Tiger 25th January 1975

There is something for everyone on the pages of Tiger, and especially in this issue as each character, story, and sport is well represented with containing storylines.  In real life I don't have time to follow multiple sports, preferring instead to follow only my beloved football and a little wrestling. It was a different story when I was a youngster, and the spread of sports represented in Tiger closely aligned with what I was following at the time. I'm not sure which came first, following the sports on the pages of the comics, or experiencing them in the flesh, but there is no doubt that the two fed into each other, giving me a lifelong love of both sports and comics.  This week the two come together in an exciting issue with an array of thrills, thoughts and feelings. 

Tiger

18th January 1975

Johhny Cougar

It's Johnny Cougar on the cover of this week's issue, emerging from the clear cylinders that he and his opponent, Big Jim Jackson, were placed in to keep them safe from each other last week. 

After this, the fight is on, and Big Jim Jackson starts the stronger of the two. Johnny gets the first attack in, but from then on it's all Jackson, who eventually floors Johnny with a double-handed karate chop. 

Johnny regains his feet by the count of eight and although groggy responds by locking Jackson into a Boston crab. Jackson does his best to resist a submission, but by the end of the strip he has tapped out, and Johhny leads the bout by one submission. 

The opening picture of the two competitors emerging from their cylinders was a weak start and perhaps we would have been better to start with something a little more dramatic. The drama of the strip lay within the fight itself, and we started well with some heavy blows. The final submission of Jackson in a Boston crab was well done, and we were faced with a page of this hold as panel after panel Johnny applied the pressure. It could have been boring, but for me, it added to the tension as we could see Jackson struggling to free himself, as well as struggling against his impulse to tap out. The slower pace of this week's strip served the story well, and after often complaining about bouts that are over quickly, I was pleased to see that this felt like a real wrestling match. Once again, the story excels when it remains wrestling-focused, and after dispensing with the needless cylinders of the first panel, that is exactly what we got.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "That's it...the classic Boston crab!" 

Roy Of The Rovers

With a collapsed barrier and fans spilling onto the pitch, circus recruit Sammy Spangler is dribbling into a whole heap of trouble. He hastily kicks the ball away, a wayward whack that gifts the non-league side Sleeford a goal. 

Roy's unhappy about it and appeals to the referee, who then points out that the crowd didn't interfere and it was Spangler's panicked kick that gave away the goal. 

Intent on putting this behind them, Roy and the team keep feeding the ball to Spangler. However, he is continually frustrated by the Spleeford team who take the ball from him before he can set up for any of his tricks. As Roy rightfully points out, Sleeford's players aren't giving him any time, something they should have thought about before they signed him. 

Sleeford scores again from a hack upfield, but in the final panels, there is some hope for Melchester Rovers as Roy breaks the defence and delivers a beautiful cross towards Sammy Spangler. A goal seems inevitable, but we'll have to wait until next week to find out. 

I had a feeling this would happen to Spangler, and although this is just a comic, I feel superior to Roy for recognising this early on. I am still not a fan of this storyline. I thought the crowd collapsing onto the field had the potential to move us in a different direction, and offered some chance at depth to this story. It wasn't to be, and it feels like a lost opportunity. Overall, it feels like the story is treading water, and until it begins to move forward again I'm finding it the most frustrating strip in Tiger at the moment. 

Rating: 4/10

Best line: "Well, that's what the scoreboard says! I think it's time we started behaving like the best team in the country!" 

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Martin and another driver are neck and neck in coming into the final straight of the baton race. The Australian driver proves to be aggressive, and with a swerve, he crashes hard into the side of Martin. 

Tiny is not one to stay calm in such a situation, and he runs out onto the track to berate the other driver. This leads to both vehicles taking evasive action, Martin managing to keep control while the other driver isn't so lucky and crashes out of the race. 

Oddly enough the officials are fine with all of this, and Martin and Tiny are presented with the cup and prize money for winning the race. 

Still lumbered with the second car they brought for the race, they decide to sell it to a scrap metal dealer. Parking the vehicles on the road, they speak to the owner of the scrap yard, and over a cup of tea, they recount some of their adventures. This is interrupted by the sudden appearance of their car, George, swinging by the window and into the crusher. Bursting from the office they yell to the man driving the crusher, but the machinery is too loud and he can't hear them. 

I wasn't entirely happy with the end of the baton race. It felt all too easy in the end, and once again they triumphed relatively easily. The standout moment was certainly when Tiny ran onto the track, a moment that not only influenced the outcome but also gave a fine demonstration of the type of person Tiny is. We have seen similar situations where he has lost his cool, and this outburst was entirely fitting with his personality. As I expressed above, I was surprised there were no repercussions for running on the track and causing one of the cars to crash. Even in the fantasy world of comics, I would assume this is frowned upon. I like where we are going with the scrap yard, and even though I am looking forward to them getting back to Britain, this is a pleasant and highly readable diversion.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "You big oaf! You can't knock George about like that!"

Skid Solo

Race day of a major (and unnamed) South American race, and Skid Solo is paying careful attention to the weather. 

Unknown to the other racers, Skid has been speaking to a friend who has been flying a helicopter in the nearby mountains. There he encountered heavy rain, rain that should arrive at the race track sometime just after the race begins. 

Skid is the only one privy to this information, and accordingly, he is the only one on the starting grid with wet weather tires, much to the surprise of the other racers. With no rain forecast, no one else has taken this precaution and they are considerably faster than Skid on the track, with Skid slipping to eighth place, twenty-eight seconds behind the leader. 

With the arrival of unexpected torrential rain, the circumstances change and Skid becomes the fastest man on the track. His wet weather tires pay dividends, and he works his way quickly through the field, snatching a hard-fought victory.

We leave with Skid delivering a lesson to Sparrow Smith, a good driver always pays attention to the weather. 

The outside influence of the weather was too much for me, and I didn't enjoy this story as much as I should have. I always appreciate seeing track racing on the page, and that looked fine, my only issue being the fact that Skid had knowledge the other drivers didn't. It was shoehorned in, with Skid just happening to have a friend who flies a helicopter nearby. It's stretching credibility a little, and in my eyes did the story a disservice. If there was another means by which Skid had this information I should have been happier, it was the delivery of this crucial information that was the sticking point for me. I was also disappointed by Sandy's negative attitude. In one of the panels before the race we see him telling Skid that he he doesn't know why he is racing as he has no chance. Not the type of character that I would want on my team, that's for sure. I would have hoped that Sandy had a little more faith in his car and would have backed Skid all the way. I have a real soft spot for Skid Solo, alas this week's episode didn't speak in my language and overall I walked away from it slightly deflated. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Come on, Skid, tell me...how did you know it was going to rain?"

Nipper

Nipper is still in a daze on the football field after taking a knock to the head before the game. He is still worried that he might not make the England under-twenty-three team if he reports injured and is determined to carry on. 

However, at sideline the reporter Brian Crawford is bending Andy Stewart's ear, telling him that if Blackport loses it would be his fault if he doesn't tell Andy what he knows. 

Out on the field, Len Duggan fires a shot at goal. The keeper clears it with a strong kick that unfortunately hits Nipper in the head. The ball rebounds into the goal for an equalizer, but Nipper is laid out and carried off the field. He thinks he will be in the clear now, this blow to the head will explain away his dizziness on the field, but in the dressing room, Andy Stewart and the physio look at him and confirm what Crawford has told them, the bruise on his head wasn't caused by a football.

A concussed Nipper collapses and is taken away in an ambulance, while onlookers surmise that Andy Stewart will throw the book at him for not reporting it.

A curious story, I haven't warmed to it, but every week I am intrigued by what comes next. It never plays out straight forward and this is something I enjoy about the story. I thought the sideline chat from Brian Crawford would have had a more immediate impact, and I liked that it wasn't resolved immediately and instead is stretching off until next week. I also like that this week wasn't entirely Nipper-focused and it was other characters that carried the bulk of the storyline. Nipper stands out as being different from other stories in Tiger comic, and although this isn't my favourite story, in some ways, it remains the most interesting with all its various threads. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Whatever he's been saying, it...it isn't true! I...I'm all right, Mister Stewart, honest! You can't report this to the England selectors! You can't...!" 

Hot Shot Hamish

An unusual scene for us in the first panel of this week's strip as we see Hamish in the recreational room, playing pool. Tensions are high and after some interference from Hamish's sheep, MacMutton, a fight breaks out. With a pool cue cracked across his head, Hamish upends the table and an all-in brawl ensues. 

All's well that ends well, and as the dust settles Hamish and the team are united. Thoughts may be with their upcoming cup game, but first, they have a league game to play. The team is energetic and enthusiastic, quickly gaining a two-nil lead on the back of Hamish's hot shot and a powerful header. In the stands, two men from Dunferlie, the team the next face in the cup, watch on. Princes Park may be two-nil up, but they are convinced that it's a flash in the pan and when they next face each other Dunferlie will thrash them again. 

The ending was weak in comparison to what came earlier, especially the fight in the recreation room. Seeing Hamish playing pool was a fish out of water situation, and he looked ridiculous. One couldn't help but smile at it. The fight was also humourous, highlighting Hamish's strength and the volatile nature of some of his teammates. It all added to the colour of Princes Park, showing they are more than footballers on the field. The artwork on this opening page was superb, and easily a highlight of this week's Tiger comic. This was a taster of what is to come as we build towards the cup game, and as such wasn't essential this week. However, it remained a lot of fun, and any time we get to see Hamish's hot shot is a treat.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Dinna talk about MacMutton that way! Yon sheep's got more brains in his feet than ye have in yere head!"

Billy's Boots

Billy has teamed up with new boy Jimmy Dawson, and this newfound partnership is reaping rewards as the two carve up the field at the trial game. 

Billy and Jimmy's second eleven end up beating the first team, and on Thursday morning there is excitement in the air as Billy and Jimmy scamper to see the team that has been posted by the sports master. 

There's disappointment for Billy as he hasn't made the first team, although Jimmy Dawson has. Trudging home, he stops by the local amateur club to see if he can get a game with their youth side. He can't, but fate intervenes with the appearance of Mister Slade, whom we met a couple of issues ago as Billy jumped the fence into his property. 

Mister Slade is an ex-England international, and he steps in on Billy's behalf, telling the coach to put Billy on, after all, it's only a training session.

Billy does well, showing that he has learnt how to header the ball properly based on the tips that Mister Slade gave him. Slade is impressed, and after the game, he invites Billy to play in a benefit match for Faraday Athletic. It will give Billy a taste of first-division football as they are playing West Barnworth Albion, a team currently fifth in the first division. 

It is a big game, in front of forty thousand people. Coming on as a sub with thirty minutes to do, Billy is told that he will find it fast, but to do his best. Meanwhile from the stands, the headmaster is watching with the sports master. The headmaster is amused that Billy is playing, but can't get a game for the school team, to which the sports master comments that he thinks that Billy will be out of his depth here. 

Unbelievable, but fun. After a string of bad luck, it looks like things have finally turned for Billy. We had previously seen him jumping the fence and being caught trespassing in Mister Slade's yard, and here that is turned on its head as Billy comes up trumps with the reappearance of this character. I'm in two minds about Billy playing at this high level. My first thought is this is fun and is every young boy's dream. That side of it made me smile, and the thought of it warmed my heart. My second thought was it was all a bit unbelievable, and a stretch for my imagination. Even reading it with a cold beer in hand didn't help me, it still seemed all too much of a coincidence and unlikely. However, it sure beats having miserable Billy moping across our pages, and the last two issues have seen him emerge from the depressing fog with a smile and an extra spring in his step. It makes the reading of it all the more pleasant, and although I'm not totally sold on the idea, I did enjoy the story a lot. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "All right, if they don't want me...that's it! I won't play for the school again...ever! I'll get a game with someone else!" 

Tallon Of The Track 

Held at gunpoint, Jo and her team are ordered to compete against a local Russian team. 

Jo has little choice but to agree and soon they have unloaded their bikes and got changed into their racing gear. They are agog at the ancient Russian bikes they are racing against, but these bikes prove their undoing during the race. Belching heavy black smoke, the bikes throw up a smoke screen that causes Jo and Valdmir to collide, leaving the race wide open for the local team of Gorbski to take maximum points. 

A page to set up the racing and a page is racing is all we have here. We still haven't learnt the motive for this local team to be so desperate to race the Ospreys, but no doubt we shall find out soon enough. I enjoyed the intensity of the faces on the first page, and the thrill of the bikes on the second page, and we have a good balance and contrast between the two. The story isn't speaking to me, but the artwork is and currently, that is the main reason I am drawn to Tallon Of The Track. Each panel is worthy of a close look, and it is time well spent as actions speak louder than words. It is still some way from its best, but it still finds ways to entertain. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Just look at the opposition! Those machines must have come out of the ark!" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6.5/10

Best Story: Johnny Cougar 

Best Line: "Whatever he's been saying, it...it isn't true! I...I'm all right Mister Stewart, honest! You can't report this to the England selectors! You can't..!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: 

Tiger 18th January 1975

I have been waiting for this issue all week, ever since Sparrow Smith left Skid Solo and Sandy to drive for the Martine team. Despite my anticipation that wasn't my favourite story this week - a surprise arrival in Billy's Boots made that a must-read, and in a wider context it is historically significant for the character of Billy. You'll see why below, but it signals a change that will enhance the story and widen the scope of the character.   

Tiger

18th January 1975

Skid Solo

Skid Solo appears on the cover of this issue, although to be honest, the story doesn't live up to this front-page billing.

With Sparrow Smith switching to the Martine team, Skid and Sandy are preparing their car for the next race. With only Sparrow on the track, Skid has a chance to compare the two cars, and he is found wanting as Sparrow and the Martine car put in lap times three seconds faster.

Sandy puts in an all-nighter on the car to coax every last drop of speed out of it, and the next Skid hurls the car as fast as he can around the track, diving at the very limit of control, and manages to eclipse the Martine time by a mere second. 

It's short-lived as the Martine car slips out on the track, and in a display of slick driving beats the time, this time by two seconds. Sandy is shocked, and even more so when he turns around and sees Sparrow Smith standing beside him. It's not been Sparrow out in the Martine car, but rather Skid himself. 

With the Martine car easily confirmed as the fastest in the business, this week's story finishes with Skid and Sandy discussing the need to find a new car as soon as possible. 

Hardly high stakes, nevertheless it was lovely to look at as I flicked through pages. I always appreciate any issue that has Skid Solo adorning the front cover, and there always seems to be a great image of a race car to catch your attention. I didn't find the story overly engrossing, the story of Sandy's car not being fast enough could have been handled better. This story is laying the groundwork for future issues, and one aspect I liked about the story is the interaction between Skid and Sparrow and their respective teams. Odd that Skid could just jump into the Martine car and take it for a lap, hard to imagine that happening today, but it was a demonstration of both how fast the Martine car is and how good Skid is as a driver as it managed to pull a lap time faster than Sparrow could in the car. The future bodes well for this storyline, although this week's strip is a mere taster of what is to come. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "Rubbish! That car's won the championship for ye...and for Sparrow! An' it's still tops!"

Roy Of The Rovers

Melchester Rovers have signed circus juggler Sammy Spangler to the club although we have yet to see him play on the field. Meanwhile, Roy is laid up at home with an injury. In the first panel we learn it's been several days now and he's fully recovered and ready to get back into action. 

At the club, there is talk that signing Spangler was a mistake, and the final decision to pick him to play in the F.A. Cup match against non-league side Sleeford is left entirely down to Tony Storme. 

Tony asserts himself and picks Spangler, but further shocks await when they reach the Sleeford ground and discover how small it is. With tiny dressing rooms to suit, this truly is a non-league team. 

The game starts, with Roy urging his players to get Spangler involved early. That they do, but as Splanger makes a run down the wing a section of the barrier holding back the crowd breaks, and a mass of people fall onto the field in front of him. 

This story is rapidly improving and we had some great panels in this week's issue. The opening image of Roy lying in his garden was fantastic, and I always get a kick out of seeing Roy at home and in his home life. The final panel of the crowd spilling onto the field was equally evocative, although after seeing some of the stadium tragedies of the 80s and 90s this does seem a bit dark for a comic. Still, it's on a smaller scale, and it is a dramatic-looking image. Spangler is still leading the storylines, although the man himself only fleetingly appeared on the pages this week, and it was Roy and Tony Storme who featured heavily throughout. Both have big personalities and I did like that we saw both of them expressing a range of emotions on the page rather than just asserting personal strength panel after panel. A tidy edition, once again next week is where things will pick up again, but for now, this laid out the groundwork in fine stye. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "I heard a rumour that the directors have been having a go at him about signing Sammy Spangler"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Tiny and Martin are watching the first heat of the baton race, hoping to glean some hints for their own race next. It's carnage out on the track, and they decide they desperately need to do something to avoid a pileup at the baton change. 

They start well in their heat, with Tiny reversing towards Martin at the baton change, leaving them clear of the hustle and bustle of the other cars. With their heat won easily, they are through to the finals 

They decide that they can't pull the same trick again in the finals, and it is decided the best thing to do is get a big lead, making the baton change clear of the rest of the field. This they do, although on his leg Tiny finds he loses a lot of ground to the other competitors. However, they manage to avoid trouble at the final baton change and it is left to Martin to battle it out with another driver named Mad Mike in a frantic final lap.

I had low expectations for this story, so I was quietly pleased to see how good it looked on the page as I read it. The baton race offers plenty of exciting racing panels, as well as a couple of obligatory crashes. Excitement aplenty when I read through the eyes of a young lad, and even as an adult I found myself quietly thrilled by the cars piling up. Of course, all this is helped by the fact that it takes place in colour, and Martin's Marvellous Mini is so beautifully coloured I would be quite happy even if they only sat around drinking tea and chatting. With the baton race almost over, I wonder how long the boys have left in Australia, but one senses that perhaps their time is coming to an end and shall soon be back to dear old blighty. We will see, but for now, I'm happy with where we are. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Haw, haw! Those Pommies have pulled a fast one! They're away!"

Billy's Boots

This is an important issue of Billy's Boots, with the introduction of a new character who will be a mainstay of the strip for the next ten years. 

Billy is preparing to play for the reserve team in a game against the first team. He is determined to do well as we see in the first panel s he prepares his boots at home while chatting with his Gran.

The following day brings snow, and in class, Billy is distracted by the weather and the possibility that the game may be called off. There is a further distraction when a new boy arrives late at the class. His name is Jimmy Dawson, and he is told to quickly take a seat next to young Billy Dane. 

He too is a footballer, and Billy and he strike up an easy friendship, taking lunch at the canteen together while Jimmy tells Billy that he too is taking part in the practice game that afternoon. 

Billy plays well but is constantly frustrated by the heavy defence and he never manages to get a shot in. Later in the game, the sports master calls for Jimmy Dawson to come on, and Jimmy immediately tells Billy that he likes what he has seen and he thinks their styles will work well together.

This proves correct, and the two combine well with Jimmy setting up Billy for his first goal. A few minutes later, Billy makes a dummy run that pulls the defenders away from Jimmy, leaving Jimmy with a shot at goal that cannons off the crossbar. Luckily Billy has continued his run into space and is there to emphatically header the ball home for his second goal.  The reserve team is overjoyed, and there is immediate talk of both Billy and Jimmy making the first team. 

I was caught off guard by the appearance of Jimmy Dawson in this issue. I knew he was going to arrive at some stage, but I had no idea of the timelines and thought that it might be another year before we saw him. The comic has lifted with his appearance, and he is proving to be a fine foil for Billy already. Not only does he take the load off him on the field, but also in the storytelling aspect of the story. No longer is Billy the sole focus, and the story is becoming fuller and broader with the introduction of this new character. Billy has been cast as a lonely figure since his arrival at Tiger, but with Jimmy Dawson now onboard we see a more natural friendship for a young boy developing. Jimmy also provides a lighter touch against the more melancholy Billy, and some of the misery is washed from the strip with his smile. A strong issue with the football action looking great, but the historical importance of the arrival of Jimmy Dawson trumps everything else and makes Billy's Boots a standout.

Rating: 9/10

Best line: "We're a great combination, Billy!"

Tallon Of The Track 

Jo and her team are facing an ambush by bandits in the wilds of Russia as we open this week's strip. 

Things don't improve as the team is ordered off the bus at gunpoint and commanded to walk along a track in the forest. New recruit Vladimir Debenko isn't having any of it, and although the bandits are carrying rifles, he begins fighting against all of them. He makes a good account of himself, but the numbers prove overwhelming and soon enough he is bound and gagged as the Ospreys trudge through the woods. 

The appearance of a village fails to enlighten them about the motives of the bandits, despite Jo's constant questioning of the leader. Things take a turn when they see a speedway track at the village and the leader comes clean about their motives. He is Viktor Korkov, leader of the local amateur speedway team. Jo and her team are to compete against his team, under the threat of force if necessary.

Well, that was weird, yet not totally surprising given some of the situations I have seen Jo in before. I don't like it, despite the art being fantastic throughout. The sight of Debenko lifting one of the bandits above his head was eye-catching, as was the opening panel of the bus being surrounded. It seems a poor excuse to have a speedway meeting in the middle of Russia, and part of me thinks surely we could have got here by some other means rather than down the barrel of the gun. Perhaps my opinion will change once they are on the track, but somehow I doubt it. This sojourn to Russia has so far delivered three silly storylines, and to be honest I would rather they pack it all in now and return to just a regular season in Britain. Too late now, we are forty-five years down the track, but still part of me wishes we could restart with a clear track ahead and a full tank of gas. 

Rating: 4/10

Best line: "Ignorant peasant! To insult little Tallonski is to insult me!"

Johnny Cougar with Splash Gorton

With the International Wrestling Tournament being tied between Johnny Cougar and Big Jim Jackson, the organizers decide that Cougar and Jackson must fight again to decide the winner of the tournament.

Cougar knows that this time won't be so easy, and begins some tough training to prepare. While out running he has a surprising encounter with Jackson, and the two begin a battle of words. This escalates into a game of oneupmanship, as they both try and prove their respective superiority. 

A sprint ends in a draw before a building site becomes the scene for a display of strength with each man lifting a heavy steel guider. Tied again, the feud then moves to the gym and both men tear apart two punching bags. Things come to a sudden end with the appearance of the promoter and his men who encase Cougar and Jackson in two shatterproof cylinders, protecting them both from each other until the start of the fight. 

A strange ending, with the oddball image of Cougar and Jackson in the cylinders. Until then I had loved the story, especially the natural way the feud between the two men was playing out with each goading the other to further displays of strength. It felt realistic, and the animosity between the two on the page was pitched perfectly. Although let down by a weak finish, there was much to enjoy, and if the actual fight is half as good as what we have here then we should be in for a wrestling treat. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Yahooooo! That's the greatest news since they invented salted peanuts! A re-match with Cougar is what I've been dreaming of!"

Hot-shot Hamish

Facing a game against the league leaders, to whom they previously lost seven-nil, the Princes Park management team are desperate for training ideas to improve the squad. Reading through a pile of suggestions, it is a training idea from Hamish that they decide to use.

The next day at training the team is faced with a packing case that is going to help them run faster. Hamish opens the case, revealing a ferocious lion. The team immediately sprints the length of the pitch to get away from the wild animal, only for Hamish to repeat the exercise from the other end. 

Things come unstuck at this point for Hamish as the lion suddenly baas and we find out it is his sheep MacMutton disguised as a lion. Not so much mutton dressed as lamb, as mutton dressed as a lion. 

The team is furious with Hamish chasing him across the terraces, which only serves to make them fitter. Catching him they band together to give him a good soaking from a barrel of water, which delights Mister McWhacker as it helps with the team bonding. The team is happy and is now prepared for their game next week.

A funny story, with humour well and truly to the fore. Hamish has had a strong run of late, with several touching and dramatic storylines, but this one harks back to his roots as pure comedy. At first, the lion felt silly and out of place, but the reveal was great and I must admit I was just as taken in as the players. This isn't my favourite type of Hamish story, I like a little more balance between the humour and other aspects, but it was highly enjoyable and readable. This is the typical Hot-shot Hamish story we will see in coming years, and as such touches on the essence of the story as a humourous strip. Not always my cup of tea, but this one had me laughing.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Hey...lions don't go baah!"

Nipper

Flippin' Norah, Nipper Lawrance has taken a blow to the head before a match against Sandyford, and now is seeing double as he moves in to make a crucial tackle. 

Needless to say, the crucial tackle isn't made, and it has disastrous consequences as Sandyford scores the first goal of the game. Nipper is roundly chastised by the team, and it becomes apparent that something isn't right as Nipper makes a second calamitous mistake, this time crashing into the Sandyford keeper and giving away a foul. 

From the sideline a furious Andy Stewart looks on, telling those nearby that if Nipper has been hiding an injury from him he will make him regret it for the rest of his days. Things look like they can only get worse as in the final panel of the story journalist Brian Crawford makes his way down from the stands, intent on telling Andy Stewart something he suspects about Nipper. 

I enjoyed the football in this issue, it stood in stark contrast to the more mundane plot involving Andy Stewart and Brian Crawford. Seeing Nipper struggle on the field gave our hero feet of clay and grounded a player who is often too skilful for his own good. His missed tackle was captured well by the artist, although the standout panel of the whole story was as he clashed with the opposing goalkeeper. It looked bone-crunching on the page, and I could feel it in my own body as I took in the panel. This week's story was a case of steady as she goes, with the story still steadily unfolding in front of us while the art captures the here and now in solid fashion. I wanted more, yet I walked away from the strip perfectly happy and ready for whatever comes next.

Rating: 6.5

Best line: "Aye, that's what I thought! By glory, if anything has happened to Nipper...and he's trying to keep it from me...I'll make him regret it for the rest of his days!"  

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6.5/10

Best Story: Billy's Boots 

Best Line: "I'm coming on now, Billy....we'll work together. I've been watching you. I like your style of play...I reckon we'll fit in nicely..."

Best Panel:

Roy's Sport Quiz:

Tiger 11th January 1975

Although some of this week's stories disappointed me, the art was outstanding with some beautiful panels sprinkled throughout. Every story gave us at least one great panel, and many had two or three of note. Even as some plots intensify and others come to an end, the artwork always remains compelling and is one of the best things about reading Tiger comics from the 1970s.    

Tiger

11th January 1975

Roy Of The Rovers

It's been a long time since I saw a trainer running onto the field wearing a flat cap, but that's the image we start with this week and the trainer Taffy comes on to attend to an injured Roy Race. 

Roy has scored a second goal for Melchester, but in doing so has taken a blow to the head. Taffy wants him to come off, yet Roy must continue as the substitute Sammy Spangler still hasn't shown up. 

Roy scores two more times, and each time his condition worsens until eventually he collapses against the barrier and is taken off the field. Melchester are four nil up, and playing with ten men. The game begins to turn against them, and they eventually hang on for a four-all draw. 

Coming off the field they are greeted by Sammy Spangler who has finally shown up. It's too late to save this game, and talk turns to the next game which is an FA Cup fixture. Sammy is feeling confident, but we see that Roy is thinking that they might well be knocked out. 

A brief summary on paper, the story is better than it sounds here. The on-field action was tight and we were only shown what we needed to see. Each one of Roy's four goals was hard fought and justice was done in the artwork. The most dramatic panel of the story was his eventual collapse, and the balance of the panel with Roy off to one side made one feel for his situation. Sammy Spangler doesn't excite me, and the story was better for not having him in it. It adds some fuel for the coming weeks, and it had better be worth it when he finally makes the field. Brilliant artwork tempered with some ho-hum plot makes this a mixed bag, yet overall I remain positive about where this is heading. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "You've done enough, lad! Call it a day, Roy...please!"

Skid Solo

The first Grand Prix of 1975 takes place in Argentina and that's where we find Skid Solo and his team this week. 

Both drivers are on track putting in practice laps, and it's already clear to Skid that Sparrow is on form already with some fast driving. 

The practice doesn't end well for Skid, his car starts making a bad noise, and as Sandy inspects it in the pits he tells Skid that the engine will need replacing and he should drive Sparrow's car the following day in the race. 

Sparrow overhears this, and feeling blue he wanders off to watch the other cars. It is then that he is offered a chance to drive for one of the other teams, a chance he takes immediately. 

On the day he finds the Martine car he is driving to be very fast indeed, and after a hard-fought race, he manages to lead the Martine team to a one-two finish.

After the race, Skid congratulates Sparrow, and we receive one final surprise. Sparrow has been offered a job as the number driver for the Martine team for the whole season, an offer he has readily accepted. 

Skid is understanding and wishes him luck. Sandy is equally gracious and later tells Skid that he'll still be seeing plenty of him - they'll be racing hard against each other all season. 

So, Skid Solo is now truly solo. It will be interesting to see where we go from here, and this was just the kickstart we needed for the 1975 season. A lot of questions were raised for the coming months - will Skid race alone, who could possibly join his team, and how will he go racing against Sparrow Smith.  One of my favourite things about Skid Solo is the relationship between Skid, Sandy and Sparrow, and this surprise ending has thrown all that out the window, leaving a world of possibilities ahead of us. All of a brilliant excuse to read the next issue immediately, despite what my instincts tell me. The race action in this issue was intense and was served well by the artwork on the page. If the rest of the season can live up to this we should be in for a great run from Skid Solo over the next few months, and I'll be here for all of it. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Hang on, Skid. I've something to say. Mister Martine has offered me a job...as his number one driver...for the whole season!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Martin and Tiny are practising for a baton relay race when their second car has run away downhill on its own. Running after it as fast as they can, Martin manages to jump onto the bonnet. From there he has no choice but to kick in the front windshield and reach to grab the steering wheel. 

Just in time too, as he manages to swerve to avoid a large boulder. Scrambling inside the car, he takes control and drives it back to safety. After a quick chat, the two pals decide that to avoid a similar situation happening again, the safest thing to do would be to remove the doors from both vehicles, simplifying the baton exchange. 

It works well, and thinking that they have the crucial advantage they head to the track. At the track, the race is about to begin, and Tiny and Martin are shocked to see that everyone has had the same idea, all the cars have removed doors. 

All good fun, although nothing here to propel the story forward. The opening hijinks were the best part of the story, and quite rightly took up most of the pages. The debrief and removal of the doors didn't hold much interest, nor did the final revelation at the track. It will be next week when this part of the storyline comes to fruition, and we get the payoff for the meandering final third. Perhaps saved by the colour and the artwork, this week's story was more enjoyable than it had any right to be, 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Look out! That boulder you're heading for is bigger than the car!"

Johnny Cougar and Splash Gorton

Johnny Cougar has quite a fight on his hands against the Stonage Man and we ended last week with Stoneage Man punching both Johnny and the referee. Things deteriorate this week as the Stoneage Man receives a second official warning. 

Johnny is in no mood for any shenanigans, he fights with intensity for the next minute, throwing the Stoneage Man to the corner with a powerful toss. It is not enough to slow his opponent who comes back equally strongly, wrapping Johnny in a muscular grip against the ropes. The outcome of all this is the ropes giving way and the ring posts collapsing as Johnny and Stoneage Man tumble to the arena floor.

Even then, Stoneage Man is still full of fight and venom. Rejecting Johnny's hand to help him up, he instead bites Johnny's hand. This is the last straw for Johnny, and using his strong legs, he throws Stoneage Man back into the ring and is ready to teach him a lesson. 

Unfortunately for all involved, the referee intervenes, declaring the bout a no-contest. Thus we finish this week's strip with the surprised face of Splash Gorton wondering what happens now with the overall standings as Johnny and Big Jim Jackson share the exact same score.

It may have been a no-contest, but this story was visually top-notch and gave us plenty of memorable images. The sight of Stone Age Man being thrown into the corner post was an early favourite, as was the sight of the ropes all collapsing and Johnny falling from the ring. Stoneage Man was made to look like the brute he was, and although we never got to see Johnny outsmart him, the fight was still intense and as hard-hitting as we might expect. I'm not sure if this is the finale or the beginning of the next round of matches, but we are ending on a high note from this series of bouts. Whatever comes next has a high standard to meet, and I look forward to seeing whatever that might be. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "I've had enough...I've seen punching, biting and collapsing rings...its all too much. I'm declaring this no contest!"

Nipper

Asleep in a derelict house, Nipper has been awakened by a ball smashing through the wall, showering him with bricks and glass. 

Pulling himself out of the wreckage, Nipper heads off to the game, although he does have a sore head from where one of the bricks struck him. His troubles compound when the bus driver refuses to let him on board, forcing him to walk to the stadium where he finds he has to scramble over a fence to get in. Even worse, Brian Crawford the journalist sees him doing so and they exchange words in the car park, after which Nipper walks directly into a parked car without even seeing it. 

Thinking a quick shower will sort him out, Nipper is feeling a lot better as he takes to the field. However, as the play comes towards him he realises that he's seeing double.

A lot of build-up here, but the payoff was worth it as Nipper sees double with the opposing player running at him. I thought the ending of last week was a little silly and this week did a lot to improve on that. By the time Nipper had gone through all his trials and tribulations to the game, I was far more satisfied with what I had previously read and now see where all this is going. Some clean and bright artwork helped emphasise poor Nipper's situation, and with the story now moving to the pitch we have more space for the story to bloom. Things are currently delicately poised, and I like where we are a lot. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best Line: "That shower seems to have done the trick! At least my head has stopped pounding." 

Hot Shot Hamish 

It's New Year's morning, and the Princes Park players are waking up to a glorious Hebridean day, snow and wind howling through the front door that Hamish's Daddy has swung open to embrace the day. 

None of the players are feeling particularly well, and soon Hamish's Daddy has them following his morning routine to get them feeling fit and healthy. Out into the snow, and up the hills through the heather, soon they are struggling to keep up and collapsing where they stand. 

That afternoon they take the ferry back to the mainland, and the players tell Hamish that they still feel terrible. Come game day though, and they are all spritely and energised - it seems Daddy's exercise has paid off.  

They are full of life and confidence as they take to the pitch. This proves misplaced as their opposition, Dunferlie, runs rings around them and soundly beats Princes Park 7-0.

The team sit depressed in their dressing room after the game when they receive one final piece of bad news. The draw has been made for the first round of the Scottish Cup and they have been drawn against Dunferlie - the team that has just thrashed them 7-0.

Not much drama in this week's story, yet I found I warmed to it just the same. Hamish and his Daddy are eminently likeable, and one can't help but smile at their relationship and home life. The sight of Hamish's Daddy embracing the new day summed up all that I like about the character, and his training regime across the land only added to this shine. The football part of the story was short this week, and sadly there was no hot-shot, but it is all part of a wider storyline and I expect we shall see much more for the next game against Dunferlie. Hot Shot Hamish is off to a strong start for 1975 and can only get better.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Wake up, ma wee bairns! It's no time to be in bed! Up ye get and greet the new day!" 

Billy's Boots

Billy is on the run from some local lads on bicycles and takes the only escape route available to him- over a wall and into the grounds of a large house. Thinking quickly, his pursuers make for the front door and alert the owner that a potential burglar could be on the grounds. 

Now faced with some angry dogs, Billy again takes the route available - through a window and into the house. Here his luck takes a turn and meets the cook and explains what has happened. The cook takes pity on him and shows him some of the house before they run into the master of the house in the hallway. 

He is a former footballer himself and introduces himself as Tommy Slade. He played for England with Billy's great hero, Dead-shot Keen, and regales Billy with stories of their time together. He goes on to explain that Dead-shot taught him the technique for scoring goals from a header- that is to get above the ball and head it downwards. 

Billy takes the lesson onboard, and after leaving with a warning not to climb over the wall again, he heads home to practice. This practice goes well, and he feels has mastered the skill. However he fails to be named to the school team, and instead, he is listed to play for the reserve team. We finish the story with Billy hopeful of a good performance to propel himself back into the first team. 

A more sedate story this week, we seemed to linger a long time at the house Billy escaped to. It was nice to see some back story for Tommy Slade, but essentially it was all filler just for him to give Billy some advice on how to header the ball.  Still, Billy's Boots excels in its hominess and this week's story fits well with what we have seen before. This is the second skill we have seen Billy learn in the last few weeks, and we must be building towards a storming performance on the field at some stage. One hopes it will be next week, after a gentle month of stories we need to get Billy back on the field and put his skills to use. Not quite as good as some of the recent issues, but we're still building nicely to some sort of climax. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Thanks for the tip. I'll set the dogs loose...they'll soon find him!" 

Tallon Of The Track

Somewhere in snowy Russia, Jo Tallon is heading towards a precipice on an out-of-control ski-bike. There is only one option - to try and attempt a jump, and this is exactly what Jo does. 

She doesn't land well, but she does survive. Once again she sets off with Debenko, and two hours later they arrive at the main road. They find they have arrived ahead of the Ospreys convoy, and soon enough they have flagged them down and they are reunited. 

There is talk on the bus of their next opponents, the All-Stars, but this comes to an end when they reach a detour in the road. It leads five miles down a country road before coming to an abrupt halt. It's immediately clear why they have stopped so suddenly- the bus is surrounded by a bunch of hard-looking men all carrying rifles. 

I had expected something like this to happen to Jo and the team ever since they arrived in Russia. With the vastness of Russia and some snow, there were bound to be bandits with rifles at some stage. At least I presume they are bandits, I may well be proved wrong with the next issue. I hope I am proved wrong, I love a surprise twist. The open page of the story was fun had had the energy and excitement that so often propels Tallon Of The Track. Once they reached the road the story could have lost its way with constant talk of the next race meeting, instead, we had this immediate twist which kept the flow of the story moving. Not what I expected this week, but I found I enjoyed the outcome of last week's adventure and the way we are thrust into the next episode, leaving me finishing this week's Tiger comic on a high and ready to plunge straight into the next issue. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Little Tallonski, I hardly dare to look! You haf survived?" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Skid Solo 

Best Line: "An' a breath o' the good salt air from the sea...to tone a man up!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 4th January 1975

Hello, 1975! It seems like I had only just greeted 1974, and here we are a year on. I've hardly had a chance to catch my breath, and neither have the characters of Tiger.  As I thumb my way back over the last twelve months I see that we have all come a long way together. Despite that, we still have a long way to go. The pile of comics next to the bed hasn't got any small (as my wife so thoughtfully reminds me) and we still have plenty of years ahead of us. Let's slow down for a bit and enjoy 1975 while we can, I know for a fact the future isn't all it's cracked up to be.    

Tiger

4th January 1975

Johnny Cougar and Splash Gorton

Johnny Cougar is on the front cover and about to take on the Stoneage Man as we pick up this week's issue. There is little time to dwell on the colourful opening, for as Johnny enters the ring the Stoneage Man picks up a club and attempts to catch him off guard.

Johnny is displeased, and while the Stoneage man is restrained by the referee and some of the audience, Johnny tells Splash that while his opponent is strong, he is also slow thinking, a trait that Johnny is hoping to use to his advantage. 

A chop from Johnny has little effect, and he is soon on the back foot as Stoneage Man grabs his hair. A warning from the referee is ineffective as the brute hits Johnny with a punch, before delivering a similar blow to the referee. 

Wild wrestling action was what I was hoping to see after last week's tepid episode, and I got that in spades across the three pages of Johnny Cougar. We have seen Johnny take on numerous heavy-set opponents in the past, and Stoneage Man is the latest in that long line. We have seen it before, but I love seeing two big bodies coming together and hearty blows exchanged. Every page stayed tightly on the action in the ring, with the story boiled down to the essentials - two large men fighting each other with one of them bending the rules to breaking point. It's not complicated, but it works and I rate this issue highly on the sheer physicality alone. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Watch out, Mister...that thing in there is a killer!"

Roy Of The Rovers

Sammy Spangler is missing, and the Rovers have a game in the afternoon. Setting out in a very cool car, Tony Storme and Roy Race set out to find Sammy, first heading to the circus tent where they first met him. 

Disappointment awaits them, the circus has moved on to Kendale, sixty miles away. All they can do is return to Melchester Stadium, where as luck would have it, they walk in just in time to receive a call from Sammy Spangler himself. It seems that he has promised his family one final show, a matinee, and he promises Roy that he will return as soon as it has finished.

That is not the only problem Roy is facing, the rest of his team is weary after partying with the circus folk the night before. Roy takes drastic action, forcing them all into a cold bath before the match begins. It pays off, the revived team makes a fast start and scores their first goal after ninety seconds. 

It looks as if this week's story will end on a high, but in the final panels, Roy takes a knock to the head, leaving him laid out on the ground while Tony Storme frets that he may be out for the season. 

Fear not, Tony, I'm pretty confident that Roy will be back in business soon, after all, it is his name that is emblazoned across the top of the strip. A delicate balance played out this week and we tread the line between football action and the distractions off the field. I enjoyed the first half of the story as Roy and Tony looked for Sammy, especially the wild-looking car they were driving. The switch to football was handled well, with some nice transition panels as Roy perked up his team. All in all, a fine instalment, and a good recovery after last week's Christmas story. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Oh, no...it's gone, the whole perishing outfit!" 

Martin's Marvellous Mini 

Tiny and Martin are looking for an old banger so they can race together in the relay race. The first page of the story is dedicated to one such car, a banger in every way. Falling apart in front of their eyes, the car salesman is adamant that it's fine, only for him to finally admit that it is a worthless piece of junk. They can have it for free, but he never wants to see it again. 

Over the page, the pals get to work on the vehicle, and soon enough they have it up and running. A quick practice of passing the baton is in order, and this is where everything once again goes wrong. The baton gets hooked in the door frame of the car, pulling Tiny from the vehicle. We end with the car just about to disappear over a hill while Martin and Tiny desperately chase after it, hoping they can stop it before it hits something. 

As Martin rightly says, what a way to start the new year. The first half of the story was gently amusing, but things accelerated over the page and we were back into the full swing of things by the time the story closed.  I liked both sections of the story, and although I gravitated more to the final section, I still could have happily read several pages of the boys trying to find a new car, such was the light humour and easy friendship between the two. We have yet to reach the start of the relay race, but things bode well, especially given how much fun this issue was. A long way to go, and it all looks very promising. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "But this car is a super little job! Take a trial run, sir...you'll enjoy every minute!' 

Billy's Boots

Christmas is over, leaving Billy to reflect on all the lovely gifts he has received. Foremost of these is a book by Jimmy Collins, Dead-shot Keen's former manager. In it, Billy finds a training method that greatly helped Keen, the heavy ball. 

It was exactly as it sounds, Keen had trained with a heavy ball, so when the time came to play with a regular ball he had developed incredible strength and accuracy. Digging out an old ball himself, Billy sets out to make his own heavy ball. 

He is a little too successful, and trying it at the local grounds he finds it is too heavy to kick. However, it is ideal to practice throw-ins, and he dedicates himself to this task. 

He is interrupted by a group of boys on bikes, who set about stealing his ball. They get a rude awakening when they try to kick it, it is far too heavy, and their leader takes a spill off his bike, 

We finish with Billy on the run, the group of angry boys on bicycles chasing him and threatening to beat him up. 

Not the best Billy's Boots this week, but the artwork remains of its usual high standard. The opening images of Billy and his Gran, and of Billy reading his book, bring us straight into Billy's home and add an authentic feel to a story about magic boots. The final panels of the biker boys chasing Billy are also realistic and took me back to when I was a youth. The biggest problem I had with this issue was there was too much messing about with a heavy ball, and not a lot else. We saw Deadshot Keen play with a heavy ball, Billy making a similar ball, and then Billy playing at the park with the ball. None of it was particularly thrilling and the story slumped from where it was a couple of weeks ago. I liked some of the key elements here, but it never really came together and left me thinking this is a flat spot for Billy's Boots.   

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Look at that kid messing about. Let's nip over and nick his football for a lark..."

Skid Solo

Speed is the name of the game this week, although we are on skis rather than in motorcars in this issue of Skid Solo.

Skid and his team are celebrating in the Swiss Alps for the new year, with all three on the slopes following Sandy's New Year's resolution to ski better than Skid and Sparrow. 

He is not off to a good start for his resolution and in the first panels we can see that Skid and Sparrow are much better skiers. Heading to the top of the mountain Sandy regrets his resolution as they ride the chairlift. 

At the top, they are greeted with the news that there has been an avalanche warning, and they are the last ones to come up on the chair lift. Advised to get down as fast as they can, they hear a rumble of an avalanche soon after they set off. With the avalanche coming right at them, it's imperative they stay ahead of it. It is Sandy who leads the way, suddenly finding that he can ski very fast when he has to.

The avalanche does catch them, but only the tail end of it, and emerging from the snow Skid and Sparrow find that Sandy has managed to out ski both of them and the avalanche. 

We end with a happy scene as they toast the new year and the hope that they will go faster in their motor cars than they did on skis. 

Avalanches are serious business, and Skid Solo got off far too lightly in this story. I appreciated that we didn't have a car storyline, but that also meant that a lot of the drama was missing. You might think that an avalanche is plenty of danger, but it only appeared in the latter part of the story and the bulk of the story was the chaps larking about on skis. The highlight was easily the friendship between the three main characters and their interaction. A half step behind was that artwork, which although pretty, wasn't as scintillating as when cars are involved. A pleasant winter story, but far from essential in the Skid Solo canon.

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "I think you're right about skiing Sandy...it's a bit of a dodgy game!"

Hot-Shot Hamish

Hot-shot Hamish gives us a feel-good New Year's Eve story, while still managing to make it all about football and the team. 

With Princes Park struggling, Mr McWhacker has called for an extra training session for the team on New Year's Eve, with no exceptions. While the team sweat it out on the field under the watchful eye of Mr McWhacker, Hamish suddenly emerges from the tunnel, telling his manager that he has come to say goodbye. It's New Year's Eve, and the Balfours always have a party. Hamish's Daddy is expecting him home, no matter what. 

McWhacker tells Hamish he must train, and Hamish obliges, although someone will have to call his Daddy to explain. It is McBrain the trainer who makes the call, and after taking an earbashing from Daddy decides that perhaps it would be better if Hamish went home. 

McWhacker agrees, adding that the whole team will attend. After an eventful journey, and a stormy boat crossing, the Princes Park team and the Balfour Clan celebrate in the snowy highlands. Everyone is happy, and McWhacker concedes that the journey was ten times tougher than any training session. 

The final images of the Balfours and Princes Park team around a hearty fire and raising a toast warned my heart beyond description. It was delightful, and came on the back of a well-paced and interestingly told story. It may look simple on paper, but every part of the story made sense and it was greater than the sum of its parts. Hamish's Daddy lived up to expectations and remained as fiery as ever in the face of the rules imposed by Hamish's manager. Football was a key part of the story, it may not have intruded on the page, but it remained at the centre of all that happening to the team. Hamish's innocence and simple nature warmed the colder edges of the story, and coupled with some expressive artwork, made this the most inviting strip of the issue. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "If ye cut oot the bad words, Mr McWhacker...he says if Hamish doesna come game for New Year....he'll come down here and pull Princes Park to pieces!"

Tallon Of The Track 

Jo Tallon and her team are still in the Soviet Union and just about to move on from Leningrad and head off to Moscow. First, there is one small piece of business for Jo to take care of. 

Leaving the rest of the team, she drives deep into the countryside, eventually arriving at a secluded location where the car can travel no further and she must walk up a hill to her final destination.

Her final destination is Vladimir Debenko's log cabin, and here she finds him in the snow chopping up firewood. She gets to the point quickly, she would like to take Debenko back with her to Britain to ride for the Ospreys and he immediately agrees.

There is just the small matter of getting back to Moscow, and an avalanche has just cut off the road. Debenko is unfazed, he has a couple of ski bikes in his shed, and soon he and Jo are making good time.

The final wrinkle in the story comes as they approach a bridge that has been destroyed by the avalanche. Debenko calls to Jo to slow down, but she is going too fast to stop and we finish with her heading towards the drop. 

I love the idea of Debenko, but his accent throughout this story was distracting and didn't add anything to his character. In fact, it was downright annoying, and the best panels of the story were the ones when Debenko didn't speak at all. That is not to say I didn't like this week's strip, and I like this new direction we are moving in. I can already see how Debenko will fit into the team, and it will bring balance to have another strong male character besides Dave Trent. With outstanding art, especially the final panel, Tallon Of The Track remains a favourite and although we have been uneven of late, I expect it to kick into high gear very soon. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "You're one of the best speedway riders I've ever seen, and I'd like to sign you on as a regular member of the Ospreys' team!" 

Nipper

With his foster parents away, Nipper has thrown a house party only for them to return at an inopportune moment. Now facing their wrath, Nipper's friends leave and it is Nipper alone who must suffer through Mrs Watkin's anger. 

She lets him know exactly how she feels, and it is all too much for Nipper who packs his bags and goes. After a hasty exit, Nipper realises that he has no place to go, and he soon finds himself drifting back to the old abandoned house where he used to live with his Uncle Charlie.

With a game scheduled for the following day, Nipper tries to get to sleep on the wooden floor. He manages to sleep and is still out to it the following day when some Blackport fans stop outside and begin to kick a ball around. One hits the ball a little too well and we finish with the ball and a shower of bricks and glass crashing into the just-waken Nipper. 

It was the artwork that carried this story, and all the drama of the story was beautifully rendered in black and white silhouette as Nipper left the house. It looked wonderful on the page and I could only wish that the second half of the story was strong enough to deserve the art lavished upon it. Sadly it wasn't, and by the final panels, I could feel my interest already beginning to wane.  I liked the party Nipper was throwing, and the fallout as his foster parents came home, however when the local fans accidentally kicked the ball to where Nipper was sleeping I could feel all the air go out of the ballon. After some solid heavy drama, we were back to some lightweight fluff, and even the high-quality art couldn't paper over that. I'm still hopeful that next week will see the story return to an even keel, and if we can get back to the quality of the first page of this week's strip I will certainly be giving it a much higher rating. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line:  "Stone me, it's still in one piece, isn't it? If the kids have caused any damage, I'll flippin' well pay for it myself!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Hot-shot Hamish  

Best Line: "...canna come game? Dinna talk to me like that, ye jumped up lump o' rotten cheese!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: