Tiger 3rd May 1975

Last week's issue was outstanding, yet this week is even better. All the football stories are reaching the end of the season and all the drama that comes with that, while Skid Solo and Tallon Of The Track are facing highspeed life or death situations. It is a thrilling read, and with only one story not reaching its previous highs, this is a very strong issue indeed. A shame it had to end, and I'll make sure I'll read it a couple more times before I pick up the next issue. 

Tiger

3rd May 1975

Roy Of The Rovers

The saga of the mystery man continues in this week's issue, and as Rovers take the field against German side Durmstadt, Roy finds a note on the ball telling him Charlie Carter is the secret to beating the Germans.

And so it comes to pass. The Germans attack strongly and earn a free kick. Roy correctly predicts that Franz Heller will be taking the kick and only a magnificent save from Charlie Carter saves the day. 

Charlie continues to shine, and his up-and-under kick down the field leaves the smaller Durmstadt midfield dithering, allowing Roy to get his head to it and setting up Blackie Grey for the first goal of the match.

This tactic continues, and soon Roy scores a second from one of Charlie Carter's kicks, this time volleying it into the back of the net. 

Turning to salute his fans, Roy spies the mystery man with a scarf over his face watching from the crowd, and the strip ends with Roy scrambling over the barrier to try and catch up with him. 

The football action was the lynchpin of this week's story, and although the mystery man storyline took a huge step forward it was still the onfield action that captivated. The image of Charlie making the save was fantastic, and I felt every sinew of his body stretching to pull it off. Equally compelling was Roy bursting through the Germans to get his head to the ball to set up Blackie, along with his own goal with the volley. All fizzed with excitement and gave the strip an extra energy that had been missing of late. The mystery man storyline is coming to an end, and after a slow start, it is going out on a high as it comes wrapped in some of the best football action in months.

Rating: 8/10

Best line:  "Don't let all that jostling and shouting fool you, lads! They have already decided that Heller is going to take it!"

Skid Solo

Skid Solo is off the track this week, and visiting one of his rich Spanish friends with a villa on the coast. 

The speed element of the story comes early and Skid's friend, Jose Miralles, shows Skid the new hydro-foil boat he has built. It is fast, but at high speeds it shakes like a leaf. 

Sandy and Tommy spend an hour going over the engine, and everything seems fine. It is then that Skid decides that they should take it out on the water and see what is the problem.

On the water, Skid has it at full speed and up on the hydrofoils when disaster strikes. The hydrofoils snap, and Skid and Sandy are thrown from the boat. Tommy is also thrown off the boat, but he manages to grab a rope and finds himself towed by the still-running boat. 

While Skid and Sandy are saved by Jose Miralles and the boat trailing them, Tommy struggles on behind the hydrofoil boat. He manages to pull himself on board the hydrofoil and cuts the engines, but still faces danger as the boat runs into the swift seas around the headlights. 

Tommy keeps his head, and soon they have attached a rope between the two boats and Tommy is towed back to shore. Jose Miralles comments that Tommy is a very brave lad, and we finish the strip with a grinning Tommy telling him that he had to hold onto the rope and save the boat because he can't swim.

We had a similar boating story several months ago and of the two I enjoyed this one more. Tommy in action gave the story a different flavour and we saw a fearless streak emerge in the character. This bodes well for future storylines and the day when we eventually see him in a racing car. I'm not normally a fan of Skid Solo away from the track, but this was a warm story, and I was quite content with all I read here. Like Roy Of The Rovers before it, it had several notable panels, and the expressions of Skid and Tommy were well worth a second look. A surprising story, yet a most enjoyable one, and another key element to this week's comic. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "He's still clinging to the rope..and the hydro-foil's heading for the headland. He must let go..."

Martin's Marvellous Mini

On the edge of a steeply banked track, Tiny and Martin are rapidly running out of room as the novelty race reaches its climax. 

At that moment Tiny remembers seeing bicycle racing at a velodrome where the bikes suddenly swoop down to the inside of the track, gaining speed and an added advantage. Martin does as instructed and it works a treat, giving them the lead and eventually the win. 

With the prize money of one thousand pounds in their pockets, thoughts turn to their next challenge. Martin has received an entry form to enter in a Scandinavian rally of one thousand miles. Although they don't have enough money to fly there, Tiny has the idea of driving there. Not only that, but they could also take a fare-paying passenger with them to help cover costs. 

The boys place a newspaper ad, and the following day they are visited by a chap in dark glasses and overcoat, saying he will pay twice the price if they take him and his luggage. 

Martin and Tiny agree, although later they have thoughts that the man may be a spy or a crook, based on the way he is dressed. However, they pick him up at the town hall as organised and are surprised to find he has a large array of luggage and a dog, all of which he expects to go with him. As Tiny says, he may be paying double, but he's going to get his money's worth. 

The novelty race ended quickly, and I felt a little cheated after what we had seen from it in the past couple of weeks. The ending was fine, and I liked the idea, but with the execution taking a couple of panels it was over in a flash. The new storyline is shaping up nicely, and the look and feel of this new direction are appealing. It's looking as though it will be quite a caper and with a thousand-mile rally at the end of it we shall be in for an interesting ride in the coming months. The mystery man fits the stereotype of a spy or villain, and I will be curious to see exactly what type of character he will be in the coming weeks. However, the most interesting panel in this week's strip was the panel showing Tiny and Martin's ad. It contained a real photo (with the caption "Essex man wins the..") of a man looking out at us. A part of me wants to know who this is, and why they chose to use a real photo in the strip when they could have drawn a face in the newspaper. I don't know if this is part of the story or a stylistic choice, but whatever it is, it made me look twice and left me wondering. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "You've been reading too many adventure books! He looks too much like a spy to be one..."

Tallon Of The Track

Jo Tallon has lost control of her streamlined machine in the first race against American millionaire Miles Guthrie and is hurtling towards a brick wall.

She has only one hope, to point the fibre-glass missile through an open gateway to safety. Needless to say, this she does and as Dave and Miles run to find what has become of her she emerges angrily from the lake into which she has crashed. 

There is some testy back and forth between Jo and Miles before he leads her to the next challenge. The next challenge looks like it will suit Jo's talents, as Miles shows her a pair of scramble bikes. However, things aren't always straightforward, and after passing Miles's test of riding up on a ramp and jumping through a drain pipe, he tells her the next race is through an aerial stunt course he has built in the woods - twenty feet above the ground. 

The first page was spectacular. The sight of Jo speeding towards the wall caught all the drama of the moment, and the following panels of her speeding through the gap were just as gripping. While the first page carried all the best artwork and drama, it was the second page that contained all the story and sets us up for what comes next. The conflict between Jo and Miles continues to escalate and we are rewarded with some fiery dialogue between the two which was just fine by me. The character of Miles is so irritating, especially in the way he speaks to Jo, that the reader becomes engaged in the story and wants to see Jo best him in every way. This week the cards fell in Miles's favour, next week we start from zero, and I want nothing more than to see Jo beat this cad at his own game.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "You really messed that little contest up, didn't you, Sugar?"

Nipper

Nipper is on the field and ready to play for Blackport. A surprising turn of events after Nipper has been on strike for being unjustly disciplined by Clive Norton.

What has brought this change we don't know as Nipper warms up, but all is revealed in the next panel as Andy Stewart emerges from the tunnel. Walking with a cane, and still bandaged after his car accident, he briefly converses with Clive Norton, telling him Nipper is the most loyal player they've got. Pointing out that Nipper is only three goals away from the club record in a season, he tells Norton that they'll soon find out if Nipper is selfish, or if he truly cares about his team. 

The game kicks off, and Nipper is immediately in the thick of the action. Blackport swings onto the attack, and Nipper suddenly whips the ball right off his own teammate before running into some bustling defence. Nipper remains strong in the face of this, keeping his feet and squeezing the ball through from a tight angle for the first goal of the game. 

This confirms to Norton that Nipper only cares about his own glory, and he tells Andy Stewart so in the final panel. 

The moment when Andy Stweart emerged from the tunnel was fantastic, and the artwork did it justice. It would have been a great movie moment, and in the context of the story, it felt like a pivot point. The story delivered a lot this week, with the reappearance of Andy Stweaart, the conflict with Clive Norton, the goal-scoring record on the line, and Nipper delivering a terrific goal. So much to digest across two pages and it was a twisting turning road that brought us to the final panel. The final lines hint that next week may be full of surprises, and it is shaping up to put a capstone on this story. I had completely forgotten about the goal-scoring record, and it was a clever move to have it play a crucial role in this late stage of the story. A story of many moving parts, it has all cleverly come together in the last two weeks, and I hope we are rewarded with a suitable conclusion in the following issues. 

Rating: 8.5/10

Best line: "Look...it's Andy Stewart! He's back!" 

Johnny Cougar

Johnny Cougar can only look on as Mister Mitchell, the victim of several unexplained accidents, lies unconscious on the floor after a set of wall bars collapsed with him under them. The three boys who asked Johnny to come and help are rounded up by the headmaster, and having seen them watching through the window the headmaster is convinced that they are behind the accidents.

Mister Mitchell decides that the time is right to come clean about these accidents, and he explains to all those present that before he became a teacher he was a witness to a bank raid His evidence helped convict a gang of criminals and the crooks were given a twenty-year sentence. One of the criminals, Scarface Baxter, swore that he would have his revenge. Baxter escaped from prison a few months ago, and it looks like he hasn't wasted any time in carrying out his threats. 

Johnny Cougar pledges to protect Mister Mitchell, while the headmaster apologises to the three boys. Johnny goes a step further, giving the boys and Mister Mitchell free tickets to a wrestling tournament taking place the next day, with Johnny wrestling in the main event. 

All are ringside the following evening as Johnny begins to wrestle The Highwayman. The fight doesn't start well, and soon Johnny is on the back foot, taking a heavy kick to the head. From ringside, Mister Mitchell comments that Johnny is more concerned with protecting him than he is about wrestling, and he could be in big trouble.

Yes, heap big trouble. Although the Highwayman is a silly concept for a wrestler, he looks fantastic in the ring, and he is given the chance to tell Johnny to stand and deliver. It made me smile despite the seriousness of the other storyline and helped give the story some balance. The main storyline was laid bare in this issue, with the mysterious accidents no longer a mystery. We now have a villain and backstory, and with these pieces in place, the story should quickly advance. I was pleased to see Mister Mitchell's history pulled into the light, a mystery can be intriguing or it can stifle a story from flowing naturally, and I think now we have all the facts there is much more potential for the story. I was wondering how the story would be with Splash Gorton no longer part of Johnny's world, and to be honest I haven't missed him a bit thus far. The pages are cleaner, and Splash's asides to the reader no longer take me out of the story. We're on the up and up, and with wrestling and danger coming in equal measure in the comic, the next few weeks should be a splendid ride. 

Rating: 8/10 

Best line: "From now on, you have Cougar to look after you! Together, we beat this evil one!"

Billy's Boots

Billy and his team are a goal down in the cup final against Rivery School. Billy played terribly in the first half, but he started the second half brightly and after a superb run and beating several opposing players, he fired off a shot. 

The shot hits the crossbar and Billy, who has been following up, dives on the ricochet and heads it home to level the scores one each. 

From the kick-off, Groundwood swarms forward in search of a second goal, and they are rewarded when Billy and Jimmy Dawson connect well and Billy scores his second with a thunderous strike. 

It remains two-one to Groundwood, and as the referee blows fall time they celebrate their cup victory. A lap of the field with the cup in hand the crowd cheering is just reward and the boys enjoy their moment. 

In the dressing room a melancholy sets in, with two of the boys commenting that the football season is now over and they have nothing to look forward to. Mr. Renton, the sportsmaster, tells them he wants them to do for the cricket team what they've done for the football team and he wants them all to turn up for practice next week. 

Billy hasn't played much cricket and is worried about the upcoming season. Dropping in on the older man who used to play with Dead-shot Keen, Billy asks if Dead-shot ever played cricket, The old man isn't sure, but rummaging in his garden shed he finds a pair of cricket boots that used to belong to Dead-shot and gifts them to Billy. He's unsure if Dead-shot was a batter or a bowler and Billy tells him he'll wear the boots at the next practice and if he scores a hundred he'll let him know. 

Lovely artwork early on at the football game. Billy's goals looked smashing, and it felt well deserved after the season he has had. I loved the panels showing both of Billy's goals, and the panels of the boys parading the cup was another notable highlight. The transition to the cricket season was interesting, and it looks like Dead-shot's boots will be again playing a part. I remember well reading Billy's cricketing exploits when I was a lad, and part of me is secretly looking forward to this part of what really is a football story. It helps that the New Zealand winter is approaching here, and seeing Billy playing cricket in warmer climates will help lift my mood in the next few months. It's also an interesting diversion and will help stimulate interest in a story that can become repetitive across a football season. For now, this was a cracking end to the football season and a lovely way to round out all the dramas Billy has been facing. 

Rating: 9/10

Best line: "To think I was going to take Dane off at half-time. He's made a great come-back!" 

Hot Shot Hamish 

Princes Park is through to the final of the Scottish Cup, although Hamish Balfour has been injured getting them there and now his manager and Daddie are waiting for news on his injury.

It is all smiles as Hamish emerges unhurt from the trainer's room, the trainer telling them that Hamish has a head of iron and there's nothing wrong with him. The smiles don't last long as Hamish's Daddie gives Hamish a slap across the head for upsetting everyone and making them worried. 

Princes Park is taken to the seaside for some special training before the final. After Hamish hits several players with his hot shot it is decided that it might be prudent to abandon practice and perhaps play golf instead. Unfortunately, Hamish is just as strong on the golf course, and his first shot strikes a tree before cannoning back and striking a Princes Park player in the head. With this, it is decided to return to their own ground for final training. 

The payers are reading the newspaper on game day, and the papers report that Princes Park has no chance. In the stands sits Hamish's Daddie, and the mood there is the same. All the crowd are predicting a heavy defeat for Princes Park. Hamish's Daddie is alone in his unwavering support of Princes Park, although this seems misguided as we finish the strip with Princes Park down three-nil and still plenty of time on the clock. 

This was enjoyable, but hardly essential Hot Shot Hamish. Light humour made up the bulk of the story and although it made the corners of my mouth twitch, I never broke into a broad smile. The football is almost an aside, and although the game is the highlight of the season, we saw none of the Princes Park players on the field, only the opposing side scoring their three goals. There was nothing fundamentally wrong with this week's strip, it just wasn't as strong as it usually is, with both the humour and drama turned down several notches. However, it remains a favourite, and I anticipate a return to its high standard soon. As it is often said say, form is temporary, class is permanent. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Och, ye great daft lump o' Haggis. I'll give it to ye...upsetting everyone, pretending to be hurt!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7.5/10

Best Story: Billy's Boots 

Best Line: "I'll get even with you one day, Mister Clever Mitchell...it may take a long time...but I'll get even!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: