Tiger 29th December 1973

This week is a festive issue, and I must say it does feel a little strange to read it in early September. I would much prefer to be reading this on boxing day, a mug of mulled wine in my hand, and a food hangover from the day before. I could probably stretch to reading it with a hangover from the night before, but safe to say I have a clear head as I read this, and nothing stronger than a cup of tea by my side. 

Tiger

29th December 1973

Roy Of The Rovers

Roy's battle with Len Farmer is put on the back burner as the Rovers enjoy Christmas with us. I enjoy these first couple of pages of the story, even if it is fairly typical of what one would expect from Roy at Christmas. We have Rovers entertaining local youth organisations, a present giveaway, and the usual party games one might expect from the Rovers team. It's predictable but has a warm Christmas glow to it which puts me in the spirit of the season. It's almost a shame that football eventually interrupts and we return to Roy's problems. The good news is Len Farmer has been sold to Walford, for a bargain price of 50,000 pounds, the bad news is that Melchester Rovers face Walford in the next round of the F.A. Cup. It is a steady enough story and the goodwill generated in the first half of the strip makes up for the low-key drama of the second part of the story. Overall, I feel good about everything I'm reading, and the warm glow I feel in my stomach isn't just from this cup of tea. 

Rating: 6/10

Best Line: "Gosh, the cracker's exploded! It's showering presents all over the pitch!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Martin's Marvellous Mini is the opposite of Roy Of The Rovers, with the drama all front-loaded, and the feel-good Christmas waiting for us in the second half of the strip. It looked as though this may be a miserable Christmas for the boys, as a section of cliff broke off with George on it. All they could do is jump with George as all three slid into the sea together. Once again luck is at play as the broken cliff becomes an island, and once the tide rolls out they are able to drive along the beach. This brings us to the Christmas section of the story, and once again the cockles of my heart are warmed with the sight of turkey, party hats, and a Christmas tree. With no desperate cliffhanger, next week is wide open in terms of story, and from here anything could happen as they take a couple of days rest from the rally. I don't want to overuse the word feel-good, but feel-good is exactly how I feel after these first two stories.  

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Fat lot of use that is! We can't get George aboard that!"

The Tigers

I thought a real ghost had appeared at the end of last week's Tigers story, but I am relieved to see here that it is merely someone else taking refuge in Gravestone Manor. I am much happier with the story after this revel, and overall I found it to be far more enjoyable than last week. There are the laughs we have come to expect, Ron Burton is again bettered, and Chunky Clark rides his luck to another happy ending. There is no surprise that this happy ending involves more Christmas cheer. I'd be the first to put my hand up and admit I'm not the greatest fan of the Tigers, but this one is one of the better ones I have read and is a strong contender for the best story in this week's issue. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "How's that for a smashing photo! Ha, ha, ha. Which Gargoyle is which?"

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

It was life and death for Splash when we last saw him. With no air line, and both our heroes in the clutches of the octopus, this week's issue had a jumpstart when it comes to thrills. And the first few pages maintain this frantic action, with Johnny and Splash battling the octopus before Johnny takes control of the situation. Octopus vanquished, he puts his diving skills to use, giving Splash his own air supply before heading to the surface. These pages are just as good as the previous week, and even though I have my doubts about Johnny's diving ability, there is no denying that it was page-turning action the whole time they were underwater. We return to the surface, where even on the remote desert island it is Christmas time, and this sets up for another Christmas toast and more party hats. I love that they are maintaining this Christmas spirit throughout the issue while maintaining the momentum of the story. Another strong issue from Johnny Cougar, and his strip remains one of the most consistent of Tiger comic in general. 

Rating: 8/10

Best Line:  "Do not worry, little penguin...we have made a hat for you!"

Tallon Of The Track

I have been enjoying the current storyline of Tallon Of The Track but I am left disappointed in the way it finishes this week. I'm disappointed for two reasons. Firstly, the fact it's finishing. I know there are plenty more stories with Jo Tallon to come, but I have enjoyed this storyline every step of the way, and it is with a heavy heart that I turn the page to find its ending. The second reason is that it seems to wrap up all too fast. The villain that Dave and Jo captured last week is very loose-lipped and reveals the whole plot in three panels as he explains the gold they're after, where it's hidden and the fact that his accomplice is on the way now to get it. I'm saddened to see the story cheapened like this, but my heart lifts as Jo takes to her bike and we have her once again smashing through a door to save the day. I should have tallied up the number of times she has smashed through doors in this story, but that moment has passed, perhaps I'll do it next time. With the criminals behind bars, there's only one thing left to do - have a Christmas party on bikes!

Best line:  "There's a car parked outside my room! That thug must be inside - well, he's in for a shock!"

Rating: 7/10

Skid Solo

Skid Solo gives us our first purely Christmas story with hijinks aplenty as Sandy and Sparrow seek the perfect gift for Skid. In a humourous tale, they sell their vintage car to pay for some trophy cabinets for Skid, but the story comes full circle as Skid sells his trophy collection to buy a vintage car for the lads. Nothing too taxing here, and it is pure fun all the way as Sandy and Sparrow speed around the roads as the story unfolds. I like that it stays strictly on theme with its Christmas story, and both parties prove very generous with their choice of gifts. It's not Skid Solo the racing driver, but Skid Solo the man who is revealed here, and for a Christmas story this works well. While not a classic Skid story, I find myself reading with a smile and rating it highly.  

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line:  "Secret shopping! It's no any business o' yours, mon!" 

Football Family Robinson 

Starve the crows, it's all about the Aussies in this week's Football Family Robinson with the arrival of Digger, and his mysterious friend "Bluey." We don't have to wait long for this mystery to be lifted, Bluey is a kangaroo. No real surprise there, of course, every dinkum Aussie has a kangaroo for a friend. Bluey looks like he will be causing trouble in the coming weeks, but for now we are content just to be introduced while Digger is put through his paces as a goalkeeper on the field. There's not much happening in this issue, but we are well set up for the next few weeks, and with these two characters in the fold there is plenty of scope for spills and thrills in future. I'm not even going to mention the Christmas dinner, but it is one of the best panels in the issue. 

Rating: 5.5/10

Best line:  "Sorry Sport. I should have warned yer. Bluey gets annoyed if he thinks anyone is attacking me. His tail packs quite a wallop.."

 A Horse Called Ugly

The first few panels of A Horse Called Ugly are fantastic. I have constantly been impressed by the artwork in this story, and here is more of the same as we see Joe in dire straights crossing a river, hands bound, as the bandits shoot at him. You would think that things couldn't get much worse, but indeed they do for poor old Joe as an alligator comes into frame. It turns out that the bandits weren't shooting at Joe, but rather at this alligator. This is one of the best sequences in this week's comic, and although the story has a Christmas ending, it is this first half page that sticks in my mind. It would be easy to dislike this story, but it has a unique charm to it, and even though I don't like horses (or even Joe) very much, I still find myself quietly looking forward to seeing what happens week after week. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line:  "Yikes! So that's what Lopez was firing at...an alligator!" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

Best Line:  "A Kangaroo!"

Best Panel:

Tiger 22nd December 1973

 Oh boy, what a cover. I don't how the rest of the issue could live up to this cover, but I know right away that this will be the best panel in the issue. Skip to the end to see what I mean, and while you do that I'll carry on reading the rest of the issue.

Tiger
22nd December 1973

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

The front cover says it all, Splash is in peril and firmly in the clutches of a horrific-looking octopus. It's going to take a lot to see him get out of this one, but first, we have to wait for Johnny to discover what's wrong. The penguin can sense something is wrong, and once Johnny sends it down below it returns soon enough with a warning. From here the story reaches its climax as Johnny plunges overboard, and engages the octopus in a battle of strength. Johnny beats it in this struggle, but Splash is left without an air-line as the story concludes. It's all breathless action on this final page, and I pore over every panel, every line part of the unmissable action as the story and artwork come together in a heady brew. This is the Johnny Cougar I signed up for, and here it delivers in spades. It may not be wrestling action, but it is the next best thing, and I can't get enough. Two pages are all too short, so it is to next week I look for more of the same, please.  

Rating: 8/10

Best Line:  "By the spirits! Many-armed monster has Splash in its power! "

Roy Of The Rovers

Roy's battle with Len Farmer continues this week, with Len getting the better of him at every turn. With Roy conceding a goal, he is eventually pulled off with twenty minutes to go. Once he's off the pitch, Len Farmer looks like any other player and Melchester Rovers manages to score a goal and salvage a point. I didn't enjoy last week's issue with this storyline and this week was more of the same. I think things may continue like this as long as this storyline continues, so I don't have high hopes for next week's issue. As much as I love Roy, and his Rovers, this story isn't for me, and already my mind is drifting off into the future. 

Rating: 4.5/10

Best Line: "Tony Storme's had enough! He's pulling Roy off, and sending on a sub!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

We left the boys in the midst of a nasty flood last week, but the drama of that is quickly washed away in the first panel as they drive straight through it. This proves to be a winning move, and our heroes find themselves in the lead of the rally after only getting ten penalty points for the stage. Things are looking up for them as they then give a good performance in the time trial. The only downside to all this is they have expensive accommodation, something they set out to fix in the last part of the story as they seek cheaper accommodation. The most dramatic part of this week's story is the final panel, as a cliff begins to crumble with George on the edge of the precipice. While it's not the most dramatic of stories this week, it has plenty of elements that appeal to me. With some good rally action, we see George put through his paces, and we see the friendship that exists between Martin and Tiny. It's all very feel-good, with just enough drama to keep the pages turning. It's more like a nice cup of tea, rather than a stiff whisky, but it suits my mood perfectly and I rate it more highly than perhaps a comic aficionado would. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "First? Then coming through the flood-water paid off!"

 A Horse Called Ugly

A few weeks ago we saw Skid Solo do battle with some wild-looking bandits and this week we see Joe and Ugly facing a similarly motley crew. I do love a good bandit storyline, and this one is par for the course. With Joe taken hostage by some South American bandits, Ugly isn't present for much of the story. Left on the train, it isn't until later in the story that he breaks free and runs wild. The action between Joe and the bandits is great, and there are some wonderful faces in the panels, the artwork, although heavy in places, still captures the wildness of these men. It would be easy to dismiss this as a cliched riddled plot, but the inner child in me laps it all up. Short on horse action but still highly enjoyable with any panel that features the bandits. It is hard to believe that just a couple of weeks ago this story was all about show jumping, and now we are deep into a completely different genre. Just another thing to love about Tiger comic.

 Rating: 7/10

Best line:  "You hear that? That crazy Gringo called me ugly! Hold me back before I make him into little pieces!" 

Football Family Robinson 

Viv is in the very first panel, so you know I'm already enthused about this week's issue. When a letter arrives from downunder, the family is excited by the imminent arrival of another Robinson family member, Digger Robinson, from Australia. According to the letter, he is also a footballer, a goalkeeper no less, which is just as well as in the very next game Crash is injured in goal. Phew, the Family sure is lucky sometimes. The arrival of Digger reveals him to be every inch the cliched Aussie at the time, with his lemon squeezer hat and "Starve the crows!" While I enjoyed the clichés in the previous Horse Called Ugly story, I am not so enamored with the Aussie stereotypes in The Football Family Robinson. The name Digger, his first words "Starve the crows", it's all too much for me. Unfortunately, I know that Tiger comic will draw from this well time and time again, and this will not be the only time that a fair dinkim Aussie character will grate me. Still, asides from this, the story is fine enough. It sticks safely to the middle ground, and I live in hope that the story will accelerate into something exciting in the next few issues. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line:  "Starve the crows! It's great to see ya Ma!"

Skid Solo

Good to see Skid Solo back to racing this week, as he takes part in the annual December Dice sports car race. Although not the greatest Skid Solo story I've ever read, I find it interesting enough with the brusque Skid crossing paths with a pushy journalist. Once again, it is this friction between Skid and an outsider that drives the story and props up the racing action. When a journalist insists that Skid give him a story, Skid quickly brushes him off. However, he is not so easily dismissed and stows away in Skid's car, setting up the action on the track as Skid gives the stowaway the ride of his life. I do like seeing the arrogant journalist get his comeuppance, and every panel where he faces Skid directly is well worth seeing for his changing expression. I do wonder if the writers are laughing at themselves, making fun of a writer who can't handle the pace as Skid makes some cutting comments, and the overall feel is fun rather than nasty.  Still not yet to the level of the Grand Prix action, but close enough for me to greatly enjoy it and rate it above average.      

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line:  "You're not enjoying it are you? You writers ought to stick to driving your typewriters!" 

Tallon Of The Track

The two most dramatic stories this week are Johnny Cougar and Tallon Of The Track. We left Jo Tallon last week halfway across a ravine on a highwire, while further danger approached in the form of armed crooks in a helicopter. There is a lot to like in this story, with the art and story making for a compelling read throughout.  We see Jo avoiding being shot, only to fall from her bike and manage to desperately grasp the wire. I am pleased to say that the drama doesn't end there, and in an unexpected move Dave shoots the helicopter out of the sky with a flaregun. It feels very grown up, and I would be happy to watch this scene unfold in any movie. In retrospect, it does seem pretty drastic for Dave to shoot the helicopter down, although we have seen something similar happen in Martin's Marvellous Mini just a couple of months ago. Despite Dave's recklessness, the villains survive, only to face the wrath of Jo who has scrambled to safety.  This story still has plenty of legs as the thugs reveal that the third member of their party is on the way to Jo's abandoned airfield to find the hidden store of gold. With breathless action and an impressive helicopter crash, this is a high-octane story as we approach the end of the issue. 

Best line:  "T-the cable! I've g-got to make a grab for it!"

Rating: 7/10

The Tigers

Tigers ended last week with a fantastically atmospheric panel of our pals creeping through the grounds of Gravestone Manor. This week we pick right up from where we left off as they explore the manor, looking for the Gargoyle. This takes most of the first page, and it doesn't feel like much is happening for most of it as they bumble around. I start reading faster on the second page as Burton and his chums enter the story, intent on scaring Chunky and his friends. Covering themselves with sheets, they pass themselves off as ghosts, only for a real ghost to appear in the final panel. Now, I'm not one for the supernatural, so as fun as this has been I can't find it in my heart to enjoy the outcome. A solid enough issue, but that last panel just leaves me cold.  

 Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Now we've only to find the gargoyle and photograph it. I'll go first...I'm not as clumsy as you two!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

Best Line:  "I'm doing twenty-five miles an hour! This is crazy!"

Best Panel:

Tiger 15th December 1973

I can't believe how quickly Sunday afternoon has rolled around again, I feel like I've only just put down last week's issue, and here I am once again, comic in hand, a cup of tea, and an hour worth of peace and quiet ahead of me. There was plenty happening in last week's issue, let's pick up the action and see where we are.  

Tiger
15th December 1973

Skid Solo

Skid Solo kicks off this week, but it's Sandy's school friend that captures my attention with a superb brown coat and some yellow trousers. The colour front page truly does wonders for setting the scene. This week is a typical Skid story where he's asked to test drive a vehicle of some description. In this case, it is Sandy's school-chum, Ian McBain, and his experimental race car. What unfolds contains very little in surprise, but is classic Skid Solo and well told in every aspect. After an unconvincing test drive, the secret of the car is revealed, a wind intake that when turned up generates an extra  30 miles an hour in speed. With this knowledge in hand, Skid takes another drive, returning to Sandy and friend on foot, having crashed the car. The panel of the car crash hits my funny bone in just the right spot, Skid has crashed into a sign that says "Go by rail." This panel and the front page are the best part of the story for me, and the rest of the story basks in the glow of these panels. The crux of the story is revealed when Skid tells Sandy that although McBain built a faster car, he didn't build better brakes.  The story may seem slight, but it was enjoyable enough and didn't need any extra drama to get me from beginning to end. Skid is such a nice fellow, it's impossible not to like any story he is in.  

Rating: 5.5/10

Best line:  "Bit of paint scraped off it, but no great harm done! We'll need a pick-up truck to tow it back to the pits!" 

Roy Of The Rovers

Poor old Roy was having nightmares about his opponent, Len Farmer, when last saw him in the last issue, and we carry right on with this storyline with this issue. I am reminded that we are firmly in the 1970s as Roy takes his troubles to his manager, who pretends to ring a psychiatrist which has Roy leaving saying no thanks he'll handle it himself. The coach and manager may laugh about it, but we have come a long way since then when it comes to mental health, and one certainly would see a big club nowadays taking players' mental welfare far more seriously. The story turns to on-field action, and Roy is played out of position to try and counter Len farmer, a move that seemingly backfires as Len is all over Roy early on, and we see Roy fall into the trap of trying to take him on himself, leaving the rest of the team vulnerable. I found this issue uneven, both in pacing and story, and paired with the fact that it hasn't aged particularly well I found Roy this week to be disappointing. Still, the great thing with these comics is there's always next week,  so hopefully, that will be more to my tastes.  

 Rating: 5/10

Best Line: "Hee! Hee! Ha! Ha! Haaa! I've heard everything now! The great Roy Race...having nightmares about centre-backs!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Martin's Marvellous Mini is a story of two halves this week. First, we have them scrambling for money to enter the round Britain rally, and then the second half the beginning of the rally itself. There is some humour as they get their entrance fee together, the panel where they sell some possessions is amusing, especially seeing them with golf clubs, a transistor radio, and a fishing rod. Luckily the good people of Buxton come to their aid, donating the entrance fee with a door-to-door collection. This sets us up for the rally itself, which although is only beginning has the potential for plenty of scrapes and japes. The boys are delayed from the start by the inevitable traffic jam and then accumulate penalty points throughout the first day, before finding themselves in a flood. All par for the course for Martin, Tiny, and George, but just the sort of content that keeps me coming back week after week. This week's issue will fade from memory soon enough, but I enjoyed every minute I was reading it, and as always Martin's Marvellous Mini remains a firm favorite. 

 Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Thirty-five penalty points...on the first day! It's the rain that's holding us up now!"

The Tigers

Tigers were disturbing the peace in the library when we last saw them, and in this episode, things come to a head with bookshelves, books, and the Tigers all ending up on the floor. Thank goodness Chunky is so lucky because he ends up with the very book they need in his hands. I understand that Chunky's luck is the central premise of this story, but sometimes I just shake my head and sigh. We are in familiar territory with the Tigers taking a train them biking cross country while Burton does his best to keep up. Of course there's a rampaging bull because this just wouldn't be The Tigers if there wasn't a bull chasing boys on bikes at some stage. The most evocative panel is the final one when they find the aptly named Gravestone Manor,  and if next week can live up to only a fraction of its potential I shall be very happy indeed. Reading this strip I didn't like it, but putting my thoughts down on paper I find I enjoyed it far more than I thought. There's a lesson there somewhere, but I don't know what it is.  

 Rating: 6/10

Best line: "I've made the bull do us a favour, fellers. There's Gravestone manor. We've found it!"

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

Johnny takes a back seat for this issue as Splash heads underwater for the treasure ship. With the villains out of the way on shore, there is plenty of focus on Splash doing his job, and after a page of setup and Splash getting into his costume, we are finally underwater and at the site of the sunken ship. the panels depicting Splash working on the ship aren't the most gripping, it is only in the final half page where the story gets interesting with the appearance of an octopus. With its tentacles wrapped firmly around Splash's head, there is finally some welcome drama. I keep thinking I have seen Splash and an Octopus before, but perhaps I am merely remembering this particular story. It is a striking visual, and I forget all that has come before and will take this image with me as we go forward into the next issue. 

Rating: 5/10

Best Line:  "Fear not, little ice-bird...Splash heap good in water, he not take any chances!"

 A Horse Called Ugly

I thought that last week was the end of Joe and Ugly's South America adventure, but it seems not. This is a strange issue, and the story takes some unusual twists in the two pages it runs. The most striking thing is there is no horse action at all, we only see Ugly once, and that is when he is loaded into a train. But before we get to that, we need to rewind to why Joe is still in South America. While the rest of the team is preparing to return to Britain, Joe auctions off a cup he won in Britain, earning himself two hundred dollars, enough for him and Ugly to further their adventures in South America. Bidding farewell to Angela, they board a plane across the continent, and then a mountain train we're Jow charms the locals in his usual way. It's not all a smooth ride though, and the train comes to a sudden halt. Fearing for Ugly, Joe disembarks whereupon out of the smoke a mysterious figure throws a blanket over him. I find that even though this is an unusual issue, I still like it. I like that it has a different feel from what has come previously, and even if the setup was awkward, I do like seeing their trip into the mountains. We don't know where they are going, or who the figure is, or why any of this is happening, but with all these questions, next week's issue will be unmissable.  

 Rating: 7/10

Best line:  "Senor, eeet is magnifico! Lizard leg in baked clay!" 

Football Family Robinson 

The Rodney Bull storyline took a giant leap forward last week, and suddenly here we are wrapping it up. With Rodney released from the hospital and facing a gang of Maxwell's thugs, it seems only the Robinson family can save the day. But things aren't quite as they seem, and I am happy with the direction the story takes as it is revealed that Detective-sergeant Gill has his own plain clothes men hidden in the ambulance. This leads to a shambles as police reinforcements arrive, rounding up not only the crooks but also the interfering Robinson. However, all is well that ends well, and the mess is soon sorted out, with the right men being taken in, the Rodney Bull case wrapped up and Alf's name finally cleared. I have greatly enjoyed this story, and although it meandered for some weeks, it carried my attention throughout. One could say the ending was too abrupt, but the story had gone on for a while and it was time to bring it to a close. A knock on the door in the final panel this week brings the next story into view, and one can only hope that it's just as good as the Rodney Bull story. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line:  "No? Causing a breach of the peace. Causing an affray. Assaulting a constable. Interfering with the police in the execution of their duty- I've got enough to keep you on bread and water for years"

Tallon Of the Track

Jo's plan to lure the villains into the open comes into effect this week in Tallon Of The Track.  Not as dramatic as last week, but there is a sense of danger as Jo sets up her tightrope across the ravine. Although it may seem dangerous, Jo is taking no chances with team members scattered all over the site with walkie-talkies at the ready for any attempt. With her motorcycle skills to the fore, my favourite images are as she begins her ride across the ravine. However, the real danger comes from an approaching helicopter and with that threat approaching, we wrap up another issue. With only two pages to work with the story moves quickly, with one page of setup and one page of action. It's too quick for my liking, I would love to see three or four pages, but that's just not how these things work. Another great issue from a top team and plenty more in store next week. 

Best line:  "yeah...the stunt to end all stunts! That ravine is three-quarters of a mile across! I reckon you'll get about twenty yards!"

Rating: 7/10

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6/10

Best Story: Football Family Robinson 

Best Line:  "Ya hear that, Elmer? Gee, he thinks I'm a duchess. I just can't wait to tell the folks back in lil' ol' Texas"

Best Panel:

Tiger 8th December 1973

Burst pipes, no sir, I don't like them. While I'm waiting for an emergency plumber to turn up, and to take my mind off the eventual cost, I'm going to use this time to read this week's Tiger comic. Not ideal circumstances, but in this busy world, you have to use whatever time you can get. 

Tiger

8th December 1973

Roy Of The Rovers

Roy and the team embark on a new storyline this week as we return to on-field action. I much prefer this story to what we have seen in the last few weeks, and as the team prepares for the match against Thornton Villa I wonder where the drama will come from. I don't have to wait long to find out, Thornton Villa has proven a problem for the Rovers in the last couple of seasons, especially Roy's marker, Len Farmer, who proves to be a problem at every turn. To demonstrate this, we have a delightful scene where Tony Storm cues up a film projector and some film of their match last season. We certainly have come a long way since, and I think of the modern players watching videos of players and games on tablets, phones, and touch screens at many of the big clubs now.  Roy is convinced that Farmer is his bogeyman, and sets his mind on how he can beat the man. In the final scene, we see Roy at home with Jimmy Slade, still pondering the problem, before he falls asleep, only to wake Jimmy later with his yelling at night. All in all, much more enjoyable, even if it's not high-stakes drama, it is pure football, and what I want to see more of out of Roy Of The Rovers. Next week's game should reveal more, and the drama with Len Farmer will play out, and I'll be here every page for that, especially if we see more of Roys superb looking car!  

 Rating: 6.5/10

Best Line: "Steady on Roy! You're driving like Skid Solo!"

Skid Solo

Skid Solo isn't the star of his own story this week, but even so, this week's issue continues the good run we have had of Skid Solo stories recently. It is with some relief that Skid has returned to the UK, and I am pleased to see Sparrow Smith make an appearance in the first couple of panels. I had forgotten about him, and seeing his chirpy face lifts the strip and my spirits. It will be Sparrow Smith who carries this week's story, and not only is Skid relegated to the sidelines, but the story also features motorcycles rather than racing cars. Sparrow is training to ride a speedway bike, and we learn that he has an invitation race coming up. In his dour way, Sandy thinks he will fail and offers ten pounds (about 80 pounds when converted to today's money)  if he can manage a win, an offer Sparrow gleefully accepts. Things look grim for Sparrow as he watches a professional team, and tries it himself. However, as often happens in the Skid Solo stories, all is revealed in the final panel as Sparrow wins the cup, Sandy's ten pounds, as the invitation race features a footballer, a runner, and a cricketer. I'm well used to these types of endings from Skid Solo, sometimes I smile, sometimes I groan, but it is part of the reason I enjoy these stories. A nice little story, and considering it didn't feature Skid it rates higher than expected.   

Rating: 7/10

Best line:  "I said I'd learn a trick or two...and I have. Watch from some place else! " 

Martin's Marvellous Mini

You can't beat a good car chase, and that is exactly what we get for most of Martin's Marvellous Mini this week. Zarkoff in his car with rocket launchers mounted in front had me all aquiver last week, and this week we get to see those rockets in action. He does seem to find Martin and Tiny a little too easily for my cynical mind, but as soon as he fires that first rocket I'm totally absorbed in the story. The chase escalates and Tiny and martin drive into a defence area, where a tank soon takes out Zarkoff, without harming him of course. With the main threat nullified, the rest of the story is a wrap-up as martin and Tiny return to the two old ladies who started them on this treasure hunt. They have had some bad luck in the meantime, their cottage being badly damaged in a fire, but our heroes, as they do so often, offer up their portion of the treasure, leaving them once again broke and looking for money and adventure. i had hoped to see more of Zarkoff and this treasure hunt, and it feels like it wraps up all too quickly, the other treasure maps conveniently destroyed in the fire. However, the prospect of a rally car race around Britain next week has me enthused, and although I'm sad to see this treasure hunt storyline behind us, I'm still eager to see what happens next. 

 Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Look...me and Tiny won't take anything! You can have our share of the treasure! You need it more than we do!"

The Tigers

Tigers isn't as sporty as I come to expect, after an opening Bike accident, the story moves indoors, to a library no less, where Chunky again creates havoc. Taking part in an initiative race, Chunky and his pals are on the hunt for a book that will tell them where to find gargoyles. With Ron Burton hot on his heels, they soon clash in a riot of noise and chaos, both of which are deeply frowned upon in a library. It's not quite what I expected, and I think I like it more because of this. The slapstick humour works well in this setting, I can completely relate to the poor old head librarian. No doubt, we will be back outside next week, but this is a pleasant diversion and an enjoyable moment in this week's issue.   

 Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "It can't be mumps - he's had that before!" 

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

Johnny and Splash were with their island friend the last time we saw them and were just about to receive a surprise. The surprise isn't as dramatic as I had hoped, it is an outdoor training gym and wrestling ring. OK< it is pretty cool, but even so, this isn't the page-turning action I'm used to. The story only heats up late, when Mister Harker and his bodyguard turn up to stop their wrestling match and command Splash back to work. This is the first time in the story that we have seen Harker's name, and on that front, I am mighty happy. I am also happy when things turn nasty on these panels,. with both parties facing off, and Cougar telling Harker exactly what he thinks of him and his treasure hunt. With a promise to do the job and get out as fast as they can, it looks like the story will be accelerating next week, but I do hope they have more time to utilize this wrestling ring, and there new found wrestling chum, Not quite as good as last week, but it looks like we still have some action ahead of us. 

Rating: 7/10

Best Line:  "Never mind job! No-one make Cougar stop wrestling... no-one damage ring while Cougar fighting!"

Tallon Of the Track

Tallon Of The Track is the most dramatic story in Tiger this week, by a long shot. Tiny and Martin had their moments in Martin's Marvellous Mini, but they don't come close to the life or death situation we find Jo Tallon in. It is this drama that makes Tallon Of The track my favorite story again this week. I can't deny, that I do like the art in this story a lot, but it is the story itself that has me on the hook, and the writers have done another great bit of work this week. With Jo still locked in the steam box, Dave does his best to smash his way into the building but is thwarted by the local police. However, he is not to be denied, and it fights them off and gets to Jo just in a nick of time. Phew! After two attempts on her life, I thought Jo might take a more circumspect approach, but she offers herself up as bait in an attempt to bring these thugs out into the open. With the promise of the motorcycle stunt of the year, it's double jeopardy, and there looks like plenty could go wrong next week. The top story again and everything else in the issue looks weak next to this, Jo Tallon is the queen of Tiger comic this week,. 

Rating: 8.5/10

Best line:  "Jo, you're crazy! If it goes wrong...! What's your plan, anyway?"

Football Family Robinson 

It looks like the end is in sight for the Rodney Bull storyline, as the story takes a leap forward in this issue. With Rodney about to be released from Hospital, Kev sketches out a lot of information that seems to point the finger at Maxwell. A curious issue is this one, as most of the story follows a football match before Kevin dumps all the information about Rodney Bull's case in a single panel. It feels odd to me, I would have preferred the information to trickle out, rather than a single panel that seems to solve the whole case. However, this isn't the dramatic moment of the story, that is in the final panels when Rodney is released from the hospital, and seemingly into the hands of his assailants, leaving the family Robinson the only people who can prevent further violence. The final panels are the best part of this week's issue, I just wish the rest of the story could have lived up to them. I'm looking forward to next week when, hopefully, the story will be more consistent. Perhaps I'm just feeling bitter because my girl Viv barely features this week...    

Rating: 6/10

Best line:  "Bull is still inside. I've had a tip that he's scared. He's trying to kid the doctors that he's still sick."

A Horse Called Ugly

I didn't know if when I started reading this week, but this is the end of Joe and Uglys South America storyline. With Joe riding Guardsman, much to Ugly's displeasure, this isn't immediately apparent, but after completing a clean round  Joe wins the competition for the team. Ugly isn't left out of the action, in a fit of jealously he completes a clean round, without a rider, just to prove a point. It's all very pleasant and pedestrian and lacks some of the dynamic horse-in-action artwork I have come to expect. I am pleased to see a happy ending, and as always, the promise of a new storyline piqued my interest. Nicely rounded out, I look forward to seeing what awaits Joe and ugly next. 

 Rating: 6.5/10

Best line:  "Come back you animated piece of horse-flesh! The event is over!" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Tallon of The Track 

Best Line: Dave Trent - "Stone the crows, y-you look like a cooked Chicken! "

Best Panel:

Tiger 1st December 1973

Work has been busy this week and I haven't had much time to think about this week's issue of Tiger, but as soon as I see Johnny Cougar on the cover all thoughts of anything else disappear and I am once again in my happy place. Johnny Cougar is one of the mainstays of the Tiger comics and anytime he is in colour on the cover I am happy. Memories of last week's issue come back to me quickly, and I am ready to dive in and see where his story with Splash Gorton takes us.

Tiger
1st December 1973

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

I am very pleased to see we are immediately dropped into the action from the start, with Johnny and Splash already on a small boat and Splash about to make his first dive to the shipwreck. As an impatient child that has grown into an impatient adult, this is the perfect way to start the comic, and it is something that happens regularly with Tiger comic. Sure, sometimes there is an issue that lays the groundwork in a particular story, but generally, we are straight into the action for every story, every week. Not only does the story jump start with our heroes already in the pacific, but Gorton dives and is immediately by the wreck. The artwork in these opening panels is very good, I am surprised by how ripped Splash Gorton is. I shouldn't be, after all, he is a swimmer, but even so, it's still nice to see him with a flat six-pack stomach. Likewise, Johnny next to him is big and muscular, although it does make his head look rather shrunken in one of the panels. With the current proving to be just as strong as promised, Splash and Johnny are going to need more equipment and soon head back to the island. It may seem slight, but on the boat, they discuss their distrust of the man who gave them the job. Back on the island, they meet the wrestling champ, who immediately hits it off with Johnny for his fine sense of humour. It's at this point that I notice that we haven't been given the name of the island wrestling champ, or of the two men that have hired Johnny and Splash. n fact, even in the boat Johnny and Splash only ever said "the men who hired us" so even they don't know who they are. In the final panel, we aren't given their names again, but there is the excellent caption "The man who had given Splash the job watched the trio depart through narrow, hate-filled eyes." Asides from not knowing their names, this is a great line, and the words "through narrow hate-filled eyes" is particularly evocative. Not only do I want to see where this story goes, but I also want more writing like this, and paired with a menacing final image this is a great way to round out a top story. 

Rating: 8/10

Best Line:  "Cougar also think hard! But maybe we getting too suspicious of people!"

Skid Solo

Last week's episode of Skid Solo was great, and it follows up with an equally strong episode this week. I think the character 'Speedo' is great and this week he is centre stage as he races Skid around the island. This gives us some great panels of Speedo's face as he pushes Skid to his limit, and one can see the glee with which he drives his vehicle. Arty work like this fills me with joy, and along with the continual motion of the cars is a highlight for me. The race continues across the pages, Speedo proving to be a fine competitor, although Skid uses his experience to pass him at just the right point. This brings us to another panel that I must comment on- the picture of Skid with a smug smile on his face as he goes past. I have seen it before, and as much as I like Skid as a character, I have never liked this smug veneer. But then again, he is a race champion and deserves a little leeway, I'm sure that more than a few of the current formula one drivers share this smugness. Speedo isn't so easily beaten though, and his men prepare to throw rocks down on Skid, leading to some evasive driving, before he again takes the lead. There is little time for celebration as he picks up Sandy and they continue to drive to their boat and make an equally quick getaway. This constant motion works well for a Skid Solo story and there is the feeling that we are always rushing forward in a breathless drive to the finish. Previously I have said that I would like to see Ski return to the track as soon as possible, but I like this story a lot and if there were more like this then I would be more than happy to follow Skid through his off-season.     

Rating: 8/10

Best line:  "Try eating my dust for a change!" 

Martin's Marvellous Mini

The first panel of Martin's Marvellous Mini speaks to me and my younger self. Many times have I lounged on a train with a good friend and talked about getting some food. I am right in the picture as the story gathers pace. Tiny and Martin spot the crooks as they go to get some food and decide they need to get off the train as soon as they can.  Crooks is an underutilized word, and after seeing it spoken here I make a pledge to use it as much as possible in my everyday speech from now on. This issue of Tiger is serving up some great dialogue and words I'm rare to hear nowadays, and I enjoy it all the more for these little touches. The next part of the story sees George enter the picture as the boys drive him directly off the back of the train and onto the tracks in a moment worthy of any TV or action film. This proves to be a final hurrah for the two crooks pursuing Tiny and Martin, and a call to their master, Mr. Zarkoff, sees him take matters into his own hands as he gets into his car to deal with Tiny and Martin himself. This final panel has an equally cinematic feel as some of the earlier panels, and the site of his sports car with two rockets mounted in front immediately puts me in mind of James Bond and his variety of weapons. Needless to say, this can only mean that next week is going to be another thrill-a-minute ride, and with the previous two stories in this week's Tiger ending on high, we are off to a great start with all stories hitting my sweet spots. Forty-something-year-old me is loving this just as much as twelve-year-old me would have. 

 Rating: 8/10

Best line: "You are fired! Finished! Go and lose yourselves!"

Roy Of The Rovers

The Jumbo Trudgeon/Pudley village storyline finally comes to a conclusion this week as Roy and Jumbo end their deciding penalty shootout. Penalty shot outs are common in the modern era, less so in 1973, and this would have had a novelty factor at the time. The shoot-out works well on the page, and any panel that has Charlie the cat in action is worth seeing.  I am almost relieved when it ends with a victory for Roy and the village by-pass can be built. I never really warmed to this story, and although it had some nice scenes early on, I never brought into what was at stake. Once the penalty shoot-out started there was never any doubt that Roy would win it, and the story limps to the finish rather than burst triumphantly from the page. Next week promises a return to football action, with Roy's final line a warning that things may not go well for them. I certainly look forward to seeing the team back on the field and Melchester's performance in the league. 

 Rating: 5/10

Best Line: "Remember that I have placed you upon your honour, m'boy! The pride of the Trudgeons is at stake!"

A Horse Called Ugly

We last saw Ugly dashing free from the show jumping arena with Joe looking on helplessly. I quite enjoyed last week's issue, in a low-key sort of way, and am quietly confident that this issue will be at the same level. A Horse Called Ugly delivers on this pleasant mediocrity, and I am very happy to see that last weeks cliff hanger isn't immediately resolved, and the first page is entirely focused on Ugly running away and Joe chasing him. This makes the story well-paced, which is exactly would you would expect from a horse story. There is a twist as Ugly runs into Julian, injuring him so he is unable to take part in the final jump-off. He is further antagonized as Joe is selected to take his place on Guardsman for the jump-off. He's not the only one who is unhappy, and as Joe rides Guardsman to the final jump-off Ugly is shown to be equally jealous. The story is at its best when the horses are in action, and in this case, we have one page of Ugly on the run, and the other page with show jumping action, meaning that the story has its best foot forward for most of the issue. The final panel isn't quite the high-stakes cliffhanger I would like to see, but the story has enough meat on the bones that I find it enjoyable. The real star is the artwork of the horses, and every week I find myself enjoying it far more than I anticipated. 

 Rating: 6.5/10

Best line:  "Not Larcombe. Anyone but Larcombe. I won't stand for it!" 

Tallon Of the Track

This is the story I have been waiting all week to read. I have a soft spot for Jo Tallon, and last week ended with potential trouble right around the corner. She was in peril in the final panel as she entered the enemy territory in the Ottoman Turkish baths. The first panel this week fantastically captures this moment and serves as a timely reminder of where we were at. I love seeing the two thugs watching her through the curtain as she approaches the door, and one can see on her face that she has no idea what awaits her. It is a master class in storytelling, and that one panel conveys so much.  We don't have to wait long to see what will happen as she is immediately snatched as she comes through the door. In a scene that comes straight from a bond film, she is left to slowly perish in a steam box. If that seems familiar, it is because this is exactly how James Bond dispatched one of the villains in Thunderball. The second Bond reference in this issue, but that's no bad thing and only serves to highlight how big James Bond was in the late sixties/early seventies. It sits well in the story, and most modern readers probably get the reference. Leaving Jo to her fate, we return to the track where her absence has been noted by Dave. At this point, the story escalates to its final conclusion as Dave takes the van, sees steam coming out of the bathhouse, and sensing something wrong crashes his van into the front door - just as the police arrive. This last page is where all the action lies, and seeing Dave ram the van through the front door is highlighted. I do wonder how he managed to connect the dots so quickly between the steam venting from the building and Jo being trouble, but I put that aside and just enjoy the smashing ride. best of all, there looks like this story still has plenty of legs and we may well be in for more of the same in the coming weeks. I certainly hope so. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line:  "I've heard of break-ins, but this is ridiculous. Let's grab him!"

Football Family Robinson 

Alf Robinson receives a visit from Detective Sergeant Gill in the first panel of Football Family Robinson this week, and he features heavily in the following pages as the strands of Rodney Bull's assailant draw together. However, despite the feeling that we are getting closer, things are still unclear and there is plenty of time in the following pages for the story to marinate further. With a strong cast of characters, I enjoy the way they all pull the story in different directions, and each has their own perspective on who to blame. Please don't think less of me, but Viv is still my favorite on each page. She is feisty and bold and holds her own against every other character in the story. Every panel with her in it lights up, and even if she's not the main character in the scene she still finds a way to dominate it. Last week she confronted Kev and Fred as they staked out the Maxwell Motors, but in doing so the suspicious character they were watching disappeared. They do have a piece of luck though when they see him again at the hospital, still hiding behind his paper. Calling the family together, they pull back the paper, only to find it's detective Gill. Nothing like a good red herring in the story to keep the plot going. I am happy to say, it's my girl Viv that keeps on his case, ringing him regularly for updates, despite his pleas for her not to. However, her persistence pays off when she receives a phone call while the family is playing Eastborough from Kevin saying Rodney Bull has been discharged. Another solid issue, and once again it is the characters that make this story what it is. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line:  "Look..it's the chap we saw before...the sinister watcher!"

The Tigers

I thought that we would be straight into the action this week as the last time we saw Chunky he was rapidly descending beneath the ballon to the punt racers below. However, it is not until the second page here that he finally crashes into Burton, knocking him into the water. Chunky once again rides his luck to the finish, as he claims a healthy reward for capturing the balloon. Even though it didn't feel like a lot happened this week, I still enjoyed it much more than last week, and like Chunky and his mates, I always like seeing Burton take a tumble and Chunky winning through in the end. This concludes this adventure for Chunky, so we reset ourselves for next week, and I wonder what sport he'll be trying next. 

 Rating: 5.5/10

Best line: "I expect they're admiring my style with this pole. Quite understandable" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Tallon of The Track 

Best Line: Chunky Clark - "Giggling gherkins, I've accidentally biffed Burton! Still, it could be worse- he might have biffed me! "

Best Panel: