Tiger 16th November 1974

The cast of Tiger is spread all over the place this week. Johnny Cougar is still living in the forest with Robin Good, Tallon Of the Track is heading to Russia, and the boys in Martin's Marvellous Mini are caught in an Australian bushfire. For all that though, this is a tepid issue with only a couple of stand-out moments. We seem to have hit a flat spot with several of the stories becalmed by the lack of dramatic winds. All I can do is read on, I know there is exciting tales on the shores ahead of us, we just have to get there.

16th November 1974

Roy Of The Rovers

Melchester Rover's Tony Storme and Archie Miller, the opposing manager of Carford, are about to come to blows on the cover of this week's issue. It is a quick-thinking Roy who saves the day, although he is injured, with a sharply kicked ball into the side of Tony's head, distracting both managers from their fight.

Roy comes off injured as the referee regains control of the previously wild match. Carford centre back, Coggin, is still determined to do some damage to the Rovers side. He pushes his luck one too many times and gets sent off after earning a second yellow card.

With Carford down to ten men, the game is Melchester's. It is the ever-reliable Blackie Grey who scores a second goal that secures the victory. 

Off the field, things aren't so happy. Storme and Miller clash again in a verbal exchange, before Rover's chairman, Ben Galloway, hauls Storme off for another tongue-lashing. This does little for Tony Storme's mood and he takes it out on the team, demanding they have a training session the following morning, in what traditionally is their day off.

Roy is watching from the sidelines, his injury preventing him from taking part, as he ponders a solution to the conflict between the two managers. It is Penny who offers hope as she appears in the final panel, telling Roy she has found one sentence in a book that could sort the whole thing out. 

That must be a powerful sentence because midway through this story it seems nothing could bring Tony Storme and Archie Miller together. There was anger and tension all through this strip, across a variety of people, and it was this tension that pinned the story together. Football was secondary to the verbal exchanges and we had a variety of angles brought up by various characters. I'm always happy to see Blackie score a goal, but elsewhere there wasn't a lot of joy in the comic full of conflict.    

Rating: 6/10

Best Line: "This is fantastic! The two managers are going for each other!"

Skid Solo 

After taking a disastrous detour last week, Skid Solo has finally made it to Mexico. He may have made it to Mexico, but he still must find the town of El Marco where the race is taking place. 

It's a race against time, and Skid seeks the advice of a local as to the shortest route. The route is pointed out, but as Skid drives off the local muses that although it is the shortest route, it is not the fastest route. 

A wild ride through the mountains ensues for the team as they desperately try to make up time, They are further hampered by a puncture, with a large thorn spiking their hopes. 

One rapid wheel change later and the three amigos arrive at El Marco. There is one more challenge for them to face as a tornado descends upon the town at the very moment. With the rest of the townsfolk, they seek shelter in a basement and can only watch on as their car is buried beneath a falling wall. Emerging from safety, they find the car still driveable, and they quickly make for the track. 

The race organiser is pleased to see them, but Skid wonders why no one else is around. The race organiser then explains that he has been trying to contact Skid - he made a mistake with his dates when he wrote to Skid - the race is not today, but tomorrow. We finish with an apology and the race organiser hoping that Skid didn't have too much trouble getting there.

A similar story to last week, with the team struggling to get to where they are going, this did little to excite me. It felt like a retread and unnecessary. The art was great and it was only the plot that I had trouble with. This is par for the course for Skid Solo in the off-season, and without the framework of the Grand Prix Championship some of these smaller stories pale in comparison to the high-octane action of Skid on the track. Next week should be better with the promise of some track action, and I shall put this story behind me.

Rating: 4/10

Best line: "Great jumping Haggis! It's a tornado!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

With a bush fire rapidly approaching a lone ranch house, Tiny and Martin have little time to find out if anyone is at home. Speeding towards the front door they find a boy emerging, unaware of the fire raging nearby. It turns out that his father is also in the house, although he has a broken leg, while the mother is in town with their car. 

Grabbing the cash, their pets, and whatever else they can, the boy, the father, Tiny and Martin, squeeze into George for an escape. It looks like they may have left it too late as the fire has now encircled the house, but Tiny drives them at high speed into the flames. It's a gamble that pays off and although George emerges with some fire damage, they drive directly into a river where they can extinguish any flames and take stock. 

They have emerged unscathed, and driving to the nearest township they encounter the man's wife. He quickly tells her of all that has happened, and how they have lost everything, This tugs at the heartstrings of Tiny and Martin, and after a quick chat they decide to donate the rest of their winnings from their previous race to the couple.

Once again broke, all they can do is continue on with the ranchers' race. Realising that they are only twenty miles away, they head off towards the finish line to see what happens.

A simple story, there was one panel in particular that elevated it. The panel where the rancher tells his wife that they have lost everything as they hold each other on the street is magnificent and adds a wonderfully human moment to the story. This moment could have been told in a number of ways, and this was the most realistic and emotional. The rest of the story is car action as we have come to expect, and very fine action at that, but it didn't come close to this panel at the heart of the story. An unexpected joy, I left the strip with a completely different feeling from what I entered with. I love that this comic can still surprise me, and this was one of the best surprises of recent months. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Helen...our home's gone...everything destroyed! These men saved us..."

Nipper

Nipper has found a vital clue in Crawford's office about why Crawford has it in for him, but it seems it is too late as behind him the long arm of the law has entered the room. 

Nipper reacts instinctively, charging at the newcomer, little realising that he is a policeman. As they pick themselves up, Nipper realises what he has done and he now faces a great deal of trouble.

It is Andy Stewart who has to come down to the police station to bail him out, and as you might imagine he is not pleased at all. One can feel the heat of his red cheeks radiating off the page as he points his finger at Nipper and tells him what he thinks.

Suitably chastised, Nipper returns home where he pulls out the photo he found in Crawford's office. It's a photo of the legendary "Manny" Hopwood, holder of the club's scoring record. Nipper is convinced that there must be a link between Crawford and Hopwood, and is determined to find out what it is.  

The story ends on a down note as after a strong training run Nipper is called into Andy Stewart's office. There he is informed that the editor of the Chronicle has agreed to settle out of court, but only on the condition that Blackport punish Nipper. To this end Nipper is fined two hundred pounds and suspended for the next six games, effectively ending his quest of breaking the goal-scoring record. 

Apart from the incident with the policeman in the first panels, most of this story was dominated by talking heads. Not a bad thing, especially when one of those heads is the always-on-the-verge-of-fury Andy Stewart. Faces have always been the strong point of the Nipper comic, more so than the on-field action, and this week's story once again accentuates this. Angry, surprised, and determined, we see it all here in the most expressive form. The story didn't progress much, but that doesn't bother me too much when we have delightful artwork such as this. Solid rather than spectacular, this is another good instalment for Nipper. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Right, lad! I don't care if you're the greatest footballer in the land - you're flaming well in for it now..!"

Tallon Of The Track

With the 1974 season officially over, the Ospreys are off to Russia to take part in a series of invitational meetings. There is one small delay at the airport as the pop star of the team, Sven Jansson, has to see off his fans, but soon enough they are in the air and bound for Russia. 

Things are fine for the first several hours of the flight until they hit a bad storm. A flash of lightning and the plane is hit, sending it diving out of the sky. The captain mages to pull off a miraculous landing, but as they stumble out of the wreckage they realise that they are two hundred miles from Leningrad. With no food or radio, Jo suggests they unpack their bikes from the cargo hold and ride them the rest of the way to Leningrad. 

I already know that I am going to enjoy next week's strip much more than this one. The prospect of seeing Jo and her team racing across two hundred miles towards Leningrad is a mouth-water prospect indeed. Meanwhile, in the present, I found this story rather plodding. It was all about setting up next week, and the first half of the story was heavily padded, ensuring that Jo's idea for riding to Leningrad occurs on the last panel. On the first page, we have six panels devoted to Sven farewelling his fans, and although it wasn't offensive, it did slow the rest of the story down. I did have flashbacks to Football Family Robinson and their plane crash six months ago, and I certainly hope this story doesn't become as plodding as that one.  It's hard not to look ahead to next week's issue and, much like Skid Solo in this issue, I can't wait to put this issue behind us.

Rating: 4/10

Best line: "A flash of lightning! The 'plane's been hit!"

Hot-shot Hamish 

Playing for a local Spanish team in a derby game, Hamish has found himself fouled, knocked down, and stamped upon. Now one nil down, his Hebridean temper has been aroused, and soon after the restart, he unleashes the hot-shot on the hapless opposition. 

Not only does it restore his dignity, but it also reveals his location to the passing McBrain who is looking for him. McBrain rushes to talk to him, and Hamish promises to return, once he finishes this game of course.

The rest of the game is rough and tumble, and McBrain frets that Hamish will injure himself before his game for Princes Park on Saturday. However, Hamish is made of sturdy stuff and gives as good as he gets, finishing the game uninjured and with a one-one draw. 

Back in Glasgow Hamish returns to his lodgings, only to find his Daddy waiting for him. There's trouble back on the island with oil-men, and Daddy insists that Hamish come back with him to defend the family's pride. Hamish is torn, with the football game the following day, but his Daddy is adamant as we finish the story with Daddy's impassioned plea.

Not as good as the previous weeks, but having Hamish's Daddy adds a new dimension and sharpness to the strip. He is the opposite of the relaxed Hamish, and after a relaxing time in Spain, it seems we are in for a far more intense adventure back on the island. Hamish's time in Spain finished rather abruptly, but it feels like the right time to bring the curtain down on that story. Meanwhile, the appearance of Daddy has injected a new life into the strip, and there is little time to dwell on Spain as we are thrust into the next storyline. Battle lines are being drawn, and it will be interesting to see how Hamish will go over the next few issues. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Football? Ye Canna think about footba' when yer heritage is being taken from ye! Ye're a disgrace to the name o' Balfour! Ye'll come back wi. me...or I'll shake the stuffing oot o' ye, ye Jelly-baby!" 

Johnny Cougar and Splash Gorton

While Robin Good and his men are intent on robbing an armoured van, Johnny Cougar sees his chance to strike back. Stealing through the forest he sneaks up on the cage where his pal Splash is being held. Splash sees him, and calls to the guard causing a distraction.

This distraction is all that Johnny needs, and he surprises the guard from behind. The next page is devoted to them scuffling before Johnny delivers a knockout blow and frees Splash.

We finish with Cougar striding off to give the evil ones "heap good reception" and a surprise they won't forget.

Two and a half pages and almost all of it devoted to Splash in his cage and Johnny working on freeing him. I love wrestling action as much as the next man, perhaps more, but the fight between Johnny and the guard was too long, and and a poor substitute for proper in-ring action. I have never warmed to this story. Last week I thought I had cracked it, but this week is a step down from that and I am back to my negative feelings about it. The sooner Johnny and Splash deal to Robin Good the better and we can move on to something more substantial.

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Great action, Johnny-baby! The U.S. Cavalry couldn't have done it better!"

Billy's Boots

Billy has beaten the opposing centre-half twice and made him look foolish in a trial for Groundwood town. Now Thomson has revenge on his mind and Billy is warned to look out. 

A rough challenge lays Billy out, but once on his feet his old boots work their magic and he scores a goal. This pleases managers and Billy is invited to turn out of the youth team next Saturday. 

The following day at school Billy finds he has been named for the school team for the cup game on Wednesday, The rest of the day Billy dreams of what might happen with a game on both Wednesday and Saturday and then rushes home to read his book on Dead-shot Keen to see if he faced a similar situation. 

He did face a similar situation, and throughout his midweek game he was distracted by thoughts of the weekend game, as well as picking up an injury. In the Saturday game, Dead-shot Keen was never his best, his injury causing him to miss an easy goal. This revelation has Billy in two minds about what he should do in regard to pulling out of one of the matches, and if so which one.

A solid story, there is nothing too taxing here. The football action was good and we saw some of Billy's better play on the field. Off-field we see some of the self-doubt that seems to plague the poor chap, and this is just as revealing and important to the strip as anything else. Billy is never one to know his own mind and spends a great deal of the comic worrying about things. Add his whinyness to the mix and he can be rather unlikable. However I do find him sympathetic rather than annoying, and in this issue that is the side of the fence I come down on. I do hope it goes well for him next week, although it will be a lot more interesting if it doesn't. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Well, there's one thing about this football...it keeps you off the streets! Now eat this up..."

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6/10

Best Story: Martin's Marvellous Mini 

Best Line: "Oh, John...what are we going to do? We've no home...nothing!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: 

Tiger 9th November 1974

 We have an uneven issue on our hands this week. Some stories are improving, some are getting worse, and a couple are at the other end of the scale - almost touching excellence. I don't mind that too much - I would rather have a few excellent stories and some poor ones rather than a comic full of bland middle-of-the-road strips. So, who has scaled the heights in my opinion, and who is sliding down the charts - read on to see who is top of the pops in Tiger this week.  

9th November 1974

Billy's Boots

Billy Dane failed to impress the scout the last time he played, but this week he has been given a second chance and a trial with Groundwood Town FC. 

In usual Billy style, he gets off to a bad start as one of the other players mocks him for the old boots he has. Things escalate quickly, and his new nemesis Stan Thomson throws his boots over the fence and out of the ground. 

Billy runs to retrieve them, which takes some time as they are caught in a hedge, and by the time he gets back the trial has started without him. The scout is angry with his lateness, and Billy is told he can come on at half-time. 

At half-time he comes on as centre forward for the B team, only to find himself up against Stan Thomson, who just so happens to be the best defender in the squad. 

Billy reads the game well and gets into the right positions, but Stan is too strong and knocks him easily off the ball. This changes as the strip reaches its climax. Billy beats him with a nutmeg and instead of going for goal he turns around and beats him a second time before finally scoring. This infuriates Stan, who promises that Billy won't get away with making him look like an idiot.

Nothing unexpected here, and it is everything a Billy's Boots story should be. We had the prerequisite of Billy losing his boots before the game, only to have them restored in time to impress on the pitch. We also had the boots moving him into the right positions, as well as doing something unexpected when the time came. None of it was surprising, and I enjoyed the familiarity of it all. Once again Billy feels very much like a boy, and although he has magic boots, is one of the most relatable characters in Tiger. Difficult to give this a rating as everything was comfortable, but some days that is exactly what I need.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "What's Dane doing now? He's passed Thomson...but now he's turning..."

Roy Of The Rovers

With the tempestuous history between Tony Storme and Archie Miller, the two respective managers of Melchester Rovers and Carford City, the game between the teams in the Cup Winners Cup looks as though it could be a stormy affair.

And so it proves, with Roy subjected to a heavy tackle early on that results in a yellow card to a Carford City player, and a freekick that Blackie lines up from the edge of the box.

With Roy breaking from the Carford City wall, Blackie can slot home the goal through the gap created. It's a clever play and Archie Miller takes it personally. 

So much so that he makes an immediate substitution. On comes Cruncher Coggin, a player he uses when he wants to take out an opposing player - in this case, Roy Race. Roy is wise to this, but still Coggin nails him with an early foul and continues with petty fouls despite a warning from the ref.

Things climax when Roy finally slips past him and manages a shot on goal. It is well saved by the keeper with a dive and it seems that Roy has the upper hand. However, Coggin nails him good and proper from behind with a foul that has the crowd shouting for Coggin to be sent off. 

Especially incensed is Tony Storme, who yells at Archie Miller that it is his fault and he did it on purpose. Archie Miller is having none of it and the strip ends with Miller striding aggressively towards the Melchester manager. 

Another excellent instalment of this story. It has been building up wonderfully, and every page seems to ratchet up the tension further. We had a fine balance between the on-field action and the off-field drama, and the way one fed the other was well done. Roy dominated the football scenes (it is his name in the title after all) but I was pleased to see Blackie Grey back in action and scoring the goal. Lots of positives, with a clean storyline that made sense and some artwork that flowed naturally from this idea. A solid showing, and one of the better stories this week. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "You hot-headed fool, Miller! Stop using this game to work off your grudge against me, before someone is seriously hurt!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini 

Racing across the outback against giant trucks, Martin and Tiny are using George's small size to their advantage, taking an alternative route that has led them into an area of large boulders. They are equal to the task and the hazard is soon negotiated before the next problem arises. 

A river needs crossing, but its investigations show it is too deep for George to cross. Not so for the trucks they are racing against, and the thunder through with ease. 

Martin and Tiny are forced to drive along the bank to find a suitable spot to cross. They find one part of the river where it narrows, and we are treated to the sight of George jumping across the river and successfully landing on the other side. 

It looks like the drama may be over, but our pals see the other races driving in the opposite direction. It soon becomes apparent why when they come across a bushfire. Not only that, but the bushfire is heading directly for a farmhouse where the occupants are completely unaware.

Great to see the boys back in colour, and this added an extra dimension that the story has been lacking the last few weeks. We didn't get as much chumminess as usual, although there was some gentle banter between Tiny and Martin that was familiar. I'm not yet totally on board with race, it still feels one-sided and I'm not quite sure why the boys would want to be involved. On the other hand, it does offer some great set pieces, and we are already veering off into new territory with the fire. Next week should see the story develop further, and I will be interested to see where they take this next.

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "This won't do the suspension much good!" 

Nipper

Nipper is a man with a mission, and his fuming face is how we begin this week's strip as he storms off to confront the reporter Brian Crawford. 

Arriving at the newspaper office things escalate quickly. As angry Nipper finds not  Brian Crawford, but rather his elderly editor Phineas Cringle. Phineas defends his reporter, but Nipper refuses to calm down and things become heated. It climaxes with Nipper pushing the editor to the ground before a punch-up develops between Nipper and the other staff in the office. 

A wild punch sends Nipper reeling to the ground and at that moment he sees Brian Crawford's office. He dives into the office seeking Crawford, while the staff lock him in there and call the police. We finish with Nipper finally smiling as he sees a photograph in the office that may explain why Brian Crawford is having a go at him. 

Drama aplenty, and a brawl at the newspaper office was not quite what I expected as I started this strip. An angry confrontation was on the cards, but I didn't expect it to develop in the way that it did. I don't normally condone violence, but I thought the fight was great and I enjoyed seeing Nipper's rage boil over. Perhaps it's because I could never do such a thing in real life, I enjoyed seeing someone else live out my fantasy. There was a lot of humour in these pages, something that I perhaps haven't given it enough credit for. It lightened the tone and offset the on-page action of the fistfight. Aside from the fight, this humour was a real highlight and something I would like to see much more often through the strip. We are away from the the football field, but the strip is giving us plenty of action and with the wider storyline developing we still have some way to go. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Then lock the door behind him...and telephone the police! I...I'll have that little hooligan charged with assault!" 

Skid Solo

Skid has left Los Angeles since last week's adventure and is now heading south to take part in a race in Mexico. He has to get there first and the story begins with them struggling to navigate their way across the border. Sandy is in charge of the map and looking for the turn-off that will get them there. The next road on the left is marked as "to border" and Sandy instructs Skid to take it. 

The road runs mile after mile, with no sign of the border in sight. We have a lot of arguing among the three about Sandy's map reading skills, but Sandy is adamant they are on the right route. 

They come to an abandoned village, with a large warning that it is a target area and to stay out after November 1st. Before they have a chance to do so, three US jets appear in the sky above them, and soon Skid is driving for his life to avoid the rockets being fired from above. 

They escape after several close calls, and soon find a road that leads in the right direction. They are still bickering about Sandy's map reading, but the strip ends by showing us that Sandy and his map were right. The map did say to border, but what Sadny didn't know was that Border was the name of the township used as a target.

An unusual Skid Solo story, I quite enjoyed it. It was fresh, and I appreciated the artwork featuring the aircraft. I have seen similar tales told in short story form, but seeing it in comic form was new to me. It gave us another look at the dynamics between the three men, and the constant arguing was amusing throughout. I like their friendship as much as the racing on the track, and this was highlighted throughout these two pages. Next week we should get back to some racing, in Mexico no less, and hopefully they will retain this strong human element throughout. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "I'm reading this map, aren't I, mon? It says right here..." to border"! And that's the road we're on!" 

Hot-shot Hamish 

Having lost the rest of his team, Hamish is now trying to hitch-hike home,. It looks pleasant enough, and the strip begins with a couple of locals sharing food and lemonade with Hamish. 

Football rudely interrupts this lunch, as some local lads kicking a ball around encroach on the picnic. 

Hamish joins them and showing some of his professional skills attracts the attention of other villagers. He is quickly invited to play for the village team in an upcoming match that evening. Hamish readily agrees and although the other team oppose his inclusion he is soon kitted out and ready to go. 

He is immediately a target as the other village resents his inclusion, and after being heavily knocked into the ground Hamish can only watch on as they score. He is far from happy, and the strip ends as he promises to himself to fight fire with fire. 

Another delightful strip set in Spain, and although the football all happened on the second page, it was the first page and Hamish interacting with the locals that had me hooked. It all looked so pleasant, and I could easily imagine myself being part of such a scene. In fact, in my travels I have often found myself abroad in a small village kicking a ball around with the locals - it truly is a global game. Back in the pages of Tiger, Hamish's time in Spain may not go much beyond this game as Mr. McWhacker is already making plans to bring him back. I hope Hamish gets to stay on at least a little longer. The warmth of Spain and the strip is just the tonic to get through winter here, and I'm in no hurry to get back to Scotland and Princes Park.  

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Och, ye're great pals! Ye're as good as Scotsmen...and they're the best in the world!" 

Johnny Cougar

Johnny Cougar is still in the woods with Robin Good as the story further develops with the capture of a lorry. Stripping it of all valuables, the outlaws leave the lorry and the tied-up driver and retreat into the forest. They know the police will be searching for it and plan on being far away by the time it is found. Sure enough, the police are pouring resources into the woods in their search, and even enlist a helicopter to help. 

In another part of the forest, the outlaws are happy with the raid and now have enough supplies for many months. It's now time for a little play. Robin Good challenges Johnny with his bow and arrow and delivers a fine shot that splits a sapling. Johnny points out that he was brought up with the bow and arrow and betters Robin Good by splitting his arrow in half with his shot. Far from being upset, Robin Good is delighted and tells Johnny he is a good fit for the outlaw outlaw band. 

The following week there were more raids by the outlaws, now concentrating on money-carrying vehicles. Using explosives to blow the trucks open, the outlaws are grabbing as many riches as they can. However, Johnny has been formulating a plan while watching these attacks and is now ready to start fighting back. 

I'm finally on board with this storyline, and this was the most enjoyable episode yet. Given that there was no wrestling, this was surprising. We had plenty of good moments to fill the void and seeing Johnny with a bow and arrow in hand was an unexpected treat. I feel I have adapted to the story rather than the story changed in any way. Perhaps sometimes we just need to live with a story for a while before we get it. Of course, having such wonderful art each week certainly helps and this was another issue crammed full of visual treats. Now that I'm in sync with the story I look forward to reading next week and seeing Johnny fighting back. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Miserable dog! You are common thieves...so you will pay the penalty for your evil ways!"

Tallon Of The Track

The Ospreys are all ready to fly to Australia this week, but there is one small twist before they can board the plane to the sunny climes of Aussie - they are suddenly offered an all-expenses trip to Russia. 

Some members of the team are interested in this counteroffer, and they put it to a vote. With the voting tied at four apiece between the two destinations, Jo decides the best way to settle the matter is on the track with a race between her and Dave to decide where they'll be travelling. 

It is a close race, and Dave looks to have it sewn up, especially after Jo's goggles are smashed by a stray stone. However, she is tenacious and doesn't let up a bit, managing to pip Dave on the line. With the race won it is decided - the team is off to Russia. 

This was unexpected, and I wonder why it was suddenly decided that the story wouldn't go down the route of an Australian trip. Perhaps it is because Martin and Tiny are already there with Martin's Marvellous Mini. Russia has a story potential, but this issue felt like a waste. It was an issue dedicated to changing the story direction, and although the race was fine, I don't read Tallon Of the Track each week to watch Jo and Dave race each other to make decisions. I wasn't the slightest bit invested in this story, and I can only hope that we get a major storyline once they reach Russia.

Rating: 4/10

Best line:  "To reach a decision I'll race against you! Four laps of the track -  the winner to say which offer we'll accept!"     

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Nipper 

Best Line: "Ye say Hamish has left the hotel...wi-oot his passport? Wi-oot the money I left him? He's hitch-hiking back? Och, the idiot's taken leave o' his senses!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

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: