Tiger 17th January 1976

I always do my best when it comes to this blog. However, sometimes things slip through the cracks and it isn't quite as good as I want, or expect. Last week was one of those occasions. I posted the blog not realising that the spell check hadn't picked up a couple of errors in the very first paragraph. Not spelling mistakes so much as typos, and I was extremely embarrassed a few days later when I saw that not only was it one of my most-read blog posts, but also one that started with a couple of glaring errors. I can't guarantee that future posts will be any better, but please know that I always try and make this as readable as possible, despite my limitations and those of the tools I am using.  

17th January 1976

Skid Solo

Skid Solo delivered the best story last week, and this week it delivers an equally intense issue.

While Skid lies unconscious in the hospital, the world's media gather in the foyer awaiting news. Tommy and Sandy are keeping vigil at Skid's bedside and there is some hope that he will regain consciousness during the day. 

Sandy speaks to one of the men waiting outside of the hospital and this character, Jack, recounts Skid's first race and the way they build his first car together. They had very little money, but Skid was able to pull off a victory in his very first race and with the prize money they were able to fund their racing ambitions. 

In Skid's room, Skid begins to stir, and Tommy rushes to find a doctor. 

Back in the foyer, Sandy hears another story of Skid's first Grand Prix race. We get another flashback and we see Skid racing for an Italian team, with the instruction from the team manager for a one-two finish. This is achieved, although not in the manner expected as Skid passes his teammate in the final lap to win the race. 

As the pressman finishes his story Tommy appears and tells Sandy that Skid has just recovered consciousness, but the doctors say that he will never be able to drive again. 

This is easily another 10/10 story. It was beautifully crafted, and the way the flashbacks were woven into the story was seamless and made the final news from Tommy all the more devastating. I haven't gone back to see if the stories recalled come from the pages of Tiger, but I assume that given the long history of Skid Solo in the comic, they were. Seeing Skid's past added additional emotional weight to the story, and made his current situation feel all the more serious.  I enjoyed the fine balance between the past and the present and for the first time, it felt like Skid might be fallible after all.  

The racing scenes were lowkey and didn't detract from the drama of the main story at the hospital. The real drama was carried in the faces of Skid's two friends and the assembled newsmen, and these panels were just as intense as anything we could have seen on the track. While not as flashy as last week's story, this week's issue was just as essential, adding to what has come before while setting us up for another intense issue next week. With a foot in the past, and a step towards the future, the story delivers to casual readers and long-term fans alike, and although ending on a downbeat it ensures that the next issue will be a must-read. 

Rating: 10/10

Best line: "Sandy...do - do you think Skid will drive again?"

Roy Of The Rovers

Roy is suffering from double vision and tiredness as he takes the field against Carford City, but he is determined to carry on. 

He makes a good fist of it, testing the Carford keeper earlier with a shot. He is everywhere on the pitch, taking corners and throw-ins before he finally scores as the Carford keeper fails to punch clear a cross. 

Moments later he is defending his own goal line with a diving header. This proves a bridge too far, and his vision begins to fade again. Staggering across the field, Roy suddenly collapses and the medical team rush to his aid. The strip ends with Roy in Taffy Morgan's arms and Taffy telling the team that Roy has collapsed through sheer physical exhaustion. 

I think we all know that this has been coming for some time, and it has been signposted for a couple of months now. As such it carried very little surprise, although I must say, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of it. I was quietly pleased to have finally reached this point, and after all this build-up we can finally move on to the next part of the story. The football action wasn't gripping in this story, and neither were Roy's struggles, as these had already been documented in previous episodes. As such it was a necessary episode, but not an essential one. The artwork delivered far more than the story, and while it was pleasant to read, next week's issue promises to once again propel us forward and explore new territory. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "It was a beauty, Roy! But ease up a bit - you can't do everything!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Last week we saw Tiny and Martin being led away by several burly members of the Russian army. This week we pick up that thread, although I am surprised to see Tiny and Martin smiling as they are led off. 

At the police station they learn that they are being rewarded for catching the robbers back in France, and after being handed a reward they are released by the Russians. Mr Twastle is overjoyed at the publicity he could gain from this, but Tiny and Martin have a much bigger prize in mind - the one million pounds that Mr Twastle has promised them if they win. 

Mr Twastle thinks his money is safe, as there are still two legs left and the boys are far behind. However, they make great time across snow-ridden Poland (and an encounter with a snow plough) and are soon approaching Kyiv. They arrive in Kyiv first and on TV it is announced that they hold first place with one leg left.

Watching at home, Mr Twastle watches the TV horrified. There's no way he can afford a million pounds, and in his final words, he says he's got to stop them. 

Although always likeable, this lacked both the drama and the fun of previous episodes. The first panel of Tiny and Martin smiling while with the Russian soldiers undid all the potential for trouble that the image would have otherwise held, and the next few panels gave us a nice wrap-up of the situation while remaining completely unnecessary. 

There was potential for trouble as they crossed snowy countryside in Russia, and while I smiled at their trouble with the snow plough, it was hardly the most demanding of storylines.

Last week I made mention of the fact that this was very much a time capsule, with the talk of East and West Germany, and the sight of Russian soldiers in East Berlin. This issue gave us more of the same, with the most jarring moment coming with Kyiv being part of Russia. This was heightened by my spell checker insisting that I change the spelling to Kyiv, rather than the Kiev we read on the page.  The context may have changed, but the rally action is still good, and I look forward to seeing how Soviet Russia is portrayed in the next issue.

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Brrrrr! This is a tough old country!"

Johnny Cougar

Johnny is preparing to take on the Masked Maniac, but at his training session, he finds that his ring ropes have been cut with Splash Gorton falling out of the ring as he bounces against them. 

A tape recording tells Johnny that he should back out of the fight, a threat that Johnny pays no heed to. 

Meanwhile, the Masked Maniac has called a press conference to discuss his forthcoming fight with Johnny. In a demonstration of his strength, he strikes a punching bag, only to find that someone has filled it with pieces of concrete. Undeterred, he next gives a display of his weightlifting abilities. However, he finds that his weights are merely trick balloons filled with air. At this moment, Johnny Cougar reveals that he has been disguised as one of the journalists, and tells the Masked Maniac that he hopes he's learned not to play tricks on Johnny. At this point, a fight breaks out between the two, and the grudge match is set. 

A lot of silliness in this issue, and surprisingly it worked far better than what we have seen in previous weeks. It made me smile rather than grimace and wasn't quite as cringe-worthy as some of the other foolishness we have seen. Splash falling through the ropes set the tone for the rest of the strip, and it stayed with this theme for the rest of the comic. The appearance of the mystery tape playing lent some menace, but overall it stayed light until the final panel. This consistency helped get over some of the humour. In a more serious wrestling contest that humour can sometimes feel misplaced. Here it was delicately positioned and made for an undemanding yet enjoyable read. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Sure, Daddy-o...J-just a bit battered and bruised! Guess I was too strong for those ring ropes!"

Billy's Boots

Billy is about to fly home from Munich after playing for the English schoolboys against West Germany. With snow falling, there is some worry about the flight, although they take off OK and are soon back in the sunshine of England. 

Billy is soon back into his regular routine, and after giving his Gran a gift from Germany he receives a gift of his own as she shows him a flash new bike that his rich Uncle has sent him.

Billy wastes no time in getting back to football, and the next day he is on his new bike with Jimmy Dawson going to play for the Merrydowners team. They arrive at the opposition's pitch to find it is pretty rough, as is the team they are playing against. 

All eyes are on Billy, and he is singled out as the kid on the posh bike who played for England. On the field, he is marked by two players at all times, although Billy uses this to his advantage and assists for the first two goals. 

As half-time arrives, Billy walks off the pitch but is horrified to see that his new bike has been stolen from beside the shed where he left it. 

I feel for Billy. I had my bike stolen when I was a kid, and I have never forgotten the feeling. This event may well stay with him for a lifetime, although for now, all concern is for the second half of the match. 

The opening part of the story with the snow airport at Munich as a backdrop came to nothing, and although I am relieved, I also feel a little let-down. The sight of Billy and the team boarding in the snow, and with the thought of the tragedy in Munch in mind, made this a dramatic moment in the story, and to see it so easily dispensed with in this issue was disappointing. I didn't expect to see Billy and the team in a crash, but I thought there could have been more made of it. 

We had another nice cameo from Billy's Gran, as well as a mention of another member of Billy's extended family. A rich uncle we have never heard of, and a generous one at that. It did provide the funny moment of Billy being referred to as the kid with a posh bike, and briefly gave him a taste of the highlife. A little strange that an Uncle we had never seen, nor had mentioned, suddenly be so generous, but it did add an extra layer of interest to the story. 

This current storyline feels a step down from what we had in the month leading up to Christmas, and while I am saddened by Billy's loss, I have the feeling that it will be quickly resolved and we can move on to something more substantial. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "That one with the posh bike!"

Nipper

Nipper has been kidnapped by some students playing a prank, and although he has escaped he now finds that he has lost his memory and can't even remember his own name. 

Some passing motorists come to his aid, and looking through his pockets they find he has a wage slip from Blackport Rovers in the name of N. Lawrence. 

Bundling Nipper into the car, they drive him to the club grounds, where there is a crowd gathered for the big game. Nipper is immediately recognised as he steps from the car, and he is whisked away from his two saviours and hurried to the dressing rooms before he can explain himself. 

There is no time for Nipper to explain anything about his situation as he is hurriedly dressed and pushed out onto the field. Kerry is on the sideline to wish him luck, and Nipper doesn't even recognise his own girlfriend as he makes his way onto the field. Things get worse with kick-off, and Nipper is like a lost sheep as the game swirls around him, not knowing what position he should be playing. 

A nice progression on last week's issue, and the story is moving steadily forward. Seeing Nipper lost on the field ended the issue on the right note, and with Kerry going unrecognised just a couple of panels earlier we are well placed for plenty of drama next week.

Any appearance by Kerry is welcome, and she looked particularly fine this week. The look on her face as Nipper failed to recognise her was perfectly in tune with her character and was a look I would not want to be on the receiving end of. It was also pleasing to see she had one of her friends with her, and the world of Nipper became more well-rounded for it. 

There are still plenty of unresolved issues here, not least of all the kidnapping of Nipper that began all of this. First, we will have to negotiate this game of football, and Nipper's ongoing amnesia, before this can be resolved, and with that in mind, I look forward to seeing what will unfold over the coming weeks. All that, and Kerry of course.    

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Er...can you tell me where I'm supposed to be playing?"

Hot Shot Hamish 

Hamish and McMutton have found new lodgings on a houseboat. Things get off to a poor start as McMutton is reluctant to cross the water to board, and things become rapidly worse as a passing motorboat sets the houseboat rocking. Things come to a natural head and both Hamish and McMutton end up in the water and it is a sopping wet and unhappy Hamish who finally comes onboard.

At the Princes ground, Hamish confesses to Mr McWhacker that he doesn't like the new place and that he feels seasick most of the time. Hamish wants to move on, but he just doesn't have the heart to tell the captain.

The next day, Hamish pulls the houseboat further upstream and closer to the football ground. Exhausted he falls asleep only to be awoken by water being pumped from factories beside the river and onto his new home. This is the final straw, and snatching up McMutton, Hamish leaves the houseboat for good. 

As luck would have it, he is spotted by a wealthy Princes Park supporter, Andy McCash, who immediately offers Hamish his place to stay. With a swimming pool and a tennis court, it is all the luxury Hamish could imagine, and we have a taste of what is to come with the sight of a beautiful country mansion shown in the final panel. 

Although I didn't like the story of the houseboat, it did provide some wonderful artwork. The panels on the second page as it is flooded are exquisite, and they all caught my eye with their detail and expressive feel. The final panels of Hamish's new lodgings are equally engaging, and once we get a close view I'm sure the artwork will again come to the fore. 

This story of Hamish trying to find a place to stay feels like a placeholder until something more substantive develops. It's hard to see right now how this current plot can grow into something more, so I expect to see something unexpected arrive to take us down a new path. Until then, I am revelling in the art and carrying forward the thought of what this new mansion could hold. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Hot-diggety Haggis! It's a palace! I think it'll do fine for McMutton and me..."

Tornado Jones

Tornado was attempting to beat the record time for riding across the Pennines when he struck disaster. After seeing the bike of one of the men who failed the crossing, Tornado suddenly finds himself dropping into a pothole - bike and all.   

It's somewhat of a controlled crash, and regaining his feet Tornado finds himself in an underground cavern. He also finds the missing riders, who are right now grabbing his provisions in search of any food they can get their hands on.

The men have been surviving on emergency rations, and they tell Tornado that it's impossible to climb back up the tunnel. Tornado enquires after other exits, and the men explain that there is only one tunnel, but it goes for miles through the mountain, and they are too weak to follow it very far.

Tornado instructs them to get on his bike as he attempts to drive out via this tunnel with the other three riders clinging to him. It is a long tough ride, but eventually, Tornado makes it, crashing his way through the side of the mountain and into the fresh air. He is only three miles from the finish and although his front wheel is buckled, he carries the other riders the remaining miles.  

He reaches the village, breaking the record and winning the prize money. In the final panel of the comic, he generously asks for the money to be split with the other three riders who had to endure a month underground. 

A weak ending to what had been one of the better Tornado Jones stories. Following on from the giant wave story, Tornado Jones had begun to have a consistency to it. It was beginning to rise above the earlier childish stories and Tornado was coming into his own. This week was a step back, and although there were moments that I liked, overall it fell flat, especially in light of the excellent two episodes that preceded it. 

I like that he found the other riders, although I felt this could have worked for a few more issues. Like many comic endings, it was rushed when there could have easily been another couple of issues wrung out of the story. 

However, it did provide some thrills, and in particular, the opening panels of Tornado on his bike provided a rush that carried me through the rest of the comic. These images of him on his bike were powerful and one got a good sense of the bike he was riding and his skill in controlling it. It was a strong start to the story before it became a simple rush to the finish line. I like the character, and these images give me hope for the future, but the story still remains inconsistent and elusive. I want it to do better, and next week we start with a clean slate and the opportunity to finally deliver something worthy of Tornado Jones and his bike.  

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Only one - but it twists for miles through the middle of the mountain...and we were too weak for very far" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story:  Skid Solo 

Best Line: "...they say...he-he'll never be able to drive again!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: