Tiger 16th March 1974

 I love a rainy day. No need to feel guilty as I indulge in some of my favourite comics from the past. With Johnny Cougar in the full colour entering the ring on the cover, there is plenty to entice me, and the rainy day outside will soon be forgotten as I lose myself in Johnny's adventures in Australia.    

Tiger

16th March 1974

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

Johnny Cougar is in the ring facing the Monster for the entirety of this week's story, and that is exactly what I want to see from a Johnny Cougar strip. Last week not a lot happened as this battle was set up but here we are with the payoff as the finesse of Johnny Cougar meets the sheer power of the Monster. We get some great look panels as Johnny headbutts his opponent, only to find himself rolled up in a potential pin in the final panel. It's a typical matchup of Johnny facing a bigger and stronger opponent, yet it still has a thrill as we see him trying to find a way to overcome the odds. Not the most inventive story, but one that is tailor-made for the market it's aimed at, and as one of those it's aimed at, all I can say is it's topnotch from start to end.  

Rating: 8/10

Best Line:  "The monster waits for no bell...I will finish this right now!"

Roy Of The Rovers

It's the League Cup final and the last we saw was Roy pulling up with a muscle strain. With the Highwood defenders slowing, Roy suddenly puts on a burst of speed to steal the ball and put it in the back of the net. Yet another match-winning goal from the unstoppable Roy Race. The final minutes see Highwood throw their all against the Rovers, but Roy and his team hold on for the win and end triumphantly holding the cup aloft at Wembley Stadium. In the dressing room it is revealed that George Slater's criticism of the team was merely a motivational tool and he praises the team for their performance. All is not 100% right in the dressing room as Geoff Giles sits with a high temperature, and after a doctor's check-up is diagnosed with influenza. This has implications for the team and their next game, as six other team members come down with the flu, leaving Roy to face the next game with a dressing room full of young faces he hasn't played with before. Again, this a highly relatable story, and my mind is cast back to just a couple of years ago as several Premiership games were postponed after teams were struck down by Covid-19.  The cup final was a lot of fun to read, although in the back of my mind I always knew that Roy would score a winner. The final half of the story with the Flu storyline is shaping up well, and one wonders how Roy will go with this team of youngsters. Plenty more to come in the next few weeks, and Roy Of The Rovers is on an upturn at the moment.  

Rating: 7/10

Best Line: "Influenza? I'm afraid so, Tony! And you'd better hope that he hasn't passed it on to the others!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Martin and Tiny had come across a farmhouse with a crying boy at the end of the last issue. With his father missing, they set off in George to find the missing farmer. This is good for seeing George in action, and we get our money's worth as he accelerates around the darkened hills, eventually jumping over the top of a steep hill and landing on a farmer's haystack. After freeing George they set off again, and soon enough find the lost farmer. The farmer tells them there is a faster way to John O Groats, and points them to a mountain pass. Taking the boy as a guide, things are looking good, until he tells them the road will be faster - once they negotiate a waterfall. I am pleased to see driving action throughout the story this week, and the rally is back to the fore once they rescued the farmer. It was a pleasant diversion, and I certainly enjoyed seeing George in action here, but for my money it's all about the rally, especially now that the end is in sight. Tiny and Martin are always there for those that need them, and I hope they get the result they deserve.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Where's the ground gone? We..we're falling!"

A Horse Called Ugly

The race between Joe and Carlos climaxes this week, with the blindfolded Ugly exceeding all expectations and well in the race as the final fence approaches. However, Carlos is determined to win, and swerves his horse in front of Ugly, causing him to crash into the final fence. Tempers frayed, the two riders confront each other with Joe demanding an apology. Carlos says he will make a public apology if Joe can beat him in 'dodge-me-loop," a game that involves the riders trying to pull each other from the saddle with a lariat. It looks like we will be in for an exciting read next week, and the 'dodge-me-loop' challenge looks most intriguing. This week's instalment wasn't quite the climax I had hoped for, I was expecting a much more thrilling conclusion, but next week's issue promises much and hopefully a fitting conclusion to the Carlos and Joe feud. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line:  "But Joe, you don't even know how to use a lariat! This game is so dangerous it is banned at most rodeos!" 

Football Family Robinson 

Football Family Robinson is uneven this week. The first half I enjoy greatly, with Viv alerting the family to a rival manager attempting to sign Crash. Rushing to Crash, they arrive just in time to hear him tell the interested manager that he has no intentions of leaving the family's team. Crisis averted, Digger, with the help of Crash, buys a car so he can see a little more of the county. Before setting off they treat themselves to a meal at Thatchems finest establishment, Chez Ambrose, and arrive to find Ambrose dealing with some troublemakers refusing to pay for their meal. With Digger and Bluey leading the charge the young hooligans are seen off, but they plot revenge as Bluely leaves on his week trip, and the day he is due to return for the game they phone the police and report his car stolen. Viv is wild looking in the first panels, all legs and wide-eyed expressions, while Crash radiates cool throughout his panels. The scene at Chez Ambrose feels silly and shoehorned in, but I do enjoy seeing Digger in his car and it is a good setup for next week's issue. Digger has been leading the storylines now since his arrival and still has not worn out his welcome, although I have tired of seeing his kangaroo, One hopes next week's issue will steady the ship and this new storyline will come into focus.   

Rating: 6/10

Best line:  "We'll deal with the thieving Drongos!"

Tallon Of The Track

Tallon Of The Track ended with a classic cliffhanger ending last week as Jo awoke to find herself and Dan Rowley both tied up. All is revealed this week as we find the villain of the piece is Dan's half-brother, Pete Rowley. In true villain fashion, he reveals his plans and leads Jo and Dan off to face their fate. At the edge of a steep bank, he knocks them both out and sends them tumbling onto the train tracks below, while a quarter of a mile away the London express approaches at full speed. Another very tidy instalment this week and with no motorcycle in sight it continues to deliver thrills and suspense. Jo has faced death many times in the last six months, and I'm confident that the writers will deliver her from a sticky end again, but the story is well written and I can't help but desperately turn the page to see what will happen next. The Dan Rowley story has got better week by week, and this one raises the stakes once again, making for another strong issue. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line:  "It's a long, sad story, Jo, but he's my half-brother Pete Rowley!"

Skid Solo

Skid Solo slows its pace after the fast track racing of last week. We are still in Australia and learning more about Skid's new car designer, Jacko Jameson. While Jacko and Sandy work on the car, Skid and Sparrow go exploring on scooters and narrowly avoid a herd of cattle while they're out and about. Later, Jacko invites them to his house in the countryside. Skid and friends buy a large hamper to treat Jacko and his wife, and decide that in fairness they would split all future winnings with Jacko and his wife fifty-fifty. After a bumpy ride out to his place, in which they find themselves and their vehicle covered in dust, they arrive to find he lives in luxury, proving to be a successful prospector. He offers to share all race expenses, and Skid can keep all race winnings. It's a neat twist on what Skid expects, and Jacko tells him he actually has three gold mines. A likeable enough story, this didn't grab me as much as the previous issue and its on-track action. However, Skid is extremely likeable in every story and I always warm to him and the team, no matter what they are doing, even in their most tame of moments. The story had a worthy twist, and it looks like we'll be seeing more of Jacko in the coming weeks. If we're back to the track next week I shall be happy, but for now, we are given a wider context of the story and the characters are rounded out a little more.   

Rating: 6/10

Best line:  "Don't talk..you'll only swallow more dust!"

The Tigers

We're off in the soapbox derby and it's chaos from the start with mayhem across the board. With cars falling apart or crashing on every panel, there is a lot to take in, and it has me smiling and reminiscing about my own experiences. Chunky has his luck working for him, but it's Ron Burton who wins the race, but in one final lucky moment Chinky trips as he offers congratulations and reveals Ron's cart has a fly when underneath, making him automatically disqualified. Promoted to first, Chunky and the team once again beat Ron and it's all down to Chunky's luck. We have seen this luck in play before but even so it remains enjoyable. The whole strip was a joyous romp, and the soapbox derby fully lived up to expectations. With gentle humour, and the good guys winning, the story wraps up this week's comic well and has me putting down the comic with a smile on my face and the troubles of the world temporarily forgotten. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Curses! I've been rumbled!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7.5/10

Best Story: Martin's Marvellous Mini 

Best Line:  "If you two think you're going to tell the police all this, you can forget it!"

Best Panel:

Tiger 9th March 1974

 The weekend is almost over and all I have managed to do is read a few comics and watch my garden grow. Sounds pretty good to me, there is no need to complicate my life when it is the simplest things that give me pleasure. This week's Tiger read was interesting, there are several stories that I am following, and I found my mind wandering towards the comic a couple of times during the week. So here we are, my favourite day of the week doing my favourite things, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  

Tiger

9th March 1974

Skid Solo

Skid solo is on the front page and we're racing - all is good in the world. Last time out we saw Skid driving a new car, a fast car, to be sure, but one that still has some faults to be ironed out. He does have luck on his side in this issue as the car's designer gives Skid his father's lucky watch. It's not quite as lucky as he thinks as Skid accidentally drives over it on the first page of the story. After this, it is all about the racing action and after a slow start, Skid drives his car like it's a rocket. It may not handle well and be a slow starter, but it has straight-line speed a plenty, and soon enough Skid is in his rightful place in polo position. There is one sticky moment in the pits, as he has to take evasive action to avoid another driver pulling out, but with his skills, and a sliver of luck, he manages to keep control of his car for a race victory three laps later. The conclusion of the story sees the car designer reminding Skid that it was the lucky watch that saved him from an accident, only for Skid to reveal that broken watch from earlier in the story. I adore seeing Skid on track and racing at his best, and even if the story about the watch doesn't appeal to me, the panels of the race certainly do. We still haven't reached peak Skid Solo, which will come with the battle for the championship, but with the Grand Prix season underway the story has settled down and we are in for a thrilling ride in the next few months.  

Rating: 7/10

Best line:  "Skid's in trouble!"

Roy Of The Rovers

Only minutes into the League Cup final and Roy has given away a penalty. With his mind still on George Slater's comments, he is riled up and not at his professional best. However, Charlie Carter is at his best and he makes an outstanding save, followed by Roy who then heads the ball clear from the line. It's breathless action as Melchester sweep forward, Roy himself finishing the move he started, only to hit the woodwork. Even the following Jimmy Slade can't put the ball in the back of the net and the game remains nil all. The rest of the half belongs to Melchester, as we see them coming close to scoring several times in a tidy single-panel montage. It remains to be seen if Melchester can score in the second half, but things don't start well as Roy pulls up in the final panel with a muscle strain. Melchester is struggling with injuries and tiredness, and this translates on the page with the football action low key, and even the chances they do generate feel leaden. There is a crispness missing in the story, and as much as I like the football action I don't lose myself in the action. The highlight for me is Charlie's save, but the rest of this issue lacks the same intensity and wonder if the story has the legs to pick up again.   

Rating: 5.5/10

Best Line: "We should be three-nil up by now! Still, I expect George Slater's Happy!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

I am very happy with this issues story as three threads are woven through the panels. We have the resolution of last week's cliffhanger as the boys pull the lorry driver and his dog from the swamp before we are once again thrown into the rally. With the wild weather continuing to wreak havoc, Martin and Tiny are now behind their American opponents and facing fallen trees, flooded rivers, and blown-over signposts in their race for the front. In the final third of the story, we see them come across a toppled signpost, meaning a fifty-fifty decision on the correct road to take before darkness falls and they find themselves seeking shelter at a farm. The farmhouse is empty, except for a boy crying for his father, who is seemingly lost somewhere in the darkened hills. Another top-notch story this week, and there is certainly plenty packed in the three pages. The weather has played a big part in the rally up to this point and it continues to do so, playing into the image of Britain as a nation obsessed with the weather. In the artwork, I enjoyed seeing Tiny and Martin rescuing the driver and dog, as well as their scrapes on the road as they encounter various obstacles. This rally is giving us plenty to enjoy, and there is a part of me that hopes it will continue for many more issues yet. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "It's a boy!...and he's crying!"

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

A new Johnny Cougar is in Australia where he is running through the zoo in hope that he will see his next opponent, The Monster. Well, this week he gets his wish and more, as The Monster bends the bar of his cage to escape and confront Johnny face to face. He is more than a match for Johnny, appearing both bigger and stronger, and after a tussle, he asserts himself as the more dominant of the two. With zoo keepers appearing to herd him back to his cage the stage is set for their wrestling showdown next week, a showdown that has Splash wondering just how Johnny will go against such a wild opponent, and for eight rounds. Although we now have a confrontation between the two and a sense of how powerful the Monster is, it doesn't feel like we have progressed very far this week. We are still building for next week, and this issue didn't give us anything we didn't already know - asides from the sheer strength of The Monster. We are in a holding pattern and waiting for a resolution in the wrestling ring, where I hope things will ignite. 

Rating: 5/10

Best Line:  "Something tells me this could be kinda n-nasty..."

Football Family Robinson 

We are off to a great start this week and the first panel with Digger making a spectacular save that looks most impressive. Picking up with the Crash storyline, Digger is well and truly cemented in the first team, leaving a despondent Digger concentrating on the building work rather than the football. Turning down training to continue on the building site, the story takes a twist with an opposition manager approaching Viv to ask where Crash is. It's only after he leaves to visit Crash that Viv realises who this manager is, and he is looking for a new goalkeeper. This is where the heart of the story is, and my heart too at the appearance of my dreamgirl Viv. The first half of this week's issue laid out the story as it is, and in the second half the future appears with this manager looking to sign Crash. The fact that Viv is at the centre of this is an added bonus as far as my reading is concerned, and her facial expressions drive the story just as much as any dialogue. A lift after last week's issue, this story is once again taking flight.   

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line:  "You're taking a chance, Crash! Ma hasn't said anything about you easing off training"

The Tigers

Chunky Clark's luck is at the forefront of The Tigers with a wild soap box ride highlighting his lucky streak time and time again. Both pages are dedicated to Chunky's ride, and his luck is on display as he manages to ride across a river, duck under a gate, break up some sheep rustlers and jump a barbed wire fence. Watched by Ron Burton and friends, they decide the only way they can beat Chunky is with some special modifications to their own soapbox racer. This riding of his luck and slapstick in the first pages is the meat and potatoes of this strip and something we have seen many times before. There are no real stakes in this issue, the race hasn't started yet, and it is purely about the humour generated by Chunky's ride. It is fun, but I smile rather than laugh, and overall this week's issue sticks firmly to the middle of the road, something that can't be said about Chunky Clark and his soapbox ride.  

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "We'll get even with that kid...and soon!"

A Horse Called Ugly

Last week Joe and Ugly went from El Magnifico to a coward, as during a show jumping event Ugly refused to jump a fence that had the horns of a bull on it. This week that story escalates as Joe confronts Carlo and challenges him and his horse to a race around the course, with Ugly blindfolded. Challenge accepted, they are head to head over the first fence and approaching the fence that gave Ugly problems last week. Although the story took a while to get to this point, the final half page of the race looks great and makes up for some of my feelings about the first half of the story Its not that the first half was bad, its just that not much was happening apart from laying the groundwork for this race. Last week was a solid issue, and although slower in pace this week was just as good, with next week looking to be the cherry on top. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line:  "He's galloping off to hide his shame!" 

Tallon Of The Track

Things are developing quickly in Tallon Of The Track, and we have gone from a bad rider with a bad attitude to a full-blown jewel heist in the last two weeks, and this week things take another step forward as Jo and Dave confront a man armed with a shotgun. We left them facing a shotgun blast, and in the first panel, Jo saves Dave's life with a diving tackle. The story continually moves from here on, first, they face another shot as they pursue him underground before he clambers to the surface and into a car. Not one to give up easily, Jo gives chase and manages to cling to the roof of the car in a hair-raising moment, until the crook jumps on the brakes, throwing her off and into a tree. The action is over, but Jo's peril isn't as she awakens to find herself tied to a bed, and her teammate Dan Rowley tied in the bed next to her. This is a story full of hooks and thrilling action, and even away from motorbikes Jo proves her mettle and courage. The action is done well, never once does it feel shoehorned into the story, and it keeps the story moving forward. Since its debut, Tallon Of The Track has been a firm favourite and this week's strip shows why with its combination of fine storytelling and crisp art. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line:  "Oh, no, we haven't! Watch this!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Tallon Of The Track 

Best Line:  "Nobody shoots at me and gets away with it! Let's get after him!"

Best Panel:

Tiger 2nd March 1974

I didn't update the blog last week. I had a couple of wisdom teeth removed and was under the weather for several days. It's hard to enjoy comics when you're feeling miserable and every time I opened a comic I was taken out of the moment by the constant painful reminder of what had happened in my mouth. But, I'm back on board this week and happy to report that once again I am ready to drift off into the world of Tiger for the next hour. Such welcome relief. 

Tiger

2nd March 1974

Roy Of The Rovers

An F.A. Cup tie with just a few minutes left on the clock and a penalty to be taken. Who better to take it than Roy himself. Thus we begin this week's Roy Of The Rovers story with Roy once again stepping up to the mark to save the day. I think Roy Of The Rovers is at its best when it sticks to pure football and all the drama I need is in these opening panels as Roy steps up to take the penalty. You can't beat the drama that is inherent in a game of football and as Roys's shot is blocked by the keeper I can't help but groan as if I was actually at the game. However, Roy always finds a way and with a diving header, he sends the ball into the back of the net for a victory. Phew! The rest of the story is devoted to the Rover's injuries worries and their harshest critic, George Slater, who still thinks they won't be able to achieve the double. With an ever-growing injury list it looks like he may well be right.  With a depleted team, Rovers take the field at Wembley for the league cup final, where they inevitably give away an early penalty. I feel like Rovers is my own team and I feel every injury on the pitch. My heart drops as they give away this early penalty, and by the end of this week's episode I know the writers have done a good job of keeping me engaged through the story. Perhaps some people want more than a football story, but this is the heart of Roy Of The Rovers, and I am well satisfied by what is laid out here.   

Rating: 7/10

Best Line: "As of now, every one of my players is undergoing some kind of treatment! If you want them to play on Wednesday they'll have to do it one walking sticks!"

Skid Solo

Finally, Grand Prix season is upon us! After waiting several months we have arrived at the part of the Skid Solo stories I enjoy most, racing on the track. We are still in Australia, preparing for the first race of the season when Skid's car is dropped as it is unloaded from the ship. However, he is approached by a local designer who asks if he would be prepared to drive the car he has been building. After a fast and furious test drive, Skid agrees, and with four new tires, he prepares for the race. Sandy is aghast, and even more so when Skid tells him that if he goes well he will race it all season, he is that impressed with its speed. There is plenty to like through the story, and the sight of the Grand Prix cars appearing in the story as my heart fluttering from the start. The new car designer is an interesting-looking chap, and judging by how fast his car was during Skid's test drive we could well be in for a very interesting season. The artwork is sublime in its crisp clean lines, and it serves the build-up to the race well, presenting the story efficiently without clutter or drawing attention to itself. We are off to a good start for the race season and I look forward to next week when the flag finally drops on the first race. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line:  "You're really going to drive that thing, Skid?"  

Martin's Marvellous Mini

I am disappointed from the start with this week's story. Not with the story itself, the artwork, or in fact any creative decision. I am disappointed that in the first panels we find the Loch Ness monster isn't real, no matter what Martin and Tiny think they saw last week. We soon learn that the monster is a hoax, helped in part by the two Americans that Tiny and Martin are racing against. These two take our heroes into their confidence and swear them to secrecy, the Loch Ness monster they saw is a mini-sub, designed to give kids rides during the summer months. Great idea, I must admit, but sadly my faith in the Loch Ness monster is shaken. First Santa, now this, how many more lies are waiting for me to uncover? The rest of the story unfolds easily enough, with the next leg of the rally beginning, and once again the weather is about to take a hand. We have had both flooding and snowing intervene so far, and this week it is the wind that upsets the race, as Martin and Tiny witness a large lorry being blown off the road. They stop to help, but the lorry driver is mostly concerned about his dog that is in the back, a plot point that we will have to wait until next week to be resolved. I like this story a lot, the Loch Ness section was a lot of fun, despite my disappointment, and the lorry blowing off the road looks suitably dramatic, as do our boys standing in the wind with collars turned up. Pretty to look at and pretty to read, once again this stays at the top of my reading pile. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "He..he's gone right off the road...and into that swamp!"

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

A new Johnny Cougar story this week and after a sedate start, it quickly gets wild. As their ship cruises into Sydney harbour, Johnny and Splash look forward to some well-earned rest and relaxation. They soon get a rude awakening when they learn that Johnny has been signed up for a wrestling competition, and is facing an opponent called the Monster - a man so wild he is sleeping in a cage at the zoo so the public doesn't have to face him. He certainly lives up to his name from what we see of him on the page, but Johhny isn't one to take a backwards step for anyone, and the next day during his morning run he makes for the zoo, perhaps hoping to see this monster. In the last panel, we see that perhaps he will get his wish, and the monster awakens in his cage, disturbed that he has been awoken. Sure, we have seen Johnny fight wild men before, so this is par for the course, and this early encounter will give us a good idea of what is to come in future issues. The monster is well-designed, he looks like a man with enough wild features to carry justifying the monster tag he is given. It is very early days for this story, but given its location, and the look of Johnny's nemesis, it is shaping up well for what comes next. 

Rating: 5/10

Best Line:  "Pheeew...it's making this cat feel like an old man! I should have stayed in the hotel with the ice-chick!"

Football Family Robinson 

Two threads run constantly through this week's story. Digger is making save after save on the field, while Crash tries time and again to tell the family the result of his check-up - he's fit and ready to play. That is the entire story this week, and it's only in the final two panels that Crash is able to pass on the news of his results, and Ma realises they have a big problem - there isn't room for two goalkeepers. The on-field action looks great and is much more enjoyable than the panels of Crash trying to tell what has happened on his side. It is all important for what is coming but makes this issue a stepping stone rather than a vital moment in the ongoing story. Now that we have some clarity, I expect next week will give us much more to enjoy, but for now, this was a nice placeholder.  

Rating: 6/10

Best line:  "Ma, we've got a real problem on our hands!"

Tallon Of The Track

A holdall full of stolen jewels is pretty damning evidence against Dan Rowley, but full credit to Jo Tallon, she plays with an even hand and tells the others they have to speak to Dan to get his side of the story. Things escalate quickly after these opening panels, and using the jewels as bait, Jo and Dave hide in the dark overnight, waiting to see if Dan comes back for his bag. Someone does come for the jewels but it's not Dan, and Jo and Dave pursue a mysterious figure across the track before the vanishes. The story isn't done there, Jo sees a figure disappearing down a manhole and approaches, only to find him reappearing with a shotgun gun pointing directly at her and Dave. Of all the stories in Tiger, it is Jo Tallon who seems to find herself up against tough criminals the most, and even with a gun pointed at her, I have faith that she will triumph. This story has taken a turn, last week it certainly looked like Dan Rowley was the villain of the piece, but on the back of Jo's sense of justice the story has shifted and we are off into unexplored territory. No motorcycle action this week, but it hardly matters as there is plenty happening elsewhere to keep us enthralled, and this is another very strong episode from Tallon Of The Track and the story moves from simmer to boiling.  

Rating: 7/10

Best line:  "I still can't believe he's a criminal, Dave!"

The Tigers

A vast improvement for The Tigers. With a soap box derby ahead of us, we have several amusing panels as Chunky Clark procures the equipment needed to build his cart, and as someone who in his youth spent many hours building carts myself, I can confirm that his cart looks pretty impressive. Equally impressive is Ron's cart, and soon enough we see them competing. It's never smooth running for Ron and Chunky, and Ron is quickly in the water, victim to his own team's shenanigans, with Chunky looking to follow shortly after as the story closes with a crash inevitable. The theme of this week's story speaks to me and my own childhood, and I am heartened to see the carts and racing that follows. The humour is gentle and not quite so slapstick, giving this week's strip a well-balanced feel and setting the tone for what I hope will be a worthy storyline. No complaints at all from my end, this isn't the best story in this week's issue, but it is solid enough and I enjoy it more than I expect. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Hurraaaaah, I've pipped him! I'm the mostest and fastest"

A Horse Called Ugly

With Joe and Ugly off to the rodeo, Carlos remains steadfast in his attempt to discredit both of them. It is a gentle approach to the rodeo, the first page showing Joe and Ugly arriving, and the posters proclaiming Joe as 'El Magnifico' for his role in saving Don Pedro. We return to Ugly's roots on the following page, and he and Joe give a display in showjumping, something we haven't seen for quite some time on these pages. With a gleeful Carlos looking on, Ugly refuses one of the jumps, leading to some in the crowd branding him a coward. Like the preceding "The Tigers" this is a gentle story, with a page of soft set-up, before we get to the action of the second page. The characters continue to develop, and as always, any panel with a close-up of a face is worth taking the time to admire. Not so much horse artwork this week, but there is enough meat in the story that I'm not too bothered. One feels next week things may come to a head, but for now, the story is building nicely and stays well-rounded.       

Rating: 7/10

Best line:  "It is the great Joe! El Magnifico!" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Skid Solo 

Best Line:  "Howling cats! It accelerates like a moon rocket!"

Best Panel:

Tiger 23rd February 1974

 The best thing about reading these old comics is discovering stories that I had previously overlooked. When I was younger I had no time at all for a Horse called Ugly, yet in the last few months I constantly find it to be one of my favorites. Growing up isn't all bad. I still appreciate Roy Of The Rovers, Skid Solo, and the other stories I remember so well, but these strips that I initially overlooked are new territory for me and proving just as worthy as the names I remember from my childhood. 

Tiger

23rd February 1974

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

Johnny Cougar's island adventure comes to an end this week as villains are vanquished, sharks fought off, and the groundwork is laid for the next week. This should have been dealt with last week, as Johnny Cougar had already defeated the criminal, but here he is once again putting his wrestling skills to good use and fighting for his life on the boat. He does have the upper hand earlier, throwing his opponent into the shark-infested waters, only to then help him from the water as a shark approaches. This is a mistake, and once again the fight is played out, this time with Johnny ending up in the water with the shark. The story moves rapidly though, and Johnny pulls himself from the water, defeats his foe and restores the nuclear weapon to the US military. He even gains the thanks of the US president, who passes on his appreciation through the military. With everything tied up with a bow, Johnny tells us his next adventure will be in Australia. The UK sure was obsessed with the sun and surf lifestyle that Australia offered at the time! The story has plenty of panels devoted to the return of the nuclear weapon, and the US military, but strangely enough, we never see Johnny say goodbye to the people of the island, nor the wrestler he was fighting before he rushed off to save Splash. Not quite every loose end is tied up in this respect. I find it puzzling, especially since Johnny fought Maurice twice in this issue, and once in the last issue, in a final showdown that could have easily been a panel or two shorter. However, that is neither here nor there, and I must admit that overall I found this story very good. It has kept me engaged since it began several months ago, and most of the issues were of a high standard. I now turn my eyes to Australia and the potential adventures that await Johnny and Splash there. 

Rating: 6/10

Best Line:  "Well, Daddy-O, you've done it again! The baddies have bit the dust and us goodies have triumphed!"

Tallon Of The Track

The story in Tallon Of The Track is moving rapidly this week, and a lot happens in the two pages it is given. Last week we saw bad boy Dan Rowley clash with Jo and the police. This week things escalate as he goes on the run, evading the police and their efforts to find him. Things are looking pretty grim for him, he is wanted in regard to information about a jewel theft and as his bag is discovered on the final page, full of jewels, the outlook is bleak. Building on last week's well-rounded introduction it is pleasing to see the story gather pace, and although we are still in the dark about a lot of things I can already see that I am well hooked. With questions to be answered there is a reason to turn every page and, of course, grab next week's issue. Jo isn't at the centre of the action yet, but she will be, and I'll be here to see it

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line:  "Stop that man! He's in big trouble!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

The dramatic finish of the last issue is quickly undone in the first panel, as Tiny's squirting of ink on his opponent's windscreen comes to nothing as they safely pull over. Immediately after we have a more sedate scene as they are required to do a snap braking and parking test. It's quaint to see Martin and George driving around the field, but the story picks up again with the arrival of the Americans and some talk of meeting with a mystery boss. The plot thickens indeed. On the banks of Loch Ness, Tiny and Martin see the Americans take to the water late at night, and discreetly follow in a row boat. However, they come unstuck by an unexpected appearance of the Loch Ness monster, and end the issue in the water and once again face peril. Although I was initially disappointed by how quickly the previous week's cliffhanger was defused, I am more than happy with the second page of the strip. I love a good mystery and that is what we have here. I also enjoy seeing Loch Ness, and as soon as I see it I am filled with memories of hiking around it when I had younger legs. The appearance of the Loch Ness monster doesn't feel weird at all, and I'm sure it is tied in with the Americans. Quite how, I'm not sure, but no doubt all will be revealed next week.   

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "We mustn't panic! Keep a stiff upper lip...stick together...and shout for help!"

Football Family Robinson 

Digger is the main character throughout The Football Family Robinson and has the best lines. We see him reunited with Bluey the kangaroo on the first page, as he calls him out of a mob of Kangaroo at Wonford Wildlife Park before he becomes central to the football action in the second half of the strip. With his missing kangaroo no longer on his mind, he plays a blinder, earning praise from the rest of the family. It is unfortunate that this praise is overheard by Crash, as he returns to the family having recovered from his injury. Football is once again the main focus of the story, and as much as I enjoyed the diversion that Bluey provided, I am pleased to see his part of the story put on the back burner. How much drama can be wrung out of a storyline about two goalkeepers competing for minutes remains to be seen, but it does signify a welcome shift in the story.  

Rating: 6/10

Best line:  "Bluey! Stop playing around and come 'ere, you ugly-faced drongo!"

Roy Of The Rovers

Roy Of The Rovers has a very relatable story this week. As they battle for the cup double they are besieged by injuries and are forced to field a second-string team for their league game. They lose this game and face an inquiry from the FA, but there is little time to dwell on that as they face Weston in a FA cup match. Tired and out on their feet, they struggle through the tie and are awarded a penalty in the dying minutes, a penalty Roy must convert to save their chances of doing the double. Fifty years later and we see teams still with the same scheduling problems and injury woes. This realism is what attracts me to Roy Of The Rovers, and this storyline is highly believable. It may not have the high drama of some of the other stories in Tiger, but it's a drama rooted in the real world and familiar to all football fans. The story has nothing new to say, but it speaks well. 

Rating: 6/10

Best Line: "Roy, I thought this was supposed to be an easy game! I'm almost out on my feet!"

A Horse Called Ugly

I have probably said it a dozen times over the last few months, but the artwork in A Horse Called Ugly steals the show every time. No matter what happens in the plot, it is always elevated by the art, and especially any panel with Ugly in action. This week is no exception, with Ugly and Joe fighting for their lives in a field against the raging bull, Mephisto. This provides some memorable images, non more so than when Ugly jumps over the bull. They are saved by the appearance of a cow that immediately attracts Mephisto's attention. No man, or bull, is a match for a pretty girl. Ugly and Joe may be safe for now, but next week they will face new danger and Don Pedro's son plots his revenge for the rodeo. The plot is thin this week, they escape the bull and groundwork laid for next week, yet I found myself enjoying it immensely and once again I am surprised by my continued appreciation of this strip.      

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line:  "It's the only way to pacify a bull...just show him a cow!" 

Skid Solo

Australia is again at the front of the writers' minds, as Skid Solo and Sparrow enjoy some good old Aussie surfing action. It's a little too dangerous for Sparrow though, still recovering from last week's crash, so Skid takes him out to a sheep station and old gold mine. The story accelerates at this point, and from here on in I am pressed back in my seat by the nonstop action. Skid passes comment on a distant bushfire as they drive to the sheep station, and this will become a major factor in a couple of pages' time. Skid's Australian friend Waller shows them the abandoned gold mine, only for the cage he is standing in to snap free and disappear into the mine shaft. While Sandy stays with Waller, Skid and Sparrow drive to fetch help, only to find themselves confronted by the raging bush fire. Covering themselves in wet blankets, they take a desperate drive through the fire to fetch help. With a helicopter summoned, and Waller rescued - suffering a broken leg and concussion, Sparrow can once again go surfing - a much safer pastime. This is a highly dramatic story and contained some great images that serve the story well. I often rate Skid Solo's story highly, and this one contains all the elements I enjoy; Skid driving at his best, some near-death action, beautiful artwork, and economy of storytelling. There is no fat on this story, but it doesn't feel rushed or hurried, and I never once feel shortchanged across its three pages. We're still not on the race track, but this story is just as good as any Grand Prix storyline.  

Rating: 8/10

Best line:  "It's that bush fire Waller was talking about. It's a lot nearer now!"  

The Tigers

A new storyline for The Tigers. as the initiative race is now over. It's not immediately apparent where we'll go next, and the first page of the story treads water as Chunky fixes the fence before he takes off with his friends to fetch more wood. A new direction comes into focus at this point as he comes into conflict with Ron Burton. Ron makes good his escape on an old pram, as Chunky follows him downhill on his cart. As chance would have it, the two youth club organises are looking for fresh ideas for a challenge and seeing Ron and Chunky careening downhill gives them a fresh idea - a soap box derby. Plenty of potential for high jinks one would think, but that lies ahead of us as this week's issue wraps up. Not a lot happened in this week's issue of The Tigers, but I have positive feelings about the coming weeks, Whether or not this will be borne out remains to be seen, I guess I'll just have to come back and read the next issue. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "We need something competitive for the lads...but I'm right out of ideas."

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Skid Solo 

Best Line:  "The Loch Ness Monster!"

Best Panel: