserve team is overjoyed, and there is immediate talk of both Billy and Jimmy making the first team. 

I was caught off guard by the appearance of Jimmy Dawson in this issue. I knew he was going to arrive at some stage, but I had no idea of the timelines and thought that it might be another year before we saw him. The comic has lifted with his appearance, and he is proving to be a fine foil for Billy already. Not only does he take the load off him on the field, but also in the storytelling aspect of the story. No longer is Billy the sole focus, and the story is becoming fuller and broader with the introduction of this new character. Billy has been cast as a lonely figure since his arrival at Tiger, but with Jimmy Dawson now onboard we see a more natural friendship for a young boy developing. Jimmy also provides a lighter touch against the more melancholy Billy, and some of the misery is washed from the strip with his smile. A strong issue with the football action looking great, but the historical importance of the arrival of Jimmy Dawson trumps everything else and makes Billy's Boots a standout.

Rating: 9/10

Best line: "We're a great combination, Billy!"

Tallon Of The Track 

Jo and her team are facing an ambush by bandits in the wilds of Russia as we open this week's strip. 

Things don't improve as the team is ordered off the bus at gunpoint and commanded to walk along a track in the forest. New recruit Vladimir Debenko isn't having any of it, and although the bandits are carrying rifles, he begins fighting against all of them. He makes a good account of himself, but the numbers prove overwhelming and soon enough he is bound and gagged as the Ospreys trudge through the woods. 

The appearance of a village fails to enlighten them about the motives of the bandits, despite Jo's constant questioning of the leader. Things take a turn when they see a speedway track at the village and the leader comes clean about their motives. He is Viktor Korkov, leader of the local amateur speedway team. Jo and her team are to compete against his team, under the threat of force if necessary.

Well, that was weird, yet not totally surprising given some of the situations I have seen Jo in before. I don't like it, despite the art being fantastic throughout. The sight of Debenko lifting one of the bandits above his head was eye-catching, as was the opening panel of the bus being surrounded. It seems a poor excuse to have a speedway meeting in the middle of Russia, and part of me thinks surely we could have got here by some other means rather than down the barrel of the gun. Perhaps my opinion will change once they are on the track, but somehow I doubt it. This sojourn to Russia has so far delivered three silly storylines, and to be honest I would rather they pack it all in now and return to just a regular season in Britain. Too late now, we are forty-five years down the track, but still part of me wishes we could restart with a clear track ahead and a full tank of gas. 

Rating: 4/10

Best line: "Ignorant peasant! To insult little Tallonski is to insult me!"

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

With the International Wrestling Tournament being tied between Johnny Cougar and Big Jim Jackson, the organizers decide that Cougar and Jackson must fight again to decide the winner of the tournament.

Cougar knows that this time won't be so easy, and begins some tough training to prepare. While out running he has a surprising encounter with Jackson, and the two begin a battle of words. This escalates into a game of oneupmanship, as they both try and prove their respective superiority. 

A sprint ends in a draw before a building site becomes the scene for a display of strength with each man lifting a heavy steel guider. Tied again, the feud then moves to the gym and both men tear apart two punching bags. Things come to a sudden end with the appearance of the promoter and his men who encase Cougar and Jackson in two shatterproof cylinders, protecting them both from each other until the start of the fight. 

A strange ending, with the oddball image of Cougar and Jackson in the cylinders. Until then I had loved the story, especially the natural way the feud between the two men was playing out with each goading the other to further displays of strength. It felt realistic, and the animosity between the two on the page was pitched perfectly. Although let down by a weak finish, there was much to enjoy, and if the actual fight is half as good as what we have here then we should be in for a wrestling treat. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Yahooooo! That's the greatest news since they invented salted peanuts! A re-match with Cougar is what I've been dreaming of!"

Hot-shot Hamish

Facing a game against the league leaders, to whom they previously lost seven-nil, the Princes Park management team are desperate for training ideas to improve the squad. Reading through a pile of suggestions, it is a training idea from Hamish that they decide to use.

The next day at training the team is faced with a packing case that is going to help them run faster. Hamish opens the case, revealing a ferocious lion. The team immediately sprints the length of the pitch to get away from the wild animal, only for Hamish to repeat the exercise from the other end. 

Things come unstuck at this point for Hamish as the lion suddenly baas and we find out it is his sheep MacMutton disguised as a lion. Not so much mutton dressed as lamb, as mutton dressed as a lion. 

The team is furious with Hamish chasing him across the terraces, which only serves to make them fitter. Catching him they band together to give him a good soaking from a barrel of water, which delights Mister McWhacker as it helps with the team bonding. The team is happy and is now prepared for their game next week.

A funny story, with humour well and truly to the fore. Hamish has had a strong run of late, with several touching and dramatic storylines, but this one harks back to his roots as pure comedy. At first, the lion felt silly and out of place, but the reveal was great and I must admit I was just as taken in as the players. This isn't my favourite type of Hamish story, I like a little more balance between the humour and other aspects, but it was highly enjoyable and readable. This is the typical Hot-shot Hamish story we will see in coming years, and as such touches on the essence of the story as a humourous strip. Not always my cup of tea, but this one had me laughing.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Hey...lions don't go baah!"

Nipper

Flippin' Norah, Nipper Lawrance has taken a blow to the head before a match against Sandyford, and now is seeing double as he moves in to make a crucial tackle. 

Needless to say, the crucial tackle isn't made, and it has disastrous consequences as Sandyford scores the first goal of the game. Nipper is roundly chastised by the team, and it becomes apparent that something isn't right as Nipper makes a second calamitous mistake, this time crashing into the Sandyford keeper and giving away a foul. 

From the sideline a furious Andy Stewart looks on, telling those nearby that if Nipper has been hiding an injury from him he will make him regret it for the rest of his days. Things look like they can only get worse as in the final panel of the story journalist Brian Crawford makes his way down from the stands, intent on telling Andy Stewart something he suspects about Nipper. 

I enjoyed the football in this issue, it stood in stark contrast to the more mundane plot involving Andy Stewart and Brian Crawford. Seeing Nipper struggle on the field gave our hero feet of clay and grounded a player who is often too skilful for his own good. His missed tackle was captured well by the artist, although the standout panel of the whole story was as he clashed with the opposing goalkeeper. It looked bone-crunching on the page, and I could feel it in my own body as I took in the panel. This week's story was a case of steady as she goes, with the story still steadily unfolding in front of us while the art captures the here and now in solid fashion. I wanted more, yet I walked away from the strip perfectly happy and ready for whatever comes next.

Rating: 6.5

Best line: "Aye, that's what I thought! By glory, if anything has happened to Nipper...and he's trying to keep it from me...I'll make him regret it for the rest of his days!"  

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6.5/10

Best Story: Billy's Boots 

Best Line: "I'm coming on now, Billy....we'll work together. I've been watching you. I like your style of play...I reckon we'll fit in nicely..."

Best Panel:

Roy's Sport Quiz: