Tiger 26th April 1975

Last week was a transition week for many of the stories with new stories starting and several other older storylines evolving. This week we get the payoff with one of the best issues of Tiger I have read since this blog started almost two years ago. The artwork throughout was stupendous and I had a tough choice selecting a favourite panel. This was a joy to read, and I liked the direction most of the stories were going. It feels like we have hit a fertile patch in the storytelling, and this is a timely reminder of why I first started reading Tiger all those years ago. There is something for everyone, and all of it is of excellent quality.  

Tiger

26th April 1975

Billy's Boots

Groundwood School has reached the Schools' Cup final for the second year in succession. There are nerves aplenty as the team lines up to run out on the first-division pitch, heightened by the fact that they are about to meet the Duke of Molechester. 

With the ceremony over the game begins. Billy's boots are performing as expected and Billy has a torrid first half. Coming off the field at halftime, they are down one-nil, although they have had chances. The sportsmaster is encouraging, and despite his mistakes, Billy receives no criticism.

The second half begins with Billy immediately passing the ball to an opposing player. There are calls of rubbish from the crowd, but this time Billy makes amends. Chasing the opposing player, he wins the ball back before launching into a mazing dribble through the other team. With four players beaten, there are more calls for him to pass it, although it seems that Billy will be holding onto the ball and heading for goal in next week's issue.

The front cover was deceiving and I thought that more of the story was going to be taken up with meeting the Duke. This didn't happen and we swiftly moved on to the football action. On this front, the story didn't disappoint, and I lapped up every miskick and poor pass that Billy made. In front of the big crowd, you could feel his nervousness, and the artist did a fine job of capturing his angst every time the ball went astray. Surprisingly, my favourite part of the story was when his boots took control, and Billy began dribbling through the opposition. It looked great on the page and was beautifully captured in a single panel. For ten seconds Billy looked like Messi in his prime, and for the first time in a long while I felt genuinely excited about his magical boots. The strength of Billy's Boots is in his friendships and the camaraderie among the boys, but this was one instance when the football looked sublime, and I felt I was watching something spectacular unfold. Full credit to the artist on this, it is one panel that will be going into my virtual hall of fame. 

Rating: 9/10

Best line: "Tighten up your passing, Dane...and good luck!"

Skid Solo

It is the Spanish Grand Prix this week, and it looks like it's going to be fiercely competitive. The scene is set from the first panel, with a fiery encounter between Sparrow Smith and Gino Renga taking place on the grid, picking up their rivalry from where we left off last week. 

Skid is in fifth place as the race begins, the perfect place to see Renga's scheme of blocking Sparrow out. There is little Skid can do about it, apart from taking advantage of Renga's negative tactics and driving past both of them in a single manoeuvre. 

While Skid chases the leaders. Renga is intent on blocking Sparrow, much to the displeasure of his team manager watching from the pits. The manager put out a backboard to call him in. Renga sees the sign but decides to ignore it. However, as he is distracted by this, Sparrow seizes the moment and speeds by. 

This infuriates Renga, who drives madly on the track to try and recapture his position. Skid is having engine trouble, and soon Sparrow and Renga are right behind them. Sparrow passes him smoothly, but Renga is a little too aggressive in trying to pass at the same time, and the wheels of his car touch Skid's. 

Both run off the track and although Skid can rejoin the race, Renga is out for the day. The rest of the race passes by quickly and ends with Mareilla taking the checkered flag, followed by Vargan, Sparrow Smith and in fourth place, Skid Solo.  

After the race Skid is furious with Renga's reckless driving and wants to put in a report. However, he is pacified when he learns that Renga has been sacked from this team. Just at this moment Tommy Carter wakes up from his sleep, excited to see his first race and not wanting to miss a thing, little realizing that the race has come and gone. 

The drama with Renga that was built up the last couple of weeks came to a head in this issue and it was worth the wait. The racing was everything we had come to expect from Skid Solo with some hard driving and the obligatory crash. In this case, no one was hurt and it was nice to see the villain of the piece get his comeuppance. Renga has been cast well in the role of the villain, and we had plenty of contorted expressions and angry words before we reached this point, all of which helped put him firmly in the role of the heel. It was by the book, yet nevertheless, I enjoyed every moment of his conflict with Sparrow and Skid and I wouldn't be too surprised if we saw him again. I felt a little disappointed for Tommy Carter to miss all of this, it was a great race and I enjoyed it immensely on his behalf. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "If Renga carries on like that...he'll wrap his car round a lamp-post! Good luck to him...so long as he doesn't pile me up at the same time..."

Martin's Marvellous Mini

We open the story with a spectacular image of the mini emerging from a tunnel. We are still in the middle of the novelty race, and Martin and Tiny are giving it their all. Currently in third, they are right behind the leaders and rapidly approaching the jump across the river. 

Approaching the ramp, they watch on as the first car fails to make the jump and crashes into the water. the second car makes it cleanly across and now it is their turn. 

They make the jump, but only just as they bounce off the submerged car in the river and fortuitously land on the ramp on the opposite bank. With only one car ahead of them the race is on, and both are soon in the next obstacle, the sandpit. 

The front windshield becomes covered with dust, leading to Tiny kicking it out as they race on. The next obstacle is a sloping corner turn. Making their move to the outside, they are side by side with the lead car, but dangerously close to toppling over the edge.

That is where we leave our heroes this week, with the wheels all almost off the track and a potential crash awaiting us. I'm going to put my money down now and say it won't happen, but in the world of Tiger you just never know.  This issue offered plenty of thrills with the novelty race as we expected, and although none of it felt high-stakes it did have some of the best artwork we have seen in this week's comic. The first image of the car emerging from the pipe was fabulous, but at the bottom of that same page, it was pipped by an even better image of  George bouncing across the river. Along with the memorable panels we have already seen in Billy's Boots and Skid Solo, this has been one of the best Tiger comics in the last couple of years for artwork, and the bar is set extremely high for the remaining stories in this week's issue. I thought the novelty race would be fun, but I never expected to be indulged with such wonderful artwork, and any thoughts of the lightness of the story were dispelled with the colourful images before my eye. Excellent work, and there's plenty more to come next week. 

Rating: 9/10

Best line: "The leader hasn't made it! He's in the water!" 

Roy Of The Rovers

Rovers are playing their last league match of the season, and struggling to score against Barnford who have packed eight men in the penalty area. Blackie thinks they should play the ball square and try to draw them out. Roy isn't having any of that and yells at the team to keep attacking and shooting. 

With his authority stamped on the game, the rest of the team follows Roy's instructions. Lofty dribbles into a sea of players in the box, leading to confusion and two Barnford players crashing into each other. Amidst this chaos, Roy is on hand to poke the ball into the net for a one-nil lead right on full time. 

The season is over and the team happily retire to the dressing room. It is then that Ben Galloway bursts in, telling Roy to turn on the television. Roy does, and they all watch an interview with Tony Storme, recorded in Majorca four days ago - just at the same time as Rovers were taking on Dynamo Zarnov. There is no way that Tony Storme could be the mystery man passing the notes, despite what Roy previously thought. 

The season may be over, but there is still the semi-final of the Cup Winners Cup to be played against Durmstadt. It is here that this week's strip ends with one final surprise for Roy and his team. A message has been pasted onto one of the footballs in the dressing room, and it's another message from the mystery man telling Roy that their secret weapon against Durmstard is going to be Charlie Carter. 

Seeing the pure football action against Barnford reminded me of how much more I enjoyed Roy Of The Rovers before this mystery man storyline began. I haven't looked back to see how long it's been running, but it feels like many months now and I am more than ready to move on. The football action against Barnford was entertaining, although a last-minute goal from Roy to win the match was, well, Roy Of The Rovers stuff. Surely we could have had someone else on hand to score this one instead of Roy for once. Small gripe and I remind myself that it's Roy's story, and he is the one we all come to read about. Obviously, I wasn't so enamoured by the next clue in the mystery man story and although I look forward to seeing the team take on their German opponents, I hope that the mystery man plays only a small role in the on-field action. We will see in the coming weeks, and I shall approach what comes next with an open mind.

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "So our mysterious helper couldn't have been Tony...not unless he's found a way of being in two places at once!

Hot Shot Hamish

Last week it was titled "Hot-shot Hamish" and this week "Hot shot Hamish." What's a poor boy to do, it's messing with my format. Despite the inconsistency of the title, the story remains as reliable as ever with a story that is humourous and exciting in equal measure. 

With Mister McWhacker disguised as Hamish's Daddie on the sideline, Hamish is reinvigorated and wins the ball from the opposition player. However, he doesn't get far before he is tripped from behind and earns a free kick. From the stand, Hamish's Daddie appears, calling the referee to punish the player for the foul. On the other side of the field Mister McWhacker, looking just like Hamish's Daddie, yells for Hamish to take the the kick. 

The appearance of two Daddies confuses Hamish, although he puts this aside as he tries his hot-shot. The shot cannons off the crossbar, and as the teams go to half time it still locked at nil all. 

Hamish's Daddie is unhappy with what he has seen and barges into the dressing room, where Mister McWhacker is standing. Seeing him dressed as himself. Hamish's Daddie knocks him down with a single punch, revealing McWhacker's true identity to Hamish and the rest of the team. 

A quick apology and explanation soon put things right, and the game resumes with Hamish determined to put in a good performance for his Daddie. A goal from a hot shot followed by a headed goal seals the game for the team, and they are through to the final. However, it has taken its toll on Hamish, and Mister McWhacker's and Hamish's Daddie's celebration is cut short as Hamish is carried by on a stretcher, having hit his head on the post after scoring. 

Plenty of good humour here, despite the downbeat finish. The shenanigans with two Daddies wasn't as silly as it sounds here, and it was quite enjoyable to see it play out in the strip. I also appreciated the way it was wrapped up relatively quickly, with no long-term fallout. A single panel with Mister McWhacker was sufficient, and it kept the story moving smoothly. Apart from the hotshot panels, we also had several other moments of explosive art, the pick being when Hamish headed the ball home for a goal. It looked fierce on the page, and once again the artist has done a fine job of capturing the size of Hamish along with his strength and forceful movement. If not for the strength of the art that has come before, this would be my favourite, but as it is it only adds to the lustre of the comic.  

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Daddie here...an' Daddie there! What's going on? I havena got two Daddies!"

Nipper

With Nipper on the transfer list and Gatesfield making an approach, Nipper has decided that he should go look at their set-up. 

Leaving his dog with Kerry, he travels with Harry Roper, manager of Gatesfield, although Harry is a little distraught that Nipper has mentioned this to Kerry as the negotiations are supposed to be kept quiet. Nipper assures him that Kerry will keep quiet, but as they reach the outskirts of Blackport they find the papers are full of the news of Nipper being on strike.

This changes the situation drastically, and Harry Roper tells Nipper the deal is off. He had no idea that Nipper was on strike, and there was no way that they could sign him under such circumstances. Nipper is dropped off immediately and trudges his way back to the caravan. 

He is surprised to find the newspaper reporter Brian Crawford waiting for him, and his anger begins to rise at the sight of him. Crawford has little time to explain why he is there and hands Nipper a letter that sees Nipper's mood change immediately. It seems that someone important to Nipper knows about his troubles and Nipper has a shocked look on his face as he reads. 

Back at the club Clive Norton, Chairman of the board, is besieged in his office by angry fans. Although rocks are being thrown through his window, he refuses to yield and tells the others with him that the club cannot be dictated to by one player. 

The following evening Blackport are playing at home. As the team take the field, it is observed that only ten players are on the side. It is then that Nipper emerges from the tunnel, dressed and ready to play.  

Another twisting and turning episode, and although devoid of football I nevertheless found it gripping from start to finish. I'm quietly pleased to see Nipper hasn't changed clubs. Nipper is Blackport through and through, and to see him in another strip just wouldn't feel right. We still have unanswered questions, and although the story gave a lot this week at a rapid pace, this story has extra depths and it looks like we still have some way to go. Overall, I am very satisfied with what unfolded, and the final image of Nipper emerging from the tunnel was just fantastic and left me hungry for more. Great characters, an interesting story, and some emotive artwork again make this another strong story, and this issue is proving to be a bumper crop of great stories.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "I..I didn't realise that you were on strike! Nothing personal, lad, but my directors would have my ears for book-ends if I signed on a player with a reputation for making trouble." 

Johnny Cougar

Johnny Cougar has gained victory in an international wrestling contest and now has three visitors in the shape of three school boys seeking help with a particular problem. 

They lay out their tale of woe quickly - their P.T. teacher keeps getting involved in accidents at school, but they're convinced they're not accidents and there is a larger plot at hand. 

Johnny rightly points out that they should approach the police, but they ask if he could come to the school and meet Mister Mitchell and just see what is going on. 

Johnny Cougar agrees and the following day it is announced that he will be visiting the school and taking in the sports activities as well as some of the classrooms. 

The three boys are delighted when Johnny appears at their maths class, and soon after arrives at the gymnasium. Johnny is duly introduced to Mister Mithcell, and soon the pair of them are trying the sports equipment, with Johnny keeping a careful eye out for anything untoward. 

A first all appears well, but soon Mister Mitchell scrambles up the wall bars, only for them to come away from the wall and collapse, leaving him laid out on the floor badly hurt. Johnny is shocked, and more trouble waist as the three boys who asked for Johnny's help are caught by the headmaster peering through the gymnasium window. The headmaster jumps to the wrong conclusion and the three are accused of being responsible for these accidents. 

This week's story accelerated quickly after last week's set-up, and already we are up to our necks in it. Interesting to see Splash Gorton's name is no longer in the title. I surmised that he might be disappearing for a while, and it seems that this has come to pass. It's been a long time since I read these stories, and I'm not sure if he ever makes it back into the title, although I do recall he will be back in the story. Only time will tell, and in the meantime, I will cross my fingers for Splash. Elsewhere, the artwork is just as good as last week and again the faces are what really sell the story to me. Not just Johnny Cougar and the three boys, but also the face of the headmaster who looks just as stern and old-fashioned as you might imagine. We have advanced from last week, but it is still early stages of the story. Splash has gone, we have been introduced to new troubles for Johnny and next week we shall see what this story is made of. I can't wait 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "By Manitou, mystery saboteur strikes again...and this time teacher look badly hurt!"

Tallon Of The Track

Jo has been invited to compete in a series of speed events against American Millionaire Miles Gutherie, in an attempt to save the Osprey's stadium being turned into a factory. The first event is a speed trial over one kilometre on air-streamed two-wheelers.

They may look like two pencils, but they are still essentially motorbikes, and Jo is confident she can handle it, With the race starting immediately, soon she is belting along at one hundred and seventy-five miles an hour, and still Gutherie holds a small lead. Jo goes to squeeze a little more out of her bike, but in adjusting the throttle she accidentally launches her drag chute designed to slow down and stop the bike. It snarls up behind her, causing the bike to go out of control and we finish with Jo hurtling towards a brick wall at one hundred and seventy miles an hour. 

A great showcase for the bikes here, and they look just as fast as they claim to be. All sleek lines and powerful engines, they look as fast and dangerous as they prove to be. This story has accelerated quickly from last week, and the stakes are high with Jo already facing a life-or-death situation. All is forgiven for the previous months in Russia, this is the Tallon Of The Track story I want to read, and I'm getting a heavy dose of all I wished for. I hope this story doesn't rush to a speedy conclusion, I want to see a lot more like this, and until next week I will be reading this a couple more times and celebrate the great artwork and exciting storyline. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "I'm sitting on so much power, it feels like a moon rocket!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 8/10

Best Story: Billy's Boots

Best Line: "What's this, then? Who do you think ye are...dressing up in the Balfour tartan? Ye look a right sight, mon! I'll no have disgrace brought on the Balfours! And ye've got a pet sheep, just like Hamish's!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: