Tiger 8th June 1974

My wife is downstairs cleaning, while I'm hiding upstairs with my comics. It's only a matter of time before she finds me. If this week's blog is suddenly cut short you'll know what has happened. Please send thoughts and prayers... 

Tiger

8th June 1974

Johnny Cougar And Splash Gorton

This week's episode of Johnny Cougar is the typical episode we get to introduce a new opponent. Johnny and Splash take a ride on the ghost train at the fun fair, and after several run-of-the-mill frights come across his next opponent lurking in the shadows, Mighty Man.

Disappearing as quickly as he appeared, Johnny and Splash decide to do some hard training in preparation. During a spell of running the following day, they come across a press conference by the Mighty Man, who promises that he will finish Johnny Cougar's wrestling career forever.

Although we meet Cougar's next opponent, not a lot happened this week. True, the creators did try and spice it up with the ghost train at the beginning, and the unexpected appearance of Mighty Man, but overall it felt flat. Mighty man seems the latest in a long line of large opponents who wish to end Johnny's career, and there is little to distinguish him from those that came before. On the plus side, the colour cover did catch my attention, and seeing Johnny and Splash on the ghost train was amusing. What happens next week will largely colour my impression of this starting point, and for now the jury is out until we see where this goes. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "We go...but take care that you do not scream too loudly, my friend!"

Roy Of The Rovers

Blackie and Roy are still in San Palos as the general backstory for the coming weeks is laid out. San Palos needs to win a football tournament to save their village and build a proper road up the mountain to draw in the tourists. 

Roy looks over the team but is adamant that he wants nothing to do with football. He will not train their team, nor will he play for them. He sticks to this despite the protestations of the villagers, as well as Blackie and the two girls. 

All is not lost as once they return to the hotel, Blackie tricks Roy into a sightseeing tour that ends up at the very tournament that San Palos is competing in. Down one-nil after five minutes, Blackie implores Roy to do something for the team.

This story is speeding along, and after meeting the villagers for the first time in the last issue we have moved quickly forward. Laying out the plot was well done and took barely two panels, and by the end of the story, we can already see that Roy is wavering. There is no doubt in my mind that by the end of the first page of next week, he will be doing all he can to help the villagers. Blackie featured heavily in this episode and came across strongly. He has been largely absent on the page the last few months, so I appreciated seeing him to the fore and serving in the role of Roy's best friend. A strong episode, and if we continue in this vein the story should deliver on every count. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "San Palos are useless! They were fools to even enter the tournament!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

It was an awkward ending to last week's issue as Martin and Tiny found themselves in a posh clubhouse asking if they could join the treasure hunt. Things improve early on this week, as they are recognised and made welcome. 

Although most of the club accepts them, two characters aren't happy they have joined the treasure hunt, Algy and his pal Percy. Not content with leaving things well enough alone, Algy and Percy follow Martin and Tiny back to where they are camping. Horrified to see them sleeping in a tent, Algy sabotages our boys, a wayward tractor his weapon of choice, which not only wipes out the tent but also shunts George towards the cliff edge.

This is where we leave the action, with Martin and Tiny desperately trying to prevent George from plunging over the cliff. 

An excellent addition to the Martin's Marvellous Mini storyline, this issue gave me all the things I like about this strip. We had the human interactions and relations, which are always crucial to the story, some good panels of friendship and comforts as the boys settle down with a cup of tea, and then the final drama and action with the looming cliff disaster. The fact it is all in colour is a bonus, and even if it was in black and white I would rate it highly. As long as it stays at this level, Martin's Marvellous Mini will always be the first story I turn to.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "They want the tradesmen's entrance! Scruffy looking pair!"

Tallon Of The Track

Plenty of drama and action in this week's edition, so look away now for those that are faint of heart. 

Jo is still hot under the collar about the addition of a mini camera to one of the bikes for the next race. As is her way, she lets her feelings known, loudly proclaiming that no good will come of it. 

How right she is, as on the next page we see Bill turning the camera on mid-race, only to develop a wobble and cause the crash of the season. With bodies strewn across the track, the director yells to his cameramen to get close-ups and capture every detail. 

There is still more to come, and as one of the cameramen moves on his scaffold, he inadvertently kicks off a large piece of equipment that falls on Jo's head. 

Carnage everywhere, this week's story leaned heavily on visual storytelling. The crash was told over three panels, and despite the subject matter I couldn't help but be thrilled. Likewise, with the equipment falling on Jo, it looked both painful and dramatic at the same time. Perhaps the only moment that took me out of the story was the appearance of the camera itself. Now it is commonplace to see mini cameras all over every sport, and we think nothing of it. However, 1974 was another world altogether, and it really does feel like we stepping back in time to see Jo complaining about the camera. Poor Jo continues to take her lumps, but I appreciate the entertainment value, and despite my feelings of guilt, I am greatly enjoying where this is going. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Sam, get some shots of that pile-up! Zoom close - and switch the sound on, too!"

Skid Solo

We are a few races into the Grand Prix season and Skid Solo is already at the top of the table. He may not have won a race yet, but a couple of second placings have kept the points coming in. 

As they head to the start line of the Swedish Grand Prix, Sparrow Smith is feeling unwell. The race starts, but he shows no improvement, and eventually, he crashes out of the race, piling into the safety barrier. 

In a time before constant radio contact with the cars, Skid has no idea of Sparrow's condition, only that he has crashed out of the race. With thoughts of Sparrow's safety preying on his mind, he drives conservatively into sixth place in the race.

Rushing to the hospital, the Doctor informs Skid and Sandy that Sparrow is a nasty case. Frowning and growing more concerned, smiles return when the Doctor tells them that Sparrow has a bad case of chicken pox, as we see him propped up in bed with a spotty face.

Not quite the life or death situation that Skid expected, and the story deflated in these final panels. The rest of the race was fine, and the cars looked impressive on the track, but chicken pox was anticlimactic. I did enjoy seeing the familiar face of the commentator during the race, and seeing the leaderboard appearing in the first panel helped put the story into context, but overall this story was flatter than what we have had recently. Still a pleasant read, the artwork is always gentle on the eye, but not the Skid Solo I wanted to read today.

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "Ahh, let 'em go! I can't compete now. If only I knew what had happened to Sparrow..."

Football Family Robinson

Titch takes centre stage in this week's strip, and he is looking athletic in the first panel of the comic with his shirt off and physique on display. It is his face that tells the story though, and it is a story of sabotage as the family finds their camp wrecked. Not only that, but the radio in the plane has also been tampered with, setting Digger's repairs back another few days, 

The family decides that it would be best to take turns keeping watch at night, and it is here that Titch again features. During his watch he hears a noise, and taking the torch he looks into the forest. Eyes are watching, but he doesn't see them. We have one final twist, as he turns his back a football hits him from behind, and his calls for help are heard back at the camp. 

This week is an improvement over the last few weeks and I find I enjoy it much more. I'm not sure if the story is improving, or if I'm bending towards the story, but it did seem to flow better and without some of the previous silliness. Having a central focus, Titch, helped streamline the story, and we only dealt with one idea, the mystery of the forest, to deal with. It was also a relief not to have a football game pushed upon us, and overall it seems we have settled on the single story the comic wants to tell. Still not enough Viv for my liking, but we are getting closer to what I like overall. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "I saw something horrible up there, watching me"

A Horse Called Ugly

Mungro's rouse to trick Joe out of winning the race is revealed this week. Last time out we saw Joe in the forest, where he saw Lord Humphrey. Thinking he has strayed from his course, Joe loops back around in an attempt to find the flags marking his course.

All he finds is Mugro, hitching a horse to his caravan. Joe exchanges words with him, but it's only once Joe rides off that we see Mugro's subterfuge, he has used a horse and rider disguised as Lord Humphrey to throw Joe off track and delay him. 

Joe is unaware of this and rides easily on thinking that it is Lord Humphrey who is lost. He is snapped out of this when he comes across some spectators who inform him that Lord Humphrey came out of the forest ten minutes ago and currently holds a good lead. 

It is in the final panel that Joe suddenly realises that he has been tricked, and we are nicely set up for a finish next week. 

Last week's edition of this story was great, but this week not so much. The trick on Joe and Ugly was clever enough but was flat on the page. Even the horses in action didn't look as fluid as I have come to expect. However, I am still hooked, mainly for the fact that I want to see the villains of the piece get their due. If Lord Humphrey, Mungro, and Mannering get their just desserts next week, I shall be most pleased and will happily overlook this aberration. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "It's a free country, mate...there ain't no law which says I can't take me caravan into the forest!"

The Tigers

Chunky Clarke rides his luck, literally, in this week's instalment of The Tigers. We last saw him careening down the hill in a pram towards the startline of the Penny-farthing race. Burton's gang do their best to try and stop him, but all they succeed in doing is jump-starting him onto his bike and into the race. 

The race itself is par for the course, with Chunky seemingly going from disaster to disaster, but each time his luck shines through and propels him further through the race field. 

We do have a close finish, with Burton attempting to knock Chuny from his bicycle, but once again he fails and Chunky crosses the line first. 

This is the ending I expected from this story, although the fact I knew how it would end didn't detract from my enjoyment. Chunky's luck was overplayed, yet we are used to that now, and it didn't steal too much from the drama that was unfolding during the race. The story in the last few issues feels just the right length, and this bicycle race is a fitting finish. Another week would have been too much, so bringing the curtain down here feels about right, Next week we are promised a cricket story, which is more conventional than we have seen recently, and I eagerly await to see how they will generate drama from the game. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "It's easy- except for balance and steering. The pedalling's a bit tricky, too..."

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Martin's Marvellous Mini

Best Line: "They live in a tent! How ghastly!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 1st June 1974

This week's Tiger has plenty of great panels and some very fine art to admire, even if the storytelling within is a little uneven. Although I haven't rated the issue highly, the artwork is consistently outstanding, and there is any number of panels I could have chosen as a favourite. Of course, the colour panels always catch my eye more, and it's just a shame there aren't more colour pages, although if there were I probably wouldn't have been able to afford the comic at the time! 

Tiger

1st June 1974

Skid Solo

Skid Solo has been very busy since we last saw him race, and the caption of the first panel quickly fills in the back story - he has gone to the United States to appear on a TV show, and before returning home took a drive in the Californian hills, where he found trouble. 

Suddenly the image of Skid climbing out of a convertible and facing rough-looking characters carrying guns all makes sense. In a dramatic first page, they send his car over the edge of a cliff before taking Skid hostage. 

The front page of a newspaper gives us further information, Skid is being held hostage, and his captors are demanding the release of a bank robber in exchange. We don't have long to digest this information, Skid makes a break for it a couple of panels later, running into the woods, and then doubling back to steel the hostage-taker's car. 

The villains are hard on his heels, but Skid outsmarts them as he comes to a petrol station, and pours a large quantity of petrol onto the road below. Setting it ablaze, he sends the kidnappers off the road where they are apprehended by the local police. 

We wrap up the story with Skid back home and receiving a letter from America. The letter contains a bill for the petrol he used, all seven hundred and eighty-five gallons of it. 

A great way to end this story, that is exactly the thought that crossed my mind when I saw Skid pouring the petrol on the road - how much is all this going to cost? I was thinking of it in modern terms, given the spiralling cost of fuel in the last year, and I did wonder if this was considered outrageous back in 1974. Some quick research gave me the following. A gallon of petrol in 1974 was $0.53 USD, meaning Skid's cunning plan cost a total of $416.05 USD in 1974. That's about $2524 in today's money. Not too bad to catch some kidnappers. 

I was surprised at the way we jumped into this story after last week's Grand Prix, but once I put that behind me, I enjoyed it immensely. The opening page dropped us right into the action, and it didn't let up until the final panel. A fun diversion, I read it with a smile, but secretly I can't wait to get back onto the track with Skid behind the wheel. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Maybe it's a reward for capturing those crooks!" 

Roy Of The Rovers 

Roy Race was being taken for a wild ride when we last saw him on these pages. With his Spanish driver skidding down the hill, it looks like this week's story will continue in the same vein, but the driver quickly comes to a halt and by the bottom of the page, we are into a football story. 

Arriving at San Palos, Roy is furious to find a football game in progress, the very thing he was hoping to avoid. Watching on with Balckie, it is apparent that some of the players are very good, but Roy is in no mood to appreciate their abilities, and in a blind rage takes to the field himself to prove that none of these players are good enough to be at a professional level.

It backfires, and Roy is surrounded by players who see him as just the man to help them win the tournament and get this into the league. 

The story ends here for now, and no doubt the full extent of what Roy has walked into will become apparent next week. Seeing Roy in full flight against these village players was the highlight of this week, and next week is bound to be more of the same, despite Roy's best intentions. This story is slightly more interesting than the previous months of Roy Of The Rovers, and it looks like plenty will be on the line as Roy plays for the village team. Quite how it will unfold, we will have to wait, but this is a typical story of Roy being abroad and ending up in a local team. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "There! Now perhaps you'll stop charging around, and get down to learning how to play the game! But don't ask me to teach you...because I'm on holiday!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

We are in the middle of the mini-race as this week's edition begins. Martin is fighting hard against the Carlton team, but they are driving as a team and blocking him from passing at every point of the track. 

However, he does have some luck, and another competitor crash leaves oil on the track, The Carlton team and Martin all hit the oil at the same time, and as they fight to control their vehicles, Amrtin takes advantage and the lead.

There is little more to tell of the race, it's as good as won, and soon enough we have the panel of Martin raising the trophy high. 

The tail end of the story sees Martin and Tiny arriving at a camping ground near the sea. They unpack and find a sign from the Devere Motor Club advertising a grand treasure hunt. The boys are keen to enter, but arriving at the clubhouse they find it is quite posh, and they aren't welcomed by the local members. In fact, they are thrown out for being scruffs. 

A story of two parts, the conclusion of the mini-race was satisfying with the race action minimal, yet fun. The second half of the story was far more interesting for me. I always enjoy the slice-of-life panels as Martin and Tiny seek accommodation, and although this new treasure hunt story is given only two panels I can see that already it has potential. Martin and Tiny often brush up against class barriers, and this looks par for the course with the Devere Motor Club. Next week will be when I find out if this new story branch is worthwhile, but for now, I have enjoyed all I have read here. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "We've got a bit of cash in hand! We could go camping...that's the cheapest way to have a holiday..."

The Tigers

We're still mucking around on old penny-farthings as Chunky Clarke and his team prepare for their bike race. Ron Burton is determined to get an advantage and he lays a trap for Chunky. Chunky walks right into it, and chasing a pound note, he suddenly finds himself in a net and hoisted into the trees. 

His friends are oblivious to his predicament, and there is some angst at the start line as he fails to appear. 

However, Chunky's luck is always at play, and the last half page sees him break free of his net, ending up in an old pram and racing out of control downhill.

I think we all know how this is going to end. That's not to say that it won't be fun along the way, but it is inevitable that Chunky will arrive at the start line just in time. I did appreciate that the writers have taken this route for the story,m it would have been easy to leap straight to the bike action, but instead, we have another issue with Chunky fighting just to even begin the race. The slapstick level is just right, and once again I enjoy this episode much more than I should. A guilty pleasure is now just becoming a pleasure. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Whatever's happening, I won't worry- 'cos I'm naturally skilful. I must get to the race!"

A Horse Called Ugly

Joe and Ugly are at their very best as their race against Lord Humphrey continues. They are taking the obstacles in their stride, and there is even a spectacular moment as they jump a gully rather than ride up it. It costs them penalty points but saves them several minutes. 

Lord Humphrey is equally skilled on his horse Zorro, but he also has a secret plan with Clive Mannerning simmering in that background to ensure he wins. This plan is put into effect as Clive radios to Mubgro to begin their nefarious scheme. '

We don't see what the scheme is, but as Joe rides into the dark forest he says Lord Humphrey riding not far from him, Thinking he has strayed from his course, Joe immediately plans to turn back. 

This strip looked great on every page, I have often said, and I stand by it, that A Horse Called Ugy is at its very best when we see the horses up close and in action. This week it delivered just that several times, and the image of Joe and Ugly jumping the gully is one of the best. I find the story isn't to my taste, but I can't deny the visual feast in which I am indulging, and I can't wait to pick up next week's issue to see what comes next.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Come on, let's show 'em what a real horse can do!"

Football Family Robinson

Stranded on an island, last week something in the forest scared Bluey the kangaroo. We don't find out what that was this week, but there is a lot of talk about it. 

Bluey returns with the ball that was lost in the forest, but he is scared and something has shaken him up. The game continues, but once again the ball disappears into the forest, and this time it is Titch that runs after it. It vanishes before his eyes, and although the rest of the family joins him, no one can find the ball. 

Feeling alarmed, the family ask Digger if he has got the radio working yet. He hasn't, but before we can properly digest this information, Titch calls out, the thing from the jungle has struck again. 

I can understand why we aren't shown the thing in the jungle, and I see how the writer is trying to build suspense. The problem is that it just doesn't look very suspenseful on the page, and I hardly feel engaged with what is happening. I don't really care what has happened to their ball, or what it is that is hiding in the jungle. Perhaps once that is revealed I'll be back on board, but all I can do until then is enjoy those moments when my girl Viv appears on the page. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "He ain't goin'! There's something in there he's scared of!" 

Johnny Cougar and Splash Gorton 

Fat, and out of shape, Johnny Cougar just can't get a handle on his opponent, The Gent. He struggles throughout the bout and The Gent dominates on every panel. However, his mind is still sharp and using his extra weight he manages to bear hug The Gent, eventually falling on top of him and winning the match. 

It's all very anti-climatic, and the story never took off this week. Three-quarters of the story was The Gent hitting Johnny with offence, then we see Johnny outsmarting him before the final half page is Spalsh Gorton recapping much of what we have already seen. There is a strong lesson that the characters emphasise in these last panels, the value of hard training, but that's all reward for my disappointment in the rest of the story, Normally I'm all about the in-ring action, but this week it left me cold, and I'm just as disappointed in myself as I am with the story. 

Rating: 4/10

Best line: "Wh-what happened? Did the roof fall in on me?

Tallon Of The Track

Jo was on the verge of resigning at the end of last week's strip, but that is quickly resolved in the first panels of the story. With little choice in the matter, she is forced to go along with the TV film documentary. We also have a fantastic panel of her forcefully telling the director to stop calling her sweetness, striking a strong blow for women's lib everywhere. 

After this outburst, the rest of the strip is a steady cruise. Jo demonstrates some cornering while the cameras roll before the second page takes us to the next race meeting. 

This next meeting is the crux of what's to come. As the riders prepare, it is brought to Jo's attention that the director has fixed a small camera to the front of one of the bikes, Once again enraged, the strip ends with an exasperated Jo exclaiming that this has gone too far. 

This story was modest in its ambition. It didn't progress the story greatly, but it did gently build on the previous week. There was motorcycle action, but it wasn't part of the dramatic story, and the real story was Jo's outburst at the beginning and then at the end. If we could get a little more in between, the story would have really motored, but it was fine as it is, just gently building for the coming weeks. 

Rating: 7/10

Best Line: "Stop calling me Sweetness! The name's Jo!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6.5/10

Best Story: A Horse Called Ugly

Best Line: "Oh, marvellous! I'm hired as a speedway trainer and end up as some sort of second rate film star!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

 

Tiger 25th May 1974

It wasn't easy getting up this morning. It was our wedding anniversary yesterday, and a lovely meal out with a bottle of wine turned into cocktails in a dive bar, which in turn led to, well, let's just say I'm not moving particularly fast this morning. Luckily, it doesn't take much energy to turn comic pages, and my Tiger read this morning is about the limit of my current abilities. Hopefully, Roy and the team are feeling sharper than me as they take us through our weekly sports stories. 

Tiger

25th May 1974

Roy Of The Rovers 

Pale white Englishmen on the beach in Spain, how very British. And so we begin this week's issue with Roy and Blackie in Spain taking a well-deserved break from football after winning the double. 

However, as famous as they are, there's never any escape from football, and they are soon spotted by English football fans also taking in the sun. With their girlfriends, Penny and Sue, they seek refuge, taking up an offer from a passing vehicle and the promise of a festival in the mountains.

As their driver takes them further into the mountains they have time to reflect on this festival, and they realise that they never saw this festival advertised with all the others back at the resort, nor have they heard of the village of San Palos. 

Things are not what they seem, and we know more than Roy and Blackie as we see a group of men eagerly awaiting the arrival of the English footballers. Communication by flashing a mirror, the driver suddenly veers onto a side road and begins a wild ride. 

Where this will all end, I have no idea. But I am enjoying the ride so far, and this story is a great contrast to what we have been reading the last few weeks. Seeing Roy and Blackie together with their girlfriends makes for a more well-rounded story, and a new setting is always great for refreshing a story. The future is unknown, but with plenty of hooks in the story, I will eagerly digest the next issue. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "As long as there isn't a football match on the programme, chum, I don't care what they get up to!"

The Tigers

Disaster is about to strike for Chunky Clark, as his penny fathin' ride is about to end with a collision with Lord Bagby. 

However, I hadn't taken into account his good luck, and the crisis is averted as he manages a spectacular evasive manoeuvre, before an equally impressive dismount. I'm not the only one impressed by his antics, and Lord Bagby takes an immediate shine to his spirit and decides to give a trophy in a veteran bike race for youngsters. 

After a brief few panels of training our contestants are ready, and as we line up for the start Lord Bagby decides that Chunky should be handicapped for the race, given that he is the favourite. 

This is the most enjoyable The Tigters I have read for a long time. It was well-paced throughout the story, it had some action, and an equal amount of plot. It may not have finished with a cliffhanger, but there s enough of a hook with the racing about to start to draw me back next week.  Chunky was lucky, but not too lucky, and Ron Burton wasn't overplayed as a villain. Let's hope next week's issue lives up to all that is laid out here. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "By jove! A young stunt rider, Bagby!" 

Martin's Marvellous Mini

This week we see the continuation of the feud between Tiny and Martin, and the Carlton racing team. Tiny and Martin may have lost the rally, but they are determined to get the last laugh as they enter George into the mini-race, a race that the Carlton Mini team is also entered in.  

A quick practice lap from Martin reveals what they are up against, the Carlton cars are fast, and salt is rubbed into the wound as he comes past the pits, where the Carlton mechanics are lined up with signs saying "You've got no chance"

Further fuel is added to the fire when he pulls in and finds Tiny waiting for him, with a black eye. It seems he has had an altercation with one of the Carlton blokes and came out on top as we see his opponent being bandaged up near an ambulance. This is shaping up to be an intense race all around as page by page this rivalry is built. 

Finally, in the last two panels, we come to the start of the race, and as all the minis pull away from the start line, the Carlton cars immediately jump out to the front. 

This story has been building beautifully, and each panel through the issue adds another layer to the story that I assume will be resolved by the race. I particularly enjoy seeing Tiny roughing it with some of the Carlton team, and it added some steel to a story that sometimes feels quaint. The opening panel of the race gives us a great indication of what is to come, and I look forward to seeing how this story will unfold in the coming weeks. 

Rating: 9/10

Best line: "I...er...had a difference of opinion..."

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

The Gent has been quietly killing Johnny with kindness, and we see the end result of that this week. Johnny and Splash enjoy a sleep-in, an enormous breakfast followed by an equally enormous lunch and dinner. 

This continues for several days until we reach the day of the bout, and witness Johnny in the dressing room - struggling to get his wrestling gear around his now-grown stomach. It seems the Gent's plan has paid off, and in the ring he takes control, making the most of Johnny's lack of speed and lack of conditioning. 

Once again this was a story of two parts. The first half of the story was entirely devoted to showing the Gent fattening up Johnny and distracting him from training, and the second half of the story is where we see the consequences of this, and Johnny's inability to perform in the ring. Both halves we equally enjoyable, with one sequence leading naturally enough to another. It doesn't feel dangerous or high stakes, but it is enjoyable and has an interesting twist. The artist has done a great job of drawing a fat Johnny Cougar, and this made me smile more than I perhaps should have. A great job all around, it's hard to see how fat Johnny Cougar will win this one. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Johnny-baby, we've been taken for suckers! All the good living was just a plot to get you out of condition!"   

Football Family Robinson

We pick up with the Robinson Family plane blown off course and making an emergency landing in an unknown location. Proving to be resourceful folks, soon enough the family have built themselves some shelter as Ma Robinson gets the kettle on. 

However, the Robinsons remain Robinsons, and by the next panel, they have organised a football game among themselves. The football game itself isn't particularly interesting, but in the final panel, Bluey chases a wildly kicked ball into the forest, where he says something which made him wide-eyed with fright. What that is, we'll have to wait until next week to find out. 

I liked the idea of this story, and the very first panel of the strip looked great. However, my interest rapidly waned once a football appeared and the game kicked off. Lost in the middle of nowhere, far from civilization, surely the family had more pressing issues to attend to. However, things may get better for my reading enjoyment, depending on what it is that Bluey has seen. We may get some heart-stopping drama, or the story may fall flat altogether, in the next seven days I will know one way or another. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "Th-there could be cannibals waiting to pounce on us!"

Tallon Of The Track

A new story for Tallon Of The Track, and the first half page is a superb introduction to some of the technicalities in speedway racing, specifically the start. 

However, the new story emerges later on page as Jo almost runs over a cameraman who has made his way onto the track. It seems that a documentary is to be made about the team, focussing on Jo as the only female speedway trainer in Britain. 

Jo is not pleased with this situation and lets her feelings be known before the final panel sees the chairman of the club, Basil Oldfield, threatening her to co-operate with the TV company, or tender her resignation. 

It's too early to know how I feel about this story, but I do know one thing - the artwork looks fantastic. The finger image of Basil Oldfield waving his finger at Jo as he threatens her is one of the best and conveys the emotion of the moment. The first few panels of Jo showing her team how to get the starts right are also highly rated in my opinion, and provide a good insight into the intricacies of speedway racing. Overall, we are off to a strong start to this story, and next week should continue building on this firm base.

Rating: 7/10

Best line:  "Nuts! I'm not posing and prancing about in front of the camera for anybody!"

Skid Solo

I have always had a soft spot for the Monaco Grand Prix, so I am more than happy to find that race featured in this week's story. 

Things start well enough, with Skid and Sparrow taking their cars out for a couple of practice runs, but things take a turn after a stray newspaper catches Sparrow in the face and his car ends up in the wall. 

As always, it's up to poor old Sandy to fix the car and have it race ready for the race the next day. Pulling an all-nighter, he does get the car to the start line, before hauling himself off to bed for a well-earned sleep. 

The race itself is fairly uneventful, and the experience of Skid and Sparrow pays off with a one-two finish, Sparrow taking the victory narrowly over Skid. 

Sandy has missed all of this and is still asleep, and we leave the story with Skid and Sparrow leaving the winner's trophy at his door as a pleasant surprise for when he awakens. 

A tidy little story, I followed it with interest, but I never felt completely immersed in it. The drama occurred earlier in the story, and the race felt like a forgone conclusion by the time the cars lined up at the start line. With that in mind, I rated the first half highly, and the second half much lower as we cruised to the finish. Everything was enjoyable, but nothing felt essential. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "yere car's ready! All te ha' to do the noo...is take it oot...and I'm going to ma bed!" 

A Horse Called Ugly

The race is on in A Horse Called Ugly. With Lotd Humphrey taking the red course and Joe taking the blue course, we are underway. Things are off to a hectic start, with Lord Humphrey failing to take a fence earlier on, before Joe and Ugly face a similar fate over the page as Joe takes a fall. 

With the race in the balance, we round out this week's issue with Joe's nemesis, Nick Mungro, reassuring his son that Joe will definitely lose the race. 

Not a lot happened in this issue, but it seemed to pass quickly. Lord Humphrey took a fall, Joe took a fall, and Nick Mungro looked smug. Even so, I still found some enjoyment in it, especially the crowds following the race, and the radio reporters dictating the action. Until Nick Mungro makes his move, we are in limbo, and as such next week holds the key to where we will go from here.

Rating: 6/10 

Best line: "Shut up, you grinning ape!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Martin's Marvellous Mini 

Best Line: "He looks as if he's been wrestling with a pile of food!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 18th May 1974

Just when I think I have Tiger figured out, it hits me with something unexpected. It is the cover this week that has me scratching my head and thinking "what the heck?" Johnny Cougar in cricket whites, now that is a sight to see, and one that piques my interest immediately. Let's have a look and see what is going on here. 

Tiger

18th May 1974

Johnny Cougar and Splash Gorton

What a pleasant surprise it is to see Johnny Cougar on the front cover and dabbling in the most English of sports, Cricket. He is still in Sydney, Australia, and I guess there is no better place to don the whites and roll the old arm over. Cricket is a gentleman's sport, so it is only fitting that at this charity match we meet Cougar's next wrestling opponent the appropriately named "The Gent" 

The Gent lives up to his name, even going so far as to play cricket in a top hat, and soon enough Cougar and Gorton are back at his luxury house and enjoying his amble hospitality. Unknown to Cougar though, this hospitality is all part of his larger plan, a larger plan that won't be revealed to us until next week. 

It is a soft introduction to Cougar's next match and to The Gent. The story moved at a gentle pace, yet I enjoyed all the parts of it. Seeing Johnny playing cricket was an eye-catching beginning, and doubled as a good chance to introduce the Gent. There was no wrestling in sight, yet it already feels like we know the Gent well, and this earlier interaction between the two characters sets the scene well for what will follow. This was no gripping page-turner, but enough groundwork has been laid down for me to see where this story will go. 

Rating 6/10

Best line: "Hard luck, old boy! You Americans should stick to baseball...just watch how an English gentleman takes charge of things!" 

Rover Of The Rovers

It seems Roy's long-distance shot we ended with wasn't so silly after all, and as this week's story begins we get to see that the Burndean keeper was off his line, and Roy's shot was legitimate. Roy gets his just reward with a goal, and suddenly Rovers are back in the match.

Returning to the halfway line, Roy spurs on his team, urging them to forget the bonus money on offer,  and they respond in the next few minutes with free-flowing football that ultimately sees Roy score again. 

With the game in the bag, all that remains is for Roy to climb the stairs and accept the F.A. Cup on behalf of his team. He duly does so, but back in the changing rooms, he has another surprise awaiting him.

With Blackie and the rest of the team insisting that Mannering pay out all their bonuses immediately, a total that comes to fifty-nine thousand pounds, Roy is horrified by the greed of his team, that is until the team step forward and donates all the money to the youth group that we met at the start of this story all those weeks ago.

It took around about way to get there, but we got the ending that we always knew we would. The groundwork for this was laid right at the beginning of the story, although to be honest, I have totally forgotten about it until now. All the right things happened, Rovers won the cup, the youth club got its money, and at the end of the day, football was the winner.  There are no clues as to what will come next, which gives me time to lean back in my chair, take a deep breath, and enjoy everything I have just read. 

Rating: 7/10

Best Line: "My Stars! Blackie! You're as bad as the rest of them!" 

Martin's Marvellous Mini 

I am rapidly learning that when it comes to Martin's Marvellous Mini, every silver lining has a cloud. Last week, just when it seemed the rally was won, George spring an oil leak which sent them off the track with the finish line in sight. Things immediately become worse for the boys this week, as they slide off the track and crash into their competitor's cars, the Carlton team. 

Taking third place, they do win enough money to cover their expenses, and things do look on the up when, once the rally is over and the field well and truly cleared, a helicopter lands and they are approached by a representative of Mister Vanderson and offered a chance to drive his formula three car at Crankel track the next day. 

This joy is short-lived, as they arrive at the track the next day they are told there has been a mistake, Mister Vanderson thought they had won the rally, not come third, and now their service is no longer required.  They are justifiably angry, and the next part of the story falls into place as they see a sign for a mini race at the same race meeting.

Another story of ups and downs for Martin and Tiny, and although it didn't end with high-stakes drama, I am still intrigued to see how this latest escapade will end. The rally has served as the backdrop for the story for the last few months, so it will be interesting to see if this is the beginning of another longer arc, or merely a quick jaunt around the track. Not as gripping as in previous weeks, but loose ends have been tied up and we are moving forward into new territory. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "What a day!...it couldn't be worse..."  

Skid Solo

Skid Solo is preparing for the Belgium Grand Prix when we first see him this week. Some familiar faces are also around, and we see Al Ledstock still running - convinced that fitness is the key to beating the younger drivers, while Toni Moreillia is on crutches with a stiff knee. Both are sure they'll do well, while Skid stays quiet about his chances. The race is fast, very fast, with Toni Moreillia leading from the front and breaking several lap records in the process.

Sitting in fifth with three laps remaining, Skid makes his move, and pushes his car hard, forcing his way past the younger drivers and pulling Al Ledstock through with him. It's good enough to get him to second place, with Al third, but Moreillia remains in front for the win. 

This leaves us with the final panels as they discuss the race, Al is convinced it was his fitness that got him the result, Skid argues it was their experience. However, it is Toni who has the final word, leaving them with the comment that it's best to have a very fast motor car.

A very likeable story, this was a completely self-sufficient episode. One race, fully contained in the strip, and the idea of each of the driver's view on what it takes to win the race. It was well executed, and as always the on-track action looked good. No crashes this week, just the intense look on the driver's faces, and the close action of the cars. Not high drama, but drama nonetheless, and this contains the elements of motor racing that make Skid Solo look so good on the page. A solid issue, and entirely representative of what Skid Solo is all about. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Three laps to go...I'm in fifth place, eight seconds behind! And Sandy wants me to go faster! Heck, I'm going fast enough to have won this race easily...three years ago!"

A Horse Called Ugly

A the end of last week's strip, Joe spied trouble, and that trouble is given a name in the first panel of this week's story - Nick Mungro and his mob of caravans. Joe threatens him, telling him to stay away from them, but there's a much larger scheme at hand, and later we see Mungro meeting with Joe's other enemy, Clive Mannering. 

What plan they have, we won't find out until next week, as the rest of the story is devoted to the start of the steeplechase. We learn that there are two different routes, both the same length and with the same obstacles before they come to the finish line fifteen miles away. So with a large crowd watching, they set off, the final panel a close-up of Clive promising to himself that Joe and Ugly and will ride together. 

Not a lot happened this week, it was all plotting in the background and preparing for the race. I liked it, even without the horse action, there was plenty to keep me engaged, and by the end of the strip, my brain was whirring with outcomes to all these unknown schemes. Next week promises much, based on what I have read here, and I look forward to seeing what it will deliver. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Don't worry, you villain...I'll pat you well! Now, this is the plan..."

Tallon Of The Track

It seems we are getting closer to the end of the current storyline, but we are closer than I realise, and as I read the first page I little suspect that in a couple pages' time, we would be done and dusted.

We pick up right where we left off last time, with a Police Sergeant showing Jo Tallon the artist's depiction of the potential saboteur. She reaffirms that, yes, it is Jimmy Benson, one of the team's mechanics. 

Things move very quickly from here, with Jo running to the pits to confront Jimmy Benson. He is not one to take the accusations lightly, and picks up a wrench, threatening violence to Jo if she comes closer. Jo is not to be trifled with, and she slams a motorbike into Jimmy, while the rest of the team to grab him. 

A confession is soon forthcoming, and the story rights itself for the next half page as Oggie checks the bikes for further damage, before Ospreys take to the track and win the meeting. All too easy, i's dotted, t's crossed and a new story awaits Jo and the team next week. 

A tidy ending to a story, but an ending that we all saw coming many issues ago. From the start, Jimmy Benson's card was marked, and his poor attitude in the first issue of this story was a giveaway. Despite the foreshadowing, I still enjoyed watching the story unfold, and this final issue did everything it needed to do. We even got some track action, this time without the crashes we had seen earlier. As always, the artwork served the story well, and the panel of Jo slamming the bike into Jimmy Benson was the best of the lot. All in all, neat, tidy, professional and a good read throughout. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Take one more step and I'll part your hair with this thing!" 

Football Family Robinson

Football Family Robinson takes quite a twist this week, and one I definitely did not see coming. With Digger taking off, Bluey the kangaroo is left in the care of the family. He doesn't like it, and neither do they, which leads to a sleepless night for all involved.

Luckily, the next day Digger returns. He hasn't run out on the family after all, rather he has been off buying himself a large aircraft. Yes, Digger is a qualified pilot, and he intends on flying the family out to Australia to stay at his sheep station. It's the old cliche of an Aussie with a sheep station, and it is this that spins the story off into a new direction. 

The family fly the route in several stages, but after leaving Singapore disaster strikes, and they are caught in a wild storm. With Digger unsure where they are, they are forced to make an emergency landing in the wild. 

We are far from football now, and I am invested in what comes next in the football family for the first time in weeks. This is just the radical change that was needed, and the story once again feels fresh after weeks of conflict between Digger and Crash. It may all change next week, I worry that we may see the family playing football against the natives of the area, but for now, I am pleased with the new course the story has taken.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Don't rightly know, sport. This storm has pushed us off course, and me instruments are on the blink"   

The Tigers

This week's edition of The Tigers is a lot of fun, and I enjoy the humour throughout. Starting with a visit to a stately home, Chunky and The Tigers are introduced to a variety of old bicycles, but it is an old Penny-farthing that really catches the eye, and soon enough Chunky is pulling himself up to sit on it. 

This is where the fun starts, as Ron Burton gives him a hearty push, setting up the chain of events that propels the rest of the story. Out of control, Chunky experiences a wild ride out the doors and down the stairs, before further havoc ensues in the gardens.  Things go from bad to worse and after an incident with an ice cream salesman on the grounds, Chunky finds himself on a collision course with Lord Bagby himself, and his group of veteran cycle riders. 

That collision will come next week, but there is plenty here that I like in the meantime. We have seen Ron Burton interfere with Cunky plenty of times in the past, but here it is only a very brief interaction, and most of the story is dedicated to Chunky's wild bike ride. The ride isn't overplayed, there is a couple of moments, but for the most part, it looks believable on the page with nothing out of the ordinary occurring. What we see is exactly what I would expect from a boy on an out-of-control bike. This was a fun ride for me and as the issue ends I have a smile on my face.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "I-I must keep cool and c-collected! I wish I'd brought my bicycle clips!" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Football Family Robinson

Best Line: "And you can clear off again! Why didn't you tell me you were third in the rally? I thought you'd won it!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 11th May 1974

 With Skid Solo on the front cover, I am in my happy place as I begin reading this week's Tiger. Skid Solo equates to face-paced action, and that action looks even better in glorious colour. I can't wait to see what this story is all about, so this week I'm straight into it.  

Tiger

11th May 1974

Skid Solo

Skid Solo is on the cover and it's not sleek Grand Prix cars that catch the eye, but rather saloon cars racing cross-country. Skid is merely an observer, it is Sparrow who is racing in a car lent to him by Professor Ensworth. 

It's a dynamic first page, with Skid introducing us to the action in the first panel, while the other two panels on the page see Sparrow dealing with mud on the windshield before driving over the edge of a cliff. It is definitely a page-turner, and over the page we see the outcome, Sparrow leaping from the vehicle as it sinks to a watery grave.

 It is here that the real story begins, the Professor telling Skid that a briefcase containing his work was in the car and he must get it back. Using the professor's boat, Skid, Sandy and Sparrow sail to the spot where the car went down, and using scuba gear Skid and Sparrow retrieve the now very wet briefcase. It is not all smooth sailing and they surface to find Sandy in an inflatable rescue boat, the professor's boat having hit some rocks and sunk from under him.

Making their way back to the professor, they give him his briefcase, only for him to remember that hadn't left his plans on the briefcase, but rather they were in the safe on the boat. 

It is just the sort of twist we have come to expect from these non-racing stories, and I like it. I consider myself an intelligent man, but I failed to see this twist coming, and the story was all the more delicious for it. On the page, the adventure on the boat looked exciting, and I did like the fact that they showed Sandy suffering from seasickness- this seemed entirely appropriate for his character. The opening page, in full colour, hooked me in straight away and combined with the action on the water, and the final twist, it made this a most enjoyable outing. A great start to this week's comic, the bar has been set for all the stores that follow.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "The prof's not going to like this! First his car, now his boat!" 

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

The Trickster is not quite so tricky this week, and despite a couple of flourishes, this is a more traditional wrestling match. The two tricks he does employ are a trampoline to leap back into the ring, and later a smoke screen which gives him a chance to clobber Johnny. It matters little, Johnny has the upper hand across both pages, and ends the match in a strong style, slamming the Trickster into a ring post to win by knockout. 

A pure wrestling story, I found it just as enjoyable as the previous convoluted stories with the barrage of tricks from the Trickster. The timing is right to finish this Trickster storyline, and perhaps it was a couple of weeks too long. The final panel reminds us that Johnny is now in the semi-final, and it has been some time since I have considered the overall context of his battle with the Trickster, another pointer that this has been stretched out too long. 

It was great to see wrestling at the forefront of the story, and I have high hopes for the story next week and the promise of a fresh opponent.

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Seminole not talk with forked tongue! You think everyone out to fool you!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Martin and Tiny are living their best life, put up in a fancy hotel and about to appear on TV. Although they are looking good in their new clothes, the TV appearance does not go so well as they are goaded into arguing with the owner of the Carlton car company. With the scent of violence in the air, the show is cut short and back at the hotel Martin and Tiny get a good night's sleep before the final time trial to decide the race. 

Needing to average seventy-five miles an hour to win the race they are going swimmingly, that is until the last lap when a sudden oil leak blinds them and sends them skidding off the track. Winning the race looked like a sure thing, but now I'll have to come back next week to see the outcome. 

A sharply told story this week, it was just as quick as George around the track, with the loose ends from last week dealt with, and the new jeopardy appearing just as it looked like things were going right. I enjoyed the speed of the story, and it matched the action in the panels well. A nice little cliffhanger to finish with, once again are heroes are facing disaster after the triumphs of last week. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "I wouldn't have a rotten old Carlton car if you gave it to me!" 

Roy Of The Rovers 

F.A. Cup, down one-nil, this is Roy's moment. Laying down the law to his team, he urges them to forget the money and just play their natural game. Slowing the game down, and controlling the pace, Melchester begins to get on top, and as halftime is blown it seems only a matter of time before they get the goal they deserved. 

However, in the dressing room they receive another shock, the director Ted Manning is waiting for them with an increased offer of two thousand pounds per goal. While the team is delighted, Roy is anything but, and he is furious as they head back out onto the pitch. In an angry challenge, Roy gives away a freekick, but Lofty manages to get a head to it and the ball breaks to Roy, who in the final panel launches a thirty-yard attempt on goal. 

This F.A. Cup match is getting better by the moment, and although I wasn't a big fan of the money storyline, I am enjoying the on-field action. An angry Roy Race is a thing to behold, and the panels of him storming onto the pitch and then roughly fouling a player are among the best this week. Like any good football match, things are heating up in the second half and it looks like we'll be building to a thrilling conclusion.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "You can make it a million pounds a goal, if you like...I don't want any part of it!" 

Football Family Robinson

Like Roy Race, Ma Robinson is also laying down the law to her own team. With Crash and Digger put in their place, she swaps their positions on the field, leaving Crash to cool his heels in goal while Digger takes a turn up front. It doesn't have an immediate impact, but the game does turn on this decision, and by the end of the game Digger has managed to score the goal that begins a rout and the family finishes the season on a high. 

However, Digger doesn't hang around for the celebrations, and the strip ends with the family left holding the kangaroo while they wonder where Digger has got to. I don't feel particularly invested in the whereabouts of Digger, but I did enjoy the ride to this conclusion. 

I love a strong woman, and Ma Robinson is certainly that. She got this week's strip off to a strong start, and it is her image that dominates the final panel of the strip. I can't help but look at Viv and think that one day she'll be just like her Mum, so I am enjoying Viv's youthful good looks while I can. Not my favourite story this week, but very strong and better than it has been of late.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "You waited too long. I can't rely on anybody. I'll have to do it myself."

The Tigers 

This week we get to witness the great pogo race. As you might remember from last week, Ron Burton has laid a trap for Chunky Clark, having his cronies report to the police that there is someone scaring people by the canal, and then tricking Chunky into racing him by the canal at night. It plays out as you might expect, after a rough start Chunky has some luck and Ron goes by him with a tarpaulin wrapped around his head. The coppers nab Ron, while his two teammates reveal themselves as they exclaim in surprise. 

Less is more and shorn of some of its silliness, this strip is actually quite enjoyable. The pogo race has the potential to cover several issues, but it is wrapped up quickly here. We get some of Chunky's luck, but it's not overplayed, and the story concentrated on Burton's trap. I found myself smiling at this story much more than previously, and I rate it considerably better than the previous weeks.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "We're off! Boggling blackcurrants. Burton's mate is a bit enthusiastic with his cheering!"

A Horse Called Ugly

When we last saw Joe, Lord Humphrey had just offered him a chance to live like a lord. More details are revealed in the opening panels of this week's issue, and the challenge is sketched out fully. Lord Humphrey and his horse Zorro challenge Joe and Ugly to a race - should Joe win, he gets to live in Lord Humphrey's Scottish castle for a month, while if Lord Humphrey wins he gets all Joe's possessions but just for one day. 

Joe rides off to consider his options, but his hand is forced when one of Lord Humphrey's friends publishes all the details in the local paper. With the local townsfolk excited by such a challenge, we end the story with Joe's exclamation "Oh, no, if they are here it means even more trouble." Just who he is referring to, we'll have to wait until next week and adds just an edge to a story that already has me hooked. 

Normally I love the horse action, especially the artwork, in a Horse Called Ugly, but with little happening on that front this week's strip is much more story-driven, yet just as enjoyable. There are still some memorable panels, and I especially enjoyed the one where Joe was fantasising about winning the challenge.  With the race front and centre next week, I expect the story to get even better. As good as this week was, next week promises much more.  

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "It's obvious! My brother has joined forces with Humphrey. They must be plotting something!"

Tallon Of The Track

I love a good surprise and Tallon Of The Track delivers just that on its first page. With the masked intruder knocked out, and Jo about to reveal his face, it seems the sabotage story is coming to a close. However, when she pulls the mask off, they find it is just a kid. Pumping him for details, he tells them he doesn't know anything about sabotage, only that he was offered ten pounds by someone in town to break in and steal some leathers and helmets. Handing him over to the police, Dave thinks that's the end of the affair, but Jo isn't so sure. 

However, the racing goes well, and the Ospreys face no mechanical difficulties at all. It is at this point that the story takes another turn, as the police arrive and show Jo a sketch of the man who had offered the ten pounds to break-in, a sketch that looks just like one of Jo's mechanics Jimmy Benson.  

I thought that this week might have wrapped up this story, but it now looks like it might be next week with this new information unearthed. The story is well-paced, and it doesn't feel like it's being stretched out just for the sake of it. It gives us information throughout, but never gives too much away, nor does it stagnate in its own storyline. Tallon Of The Track excels in its off-track drama, and this week is another fine example of that. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line:  "He's little more than a kid!"

 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7.5/10

Best Story: Martin's Marvellous Mini

Best Line: "In the boat? Is...er...that safe waterproof?"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz