Tiger 23rd November 1974

The first day of spring has arrived and I feel like a new man. A warm breeze, longer evenings, it won't be long until I'm sitting outside with a cider as I read these comics. On the pages of Tiger, it is quite the opposite as we head into the depths of winter of 1974. Football is at the forefront of everyone's mind, while some of the other summer-based stories are taking in adventures in warmer climates. The obvious exception is Tallon Of The Track, where Jo and her team are facing a frozen joinery across the snowy forests of Russia. Thank goodness I'm reading this in the early spring warmth, otherwise, I might have resorted to putting on an extra jumper.  

23rd November 1974

Skid Solo

Finally, we have some on-track racing again for Skid Solo. After a couple of weeks of trying to get to El Marco for an invitational race, Skid, Saprrow, and Sandy have arrived, although Sandy is far from happy with the cars they have been loaned to race with.

Sacking the Mexican mechanic, Sandy takes it upon himself to fine-tune the cars himself. They aren't perfect by the time the race starts, but they are a lot better than they were. 

News of the mechanics sacking has reached the crowd, and Skid and Sparrow are booed from the start. There is a Mexican driver leading the race, but after he crashes the booing intensifies for Skid and Sparrow as the crowd blame them for the crash.

Skid doesn't wait around after the race, forgoing the victory lap and slipping out the back in a rush to catch his plane. On the race track the angry crowd is pacified by the Mexican driver who tells them that the crash was his own fault and Skid had nothing to do with it. He also explains that Skid has donated his winnings to the town for repairs after the tornado struck and that the sacked mechanic has been rehired.

All ends well with Skid receiving a thank you message at the airport that has been dictated by a staff member from a phone call he has received. There is one final smile as he shows Skid the long list of names that it came from, and he explains it took him hours to write it all down.  

Excellent track racing for this story. The images of Skid and Sparrow duelling with the leader are the highlight of the strip for me. I am less happy with the final punchline, or some of the earlier events that set up the plot. It seemed a little too harsh for Sandy to sack the other mechanic, and in real life a better option would have been to have him help. Of course, this isn't real life, and we wouldn't have got the story we did if this happened. The angry mob was good, and I enjoyed seeing Skid being the bad guy for once, even though it was slight and due to an understanding. The cars on the track got an A+ for me, but everything else fell a little flat and the ending was disappointing given how long this race in El Marco was built up.

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Booooooooo! Go home, Solo and Smith!"

Billy's Boots

Billy Dane has a game for the Groundwood Town youth team on Saturday, but first, he must negotiate a midweek cup game for his school team.

He starts poorly for the school team. The opposing team, Featherdale School, have a tall lanky centre-back, and the player effectively neutralizes everything Billy throws at him. 

In the second half, Billy is moved to the wing, and away from the player. Despite jeers from the opposing fans, this works rather well, especially when Billy intercepts a back pass and scores an equaliser. 

With three minutes of the match left, Billy cuts in from the wing. Other players wonder what he's up to, but he continues dribbling across the field before finally backheeling to a teammate who is denied a goal by a fabulous save. Poor Billy sees none of this as he has been clattered by his opposing man. Now injured, the game ends with Billy seriously in doubt for the game on Saturday. 

Nothing too surprising here. Given how predictable it was, it was surprisingly enjoyable. I liked the seriousness bestowed upon a school match, and the jeering and heckles on the sideline added to the intensity of what was being played out on the field. I expected the winning goal to come from Billy's final play, and I was quite pleased to see it saved. This extends the life of the cup draw and shows that Billy isn't Superman. He is still a worrier, however, and he has plenty to worry about before Saturday's game. The artwork feels cleaner, and paired with some familiar storytelling this is a strong entry for Billy's Boots. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "He's got legs like pieces of elastic! He always manages to get a toe to the ball!"

 

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Martin and Tiny are belting towards the finish line of the Ranchers race, hopeful that they are still in with a chance. There is one final drama left for them, a wrecked bridge over a ravine. What follows is an amazing piece of driving as Martin drives them across the bridge on two wheels, safely making it to the other side. 

With this behind them, the finish line is in sight, and they are overjoyed when they find that they are first over the line. They are less happy when they are told they haven't won and the race has been cancelled due to the other competitors being trapped on the other side of the bushfire. 

Once again broke, they are forced to advise, putting out an advertisement for two rally drivers for hire. This exceeds all expectations and we finish the strip with Martin and Tiny facing three mailbags full of opportunities. 

Not the glorious finish I expected. All that hard work and we are back where we started. The most exciting part of the strip, and the part that dominated most of the panels, was the drive across the broken bridge. This was every bit as dramatic as you might imagine and worthy of any stunt by evil Knievel. Even on the newsprint page, it feels dangerous and exciting, and it is the most memorable thing we have seen for a while. A couple of flat spots, but overall this was a cracking instalment, and next week promises a whole new adventure.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "I'm not even looking!"

Johnny Cougar and Splash Gorton

Johnny has freed Splash from his wooden cage in the forest where he was held by Robin Good and now has a plan of his own in mind to get payback.

Good and his merry men return to find Splash gone and Johnny missing, Before they can make a move, Splash stampedes some wild horses that he and Johnny previously rounded up, and this stampede leaves Good and his men scrambling for safety inside the wooden cage.

It is now that Johnny springs the second part of his plan, and he shuts the door on the cage, trapping Good and all his men inside their own prison. This is the end of the storyline, and the final panel has Johnny Cougar again enthusiastic to get back into some wrestling action.

Me too, Johnny, me too. Thank goodness this is over. Wonderful artwork and some great-looking characters were not quite enough for me to buy this storyline about a modern-day Robin Hood. I wanted to like it, I really did, but it was all too much for me, and this story was doomed as far as my opinion of it went, from the very first issue. I love to see Johnny wrestling, and although he dabbles with bad guys many times over the years, he will always primarily be a wrestler in my eyes. We had snatches of wrestling here and there through this story, but never enough for my liking. Next week should see Johnny return to his roots, and with that my love if the character should return. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "No more holidays! Cougar need to get back to wrestling ring heap fast! Time for grip-and-grapple action!

Roy Of The Rovers

Tony Storme is still feuding with Carford manager Archie Miller as we begin this week's strip. Penny thinks she has found a solution to their problem and shows Roy a book with a relevant paragraph for the two managers. Roy thinks she is right, but when he attempts to show it to Tony Storme, Tony is having none of it.

There is a midweek game, and Tony still hasn't looked at the book Roy gave him. His mood is as foul as ever, and he takes it out on the players. Roy is coming back from injury but subbed off late in the game. Both he and Tony are snappy with each other, but it never develops into anything more. 

Saturday rolls around, and now it's time for the showdown between Melchester Rovers and Carford. The two managers approach each other and it seems trouble is brewing. Archie Miller pointedly tells Tony Storme to make sure the players know it is not a grudge match, but Storme fails to be goaded by him. The stadium is electric as the game kicks off, and it seems anything might happen. 

After a frustrating day at work, I'm not sure I want to see two men sniping and getting angry at each other. I've just had that for nine hours, and I don't need it anymore. My own personal circumstances aside, this is an increase in intensity and a great read. Not much football to speak of, but each panel ramped up the pressure for the game that was to come. Angry Tony Storme was a believable character and fits with some similar people I have known in my time. I was wary of him on the page, and I'd certainly be wary of him in real life. Realism is the name of the game, and I'm totally sold on the story and what will come next. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "All this aggro is even getting to me now! By the time we get to Carford, the strain is going to be unbearable!"

Nipper

Nipper has been suspended for the next six games and fined two hundred pounds for his part in the scuffle at the newspaper office a couple of weeks ago. The disappointed look on his face as he reports this to his teammates speaks volumes and even a serious talk from his pal Mike Beatson fails to lift his spirits. 

A despondent Nipper leaves the ground and goes in search of former player Bill Hammond, who he hopes will be able to shed some light on the club's goals in a season record holder, Manny Hopwood.  Hammond tells Nipper that Manny died a couple of years ago after a troubled life once his career finished. 

Nipper is at a loss at what to do in light of this information and slopes off to think alone. Meanwhile, Andy Stewart has been notified that the England Under 23s selectors are coming to watch Nipper play. With this news, Stewart is forced to select Nipper for the next game, although nobody knows where to find Nipper to pass on the news. Mike Beatson tries the usual places, but Nipper isn't to be found as the strip ends. 

This rounded off some of the things we saw last week and planted new seeds with the arrival of the English selectors and the possibility of Nipper being selected for the under-23 side. It was a bridging episode in which not a lot happened, yet the story hinges on the small amount of information given. For those hoping for drama, this isn't the issue for you, nevertheless, this is crucial for what comes next and a must-read for those following the long story arch.

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "But the whole affair sort of...broke his heart! He became ill, soon afterwards...and never recovered!"

Hot-shot Hamish 

Hamish has rushed back to his island home with his Daddy in order to defend it from the oil men. Trouble awaits them, it's not the oil men, but rather an angry phone call from Mr McWhacker telling Hamish he must be back at Princes Park the following day for the first game of the season. 

Hamish promises he'll be back, and soon enough he and Daddy are on the boat heading for the island. With night upon them, they grab some weapons from their home, a sword in particular catches the eye, and make for the tents where the oil men are asleep. Waking them from their slumber, Daddy threatens them with his weapon raised, and soon enough the outsiders are on the run back to the mainland. 

With the island once again safe, Hamish catches the boat back to the mainland. He is exhausted from the night's exertions and sleeps all the way. It is then onto a plane and a train, before a desperate sprint to the stadium. 

Arriving he finds it is a sellout crowd. There are only minutes to spare, and the guards at the gate fail to recognise him and refuse him entry.  We end the story with Hamish scrambling over the gates while the two guards do their best to stop him. 

 A curious story, I expected much more from the conflict with the oil men. I thought that it would last at least a couple of issues, but instead, the story is about the journey there and back rather than the conflict itself. Although the stay on the island was brief, it did give us some wonderful lines and accompanying artwork. It was the high point of this week's story, and again I feel it was a lost opportunity. A few more weeks of this would have been truly great. Still, Hamish is finally back and almost playing for Princes Park - all is right in the world. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Well, ye've seen them off, Daddy! They couldna' stand the awe-inspiring sight o' a Scotsman on the war-path!" 

Tallon Of The Track 

I would like to say they've saved the best for last, but...hmmm...

With their plane crashing somewhere west of Leningrad, Jo Tallon shows her resourceful side. In order to get to safety she decides they will ride their bikes across the snowy ground. It's pointed out that they have no fuel, some of the passengers can't ride bikes, and the snow is too slushy. Jo has answers for all of this: they can use fuel from the plane, they'll tow a sledge made from an aircraft door for the other passengers, and they'll ride at night when the ground freezes hard. 

With the bikes lined up and towing the makeshift sledge, they head off into the night. Progress is slow as they stop frequently to refuel. The moon fades as they enter the forest and matters take a turn as they hear a howl in the night. Sven and Jo investigate, and we end the story as a pack of wolves appear and make to attack.

This was far from my favourite story last week, and this week is more of the same. I didn't feel the danger from the wolves at the end, and elsewhere it felt like Jo always had everything under control. It was a little too neat for my liking and never paid off with dynamic visuals. A plane crash in the snowy forest of Soviet Russia should scream peril, instead it felt more like a boy scout adventure. I usually like to end on a positive note, but I'm just not sure about next week.   

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "You've got to hand it to the girl, Dave...she thinks of everything! 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Martin's Marvellous Mini 

Best Line: "Come on oot, ye great lump o' Haggis! We've got to get to the plane, the noo!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

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: