Tiger 12th October 1974

Trevor Francis passed away this week.  In an odd twist, the issue at the centre of this week's blog is also the first issue he wrote his weekly column for. With Tiger merging with Scorcher there are several notable changes as well as the appearance of Trevor Francis's column. We also have three new football stories,  all of which will be a constant in Tiger for the next ten years. So, although it is with sadness we say goodbye to Trevor Francis, his words will live on in Tiger and with the new stories arriving there is a sense of new beginnings as we digest this week's issue. 

Tiger 

12th October 1974

Roy Of The Rovers

Roy and the team are playing the second leg of their European Cup Winners Cup tie against Zeeden as we start this week's issue. The team is playing in front of seventy thousand Dutch fans, but Roy is unfazed and urges his team to play confidently.

The match starts fast, and after a couple of misleading back passes the Rovers are soon steaming forward where Roy smashes home the first goal of the match.

Although Rovers now hold a two-nil lead on aggregate, their Dutch opponents are far from down and out. The next panels see them pushing hard, and Tubby Morton is forced to make a couple of critical saves, The next play is the most important of the strip as the Zeeden team is again on the attack. Tubby Morton comes out to challenge a loose ball and is struck by the attacker's boot, leaving him injured on the ground while the ball rolls into his own net. 

The Zeeden team have pulled back a goal, and even worse, Tubby Morton comes off the field with his injury. The final panel offers some hope as a player we can't see prepares to come on, while a voice in the crowd offers the opinion that this will make Rovers even stronger. 

I think we all know that it's Charlie Carter coming on, and this is just a cliffhanger for the new readers from Scorcher. The story itself is a nice reset from last week. We had a goalkeeper story the last month while this European competition simmered in the background. Now the European competition takes the lead, and we arrive at this second leg with no baggage at all. Playing in front of seventy thousand Dutch fans was a nice touch and gave the game a sense of scale and context. The on-field action wasn't quite what we'd come to expect, although Roy's cracking first goal was entirely in character. I look forward to seeing things heating up on the field next week, and I hope that my prediction about Charlie Carter coming on proves correct. Tubby Morton is a legend, to be sure, but as a younger gentleman myself, I find I relate to Charlie Carter better.

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Ja! Our players will make mince meat of the player who takes Morton's place!"

Hot Shot Hamish

He's here! My namesake, and the reason I first picked up a Tiger comic all those years ago. Hot Shot Hamish will become a mainstay of Tiger comic for the next ten years, but this is his first appearance on these pages, having first appeared in Scorcher in August of 1973. (Coincidentally, one month before I was born). 

Like Roy of the Rovers, Hot Shot Hamish and his Princes Park team are facing a game in the European Cup Winners Cup. Their destination is Spain, where they will face an unnamed team in Barcelona. 

We see a brief fitness session and get to meet the manager, Ian McWhacker, the coach Alistair McBrain, and of course Hamish Balfour himself. 

After this slight introduction, we are off to Barcelona. As the team checks into their hotel, Hamish decides to take a stroll and explore the surrounding countryside. Soon enough he comes across a farmer struggling to get his donkey to pull a load of wood up a hill. Hamish takes it upon himself to help out, and in an early display of his strength, we see him pulling the cart up the hill by himself, with the donkey riding in it. 

The villager is grateful and invites Hamish to come and dine with him and his family. Over dinner, Hamish explains why he is in Spain, and the villager tells him that he will come to the game tonight to cheer him on. Not just him, but his family and the entire village will attend. 

Hamish arrives back at the hotel just as the bus is leaving and we jump forward to the game itself. Hamish and his team come down the player's tunnel and onto the pitch. Mr McWhacker warns them that they'll have no support and they'll be on their own out on the pitch. However, as they come onto the field the crowd begins to chant Hamish's name - it seems that the friends he made in the afternoon are all on their side and they're not as alone as they think. Mr McWhacker sums it up best with his comment "He's only been here five minutes...'an he's got a fan club already." 

Well, yes, and I'm one of those fans myself. Not a lot of excitement in this issue, but it served as a fine introduction to Hamish, and the general feel of the comic. For all his off-field adventures, its Hamish's onfield ability that is most memorable, and new readers have yet to witness his famous 'hot-shot' That will no doubt come to the fore next week, and this issue laid the groundwork for the future, with the key characters named, a sense of what a gentle giant Hamish is, and the wonderful artwork that is almost a character itself. A soft start, next week things will kick off, literally, and we will get a better sense of what this story is all about.

Rating: 6/10

Best line:  "I- I dinna believe it! He's only been here five minutes...'an he's got a fan club already."

Johnny Cougar and Splash Gorton

Johnny is still in Britain as we begin a new story for the Indian wrestler. We are dropped straight into the ring as the caption tells us that Johnny is fighting while on holiday, and his opponent is a wrestler called The Zebra. The Zebra doesn't last long against Johnny, a flying drop kick followed by an Irish whip sees him collapsed in a heap by the bottom of the first page while Johnny stands in triumph. 

Now we've seen Johnny in action, we cut to the real story that will propel the next few weeks. With one week left on their holiday, Johnny and Splash are looking for places to go and things to do. By chance, an advertisement is pushed under their hotel door for New Forest, and Johnny decides that some time in the outdoors is just what they need. 

With backpacks on they arrive at New Forest, and soon Johnny has arranged a horse for himself and a donkey for Splash to ride. While Johnny is a natural rider, Splash is not, and it is an uncomfortable journey into the forest. 

Any thoughts of this discomfort vanish in the final panels of the story as an arrow narrowly misses Johnny's head and sticks into the tree beside him. 

A nice way to introduce Johnny to the Scorcher audience with some instant in-ring action, before we pull back to the next adventure. Arrows in the forest, it may be some time before we see a wrestling match again, so I'm pleased we saw a page of wrestling before the true story started. This is potentially looking good, and I'm hopeful we will get a longer run with this new villain than we did with the truncated storyline that preceded it. The villain of the piece is still unknown, so maybe I'm getting ahead of myself, but fingers crossed. Splash was again entertaining without being annoying, and he brought a touch of humour to the story that nicely balanced the sometimes dour Johnny. Another soft start, but one loaded with potential that should see us through the next couple of months.

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Yeoouch! I don't think much of the suspension on this thing!"

Nipper

Another new strip from Scorcher, and another one I have fond memories of. Like all the previous stories, this is a gentle introduction to the character Nipper and some of his supporting cast members. 

A bus ride to a testimonial game gives Nipper's teammates a chance to fill us in on what a good player Nipper is as well as introducing themselves. We meet Barry Day, as well as Nipper's skipper Len Duggan en route to the match where sixty thousand fans are waiting.

Nipper plays for Blackport Rovers, but the testimonial is for Jimmy Meadows of Fenchurch United. After twenty years of playing for the club, he is now heading off to retirement, leaving Fenchurch in need of a replacement. 

The match goes well and is a real contest as Jimmy Meadows gives his all against Nipper and his team. In the second half Nipper shows us some of his class, with a perfect pass splitting the defence, before he finishes the move with a diving header to score. 

The final whistle sees Jimmy Meadows raised onto the shoulders of his teammates and everyone seems happy, That is except for the scheming manager of Fenchurch United who is eyeing up Nipper as a potential replacement for Jimmy Meadows. With a determined look on his face, he is preparing to make Blackport Rovers an offer they can't refuse. 

I don't always like Nipper, sometimes he comes across as a little whiny, but this is a good introduction to him, and we meet him on one of his better days. The first third of the story was mundane, and after learning the player's names things improved considerably once we got to the game. A small man with a killer pass to split the defence, I was immediately put in mind of Messi, albeit without Nipper's fiery temperament. I'm not sure that having a storyline about Nipper being pursued by a rival club is the best introduction to the character, I would have liked to have seen something much more football focussed, but there will be plenty of time for that as Nipper will be with us for quite a few years now. This is not the best version of Nipper yet, that's still to come, but this is a solid introduction to a future mainstay of the comic. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Nipper Lawrence - superstar - how many goals have you scored so far?"

   

Tallon Of The Track

A fiery start to this week's strip with Jo showing us the skill and bravery on a bike. Jumping through a hoop of fire, she takes another jump off a ramp and through a canvas tunnel, before safely landing on the other side.

Watching on is an impressed Dave Trent and fellow teammate Sam Guthrie. They would like to try this stunt for themselves, but Jo is adamant that no one else is to try, she needs all her riders ready for the last race meeting of the season. 

Jo is called away by Basil Oldfield, a prominent member of the board, and told that they have been offered an all-expenses paid tour of Australia. Jo is excited by the proposition, but when she and Basil step back out to the track they find Dave Trent and Sam Guthrie about to attempt the stunt she warned them about. 

Jo and Basil can only watch on helplessly as Dave crashes after jumping through the flames before Sam Guthrie follows right behind him. 

Things don't look good for this Australian tour already, and Jo is going to have to stamp her authority on the team in the next few weeks. It will be a good demonstration of her character and almost feel sorry for Dave in light of what will be coming next.  There seems to be a spectacular crash every few weeks in Tallon of The Track, and here we have got it out of the way early in the story. I'm guessing we might see Jo racing as part of the team, and that would certainly be a good storyline to showcase her ability. With the artwork lifting the storyline above all expectations, this is the strongest story this week, and in such good company with the incoming stories that is high praise. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Sock me with a six-inch spanner - she's done it!" 

Skid Solo

Once again Sandy is tinkering with the cars, and although the season is over he's still not satisfied with the vehicles. This time it's the suspension he's not happy with, although with an off-season race the following day he only has time to change one car. 

It's Skid's car that gets the treatment and at the Invitational 200 it will get a real workout. Early on it seems like not much has changed, and it is Sparrow Smith who is in the lead. As we come into the final lap, Skid is four seconds behind. It is now he decides to push his car to the limit and with Sandy's new suspension he makes up those four seconds. With half a lap left he overtakes Sparrow's car.

It is now that Sparrow has some bad luck as his suspension fails and he finishes second behind Skid with his car showering sparks as his engine scraps the ground. Expecting the worst from Sandy for all the extra work now required, Sparrow apologises. It is a wasted apology, Sandy is overjoyed that his new suspension worked so well for Skid and he can't wait to get to work on Sparrow's car. 

A typical off-season storyline for Skid Solo. The race had nothing riding on it, and the was no real drama to the proceedings. Once again I felt sorry for Sandy as he pulled another long shift fixing Skid's car, but it seems that this is when he is at his happiest. It may not have been a Grand Prix race, but it was great to see Skid and Sparrow in their cars racing around the track. I wasn't heavily invested in it, but I enjoyed it well enough, and any story that features Sandy brings a smile to my face. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Last lap...and Sparrow's four seconds ahead! Now let's really test this crate!"

Billy's Boots

The third story to join us from the pages of Scorcher, and it is another one that will become a mainstay of Tiger in the coming years. Billy Dane and his ancient football boots that give him the ability to play in the style of old-time football star "Dead Shot' Keen. 

We meet Billy as he arrives at a charity football match where he has been invited to play for the charity team against a Police team. At first, he is refused admittance, but the policeman who invited him turns up at just the right moment to grant him access.  

In the changing room it becomes obvious that Billy is an outsider, and he overhears the Policeman telling some other players that Billy won't be much use and he promised him a game so he can come on in the second half when one of the actors has to leave early.

Both teams are good and Billy is feeling out of his depth, especially once the ball comes his way when he's sitting on the sideline and he miskicks it back down the field. 

The second half sees Billy come on, and he's told to keep out of the way on the wing. He does what he's told, receiving the ball early on while he is on the wing and quickly kicking it back towards the captain as instructed. That's not the end of the play though, and Billy feels the boots are forcing him to run faster and towards a central position. Before he knows it he's on the edge of the box and frantically calling for a pass. 

Will he get the pass is hardly the cliffhanger I expected to end the story with, but I am intrigued to see what happens next. This is a good taster of a Billy's Boots story, Billy playing for a team as an outsider and the boots forcing him to play better than he really is. Of course, the other central trope of a Billy's Boots story is Billy losing the boots just before a big match. We don't have that here, but it is only a matter of time in the coming months before we will. I'm not sure I will enjoy these Billy's Boots stories as much as I did when I was younger, but I'm hopeful in these early stages and I guess only time will tell.

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "You're taking a chance aren't you, Bob? The kid's not big enough to play against you chaps!" 

Martin's Marvellous Mini

The great London to Sydney race has finished and Martin and Tiny are in Australia contemplating their next move. 

Needing money fast, they enter George in a banger race, with a first prize of $75 on offer. Although they are the smallest car in the field, they acquit themselves well, and after some spectacular driving by Martin, they win the race and the much-needed money. 

With the cash in hand they leave the stadium, still considering their next move but now with the ability to give George an overall, and buy lots of spares. 

This was a one-shot storyline, and we are still where we started with Tiny and Martin in Australia and wondering how to get home. It felt like a filler, and apart from getting them some cash, it didn't set up any potential future for the team. After seeing Martin's Marvellous Mini in colour for the past year, it was somewhat of a shock to see it in black and white, and that did take some of the gloss off the story for me. The most pleasing part of the story was the racing on the track, and I would have loved to have seen that in full colour. There is the promise of colour in the coming weeks, so this is a temporary situation, and I for one can't wait to see another colourful and bold adventure unfold next month. 

Rating: 5.5/10

Best line: "The pommy driver's got a bit of know-how! Those big fellers aren't getting it all their own way!"  

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6.5/10

Best Story: Tallon Of The Track 

Best Line: "I don't mean to run...not as fast as this! It's Dead-shot's boots! They seem to be making me get in position..."

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 5th October 1974

This issue of Tiger (5th October 1974) contains some big news that colours the entire issue. Next week (12th October 1974) Tiger will team up with Scorcher, bringing on board some of my favourite stories and characters from the 1970s and 1980s. Before we can welcome these new strips we must first say goodbye to some of the characters we have come to know so well over the last year. This is the end of the road for The Tigers, Football Family Robinson, and A Horse Called Ugly. I will do a follow-up post to say goodbye to these standards, but on a positive note next week we will welcome three new strips, Hotshot Hamish (my namesake and firm favourite going forward), Nipper, and Billy's Boots. All these will become mainstays in the coming years and I look forward to their arrival with some excitement. Next week's comic will start from a clean slate, so not only do we say goodbye to three strips, but every story wraps up this week, ready for a new beginning in every story in the next issue. Some stories are rushed to an unnatural conclusion, while for others it feels fitting to end where they are now. Lots to look forward to in the next few weeks, but in the meantime let's look at how each of the stories conclude this week.    

Tiger 

5th October 1974

Skid Solo

And they're off! Final race of the season and we have the excited race announcer getting the race underway. With the field racing directly towards us off the page, it doesn't get any better than this. I'm tempted to give it a ten right from the start, but we must turn the page to see what eventuates. 

By the end of lap one Skid has taken the lead with Sparrow right behind him. They stay like this for lap after lap, both pushing each other as hard as they can with the lap record being broken several times. 

There is another battle going on, the battle for third and fourth, where Jean Corbonne and Mike Elton are scrapping for position. Corbonne pushes a little too hard and crashes off the track whereupon his car bursts into flame. 

Skid is first onto the scene as he comes to the same corner. Without hesitation, he stops his car and runs to pull Corbonne from the flames. With flames licking up around them he drags Corbonne from the car and to safety, earning the respect of the firefighters who have now arrived. 

With Skid now out of the race, it is Sparrow Smith who takes the checkered flag and the World Championship. It is Skid who earns the bigger honour though as we see in later panels he has been awarded an O.B.E. for his rescue of Corbonne. Skid and his team have exchanged their racing gear for formal attire and are all at Buckingham Palace for the award.

A fine way to wrap up this story, and the season. Like Sparrow Smith in the final panel, I wonder what next season will bring and it is hard to imagine it could live up to this issue. I remember this story well from when I was a child. I'm too young to have brought this comic new, but I was given it by an older relative and I was impressed at the time by Skid's bravery and the overall feel of the story.  The story did live up to those memories and to the excitement of the first page. Not every story is afforded a stirring finish such as this, and it feels like the first time in quite a while that any Tiger story has finished so strongly. Not only the best strip in this week's comic but also one of the best in Tiger's run so far, this is memorable for all the right reasons. 

Rating: 10/10

Best line: "These flame-proof overalls are good, but it's getting too warm! Heck, come on, Corbonne...come out!"

The Tigers

The Tigers has just as much action as Skid Solo, yet it doesn't feel as important at any stage of the story. We are still at the fell racing contest, with Chunky Clark and Burton neck and neck as they race downhill towards the finish. 

It goes as you might expect. Burton throws an obstacle in front of Chunky, only for Chunky's luck to take a hand. In this case, it is a log that Burton pushes in front of Chunky, and instead of tripping over it, Chunky ends up riding it as it rolls down the hill. It's enough to get Chunky in the lead, and even better, as he jumps off the log it bowls over Burton. 

There is one final burst of excitement over the page as Chunky accidentally kicks a hornet's nest. With a trail of furious hornets after him, Chunky makes it to the finish line in double quick time, giving him and the Tigers the victory. 

Burton sums it up nicely in the final panel - only luck can beat Chunky Clark, and he always has that on his side. I often tire of Chunky's luck, and in this week's strip that was all there was - just his luck alone. There was very little interaction with the other competitors and the story focused solely on Chunky. Although it had moments that made me smile, the strip never became fully humourous, and overall felt like a gentle trundle to the finish rather than a dynamic sprint. An average way for the strip to end, but it does fit with my overall perception of the story - a humourous facade but in the background, not much of substance happens.  

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "It's the return run - and there's only Burton ahead. Flaming fig-pips, I'm running a blinder. 'Course, I was sort of running blind when I got caught in the mist!" 

Martin's Marvellous Mini

We are rapidly heading towards the conclusion of the great London to Sydney race and there is still a twist in the tale for Martin and Tiny. They aren't in immediate peril, and instead, it is the Carton team of Grimble and Perch that faces an oncoming stampede while Martin and Tiny watch on. 

They don't watch on for long and rush to the aid of the two hapless drivers, loading Grimble and Perch into their own vehicle after the Carlton team car is caught in the cattle stampede. Clear of the stampede they encounter the angry owner of the Carlton team, who in his anger accidentally reveals that he was behind the stampede with the intention of slowing Tiny and Martin. This earns him a well-deserved punch to the jaw by his own driver Grimble.

With this drama firmly behind them, the two pals continue their journey across the breadth of Australia. It looks like plain sailing but on the outskirts of Sydney disaster strikes as George's engine gives out. It's hands-on as they do their best to push George to the finish. Unfortunately, the finish line appears in sight just as the Renworks car appears, and the two friends get nothing for their efforts. 

This is where we leave the story this week, with the despondent pair grumbling about their rotten luck. I'm not grumbling though, this has been an exciting story for the last few months as they have raced across the globe, and to come as close as they did after all they faced is a great result. A good decision by the writer, letting them win this race was the obvious result, and having them pipped at the post was realistic and true to their adventures this far. It was also pleasing to see Mr Carlton take a punch to the jaw, a blow I would have quite liked to have delivered myself. He has been a fantastic villain throughout, and to see his own team turn on him was rewarding. As second-string villains, the bumbling Grimble and Perch have brought a touch of humour to the strip and lightened up some of the more dramatic moments. I have nothing but positive thoughts as I reflect on the last couple of months of this story. We have seen some interesting locations, leading to some stunning art, and seen the team pitched into some unusual situations. Here's hoping the next adventure will deliver plenty more of the same. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "One minute...just one rotten minute and we'd won! Next time, if we can get George repaired properly, we'll have to try even harder!" 

Johnny Cougar and Splash Gorton

Johnny Cougar is still fighting the odds, and the hired henchmen of a promotor trying to put together an international circus of wrestling stars, as we begin this week's strip.  

A double-flying dropkick puts paid to two of the thugs before a quick toss to another leaves Johnny and Splash with the upper hand. The final two crooks are dealt a punch and a karate chop before the boss of them all pulls a pistol on Johnny. 

This only serves to anger the matman, and the gun is kicked from the promoter's hand in short order. This is the end of the fight, and the story, as Johnny hangs the man on a coat hook before walking off to seek his next adventure.

Not much in terms of story here, it was all about the fight and wrapping up the story of the last three weeks. We don't even learn the name of the promoter it is all dealt with so swiftly. I enjoyed seeing the fight, but with no real story behind it, I couldn't help but feel it was all rather meaningless. Like some of the other stories this week, it is all wrapped up very quickly in anticipation of starting afresh next week (more on that later). I like Johnny Cougar a lot, especially the artwork, but this week it never got out of first gear and all I can do is hope that a reset next week will get it back to its previous high standards. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Maybe not so mean without gun!"   

Roy Of The Rovers

Another case of a story coming to a close, with the saga of the goalkeepers about to be resolved. 

After taking a heavy blow from Roy, with no ill effects, Tubby Morton's confidence is seemingly restored as a cross comes in from their Dutch opposition. Tubby is equal to the moment, and jumping into the action he punches the ball clear.

With a solid goalkeeper now behind them, Melchester Rovers rally and a strong kick from Tubby late in the second half gives them the half chance they need. With Roy on the scene with a diving header, the Rovers take a one-nil lead. This turns out to be the final score, with Rovers missing a chance right on full-time, and they leave the field taking a slender one goal lead into the away leg.

Off the field, Roy's other goal-keeping problem is just about at boiling point. Charlie Carter is on the cusp of signing a record deal with his slimy manager Larry Sharp, but Roy's background connections pay off just in time. 

Marty Miller, a famous performer and good friend of Roy's through his charity connections,  arrives as Charlie is about to sign. Marty informs Charlie of some of the fish hooks in his contract that Charlie has overlooked, and this results in a displeased Charlie not only refusing to sign the contract but also throwing Larry Sharpe fully clothed into the baths.

Charlie's future at the club is assured, and the story rounds off with Tubby and Charlie shaking hands and promising each other that they will both compete hard for the goalkeeping spot. 

Like the other stories in the issue, this one is wrapping up one story arch so we can embark on a new journey next week. Unlike the Johnny Cougar story earlier in the comic, this was well-paced and felt like it would have come to a close at this point anyway. The artwork on the final page was the highlight for me, and seeing Charlie Carter and Tubby Morton in the same strip was a treat. Now the goalkeeper issue is resolved, we can look forward to the return leg against Zeeden, and I can only assume this will be the main storyline for the next few weeks. With the thought of more onfield action on the horizon, I leave this week's strip with positive thoughts for what may come next. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "In that case, old son, I'll leave you to it! You won't need me to cover you anymore..!"

Football Family Robinson

The final week of the pagan head saga, and I can't begin to express how happy I will be to see the back of the story. With Viv's boyfriend, Kevin, about to throw it from a helicopter it looks like it will finally be good riddance to the head. 

Little known to Kevin is that now the family need it back as they have found it is not an ancient pagan god, but rather a childhood project of their bank manager who would like to be reunited with it. Viv and Grandpa make haste to the reservoir where Kevin intends to throw the head to a watery grave. Kevin sees them from the helicopter as they begin to paddle a boat out to catch his attention and stop him, but their efforts only result in Kevin dropping the head early and sending it crashing through their boat. 

Luckily they are still in shallow water, and even luckier is when Grandpa retrieves the head from these shallows. Mission accomplished they rush back to the ground where they are able to present it to the bank manager as the game finishes. With the bank manager happy, they are guaranteed the loan he promised and we finish the strip with many happy faces and the promise of happily ever after. 

Ignoring the silliness of this whole storyline, I quite enjoyed this instalment. Viv and Grandpa were ineffectual yet enjoyable to read on the page. Most of the family took a backseat this week, and it was Viv and Grandpa who held centre stage in the final moments of this story. Although this story has been a letdown for me throughout, I still have a soft spot for Football Family Robinson. They deserve a better send-off than what they get here.  I'll be sad to say goodbye to the family but will shed not a single tear for this pagan head saga.  

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "Ooops! I promised to drop it in the deepest part. I've let it go too soon"

Tallon Of The Track

New rider and pop sensation, Sven Jannson, has been dragged into a store room by an unknown attacker while out on the track the Ospreys are neck and neck with the Latchford Lions in their latest heat. 

With the team in trouble, Jo tracks down Sven based on some suspicious noises heard from the storeroom by a track official. Bursting in, Jo saves Sven from his captors, who also happen to be members of his fan club. 

The upshot of it all is that his own fan club are trying to stop his track career, for fear of him leaving the music world. Jo assures them that Sven intends to do both, and is not choosing one over the other. To make amends she asks that Sven play a free concert after the race, letting his fans know that he will be both racing and singing in future. 

It all comes together in the final panels as Sven wins the race that sees Ospreys triumph in the track meet, and then plays to a small crowd of adoring fans. 

A rather light ending to a story that contained a kidnapping. There were previously some strong issues here, but the ending felt rushed. After seeing Sven kidnapped one would have normally assumed at least two or three more issues to resolve this, yet in this case it is solved almost as soon as it happened. It is another case of clearing the decks so the story can start afresh next week. Likable as always, but nothing here feels essential and once again I look forward to hitting the reset button and seeing what comes next week. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Stand back! T-take one more step, and I'll bash Sven!"   

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Skid Solo 

Best Line: "He's unconscious! I've got to get him out...before the whole lot goes up with a bang!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Next Week:  

 

Tiger 28th September 1974

Although there is no Tiger character on the cover of 28th September 1974, it is still an eye-catching opening to the Roy Of The Rovers story within. With a Zeeden player running at full stretch, one wonders what will happen over the page, a mystery that can only be solved by turning the page. So, I'm going to do it, I'm turning the page and going in. 

Tiger 

28th September 1974

Roy Of The Rovers

Melchester Rovers are up against Dutch team Zeeden, a team that has adopted the total football style of the great Dutch teams of the 1970s. With Tubby still showing signs of having lost his nerve, it's not just Roy who is concerned, but the whole Rovers management team watching on the sideline. 

Zeeden attacks strongly, and a long-range strike with plenty of swerve on it has Roy worried. He is right to be worried as Tubby only makes a half-hearted dive to save the shot and it is only a goal-line clearance by Roy himself that saves the day. 

With Tubby frightened to dive on his right knee, the Zeeden team senses weakness and launches attack after attack. As halftime is called, Tony Storme is prepared to pull Tubby from the match but Roy has another idea, one that could save the match and Tubby's career, 

As the second half gets underway, the Dutch team attacks again and once again it is up to Roy to save the day with a great tackle. There's more to this tackle than meets the eye, and as Roy follows through he crashes full speed into Tubby Morton, leaving them both sprawled on the ground. 

Tubby's first impulse is to scream "My leg, my leg" but Roy chastises him and points out that he is perfectly fine, and his body can easily take such a knock. This revelation is timely, and Tubby is back on his feet as the ball comes across from a quick throw as Roy urges him to prove the old Tubby Morton is back in business. 

An excellent instalment, and perhaps the best we have seen from this storyline. Where previously the story has meandered, here it is sharp and to the point, and moved rapidly forward. We aren't out of the woods yet, it remains to see if Roy's approach with Tubby has worked, but as a longtime reader, I am confident that this story is nearing an end. I am again impressed with Roy's fitness levels, last week he played in goal, and this week he was twice fast enough to get back and cover the goal, truly a man for every part of the field. It looks like Tubby Morton is back on track, now all that remains is for Charlie Carter to sort his part of the story out. 

Rating: 8.5/10

Best line: "Your leg is perfectly alright you silly great noodle..." 

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton 

After an attempted kidnapping last week, Johnny Cougar and his pal Splash Gorton are now sunning themselves at an unnamed British seaside resort. All seems well as the deck chair attendant approaches but this takes a turn as he points a pistol in his pocket at them and tells them to do exactly what he says. 

Dressing quickly, Johnny and Splash are hustled into the same car we saw last week and whisked away. A luxury hotel is their destination, and there they meet the man behind all this thuggery. 

Only referred to as the boss, he outlines his plan of creating a wrestling circus to tour the world. Featuring all the world's top matmen, he plans to start with the great Johnny Cougar. There are promises of fame and fortune, but Johnny isn't having a bar of it and he turns nasty - swiping the contracts from the boss's hands. 

He may be outnumbered four to one, but Johnny is up for a fight. Cracking some heads together he looks to have gained the upper hand, but the strip closes out with the boss telling Johnny that nobody crosses him, and calls for his men to finish Johnny. 

Just as strong as the Roy Of The Rovers story that preceded it, this story went up several notches from last week. Being forced into the car at gunpoint was a replay from last week, but this time the story moved on with Johnny meeting the man behind it all. It makes me wonder if last week was a false start, and if this week could have just as easily occurred earlier. We had Johnny fighting the thugs, but as we ended he still faced trouble and the story moves quickly into next week's episode.  There is intrigue with the boss behind it still unnamed (Vince McMahon?) although we know what he looks like and have a good idea of his character. And of course, I have to once again mention the highlight of the strip, seeing my Mums old car from the 1970s!

Rating: 8.5/10

Best line: "Cougar not act like squaw...Cougar Seminole...take orders from no-one!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

We are in Rangoon as Mister Cartlon and a crowd of hundreds expectantly wait for the leading cars of the London to Sydney race. All expect to see a Carlton car arrive first, but it is instead Tiny and Martin who come down the street to great fanfare. 

With an hour lead over the Carlton team, Tiny and Martin are in a strong position as the cars are shipping towards Australia. There is skullduggery afoot though, and the two Carlton drivers, Grimble and Perch, head below decks with spanners in hand and ill intent in their hearts. They are quickly foiled, a surprise planted by Tiny and Martin scares them off and they are sternly warned by our two heroes to stay well clear of their car. 

Mister Cartlon is furious at the inadequacies of his men and vows to deal with the problem himself, booking a flight to Australia at once. There he enlists the help of a cattle herder in the outback who promises to stampede the cattle right into the boys when he sees them. There is just one small snag in his plan - the Carlton car has overtaken George, and it is now his own team that is speeding towards the cattle stampede. 

I was never fussed by the South East Asian portion of this race, and I feel the story is on firmer ground with the reappearance of Gimble and Perch, and their arrival in Australia. With the teams in Australia, the end can't be too far away, but there is still plenty of enjoyment to be had from the story. Mister Carlton is always a worthy villain, and seeing him watching the approaching cars with his binoculars was a treat, as was seeing his livid expression as George crossed the line first in Rangoon. Not much racing this week, but still visually stimulating as we speed towards the conclusion of the London to Sydney race. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Bah! Those drivers of mine are useless! They say they can't wreck Martin's mini! Get me a seat on a place to Australia...I'll do the job myself!" 

The Tigers 

The Tigers are competing in a fell running contest, although the word 'competing' may be overselling it - Chunky is dead last by a long way. 

Burton intends on keeping it that way and instructs the rest of his team to move the stepping stones used to cross a river before Chunky can get there. But with his usual luck, Chunky stumbles across them (literally) and makes it to the other side with not a single wet foot.

This luck continues as Chunky is pursued by Burton's two pals, and all three of them head up the mountain via a different route than the rest of the teams. There is another incident which sees Chunky jump a ditch while Burton's pals fall into it, but things take a turn as clouds and mist begin to roll in.

This changes the complexion of the race, and the teams now need to use maps and compasses to find their way. This is beyond Chunky, who decides that he will just follow his nose instead. This pays off for him, and while Burton is the first to read the top of Wolf Peak, Chunky is only a minute behind him.

A little bland, this week's issue didn't lean into the humour as strongly as it normally does, nor did it crank up the drama. I would have gladly taken either. I felt no ill will towards the story, but it failed to give me anything to sink my teeth into and slid by all too easily. I think next week may well be the same, but I can only hope for something substantial from a story that all too often isn't. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "The best way to get across is to look straight ahead...or is that for tight-robe walking..?" 

Skid Solo

We have reached the last Grand Prix of the 1974 racing season, a season that has gone by all too fast. It seems like only yesterday Skid was in Australia trialling a new car, and now here we are with the top four drivers all within eight points of each other and only the US Grand Prix left. 

That race won't be seen until next week, this week is all about setting the scene. We see Skid arriving in New York and the crowd of photographers there for all the drivers. It's a little overwhelming for some of the newer drivers, and Skid explains that it only gets worse once you become world champ - there are dinners, meetings, functions, and having to make speeches. 

At the track, all four drivers are putting in fast times, but Sparrow Smith can't help but think about what Skid said and the possibility that he'll have to make speeches if he wins. This prays on his mind, and even once the race practice is over he is still dwelling on it. 

That night he is unable to sleep and heads down to the lobby. There he is surprised to see Skid, Jean Corbonne and Mike Elton all still up. It seems that he's not the only one nervous about the race tomorrow.

No racing, no drama, and not a lot happening, and yet I liked all of it. It was a very pleasant way to set out the feelings behind the scenes. The best part of the story was Sparrow Smith fretting about having to make speeches, we had some humourous panels of his dreams of such situations, and they were key to this soft story. It is all on the line for next week, and this was a chance for us to draw a collective breath before the high-stakes drama of the final race of the season next week,. 

Rating:  6/10

Best line:  "Och, it's a marvellous wee city! No' as good as Glasgow, mind ye... but no' so bad..." 

Football Family Robinson.

I hope this is the end of the pagan head, I really do. We begin well enough, with the team grabbing a steam roller and driving over the head, but all it succeeds in doing is breaking up the car park, and breaking a gas main, which leads to an explosion that destroys the steam roller, but not the pagan head. 

Always on the lookout for a good story, Viv's journalist boyfriend Kevin writes about the head in the local newspaper. He also offers the family a way to get rid of it once and for all. On Saturday he will be in a helicopter taking aerial photos of Thatchem and will drop it into Thatchem reservoir for them. 

With this trouble looking like it will soon be behind them, Fred and Ma head off to see the bank manager. With a big building contract on the horizon, they'll need a big loan to match and are keen to make a good impression. The meeting goes well, with the manager promising the money, and a grateful Fred offers him complimentary tickets for Saturday's game. 

Both strands of the story come together for the final part of this week's strip. The bank manager arrives at the game and happens to see the local paper with the article about the head. He recognises it at once and rushes to speak to the family. Bursting into the room he tells them that he made the head himself, it's not an ancient relic at all, but rather something he made when he was a lad.

While the family are relieved to know that their bad luck hasn't been from an ancient evil god, they face a new problem. The bank manager wants to be reunited with the head, but at that very moment, it is in the helicopter overhead and on its way to being dropped into Thatchem reservoir. 

I saw none of this coming, and I'm pleased about that. It's a great swerve from the story, and much more in line with what I would expect. The expressions on the faces are again key to the story and we have several notable panels here in that regard. The face of the bank manager bursting in, with the newspaper in hand, sells his excitement at the discovery of his head, while just a few panels on we have the very intense face of Fred showing us that it's all still on the line. A timely return to form, I shall wait expectantly all week for the next issue. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "You mean to say that old sour-chops wasn't an ancient evil god, after all, and that we were just fooling ourselves when we thought he was bringing us bad luck? 

Tallon Of The Track

Young Sven has failed to live up to expectations so far at this race meeting, but after showing Jo the threatening note he has received one can understand why. It threatens big trouble if he takes speedway seriously, but Jo is having none of it. She tells Sven that she will contact the stadium security officer, and he has nothing to worry about. 

On the track the racing is close. After nine heats, the Ospreys hold a slender lead over the Lions, twenty-three points to twenty-one. Heat ten will be crucial, and riding for the Ospreys is Sven and Dave Trent. With his mind free from worry, Sven finally delivers, and a one-two finish for the Ospreys puts them in a commanding position with only three heats to go. 

Sven is relaxed as he goes to freshen up in the changing rooms, but a voice calls to him from a store room. Looking back, a hand snatches him and he is pulled into the darkened room, setting us up nicely for next week. 

This a strong issue, with the on-track drama taking priority over the problems of Sven. Sure, it was these Sven problems that bookended the racing, but without the strong race action in between it would amount to nothing. I enjoyed the balance of the story, with Jo, Dave and Sven all getting their share of page time, and an equally fine balance of time on track and time dedicated to Sven. This story is still improving each week, and next week we should be back to something all too familiar, people being kidnapped on the pages of Tallon Of The Track, something we have seen at least three times as far as I can recall. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Look at that kid go! He's opened up a ten-yard gap and is still pulling away!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Johnny Cougar 

Best Line: "I--I sort of hope I don't win! I belong behind the wheel...not at some dinner, making a speech!"

Best Panel: 

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 21st September 1974

Last week back in 1974 Tiger celebrated its twentieth birthday. This week is also a week of milestones, one in 1974 and one in the present day. September 1974 and I was just about to celebrate my first birthday. Well, perhaps not me, but certainly my parents. I recall nothing of it, although I have been told many times that September of 1973 was the hottest on record, but no one ever mentions the weather of September 1974. Perhaps they were all too distracted by a new presence in their life, namely me. The second milestone worth noting is this blog has now been running for a year. I had a couple of speed bumps early on, but have been good at keeping to my weekly schedule since. At this rate, I hope to wrap this up in about ten years' time. Come retirement I shall be taking on new hobbies, and no doubt joining a bowling club. 

On the pages of Tiger this week, no A Horse Called Ugly, I must go back and see if we were told that last week was the final. I don't think so, but I want to check for my own peace of mind. Tiger has been running on a high recently, although two or three of the stories have been dragging the chain. That will change in a couple of weeks, and I look forward to seeing some of the stories refreshed.

Still, that's in the future, for now here's Tiger from September 21st, 1974. 

Tiger 

21st September 1974

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton 

Johnny Cougar's Germany sojourn is over and he's back in Britain on the front cover of this week's edition. He is also on the front page of The Echo newspaper, where his return has an unknown figure most interested. 

This character has plans to create the greatest set-up the wrestling world's ever seen, starting with Johnny Cougar. 

The trouble starts over the page as a gang of thugs attempt to grab Cougar off the street. Cougar is caught unaware, and with Gorton quickly pushed to one side, Cougar is pushed into a car that looks suspiciously like a Morris Marina that my mother used to drive when I was a child. 

Cougar is not one to take such kidnappings lightly, and as the car drives he begins his fight back. Clubbing the guns out of the kidnapper's hands, he then chops the front passenger before grabbing the driver in a headlock. 

The fight is over, and Cougar emerges from the car and sends the kidnappers on their way, just as a breathless Gorton, who has been chasing the car, turns up. 

A fast start to this new story, and although we have seen Cougar fight countless villains over the years, it is still a thrill to see him punching and chopping his way to victory. Even more exciting for me was seeing my dear Mum's old car. The best of British engineering is represented right here on the pages of Johnny Cougar which adds to the 1970s feel of these stories. Things bode well for the future of this story, with Cougar's final comment that he feels he hasn't seen the last of these evil ones pointing to a storyline that may run for some time. We haven't broken any new ground here, and there isn't anything we haven't seen before in the previous year, but already it feels like an improvement on Cougar's Australia and Germany adventures. The future looks bright and I'll be curious to see what comes next.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Listen, you creeps, this is Britain...this sort of thing doesn't happen here!"

Roy Of The Rovers

Rovers are a goal down and it looks as though Tubby Morton has lost his nerve in goal. It is up to Roy to provide leadership and steady the team. 

Another shaky save from Tubby and Roy has seen enough. He decides to play in goal himself (is there anything Roy can't do?) and although he isn't spectacular he does keep a clean sheet for the rest of the match. Not only that, but when Rovers earn a penalty at the other end of the pitch it is Roy who steps up to take it - coolly slotting it home to tie the scores at one-one. 

Game over, and all eyes turn to their European match against the Dutch Chhampoions, Zeeden. There is debate about Tubby, but Tony Storme decides to risk him in goal for the match. 

Roy is doubtful, and on match day as the Dutch team comes onto the pitch, Blackie and Roy make the quick assessment that they look pretty useful, and the Rovers will have to play like world beaters to hold them. 

I did roll my eyes when Roy went into goal, I can't deny it. He is a football superhero once he dons Rover's colours, and without being flashy he did a professional job as a goalkeeper. I did wonder how many times has Roy played in goal over the years, and the next rainy day I shall probably make it my mission to find out - until then, I'm stuck with this story.  The other superhuman ability Roy has is judging a team merely on the way they walk on the pitch. His comment on the level of Zeeden, based purely on the players emerging, was another moment that had me rolling my eyes. A lot of eye-rolling today, maybe Roy has caught me before my cup of tea, and later in the day I would be more accepting, but right now it bothers me. I understand they've scouted their opposition, but the dialogue on the field looks like an instant judgement, and Roy reminded me of a captain I used to play under who would eye the opposition and say "We're definitely losing this one boys." Hardly a comment to inspire a team, and I'm saddened to see Roy go down that same path. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Pheeeew! They look pretty useful, Roy!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

On the run for Kubah Kaln's horsemen, Martin and Tiny find themselves back on the road with the horsemen right behind. 

They find themselves in a village and quickly drive under one of the houses which sit on poles. It's a tight fit but they just squeeze under. Surrounded by the horsemen they are trapped, but some quick thinking from Martin has Tiny tie a rope around some of the hut's struts. As the guards close in, Martin accelerates away, the rope pulling the struts away and the house collapsing on the horsemen. 

Back on track, the boys drive on, eventually reaching a sign for Rangoon, a mere twenty miles away. It seems that this diversion hasn't cost them at all, and thoughts are that they'll be there in half an hour, and in the lead. 

This London to Sydney race has thrown up some great issues. Unfortunately, this isn't one of them. The horsemen chasing Martin and Tiny was fine, but once we reached the village things went downhill in my opinion. The scheme to escape was unbelievable, and the horsemen ineffective - even when they had Martin and Tiny surrounded. Usually, I read these stories with joy in my heart, and perhaps I still have negative feelings from the previous Roy of the Rovers story, but today I found the story flat and joyless. I'm sure this is just an aberration, and I have high hopes that things will pick up next week once our pals reach Rangoon.

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "Stone me...they were waiting for us!"

Skid Solo

Only two races theft in the 1974 World Motor Racing Championship, and Skid Solo has a slight lead as we head into the Canadian Grand Prix. 

Practising for the race, Skid is cut off by an old race car emerging from the pits. He narrowly avoids a collision, but this sets the scene for the race and the rest of the story.

Sandy tells Skid that the old-fashioned race car has been entered in the Grand Prix, and despite protests from all the drivers who have been victims of its lousy driver, the car is allowed to race as it has the required lap times.

Race day unfolds as expected. The old-fashioned car is fast but causes havoc on the track. Several cars are caught up in a collision, Skid avoids all the trouble as he has already built a handy lead.

However, he eventually comes behind this old car and prepares to lap it. It is then that disaster strikes, the driver moves the wrong way and Skid is forced off the track.

The driver of the car is black-flagged and removed from the race, but it is little consolation for Skid, who finishes never makes up the time and finishes fifth.

The race is over, and there is no sign of the reckless driver. He has left an apology note, but with only eight points between the top four drivers, he may have cost Skid the championship.

A strange story. We never learn the identity of the mysterious driver, and there is no explanation of why he has entered an old car in the race, or why he drove so recklessly. It's unsatisfying, although, on the positive side, it does set us up for the final race. Next week will be the build-up for that race, and I assume there will be some rising tensions in the lead-up. This story had Grand Prix action, but for the first time this season, I am disappointed with what I see. Like Martin's Marvellous Mini, this feels out of character, and I can only hope for redemption in the next issue. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "Get that idiot off th' track...before he breaks every car in sight!"

Tallon Of The Track

Pop star Sven Jansson performed well when he tried out for the Ospreys team, but at the race meeting, he has disappointed thus far.

Jo is furious and confronts him about this lack of speed in the first race, and all he can do is meekly apologise and promise to do better. 

The rest of the team rides well, with Dave Trent doing particularly well in his race, and by the time it comes to Sven's second race, Ospreys have an overall lead. 

This time he is much faster, and for the first two laps looks good. Later in the race though he slows down and all of the opposition go by him. 

Once again Jo confronts him, and after some weak excuses, Sven finally admits that he has found a note on his bike, threatening him to give up on speedway and stick to his pop career. 

This story is similar to the story of Charlie Carter in Roy Of The Rovers, as both characters struggle to straddle the worlds of pop and sport. I have suspicions that there may be a manager pulling strings in the background of this story, but we shall see in the coming weeks as things progress. It was nice to see some on-track action, and although I'm not currently thrilled with the story I do enjoy that aspect of it. Next week shapes up to be make or break, fingers crossed we get a strong issue.

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "Okay, mister fancy-pants, let's have some real effort this time!"

Football Family Robinson

The saga of the cursed pagan head continues in The Football Family Robinson. The family thought they had seen the last of the statue's head as they tossed it from the van in the last issue, but on the first page of this week's story, it reappears, carried into the stadium by faithful fans.

It's not a smooth return, one of the fans takes a tumble the head falls forward onto the field where Giraffe accidentally kicks it. As the family gathers around the injured Giraffe the fans surround them expecting a reward. Ma provides the rewards, but once the fans leave Fred shows the family's true feelings, throwing the head as far as it can, only for it to ricochet off a fence and back through a window. 

With a steam roller in the foreground, Fred picks up the head with the idea to get rid of it for good. 

I think we all know what this idea will be, I believe they call this foreshadowing. It seems too obvious, but anything to get rid of this head and surrounding storyline would be welcome right now. I want to say this story has outstayed its welcome, but the truth is it was never welcome as far as I'm concerned. A year ago Football Family was excellent, now it is plodding along from one dull story to another. The appearance of Digger didn't excite me, and neither did their subsequent adventures heading to Australia. This pagan head story is a new low, even compared to those stories. It may be fifty years on, but as I read my way through 1974 I long for the glory days of the family in '73.

Rating: 4/10

Best line: "You clumsy great clot!" 

The Tigers

Was last week's A Horse Called Ugly the final for that strip? I have reached The Tigers, the final story in this week's comic, and there has been no sign of Joe and Ugly. Perhaps they will be back next week, but if not I wish them a fond farewell - we had some good times together. 

With cricket behind him, Chunky and his two fellow members of the Tigers turn their attention to fell running. 

Beginning in an area cleared for development, Chunky immediately displays his luck. Strolling down a slope towards Biff and Smitthy he trods on an oil-drum, somehow keeping his balance as it rolls down the slope.

An extra burst of luck at the bottom sees Chunky showering his nemesis Burton in mud and rubble, before wiping them all out with the rolling drum. 

With this humourous situation put behind them, Chunky and his pals meet up with the other youth clubs taking part in the fell running event. Ten miles across country, armed with a map and compass, there is plenty of scope for Chunky to get in trouble. Quite what that trouble will be, we will have to wait to find out as he starts slowly, while out in front Burton instructs his cronies to stay at the back and may sure that Chunky stays last. 

I enjoyed the first page more than I care to admit. I'm not normally one for slapstick, but little happened in the second half of the story and the first page was as good as it got. One wonders how much trouble Chunky can get into in the fell race, but with Burton's pals with him, I'm sure there will be plenty of occasions for him to ride his luck. I have never cared too much for The Tigers, but in this mediocre issue of Tiger, it is as good as anything else and can look anyone of these other stories in the eye. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "I'm only last while I'm still behind. I bet it's because I plan it this way." 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 5/10

Best Story: Johnny Cougar 

Best Line: "Now, o weak one...you stop car heap fast...or you feel the strength of the Cougar!"

Best Panel: 

Roy's Sports Quiz: