Tiger 2nd November 1974

I have been happy with the introduction of new football stories to Tiger. Last week I enjoyed them all, and this week I found they overshadowed the older stories in Tiger. I enjoy the balance of sports strips in Tiger, but right now it's football that is doing the heavy lifting. Skid Solo was strong in this issue, but Hot-shot Hamish, Nipper, and Roy of the Rovers were all outstanding. As a football and comic fan, I couldn't be happier right now. As much as I enjoyed A Horse Called Ugly and The Tigers, the current crop of stories has my heart - long may it continue. 

2nd  November 1974

Johnny Cougar

My opinion of the Johnny Cougar and Robin Good storyline improves after seeing it in colour on the front cover of the issue. Resplendent in his green top and scarlet tights, Robin Good looks the part, and a powerful-looking Johnny Cougar throwing him across the ring adds to the drama of the image. 

Within the comic, the wrestling match continues apace. Nothing we haven't seen before and after a page of back and forth Johnny has triumphed.

It is a hollow victory, Robin's men outside the ring are keeping watch and although Johnny wins the bout, he is still forced to follow Robin Good's orders. With Splash still held hostage, Johnny has no choice but to go along with Good's plan and hope there is a chance later for him to make his move. 

Robin Good's plan is simple. There is a road running through the forest and on this road travel many lorries with valuable items. Robin intends on stopping one of these lorries and robbing it of its contents.

This plan is quickly put into effect, and an unsuspecting driver soon finds himself at the end of a sword point as Robin proclaims he is the first victim of the outlaws of the forest.

I liked that this story moved quickly along. The setup in the last couple of weeks wasn't to my taste and it is pleasing to see a fuller story appear that doesn't dwell too much on the silliness.  A good villain, Johnny waiting for his moment, and Splash in peril, the story is delicately placed. There was plenty to enjoy on the page here and we have a great hook to bring us back next week. Several panels here jump out at me as favourites, and I am surprised to find I'm enjoying this much more than I should. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Wake up...Robin Good demands it!"

Billy's Boots

Poor Billy. His big chance to play in front of a scout, and he's forced to wear a normal pair of boots. Without his ancient boots, he is half the player and the first half of the game is cringe-worthy as Billy plays rubbish, including missing a shot at goal just before halftime. 

The scout has seen enough and at halftime he leaves. It's a shame, for at halftime Billy changes his boots. The inevitable happens, and in the second half he plays a blinder. Tackling an opposition player, he dribbles towards goal before setting up his own man to score. He follows this by scoring a goal of his own, before making it a brace with a headed goal in the final minutes. 

Later that day at Groundwood FC the scout is told of Billy's exploits in the second half, scoring two and making the third. The scout is surprised, yet willing to give Billy a second chance with an invite to trial at Wednesday's game. 

The scout is more forgiving than me, and based on Billy's performance in the first half there was no way I would have given him a second chance. Literally a game of two halves, this was entertaining throughout, although I often why Billy's teammates don't question why his play is so hot and cold. When he is good he is very good, but when he is bad he is horrid. With boots in hand, however, the balance is restored for the forthcoming trial game, and I await with interest to see how Billy will manage to misplace or lose them before game day. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Whoever said this kid, Dane, was good...didn't know what he was talking about! Look at that! He missed the ball completely!" 

Roy Of The Rovers 

Melchester Rovers are running riot against Branfield. Roy scores a goal from a free kick which puts them three-nil up, and there is time for another before the referee finally blows his whistle at four-nil. 

This is merely the backdrop to the real story which is the next game in the European Cup Winners Cup. Tony Storme comes out looking in a state of shock and when probed tells the team that they have drawn Carford in the next round, and a showdown against the Carford manager Archie Miller. 

As Roy drives Jimmy Slade home we find out the reason for the tensions between Tony Storme and Archie Miller. It all springs from an event six years ago, when Tony Storme was playing for his club, Walford. With the English selectors in attendance, he needed a good game to secure his first English cap. Archie Miller was in the opposition team, with his position in the English team under threat from Tony Storme. Tony Storme was in possession when Archie Miller hit him with a bad tackle, so bad it ended Tony's career. 

Although Miller claimed it was an accident, many saw it as a deliberate act to save his English place. The bad publicity also had a negative effect on Archie Miller's career, and he retired shortly after and turned to management. That too has been fraught and he hasn't had much league success as Carford is struggling at the bottom of the second division. 

The game is seen as a chance for revenge for both managers, and as they emerge from the tunnel on game day both are stony-faced and can't even look at each other. The game kicks off as some of the onlookers speculate that this could become rough and someone may get sent off.

An excellent, and believable, football story. Adding some backstory for Tony Storme was a good touch and helped round out an already solid character. Likewise with his opposing number Archie Miller. Their introduction last week was a little on the nose and this week helped readdress the balance. The flashback worked well, as did having Roy explain it to Jimmy Slade. A very solid storyline, and one I hope will be kept up for the coming weeks. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Gosh, Roy! Are you saying that Miller nailed Tony deliberately...to save his England place?" 

Hot-shot Hamish 

The homemade medicine given to restore Hamish after he accidentally knocked himself out is working beyond all expectations. Hamish is steaming about the field against the Spanish team, calling for the ball at every opportunity. 

Hamish is lining up his hot-shot once again when he suddenly collapses. The local who gave him the medicine explains that it works well on his horses, but perhaps it is too strong for humans. It looks as if Hamish will now be asleep until the next day, and he is stretchered off the field and back to his hotel bed. 

The next morning Hamish is still asleep and no one can shake him awake. Leaving him to it, the manager leaves his passport and airline ticket inside the bed along with a message in an envelope. 

Waking up late, Hamish accidentally knocks the envelope unseen into the waste paper bin. In the lobby, he is told the team has left without him, and Mr McWhacker has said that he will find his own way back when he wakes up.

Hamish is confused by this and strides outside on his own wondering what he will do next. Half an hour after leaving, the staff find his envelope with the message, passport and tickets. It's too late, but they think that he will return soon to collect it. However, Hamish is unaware of all of this and is right now hitching a lift on the back to a lorry bound for Madrid. 

A mildly amusing story, softly told, it warmed the cockles of my heart to see Hamish in Spain. The opening page of football action wasn't what I expected, and the meat of the story was the second page when Hamish was abandoned at the hotel. The imagery captured it all perfectly, and the best panel for my money was the one when he first walks out of the hotel on his own. The shaky old lorry taking him to Madrid was also well-drawn and captured the spirit of the whole strip in a single panel. Low on drama, but lovely to look at and read this is just the tonic after a tough day at work. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Excuse me, mon...but where's ma football team? I cannae find them anywhere!" 

Skid Solo 

Skid Solo is certainly well connected and this week he and his team have an all-expenses paid trip to California to stay at the home of American millionaire J.J. Sapperton.  

Picked up from the airport by a chauffeured driven car they are soon sitting poolside with J.J., Sapperton, while his daughter swims laps. Sapperton offers them a couple of options for the afternoon, they can stay here and swim, go for a trip around the estate, or go diving with his daughter Muriel. 

Skid and Sparrow elect to go for a trip around the estate, while Sandy decides he would like to go diving with Muriel. He is teased about this by Sparrow, but as Sandy points out, it's not a crime to enjoy the company of lovely young ladies. 

Skid and Sparrow have a great time touring the estate in a dune buggy, Sapperton's land stretches all the way to the mountains and there are cattle grazing on a lot of it. Coming over a hill, Skid and Sparrow see a couple of parachutists coming down. One of them is in trouble with the wind blowing him around, and Skid drives quickly in the buggy towards the lake, arriving just as the parachutist snags in a tree and then crashes into the water.

Skid and Sparrow are surprised when it is Sandy that emerges from the lake. The diving that that girl promised wasn't what he expected - it was skydiving, a revelation we end the strip with. 

A sweet little story, there were many things I liked about it. Once again it features a woman, something we are seeing more often in Skid Solo. This makes it feel less like a boys club and positions the strip closer to the real world. I also enjoyed the hint that Sandy was romantically interested in her, something we don't usually see in Tiger asides from Roy and Penny. The rough time Sparrow gave Sandy was believable and would have spoken to any young man reading the strip. I know it's certainly what I would have done at the time. No car racing, but plenty of human interaction, this is another case of the strip rounding out the character of Skid and his friends, and it only adds to the involvement of the reader when the racing season comes back around. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Oooh! I never knew you went out with girls, Sandy!"

Nipper

Nipper is about to face the wrath of his manager as he comes off the field at half-time, with his drive for the goal-scoring record foremost on everyone's mind. 

Nipper apologises straight away, pointing out that it's the schoolboy fans who are yelling about the record, not him. In the dressing room, Nipper pulls out the newspaper, showing the team that it's all Brain Crawford's, the reporter, fault for building it up to something it's not. 

Andy Stewart resents being spoken to like that, and it's only intervention from other team members that prevents things from escalating. Stewart agrees that Crawford needs a talking to and Nipper is off the hook for now. 

Back out for the second half, Nipper has a point to prove. He is fired up, but so too are the Sandford players, and for all Nipper's efforts, all he gets is harder and harder tackles. Eventually, he has taken so many knocks that all Andy Stewart can do is pull him off.

Nipper doesn't wait around to speak to the other players. He quickly grabs his clothes and heads out of the stadium with nothing but the thought of sorting out Brian Crawford for once and for all. 

All the football stories this week are strong, and this is another example. Perhaps my bias towards football is showing but they do seem to be half a step ahead of everything else. I am actively engaged with this storyline and I am intrigued to see how it will play out. The on-field action is fine, buts it is the close-up of the faces that sell the story to me, and seeing plenty of Nipper's stormy face and the granite Andy Stewart spoke to me just as much as anything that happened with a football. Next week I expect a showdown, and can't wait to see the expressions of all those involved.

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "No thanks, Ron! A few bruises never hurt anyone! Besides, I'm in a hurry..!"

Tallon Of The Track

One heat down, and the scores are level between Ospreys and Marsden. Jo Tallon is already gloomy, with many reserves in the team she is concerned that Marsden will slowly take them apart. 

By the end of twelve heats, this hasn't eventuated and the Ospreys lead by thirty-seven points to thirty-five. With a trip to Australia on the line, Jo can barely watch the final race. It is a close run thing, but Ospreys snatch victory and their trip to Australia is secured. 

Not much happening here, and I didn't feel any compulsion to rapidly turn the page to see what happened next. Even Jo wasn't interested in what was happening on the track. After one heat they were level, and then we jump to the final race and they were still neck and neck. The final race was only three panels, so there was no sense of build-up or anticipation, and I think most people would have known early on what the outcome would be. Once again we have a Tiger story heading off to the mythical Australia, and I can only hope something a little more thrilling happens there.

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "Rubbish! With the promise of a free trip to Aussie our lads are going to ride like dingbats!" 

Martin's Marvellous Mini 

Meanwhile, in Australia, two other Tiger characters are facing their own trials and tribulations as Martin and Tiny start repairing their poor mini George. 

We don't see much of these repairs and are told that a week later the repairs are complete and the pals lay on a bit of a party for their hosts. Cakes are eaten, teas drunk, and the two boys are invited to take part in the rancher's race. It is a rugged cross-country affair in which last year only three vehicles out of thirty finished. 

I expect Martin and Tiny to say no, but they instantly agree to the two-hundred-mile race. The official in charge of the race doesn't think much of their chances but he agrees to sign them up and the next morning at nine o'clock they are on the starting line and ready to start. 

It's a rough start, all the other vehicles are much bigger, and they make their intentions of squashing George clear from the start. Martin decides the best course of action is to get clear of the others, and with a burst of speed, he makes sure he is well clear of the other vehicles. Things are going well with his skills and George's manoeuvrability,  but as they crest a hill they find themselves speeding around a series of large boulders. 

We are still not back to the colourised version of Martin's Marvellous Mini, but the story itself carries plenty of colour. We had stagnated the last couple of weeks, so I am relieved to see us propelled into a dynamic storyline for this issue. A couple of panels of George at his best, and the usual expressions from Martin and Tiny to go with it, were all I ever needed. Throw in some food and tea and we are back to basics for the strip. This could be the start of a great story, next week we will know better, but for now, I am content with what I see on the page. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "We don't fool around, either, boys...we drive kinda rough out here!" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6.5/10

Best Story: Hot Shot Hamish 

Best Line: "Och, there's no need for ye to start grinning and making funny remarks! It's no' a crime for a mon to enjoy the company o' a young lady now and again..."

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 26th October 1974

 It's my favourite day of the year - the first day of the football season. I have to wait until the last game of the round to see my team play, I can only cross my fingers and hope we get the football action I crave. Back on the pages of Tiger, there is plenty of football action to indulge in, with four of the eight stories being football-centric. Not all of it is Premier League level, but the entertainment level is much higher -you don't get many nil-all draws in Tiger. In the real world it's only two hours until kick-off, let's jump in quickly and see what's happening in Tiger back in 1974.

26th October 1974

Skid Solo

We are at the champions race and it's the usual situation with Skid leading and Sparrow sitting second. Things don't stay this way for long as one of Skid's tyres shreds itself and Skid is forced to pit. It's a quick change and twenty seconds later Skid is back on the track, now behind Sparrow.

As the on-track racing continues, Sandy receives a phone call from London. It's the Sports Star of the Year award, and the caller enlists Sandy's help to get the winner to the prize-giving dinner. There's just one catch. It's a secret, even to the winner, and Sandy is going to have to be canny to get the winner there without raising suspicion.

Back at the race and Skid is making a final surge to catch up with Sparrow. He almost succeeds on the final lap, and in a photo finish, they end in a dead heat. 

As the drivers congratulate one another, Sandy pulls Skid aside and tells him that Sparrow has won the Sports Star of the Year award. Skid is immediately on the same wavelength as Sandy, and when Sandy slyly asks Sparrow if he would like to go out for dinner that night Skid does his best to encourage him.

Sandy tells Sparrow he must dress up for the occasion, and Skid pushes him along, telling him he has ten minutes to get ready. The surprise is sprung soon after as they enter the awards dinner. Sparrow is surprised, but the ever-crafty Sandy tells them it might be fun, they may even know the winner. 

He is right, and after a preamble from the MC the winner is announced - Skid Solo! Sandy and Sparrow have both been in on it, and it is Skid who has been tricked into attending.

Not the racing story we expect from Skid Solo, but the perfect twist that I have come to enjoy so much in these off-season stories. The cover was misleading, yet a nice hook to draw us in, with Skid's car shredding its tire midrace. The race itself was good. It was not compelling but offered just enough for Skid Solo fans to see their hero in action. The crux of the story was in the final few panels, and this was the most enjoyable part of the story for me. Once again we got to see Skid dressed to the nines (the last time was just a couple of weeks ago when he went to Buckingham Palace) and both he and Sandy scrub up very nicely. An excellent final twist almost lifted this to the same level as a Skid Solo Grand Prix race issue, and I found it charming and enjoyable. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "You--you twisters! You knew! Both of you..." 

Nipper

The captions to the first two panels of this week's story tell us everything we need to know about Nipper. Sixteen years old, idol of Blackport, five feet four inches of fiery-tempered aggression. Ah yes, that's the Nipper I know and love.

We also learn that Nipper is on his way to breaking the club record of fifty-four goals in a season and already has nine under his belt. Make that ten, as he slots home another with his favourite shot - the horizontal bicycle kick. 

Adored by the fans, not everyone watching is enamoured by his exploits. In the press box sports reporter Brian Crawford watches on, just waiting for Nipper to crack under the pressure. 

Yelling at the crowd, Nipper misses the pass coming his way, surrendering possession and almost a goal. He is only saved by his goalie, Don Wilson, who bravely dives at the feet of the attacking player. 

As halftime is whistled, Nipper walks off the field towards the stormy-faced manager Andy Steward. It looks like he might be in for a rough talk at halftime. 

Last week I said I would like to meet more of Nipper's surrounding cast and I get that this week as we meet a couple more of his teammates, his fans, Brian Crawford, and most critically, Andy Steward. All will play their various parts in the coming years, and this is a great issue for settling them all out and giving us an idea of what they are made of. Andy Stewart is an instant favourite, and if a picture is worth a thousand words then the final panel is worth a thousand angry ones. Nothing groundbreaking here, just a lot of information to digest. We are building nicely to the next issue, and I can't wait to see the talking to Nipper is going to get. It's going to make Alex Ferguson's hairdryer treatment seem like a quiet fireside chat.

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "I can't help it, Skipper! Everyone is on at me about that perishing record these days...!" 

Tallon Of The Track

Everyone loves a good crash in Tallon of the Track, and the opening image of two bikes spilling into each immediately gets my pulse racing. 

It is Sven Jansson and Jim Foster of the Ospreys and it's only the sheer skill of the opposing riders that saves them from serious injury. Even so, their injuries are serious enough and Jim Foster is taken from the track in an ambulance. 

The heat is called off, and the race restarts. Sven Jansson is shaken, but courageously rides on, and manages the unthinkable; holding the two Marsden riders at bay and winning the points for the Ospreys.

He is happy with his victory and boldly tells Jo that there is still a chance to win the meeting, Jo is far from convinced and reminds them that now with three reserve riders riding, it's just not possible to keep up the pace. 

Tallon of the Track only has a page and a half, not a lot of room to spin a story. There is enough here to advance the story, although a lot of was dealing with the crash. Everything takes time and panels, and by the time we had cleared the track and prepared for the restart, we were already over to the second page. It made it hard to truly lose myself in the story. Just as I thought something was about to happen we were down and I'm forced to wait until next week. I hope in future issues this story will get more time on the page to breathe, although at this stage it doesn't seem likely. A fine story, frustratingly all too short. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "Another couple of seconds and his nerve will break! It's got to!" 

Roy Of The Rovers

With a minibus skidding toward them through the driving rain at Melchester Airport, Roy and his Rovers must think quickly. It is Roy who reacts fastest, throwing a large kit hamper in front of the minibus, which not only breaks its speed but also makes the bus skid away from them.

It's a breathless start, but the story slows after this action. The driver of the bus comes face to face with Tony Storme and it is his old nemesis Archie Miller, manager of Carford City. Terse words are exchanged and later while Roy talks to Jimmy Slade he hints at some history between Archie Miller and Tony Storme, going back to their playing days. Roy promises to tell more, but only if Jimmy has a good game on Saturday.

This seems to inspire Jimmy, and he plays a blinder. And while on the field Rovers go two-nil up, in the back office Ben Galloway waits for the draw of the next round of the European Cup to be made. Phone pressed to his ear, he has a shocked expression as he tells Tony Storme he won't believe who they've drawn. 

I think we all have a pretty good idea of who that might be, with plenty of foreshadowing on the first page of the comic. It's not rocket science, but it is highly enjoyable, and I'm just as curious as Jimmy Slade to learn about the back story between Tony Storme and Archie Miller. The drama of the minivan came and went all too fast, and it didn't feel like a real threat, although it was a  nice fish hook to get us here from the end of last week and introduce us to Archie. The rainy scenes were the best panels of the story, and after this, we were sadly reduced to a lot of talking heads, broken up by two panels of Jimmy Slade's on-field exploits. I don't expect to be surprised by next week's draw and the best I can hope for is some more lovely-looking art and the promise of future conflict. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Well, I'll be...Archie Miller! You alright old son?"

Hot Shot Hamish 

Poor old Hamish. He saved a goal but knocked himself out in the process. Laying prone on the ground, the coaching staff attend to him while down the sideline comes running one of the villagers that Hamish helped earlier in the day. The villager carries a large bottle and although he tells them he isn't a medic, he does have the medicine that will restore Hamish to full fitness.

Mr McWhacker is doubtful, yet before he can do anything Hamish has grabbed the bottle and consumed all of its horrible-tasting contents.  Seconds later Hamish is back on his feet and running into the field. Tackling one of his own men, he dribbles towards the goal and hits his famous hotshot.

The goalkeeper gets his hand to it, something he regrets as the shot crushes his hand against the goalpost before the ball rebounds back into action. Bouncing like a pinball, it wipes out half the Spanish side and we end the strip with Hamish surveying the bodies on the field and appealing to the ref that he's done nothing wrong. The ref agrees, but Hamish must still face the angry crowd who hurl rubbish and abuse at him. 

Excellent, Excellent, excellent. I think this may be the first time we have seen the hotshot since Hamish arrived on the pages of Tiger. It was worth the wait and provided a great demonstration of the power of his shot, and what the story is all about. Hamish is an innocent in possession of great power, and although it is a fearsome force he remains humble and apologetic throughout. I enjoyed seeing his body language and apology after hitting the hotshot, although just a page earlier I silently cheered as he struck it. We will be seeing plenty more of the hotshot in the next ten years, and every time will be just as thrilling as this. The man has finally lived up to his name, and I'm more than happy to see it., 

Rating: 8.5/10

Best line: "Och, awa'! Hamish has taken oot half the Spanish side..." 

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

Johnny Cougar is weird and getting weirder. Something I would normally applaud, but this week I'm not so sure...

Johnny is facing off against Robin Good, a man who has based his whole schtick on Robin Hood of long ago. Facing off against Johnny on a fallen tree across a stream, we have a direct copy of Robin Hood facing Little John, and just like in that ancient story, it is the bigger man, in this case Johnny Cougar, who wins the fight.

That's not the end of it, and although Robin Good has been dunked in the river, Johnny and Splash are still prisoners and Robin's men surround them. Armed with bows and arrows, the men offer no chance of escape for Johnny and Splash. 

Back at the outlaw's camp, Johnny and Spalsh are placed in a wooden cage, while Robin shows off the wrestling ring they have constructed to keep themselves fit. Robin invites Johnny to take him on in the ring and from here on next week's issue practically writes itself. 

I love Robin Hood. I love Johnny Cougar. I'm not sure I love the two of them together. Scratch that - I'm sure I don't like the two of them together. Sure, next week will be wrestling action. It will also be men running around in tights in the modern day. It might be fine for some people, but sadly it's not for me. One thing that is for me is the art. I said it last week and I'll say it again, the artwork is stunning throughout Johnny Cougar and every panel is brimming with intense detail. This was the strip where I paid the least attention to the storyline, but on the other hand, I paid the most attention to the art. Splendid throughout and my only wish is that it had a better story paired with it.

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Cougar not wish to remember. Time to stop this foolishness!"  

Martin's Marvellous Mini 

Martin and Tiny had a smashing arrival at the reception for the rally drivers last week, crashing in the middle of the dining table. All eyes are looking accusingly as they climb out of the car, and it looks as though they may be thrown out for gate crashing.

Keen to prove their identity they jump in a nearby mini with the intention of showing the crowds they are who they say they are,. After a quick spin across the lawn, they find themselves driving up the entrance steps to the reception hall and through the lobby. A quick detour through the kitchen and they soon appear on the other side of the building, now speeding towards the pond. By chance, there is a pair of statues of leaping dolphins, and they use these as a ramp to jump the pond. 

Coming to a halt in front of the crowd, they receive a round of applause- the crowd is now convinced they are who they say they are. We end the comic on a high as a cheque is presented to the winner, sadly not Martin and Tiny, before the master of ceremonies reminds everyone that Mr Carltion had promised a five thousand pound prize to Martin and Tiny if they finished ahead of his Carlton Cars, which they have done. Presented with a five thousand pound cheque the boys are ecstatic with shouts that they had forgotten about that and now they are rich. 

Hmmm, they forgot but did the writers also forget? It is now several weeks since the race and this seems like a sudden call back after seeing the boys struggle for money. I'm pleased with the outcome, although the rest of the story never grabbed me. The car action was easy on the eye, yet it meant nothing in regard to the overall story. With money in hand, our two pals can now move on and hopefully once again embark on a wider journey. The London to Sydney Rally was great, but since we have finished the story has stagnated. Here's hoping for a reboot next week and a nice juicy storyline for Martin and Tiny. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "What on earth are those two dreadful men up to now?"

Billy's Boots

Billy is still playing in the charity match against the police team, and in the first panels of this week's strip, we see him win a penalty and convert the goal. 

The next morning at Billy's school the headmaster receives a call from local scout Harry Pope. Although the headmaster can't see Billy's name on any of the school's teams, Harry asks if he could see him play in his next school match.

Calling the sports master to his office, the headmaster tells him to play Billy in the next game and although the sports master tells him that Billy has been out of form recently he agrees to do so. 

The day arrives, and when the referee inspects the boys' boots before the game he tells Billy he needs to fix some of the nails in his old boots. There is barely enough time before kickoff, and Billy is handed a pair of normal boots and sent onto the field. 

With the scout watching on, Billy blazes his first shot well wide of the goal. He is feeling powerless without his special boots, and his confidence takes another blow when one of his teammates tells him there is a scout watching. 

Typical of Billy Dane and Billy's Boots in general. He has his moment in the sun and invariably something happens to his boots and he must play without them. It's the premise of this whole strip and something we will see time and time again. I'm happy with that, this is what I want to read and part of the fun is seeing how the writers can mix it up and make it interesting each variation. I don't feel any real drama or urgency to read the next issue, it will be what it will be. Enjoyable, but hardly taxing. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Dane? He doesn't seem to be in our school team...I've got a team-list here in my hand..." 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6.5/10

Best Story: Hot Shot Hamish 

Best Line: "Please, Senor, in my village I am el medico...not a proper doctor, you understand...but I have the healing skills!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 19th October 1974

Last week we had three new stories appear in Tiger, and every other story began a new storyline. It was a lot to take in and an upheaval, but this week things settle down and we get a better feel for how things stand now that the dust has settled. All the stories are still in the early stages, but the characters are more familiar and we can already see where we are heading in several stories. It is an exciting time to be reading, anything could happen and a couple of stories are already delivering the unexpected. Here's what I found in this issue from the 19th of October 1974:

19th October 1974

Roy Of The Rovers

Once again, it is Roy and his Rovers that are the lead story of the comic. With the match against Dutch team Zeeden still in the balance, goalkeeper Tubby Morton is carried off, only to be replaced by the dynamic Charlie 'the Cat' Carter. 

Charlie lives up to his name, and for the next page he pulls off a series of outstanding saves that keeps Melchester Rovers in the game. Finally, manager Tony Storme decides it's time to go on attack and signalling to the team he pushes eight attackers forward. 

It is a decisive move and pays dividends as Roy scores the winning goal, a spectacular effort that sees him pushed over by an opponent, only to do a roll and pop back up to strike the ball home. 

With the game won, the only problem facing Rovers is which keeper will be number one. It turns out to be a non-issue, as Tubby tells Charlie that the position is all his - Tubby is off to manage the "A' team. 

It looks like there will be very little drama in the issue, but in the final panels the Rovers arrive back in England during a downpour. As the players run through the rain towards their coach, there is a screech of brakes and a skidding mini-bus heads directly at them. 

And here I was thinking we were going to get a happy ending - I should have known better. It certainly is a great hook to bring me back next week, although you know I don't need too much convincing on that front. I enjoyed the wrapping up of the two goalkeepers' storylines, we have gone from having both goalkeepers potentially out of action, to both fully fit and putting on fine displays. I'm pleased that we've gone with Charlie Carter, Tubby Carter was just a little too old school for a younger reader like myself. With the i's dotted and t's crossed, I'm already to immerse myself in the next storyline, and the last panel of this week already has me salivating. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "That's shaken 'em...I bet they didn't bank on us having two world-class goalkeepers!"

Billy's Boots

Billy Dane was calling for a pass from the senior players of the charity team he was playing for when we last saw him last week. This week the cliffhanger is resolved...he receives the pass he was calling for. From here it's his ancient boots that take over, as Billy dibbles towards the corner, drawing the defence with him, before back-heeling the ball infield for George Ward to score a simple goal. 

He is briefly a hero, but a few minutes later is caught daydreaming of scoring goals himself. From a throw-in, Billy runs down the line, again drawing defenders and allowing his team to gather momentum. Receiving a lob pass from his teammate, Billy strikes the ball first time to score a cracking goal himself. 

Surrounded by teammates, some of the other players comment on how good he is, and we end with one player promising to tell Harry Pope, the Groundwood Town scout, how good this kid is. 

I enjoyed this much more than last week, and it is beginning to shape up like the Billy's Boots stories I grew up reading. I could practically write the next issue myself about what will happen with the scout, but I should relax and enjoy what we have on the page here. Not the same intense football action as Roy Of The Rovers, but still fun to see Billy in action. The moves he does on the field are like any schoolboy, and there is a hint of authenticity about the way he plays the game. Once we get this charity game out of the way we should get back to seeing Billy in his natural environment and more of this schoolboy action. I'm looking forward to seeing Billy's world expand, and become the familiar landscape I know so well.

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "He's got a bit of nerve, yelling at George Ward like that!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

We're still in black and white I'm afraid, but already it looks clearer and better on the page than last week. They may have some cash, but Tiny and Martin are still struggling far from home and repairs on George imminent. 

Luckily a strapping Aussie offers them his shed for a few dollars a week where they can repair George while pointing them towards a cheap hotel just down the road.

Things are looking up, and soon they have George stripped back and a list of parts they need. In the house, their Aussie host sees a news bulletin telling of a Government reception about to be held for the London-Sydney rally. Martin and Tiny appear on screen as the news reader informs us that they haven't been seen since the rally, but it is hoped they will be at the reception. 

Chances seem slim, given that George is in pieces, but the Australian offers to tow them with his tractor. Donning their suits, which have been in the boot since they left London, Tiny and Martin don't feel particularly smart, but the Aussie reassures them that it will be fine, in Australia they don't pay too much attention to that. 

They make good time being towed behind the tractor, and despite a couple of security guards trying to bar their entrance, the tractor ploughs straight in. It is here that things go awry with the tow rope snapping and we end with Tiny and Martin crashing into the dining table and assembled guests.  

Tiger loves a good Australian stereotype, and here the Aussie host is played to the hilt. With a healthy disregard for authority and a no-worries attitude, their unnamed host is the hero of the story for me. He gets some great lines, and it would be easy for me to use five or six of his lines for my line of the week. Elsewhere, the artwork was looking as sharp as ever, and I simply cannot wait to see the strip return to colour. Sadly, patience is a virtue I do not have.  We had some good old-fashioned homeliness early in the story, a dramatic ride, and ended with a semi-humourous, semi-dramatic, crash. I couldn't ask for anything more, and after a weak issue last week we are back to the best of Martin's Marvellous Mini.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Hey, you tramps, get that tractor out of here...this is an official reception!"

Hot-shot Hamish 

Hamish and Princes Park are in Spain, and this week we learn the name of the team they are playing against - San Martine. San Martine is big, strong, and fast. Before we know it, they have shoved Hamish over and slammed home their first goal. 

Things don't get any better, and soon enough San Martine is on the attack again. Chipping the keeper, it looks like Princes Park is about to go two-nil down, only for a desperately diving Hamish to save the day with a goal-line clearance. He may have saved the goal, but he can't save himself and is knocked unconscious as he hits the goalpost.

Not a lot to talk about in regards to story here, but this was a highly enjoyable strip throughout. The humour wasn't overplayed, and we learnt a little more about the team and the characters, Hamish is extremely likeable, and one can see why the foreign fans are drawn to him. He is aware of himself and his teammates and conscious of the wider audience watching. We see him doing his best, and even if things don't work out, one still feels for him. The art doesn't overplay the action (although in future years it will become overly cartoony) and I am beginning to wonder if this is the best that Hot-shot Hamish ever will be. Only a page and a half, but already I can see why I loved it so much. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Ye great big fat twit! Buck yere ideas up! Ye're too slow to catch a cold!" 

Nipper

After last week's dynamic display, the papers are filled with rumours of Nipper's move to Fenchurch. Nipper himself remains in ignorance of this and rushes off to training, where he faces some angry teammates. 

Ostracised by his teammates, Nipper stands apart on the field, the team refusing to pass the ball. He can't understand why and it's not until a crowd of fans invade the pitch with pleas for Nipper to stay does he see the full picture. 

Nipper doesn't quite connect the dots though, and instead blames his manager Andy Stewart. Thinking that Andy wants to get rid of him, Nipper storms into his office for an angry confrontation. Andy defuses the situation, explaining that rumours and newspaper gossip are all part of the game. Pacified, Nipper remains a Blackport player and is carried back to training by his fans. 

A slight story, but a fine introduction to the characters and the world Nipper inhabits. Next week we should see a longer-running storyline emerge, and we will hopefully see a longer story arc emerge. I like what we have seen of Nipper so far, and I find his quick temper highly relatable. We still need a strong cast of supporting characters around him, again something that will come with time. We have already met a couple and their presence will become stronger as time goes on. From memory, a key part of Nipper's life is his relationship with his best friend, something we have yet to see here. So for now, it's all in the future, but this is a solid start and a likeable couple of pages. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "This must be manager Andy Stewart's decision! If he thinks he can kick me out without a fight - he's mistaken! I'll see him right now!"

Johnny Cougar and Splash Gorton

While exploring the New Forest, Johnny and Splash have come under attack. With arrows flying their way they take shelter in the foliage and wait to see who their attacker is. 

A voice calls at them from the forest, telling them that every move can be seen and that if they come into the open they will be unharmed. Cougar agrees, for surely if the attacker meant them harm he could have done so by now. 

They emerge from hiding and find themselves facing Robin Good, a man dressed like Robin Hood - complete with bow and arrow, who leads a band of outlaws who shelter in the forest.

There is one crucial difference though, Robin Good robs not only the rich but also the poor. He tells Johnny he has a task for him and soon the trio are travelling deeper into the forest. 

Coming to a stream, Robin Good's scheme is outlined. Robin and Johnny climb onto a log that straddles the stream and armed with staffs they prepare to battle. Win or lose, Robin Good tells Johnny he will soon be a leading member of the gang of outlaws. 

Mid-story Johnny said "What nonsense is this?" and I have to agree with him. Nonsense indeed. The first thing that springs to my mind is why is such a man living an outlaw's life in the twentieth century, resplendent in Lincoln Green, and why aren't the authorities doing something about it? Furthermore, how did he immediately know Johnny's name? Right from the first meeting he referred to Johnny as Johnny Cougar, and the only explanation I have is that perhaps this man isn't quite what he seems. There are plenty of positives in the story - the art is fantastic for one. Despite my dislike of this Robin Good character, he looks amazing on the page, and every image of him throughout the story captures my imagination. Of course, comics are a visual medium, and visually the story is stunning. On art alone, I would give it 10/10, but there is more to the story as such, and overall the art doesn't quite compensate for the tale that is being spun. Close to being amazing, but sadly lumbered with a story that doesn't ring true for me.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "It is no nonsense, Johnny Cougar...I am forming an outlaw band who will become as famous as the men in Lincoln Green who used to live in Sherwood Forest!"    

Tallon Of The Track

With two of her team members in an unnecessary accident, Jo and the Osprey's trip to Australia is in jeopardy. The good news is that despite the carnage we see in the first scene, both Dave and Sam are OK. Sure, Dave is in hospital for a week, and Sam has a broken collar bone, but at least they are alive.

They are alive, but they won't be competing in the Osprey's final meet of the season against Marsden Aces. Jo is relying on the other riders to get maximum points in the opening heat to build some confidence in the team, but as they go into the first bend of the first lap Jansson loses control and the two Ospreys riders tangle up. 

The crash we saw in the final panel of last week's issue dominates the story this week, and on the first page of the story, we see the state of the riders as they are pulled from the wreckage. Jo is deeply concerned for her riders but still has time to spell out what this could mean for the trip to Australia. The second part of the strip is more focused on the final meeting, and even though the race itself is merely two panels it certainly propels us into next week. Once again, amazing artwork and my eyes love looking at these pages. Not Jo herself, but the wreckage of the bikes, and the racing on track. All of it is fabulous, and unlike Johnny Cougar, it has a strong story to back it up. After several months of weak stories, we are back to exactly the type of Tallon of the Track story I want to see. 

Rating: 9/10

Best line: "He's trapped down there! Under the shattered timber!" 

Skid Solo

At the end of each season, the car mechanics hold their own race. In the first panel, we have Skid Solo watching on while Sandy speeds by in a neat reversal of what we have seen many times. 

Sadly Skid and Sparrow can't stay to see the race the next day, but Sandy tells them it's fine and he's confident about winning, especially since he prepared his own car. In fact, he's so confident that he tells them to meet him at Jack's restaurant the following day and he'll bring the trophy with him. 

The race goes well for Sandy, and he is in the lead from the start. The laps wheel by and he still retains his lead, until suddenly he is overtaken by a car that is considerably faster than his. 

Sandy can't believe it and despite his best efforts, he can't keep up with the faster car. He finishes second and quickly approaches the other driver to offer congratulations. He is surprised to find that under the crash helmet, the other driver is a woman,. and all he can do is exclaim "A girl!" 

That evening at Jack's restaurant Skid and Sparrow arrive and is shown to a table where sits the woman we have just seen win the race. Sparrow is taken aback and wonders if Sandy has gotten himself a girlfriend. It is then that Sandy appears with the trophy, as promised. However, he has to confess that the trophy isn't his, and belongs to their (oddly) unnamed dining companion. 

So, a girl was good enough to win the race, but not good enough to be given a name. We were so close too, the rest of the story was fantastic. It was great to see Sandy himself on the track, and I enjoyed his discomfort immensely when he saw who had beaten him. I also got a kick out of the restaurant scene, and Sandy sheepishly admitting that the trophy wasn't his. Sure, not giving the girl a name was a mistake, but the rest of the story was strong and I'm sure this was just a small oversight. Not your usual Skid Solo story, but one worth reading. Lovely art, and cracking dialogue all make this worthwhile and gives the comic the finish it deserves. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Well...she's the winner and it's her cup! Let's start eating!" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 8/10

Best Story: Tallon Of The Track 

Best Line: "Stone me! Don't tell me Sandy's got himself a girlfriend!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz 

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: