Tiger 28th December 1974

It seems like only yesterday I was celebrating the Christmas issue of 1973 and here we are already with the Christmas 1974 issue in hand. It is true what they say, time really does fly when you're having fun. With Christmas comes Christmas storylines. I don't want to sound like a Grinch, but I'm not a fan of them. I don't like how they are shoehorned into the regular story arch and I find that they detract from my enjoyment of the comic. Much like real Christmas then in the way that it arrives every year and no matter where you are with life you have to acknowledge the day and all that comes with it. Now I really do sound like a Grinch, time to step away from the keyboard and pick up this week's comic. 

Tiger

28th December 1974

Johnny Cougar and Splash Gorton

It is Johnny Cougar who kicks off the 1974 Christmas issue with a scene familiar to most, walking past shops with their Christmas message and a Christmas tree prominent.

This is just a scene setter and soon Johnny and Splash are at a nearby swimming pool, where Splash is putting on a special free show for all the children who normally wouldn't be able to come to a show like this. 

There is a lot of clowning involved, and Splash entertains the children with some slapstick with Johnny and the pool. It's a lot of fun and the kids are entertained, especially with the appearance of a certain red-suited man in the final panels.

Interspersed with the main story, we see Johnny's next opponent, Stoneage Man. He is sitting in a cave alone, with Christmas having no meaning for him. In the final panel of the story, we see a close-up of his face and the promise that he will be seeing Johnny Cougar in the wrestling ring very soon. 

This was a filler episode, with neither plotline enough to hang my hat on. The entertaining of the children was light and didn't seem to have any serious element to it. Splash rode a bike and fell into the pool, as did Cougar. Later we saw them executing perfect dives, but neither felt particularly thrilling. The images of Stoneage Man weren't enough to whet my appetite for next week, and it felt like the story failed to commit fully to either plot thread. Understandable given that this is the Christmas issue, but I would have liked just a little more from the characters. Uneventful and unmemorable. 

Rating: 4/10

Best line: "Okay, kids... now it's time to eat...and we've got a giant-sized cake...with enough for everyone! Come and get it!" 

Billy's Boots

Billy is keeping match fit by playing for local club Welldale Wanders. Being a boy among men Billy is finding it tough and although he has scored one goal, the burly defender he is playing against is making it a tough afternoon for him. 

Switching to the other side for the second half Billy finds it easier, and although he doesn't score he acquits himself well. The rest of the team is happy with how he played, and he finds himself asked to play in a five-a-side Christmas match.

Billy agrees, and Christmas appears again as he buys some flowers for his Gran with the last of his money. His Gran is pleased, and when he mentions he is playing in a five-a-side she asks if he can bring home the turkey from the butchers nearby after the game.

Game day arrives, and Billy plays well, although he plays in goal all game. Heading home he realises that he has forgotten to pick up the turkey, and he fears for the worst. However, we finish the story on a high as his Gran tells him that the butcher has already delivered it and Billy needn't worry. 

Much better than other preceding Johnny Cougar, this story managed to feel proper Christmassy, as well as cramming in a good amount of football. The cliffhanger of last week with Billy tangling with the tough defender is quickly dealt with and was a non-event this week and Billy simply swapped sides. There was no drama in the five-a-side game, but it did give us some fantastic images of Billy playing in goal. The artwork was outstanding throughout this story, and we not only have some dynamic panels of Billy diving in goal, but also some excellent images of his face as he forgets the turkey, and then finds out that everything is going to be OK. This story was better for the lack of Billy's special boots, and with those being a non-factor the story felt refreshed and far more focused on Billy and his family. There was a surprising mention of Billy's Aunt Kate, an Aunt I can't recall ever hearing about before, although to be fair it is thirty years since I last read this story. My Christmas spirit is restored with this story and its tasteful Christmas artwork once again fills the cockles of my heart.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "The turkey! I forgot it! And the shops are closed now!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

It's always nice to see Martin's family and home, and we begin with the family carving a turkey and wondering how Martin and Tiny are doing in hot and sunny Australia. 

Tiny and Martin are doing alright and with some extra cash in their pockets about to organise a free kid's party. It's a beach BBQ and proves most successful. The kids enjoy themselves, with a surprise appearance by Father Christmas (Martin dressed up and feeling hot) giving out toys. They even take the kids for rides in George, going so far as to let them steer, that is until one comes too close to the sea for their liking.

The day winds down with one of the children showing Martin an article in a book about a new type of car race - a relay race. It takes two cars, but Martin thinks they could buy an old banger for the race. The children tell them that lots of cars get smashed up, to which Tiny is worried, but Martin remains confident and is already thinking about the prize money and heading home to Britain. 

Another typical Christmas story and a kid's party. This one gave off a nice Australian vibe, and having Martin's family at home in Britain wondering how the boys were doing in Australia was a nice touch and highlighted the difference between the two Christmas celebrations. Having the strip in colour certainly helped in that respect, and I appreciated seeing the sun and suf looking as they should. We have a nice introduction to the boy's next challenge, and that was seamlessly worked into this week's story. Drama-free pages throughout the story yet it left me feeling good and wanting to read next week's issue. If it looks as good as this week I will be happy for the boys to be stuck in Australia for as long as possible. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Have you seen the card Martin sent us from Australia? He says it's hot, with lots of sun!"  

Skid Solo

Last week Skid was in sunny Florida, and this week he is back in Britain facing a cold and dark Christmas Eve. There's even snow falling as we embark on this week's adventure with a mysterious van parked outside of Skid's house. 

A note under the windscreen wipers explains all - a lorry load of Christmas toys left from Reverand Tommy Harbour to be delivered to the Weyburn orphanage. It's Christmas Eve, snow is falling, and Skid and his pals have to drive twenty miles to deliver the toys in time. 

Putting on their Father Christmas robes they set off. It's not easy, with the van slipping and sliding on the road from the start. As the snow gets worse they find themselves driving off the road several times, and we have a few occasions when they have to dig themselves out. 

They eventually arrive at the orphanage. The head of the orphanage is surprised to see them, especially as he had previously thought Skid was in Florida. He is further surprised when Skid tells him they have toys in the van for the kids, and quickly tells Skid that the kids already have their toys. He further explains that Reverand Tommy Harbour didn't think that Skid would return from Florida in time and had taken it upon himself to bring the toys in the van over in the morning. The three friends open the van and see that what he says is true - they have just driven an empty van through a dark and stormy night for nothing. 

With this misunderstanding cleared up, Sparrow, Sandy and Skid can only sit in their tired state and watch the children play. A late arriving Reverand comments on how tired they look, while the headmaster tells him that it wouldn't be advisable to ask them why they're so tired. 

I'm sure we saw Skid driving through snow this time last year as well, although I'm not going to go back and confirm it. An enjoyable enough story, it is a shame that it wasn't on the front cover this week - a splash of colour would have sold the story better than what we have here. For that though, it was a good story and delivered what it needed to. On the pages of Tiger Christmas is all about charity work for young kids, and Skid excels himself as he goes to the aid of an orphanage. The outcome may not have been what was expected, but I fully expected to see a story such as this somewhere in the issue. In the wider context, it was slight, and in a few months I won't remember it at all, but for a feel-good Christmas, story it checks all the boxes and has me walking away feeling good about myself and the work of Skid Solo. As always, the art was sympathetic to the story, and although it will be forever rooted in Christmas of 1974, it remains a fine example of the synergy between artist and writer on the pages of Tiger. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Hoots, I'm glad we've got these Father Christmas robes...we need 'em in this weather. It's freezing!"

Roy Of The Rovers

Tony Storme was on the cusp of signing an exciting young talent from a circus background by the name of Sammy Splanger when we last left Roy and his team. We pick up on the thread immediately this week as Roy and Tony watch on as Sammy Spangler gives a further display of his talents. With their minds made up, they go ahead and offer him a contract. Although he is eager to start, there is just one more thing between Sammy and his first game - Christmas.

The Rovers come together at Jumbo Trudgeon's for a Christmas party, and it becomes quite an affair, with Sammy Spangler not only delighting with his tricks but also with an elephant and half the circus he has he has brought along.

Roy considers it one of the best Christmases he has ever had, although he isn't so happy when he sees the rest of the team draped across the furniture, weary from the celebrations. With a vital league game the following day he is concerned, and even more so when he realises that Sammy Spangler isn't there and they are a man short. 

It was great to see this story moving forward and the Christmas party becoming part of the wider arc rather than a temporary diversion. Sammy Spangler remains the centre of the story, and he is right in the thick of the action throughout here. From his on-field trial at the beginning to his hijinks at the party, we saw plenty of what he was about. His final disappearance could be a red herring, but I'm happy to go along with it for now. Surprisingly there were no children involved in this story and it remains rooted in the adult world, although we never did get to see Roy sipping a whiskey as the night went on. Well crafted around the Christmas intrusion, next week the story should be off to a fast start as we easily put this behind us, and I look forward to hopefully seeing Sammy Spangler finally on a football field. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Football on stilts! Now I've seen everything!"

Nipper

Last week we saw Nipper approaching a mysterious figure in the crowd who had been watching him play, but there is no mystery this week as in the first panel we find that it is Gordon Jackson, manager of the England youth team. 

Gordon Jackson tells Nipper that is now in charge of the England under-23 team, and although the selectors have left early he will be putting in a good word for Nipper based on his performance on the field. There is one caveat though, Nipper must keep his nose clean for the next few weeks.

A tough ask, especially as Nipper has all sorts of troubles on his plate. Still, it's Christmas time and Nipper thinks it's time to relax for a bit. As his foster family heads out of town, Nipper decides it might be a good time to throw a party. With a few days to clean up after the party, Nipper feels he is on safe ground, but as the party gets into full swing his foster parents appear outside, their own plans having been cancelled due to the flu in the family. Nipper doesn't know it yet, but he's just about to face a whole lot of trouble. 

After a Christmas-heavy issue so far, I quite enjoyed the Nipper storyline. The party was a Christmas party, but it could have been any type of party, and just like Roy Of The Rovers, the Christmas theme was folded into the story that we are already following. Mike and Nipper's friendship is again played up, and I think that works well given the age of Nipper. Most young boys have a friend who they do everything with, and it was great here seeing Mike helping Nipper off the football field, before being the very first person to arrive at the party. I appreciate that this story has two or three threads running at once as Nipper not only battles to make the English football team but also breaking the club's goal-scoring record, as well as his ongoing antagonism with the journalist Brian Crawford. A lot going on, and all of it is condensed into two pages. I was slow to warm to Nippoer, but now we are steaming ahead and it is one of the stronger strips in the comic. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "I think I can say my journey wasn't wasted! But what's all this about suspensions...and rows with reporters? Sounds as if you've been getting into trouble again!"

Hot-shot Hamish

Needing to win their European Cup tie by three goals, Princes Park and Hamish Balfour are on all-out attack as we are dropped into the action on the first panel of this week's story. A diving header from Hamish hits the crossbar, leading to a series of bad luck moments and eventually a goal to their opposition. 

With twenty minutes to go, and needing four goals, Hamish explodes into action. A scorching hot-shot ignites the Princes team, and they follow up with a frenzied second goal. As their livewire winger Alex McTwitter scores a third it looks like the impossible might be possible, but a last-gasp attempt from Hamish comes to nothing and the team comes off the pitch as the winner of the game, but ultimately losers of the draw - knocked out by away goals.

Hamish fronts up at the hospital where he had promised the children a victory. It's a warm welcome, and although the children are disappointed with the outcome, they are delighted to see Hamish, and even more so when the rest of the team appears right behind him. We end on a high note as Hamish hands out gifts and everyone offers a hearty merry Christmas. 

Don't be fooled by the final panels, this story was all football action, and it was superb. An angry Hamish is quite a sight to behold, and watching him lead his team through the last twenty minutes was worth the cover price alone. We saw the hot-shot, we saw the team and all their diversity, both strengths and weaknesses, and we saw the polar opposite of Hamish in wee Alex McTwitter score the goal that almost saved the tie. It all looked splendid on the page, and although I'm not sure where we are going to go next in the storylines, this ending of their chances in the European Cup was everything I could have hoped for. Being knocked out by away goals is tough, but it felt right for the story being told and at the end of the day I was more than satisfied with what I read here. Once again, when it comes to football action, Hot-shot Hamish leads from the front. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "What a tangle...it's going everywhere but in the net!"

Tallon Of The Track

Ospreys are not going well against their Ukranian opposition as Jo Tallon takes her place on the track to race against the Ukrainian Bears captain, Vladimir Debenko. Debenko is unhappy to see a girl racing against him and promises her that he will ride her into the dust. 

It does quite work out that way, and Jo snatches victory on the line after some hard-fought racing. This demoralises the Bears team while giving the Ospreys and lift, and it changes the tenor of the whole race meet. After this, it is Ospreys all the way, and they triumph in the competition 40-38.

The next day, Debenko meets the British team at their hotel and takes them out on a sleigh into the countryside, where they enjoy a full Russian Christmas with all the trimmings. All's well that ends well, and the story ends with Jo wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. 

All the drama of the last few weeks washed away in just a couple of panels as Jo wins her race and the Ospreys the meeting. I like seeing Jo on the track, but her race wasn't much, there was nothing of note in the race, and only a close finish made it noteworthy. The rest of the competition was dispensed with far too easily, and it was a letdown after the building tensions of the last few weeks. The Christmas party made amends somewhat, and I enjoyed seeing a table of food and some very happy people celebrating. Perhaps this would have been better if Christmas could have been part of the overall storyline, but with the competition ending it made for a sudden halt, and the Christmas party came as a garnish rather than a heavy meal. We are still in Russia, and with only the first race meeting behind us we still have someway to go, so hopefully future stories will pick up from this strong start. It was a pleasant ride, and I can only hope that next time the finish will be as good as the start. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "I am disgraced...humiliated! Me, the great Debenko, beaten by...a girl!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6.5/10

Best Story: Billy's Boots  

Best Line: "Twenty minutes left! I'm no' giving up without a struggle! The wee bairns in the children's ward are expecting us to win! I promised 'em!""

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: 

Tiger 21st December 1974

A beautiful cover featuring the Skid Solo story, hints that this could be a great issue. Today's issue is from 21st December 1874, right in the middle of winter. What better way to brighten that winter gloom than a brightly painted racing car, and in sunny Florida to boot. My spirits are raised already, and I haven't even charged my glass. I will have a swig now, and we'll see if the rest of the Tiger lives up to this delightful cover.

Tiger
21st December 1974

Skid Solo

It's the week before Christmas and Skid and his team are getting some sunshine in Florida. The front cover of this week's Tiger comic features a resplendent red and white striped car which is matched in loudness only by its driver, the brashly confident American Bud Danvers.

Bud lets Skid know that this car is a world-beater, and that Skid has no chance of beating him in the next day's race. Skid counters with a fast practice time, but at dinner that evening Bud arrives and confidently tells Skid he has beaten his time by two seconds, and it will be Bud on the front row of the grid tomorrow rather than Skid. 

This brash American is beginning to grate on Sandy and he offers to go over and sort him out. Skid calms him, and tells Sandy he will do his talking on the track the next day. 

The race itself is a close-run affair. Bud's Candy-striped car is considerably faster than Skid on the straights, but when it comes to cornering and bends Skid has a wealth of experience that he puts to good use, and try as he might, Bud just can't shake him.

It is Skid who holds a slender lead as they enter the final half lap, but the power of Bud's car proves to be the deciding factor and on the straight he just edges Skid to the finish line. 

We finish with the three friends heading back to the UK, and Sandy still complaining about how much he dislikes Bud. He is interrupted by the air hostess, who hands them a candy-striped box each. They are expecting cornflakes, but upon opening the boxes they find solid gold watches, gifted to them by Bud along with an explanatory note saying he wishes them all the best, and he may have had the faster car, but it was Skid who was the faster driver. 

This isn't the first time we have seen the stereotypical loud American, and it felt overdone in this issue. I half expected Bud Danvers to burst into a "U.S.A, U.S.A, U.S.A" chant as he sped around the track in his highly commercialised colourful car. However, it was a nice change of pace from Skid testing cars, or getting caught up with criminals, as is his wont in the off-season. I could criticise this story for being too simple, but that would be unfair. It has Skid racing a car, and racing it well, and that is the most important thing to me when reading a Skid Solo story. There wasn't a lot at stake, and it was a gentle telling, yet I still got a thrill from seeing the cars on the track. The most striking image is the candy-striped car on the front cover, and it was easy to carry this visual in my head for the rest of the story. Tidy from start to finish, this was Skid at 50mph rather than 100mph.

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Go on, Skid! Show that boasting oaf what it's all about!"

Roy Of The Rovers

Roy is in an unusual spot, the circus big top. He is there with Rover's new scout, Archie Miller, who is convinced he has found their next star player.  

As Roy watches on from the stands, Sammy Spangler puts on a spectacular show. Riding the unicycles he flicks footballs onto his head, where he balances them, before showing some more conventional skills by chipping the ball through a swinging pendulum.

Archie is keen to sign him, but Roy has reservations. So too does Sammy's father as he considers football to be a roughneck game. However, a trial is organised and a few days later Sammy arrives at Rovers to see if his football skills and tricks can translate to team play.

He is successful with his trial, setting up a couple of goals, leaving Tony Storme facing the final decision as to whether or not he should sign him.   

The scene at the circus dominated this week's story, and most of the panels were devoted to Sammy's tricks. I didn't mind it too much, but by the end I was pleased when we finally got back to Melchester and saw him with the rest of the team. This isn't the most riveting of storylines, and I know we are still facing a few weeks of this. No doubt next week Roy will do something Christmas-related, so the story will probably stretch into January. Some action wouldn't go astray right about now, and perhaps Sammy should have been thrown onto the field this issue. However, the writers are taking their time, and my impatience is just that, my own impatience. Roll on the new year, and some proper football action. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "The cheeky little perisher! He back-heeled a perfect pass through Loft Peak's legs..!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Last week we saw George falling off the edge of the edge of a pier and into the water. What I didn't realise at the time was that poor Martin was still inside the vehicle. 

Tiny, good friend that he is, immediately dives into the water and pulls Martin from the car and to safety. Both ashore, the next problem they face is getting George out of the water, but this is accomplished soon enough as a rescue vehicle with a crane hauls him up and onto dry land. 

Three days of cleaning follow, and the pals' hard work pays off as George's motor starts the first time they try it. They quickly set off to the nearest town, fifty miles away, and it's here that they have another stroke of luck when they see the launch belonging to Mr Eazzi, the man who stole the money, docked.

It turns out that the launch has been sold, but further down the street, they see Mr Eazzi eating at a cafe. A small chase and they soon have him cornered. With nowhere to go, he practically throws the money he owes to the two friends, before scurrying off as fast as he can. 

I can already see where we are going with this next week. Martin alludes to it in the final panel as he tells Tiny that they now have a stack of money, and Christmas is only next week. No doubt a charitable event is on the horizon. This was a fine finish to this storyline, and I appreciate that it didn't linger too long. It was only a couple of weeks ago that we met Mr Eazzi and already he is gone and his storyline with it. It was mostly chasing, last week wasn't particularly exciting, and this week was more satisfying, especially with a red herring thrown in with the launch being sold. The story never scaled great heights, but it did just enough to keep me turning the page, which I guess is the goal of any story writer. Not the best in class, but easy on the eye and a pleasant read.

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Hang on, old buddy...I'm on my way!" 

Hot-shot Hamish  

Hamish is tense right from the first panel of the story as he prepares for the second leg of their European Cup game against a Spanish side. The thought of winning the game for the children he met in the hospital is weighing heavy on his mind, and as the game begins he can't stop talking or thinking about it.

Of course, it affects his play, and he makes a foolish backpass that gives the Spanish an early goal, and a two-nil lead on aggregate. Now needing to score three goals, Hamish plays like a charging tank, and in the final panel of the strip he unleashes the hotshot, only to see it saved by the keeper in a dramatic dive. Even Hamish is applauding, as the children back at the hospital are despondent at the thought of Princes losing. 

Once again, Hot-shot Hamish has the best art in Tiger comic. We see football action in plenty of these strips, but in Hot-shot Hamish there are constantly new ways and angles of showing what is happening on the field. It makes it far more dynamic and interesting than any of the other football stories, and even if I don't like some of the silliness in Hot-shot Hamish I always have the art to treasure. This week we see action from ground level, some from above, and some right on the shoulder of the Hebridean Giant as he blasts his shot at the keeper. It brings me right into the action, and along with the use of the newspaper in the opening panel to tell the story, it is my favourite part of this week's issue. I don't care if the team win or loses, I just want to see more like this, and I sincerely hope that we get at least a couple more weeks out of this game. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "What are ye doing Hamish?...Ye great loon!" 

Johnny Cougar and Splash Gorton

An odd Johnny Cougar story this week, as he continues in the international wrestling tournament. 

Johnny is training hard, and his companion Splash warns him that he needs to be at his best as he faces his next opponent, Big Jim Jackson. This is backed up by the appearance of Barney Thompson, a reporter from the wrestling magazine, who reiterates to Johnny what a threat Jim Jackson is, and that Jackson had knocked out his opponent in the first match with a killer knockout smash.

Suitably warned, Johnny arrives at the match, only for members of the crowd to likewise warn him what a threat Jim Jackson is. Johnny takes it all in, but he tells Splash that he is sick of all the warnings and just wants to fight. 

Big Jim Jackson lives up to the big part of his name, and he stands considerably higher than Johnny as they face off in the ring. Once the bell rings through, it is Johnny who seizes the initiative. First, he charges Jackson, before hitting him with a shot to the gut. He follows this up with a two-hand smash, and Jackson is laid out, barely seconds into the match. 

With the match won in record time, Johnny tells us that his previously undefeated opponent was too used to winning, and didn't expect an early attack. Splash is overjoyed with the victory, excitedly telling Johhny that he is pleased he won as that makes next week's Christmas celebrations so much bigger.

With a break in the tournament next week, and Splash promising Christmas celebrations, we have another story that will be angling towards a charitable Christmas story. For now, I am celebrating a short sharp story that was purely wrestling focused. I am pleased we didn't dwell too long on this fight, and it was just as satisfying as any other Johnny Cougar bout we have seen. Everything was distilled to its essence. We have a good introduction to his opponent, highlighting how dangerous he was, some in-ring banter, and then some dynamic wrestling action, albeit across only three panels. Not a breath was wasted, and I appreciated it. Next week will be a throwaway storyline, but I look forward to picking up this tournament storyline in the new year 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Haga! Cougar beat opponent and all warnings!" 

Billy's Boots

Billy is facing the angry tongue of the sportsmaster after dribbling the ball around the referee at the end of last week's issue. A half-mumbled excuse seems to do the trick, and Billy is told he can go back and watch the rest of the game, but he must stay out of trouble. 

He accomplishes this easily enough and as he watches from the sidelines his team win three- one and are through to the next round. There is a chance that Billy might be picked, but first, he has to get over his injury. 

On Saturday morning he heads down to Groundwood Town's ground where he is cleared by the team's doctor. It is now just a matter of Billy finding a way to get match fit. Calling in on the Welldale Wanders he is offered a game, although when he tells his Gran later she expresses concern about him playing with grown men. 

Billy plays well, using his new dribbling trick to beat the opposing left-back. He only does it once, and after that the defender resorts to rough physical tactics to stop him. After crashing to earth a couple of times Billy threatens the defender, only for the referee to warn them both that he'll send them off if this continues. 

The first half of this story wasn't much, but I found the second half very good indeed. Seeing Billy being roughed up by the opposition was true to life, and I could feel the heavy impact of some of the tackles. The art seemed to improve as the strip went along, and again on the final page it became a real highlight, adding to the intensity of what was happening on the page. With the artwork firing on all cylinders, and the writing hitting a fertile streak, Billy's Boots has made great strides this week, and I think this is one of the best ones we've had yet.

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "I'll be okay, Gran. Being smaller will help...I'll be able to dodge quicker!"

Tallon Of The Track 

It's racing all the way as the Ospreys take on the Ukrainian Bears. Debenko, leader of the Bears, is giving the Ospreys a hard time, and it is left to Jo Tallon, and her waggling finger, to defend her team. Debenko laughs off the tongue-lashing he receives, telling Jo that perhaps they should be riding pedal bikes. 

Taking stock, Jo rallies the troops. Reserve bikes are bought out, as are the reserve riders, and before heat three she tells her riders she has to attend to a few things, and they should ride as fast as they can from the start.

They do ride fast, but not fast enough, and once again it is the Ukrainian riders who sweep the points. This time it is David Trent who suffers Debenko's boasting. As he looks around for Jo he notices one of the reserves riding onto the track, and realises that it's Jo herself who's about to take on Debenko. 

We were on the track, but not a lot happened. The focus wasn't on the bikes on the track at all, but rather on the drama surrounding the track as Jo and Debenko clashed verbally. I do like seeing the fiery side of Jo emerge, although in this case, it wasn't enough to hold my attention on the story, especially as she was missing for half the story while her team was racing. And the racing itself was hardly gripping, with the team being comprehensively outridden. It all felt rather flat, and as much as I wanted to enjoy it I just couldn't. Debenko is a great character, but the story around him isn't strong enough, and overall I feel this is a wasted opportunity. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "Perhaps it is pedal bikes you should be riding...haar, haar, haar!" 

Nipper 

Nipper has scored, but it's too late and the England selectors have already left the ground. Nipper is downhearted, but the rest of the team points out that there are still forty thousand fans at the ground for him to play for and Nipper responds with an outstanding performance - scoring three goals himself and setting up Wilf Tucker for the fourth of the afternoon. 

This earns Nipper a standing ovation, and as he comes off the field Mike Beatson has one more surprise for him - a mystery figure is waiting to meet him and the three goals he has just scored might be the most important of his career. 

Lots to like here. The story was strong throughout, and we continually moved forward on and off the field. Seeing Nipper respond to his fans was entirely in character, and just as important as his relationship with his own team. Mike Beatson again plays an important role in the story, last week it was feining an injury so Nipper could come onto the field, and this week it was finding the mysterious figure who will propel us forward into next week's strip. Throw in a few good goals in typical Nipper style, and we have a great ending to this week's Tiger comic. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "The cheeky shrimp! He pushed the ball through the goalie's legs!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6/10

Best Story: Billy's Boots  

Best Line: "Och, it's a' very well to say relax Mister McWhacker but I canna relax! I promised the wee bairns up at the hospital that Princes Park would win!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

 

Tiger 14th December 1974

Christmas is fast approaching with today's issue of Tiger dated 14th December 1974. The characters on the pages of the comic are blissfully unaware of the fact, and thankfully there has been not a single mention of  Christmas so far. That will change next week as no doubt every story will lean towards the festive season, but for now there is plenty happening in each story and there is not a moments thought of Christmas. 

Tiger
14th December 1974

Roy Of The Rovers

Roy is back on the front cover and we are back to the league as Melchester Rovers take on Kingstown. 

The excitement of the front cover as Roy crosses the ball gives way to dismay over the page as Jumbo Trudgeon takes a nasty boot to the head. Forced to leave the field, he is replaced by the young Dave Shaw. Shaw finds the faster pace of league football too much and by the end of the game, it is clear that he won't work out as a long-term replacement. 

New scout Archie Miller is sure he has the answer to Rover's problems, and he takes Roy out to see a potential replacement. Roy is surprised when they arrive at a circus tent, and further surprised when Archie points out his player - the juggler Sammy Spangler.

I was totally on board, right up until the point when the juggler appeared. Injury problems and the frustrations of trying to find replacements are familiar to most football fans and I was entirely sympathetic to Roy's plight. But quite how Archie Miller found a potential replacement at a circus boggles my mind, and not in a good way. Pulling players from unusual backgrounds is par for the course, so this should be an appealing storyline. My issue is that last issue we saw Archie Miller working as a manager, and I find it hard to believe that he has been at the circus scouting for players. I want to like it, all the pieces are in place, yet this final panel has me walking away from the story with a bad feeling. Could have done better, but fell short at the finish. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Sorry, Roy.... everything's happening so fast! You...you all seem to be thinking ahead of me!" 

Skid Solo

Christmas is rapidly approaching, as is the snowy weather in this week's Skid Solo. Keen to get some tire testing in before the weather breaks, Skid and his team arrive at the track, only to find a sports car already out on the circuit. 

Not only is the sports car trespassing but it is also being poorly driven. Ignoring Sandy's attempt to flag him down, he drives off the circuit and away before anyone can stop him. However, the quick-thinking Sandy manages to get his number plate as Skid continues his test. 

The test goes well, and Skid decides that he will write a positive report when they get home. As he finishes his report Sandy makes a call to the local police and gains the address of the driver of the mystery car. 

Heading off to post the report, Skid and Sandy drop by the address given by the policeman. It is here that they meet a middle-aged couple who tell him that it is their son John who owns the sports car. He is crazy about driving and even as they speak he is once again at the track in his car.

Racing back to the track, Skid arrives just as John spins his sports car off the track. The car is wrecked, and John has suffered a broken arm. Dropping him home to his parents, Skid delivers a warning about trespassing and being a responsible motorist. The strip ends with Sandy, Sparrow and Skid all reflecting on what has happened, and how it is experience that makes a driver. 

Not my favourite type of Skid Solo story, but a nice off-season winter storyline. Nothing too taxing on the page here, just the warmth of the characters and their easy friendship. I did enjoy the parents' appearance in the strip, the best panels in the story revolved around them, and they brought an authentic slice of life to the highspeed world of Skid Solo. Likable, and forgettable in equal measure, this left me feeling a lot happier than the previous Roy Of The Rovers story. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "His mother said it took him three years to save up for that car. At times, gaining experience can be a costly business!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

A spectacular start to the strip sees George the mini upside down as it launches off the ramp. The following panel emphasises this stunt, with both Tiny and Martin upside down, along with all their dialogue. 

One safe landing later, and the race is on to catch Mister Eazzi, the circus boss who has absconded with all the money. A high-speed chase sees them catch up with the quarry just as he boards a launch to make his escape. Acting quickly Tiny and Martin tie the boat to their car. This temporarily stops Mister Eazzie, but he cuts the robe and now free from towing duties George topples off the edge of the wharf and into the water below.

Some eye-catching panels on the first page set a standard that the rest of this week's strip never quite reached. The first image of George upside down looked fantastic, and the clever follow-up panel of Tiny and Martin upside down matched it for interest. However, once we got over the page my interest waned as it became a standard car chase, and not a particularly good one at that. The sight of George trying to pull the boat back failed to ignite my interest, and it was only in the final panel as George threatened to fall into the water that I was again engaged in the story. Just in time, some might say. Spectacular art couldn't hide the fact that this is a storyline seemingly going nowhere fast. A brief set-up last week, a chase this week, and by the end of the next issue I expect this to be resolved and we will be looking forward to the next adventure. This is lukewarm at the moment, but as a long-time fan of Martin's Marvellous Mini, I know that it will heat up again soon. 

Rating: 5.5/10

Best line:  "Phew! Good job they don't build solid fences out here!"

Billy's Boots

While out cycling last week, Billy met a man who taught him one of Dead-shot Keen's ball control tricks. 

Enthusiastic to try out the trick himself, Billy practises in his Gran's lounge, only for the rug to slip under his feet and send a vase and side table flying. Once again in trouble with his Gran, Billy can only hope the trick works better when he's wearing the old boots. 

Still out of the school team due to his bruised leg, Billy still attends their next game. The ground is muddy, and not wanting to risk a slip Billy puts on his old boots to help him get a firm grip. Groundwood scores first, and as the ball is kicked back it rolls Billy's way. Despite the referee asking for the ball to be kicked back, Billy instead dribbles it, controlled by the boots of course, and does the trick he has recently learnt as he extravagantly dribbles around the referee.

The referee is not amused, and neither is the Groundwood sports master who promptly sends Billy back to the classroom where he will be dealt with later. Poor Billy can only trudge away, worried about what fate is to befall him. 

Billy just can't catch a break, and even when injured he still finds the boots getting him in trouble. The story took a while to get into its groove this week, and the first half page was Billy still trying to get home from his cycling trip. This meant most of the heavy lifting was done in the second half of the issue as Billy first tried the trick at home, and then later at the sports field. These parts of the story were enjoyable and more than made up for the languid start. I left with a positive feeling about the story overall, and although Billy is facing more trouble next week, this is exactly the hook I need to bring me back. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "What on Earth are you doing? For goodness sake, Billy...I've told you before, not to football in the house!"

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

It's tied at a pinfall each in Johnny Cougar's match against The Cowboy. There is still some trash-talking, and the first panels emphasise this niggle between the two combatants as Johnny ignores The Cowboy's words and delivers a series of heavy blows.

The Cowboy responds with some dirty tricks, but Johnny has seen it all before and some fast-moving high-flying action soon sees The Cowboy in a prone position as Johnny locks him into a submission hold. 

It's enough to win the contest, and the strip ends with Splash congratulating Johnny on top of the league while warning him that his next opponent could be his toughest ever. 

Nothing groundbreaking here, but I loved it for what it was - in-ring wrestling with no distractions and no extra storylines. It is easy to want more from the strip, yet this is what it does best and what lays at the core of all stories -  a simple matman trying to make his way in the world. Johnny's opponent, The Cowboy, was never the most compelling character and the best thing about him was he never strayed too far from wrestling. Even when he fought dirty it was one might expect from any wrestler, a stiff punch rather than a wild plot line involving poison or guns. A wrestling story about a wrestler who wrestles. Sometimes the simple things are the best.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "He's going for a surfboard! That's a submission hold!"

Nipper

The more things change the more they stay the same, and we begin this week's Nipper story with Andy Stewart fuming at Nipper. Nipper is distraught that the English selectors are looking like they might leave, but there's no sympathy from Andy Stewart who makes it quite clear that it is Nipper's own fault.

However angry Andy Stewart may be, he still tells Nipper that he will sub him into the game. With Blackport scoring while Nipper is changing it looks like he will have to wait a while for his chance, but an injury to Mike Beatson swings the situation to Nipper's favour and he's soon running onto the pitch.

A sly wink from Mike as Nipper comes on suggests he's not as injured as he makes out. The rest of the story is all about Nipper as he is all over the pitch, energising the team with his enthusiasm. A lobbed goal by Nipper is richly deserved, but Nipper is horrified to look at the stands and see that the English selectors have indeed left the stadium. 

All the key ingredients are here for a good Nipper story. Nothing beats an angry Andy Stewart while Nipper is on the field scoring goals and pulling off audacious moves. We also got an insight into the friendship between Nipper and Mike Beatson, and the wink that Mike gave Nipper as he came on was worth a thousand words. Beautifully done, and something that comics do so well, a simple movement in a panel expressing more than words can say. While I'm not enthralled by this English Selectors storyline, I still appreciate what we have here, and it is because all the key ingredients are on the page, no matter the situation. I would be happy with any story as long as we get the required football action, the friendship with Mike and Nipper, and a few good panels of an angry Andy Stewart.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Yahoooo! That's the stuff Blackport! You've got 'em now! Stick another one in the lobster-pot and they'll be finished!"

Tallon Of The Track

We are still in Russia, where David Trent's hand has been injured by a strong handshake from the Soviet captain, Vladmar Debenko. With his hand feeling like putty, Dave is unable to ride and Jo sends a reserve to race in his place.

The first race against the Ukrainian Bears does not go well, although the Ospreys do start strongly. They have a slim lead, but later in the race, Vladmar Debenko pushes his way through between the two Ospreys riders, sending them tumbling into a crash. 

After the race, Jo complains to the officials, but they refuse to enter into any discussion about the incident. Jo is fuming, and as Debrenko approaches she threatens that she will wipe the smile right off his face in the next couple of hours. 

Plenty of seething rage from Jo in this issue, and it's all the better for it. After meandering for a few weeks, it finally feels like we are on firm ground with this story. It has become focussed, and once again returned to what it does best with the Ospreys on track, driven hard by the tempesturous Jo. We even got a crash which always goes down well in Tallon Of The Track. A sharper story coupled with fine artwork and suddenly I'm feeling a lot more positive about the Ospreys' trip to Russia. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "I think Debenko rode through like a human bull-dozer...so this is where I lodge a complaint!"

Hot-shot Hamish

After failing to win their first four matches, Princes Park has come back from two nil down to win their fifth game. However, it has come at a heavy price as we begin this issue with Hamish being stretched off and taken to the hospital. 

Things aren't as bad as they initially seem, and Hamish is simply suffering from exhaustion. Twenty-four hours of rest at the hospital is all he needs, and he'll soon be back on his feet. 

The children at the hospital are delighted to have Hamish with them, and he entertains them with some of his football skills, culminating with the hot-shot which unfortunately catches the coach Mr McBrain full in the face. While McBrain is stunned and hurt, Mr McWhacker is delighted to see Hamish almost back to full fitness, and just in time too with their return match against the Spanish team in the European game scheduled for Wednesday. 

There is one more thread to the plot, as Hamish spends time in the children's ward he finds that not all of them will be able to see his game on Wednesday, with the TV too small for them all to view. Being a kind gentle giant, he pays a visit to the TV store where he buys the largest he can find for the children. With his good deed down, he arrives at the ground determined to deliver a win for the children watching from the hospital. 

What a beautiful feel-good episode. No football, but we did get the hot-shot and some gentle comedy to go with it. While not as standout as last week's episode, this was a strong follow-up that demonstrated the other side of a hot-shot Hamish story away from the football field. A nice insight into the well-rounded character of Hamish, and as I read here I couldn't help but think what a great job the writer has done of making Hamish a well-developed character. With his comedy and hot-shot on the field, it would be very easy for him to become a two-dimensional character, but throughout the story, we get little insights into the man and his family and this fleshes him out more than many of the other characters elsewhere in Tiger comic. You can't help but love Hamish, and although I don't rate this issue as highly as last week, I love this story just as much.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Send that telly up to the Children's ward at yon hospital, mister! They've got a wee bitty one that's no good at all! I'll pay..."

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Hot-shot Hamish  

Best Line: "No way! My hand is so numb, it feels like a lump of putty!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 7th December 1974

I'm a day late this week. My birthday party on Saturday night knocked the stuffing out of me for a bit, and yesterday I could barely look at a comic, let alone a computer screen. Energy levels are a little better today, and with an enticing cover, this Tiger has me eager to digest its contents. 

Tiger
7th December 1974

Billy's Boots

A nice touch of everyday life on the cover as Billy Dane, unable to play due to injury, practices football in his yard, and accidentally heads the ball into his Grans clean washing still on the line. 

Suitability told off by his Gran, our young hero sets off to the Groundwood Town's stadium to see if he can further treatment from the trainer there.

This turns out rather well for Billy, and he receives treatment, and some time under the heat lamp. Told that he can do light training, Billy sets off hopeful that he will be cleared to play on Saturday.

Reading his book about Deadshot Keen, Billy has the idea to train on a bike, just like Dead-shot Keen used to. It is on the bike that he meets a man who has some old footage of Dead-shot Keen playing. Billy is overjoyed when he is offered a chance to watch it, and he becomes even more enthusiastic when he sees a move that Dead-shot Keen performs. Thinking that he could possibly learn the move himself we finish with a happy Billy excited for the future. 

Nice to see the lad smiling for a change. After several weeks of misery, Billy has finally found his mojo and things are looking up. Sure, it won't last, but let's enjoy it while we can. A soft read, I enjoyed the familiarity of it all, especially the cover of Billy playing at home. There wasn't a lot of drama, and the story moved slowly, yet this is exactly what I want from Billy's Boots. There is fast-paced action to come later in the comic, and with its fine artwork and relatable story, Billy's Boots gets us off to a perfect start.

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Billy! What on earth do you think you are doing? Just look at that sheet! It was clean!"

Johnny Cougar and Splash Gorton

It's Johnny Cougar versus the Cowboy as this week's wrestling story begins. The opening dialogue is all about Cowboys and Indians, and very much of its time, before the fight starts with a forearm smash from the Cowboy.

From here gloves are off, as the Johnny Cougar begins to inflict some pain of his own. This continues to the second round, but now the Cowboy gains the upper hand and wins the first pinfall after an elbow smash to the top of Johnny's head.

He has little time to recover, but Johnny bursts out of his corner, catching the Cowboy with a flying headbutt and pinning him in the corner. With one pinfall a piece, we are all set for a tense conclusion to the fight next week.  

Apart from the cringe-worthy start as the Cowboy tells Johnny that the cowboys always beat the Indians, this was a top-notch story. The artwork was true to a wrestling match and captured the spirit of the match well. Not all the dialogue was brilliant, but as the match progressed it got better, and by the final panel I was fully engaged. I was doubtful about this cast of characters wrestling and was pleased when this story proved me wrong with some wrestling action just as good as anywhere else in the Johnny Cougar canon.  

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "You see too many films...this Indian not ready to be beaten!" 

Martin's Marvellous Mini 

The car circus is about to begin, with the promise of a series of stunts from Tiny and Martin. It isn't quite what I expected after last week's issue, but I shrug my shoulders and keep reading.

First up we have Martin driving a Ford Anglia through a blazing brick wall before the two boys try a bit of car jousting against each other. 

They both emerge unscathed and we are ready for the finale of Tiny driving George down a steep ramp for a flip into a bed of feathers.

We are all set when Martin suddenly finds out that the owner of the car circus has fled with all the takings. Climbing to the top of the ramp he tells Tiny and they have a quick chat about what to do. The decision is quickly made, there is only one way to catch him, and that is to drive down the ramp. This is where we end the strip, with the two pals hurtling down the ramp. 

What an exciting finish! The rest of the strip wasn't dramatic, but it was exciting with lots of car stunts and glorious views of the two friends doing unexpected things on the track. I didn't so much read it as devour the pictures, and there was something eye-catching in every panel. Glorious to look at, and even if the story didn't sweep me off my feet the artwork sure did. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Now Tiny Hill climbs into my mini car, in readiness to launch himself down the ski-jump...and out into space!"

Nipper

It's all happening at the big game this week. Nipper is suspended, the English under-23 selectors are there to watch him, and an extra edition of The Chronicle has come out - criticising Nipper for being suspended. 

Things come to a head early on as Nipper, hiding in the crowd, sees a copy of The Chronicle, its headline saying he shouldn't be anywhere near an England shirt.

This infuriates him and he storms down to the touchline, demanding that Andy Stewart play him. This causes a distraction on the field, and Blackport concedes a goal, much to Andy Stewart's chagrin. 

The strip ends with a furious Andy Stewart, and the England selectors preparing to leave given that it is unlikely that Nipper will play at all now. 

A fast-moving story, I enjoyed this week's instalment. Brian Crawford, author of the article, was watching from the crowd, and I have my suspicions that this is all part of his master plan. Time will tell. As usual, we had the fantastically angry face of Andy Stewart, only matched by the incandescent rage of Nipper. They are a match made in heaven, and I love watching the sparks fly when the two of them are together. There is still a wider story to be told, and I can't wait to see how this will play out over the coming weeks, 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Why, you stupid, hair-brained, little..!"  

Skid Solo 

We are back to Skid Solo testing new equipment for a company for this week's instalment. In this case, it's tyres, but the story isn't about the tyres themselves, but rather how the team will protect these expensive items from crooks.

Initially Sandy has a barrage of padlocks on the sheds, and after some chat it is decided that they need something more. Sandy wants a guard dog, but Skid and Sparrow persuade him that a night watchman might be a better idea. 

While Skid and Sparrow try out the new tyres, Sandy must decide which of the two applicants for the job he will choose, He has a choice between a young, long-haired chap, and an older, more conservatively dressed type. Both are appealing, and Sandy decides to go with the older gentleman. 

The following day he is shocked to find the sheds have been cleaned out and the night watchman is missing. The police are soon on to the case, and very quickly catch the nightwatchman and a trailer full of new tyres. There is a twist as they reveal his accomplice - the other applicant for the job. No matter who he chose, Sandy would have lost. 

It's back to getting a guard dog, and the strip closes with the new dog pulling on Sandy's leg, while Skid and Solo laugh at his lack of trust.

Too fast and too boring are my first thoughts about this strip. There was very little of Skid on the track, and the off-track drama was resolved all too easily. On a better day, I might have described it as a gentle read, sadly I am not in such a mood today. This story was instantly forgettable, and although the art was pleasant, it was never enough to raise it above the tepid storyline. 

Rating: 4/10

Best line: "I'm a canny judge o' character, even if I say so m'sel'! I'd prefer to employ the neat and tidy mon..."

Hot-Shot Hamish 

In his mismatched clothes, and with his boots falling apart, Hamish limps off the field and Princes Park goes two-nil down. Most of the crowd has seen enough, and the stadium empties as the fans give up on their team.

The rest of the story is told from a nearby cafe as the fans commiserate with each other while a nearby radio runs commentary from the ground. The fans perk up when they hear that Hamish has set up a goal for Princes Park, and then become visibly excited as he scores to equaliser. 

With two minutes left to play, Hamish heads home the winner as the fans celebrate around the radio. However, their joy is shortlived as the commentator informs them that Hamish has collapsed and that stretcher-bearers are running onto the field to collect him.

This is the best Hot-shot Hamish issue so far, and easily the best story in this week's comic. Telling the story through the radio commentary, with the fan's reaction and occasional panels showing Hamish while the commentator describes what he was doing, is most inventive, and was instantly familiar to anyone who grew up listening to football on the radio. I was totally sold on the idea, and although there wasn't too much artwork of the on-field action, the story was just as engrossing following along with the fans. Top work all around, the writer for the imaginative framing of the story and the artist for his brilliant work on capturing the emotion. There's a reason Hot-shot Hamish was my favourite growing up, and this is it.

Rating: 10/10

Best line: "...and it's there! A lovely goal...made by big Hamish Balfour. That puts Princes back in the game!"

Roy Of The Rovers

There are a lot of angry people in the first panels of Roy Of The Rovers, as Rovers dispute the penalty given at the end of last week's strip. Chief among them is Lofty Peak, although all his complaining manages to achieve is a booking from the referee.

As Carford City prepare to take the penalty their manager, Archie Miller, calls out that Don Watson must take it, and if he misses he will play for the reserves. Hardly the comment to inspire confidence and Roy senses it, telling Charlie Carter to dive for the corner as that will be where Don will aim for. 

Not only does Charlie manage to pull off the save, but his following kick ends up with Roy who sends it sailing down the field towards Mervyn, who obliges with a goal. With this, the game is as good as won, and Rovers are ecstatic.

In the aftermath of the game Archie Miller is sacked as manager of Carford City, and Tony explains to the Rovers why he kept cool despite being provoked by Miller The answer was in Miller's own book, where he wrote that his injuring of Tony Storme haunted him for the rest of his career. With this, it is decided that all his shouting and bullying was just a shield to hide his guilt.

An apology is in order, and Archie Miller arrives at just the right moment to receive it. There are two further surprises to come, first Archie has been appointed as the new chief scout, and secondly, he has found a youth who could be the most sensational player the club has ever seen. 

I'm pleased to see a happy resolution, unfortunately, most of this week's strip was too neat and all the loose threads tied up a little too well for my liking. Yes, Tony and Archie resolved their differences, which was good, but hiring Archie as the new chief scout was too much for me. Then, to have Archie claim he has already found a sensational player for Melchester Rovers, well that was a bridge too far. The first half of the strip was great and it was only the second half that I had trouble with, so overall it balanced out alright. Thinking back, I wasn't fussed with the way this strip started, with the out-of-control minibus if you can cast your mind back, and it has an equally weak ending. In between has been an uneven ride, and I am now pinning my hopes on this sensational new player who has appeared. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "That's for you to decide, lad! You're the chap who will have to face it!" 

Tallon Of The Track

Here's hoping that we are back on track this week, and things start well with the introduction of the Osprey's first opponent, the mighty Ukrainian Bears. We first meet their captain, a hulk of a man named Vladimir Debenko. 

Not only is big but also strong, and his friendly slap on the back to Dave Trent sends Dave crashing to the floor. Debennko has another display of strength for Jo, and she is displeased to find herself caught in a bear hug from him.

On the track, he is exactly the same and entertains the crowd before the race with a strongman act on his bike. However, once the racing starts the Ospreys are on a more equal footing, and the first race ends on split points.

The following race, and it's Dave Trent against Vladimir Debenko. A friendly handshake before the race goes awry for Dave, and his hand is injured by the Ukrainian strongman just as they are riding onto the track.

Much better than last week, and I am enjoying the story as it is laid out here. It does read differently through modern eyes, I must admit (the Ukrainian war is in the papers every day at the moment) but throwing myself back into 1974 this is a wonderful yarn. Vladimir is big and causing trouble, but he seems unaware of the chaos he is causing, and there is something very likeable about him. The art is back on a firmer footing on the track, and an improvement over the forest and wolf imagery we have seen for the last few weeks. It feels as though we have finally turned a corner with this strip, and once again I am falling in love with Jo Tallon. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "You great brute, Debenko! That slap on the back nearly sent Dave head-first through the wall!" 

 Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Hot-shot Hamish  

Best Line: "Velcome to Leningrad, my friend! You are David Trentski, yes? Captain of daar Osprey Fliers?"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: