Tiger 30th March 1974

I missed last week's blog. The Football World Cup got in my way and despite my best intentions I never quite found the time to update the blog. With only one game left I am reprioritising and once again ready to indulge my love of comics. And what better way to celebrate the World Cup than reading the best sports comic in the world -Tiger!

Tiger

30th March 1974

Skid Solo

We continue with Skid's adventures in Australia, and this week he is involved in a series of races leading up to the beginning of the Grand Prix season. We begin with a race in Melbourne where disaster strikes as Skid is caught in an accident while driving his new car. Speaking with the designer, Jacko, after the race, Skid reports that the car needs rebuilding after everything had been damaged except for the engine, While Jacko sets about rebuilding it, Skid enters his next race driving his car from the previous season. Exceeding all expectations, Skid and Sparrow smash all track records before finishing in a dead heat. This leaves a conundrum for Skid, should he risk driving Jacko's new car in the forthcoming season, or should he stick with his Tiger car. As he himself says to Sparrow, he has to make the right decision, otherwise, he's handing the championship to Sparrow on a plate. 
The track racing in this story looked great, and once again we have the return of my favourite race commentator. I like the way all of this is building to the new season, and there are already dramas bubbling away in preseason racing. Always dependable, Skid Solo delivers another solid issue again. 

Rating: 7/10

Best Line: "Can't control it! No chance!"

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton 

Johnny was well in control of his match with the Monster when we last left him. With the Monster being put into an aeroplane spin, Johhny tosses him easily into the crowd, where he faces some banter from the watching public. Back on his feet, the Monster and Johnny continue their battle outside the ring, before Johnny throws him back into the squared circle whereupon he delivers his knockout blow with a piledriver. The Monster despatched with, Johnny draws The K.O. Kid for the next round of the tournament, a man that has won forty-two bouts all by knockout. But that lies all ahead of us as this week finishes with the K.O. Kid telling Johnny what he plans to do with him in the upcoming fight. I am pleased to see the back of the Monster, I never warmed to him or his battle with Johnny, but I am deflated by the ease with which Johnny finally beat him. He promised to be much harder than he actually was in the final shakedown of things. However, I leave this story with an upbeat feeling about the next bout against the K.O. Kid, he has a fantastic villain's moustache and as you know I'm always a sucker for that. This week was flat, but next week looks promising so I can safely say I'll be back for more. 

Rating: 5/10

Best Line:  "A Monster does not give in so easily. Be silent, weakling!" 

Martin's Marvellous Mini 

Never pick up hitchhikers. That's the lesson I learnt from the first few panels of this story as Martin and Tiny stop to pick up a pretty girl, only from a gang of her friends to emerge from hiding to also get a ride. It's not as bad as I first fear, and although they are crammed into poor George and sitting on the roof, they do help our pals. First, they haul George up to a bridge and onto a faster main road. Then later in the story once they have parted company, they meet again, this time the hitchhikers stopping a lorry to help Martin and Tiny who have unbelievably run out of petrol again. This isn't the first time in this rally that they're run out of fuel, and I'm beginning to wonder if George actually has a faulty petrol gauge. However, that is never there nor there as they continue the rally, now towed by the lorry, only to face one final jeopardy in the last panel as the tailboard of the lorry begins to be pulled off by their tow rope and they face a pile of junk potentially coming through their windshield. A lot of fun throughout this story, the hitchhikers added a lot of life and colour to the panels. Martin and Tiny are far more tolerant than I am, and I certainly couldn't imagine myself putting up with hitchhikers sitting on the roof of my car. Even though they have run out of petrol before, I still smiled to see them do it again, I guess some guys just never learn. It's hard not to love this story in every guise, and once again I find the world of Martin's Marvellous Mini to be warm and inviting, high praise for the most warmhearted story in the comic. 

The Tigers

Chunky was last seen caught on a dingy trailer that had broken loose in the wind. With a large dose of his considerable luck, Chucky avoids disaster, and with the owner happy to see his boat unharmed, suggests a sand-yacht race, with sand-yacht up for grabs as a prize. While the Tigers build theirs out of found rubbish, Ron Burton builds a very streamlined-looking yacht, painted red of course as everyone knows red is faster. We aren't ready to race just yet, as the Tigers prepare, Burton's two pals watch on secretly planning sabotage. There wasn't a lot of action this week, but I found myself enjoying it more than previously. The slower pace appeals to me, I find I can only handle one action scene a week from the Tigers, and can only accept one piece of luck from Chunky. However, that's just me. The story is just getting started, and I have no doubt that there will be plenty of scrapes in future issues, but for now, this is setting the scene and I am inexplicably drawn in despite myself. 

Rating: 5.5/10

Best Line: "It's not that I don't like him - I just can't stand him! I've just got to beat him!" 

Football Family Robinson 

The saga of Crash and Digger continues, but the on-field action remains firmly in focus as Crash demonstrates that he's still a great keeper - pulling off a series of saves throughout the issue. Meanwhile, Digger is still being held by the police, and fuming at the thought that Crash had reported him for stealing the car. The story comes to a head at halftime as Crash comes off the field wondering what happened to Digger, while under the watchful eye of the police Digger waits for him in the office, threatening to break him into little pieces. It's great to see Digger riled up, and any thoughts of the easy-going Aussie we met in earlier issues are put to one side as his stormy face dominates the panels. The artwork feels cleaner in this issue, although that may be because of the printing rather than the artwork, and the expressions on the character's faces add a lot to the story. This isn't my favourite storyline for the football family, but it does enough to hold my interest, and paired with some fine on-field action I'm happy enough with where we are for the moment.

Rating: 6.5/10

Best Line: "I'm gonna break Crash into little pieces..." 

A Horse Called Ugly

Things had taken a turn last week, and with Joe caught in the stirrup, Carlos stepped upon to be the hero of the piece. This week we see that play out as Carlos lassos Joe's horse and allows him to escape to safety. Hands are shaken, bread is broken and all is right in the world for precisely two panels before it's reported that Joe's friend Sancho has been arrested. With Sancho about to be executed for being a bandit, Joe rides hurriedly to the jailhouse where he bursts in and confronts the General about to shoot Sancho. This final panel is the best panel in the whole story and contains a fantastic amount of detail, both about the people involved, and the scene itself. The rest of the story was solid, but this final panel is a cut above the rest and guarantees that I'll rate this highly and be back for more. A Horse Called Ugly continues to evolve and excite and once again is one of the better stories in the comic. 

Rating: 8/10

Best Line: "He went off to get some hotdogs, ages ago"

Roy Of The Rovers

"Now, reduced by injury to 10 men, the Rovers were fighting like wildcats to hang on to a slender, 1-0 lead" 
And so the scene is set for the final minutes of a gripping game against Crampton. With full-time in sight, the Rovers concede a corner. Charlie Carter is at his best as he punches the ball clear, but a Crampton forward volleys it back, only for Roy to head it off the line. This is Roy's final act as he passes out, leaving a young defender to boot the ball clear. With that kick, the game is over and the Rovers have made it to the semifinal of the F.A. Cup. There is further good news as more players recover from the flu, and we see the team enjoying some relaxing times a few days later before the draw is made for the semifinal. It's here that the story wraps up as it's announced that Melchester Rovers will face league leaders Bridgewall in the semifinals. This is a story of two halves as we first see the game against Crampton, before the second half is devoted entirely to recovery, relaxation, and setting the scene for the next issue. None of it feels very taxing and the story slides rather easily by without making a great impression on me. Last week's issue was a cracker, but this week that is a distant memory as the story stays safe and resets itself. A chance for us to all recover, this is a placeholder before the next drama unfolds. 

Rating: 5/10

Best Line: "Roy's gone down! He...he must have knocked himself out!"

Tallon Of The Track

Tallon Of The Track is on the track this week, and I'm happy to see it. With the season beginning for the Ospreys, the crowd is behind them as they prepare for the first race. We are introduced to their mechanic, Oggie, a veteran with more than twenty years of mechanical experience up his sleeve. However, some on the team think he is past it, and Jimmy Benson in particular makes his feelings known. Defusing the conflict, Jo turns everyone's thoughts back to the track, and soon enough the first race commences with Dave Trent taking an early lead. It doesn't last, his front wheel begins to wobble, and Dave takes a nasty fall on the track. In the pits an inquiry starts, and Jimmy Benson points out the fault, a duff connection in the front suspension. All eyes turn to Oggie, who maintains that he checked the suspension only yesterday. There have been a lot of life-and-death situations in Tallon of the Track over recent months, and it is nice to see a more homespun tale appear this week. This a reminder that this is about a group of motorbike racers, and the story looks at its best when the bikes are roaring around the track. A mechanic doing a poor job may not feel high stakes, but I am sold on it and I look forward to seeing more of the story unfold both on and off the track in the coming weeks.   

Rating: 8/10

Best Line: "I've forgotten more than you'll ever know, Jimmy and for two pins, I'd-"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6/10

Best Story: A Horse Called Ugly 

Best Line:  "I wouldn't trust you with a clockwork train, mate, let alone a racing engine! You're so old you can't tune a carburettor for the sound of your bones cracking!"

Best Panel:

Roys Sports Quiz:

Tiger 23rd March 1974

Another week has gone by so fast, and suddenly Christmas which has loomed on the horizon for so long is now just around the corner. If I was better organized I would be reading Christmas issues of Tiger, but here I am reading my way through late March of 1974. So be it, perhaps one day I'll catch up to the same month, or more likely fall behind, so I'll be in sync. Until then, I'm happy just to plod along with the comics as they are, as always with a cup of tea close to hand and a cheeky couple of chocolate biscuits. 

Tiger

23rd March 1974

Roy Of The Rovers

I love this week's issue of Roy Of The Rovers. With Melchester Rovers taking on Crampton in the sixth round of the F.A. cup with a depleted team, the action is entirely on the football field. I have always felt that football is the greatest strength of this comic, and so it proves this week as Roy leads his team through the tough match. With only five first-team starters in the team, we see Roy rally his team of youth players by encouraging them and building their confidence panel by panel. Early on the youngest, Eric Motson, proves his worth, beating a player before sending his shot over the bar. Over the page and Roy manages to clear the ball to Eric from a corner and Eric loses his maker and breaks downfield where he inevitably scores a goal. It sounds easy, but his shot does take a deflection from a defender before hitting the post and rolling across the line. There is still more drama to be wrung from the story, with ten minutes left to play Rovers are down to ten men. The flu has struck again and as Jumbo comes off injured, Tony Storme informs Roy that they have no reserves to send on in his place. With it still all to play for, next week should be another excellent episode. This week played to the strengths of the comic and as a Roy Of The Rovers fan it doesn't get better than this, Realistic action on the field, no side distractions or shenanigans, just pure football drama. Stories like this are one of the reasons I first started reading Tiger, and this week is everything I love about Tiger.  

Rating: 9/10

Best Line: "Good grief, the lad's managed to get past! He's clear...!"

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

First pinfall to the Monster and things don't look good for Johnny Cougar. The power of the Monster dominates the first half of this week's story, but things change rapidly later in the story. After managing to knock the Monster over, Johnny watches on as the referees counting him out are taken out of the action by an angry Monster. From here on in it is no rules and anything goes. This makes for some great in-ring action, and Johnny proves that he can rough it up with the best of them. Johnny hits the Monster with a full-blooded drop kick, leaving a dazed Monster whimpering that he wants to go back to his cage, but Johnny hasn't finished with his yet and hoists him up for an aeroplane spin. I enjoy the action greatly, but the swing back towards Johnny in the match feels too sudden and is jarring. There is no sense that he's struggled his way back into the match, he just outfights the Monster in a couple of panels, and then we have the Monster capitulating and asking to go back to his cage. I'm not an expert, but I would have liked to see another page of wrestling before we got to that point. That aside, the story is still a lot of fun, and I do turn the page on it feeling good about all I have seen and read.

Rating: 7.5/10

Best Line:  "So be it! If there are no rules, Cougar not stick to the rules..."

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Martin and Tiny were taking a shortcut through the mountains, and potentially facing a waterfall when we left them last. And so it plays out, the mountain road narrows until they eventually face a waterfall cascading across the road. With no option, they plough through and find themselves clear of the mountains with a clear downhill run. With this behind them they find themselves arriving at the checkpoint dead last. As is par for the course, they fall asleep with money worries on their minds, and a desperate need to perform well the next day. They start the stage well, overtaking another vehicle, but the strip doesn't end well as pull over for a pretty hitchhiker, who unbeknownst to them has a group of friends hiding in the bushes. Many a man has come unstuck due to a pretty face, and it seems our heroes have feet of clay when it comes to lovely ladies. An enjoyable story, but it lacks any real high-stakes drama. The waterfall promised to be quite an obstacle, but it once it eventuated it was easily dealt with. I am surprised to see this new twist, I was expecting it to be about motorcars from here on in, but I too like seeing a pretty girl on the page, so I can understand Tiny and Martin's decision to stop. This rally has been going on for several months now, but I'm not the least bit tired by it and this new twist has once again kept me guessing what might come next.    

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "She said, please! It would be ungentlemanly not to stop!"

The Tigers

The story is reset this week, and we have a new beginning as Chunky and his friends take a training run by the sea. After the kinetic action of the last couple of weeks, this is a far more sedate story, on the first page at least, before Chunky's luck takes a hand the story begins properly on the second page. With Ron Burton and his gang giving chase, Chunky stumbles upon a yacht on a trailer, and after several panels of high-jinks finds himself at sea while the disgruntled owner of the yacht watches on. One can already see where this story is going to go, and I think things are shaping up well. The slapstick comedy is firmly in place, but it is well-paced in this case, and the story flows nicely from the first panel to the last. Chunky's luck delivers him from trouble, but it can also get him into a lot of scrapes, as we see here. A soft start, it won't be until next week that I really know how I feel about this story. 

Rating: 5.5/10

Best line: "Whoops, I'm away! 'Sea' you later fellers!!"

Football Family Robinson 

Things are escalating for the Football Family Robinson after last week's uneven episode. This week is more focused and tighter throughout with our attention firmly on Digger and Crash. With Digger being pulled over by the police in a case of mistaken theft, it's up to Crash to take his place for the game. With the family unaware of the cause of Digger's absence, they are naturally worried and this translates to their on-field performance. Crash is especially affected and lets in an early goal, much to the chagrin of the fans who want Digger back. After serval loose weeks this is much better reading, I am happy with the way the story is progressing. Even though the story is moving quickly forward, there is very little of the wider family, and Digger and Crash remain the figures at the forefront this week. My girl Viv gets a single line, but I am unfazed as the rest of the story has me quickly reading through the panels. Sometimes less is more, and that is certainly the case this week as we zoom in on the essentials of the story. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line:  "What's the trouble, sport? I wasn't breaking the speeding limit."

Tallon Of The Track

Things are fast and furious in this week's Tallon Of The Track. With Jo and an unconscious Dan Rowley in the path of the Exbury to London express train, this could be a short issue. Luckily Jo has seen plenty of movies and knows just what to do. Dragging the still unconscious Dan to the centre of the train track, she lays flat, letting the train pass over the top of them. It does feel unbelievable, but I believe it for the sake of the comic and my own enjoyment. From here on we accelerate to a conclusion, with Jo taking a speedway bike and pursuing Pete Rowley and sending him crashing off the road. With police on the scene, it is case closed and we can look forward to the beginning of the speedway season next week and beginning from a clean slate. Like so many of these stories, it wraps up too quickly for my liking, but then again I also hate it when stories are dragged out, so I guess there's just no pleasing some people. The art looks fantastic for the train scene and car chase, and I know we will get plenty more in the same vein next week as we take to the track, so there is still plenty more to look forward to, even if it's not quite as life and death as these last couple of issues have been. A strong ending to a good story, I feel well-nourished by the strip and ready for whatever may come next.  

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line:  "Good, he's driving with his window open! Stand by for the shock of your life, Pete Rowley!"

Skid Solo

For those that go to motor racing to see the crashes, this is the Skid Solo issue for you. Skid isn't the only one to have a new high-powered car, a face from the past, Dutch Evans, is also on the track with his own newly designed car. Skid and Dutch have a history, many years ago Dutch pulled Skid from a flaming wreck and they ended up in a hospital together recovering. From the start of the race, it's clear that Dutch's new car is a cut above the rest when it comes to raw power, but the car itself is badly designed, and Dutch himself ends up in a fiery wreck. With no thoughts of his own safety, Skid rushes in and returns the favour from all those years ago as he pulls Dutch to safety.  Once again they are side by side in the hospital again. With Dutch telling Skid that he's still racing because he needs the money, Skid assures him that everything will be alright as there is a fund set up to support him. In the final panel, it is revealed by Sandy that there is no fund, but that Skid will see to it that the car's designer pays for the accident. An interesting story, this was never about the race on the track, but rather the history between Skid and Dutch and the crash. We never find out the outcome of the race, or even how Skid is doing in the race, we only see the accident and the fallout from it. It's great to see Skid back on the track, and some fine race car action, but I was unsatisfied with the conclusion. The outcome is right, but it's too easy and dismissed in a single panel. On the positive side, the track racing looked great, and I did enjoy seeing some sense of history from Skid. The backstory added a lot to the strip, and once again helped round out the characters. Overall it was very good, but still not quite back to its best.  

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line:  "You don't have to worry about that, Dutch...Mason Buckhurst is opening a fund for you! You'll be looked after! Heck, he could have killed you! That car is a menace!"

A Horse Called Ugly

There is a great turn in A Horse Called Ugly, and after tiring of this storyline between Joe and Carlos, I am reinvigorated by this instalment. With the dodge-me-loop competition about to start, Joe is at a great disadvantage havening never used a lariat before. He has little time to prepare, and Carlos toys with him for the first round. However, just when it looks like Joe will surely lose, he receives a warning shout and manages to duck out of the way of Carlos's loop - only for his foot to get caught in the stirrup. Caught on the side of his horse, Joe is in serious danger, but Carlos realised what has happened, and abandoning his own horse, jumps on the back of Ugly and sets to saving Joe. I love a good surprise, and seeing Carlos change midway through the competition and try to save Joe fills me with warmth. The art of the horses isn't as impressive as previously, but once again the looks on the faces of everyone involved are sublime. Last week I had said I was hoping that this story would wrap up soon, but here I am eating my words and already my thoughts are drifting to next week's issue, 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line:  "If anything happens to Joe it will be my fault...I've got to do something!" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 8/10

Best Story: Roy Of The Rovers 

Best Line:  "A monster triumph for the Monster!"

Best Panel:

Roys Sports Quiz:

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: