Tiger 1st November 1975

Happy Birthday to me. My football team won, I had a big night out, and I woke up without a hangover. Things are finally looking up. Things are also looking up on the pages of Tiger as several stories have gone up a gear. Not everything was great this week, but there were a lot of good things here, and reading this week's issue was a fine way to round out my birthday weekend. 

1st November 1975

Billy's Boots

With all the first team dropped except for Billy, it is a new-look Groundwood team playing this week, and they are struggling early on. Ordered to stay up front, Billy hasn't had a touch of the ball, and he takes matters into his own hands, dropping back and making a tackle to gain the ball. From there he dribbles upfield, beats a couple of players, and puts the ball in the back of the net.

His team may be happy, but Mr Harris isn't, and he immediately pulls Billy from the field for disobeying him. However, that isn't the end of football for Billy, he still has a game for the Merrydowners the next day. The local boys are pleased to have Billy in the team, although he does face resistance from one lad called Dixon. 

The game is played on a rough pitch, and Billy has a lot of trouble in the first half, giving Dixon more fuel for his complaints about Billy. However, in the second half his boots take a hand, and Billy sets up one goal and scores one. This is enough to be invited to play again, although Dixon is again vocal in his dissent and calling for a vote about Billy's place in the team. It should be a vote that Billy easily wins, but in the last panel, we see Dixon threaten to punch anyone who votes against him, making Billy's position look quite precarious. 

This was a story of two halves, and for me, the first half was the better half. I enjoyed seeing Billy taking control of the situation, and although Mr Harris has won this round we did see Billy prove a point. I am finding Mr Harris to be a better foil to Billy than the previous Mr Renton, although I would be hard-pressed to tell you what the difference is. Perhaps Mr Harris is a little more stern, and with the nickname of Hardnut Harris, he certainly has a lot to live up to. The second half of the story featuring the Merrydowners is fine enough, although it failed to grab me in the same manner as the first part of the story. I don't like Dixon, yet I'm not moved enough to care about the story and what happens to Billy. I have a feeling Dixon may be just a stepping stone to a much longer story about the Merrydowners, and as such I just want to see this conflict wrapped up so we can move to something more interesting. Next week could be a make-or-break issue, and I'm hoping for a lot more Hardnut Harris and a lot less Dixon. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Get back up the field, Dane! Do as I told you!"

Skid Solo

In the town of San Juan, two boys are scaring the locals with their reckless driving. Skid has become involved and as the strip begins he is promising to have a word with the boys' father.

The boys' father is Senor Grady, the richest man in the state, and he lives in a place befitting his position. However, he doesn't like Skid's story and refuses to believe a word of it. The two boys tell their father that they've had fun but never hurt anyone,  and they even offered Skid a ride last week when he was in trouble. With this Skid is told to leave and don't come back. 

This he does, but back in San Juan he has a plan. Sandy has made some adjustments to Skid's car and Skid takes it out into the desert to await the boys. Ten minutes later, Skid has his first victim. Ramming his car hard behind one of the boy's vehicles, Skid shunts him across the desert at high speed. After ten minutes the boy is suitably scared, and Skid commands him to get in the car with him.

Back in San Juan, Skid finds the other troublemaker and hooks his car behind him with a rope and his towbar. Dragging the car and driver backwards into the desert, Skid gives another display of awesome driving, scaring the second son straight in the process.  

Back at the Grady Ranch, Skid lets the boys explain what has happened. This time they tell the truth and apologise. Senor Grady also apologises and promises Skid that he will have no more trouble. The story ends with the people of San Juan celebrating, while Skid has one more twist in the tale. There is a sign erected at the edge of the village stating no cars are allowed. This is the work of Governor Bill Henson, who just so happened used to drive on the Grand Prix circuit with Skid and owes him a favour. 

This was better than last week's episode, but not enough to move the needle of public opinion - namely me. Justice was served, and although it wasn't believable I was just happy to see this dealt with in an efficient manner. As usual, the images of the cars and Skid driving were great, although, without a strong plot to back them up, it didn't amount to much. Surprisingly, the part of the story I enjoyed most was seeing the residents of San Juan celebrate. This was a moment of levity after two pages of Skid Solo's dour expression, as well as signalling that the story was coming to an end. Skid is usually one of the most dependable stories in the comic, so this misstep will soon be forgotten as better stories come along, but for now, it is a black mark on an otherwise excellent strip. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: Aye...it's not what ye know...it's who ye know!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Tiny and Martin are reassembling Geoge after he had been crated to send to Hawaii. They make short work of this and three hours before the race is due to start they are on the track and ready to test the car. 

The car is better than ever, and Martin breaks the lap record for a mini in his practice run. Hopes are high for the race, and the whole place is buzzing about the speedy little mini. The race starts as you may expect, with Martin racing out to an early lead in his class. In the pits, Tiny is asked for an interview, and he gleefully agrees, feeling somewhat like a movie star. However, things take a turn halfway through the interview as it's announced that Martin has lost control, and in the final image, we can see the mini flipping over in what looks like a bad crash. 

What joy we see on Tiny's face, and this infused the entire strip with an energy that carried us throughout. After the issue of George being reassembled was quickly dealt with, the rest of the strip remained focused on the energy and excitement of the mini-race and the fast times of Martin. Seeing everyone so excited on the page carried over to the reader, and it was hard to read this with a smile on your face. I could have chosen a number of panels as a favourite, and there were three showing Tiny's expression that stood out in particular.  This was just the tonic we needed after a flat Skid Solo issue, and with the colour of the page jumping out at me I am again enthused for what follows.  

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "You keep driving like that, old pal, and this time tomorrow we'll be the mini champions!"

Nipper

Nipper has been sent away to live with the fearsome Amy Fletcher, and much to his chagrin she has turned up to his next game with a loud hailer to keep him in line.  

The torrent of loud advice proves to be a distraction, and Nipper gets off to a poor start. However, things improve as he gets his head into the game. He makes a break that looks promising but comes undone when the opposition fans decide they have had enough of Amy's foghorn, snatching it from her hands and throwing it onto the field. Unluckily for Nipper, it hits him in the head, and he gains the disapproval of the referee. 

Returning the horn to Amy, Niopper tells her to knock it off as she's making trouble for him with the referee. She agrees and tells him she has some advice for him now that she can see who is the goalie for Carford. 

Next time Nipper breaks away with the ball, several players call for him to pass, while from the stands Amy urges him to remember her advice and to hold on to the ball. A confused Nipper is dazed from all this conflicting advice and worried that he will never make it back to the first team.

Amy Fletcher is continuing to deliver, and seeing her with her megaphone was a good laugh. The rest of the story was no match for her character, and although she was good the rest of it failed to meet my expectations. Seeing Nipper being yelled at by various people while looking confused on the pitch didn't make for the most compelling of stories and with little agency, Nipper became just another figure on the page. Amy Fletcher carried the story for the panels she appeared in, but it's Nipper's name across the top of the story, and I would have liked to see him have a little more control over what was happening in the story. It wasn't a bad story, just a relatively boring one, and I can only hope next week Nipper emerges from this mess as a strong character to match the unsinkable Amy Fletcher. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "That noise is deafening...she's got to be stopped!" 

Johnny Cougar

Johnny Cougar is midway through his fight against Hardy Steele, a matman well-known for fighting unfairly. Steele has a badly cut eye and the referee is about to stop the fight, although Cougar is suspicious. Approaching Steele with a towel, Johnny suddenly grabs him and wipes at his eye. The blood is wiped away revealing no cut at all, and Johnny points out that Steele has been using a blood cachet to feign injury. 

The fight resumes and a furious Steele attacks Johnny, using Johnnys hair against him. Steele has the advantage for the next few panels until Johnny decides enough is enough and launches an attack of his own. This proves decisive, and Johnny makes the pinfall that wins the bout. 

A victorious Johnny tells us that he once again enjoys wrestling and he is much happier now, before putting an exclamation point on it all by tipping a bucket of water over Splash. 

I thought this story had more gas in the tank, and I was surprised to see it splutter to a stop in this issue. It ended as we always knew it would with Johnny victorious, and although I am glad about that I would have liked a little more meat in the finish. Johnny revealing that the blood was fake was predictable and believable, although I did have to suspend belief for his final pinfall. It looked so extreme and unbelievable that it took me out of the story as I began to question why the writer and artist would elect to finish in such a manner. Still, it was attention-grabbing and certainly stood out on the page. Aside from this, the story was strong and ended as it should with wrongs righted and the good guys winning. This has been a curious story, with intrigue at the start and the developing character of Hardy Steel. If appeared to have a sheen of greatness on it, but upon reading it has been proved to be a fool's gold as every week I leave disappointed. So much promise yet so little delivered, I know Johnny Cougar can be better than this and I have high expectations for whatever story follows. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Cougar think it heap time he launch attack!"

Hot Shot Hamish 

Hamish has introduced a new player, Alfie McPhee into the side, and he is soon the star of the team. However, he is starting to get a big head, and lapping up all the attention he can get.

This doesn't sit well with Hamish the team, although McWhacker sees it differently and offers McPhee a contract extension to two years. This also comes with a hefty wage increase, and soon McPhee is dressing like a peacock, indulging in all the perks of being a star such as opening nights for films.

McPhee arrives late to the next game, although dressed to the nines, and while Hamish and the team warm up on the pitch McPhee is still getting changed. Eventually, he appears on the pitch, and there are grumblings from the team that he came out late on purpose, just to show off.

Funny how quickly you can turn on a character. A few weeks ago I liked this fresh-faced youngster and now I find I despise him. This is a testament to the quality writing of the story and the believable way the character has changed with his fortunes. None of it has felt jarring, and I have happily gone along with the ride as McPhee has evolved to where he is now. I would like to see Hamish a little more in his own comic, although I recognise the need for a strong supporting cast and stories focussing on other characters. The stage has been well set, and I love to see a hero fall from grace- something I fully expect to see in the following issues as McPhee is humbled. Plenty at stake, great looking artwork, and the ever-lovable Hamish, this is another strong entry for Hot Shot Hamish, and despite not being the highest-rated strip in this week's comic, it is still my favourite. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Huh! Ye'd think he was the only player in the team!"

Roy Of The Rovers

Melchester Rovers are preparing to play against Eastgate at Eastgate Gate stadium in London, the only first-division football ground in the country where Roy has failed to score a goal. 

The pressure should be on Roy, but he is relaxed throughout the buildup, concentrating instead on the snooker game he is playing, and sleeping on the bus on the way to the ground. He even tells the media that they took the day off before the game to play a round of golf.

The Eastgate manager is confident of a win and even goes as far as to bet fifty pounds that Roy won't score a goal. This looks like a foolish wager as within minutes of the kickoff Roy has the ball and is breaking away toward the goal. 

What a beautiful-looking stadium East Gate is. The opening panel gives a wonderful insight into the scale of the ground, and one can only imagine how it must feel once it's full of screaming fans. I like the way this story has been tackled, and the way in which Roy is diffusing all the pressure. It is a low-key approach in the face of constant drama, and I found the story to be as relaxed as Roy himself. Despite football appearing in only a couple of panels this was a story that stayed focused on the team and their preparations for the game, which made it all the more exciting when it did eventually kickoff. The was a simple joy in seeing Roy playing snooker with the boys, and Penny's little pep-talk a few weeks ago has obviously not been forgotten by Roy or the writer. A gentle start to the story, but one that delivered an insight into Roy and his approach, and with the game now started things should ramp up in the coming weeks. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "I think I'll go for a red ball in the top, left-hand pocket, and run the cue ball back down the table to line up on the green!"

Tornado Jones

Tornado Jones has accepted a challenge from an aerodynamic expert called Harvey Halliwell to try and fly an unlikely-looking flying machine. Called the Pedo-Plane, it has been designed for man-powered flight, that power coming from Tornado Jones and some furious pedalling. 

With a ten thousand pound reward on offer for the first man to fly a mile around a figure eight course, Tornado can see why the designer is so enthusiastic about the project. Jones manages to take off well enough, but attempting to turn left he begins to lose control. Overcorrecting, he returns to Earth, although he still can't control the plane. Skidding across the turf he finds himself heading for the edge of a three-hundred-foot cliff in a literal cliffhanger to take us through to next week. 

I enjoyed this far more than I expected. The plane looked a lot of fun and delivered several arresting images on the page. I'm sure that name would fly nowadays, and seeing the word "pedo" on the page did jump out at me. That aside, this is probably the best we have seen of Tornado Jones this far, and after a shaky start, I am beginning to warm to the character and the story. Having another character with him certainly helps a lot, something I was asking for a couple of weeks ago, and without Jones carrying the bulk of the story on his shoulders, it became far more balanced. It also meant a lot less monologues, and we actually got some real dialogue on the page. This is a steady improvement, and we are on a good trajectory for the forthcoming story arc.  

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Brakes! Where are the perishing brakes? I can't stop this thing!" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6.5/10

Best Story:  Roy Of The Rovers 

Best Line: "You're off, Dane! I told you to stay upfield...and I expect my orders to be obeyed! Go and get changed...I shan't need you again..." 

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: