Tiger 7th February 1976

It's not you, it's me. I have been feeling blue ever since the hype of Christmas blew over, and this is colouring my reading of Tiger. For the last couple of weeks, I have been struggling to find joy in anything, and that includes my beloved Tiger comic. Some of these stories are great, yet I just can't see it at the moment. It all seems rather leaden, and some of the stories feel like they need a good shake-up. My mood isn't helped by the fact that it has rained for most of my holiday, and I'm returning to work tomorrow feeling just as jaded and tired as I was several weeks ago. Take my following opinions with a grain of salt - I have no doubt I would rate this issue highly on a sunny day following a good night's sleep. 

7th February 1976

Roy Of The Rovers

Roy and former Melchester Rover scout Alf Roper are watching young Gerry Holloway at a fourth-division game. Gerry barely exerts himself on the field, but there is one flash of brilliance from the lad, enough for Roy to offer him a contract. 

Holloway reacts coolly to the contract. He signs it while telling Roy that it will pay for his university studies. He also takes into account that the Rovers home ground is only a short bus ride from the university. 

As Gerry isn't cup-tied, Roy names him to start in Rover's next cup game. Ben Galloway, General Manager, expresses his concern to Roy, telling him they should have told him or the directors first. So far Roy is the only one at the club who has seen Holloway in action.

Roy tells him not to worry, Holloway is training hard.  However, on game day Holloway doesn't chase down Roy's first pass. He tells Roy that he knew he had no chance to get there, so why waste the effort. This irks Roy, and things get worse as Holloway begins to lecture him. 

Over the last two years, we have seen several new players introduced to Rovers and they all start out with problems such as this. This isn't the first unproven player that Roy has signed, and so far it is following a similar pattern to the previous stories. 

Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but from what we have seen here, Holloway isn't as yet a strong character. We have only seen him fleetingly, and although he is confident enough to lecture Roy in the final panel, he is rather nondescript throughout the rest of the story. 

When Roy signed Wallace the previous year, we had a good sense of who he was, long before he pulled on the Melchester strip. So too with the circus performer that Roy signed a couple of years ago (sadly, his name now eludes me). We saw plenty of what he was about before he made it to the pitch, and although his career was a failure, it still provided a well-rounded story. 

Holloway has none of this behind him, and after only one appearance he is a pale character on the page. I am surprised that Roy signed him at all based on what he saw. Roy, a professional for twenty years, signing a player after seeing one game, a game in which he only had one moment of class, seems hollow and out of character, yet fits with his previous patterns of signings. 

Holloway has proved to be an unlikable character so far and that isn't helping a storyline that is failing to gain traction with me. A large part of me wants to see him bed into the team as quickly as possible so we can return to the wider story of how Melchester Rovers season is progressing. We may have a few more weeks until Holloway sorts himself out, and until then all I can do is read on patiently. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "But surely you should have consulted me, or the directors first! Apart from Alf Roper, you're the only club official who has seen Holloway in action!" 

Billy's Boots

Billy's bike was stolen by a young boy named Micky Brown. Now Billy and Jimmy find themselves playing ball in the park with the boy who doesn't realise who Billy is. 

As Jimmy and Billy walk home afterwards, Billy tells Jimmy that Micky Brown was the boy who stole Billy's bike. Jimmy is surprised, telling Billy that Mickey seemed like a decent sort of lad. They also discuss their chances of making the school team on the weekend, with Jimmy commenting that Hardnut Haris does some funny things. 

This is borne out when they find they are in the team, but both playing in defence. Harris has switched the attackers and defenders so both can understand the problems each other faces. This sends Billy back to his book on Dead-Shot Keen, where he learns that Keen played as a defender before a chance positional switch revealed that he was a lethal attacker. 

While Billy is reading there comes a knock on the door. It is the local policeman following up on Billy's stolen bike. He tells Billy and his Gran that the boy took his bike because it was an emergency. His mother had been taken ill and he had rushed off to the doctor. Billy and his Gran decide to drop charges, and the matter is left as it is. 

Back at the rec ground, Billy and Jimmy are playing a pickup game when Mickey Brown appears. He tells them his new school will be Groundwood, and asks if they think he has any chance of making the school team. Billy says if he can play, he stands a good chance. The strip ends with Billy and Jimmy watching little Mickey Brown dribbling through the players on the field and commenting that he's good and might even threaten their place in the team. 

This story has slowed, and with the stolen bike drama being resolved the story has pivoted to Mickey Brown trying to earn a place in the team. It's not as interesting as the previous issues, and the whole story feels flat after the intensity of Billy's bike being stolen. 

We still have Mickey Brown looking much too small to play with the other, and once again his proportions seem to be wrong when he stands next to other players. Children do come in all shapes and sizes, but as it stands, Mickey Brown looks much too small to be playing with Jimmy and Billly. This takes me out of the story every time I see it, and it is another strike against Mickey Brown. 

The scene with Billy and his Gran was again the best in the strip. The sight of the two of them, Gran knitting while Billy read his book, was every bit as homely as you could want, and sat at the heart of the story. This directly leads to the appearance of the policeman, and Billy and his Gran dropping the charges has their humanity on full display. It was head and shoulders above everything else in the story (an easy feat when you're towering over Mickey Brown) and I could have done with a lot more of this and a lot less of Mickey running around with the ball at his feet.   

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "I've met him, Gran...he seems a nice kid..."

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Martin and Tiny are racing for the finish of the New York to Moscow rally with Mr Twastle nestled in the car with them.

They look to have the win sewn up when suddenly Mr Twastle switches off the car with the claim he can smell smoke. This allows two cars to pass them before Tiny can restart the car and cross the finish line. 

Tiny and Martin have finished third but the drama isn't over. Tiny pulls the black hood from Mr Twastle's pocket and accuses him of sabotaging them from the helicopter, and now on the ground. Mr Twastle confesses, telling them that he couldn't afford to pay them the million pounds he had promised for winning the race. He is broke, and as he slinks off he tells the boys that he won't blame them if they go to the police. 

Tiny and Martin decide to wait until after the prize giving before they make any firm decision. At the prize giving they learn they finished second overall, and they receive a prize of two thousand pounds. Walking back to their room they decide to give half of this to Mr Twastle as without him they wouldn't have been able to enter the race. 

They ask reception for his whereabouts and are informed that he has left the hotel without paying his hotel bill, his taxi bills, or his helicopter bills. He owes a lot of money, and even as they speak the police are out looking for him.  

I have enjoyed this rally immensely, although this final rush to the finish line has been a letdown. However, the story is far from over, and we still have more drama ahead of us next week. 

The final play by Mr Twastle in turning the car engine off was weak, and after all we have seen it was hardly the gripping finish that the story deserved. It felt out of step with Mr Twastle's other devious ploys and, although it worked, it wasn't as desperate as his other manouverings. However, it did scupper their chances of winning, which made Tiny's reaction as he revealed Twastle's scheming rather surprising. Tiny was angry, but it wasn't as angry as one might expect, especially when we take into account that Twastle did bury them in an avalanche. Twastle cost them the race and almost cost them their lives, yet Tiny's anger is quickly dissipated and Twastle walks free. We have seen Tiny become physical in confrontations before, so all I can say is Mr Twastle was very lucky in this case. 

It feels like a very long time since the boys won the race that sent them off to Hawaii and started this wild journey. It must almost be time for them to head home, and I have a strong feeling that once they have settled their score with Twastle they may well be pointing George westward and driving home. I have enjoyed the ride we have taken to get this far, and still have hopes that there will be a twist next week to end this story with a suitable exclamation point. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "The truth is...I'm broke! If...if my holiday island scheme doesn't pay off, I'll go to prison for debt!" 

Hot Shot Hamish

Casually dressed, Hamish strolled downstairs at the wealthy mansion he was staying at and into a formal party. The guests are horrified by Hamish's attire, and Hamish finds himself manhandled and called a scruff. 

This leads to a brawl, with various guests taking sides for or against Hamish, and chaos ensues as the food begins to fly. 

The fight ends just as the host, Mr McCash, arrives, and Hamish thanks him for the party before retiring to bed. 

Meanwhile at Princes Park flu is sweeping through the team. With five players sick, Mr McWhacker is forced to call on his reserves and loses the next game four-nil. Come Saturday they are no better off, and desperate for a win to keep their promotion hopes alive. Unfortunately, there is an injury early on, and Mr McWhacker is forced to turn to his scant bench. He calls on Jock McBell, a player who hasn't turned out of the first team for two years. McBell jogs onto the field thinking that Hamish will cover up for him if he is a wee bit slow. 

The fight at the party dominated the strip and gave us some wonderful imagery. Julio Schiaffino is at the top of his game here, giving Hamish a sympathetic look while imbuing the fight with all the chaos and frenetic energy it deserved. It was a delight to look at and with pies and cakes being thrown, it would appeal to any young reader. The smile on Hamish's face as he watched the fight said it all, and was just as joyful as the fight itself. 

The story moved quickly and having just as much drama on the football side of the story made for a balanced read that propelled us along on both fronts. I am just as invested in both sides of the stories, with the flu hit team particularly relatable as I have recently had a similar situation at work with another round of covid wiping out half our staff. Like Hamish, I too have had to carry weak members in the team, and I can only assume that Hamish will do it with a lot more grace and patience than I did. How he navigates these stormy waters remains to be seen, and with the game (and Princes Park's position on the table) delicately poised, there is much on the line for next week's drama.   

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Och, it's turning oot to be a fine wee party!" 

Johnny Cougar

Johnny is still competing in the international wrestling competition, and this week we see him take on his next competitor, a muscular wrestler called The Chinaman. 

The Chinaman proves to be just as strong as he looks, and Johnny struggles against his large opponent, especially as he is carrying an injured arm.  After being thrown around like a rag doll, Johnny is finally thrown to the floor where The Chinaman covers him for the first pinfall. 

As Johnny recovers in the corner, Splash brings him the news that The Footballer has just beaten The Masked Maniac. As Jonnny gets unsteadily to his feet, Splash implores him to do something, anything, as he desperately needs to win some points in this tournament. 

There was some concern that The Chinaman wouldn't deliver the tough fight required. Last week we saw The Masked Maniac easily beat him, and the seed was planted that he might be an easy beat. That hasn't eventuated, and the story is all the better for it. The Chinaman looks bigger on the page than we have previously seen, and it provides some wonderful images of the two large men colliding. Again, Johnny is on the back foot, and it is always refreshing to see our hero struggling and having to overcome an obstacle such as this.  

The tournament is a lot tougher than it looked some weeks ago and is providing far more entertainment than promised. There has been a lot of silliness of late, yet the wrestling action is tough and exciting, demanding my attention and holding me enrapt. I can easily overlook the silliness when it is backed up with wonderful fighting and art such as this. Having Johnny struggle is the icing on the cake, and once again I have no choice but to return next week and see what develops from here.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Me very good wrestler...man from East, beat man from West!"

Tornado Jones

Jones has landed in a fast-flowing river after lassoing an escaped tiger. Both Jones and the tiger are struggling in the water when a passing fisherman pulls Jones into his boat. Jones then pulls the tiger a shore but then takes to his heels when the tiger turns on him. 

Jones clambers up a tree and watches as the tiger approaches an aluminium-faced hoarding across the road. This is part of his plan, and he is delighted when the tiger sees itself reflected in the aluminium. The tiger leaps at his reflection, crashing into the hoarding and knocking itself out. 

Jones returns the tiger to the safari park, offering to do the stunt again tomorrow. The owner of the park refuses, giving Jones ten pounds and calling it quits. 

This was a short story, and we only had three weeks of Jones and the tiger. That felt about right and although I admired some of the artwork last week, by this week we had run out of steam. The strip was enjoyable enough, with strong artwork that promised much but never quite flourished as it did last week. It remained tightly focused and never did more than it needed to tell the story. 

The story itself was simple enough, although we never saw a strong character emerge as a foil to Jones. The safari owner could have been such a character, but his role was diminished after the first week, while the tiger got off to a slow start, looking less than fearsome in the first week, before finally looking like the predator it did last week. This week it fell somewhere between the two and once again failed to offer the threat it could have been. 

An uneven few weeks and next week we are again off on a new adventure for Jones. He is never short of a fresh start and a new story, and one can only hope for something substantial that can sustain the character for the next several weeks. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "After all the chaos you caused, I never want to see you again! Take this sten sounds and call it quits! Get out of here!"

Skid Solo 

Tommy is in Australia gaining racing experience, and this week's strip begins with him racing a saloon car. He is winning his class, but pushing hard against the bigger cars to win the race. He hasn't had the experience yet and pushes his car too hard, breaking something and crashing off the track. 

Sandy gives him a good telling-off, before telling Tommy that he has been entered in a sports car race in Melbourne. Tommy must go alone as Sandy is flying back to Skid, and Tommy promises not to let him down. 

Tommy's two wins and crash earn him the attention of a local journalist. He comes to interview him, wondering if he has a nickname that might help sell the story. Tommy doesn't and the newspaperman christens him "Kid" Carter. 

Back in Britain, Sandy and Skid discuss Tommy's progress. Skid says he has a lot to learn but has skill and nerve. He tells Sandy that he's going to call him "Typhoon" Tommy, a nickname Skid has thought up himself. 

In Melbourne, Tommy's race is going well and he pushes himself to the front. Again, he has failed to learn his previous lessons, and after pushing his car too hard an oil pipe bursts showering Tommy in oil and sending him crashing off the track. 

Tommy is OK, but the car is a write-off. However, Tommy is more distraught by the newspaper headline the next day calling him "Crash" Carter. 

"Crash" Carter is a fair nickname based on what we have seen thus far. For all his racing flair and skill, Tommy ends up off the track more than he should. It makes for a surprisingly good story and I am enjoying following his adventures in the absence of Skid Solo. It isn't always believable, but it has been fun so far, with some good racing action and memorable panels to keep the reader engaged.

We have yet to see Tommy deliver a perfect racing performance, and despite his natural talent, he is taking an authentic journey. Seeing him race at these lower levels not only helps him gain experience but also makes him a more believable character to the reader. It's stretching belief to see a young lad racing for Skid Solo, so anything like this to add to his authenticity helps with the immediate story and the longer goal of having him drive beside Skid Solo. 

I love a good crash as much as the next man, and we have two excellent crashes in this strip. The first panel shows Tommy's saloon car careening off the track was good, with the flying hay bales emphasizing the speed at which he is travelling. The second is even better, with the energy and speed of the sports car flying off the track clearly visible in the single panel. It's of the highest standard and easily the best image in this week's Skid Solo story. 

I had wondered if Tommy could sustain the story on his own. From what we have seen so far, he can. The stories being told are just as vital and interesting as the ones provided by Skid Solo, and if we maintain this momentum, the strip will gain even more shine once Skid is able to make a return.

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Crash Carter! Skid and Sandy aren't going to like that!"

Nipper 

Nipper has been sent to a specialist to help with his memory loss. It proves to be a waste of time- when playing word association, Nipper associates every world with some aspect of football. 

Returning home, Nipper tells Amy Felcher that he hopes that his memorable will be jogged when they play their next game against Mornio. 

Amy hopes not, and while Nipper is outside she gives us the backstory of Morino. The last time Nipper played them he was heavily marked by Zampia, the Morino sweeper. It had become a rough battle, with Nipper giving as good as he got, and at the end of the game, angry threats were thrown. 

Nipper is unaware of this and as he rides to the game he is puzzled by fan's comments to watch out for Zampia. As he runs onto the field the Morino fans tell him to steer clear of Zampia as he has a good memory of what happened last time. Nipper finds that the name Zampia makes him feel tense and nervous, and as the strip concludes he thinks his memory is starting to return.

We are making steady progress with Nipper's story. He still has memory loss, and although he is getting help, it has yet to amount to anything. We have storm clouds gathering as he takes the field against Mornio and this should develop into something substantial next week. 

The opening scene of Nipper in the doctor's office gave us humour and was a soft introduction before the darker story of Zampia appeared. The doctor's frustration translated well on the page, and the dialogue leading up to his final outburst was excellent. 

However, the main focus of the story was setting up next week's confrontation with Zampia. There was a flashback telling of their last encounter, and while this was informative, it didn't make for a great issue of Nipper. It did plant the seeds for what is to come and gave us the context for the next game, both important and did this without impeding the flow of the story too much. Not an energising issue, but a necessary step that puts us in a fine place for the next few weeks. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Football...football! This is preposterous! Everything I say seems to remind you of something connected with football!" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6/10

Best Story:  Johnny Cougar 

Best Line: "Ye missed the best o' the party, Mister McCash...I think everyone enjoyed it fine. But I'll have to be away to ma bed, the noo...I canna have late nights when I'm in training!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: 

Tiger 31st January 1976

Great news for all readers. I have been on summer holiday long enough that I no longer know what day it is. The days are sailing by on a warm, gin-scented, breeze, and I must say this three-week break has done me a world of good. It hasn't done a world of good for my waistline, however, and the days of snacking on Christmas leftovers and sampling craft beers are beginning to show. Yet another reminder that I am no longer young, and the days of abusing my body over Christmas and still performing on the sports field are well and truly over. The most taxing thing I do nowadays is read comics and write my thoughts. It's more stressful than you might think, and in the back of my mind is the thought that my boss will be calling in a few days to remind me to come back to work. These are my final days of a classic summer holiday, and I am going to spend them with Tiger comic dated 31st January 1976. 

31st January 1976

Billy's Boots

Billy's form slumped after having his new bike stolen during a game. However, during his next game the local policeman appears with Billy's bike and a half time tells him that they found the kid who stole it. 

With this news, Billy is reinvigorated and scores a superb solo goal. He follows this up with an assist for Jimmy and the game is won two-nil. 

After the game, Billy is told that the boy who stole his bike is going to court. His name is Mickey Brown and apparently, this is the first thing he has ever stolen. 

Billy and Jimmy are practising their passing while at the park, and a kid comes over to ask if he can play with them. They readily agree, and Billy receives a shock when he asks the boy his name- it is Micky Brown, the bicycle thief. 

Last week Billy's Gran stole the show in a single panel, and she does that again this week. The image of her serving dinner to Billy and telling him that the bicycle thief deserves all he gets was evocative and could have well been lifted out of my own life. A stern Grandmother with a strong sense of wrong and right was just the right card to be played at this moment and it trumped all that came before and after it. 

The rest of the story wasn't as good as this panel, and although I have given the story a strong rating, it didn't grab me in the way the previous issues have. Billy and his bike being stolen was a good concept and well-worked. The thought of a court case on the horizon also arouses my curiosity, and I am intrigued to see how that will work out. Yet, all this in the future, and there was nothing in this particular issue that thrilled me. 

I am not so fussed about Micky Brown's look. In the first panel we see him he looks like a young kid - so far so good. However, in the final panel as he joins Billy and Jimmy the perspective is slightly out and he looks like a jumping gnome next to them. It is the only bum note in the artwork that was otherwise singing throughout the story. In fact, this was a superb-looking Billy's Boots, which made the final panel all the more jarring. 

Rather interestingly, although Billy played magnificently, scoring a goal and setting up another, not once was credit given to his boots. This was refreshing and lifted the story in my eyes. I shall be curious to see if this is a one-off, or if it will occur again in future.    

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "You say the police are taking the boy to court? Well, serves him right!"

Johnny Cougar

Splash Gorton hopes that Johnny Cougar's recent defeat to the Masked Maniac has taught him a lesson about fooling around. He tells Cougar that he needs to concentrate more on his wrestling, and Cougar responds that it's not good to be serious all the time. 

Cougar and Splash go to see the next two matches in the tournament. The bout between the  Footballer and the Pirate shows that the Pirate will be tough to beat when Cougar faces him. The next fight is of more interest to Cougar as it features his next opponent, the Chinaman, against the Masked Maniac. 

The Masked Maniac defeats the Chinaman with a knockout, and after the fight taunts Cougar in the crowd. Wheeling a screen on stage, the Maked maniac shows highlights of last week's bout when he beat Cougar. This is all too much for Cougar, and he jumps into the ring, smashing through the screen to attack the Masked Maniac. 

Splash jumps in to calm the situation, but as he and Cougar leave the arena he notices Cougar clutching his arm. He has injured himself jumping through the screen and with his next contest tomorrow he doesn't have time to get himself fit again. 

This was a curious Johnny Cougar story, with Johnny taking no part in the wrestling action. The only action that he did take part in was smashing through the screen that the Masked Maniac had erected, and although this is an important plot point, the action was a single panel. 

With this, it fell to the other characters to carry the story. While Johnny provided exposition we had our first look at The Pirate and The Chinaman (probably not a name that would fly today). The Pirate carries a flamboyant look, but he doesn't amount to much in the ring. The Chinaman has an air of menace about him, which only emphasised how good The Masked Maniac is as we saw him handily beat him. From what we have seen here it is hard to get excited about either new character's future prospects. 

The Masked Maniac dominated the story physically but also drove the story forward with his taunting of Johnny and contributions to the overall story arc. Johnny may be wrestling the other characters, but The Masked Maniac remains the overarching villain of the piece. While the story wasn't the most thrilling this week, this wider storyline holds great promise and is the main reason why I rate this one well. Several important pieces fell into place today, and seeing it all come together in the coming weeks should be a treat.    

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Heap lucky smash hit Cougar last time...you not be so lucky again!" 

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Tiny and Martin have dug their car out of the avalanche and are now speeding towards Moscow. In a helicopter overhead, Mr Twastle does all he can to prevent them from winning, swooping low and trying to push them off the road. 

He fails in his attempts and flies back to Moscow where he learns that Martin and Tiny aren't winning, although they are second and making good speed toward Moscow. 

Mr Twastle takes a taxi to the outskirts of Moscow and intercepts Tiny and Martin. Climbing in the car, he tells them the road is blocked and offers to show them a way around the detour. 

After sending them down several sideroads, they emerge back on the main road, just behind the two lead cars. As they speed after them, Tiny notices the black mask in Mr Twastle's pocket and realises that the helicopter pilot was wearing exactly the same mask. 

We are reaping the rewards of last week's issue, and it was all thrown into the mix for this issue. We had fast car racing action, helicopters buzzing overhead, and Tiny unmasking the wider plot. 

Each one of these aspects of the story looked great on the page, and the story was well-paced to give each aspect its due. A two-page, fast-moving story, yet it gave time for each story point to breathe and the overall feeling was although it was fast, nothing was glossed over.

It wasn't just the action that told the story. The faces of the characters were liberally sprinkled throughout, and each flash of a grim-faced Martin, or a shocked Mister Twastle added another layer to the story. It gave the story a realistic feel, even when they were doing unrealistic things, and every panel containing a close-up of a face elevated the story and gave it an extra sheen. The artwork of David Sque cannot be underestimated, and given that he is pulling double duty in this week's comic, it is all the more impressive. Everything that comes across his drawing board is imbued with a sense of humanity, and when paired with a thrilling story like this, we get something very special indeed.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "We're losing time! We're never going to win like this! Are you sure this is the right way, Mister Twastle?"

Roy Of The Rovers

Roy is back in the team after his recent troubles with exhaustion, and the Rovers are on form playing against the reserves - winning their match seven - two. 

However, Roy receives a shock when after the game Jumbo Trudgeon tells him that he'll be leaving the team. Roy realises that there is no one in the reserves who can step up to the first team. As luck would have it, Alf Roper, a former Melchester Scout, is paying a visit and tells Roy that he has seen a promising youngster named Gerry Holloway. 

Roy and Alf speed off to see the player, who just so happens to have a game that night. Arriving at the game, Roy is stunned when he sees Gerry Holloway hardly moving on the field and has only touched the ball twice. He isn't exerting himself at all, and Roy is left wondering why Alf Roper has brought him all this way to see the laziest player he's ever seen.

Following on from Martin's Marvellous Mini, we have another masterclass from David Sque for this week's Roy Of The Rovers. However, the plot cannot match the previous strip for intensity, and for all of David's fine work here, we have a less compelling strip. 

However, the strip is notable for the introduction of Gerry Holloway (my computer keeps trying to change this to Geri Halliwell. Imagine her playing for Melchester Rovers...). Roy is unimpressed with what he has seen so far, but I am quietly confident that he will come around to see Holloway as the player he needs. The sight of Roy and Alf in the car about to drive to the match warmed the cockles of my heart, and even though I wasn't thrilled with the following story, it did provide a comforting moment that spoke to the history of the comic and characters from the past. 

Roy Of The Rovers is in a transition period right now, and it needs a strong, tightly focused storyline to snap it back in line. Gerry Holloway signing for the team is a necessary stepping stone to move on Jumbo Trudgeon (whose farewell, it should be noted, was light and hardly worthy of a player of such significance). The sooner Gerry Holloway can be brought on board, the better, and then Roy and the team can move on to bigger things, and hopefully, an engaging storyline that will keep me eager to read more.   

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Because Alf Roper is the man who discovered Roy Race...over twenty-one years ago!"

Skid Solo 

Tommy and Sandy are in Australia, getting race experience for Tommy while Skid is laid up in hospital. 

Tommy is offered a car, and Skid tells Sandy to enter Tommy in a Formula Junior race being run the following day. 

Sandy offers Tommy strict instructions on race day, telling him he must come in on lap thirty-five to refuel. There is no need to worry about this, other drivers will be refuelling too and he should be OK. 

Skid calls from his hospital bed again, asking Sandy how the race is going. Sandy tells him the race has just started and Tommy is doing well. This is correct, and Tommy is in first place when he comes in on lap thirty-five for his refuel. 

Skid calls again soon after this, and Sandy confirms that Tommy has just refuelled and is just behind the race leaders. When Skid asks who the race race leaders are, his demeanour changes and he tells Sandy to get a message to Tommy to drive as hard as he can. The race leader is Les Robinson, and Skid thinks he probably has put a larger tank in his car so he doesn't have to refuel. 

Skid is right, and Sandy gets the message out to Tommy. Tommy pushes hard for the remaining laps and is rewarded as he finds a way around Robinson on the final corner. In the hospital, Skid is still on the phone and happy to hear about the victory. A nurse next to him asks if it was almost like being behind the wheel himself, and Skid assures her that it was nothing like it, but he sure wishes it was. 

Even when Skid isn't trackside, he still finds a way to inject himself into the story, This was cleverly done via the use of the telephone. It was a timely reminder of how far technology has come, as nowadays not only could Skid be in constant contact throughout every aspect of the race, but he would also probably be privy to every sensor and readout in the car, even at such a distance. 

I am warming up to the character of Tommy, but it is Sandy who remains my firm favourite. Every emotion is reflected on his face, and he is a character you can read easily through his facial expressions alone. His smile while on the phone to Skid spoke of their friendship, while later when he was issuing instructions to Tommy he was all business and serious to the core. He often gets the best lines, but in this case, he also gets the best artwork. 

Sandy got the best of it, but the artwork throughout this strip was of the highest level. Not just Skid Solo, but this entire issue is full of superb art, and it pleasing to the eye through every page. In Skid Solo we have several fine images of Tommy in his car, the car radiating power, while Tommy was made all the smaller and younger for it. Sandy organizing the race, and remaining in touch with Skid provided more fodder for the artist as he was characterised as a hardworking, dependable chap. Finally, we have Skid, still in his bed back in Britain, He remained upbeat, with the art reflecting his positivity, and joy at seeing Tommy doing well. 

All of this made the story better than it really was and was a testament to the power of art. A solid story greatly elevated by the craftsmanship put into it, and this was much better than it deserved to be. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Mister McGrath...telephone call for you...from Britain!"

Hot Shot Hamish 

Princes Park wins their game easily, and coming off the pitch they are instructed to assemble for the team photo. Following on from last week, McFrame, the photographer, is having trouble with McMutton, Hamish's pet sheep. 

McMutton has chewed McFrame's cape, and as he prepares to photograph the team, McFrame waves away McMutton. McMutton responds by ramming McFrame with his horns and McFrame ends up in a crumpled heap with his camera equipment. 

Back at the mansion where Hamish is staying with a wealthy fan, Hamish prepares for a party thrown by Mister McCash. He decides to wear a pullover his Granny has knitted, and suitably attired makes his way to the ballroom. The shocked guests, all in evening wear, stare at him, some thinking he is a servant who has lost his way, while others say he looks like a refugee from a jumble sale. 

Both halves of the story provided laughs but it was the second part of the story that really spoke to me. Hamish as a fish out of water offers plenty of potential for laughs, but also makes Hamish a sympathetic character. I laughed at the sight of him wearing a sweater knitted by his Granny (and reflected on the knitted garments that my own Grandmother gave me) but I also felt his humiliation as he made his entrance. My heart swelled as he strode down the stairs, proud of his attire, only to be completely deflated as the first guests commented on his outfit. 

These contrasting feelings, rubbing up hard against each other, gave the story an uneasy tension and is one of the reasons it is always a favourite. Hamish is the most relatable character in the comic to me (and it is not just a shared first name), and I laugh just as much with him as at him. Similarly, his disasters are my disasters, and I cringe at some of the situations he finds himself in. 

Football is almost secondary to the wider world of Hamish Balfour, and although we see Princes Park week after week, the story is much more than a story of a player who plays for Princes Park. It is Hamish's hot shot that has the title, but he is much more than a man with a hot shot, he is a character blessed with all the traits, the triumphs and tragedies, of a real human, and as such is the most real character on the pages of Tiger. Not everyone is the smartest or most successful, most of us are just average Joes making our way through life the best we can, just like Hamish Balfour.    

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "I wonder what there'll be to eat? Meat pies, maybe...or trifles...or great big steaks..." 

Nipper

Nipper has lost his memory, including how to play football, yet has still managed to score a goal as Blackport play a league game. 

Nipper thinks he has scored from a throw-in, and it is Mike Beatson who explains to him that it is not allowed under the rules of the game. Luckily halftime is blown shortly after and Nipper is subbed off. 

He is examined by the club doctors, who can find nothing wrong with him despite the memory loss. As they come out of the tunnel, Nipper's girlfriend Kerry calls to him. Nipper doesn't recognise her, and it's Andy Stewart who explains that she is his girlfriend. 

Nipper says if that is the case, he can't wait to start remembering again. As Nipper looks dreamily at Kerry, Andy Stewart looks on, worried that if Nipper's memory returns in the middle of the second-round European Cup game, it could lead to the biggest punch-up of the season.

You already know what I'm going to say. Kerry is here, and not only does she steal Nipper's heart, but she also steals mine. Oh, comic book romances. The football provided solid action, but it was the appearance of Kerry and the further development in the storyline that got my heart racing. 

Last week we saw how the memory loss affected Nipper on the field, this week that scope widened and we saw further fishhooks thrown into the story. I took the bait on all of them. Nipper sees Kerry as if for the first time, and instantly being smitten, makes a touching moment that speaks volumes of his love for her. Even a jaded idiot such as me couldn't help but smile at what was unfolding on the page and it is a plotline that should be exploited in the coming weeks.

Andy Stewart's final line pointing towards the next game also pulled me in. It is obvious that these stories need to hook you back for next week, yet it's all done so well that I can't help but get caught up in it every time. I am dying to know what Nippper's trouble with the Italian club is, and I am equally intrigued to see if a punchup will develop. I don't condone violence, but in this case, I am looking forward to seeing some haymakers being thrown. 

The artwork was a step up this week. The page was much cleaner, with less background noise and some very clean lines. This added efficiency to the story, giving me the bare facts and allowing me to quickly reach the key moments. I like to linger on my comics, and although this story shot me quickly to the finish line, I did make the time to go back and have a second look at the artwork. I found myself gazing upon it, much like Nipper looking at Kerry in the final panel, full of both love and admiration, for the quality of work put into this comic week after week.  

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Er, who's the doll, Mister Stewart?" 

Tornado Jones 

Tornado Jones has bungled his latest stunt, accidentally freeing a Tiger who is now slinking toward a nearby village. 

Acting quickly, Jones gets his spare motorcycle, and a coil of rope and sets forth to bring the Tiger back alive.

The tiger is creating mayhem in the village and it isn't long before Jones on on his bike giving chase. He lassos the tiger easily enough, but the Tiger is strong and pulls Jones from his bike. 

Dragging Jones from the village, the tiger jumps over the edge of the bank, sending Jones tumbling.

Last week the tiger looked limp and uninspired. This week he is reinvigorated and energised, looking much more like a real tiger. The change is noticeable, and it seems Jim Bleach has found a way to present a tiger worthy of its fearsome reputation.   

This supercharged the whole story, and I came away from this week's issue far more enthusiastic than last week. The story moved quickly, and showing plenty of the tiger in the village certainly added to the drama. We had a number of panels showing the chaos the tiger was causing. The scenes in the butcher shop were my favourite, but there were several more vying for my attention, and in particular, the sight of the villagers all running about in the main street was noteworthy. 

Tornado Jones tumbling over the bank wasn't the most spectacular of cliffhangers (or bank tumblers if you will) but the rest of the story well and truly propelled us into next week. With great art and a unique storyline, this remains a solid read and ends us on a good note as we look ahead to next week. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "You'd better phone the police, boss! The only thing to do now is shoot the poor brute" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story:  Nipper 

Best Line: "If Kerry's a sample of my past life, I can't wait to start remembering it again!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 24th January 1976

1976 is shaping up to be a very good year indeed, with January already providing some excellent moments in the first three issues. While Skid Solo has stood head and shoulders above everything else, other stories are quietly finding their feet and although there are a couple of stories I would like to see come to the fore, overall the comic is strong. With a balanced mix of drama, action, and humour, I am reminded why I like this comic, and why I am still reading it fifty years later.

24th January 1976

Johnny Cougar

Johnny Cougar is about to face the Masked Maniac in the next round of the wrestling tournament, but first, there is the typical tomfoolery we have come to expect from Johnny Cougar in recent weeks. 

The Masked Maniac calls for Johnny Cougar to come to the ring and is surprised when Johnny jumps down on him from above.

The Maniac is surprised and angry, but Cougar isn't done with his foolishness, taking a photo of the Maniac that when developed shows not the Maniac but rather an ugly face from elsewhere.

With this, the Maniac has had enough and the fight begins. The Maniac is the more aggressive, but Cougar is powerful, and after a strong tussle Cougar has the first pinfall. 

This infuriates the Masked Maniac, and the next time Cougar attacks he is ready to fight fire with fire. He avoids Cougar's first strike and responds with one of his own which sends Cougar crashing to the floor for a knock-out win.

Despite some silliness early on, this was an enjoyable story. I am beginning to tire of the foolishness that precedes these bouts, although this issue was much better in that respect Whereas the prelude to the match against the Footballer took a couple of weeks, here the clowning by Cougar was a page. Perhaps a page too much for some people, but at least we got to the story a lot quicker. 

The in-ring action was what one would expect from a Johnny Cougar story, with heavy forearm smashes, and a pinch of acrobatics. I was pleased to see the Masked Maniac get the win, as not only does it show that Cougar is not infallible, but also sets us up well for the forthcoming matches.

It looks like the next two matches will follow the same form as the opening couple, especially as the opponents Johnny will be facing are named the Pirate and the Chinaman. As far as tomfoolery goes, it looks like we are well set for some more. This would normally detract from my enjoyment, but the art detailing the fights is superb, and with plenty of wrestling action to counterbalance the slow start, I am reasonably happy at the moment.  

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "He did it again! He made me look stupid! Grrrr...I'll still get my revenge!"

Roy Of The Rovers

Roy has been carried off the pitch after suffering from total exhaustion. The team step up in his absence and win the game four-two. 

Meanwhile, Roy wakes up in the hospital to find Penny at his bedside. His first concern is for the game, but Penny reassures him as she tells him the score. She also tells him that it's Saturday, meaning that he has been out of it for three whole days. 

Released from the hospital, Roy is taken home by Penny who makes him comfortable and brings him some tea. She tells him that he needs someone to look after him permanently, someone like herself, but before the conversation can go any further Roy leaps from his seat, suddenly realising the Melchester Rovers are playing in the third round of the F.A. Cup.

He rushes to the ground, but all his worries are for nothing. Jumbo Trudgeon has just scored his hat-trick and Rovers are winning four-nil. 

Coming off the pitch after winning six-nil, the team surround Roy, telling him that he needs to settle down a bit. Roy grins at this suggestion and tells the team he has been making a few plans of his own, and in fact, he has been persuaded by Penny to get engaged. 

While most of the team rejoices at this good news, Blackie looks worried. Roy doesn't know it yet, but one of his first jobs will be to find someone to replace Jumbo Trudgeon.

Mark this in your calendars, another historic issue as Roy is now engaged to Penny.  We have crossed the Rubicon, and there is no going back for Roy now as he is irreversibly aged by this milestone. While Penny was merely his girlfriend, Roy was forever young. With the prospect of marriage on the horizon, there is no doubt that he is growing up and firmly embracing adulthood. It has taken us a long time to get here, but once announced it cannot be put back in the box. 

Elsewhere we have several different stories bubbling away. Roy's exhaustion at being a player and manager of Rovers is ongoing, and now we have new drama in the shape of Jumbo Trudgeon leaving. We don't know the hows and whys yet, and this makes the following few issues all the more interesting. How Roy deals with this will be the main thrust of the next issue, and with several questions needing answers, it will be one of the first stories I turn to. No doubt Penny will have to take care of the wedding planning while Roy has all this on his plate!

Rating: 8.5/10

Best line: "It'll be the wedding of the year, eh, Blackie?"

Martin's Marvellous Mini 

It's the final leg of the New York to Moscow rally, and Tiny and Martin have the lead. Their sponsor Mr Twastrle isn't entirely happy with the situation, having promised the boys a million pounds if they win the race. 

They get off to a poor start in the final leg and find that two of their tyres have been punched by nails. While making a tyre change several cars go by and they must again fight for the lead.

This they do, but in a snowy mountain pass a helicopter appears, dropping an explosive into the snow. This creates an avalanche, and Tiny and Martin are buried in snow. 

Mr Twastle appears and helps dig them out. The other drivers all turn around and make a detour, but the lads are determined to carry on, and as Mr Twastle drives away they continue to soldier on. 

Mr Twastle is still worried bout the outcome, and in the final panel, we see him arrive at the airfield and run toward the helicopter, desperate to find another way to stop them.

A thrilling episode, and one that was fraught with danger. It was only when I read it a second time that I realised how much trouble Martin and Tiny were in when they were struck by the avalanche. It was the sight of Tiny handing Martin a shovel and talking about running out of air that I saw what peril they were in. Mr Twastle running toward the buried vehicle added to this drama, and was one of a number of great panels. 

The avalanche scene was the best part of the strip, but we also saw a large chunk of the story unfold with Mr Twastle's treachery shown both early and late in the strip. He was masked in the helicopter early on, but there was no doubt about who it was when we saw him again later in the strip. Although there was no mystery about his identity, that didn't detract from the drama of it all and we are well poised for a thrilling conclusion next week. It's taken us a while to get here, but the story is peaking at just the right time, and we should be in for a gripping finish to the New York to Moscow rally.   

Rating: 8.5/10

Best line: "I don't know...but we've got to start digging ourselves out, before we use up all the air in here!"

Skid Solo

Although Skid has regained consciousness, he is still in the hospital, bandaged from head to foot. Sandy and Tommy pay him a visit and Skid tells them he has been doing some thinking. There is no way he will be ready for the first of the European Grand Prix races, but if Tommy can do well enough in the sports car races and the Formula Junior event he can drive in the Grand Prix. 

Sandy takes Tommy down to the track and warns him that it's a dangerous sport. Tommy is still keen, and he begins practising in the sports car.

Sandy is happy with what he sees, and the pair fly out to Australia for Tommy's first big race event. Tommy's practice times are fast, and this carries over to race day as he speeds away from the other racers from the start. Tommy drives furiously, and after ten laps has a thirty-second lead. Sandy is unhappy with this and calls him into the pits, where he tells him he needs to learn to nurse the car and not drive it flat out all the time. However, after the next lap, Tommy breaks the track record by two seconds. 

That evening in the hospital, Skid is brought a telegram from Australia. The nurse reads it to him - Tommy has won the race with a new race record and a new lap record. Skid is overjoyed, and a loud shout of glee suggests he is well on his way to recovery. 

This has been on the horizon ever since Tommy first arrived on the scene and, although he still feels too young, the groundwork has well and truly been set out for this. Even so, he seems to be too good for the amount of experience he has, and it was only six months ago that he first got his licence. Despite that, I enjoyed seeing his star rise, and with Skid off the track for the foreseeable future, the next few months will be all about Tommy Carter. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "The young idiot!"

Billy's Boots

Billy's bike has been stolen while he's playing for the Merrydowners. Billy only has thoughts of his stolen bike, and his game suffers as a consequence, even after it had been reported stolen to a local policeman.

Billy remains upset about his bike for the rest of the week, and in his next school game, he continues to play badly. Things look up though as the policeman appears at the game, wheeling Billy's bike. This puts Billy in a new frame of mind, and as the strip ends Billy tells Jimmy now he is ready to have a real go at the opposition.

Billy's bike troubles blew away rather easily this week, and despite his concern about it, it all came to nothing as a policeman appeared with the bike. I am glad to see it resolved, yet I can't help but think that more could have been made of this incident. Perhaps it will, and next week we may well see some repercussions. However, a little more drama with Billy and the boys who took the bike would have helped give this week's story an edge that was sadly lacking. I didn't feel the tension of Billy playing with his thoughts on the bike, nor did his bad play seem to have any great implications for the team. The Merrydowners won despite Billy's play, and in the school game it is still early and there is plenty of time for Billy to perform some heroics. 

With this in mind, the best part of the story is the single panel when Billy tells his Gran that his bike has been stolen. The moment when she told Billy that she had brought a lock for it was touching, yet sad with the realization that the bike had already been taken. This was by no means a bad story, I rate it highly. However I wanted more from it, and it had the potential to be even better. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "It's been stolen, Gran. I told the police...they're looking for it. I - I couldn't help it...someone took it while I was playing..."

Tornado Jones 

A new adventure for Tornado this week, as we see him preparing to jump over two open-top cages at a safari park, one containing lions and one containing tigers.

Of course, the jump doesn't go as planned, and Jones clips the fence of the tiger's cage, pulling it down. The zoo keepers hasty prop the fence back up, but it is too late and one of the tigers has escaped.

The owner of the park, Maxie Leroy waves his finger under Jones' nose, telling him that it's his fault and the biggest, most serious tiger in the park has now escaped and is heading straight for the local village. 

This looks to be a step backwards for Tornado Jones, and the premise of him jumping over a cage of wild animals did not fill my heart with joy. Luckily the story ended on a high note, and the balance was restored as I saw the story was about to deliver more than it promised. We have a strong foil for Tornado Jones with Maxie Leroy looking and sounding fierce on the page. In some respects, he is even scarier than the tiger running loose. This is captured wonderfully in the penultimate panel as we see him giving Jones a telling-off and waving his finger under his nose. A picture is worth a thousand words, and the picture of Maxie here spoke volumes about his character. 

Although the human faces looked fantastic, the tiger did not, and this was a low point of the story. Just as the drama was reaching a peak we saw an unrealistic tiger, not once but twice in the final panels. I can't fault the artist, the rest of the story looked great, but in these two images the essence of the tiger wasn't conveyed, and he looked more like a soft toy escaping than a ferocious predator. Maybe next week it will look better, I hope so, for now, the story is well poised, and with a village under threat, there is plenty of scope for drama and action. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Take a look at yourself, you dim-witted idiot! The biggest, most ferocious tiger in the park has just got loose!" 

Nipper 

Nipper is on the field for Blackport, but with no memory of who he is, he is completely lost. He is unaware of the rules of football, and despite trying to do his best he creates chaos. 

On the sideline, the couple that found Nipper lost beside the road explain to Andy Stewart that Nipper has no memory. Andy is shocked, but on the field Nipper shows that he still has his pluck and determination, scoring a goal through sheer willpower. This leaves Andy Stewart with a problem - should he substitute Nipper, or let him play on?

This week we are treading water. Nipper is on the field playing football, but the story doesn't advance far from where we already are. The story did give a good sense of how bad Nipper's memory loss is with him failing to remember the rules of football. He is struggling to play the game, yet on the other hand, his tough character is still intact, as demonstrated by his plucky goal. Next week we need to see him get seen too, or receive a headknock to recover. To see the game continue with Nipper having no memory would retread the same ground as this week, and at this stage, we really need to see the game accelerating. 

I did enjoy seeing Nipper's enthusiasm for scoring a goal, and this gave the story a lift. It was one of several moments that kept me involved in the story and made me rate it higher than perhaps it deserved. Next week is make or break for this story as far as I'm concerned, and it wouldn't hurt to see the hunt for Nipper's kidnappers thrown into the mix.    

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Very spectacular, lad! The only trouble is, you were about five metres off-side!"

Hot Shot Hamish

Hamish has taken up lodgings with a wealthy fan in a manor house, and in the first panels, we see that McMutton is already causing potential trouble. 

The next day at Princes Park Hamish and the team are introduced to Bertie McFrame, the famous photographer. He is there to take a photo of the team after the game. 

McFrame takes an instant dislike to McMutton, and this intensifies as the game progresses. Things reach boiling point after Hamish scores a goal and McFrame finds that McMutton has been chewing his cape. McFrame leaps to his feet, telling Mr McWhacker that he'll be getting a bill for this, while Mr Whacker tells him to sit down and be quiet.

The flamboyant dress of McFrame dominates my thoughts on the story, and he was a sight to behold on the sideline with his cape and garish dress. He was instantly dislikable, yet was the character who caught the eye throughout this week's issue.

Hamish took a backseat in this week's strip, and it was very much the McMutton and McFrame show. This brought the humour to the fore, and oddly enough it was even funnier without Hamish's involvement. Hot Shot Hamish is always a humorous strip, although it does keep its shape with the football framework it is built around. That is the case this week, and although there were plenty of laughs from McFrame and McMutton, it was hung on the frame of a tough football match showcasing the skills of Hamish. I am enjoying the fine balance we have here, and with the issue of Hamish's lodgings bubbling under this storyline of McFrame and McMutton, there should be laughs a plenty to be mined in future issues.    

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Stalks...without flowers? Who would put those in a vase?"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7.5/10

Best Story:  Martin's Marvellous Mini 

Best Line: "...starting with Penny! She's sort of persuaded me that we ought to get engaged!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: