Tiger 10th May 1975

This could be my last blog post for a few weeks. I'll be flying to Tokyo in a few days and while I have plans to keep the blog updated, circumstances may determine otherwise. I often credit Tokyo with reigniting my love of these old comics. Several years ago I was in Tokyo and with TV incomprehensible to me I filled in my evenings reading my old Tiger comics. It was a joy to become reacquainted with old friends, and now seven years later (and more than forty years since first reading Tiger)  I am still reading the comics almost every day. The best things in life are the simplest, no matter where you are.   

Tiger

10th May 1975

Skid Solo

Skid Solo is back on the front page of Tiger, and we have drama from the start. A young spectator is watching the Monaco Grand Prix from a balcony while listening to a radio, and in his excitement knocks a flower pot from the balcony and onto the track below. 

The flower pot doesn't hit Skid, but it does distract him and his car spins and scrapes along the barrier. Skid is OK and pushes his car back on the track, while the young boy appears trackside to apologise. Along with the apology he gives Skid a lucky stuffed bear, which Skid gratefully stuffs into his overalls for the rest of the race. 

The bear works its luck for the rest of the race, and after a race of accidents and fast manoeuvring, Skid finds himself behind the leader, Sparrow Smith. Pushing his luck one more time, Skid manages to squeeze by and he takes the chequered flag for victory. 

After the race Sparrow comments that he doesn't know how Skid squeezed past him, and Skid tells him he had a bit of luck on the track. Later he shows Sandy and Tommy the lucky bear, and when they ask him where his trophy is he points to the balcony where he has given it to the young fan in exchange for the lucky bear.

I'm not normally a fan of stories that contain such a heavy dose of luck. This story was an exception, helped in no small part by the magnificent art throughout. The cover page, with three panels setting up the story, had me completely hooked from the start. The panel showing the flower pot on the track was an unconventional-looking scene, and not what we expect to see at a Grant Prix. This gave the story a fresh look from the start and looked especially good in colour. The rest of the story is steady as she goes, and although we never reached the heights of the front cover, I found it eminently enjoyable. Some fine-looking on-track action, a victory for Skid, and a sweet ending, made for a pleasant read and a nicely rounded introduction to this week's Tiger comic. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Well, you need a bit of luck in this game..."

Roy Of The Rovers

Rovers have taken a two-nil lead over German side Durmstadt, when Roy suddenly runs into the crowd after seeing the mystery man he suspects has been leaving notes of advice for the team.

However, Roy is mobbed by his own fans and never catches up to the man he seeks. Roy runs back onto the field and is about to be booked by the referee when a quick-thinking Blackie Grey congratulates Roy on preventing a hooligan from throwing something onto the field. He goes on to further explain to the referee that that's the only reason Roy left the field, and the referee reluctantly decides that no booking is required. 

Roy thanks Blackie, telling him there was no reason to lie, Roy was chasing the mystery man. Blackie laughs this off, telling Roy that he had no idea and there really was someone about to throw something. 

The game resumes, and Roy punishes the opposition, setting up one goal and scoring another to hand the Rovers a four-nil victory in the first leg. 

Leaving the field, the team look for Roy, but he has already left in a hurry. The team is confused by this, and things become more mysterious when a couple of hours later it is reported that Roy hasn't returned to his house, and his car hasn't been spotted anywhere - Roy has completely disappeared. 

With a good mixture of gameplay and intrigue, this story is moving along at a good pace. The image of Roy driving off in his car was the best of the strip and took us straight from the game and into the next phase of the story, setting us up for the cliffhanger into the next week. Roy's on-field play was once again head and shoulders above the rest of the team, although Blackie Grey did get some shine with his quick thinking to save Roy from the wrath of the referee. Although it's not back to its best, this week's Roy Of The Rovers felt like a step forward, and we are delicately poised for the next few weeks as we inch closer to unmasking the mystery man. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "And no-one advised me how to do it, either! That was all my own work, Melchester!"  

Martin's Marvellous Mini

We also have a mystery man in Martin's Marvellous Mini, as Tiny and Martin give passage to a mysterious man travelling to a Scandinavian rally with them. 

This man has a lot of luggage, and a very large dog, which makes their comfortable little car not quite so comfortable, despite what the stranger tells them. After travelling by ferry to Scandinavia, the boys make up time by driving fearlessly down a dirt track, which the stranger advises them is a shortcut. As they take this wild route, the man peppers them with questions about their experience, all of which adds to their distrust of him. 

The stranger's true identity is revealed when they reach a border control and all the guards recognise him as Mister Vedgic, manager of the Ravnia Rally team. The boys were right, he was a spy, just not the type that they first envisioned. 

Mister Vedgic tells them that he is impressed with their driving and car, but it won't be enough to beat his team in the rally. Furiously Martin and Tiny throw him and his luggage from their car, while he threatens to have them banned from the rally before it even starts. 

Not what I expected, which is exactly what I want from my comics. I suspected this strange gentleman might be a jewel thief or some other villainous type, and I felt my eyebrows rising when he was revealed to be a team manager of a rival rally team. This was handled well on the page and the story still retained plenty of car action as they took the shortcut through the forest. It was of the high standard we have come to expect from Martin's Marvellous Mini, and each panel looked splendid in its colour.  There's more trouble ahead for the boys, and next week carries much promise. More surprises I hope, and I can't wait.

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "I wish I was comfortable...your hound's trying to get at the steering wheel!" 

Hot-Shot Hamish 

Princes Park are down three-nil in the Scottish Cup final as they trudge off at half-time. In the dressing room, Mister McWhacker isn't sure what he can say to motivate them. If they lose the game Princes Park is doomed with no money to pay for the new stand and no prospect of football in Europe the next year. 

Luckily Hamish's Daddie is there, and he unleashes his temper and a torrent of fighting words on the team. He is still yelling as they take the field for the second half and the team responds with a beautifully worked goal.

Princes Park set up wave after wave of attacks, and a hot-shot from Hamish pulls them to three- two, and a chance to steal the game. It's all on the line when in the final minute Princes Park wins a penalty. The team implore Hamish to take the penalty with his hot shot. Hamish is feeling the pressure, and although he agrees to take the penalty he misses his shot. 

Time is up, and Princes Park has lost. Hamish feels he has let the team down and as the crowd rushes onto the field, Hamish slips on a fallen raincoat and climbs over the barrier, thinking to himself that he can't face the lads and that no one will ever want to see him again. 

Poor Hamish, I really feel for the big fella. His reaction to missing the penalty is relatable, and one can understand his reluctance to face his team. Up until this point the story had been all fire and brimstone, and I thought his Daddies' speech was a highlight. I can only imagine how much fun it is to write Daddies' dialogue, and week after week he steals the scene with his speech. Another highlight was the on-field action, and while the first goal was a thing of beauty, it was the second that I will remember most with the sight of Hamish bulldozing his way through the opposing players. This story of the grandstand, money shortage, and the need to win the cup has been running for some time now, and it looks as though we still have a way to go. Well worked, and played out across several months, I have enjoyed the ride that got us here, and now we face the second half of the story as Hamish deals with the consequences of their failure. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Och, it's an awfu' responsibility for a mon..."

Billy's Boots

Billy's Gran is the most relatable character in Tiger comic. Listening to her tell Billy that she can't afford white trousers, and he'll have to wear an old pair of white corduroy trousers she has upstairs sounded just like something my gran would say. I was instantly transported to sitting in the kitchen with Billy as he polished his cricket boots at the sound of this, and it was a great way to start this week's strip.

Billy and Jimmy attend the cricket trials, with Billy wondering what help he may gain from Dead-shot's boots, whether he be a super batsman or a decent bowler.  We soon find out that Billy is a poor batsman before attention turns to fielding. 

Several players show themselves to be handy in the field, and as play continues Billy is handed the ball by Mister Renton and asked to show us what he can do. It's now that the boots take a hand, and Billy paces out a long run up despite himself. Steaming in, he delivers a fiery bouncer at Mister Renton. Five balls later he bowls Mister Renton was another fast delivery, and it is confirmed that Billy is a good fast bowler. 

The strip ends with Mister Renton telling them that the team will be named the following day and that their first game is against a Moreton school, a school well known for cricketing, and a tough game lies ahead. 

Nice to see the cricket side of Billy's Boots unfolding, and Billy easing naturally into a bowling role. The first ball to Mister Renton was a cracker, and over the page, I was surprised more wasn't said of it. The team is well balanced with the lads from the football team, and it was an easy fit as they worked out their various strengths. I don't remember Billy's cricketing stories well from when I was young, no doubt there will be lost and broken boots along the way, but I'm quietly looking forward to seeing more of this over the next few weeks. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "He takes a long run! I bet he fancies himself as a fast bowler!"

Nipper

Nipper has scored the opening goal against Carford City and is calling for two more. His nemesis, Blackport director Clive Norton, sees this as part of Nipper's quest for glory and breaking the club record for goals in a season.

However, a few panels on and we see a similar move to Nipper's first goal, this time with a Blackport player taking the ball from Nipper's feet to score the second goal of the game. They celebrate, and it becomes apparent that stealing the ball from each other is a move they have worked out at practice. 

It is now that Andy Stewart puts Norton in his place and tells him that the three goals that Nipper is calling for aren't so that Nipper can break the record, but because three clear goals would see Blackport win the league on goal average. 

It is Mike Bateson who scores the third goal, and as the team comes in for halftime they have a three-nil lead, and all they have to do is hold on for the victory and the title,. 

Things take a turn at halftime, and Mike tells Nipper that once the season ends he looks forward to a civilised game of cricket. Nipper mocks him for this and calls cricket soft. This leads to an argument in the dressing room, and before long it has escalated into Nipper and Mike in the car park with a bat and some wickets. Mike yells that if he can't bowl Nipper out in six balls he will give him a fiver. It's complete madness, with the second half of their deciding football match still to be played and Blackport's two-star players arguing and playing cricket in the car park. 

It all sounds pretty wild, but you won't be surprised to know I loved all of it. The football was excellent, with the goals looking spectacular, and the conflict with Norton and Stewart ratcheted up on the sideline. The cricket was a surprising diversion, but like Billy's Boots I'm looking forward to seeing where it will lead. Hard to imagine nowadays a football player playing professional cricket in the off-season, but I like the idea of it. It's not a totally foreign idea, Jeff Wilson played for both the All Blacks and New Zealand cricket teams when he first started (although it's said that basketball was actually his best sport) and I remember him performing well for both teams. It remains to be seen if Mike Beatson excels in the same manner as Jeff Wilson, but it should be a fun ride, especially if Nipper is roped in. Still, halfway through a crucial match isn't the ideal time for this, especially after seeing Mike drink a pint of milk at the break. Again, many loose threads here, and as some are being sown up others are hanging for future issues, and we still have an entertaining second half ahead of us before the cricket storyline fully develops from its beginnings here. 

Rating: 8/10

Best Line: "By heck, it's all go! I'll be right glad when the footer season ends, and I can get down to a civilised game of cricket!" 

Johnny Cougar 

Johnny Cougar has taken an early battering from The Highwayman and is taking a standing count. The match continues, and soon Johnny is down again after taking an elbow smash to the head. He gets up, and as the Highwayman man comes at him again, Johnny decides he needs to fight smarter. 

He hits the Highwayman with a drop kick, knocking him out. However the Highwayman is saved by the bell, and the fight continues in round two.

Round two is more of the same with Johnny gaining the upper hand through strength and speed. Johnny is driving the Highwayman toward the corner post for a knockout when the Highwayman man hits him with a closed-fist punch. Johnny appeals to the referee, but the referee sees nothing. Johnny swears vengeance, although, in the last panel of the story, we return to the wider story with Scarface Baxter, the escaped convict, appearing at the tournament, with the school teacher Mister Mitchell foremost in his mind for revenge, 

Great wrestling action had me temporarily forgetting this larger story of the escaped convict seeking revenge on Mister Mitchell. The Highwayman is proving to be a fine match against Johnny Cougar. He may have cheated in the final panel, but until then he had matched him for strength, and knocking Johnny down twice in the first round gives us some idea of what a tough opponent he is. The art capturing all this action was crisp and clean, with the facial expressions working in tandem with the hard-hitting bodies crashing into each other. A delightful balance, and we can always count on Johnny Cougar for some of the best art of the comic.  Next week we should see the two stories integrated and I shall be interested to see what unfolds at this wrestling tournament with action inside and outside of the ring. It will be a balancing act and with Johnny Cougar's track record I know it will deliver on both fronts. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Miserable dog...you speak with forked tongue! Now Cougar on war-path! You pay dearly!"  

Tallon Of The Track 

Jo Tallon is about to race American millionaire Miles Guthrie in a tree-top obstacle course as they compete for control of the Ospreys stadium. 

The race starts just as fast and furious as you might expect, with a twenty-foot power jump as the first obstacle. Leaping the gap in spectacular fashion, they speed straight into the second obstacle, a hairpin bend, before we are once more presented with a spectacular image of the pair racing through a firey tunnel. 

The loop-the-loop that dominates the following page is attention-grabbing, yet easily dealt to. The final obstacle of the barrel weave is where it is won or lost, and putting in one final effort, Jo manages to squeeze past Guthrie as he goes wide on the final barrel. 

Victory is Jo's, and the race series is now tied at one each as we eye up next week's issue and the final event - a fifty-mile, two-day across country. 

As much as I enjoyed this week's strip, the obstacles were never as dangerous as I expected. The loop-the-loop looked great on the page, but Jo drove straight around it with no problem. It was the same with the firey tunnel -it looked fantastic, but we only saw two panels as Jo easily drove through it. The whole obstacle course felt all too easy, and although it looked great, I never felt the danger of the event. However, these criticisms are small, and overall I enjoyed everything I read, with James Bleach's superb artwork again foremost in my thoughts  

Rating: 6.5/10

Best Line: "Good old Jo! You've beaten the yank by a good ten yards! What a ride!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7.5/10

Best Story: Nipper 

Best Line: "I've got something to say to ye! Ye're a bunch o' bine-headed layabouts! Ye're no' trying! Ye've no fighting spirit...and as for ma boy, Hamish...he's useless!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: