Tiger 29th March 1975

I have the week off work. You might think that means a week of reading comics, supping beers, and falling asleep in the garden. Apparently not - my wife has other ideas, and most of them involve spending money. Still, the worst day at home is better than the best day at work, and I am enjoying a longer breakfast in the morning while managing to snatch an extra hour in the afternoon with my comics. Only another twenty years until I retire, and then every day can be like this.          

Tiger

29th March 1975

Billy's Boots

Billy Dane is on the cover of this week's issue, taking the field in the quarter-finals of the school's cup. The big defenders of the opposing side have taken their toll on the first-choice Groundwood centre forward, and he is carried off the field, leaving Billy to step up and face this imposing defence. 

The Springfield team have Billy's Groundwood struggling, and despite some heroic efforts by the goalkeeper, Groundwood concede a goal, making the score one-one.

The game continues apace, the minutes ticking by and the Groundwood boys cheering on their school team. Billy has not touched the ball, with the game being all defence and nothing coming his way. 

Eventually, this changes and Billy finds the ball coming his way. With a defender on his back, there is little time to think, and Billy finds his magical boots taking control of the situation. A deft flick sees Billy lobbing the ball over the defender and he breaks into space. He wants to shoot as the keeper comes towards him, but the boots continue to do as they will and Billy finds himself dribbling the ball around the goalkeeper and into the net. 

The ecstatic crowd flood onto the pitch, and with time up on the clock, the game ends at this point. As the hero of the moment, Billy is carried off the field on the shoulders of his peers, and his team are through to the semi-finals. 

The following Wednesday the team is named for the semifinal. Billy has retained his place and is now joined by his good friend Jimmy Dawson. Determined to be at their peak, the two boys begin training again and look to cook up something special for the semifinal. Consulting his trusty book on Dead-shot Keen's life, Billy finds that Keen also had a unique connection with one of his teammates. Reading that the two of them had a special move involving a headed pass backwards, Billy and Jimmy decide to give it a go in the semifinal. 

Not what I expected, and all the better for it. Yes, we did have a lot of the boots taking control. We also had plenty of the friendship between Billy and Jimmy, something which I was delighted to see. I was also heartened by the happy outcome of the football game. There are times when Billy's boots, and particularly Billy's life, can feel a bit miserable. Any positive outcome helps lift the feeling of the comic, and in this case, not only did Billy score a goal, but the game finished with a victory and Billy was named in the team again with his best friend. Surely that must bring a smile to the face of our boy Billy. A well-balanced issue, with good football action and a storyline clearly defined and moving forward, this was just the start we need for this week's Tiger. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Right, Dane...on you go! The defenders are big and tough...but you can beat 'em if you use your skill!"

Skid Solo

Young Tommy Carter is back again, strolling up to Skid and Sandy who are at work in the pits. He wants nothing more but to sit and watch, and as Skid drives out onto the track Tommy sits with Sandy.

On the track, Skid considers how lonely Tommy must be, and how he will miss them once they return to Britain. Returning from his lap, he finds that Tommy is now helping Sandy to work on an engine, and showing a fair amount of ability while he's at it. 

The rest of the week passes like this and soon it's time for Skid and Sandy to return to Britain. At Tommy's house, we see that his living situation with his relatives is dire, and after an argument, he tells his caregivers that he is going to Britain with Skid and Sandy to learn to be a mechanic. 

Later at the airport, Skid and Sandy arrive to find Tommy's relatives waiting for them, with Tommy in tow. Handing over his passport, they thank Skid for taking off their hands, and if he hadn't they would have been taking Tommy to the authorities. 

Skid is surprised, as he knows nothing of what they speak, they're has been no discussion of anything of the sort with Tommy. However, Tomy's relatives soon leave, and Skid notices that Tommy has vanished. he is found not far away, and tells Skid that he told his relatives this tall tale to get away from the, 

Skid tells him to get in the car they've got a plane to catch. Sandy backs him up, and it's quickly agreed that Toomy can join them, with Sandy taking him on as an apprentice. The story ends happily as the three of them drive toward the plane that will fly them back to Britain. 

This was a nice way to introduce a new character, and although the story didn't advance, it was necessary to build the character of Tommy Carter into the story. Since the departure of Sparrow Smith to a rival team, there has been a void of a young and relatable character in Skid's team. Tommy Carter plays out every young boy's fantasy as he joins as an apprentice to one of the greats of the motorsport world and gives the reader, primarily young men, a relatable perspective. Low in drama, yet important to the world being built around Skid Solo, this story was satisfying without being demanding. A lot of that satisfaction is derived from owning what a mainstay of the comic Tommy Carter will be, and seeing him given a suitable backstory that adds an interesting slant to the character. We should be back to the more familiar Skid Solo tropes next week, and for now, this was a nice building block in a much larger story. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Look, son...get in the car. We've got a plane to catch!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Martin and Tiny are back in Britain and need to raise some money. George has been repaired, but the mini that the ship's captain lent them needs some costly work, and the two boys are soon towing the red mini from the track and heading into the village.

Here more trouble finds them and after the tow rope snaps and the red mini ends up in a river they are facing a much larger repair bill. 

Back at home, they ponder on how they can generate some more cash and Tiny finds what seems to be the perfect solution - Hill-climbing. There is an event nearby, and with cash prizes on offer, it looks just the ticket. 

Two days later they enter the event and after watching several competitors take on the hill it is their turn. They are fast, as observed by many in the crowd, although they find they are too fast as Martin loses control on one of the corners. Sliding towards a TV camera it looks bad for two pals, although we never see it on the page. Those watching at home suddenly find their TVs have gone blank and it is assumed that they have crashed into the camera. 

I love a good hill-climb story, and I'm sure we have this event several times across the years of Martin's Marvellous Mini. We are back in Britain, and everything feels as though it's back on an even keel as George slews his way up a muddy road. With this familiarity comes a warm feeling, and this week's story doesn't put a foot wrong throughout. There is humour, more disaster for the boys, and a shot at redemption, all neatly spread across two pages. All of it is charming, and it's a hard man who reads these stories without a smile on his face. A great little package, and like the mini itself, everything is beautifully constructed on a small scale. 

Rating: 7/10

Best Line: "Hill-climbing! That's great...we'll enter George! He can do anything!" 

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

The saga of Grarg, the robot wrestler, continues this week. Grarg is out of control and in the countryside, although not for long as he soon approaches a small village.

Meanwhile, in the castle, Johnny confronts Grarg's manager, Jacob Barclay, and tells him that they must do something. Jacob stammers that there is nothing he can do - he had intended for Grarg to become a sporting superstar, not go on the rampage like this. Johnny is tired of this talk and leads them out of the castle in search of Grarg. 

In the village, Grarg smashes up the village store, before moving on. Johnny and the others arrive to find a policeman taking a report from locals who observed the attack and quickly asks one of the witnesses which direction Grag went. 

Grarg is already on the other side of the village, where he smashes through the wall of a house and throws the occupant and the bath he is sitting, in out of the window and into the village duck pond. 

Next, he heads to the village hall, and as he enters we see the sign outside which advertises a wrestling tournament which is taking place at this very moment. 

We can already see what will happen next and expect to see Johnny in the ring with Grarg very soon, if not the next issue then certainly the one after. This issue primarily showed the strengths of Grarg, and without a direct conflict with Johnny, the story was broken up into several vignettes of Grarg wreaking destruction on various parts of the village. Once again the character is well established as an unbeatable monster, and the scene is set for a showdown with Cougar. It seemed a little too neat that there just so happened to be a wrestling tournament taking place in the village, but it is what it is, and will bring the story to a suitable conclusion in the next couple of issues. No action this week, it will all be happening in the next issue, and I for one can't wait to see Johnny Cougar lock up against this seemingly unbeatable robot.  

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "How dashed embarrassing!" 

Roy Of The Rovers

Rovers have landed at Zarnov airport for their second leg against Dynamo Zarnov, and the reception they receive upon landing is hot, to say the least. A crowd of Zarnov supporters have turned up, and the Rovers receive a torrent of abuse as they exit the plane. 

They are wondering how they will make it past this angry mob when suddenly a minibus pulls up, and with a yell, they all jump aboard. There is no time to pause and consider where the bus has come from, already objects are being thrown at it, and they quickly speed off.

The Rovers speak with the reporters on the bus, and thank them for arranging this. The reporters tell Roy they have nothing to do with it. There is some concern as there is no connecting door between them and the driver, and there is a brief second of worry that they have been kidnapped. 

However, they arrive at their hotel safely. Quickly looking in the driver's window, they find that the driver has already scarpered, but not before leaving a note. It's the same type of mystery note they have been receiving for several weeks, and this one urges them to stay at the stadium rather than the hotel.

Seeing a mob of angry fans down the road, Roy can see the sense in this and pushes the Rovers to get back on the bus. It's a quick drive to the stadium, and soon they have set up mattresses in here changing room and are ready to settle in for an unusual night. Roy is worried that tomorrow will be worse, and this is just the beginning of their troubles. 

I enjoyed this issue a lot and found it quite believable. It may seem strange now to see the team bed down at the stadium, but I well remember the 1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand, when the Springboks were forced to sleep at the stadium the night before due to concerns that protestors would close all routes to the ground the day of the game. Only a few years after the comic I now have in my hands, it seems all too real as I read Roy's story. Let's hope that Rover's game against Zarnov is less eventful than the Springbok's game against the All Blacks. As for the mystery notes, they have become tiresome and it's time to move on. The drama against Zarnov is enough, and the mystery van driver and notes are a distraction compared to the far more compelling football story currently taking place. That football story should come to full fruition next week. With everything primed and in its place, we should be in for a great issue, let's hope it delivers.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "...but this is most irregular! Sleeping accommodation the stadium has not got, Sir!" 

Nipper 

Nipper is playing for the Blackport Reserve team, and attracting most of the Blackport fans to the away game against Kelford. 

It's not just the Blackport fans who have made the journey to see Nipper, in the crowd a host of First Division managers are in attendance, all hoping to sign Nipper on transfer. 

Inspired by the appearance of these managers, the Blackport reserve team give it their all, all hoping that they might be signed. On the other side of the coin, the Kelford players decide that they won't be guinea pigs in this show, and from the start, they resort to rough-house tactics to upset Nipper. 

Nipper stays resolute, and demonstrating his football nouse, he outsmarts Kelford to earn his first goal. His second goal comes shortly after as the game becomes Nipper's show. All the while, the visiting managers are visibly impressed, and each has aspirations to sign Nipper. 

A pure football strip, this story remained firmly on the rails and gave us just what we needed, a celebration of football. Some of the distractions of previous Nipper stories are dispensed with, and what we have here is the essence of the story - a young man with a football at his feet. We saw plenty of Nipper's character shining through with his toughness, and fury, all making an appearance, along with the young impulsive energy that he carries. It was uplifting to see him overcoming his previous problems, and even in the reserve team, he is still finding positives and the story is quickly advancing. Needless to say, I'm a fan.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "In that case, let's put on a show for 'em, lads! Maybe we'll all get snapped up!"

Hot Shot Hamish

Speaking of transfers, Hamish Balfour also looks like he may be leaving his team. Needing money to repair the stand, Mister McWhacker has put Hamish on the transfer list, desperately attempting to raise more funds for the club.  

The fans are not happy with this turn of events, and they soon mobilize to raise the required funds to institute the repairs. A variety of schemes take place on the page, and it seems that enough has been done to keep Hamish at the club.

Prince Park's next game is against Westboro' Town and will be played at a neutral ground due to the unsafe condition of Princes Park ground. 

It's a wet and wild day, and the bus is shown driving through heavy rain on its way to the game. The inevitable happens, and as visibility becomes worse the bus suddenly has to take evasive action as a lorry comes from the opposite direction, and it ends up on its side in a ditch.

Emerging from the wreckage, a majority of the players are uninjured. However, three players have minor complaints, and with only two reserves, it looks like the team will be short for the game. However, they have fifteen-year-old Donald McGregor with them, currently the boot boy, but about to become the vital eleventh member of the team.

The stand-out part of this story was the artwork. Every panel of art added extra layers of interest to the story being told, and the panels of the bus in the driving rain were especially compelling. The drama was tucked away in the second part of the story, while the first part of the story contained a heavy dose of humour that carried us swiftly along. It was a lot of fun seeing the money-making schemes, and the moments when aspersions were cast upon Hamish's intellect also brought a smile to my face. Beautifully balanced, and with more of the same to come, this was a strong strip for Hot Shot Hamish and points to a bright future.

Rating: 8/10

Bets line: "Hamish would sell twice as many photographs if he could write his name a wee bit faster! He's a slow mon wi' a pen!"  

Tallon Of The Track

Sven has suddenly swerved off the track, and down the stadium tunnel, much to the horror of Jo who expected him to win his heat. We see the cause of his decision immediately this week, a strange man is running off with Sven's precious balalaika. Jumping from his bike, Sven runs down the corridor, only to be knocked out by a single blow from the man he is chasing.  

Jo and Dave help Sven to his feet but there is nothing more they can do. Things get worse with the appearance of three race officials. Sven's erratic behaviour cannot be condoned, and he is duly suspended for the rest of the meeting. 

The next race the Ospreys give a good account of themselves, but it's not enough, and the Russians earn enough points to hold their overall lead. There is one final twist just as the race ends, with Sven emerging from the dressing room, yelling to Jo that she has to come and see what he has found. 

I am enjoying the race meeting. The balalaika storyline, not so much. I always tell people how much I like Tallon of The Track, however as I read it week after week I am finding I am constantly disappointed by the direction of the story. It is the artwork that I truly love in the comic, and this week is another fine example of the art I enjoy so much. The bikes on the track look fantastic, the faces of the characters of the story are all expressive and realistic, and the drama off the track is captured simply and in a manner that makes me want to read more. The panel of Sven being punched is a fine example, just his face and fist, but it is fabulous. Russia and the story of balalaika pales in comparison, and I have no interest at all in what they are doing and why. Yet, I continue to read, drawn invariably to the artwork and clinging to the hope that soon a story will arrive worthy of it. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "But why? What's so special about that wretched instrument?" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Hot Shot Hamish 

Best Line: "It took him a lot of practice before he could write his name at all! He's no' a great scholar!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: