Tiger 20th September 1975

It's all Messi's fault. 

I thought I had plenty of time to finish today's post before I headed down to the pub to discuss fantasy football with some friends. However, seeing Billy Dane scoring a Messi-esque goal with a backheel sent me into the wilds of the internet to find a comparable picture. Several hours later, and about a hundred YouTube clips, I made it back here only to realise my time was rapidly running out. I'm not complaining too much, anytime spent in the company of genius is worth it, but after watching peak Messi it was a comedown to read about Billy Dane and his friends. Billy may have scored a beautiful goal, but he still has a long way to go to reach the heights of Messi. Still, it does have those magical boots.... 

Tiger

20th September 1975

Johnny Cougar

The mystery of Johnny Cougar continues this week the story opens with Splash watching him ride off on a horse. Splash is still in the dark about Johnny's strange mood and disappearance, and secretly following Cougar on a bike, he is hoping to get some answers.

It's a rough ride, and after following the trail of hoof marks through the woods, Splash comes across a teepee and a horse grazing nearby. Cougar is camping out Indian style, and Splash decides to sneak a little closer to see what it's all about. 

However, Johnny is one step ahead and has set up an early warning system, which of course Splash unwittingly stumbles into. 

Johnny is on him in a flash, but after realising it's only Splash he lowers his fists. The situation isn't entirely defused, and Johnny angrily tells Splash that he just wants to be left alone. He was tired of everyone, tired of wrestling, and tired of wrestlers cheating. He is done with the whole scene and just wants to be left in peace. 

Splash rides away, but is still determined to get Johnny back into the ring. A seed of an idea is germinated as he rides off - he will attempt to organise a match against Hardy Steele, a wrestler who beat Johnny unfairly many years ago and a wrestler that Johnny has always wanted to meet in a rematch. 

If a wrestler doesn't wrestle, is he a wrestler? That thought danced in the back of my mind for the majority of this week's strip. The story remains intriguing, and in the final panels, we see wrestling on the horizon. However, my interest always falters when Cougar is away from the ring, and as curious as I was about his whereabouts, it wasn't quite enough to compensate for the lack of wrestling. Obviously, that will change soon enough, but first, we need to set up this back story to motivate Cougar to get back to what he does best. I did enjoy seeing Johnny Cougar on the front cover, and he always looks bigger and stronger in colour. His horse also seemed particularly muscular, although its legs were foreshortened in the first panel, and it did look like Cougar was riding a miniature pony, albeit a very strong one. The story is beginning to emerge from the mists of the last couple of weeks, and next week should see things leap forward as Splash hopefully signs both Cougar and Steele to a fight. I look forward to some clarity and hopefully some heavy-handed in-ring action. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Cougar heap sick of the world! Sick of meeting matmen who do not fight fair. Sick of tensions and trouble! No longer wish to be a wrestler! Cougar live here in peace"

Tornado Jones

How exciting, a new story this week. Tornado Jones is an Australian stunt rider, and a British boy reading of his exploits in the newspaper is our first introduction to him. He is in the paper having failed to jump the Sydney Harbour Bridge, hardly an auspicious start.

A few panels on, we meet Tornado Jones proper as he is pulled from Sydney Harbour. With his latest stunt a disaster, he decides that everything in Australia is just too big, and he is considering trying his luck in Britain, where everything is smaller. 

In a nod to the times in which this story is written, he sails to Britain aboard an ocean liner, and we pick up the story with him just about to arrive in Southhampton. He decides to impress the local crowd with a display of his prowess on the bike and arranges with the Captain to jump his bike from the deck to the dock thirty feet away. 

Tornado Jones looks confident, but as soon as he takes off the ramp it becomes clear that he won't make it. In the final panel of the story, he crashes hard into the side of the dock, where one onlooker has the gall to say he might even be dead. 

I highly doubt he will be dead, son, this is his first appearance in the comic, and it wouldn't be much of a story if he dies in the first issue. Oh dear, what would the readers think? What this reader thinks is that this story is covering a lot of similar ground to Tallon Of The Track, the story that it is replacing in the comic. Fast bikes, a smattering of stunts, the same artist, there were panels here that felt like they could have existed in either story. This familiarity helps give the story a jumpstart, and I already have a good feel for the story being told. Tornado Jones isn't the same type of compelling character as Jo Tallon, but he does have his own charm that holds the story together, at least so far. This story drew heavily from the period in which it was written, and it was a time warp to see people travelling between Briain and Australia by liner, along with the talk of everything being bigger in Australia. It once again highlighted the love affair that Britain seemed to have with Australia at the time, and as a proud New Zealander, I can only watch on bitterly as Australia is portrayed as the land of plenty. I shall carry my grudge onto the rugby field. I am reluctant to read too much into the first issue of a new story, and I do have some reservations about the potential silliness that could unfold with a stuntman for whom everything goes wrong. I love humour in my comics just as much as the next man (I refer you to my love of Hot Shot Hamish), but I wouldn't want to see this become a series of failed stunts. Only time will tell how they play this, and I have faith that it will be a well-balanced story with plenty of laughs along the way. The Tiger writers have never let me down before, and I will read on confidently. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "He's hit the edge of the dock! He could be killed!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

It's been a long time since I have seen a 24-hour race, so I look forward to seeing how Tiny and Martin will go with their exploits this week. 

Tiny is still nervous about having to drive part of the race, but Martin reassures him, explaining the schedule they will drive to. There is a clever bit of exposition at this stage with the race organiser explaining the rules to the pair, and educating any reader who might not be familiar with how a 24-hour race works. 

The race starts with the competitors running to their cars. Martin wins the footrace and is away first. It doesn't count for much, as there are various classes of cars on the track, and soon most of the fast sporty cars have gone by. Martin isn't too concerned, they only need to win the Mini class they are in. 

After six hours, Martin comes into the pits to swap drivers. He has built a handy lead and tells the nervous Tiny just to do his best to maintain the lead. Tiny takes this advice and roars out onto the track, while Martin looks at the table and sees that he has entirely forgotten his orange juice, coffee, chewing gum and gloves! He can only hope that does better on the track. 

There was a lot to like here, and several moments of pure joy. As the boys are preparing the car, Tiny shows Martin that he has installed a device to hold their coffee cups and juice while they are driving. Tiny is ahead of the times and wasted on the pages here, he should be working for a car manufacturer. A cup holder in a car, who could imagine such a thing - it's bound to catch on. The dialogue between Martin and Tiny before the race was outstanding, with Tiny all nerves and Martin trying to reassure him. It had a natural flow to to it, and in a world full of bravado it harked back to a simpler time when men were men and Tiny was a nervous wreck. These softer moments between the two friends mean much more to me after accumulating fifty years of life experience, I find I am reading the comic differently from when I was a boy. I used to jump from action to action, always craving some excitement on the page, whereas now I like these quiet moments and taking pleasure in the two friends just spending time together. It mirrors my own life and the good friends I have, and it is always a treat to see it appear on these pages. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "It's no good Martin...I'm not up to driving in a big race like this! I'm not good enough! I'll only let you down!"

Billy's Boots

Billy is playing a trial game for one of the school's lower teams, and with most of the team being useless (I believe that's the correct technical term) he isn't given much chance to shine. That changes when he receives the ball and finds himself in space. With a mazy dribble (or amazing dribble if you like) he beats several players before rounding the keeper. To add salt to the wounds, Billy then turns his back to the goal and backheels it in. 

It's a great goal, but Mister Renton isn't impressed and perceives it as showing off. The opposing team isn't impressed either, with the goalkeeper threatening Billy. Revenge is dealt out the next time Billy receives the ball and he is smashed between two heavy defenders (I want to say fat, but it's 2024. No doubt they'll get participation medals after).

Billy scores again in the game, but it isn't enough, and he doesn't make the school team. Mister Renton doesn't want a showoff on the team, and that is the label he has given Billy. 

At home, Billy sits with his Grans and reads Dead-Shot Keen's book to see if anything similar ever happened to him. The same thing had happened, and Billy reads that Dead-Shot was dropped after upsetting some of the older players with his style of play. 

Billy is comforted by this, and on Saturday he is at the ground to support the team. One of the substitutes has to leave early, and he asks Billy to take his place on the bench. Billy is reluctant, but there is nothing in the rules about it, so he agrees. As luck would have it, the substitute has no sooner left than there's an injury on the field,. Mister Renton is surprised to see Billy is the sub, and Billy quickly explains the situation. There is nothing Renton can do, and he sends Billy on, but not before sternly warning him that if he larks about he will be finished with the school team for good. 

It was only a trial game for a school team, but the first page saw Billy drawing on his inner Messi and destroying the opposing team with his dribble. It temporarily derailed me, and I did waste quite some time watching YouTube videos of Messi after reading this story, ostensibly to find the below photo, but also because I can't help but marvel at his pure skill. Billy was wrong to humiliate the keeper as he did with the backheel, but honestly, with a haircut like that, the keeper deserves all he gets. Next time Billy should chip him and then hold him down and shave his head. Bad hair head cuts aside, Mister Renton's attitude is one of many coaches I have met, and one I find myself agreeing with more often as I get older. It is all about the team, especially at that age and skill level. Looking back at when I used to play, and that's a long way to look back now, it isn't the goals or flashes of brilliance that I remember (although I'm sure there must have been some) but the laughs I had with my team on and off the field and our now legendary trips away. I remember Brad Clarke puking after drinking too much at the hostel far more than I remember any of the goals he scored (Sorry Brad!). Billy may not agree with Mister Renton now, but in fifty years he will look back and remember the laughs with Jimmy Dawson far more than he remembers this backheel goal. Although, who knows, maybe this goal will be the greatest thing to ever happen to Billy. I certainly hope not.

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "That is not the sort of thing I like to see! It's just showing off!"

Who did it better - Billy or Messi? 

Skid Solo 

Skid must win the Canadian Grand Prix to have any chance of winning the title of World Motor-Racing Champion. The crowd is behind him, the car is in good shape, and as the race begins Skid gets off to a solid start in fifth place.

Smith and Von Vargen are the early front runners and after the first quarter of the race Skid begins to make his move, sliding by  Jean Corbonne and moving into fourth place. 

The drama comes shortly after as the rain begins to fall. It's heavy, and soon the track is awash with water and crashed cars. Most of the other cars come in for rain tyres, but Skid stays out on the track alone and he is soon building himself a lead. 

With the return of the other drivers, the race is on, and Skid is pleased when Sandy finally shows him the board where he sits with a twenty-five-second lead and ten laps remaining. The final ten laps see some close racing, but Skid clings onto his rapidly dwindling lead, eventually crossing the line to snatch the race by a mere half-a-car length. 

Congratulations are offered in the pits, and several drivers commend Skid for a fine drive without the aid of rain tyres. Skid then reveals that he was actually driving on rain tyres from the start having earlier checked the weather forecast. The strip ends with a final look at the driver's table, where Skid now sits just two points behind the leaders and the season rapidly coming to a close. 

It seems Skid is the only one who checks the weather forecast before a race. This isn't the first time this has happened, and surely one of the other drivers learnt their lesson from the last time. Skid is a great driver, and in the world of Tiger comics, he is also the smartest. That makes him hard to beat, and it's surprising he hasn't led the driver's table all season. This story worked well to get Skid into a position to challenge the championship, and the tension is ratcheted up at just the right moment. Most of the season has drifted by, but finally, we have something to play for and Skid is peaking at just the right moment. Although I was disappointed with aspects of the story, and obviously the angle where Skid was the only one to check the weather, overall I was very happy with what was achieved and the race itself. The racing in the wet looked great, and we had one very memorable panel of two cars crashing out of the race. I would have enjoyed it even more if I hadn't watched the 2024 Belgium Grand Prix a couple of weeks ago, and reading this all I could do was think about the difference between Formula One racing in 1975 and 2024. I laughed at Martin and Tiny's coffee cup holders earlier on the strip, but the difference between F1 then and now is even greater, and almost an entirely different sport. I'm not sure how Skid would go nowadays driving as part of a team, but I have no doubt that Sandy would have loved to be in his ear the entire race with instructions and advice. 

Rating:7/10

Best line: "Not so good! No-one's going to like this! But...maybe they'll all like it less than I do!" 

Roy Of The Rovers

Duncan McKay is officially a Rover, and the story starts this week with Duncan introducing himself to the team at training. The team take to him straight away, and although he is aggressive, they all admire his spirit. However, this aggression causes problems at the end of the season as Duncan asks if he can continue to train with Portdean until he gets himself a place in Melchester. Roy refuses, pointing out that they only have three training sessions before the next leg of the league cup. The two exchange angry words before Duncan storms off, furious with Roy's attitude. 

Roy is equally unhappy with Duncan's attitude and is worried about what the future might hold. We find out soon enough as next Wednesday rolls around and Duncan McKay takes the field for the first time in Rovers colours. The crowd are anxious for him to do well, and Roy has even written a letter in the program welcoming him to the club (although I did notice he spelt his surname incorrectly).

The team is desperate to do well, and all the players are running around like a bunch of amateurs. Roy can see that they need to slow it down, and taking the ball himself he runs into some space. He can see Mervyn Wallace is free to his left, but when he fires the pass, Duncan McKay intercepts it, determined to prove his worth to the team.

Mervyn is in a good position to shoot, Duncan McKay is not, and he dribbles the ball into the box where he is confronted by a wave of defenders. However, he unleashes a shot, much to the delight of the crowd, although it flies easily over the bar. McKay is encouraged by this, but in the final panel, we can see Roy is concerned that McKay is playing for himself rather than the team. 

 I want to rate this higher, but Duncan McKay is letting me down in his first game. He is also letting down the players in the team, and clashing with Roy. It makes for good reading, although at the same time, I also feel uncomfortable. As someone who was always taught that the team is everything, it is uncomfortable for me to see a team misfiring in the field, with one player ineffectually dominating the play. We are also seeing something similar playing our In Billy's Boots, although I feel for poor Billy more than Duncan McKay. He was likeable enough in the first panels, but that quickly wore off when he crossed Roy. Roy was in the right in this case, McKay should be coming to the training, after all, he is a professional being paid by Rovers. A good goal may change my opinion of the man, but until then I will be team Roy all the way. It is to the credit of the writer that they have created a believable story and character that makes me uncomfortable - I will read with interest to see how they redeem him and make him the integral part of the team he will become. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Er, sorry Duncan...I do mind!"

Duncan will not be happy when he sees Roy has spelt his name wrong!

Nipper

Danny Marvin looks to have stolen Nipper's place in the team, and at the end of the last issue, he was driving recklessly by Nipper when he lost control of his sports car as it raced towards a milk float. In the first panel of this week's issue, we see the outcome of that, with Marvin managing to pull out of the skid and hitting the milk float with a glancing blow. 

Marvin doesn't wait around to see the outcome of his actions, but Nipper does and he pulls alongside on his bike to check on the milky. The milky is unharmed, however his vehicle isn't so lucky and not only are most often milk bottles smashed, but the axles are bent. Nipper takes time to drive the milky back to the depot, as well as stopping by to report the incident to the police. 

All this makes Nipper late, and he arrives at Blackport stadium fifteen minutes after training has started. He has his excuse at the ready, but holds his tongue, thinking about the consequences for Marvin if he was to be suspended so early in his career. Nipper decides it would be best if Marvin explained what happened, although Marvin remains silent while Andy Stewart demands an explanation. 

Andy Stewart isn't shy about expressing his displeasure, and not only does Nipper get bawled out, but he is also dropped for the next game and put in the reserves team. Nipper stews on this for a whole thirty seconds before he decides that it is not worth all this trouble to protect a teammate and the strip ends with Nipper storming the pitch, yelling that he wants a word with Marvin. 

This storyline with Marvin and his rivalry with Nipper is a good hand, but it is the artwork that holds all the aces. Each panel is a story within itself, and I find more to enjoy week after week. It started strong with the artwork and all it brought to the table with the backstreet herbalist, and each week it has built on that solid foundation to where we are now. The first panel would be an obvious highlight, as was the entire first page. The second page continued in a similar vein, and although the scene of the action changed, the intensity and fluidity of the art style did not. Previous issues of Nipper have almost been heavy-handed, but of late it has become both brighter and lighter, and paired with a story mining a similar style, this feels a lot faster, and dare I say it, better. Nipper has a lot of problems at the moment, but his artwork and plot aren't one of them.    

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Nipper's going for you Danny as if he hates him!"

Hot Shot Hamish 

Hamish has found a promising young player at the local recreational ground. He offers him a chance to try out for Princes Park, but little does Hamish realise that he's inviting a heap of trouble. 

Alfie, the young player in question arrives at the ground, and while he gets himself ready his mate Tommy appears at the changing room window, asking to be let in so he can steal everything within. 

Alfie doesn't want to get involved, but Tommy comes in anyway while Alfie takes to the field. Out on the field, Alfie performs well, although some of the Princes Park players take umbridge to his flashy style and he finds himself heavily tackled as the game progresses. Hamish isn't one to stand by while an injustice takes place, and he steps in to protect Alfie, delivering a verbal barrage that is backed by his size.  

The game ends and Mister McWhacker tells Hamish that he will take Alfie on for a month's trial, at fifteen pounds a week. Again Hamish steps in to protect his man, telling Mister McWhacker that it is not fair and he should be giving Alfie twenty pounds a week, to which Mister McWhacker agrees. 

Alfie can see that Hamish is doing a lot to help him out, which makes it all the more shocking when the strip ends with Tommy calling to Alfie to hurry up as he has swiped all the wallets of the players out of the changing rooms, including Hamish's. 

Top stuff, with not much humour but plenty of pathos dripping from the pages. I'm not sure who I feel more sorry for, Alfie for his poor choices of friends that is blowing up on his face, or Hamish for naively picking a player up from the local recreational ground. Both have their hearts in the right places, and it's just circumstance that has landed us in these awkward outcomes. We all know that Hamish has a volcanic temper, and already I can see sparks flying come the next issue. Like Nipper before it, Hot Shot Hamish also contained some of the best artwork of the issue. It was the little details that added to the feel of the story, as you can see in the panel below. Look at the position of Hamish's hand, one can sense exactly what he saying to Mister McWhacker, and how he is saying it. It's all in this single detail, and one knows in a flash that it is an intimate conversation taking place. Hamish has the biggest heart of anyone in the Tiger comic, and little moments of genius like this from the artist mean that this strip also carries the largest heart in the comic. There is more feeling on these pages than anywhere else in the comic (although sometimes Martin's Marvellous Mini gives it a run for its money) which is why Hot Shot Hamish is, and always be, my favourite story.   

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Yere pretty, pretty stuff will get ye nowhere, mon!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7.5/10

Best Story:  Hot Shot Hamish  

Best Line: "Ye cut that oot...or ye'll find ma fist stuffed in yere throat! The wee laddie's only trying to win a place in the team!" 

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: