Tiger 14th June 1975

I have just realized that we are in the final weeks of the football season. On the one hand, I'm sad that I won't be able to waste away my weekend drinking beer and watching the games, although on a positive note, that will free up my time and allow me to read my comics at a more leisurely and considered pace. And with no football on the TV, my entire football fix is going to be satiated by Tiger comic. It is a shame then that all these stories are currently beginning their run through the cricket season and football is taking a back seat in many of the stories. Still, Roy of the Rovers and Rovers playing in the Cup Winner Cup should give me a goal or two and a chance to yell encouragement from the sideline, even if I am 50 years too late and sitting on my couch.  

Tiger

14th June 1975

Johnny Cougar

A new challenge for Johnny Cougar this week, and we learn of this new adventure on the front over the same time as Johnny does. 

Johnny is still at the school where we left him last week when an old bi-plane appears in the sky. Behind this plane trails a banner offering a new challenge to Johnny Cougar, Johnny and the watching school boys are curious as to what is behind this, and we find out soon enough as the bi-plane swoops low a flurry of leaflets falls from the aircraft. These leaflets are a challenge to Johnny Cougar from the Golden Boy, a challenge of three rounds of boxing followed by three rounds of wrestling. 

There is little time for Cougar to consider this before the plane lands, and the Golden Boy quickly makes his way to Cougar to make this challenge in person. 

With a nearby camera recording the events, Johnny Cougar is put on the spot and we all wait to see if he accepts the Golden Boy's provocation.

A new challenge for Johnny Cougar this week, and we learn of this new adventure on the front over the same time as Johnny does. 

Johnny is still at the school where we left him last week when an old bi-plane appears in the sky. Behind this plane trails a banner offering a new challenge to Johnny Cougar, Johnny and the watching school boys are curious as to what is behind this, and we find out soon enough as the bi-plane swoops low a flurry of leaflets falls from the aircraft. These leaflets are a challenge to Johnny Cougar from the Golden Boy, a challenge of three rounds of boxing followed by three rounds of wrestling. 

There is little time for Cougar to consider this before the plane lands, and the Golden Boy quickly makes his way to Cougar to make this challenge in person. 

With a nearby camera recording the events, Johnny Cougar is put on the spot and we all wait to see if he accepts the Golden Boy's provocation.

Having the plane deliver the message from the Golden Boy was a good way to start this story, and the images on the front cover were more than enough to arouse my interest. I presume Golden Boy previously appeared before I started my current read-through, and my first impression of him is positive. He looks good on the page and has all the arrogance of a good Johnny Cougar villain. With his golden locks, he stands out, as highlighted by his arrival by plane. He is certainly a bold figure early on, and with his challenge including boxing, he brings another angle to the strip. A slow start, but a positive one, and all bodes well for the upcoming issues.   

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "No foolishness, Johnny Cougar...many years ago, you beat me in the wrestling ring...now I challenge you to a real contest...to find the true champion!"

Roy Of The Rovers

It's the final of the Cup Winner Cup and the mighty Melchester Rovers are taking on the minnows of the competition Niarkos. Although Rovers know little of how Niarkos will play, Roy has done some pre-match research - speaking with the Niarkos fans about the various strengths of their team. 

He has done a good job, and the early Niarkos attacks are blunted by the counter moves Roy puts in place. There are also some attacking opportunities for the Rovers, although Roy's first shot that looks like it will be a certain goal is cleared from the line by a Niarkos player covering the keeper. 

This was one aspect of Niarkos' play that Roy was unaware of, and the two teams cancel each other out for the next few minutes. However, Roy has a plan, and soon after he replaces Lofty Peak with a forward, a move the rest of the team question as it makes no sense to replace one of their best defenders with a striker.

I'm not sure what Roy is playing at here, which means I'm itching to pick up the next issue and see what's going to happen. The unpredictable is what keeps the strip interesting, and if Roy were to win the game every week with a hat-trick I would soon become bored and interested. That is what makes stories like this shine for me, and my mind is working as much as my eyes as I read the strip. I still haven't sussed out what Roy's plan is, and as tempted as I am to pick up the next issue and find out, I will have to wait a week to see it all unfold. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "That's the strength of Niarkos! They're so fast, they can afford to pull a man out of the game to take on a special task, and rely on their speed to fill the gap!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

After losing an hour on the timed sections of the Scandinavian rally, Tiny and Martin make up time with a shortcut during the speed section. 

Careening down a narrow alley, they are bounced down a series of steps before they find themselves back on some smooth road and surprisingly just behind the race leaders. 

The cars in front have no intent of letting the boys pass, and Martin is following them so closely that he misses the next turn-off in the rally. Another shortcut across the grass, and bursting through a hedge, they are back on the tail of the leaders with only four laps of the track ahead of them 

Some aggressive driving from Martin has them snatching the lead, and at the end of the stage, they are only one minute behind. Going to bed that night, there is only one stage left in the rally - the cross country.

This would normally be a strength for the pair but heavy rain overnight has Tiny worried that it will be a mud bath the following day. However, they start the stage well and are wheel-to-wheel with the leaders as they reach the downhill section of the course. Speeding toward a gap in a fence, there is only room for one car at a time and we have a cliffhanger of who will get there first.  

We saw a similar cliffhanger in Tallon Of The Track just a month ago, and with that in mind, some of the air is let out of the balloon with this final panel. It's only a minor irritation in what was otherwise another brilliant entry for Martin's Marvellous Mini. It was superb car action throughout the strip, starting with Tiny and Martin pushing to get past the other team, and ending with the cross-country race. I was pleased to see a brief pause in the action to see Tiny and Martin spending time at the hotel talking about the nest day. Any regular reader of this blog will know that I love these little interactions between the two of them, usually involving a cup of tea. No cup of tea this time, but still just as homely as they discuss the state of play. Next week I know the race for the gap in the fence will be quickly resolved and we can move on to greater challenges for the two boys, and their marvellous mini. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Not another short cut!"

Tallon Of The Track

A thrill-packed new speedway story this week, and we are off in grand style as the first panel shows a speedway race getting underway. 

Jo is watching on, and she is far from happy with what she sees. She has her reserve riders taking part in the race with the riders needing to step up in the face of a growing injury list. 

Bill Ritchie is the fastest of the reserves, but he still has much to learn. Jo is taking note and  Bill Ritchie is showing his inexperience from the start with a poor takeoff followed by some reckless riding on the track. 

Later Jo informs him that he just isn't good enough for the team and she and Dave decide to go out and scout some new riders. While Jo sends Dave off to a grass track meeting at Embleton, she heads toward Risely Way. We close out this week's issue with a group of riders seeing Jo ahead of them and threatening to run her off the road. 

A slow start to this story, but it got us to where we needed to go. We are now poised to see some real action next week, and I have a sneaky suspicion that this group of riders promising trouble to Jo may prove to be the solution to her problem. I'm getting ahead of myself, and looking closely at this weels issue, it is again the artwork that is the main draw. The new bunch of riders approaching Jo look suitably dangerous, with the little details in their clothing giving us clues to what type of characters they are. It's early days, but I like this story already and I think I'll be warming to it much more in the coming weeks. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Pull over, Bill! We're partners -- not on opposite sides."

Skid Solo

Tommy Carter has only been in with Skid Solo a couple of months, and already he has a bevy of beauties swarming around him. The young ladies are fascinated by the medal he earned for his bravery in the previous issue, and Tommy fields several questions about it, along with an invitation to a party that night. 

Leaving his fans for a minute, Tommy returns to Sandy and Skid who are preparing the car for a practice. Sandy asks Tommy if he has made all the checks of the car as he was asked, and Tommy assures him that he has. However, once on the track Skid encounters trouble with steam coming out of the engine. In the pits, Sandy pulls the engine apart and finds that Tommy has not tightened all the cooling system connections correctly. 

Tommy admits that it has slipped his mind, and Sandy lets him know how disappointed he is about this. Tommy is given a chance to redeem himself when Sandy tells him he has to leave and Tommy offers to stay and fix the car. 

As Tommy works late into the night he is interrupted by the girls from earlier in the strip, offering to take him to the party. Tommy can't resist and is soon dancing up a storm at the party. Unfortunately, when he gets back to the car he finds that someone has already fixed it and Sandy appears and tells him that he took it upon himself to fix it. Sandy tells him that he's sacked - Skid needs someone he can rely upon and that's obviously not Tommy. 

The following morning, Tommy takes one last look at the pits. With his medal in his hand, he considers that it is the medal that has caused all his problems and he tosses it aside before leaving. 

Skid and Sandy arrive and Skid finds the medal. Sandy explains that he has fired Tommy, and is surprised when Skid unexpectedly stands up for Tommy. The strip ends as Sandy tells Skid that he will quit if he calls Tommy back. 

Not much motor racing, but a brilliant Skid Solo strip. Again, all the action is driven by Tommy Carter, and he is your typical teenage boy throughout the story here. It was very relatable and the situation he was in was familiar with his friends luring him away from his work. Skid is the level-headed one of the situation, although I recognized Sandy's point of view. Sandy sounded just like my father, while Skid came across as a kindly uncle. The Skid Solo stories have gone up a notch since the arrival of Tommy Carter, and this is perhaps the best one we have had since he first appeared. The best thing is, this story is far from over, and we still have to check back next week to see the outcome of Sandy rashly firing Tommy.  

Rating: 8.5/10

Best line: "I said I fired him, Skid! Ye call him back now...and I go! I told ye...he's no' to be trusted!"

Hot Shot Hamish

Hot Shot Hamish is about to take on Big John in a boxing match, and in preparation, he is fighting against wee Horace. Hamish is a peaceful man and tells his Daddie that he can't hurt anyone as he dances around Horace. Hamish's plan is to avoid being hit by Big John and hoping to exhaust him. 

As Hamish arrives in the ring for his big fight he is handed a telegram that tells him that he's wanted for a big match and to be at the harbour at 8 o'clock - a mere two minutes away.

Hamish is determined to make it to this big match and strikes Big John with two fearsome punches that lay John out on the floor. Quickly leaving the ring, Hamish runs to the harbour. Here the final scene plays out as he finds his Daddie there waiting for him. Hamish's Daddie has tricked him into quickly wrapping up the fight, and when Hamish asks where is the big match, his Daddie hands him a giant match. 

The last thing we see in the strip is Hamish chasing his Daddie and striking him over the head with the match. 

This week's story was all humour, and the peaked with the visual gag of Hamish's Daddie and his giant match. I may have smiled earlier in the strip, but this image made me laugh out loud. We still have a caber tossing competition ahead of us, and no doubt this will be just as humorous. Any time Hamish's Daddie is in the comic, the humour side of the stories is emphasised, and this is a fine example of the humour Hamish and his Daddie generate together. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Och, someone had to give the stupid great lump of haggis something to fight for! Did ye no' see how he bashed Big John? It was a treat to watch!"

Billy's Boots

Billy and Jimmy are in trouble after being caught playing football during a break in their school's cricket match. Quickly called back into action, Billy opens the bowling, and his first two balls have him treading deeper water as they go astray. 

However, he comes right by the end of the over and manages to get a wicket with his final ball. At the other end, the spin bowling of Fatty Ramsbottom is proving to be a game-changer, and while Billy ties up his end, it is Fatty who claims the bulk of the wickets, 

Groundwood wins the game, but Billy and Jimmy still have to face the repercussions of their actions between innings. The pair are dropped for the next game, and they practice by themselves at home in the days leading up to the game. This practice causes some damage to Billy's Gran's sheets, and when they take them in to be repaired they are offered a chance to play cricket for the Groundwood Village team on the weekend. The pair are very happy with this outcome, although they are unaware that the team they will be playing against is their very own school team.  

Trouble ahead for the boys, it was a good way of upping the ante after the trouble they had already found themselves in. I can't see this ending well, and after a fine start to the cricket season, it seems Billy and Jimmy may be on a downward spiral for the next few weeks. The simple homely feeling of the comic was the most appealing part for me, and seeing the two boys playing cricket in the yard with Gran's sheet was a low-key highlight for me. With its familiar setting and the usual school drama, Billy's Boots again appeals to the young boy within me and will always be readable, even if it doesn't reach the same heights as previous issues.  

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "It's ripped a great hole in your Gran's sheet! Can you sew it up? Do it neatly...and perhaps she won't notice!"

Nipper 

Nipper is playing for the Grove Lane cricket team, where the captain has put Nipper down last on the batting order. Nipper isn't going to let this slide by, and while the skipper is batting, Nipper takes it upon himself to rewrite the list - with Nipper coming in next.

When his time comes, Nipper strides confidently to the pitch, ready to swing his bat. The ball comes faster than expected, and after missing the first ball, Nipper manages a flukey shot off the second before an aggressive strike at the third goes for four.

The local factory side they are playing against recognises Nipper, and between overs, they tell him that Grove Lane is useless and everyone looks forward to giving them a thrashing. This plays into Nipper's competitive spirit and as his partner prepares to face the next ball, Nipper yells encouragement - spoiling his teammate's concentration and resulting in him being bowled. 

This week the story meandered a little. Nipper injected himself into the cricketing action, but by the time the strip ended, he had only faced three balls. The story is still in its early stages, and we are still in first gear. There wasn't much that caught my eye in the artwork, and I didn't feel myself involved with anything happening on the page. Maybe cricketing Nipper isn't for me, I still have hopes, but for now, I preferred it when he was playing football. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "No he isn't...he's number eleven! Take a look at the batting order if you don't believe me!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Skid Solo

Best Line: "It's cost me my job...everything. I've let my friends down. I---I wish I'd never seen the medal..." 

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 7th June 1975

The leaves are turning brown here and the days getting shorter, while on the pages of Tiger in 1975 we are entering summer and the cricket season. With Nipper donning the whites and Billy Dane pulling on Dead-shot Keen's cricket boots we are nicely working towards several months of summer sports, and although I love football I am quite looking forward to it. We also have Tallon Of Track wrapping up her adventures against Miles Guthrie with a suitable climax. A new adventure for Jo next week, and I wonder where could possibly go from here. Time will tell, but for now, I am deeply immersed in this issue and all the drama within.  

Tiger

7th June 1975

Roy Of The Rovers

Rover's opponents in the Cup Winner Cup final hinge on the outcome of the game between Niarkos and Atletico. Roy has prepared his team to face Atletico, but they are on the verge of losing to tiny Niarkos. With Atletico awarded a last-minute penalty, all Roy can do is watch on and hope they score. 

The penalty misses, and Niarkos are through. This is a disaster for Roy, leaving his preparations in disarray. Scrambling to find information on Niarkos, he speaks to some of the English managers who played against them earlier in the season, but none can provide any information. It's the same story with the sports writers Roy turns to, they haven't bothered to research the team and they too know very little about them.

Arriving at Hampden Park for the final, Rovers find crowds of Niarko fans have made the journey to see their team. This gives Roy an idea, and he engages the chanting fans, fishing for information about what makes Niarkos so special.

Half an hour later, Roy runs into the dressing room and tells all he has learnt. If this will be enough, we will have to wait until next week to find out as the strip ends with the teams running onto the field. 

If Rovers lose this it may cost Roy his job, and deservedly so say I based on his poor decisions in the build-up to the game. The look on Roy's face while he watched the drama of the semi-final playing out said it all, and it gave the reader a good sense of his despair. Always positive though, Roy may have gotten out of jail with the final panels and his on-the-spot research, and this is enough of a hook to leave me feeling relatively satisfied with the story. Little football action is made up for by some fantastic artwork, especially the character's faces which carrier the drama. Great to look at, and even if I didn't care for the latter part of the story, there was still enough there for me to care about the characters.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "From the noise you're making, you chaps sound pretty confident! But what's so special about Niarkos?"

Skid Solo

An eye-catching start to Skid Solo with an upside-down car flying towards the pits in a spectacular crash. 

Apart from the car in midair, the other thing in the panel that catches my eye is Sandy wearing a Tam o’ Shanter, and both these images will play a big part in the story to come.

The car crashes into the pits. Tommy heroically pulls the driver from the fiery wreck, while Sandy is injured by some of the wreckage. 

Sandy knows that if Skid senses something is wrong he will pull into the pits. Putting a brave face, Sandy grimly stands at the rail with the sign for Skid, telling him everything is OK. 

Shortly after Skid sees the sign, Sandy collapses and is taken to hospital. Tommy, not wanting to upset Skid on the track, steps up to the role. Donning Sandy's  Tam o’ Shanter, he keeps Skid informed of his race position, while keeping his face hidden behind the board and only showing Sandy's cap.

This ruse works, and Skid speeds to victory, unaware of all the drama behind the scenes. After taking the checkered flag Skid pulls into the pits where he learns what has happened to Sandy. 

A quick dash to the hospital and we have a happy conclusion. Skid has won the race, Sandy is in a cast but otherwise OK, and Tommy is awarded a medal for bravery.

A solid story from start to finish, and I knew this would be a good one from the first panel. I was wondering why Sandy was wearing a  Tam o’ Shanter, it was quite noticeable, and it played a strong part in the story. Tommy has had quite an introduction to the world of Skid Solo, and although he's only been with us a few months, he has already been the hero of the piece several times. This was an unusual story. Skid won the race, and there was a spectacular crash, but for all that most of the drama took place off the track and centred on Sandy and Tommy. The story was richer for this, and although I am a big fan of the cars on the track, it was again the comradery between the three main characters that kept me reading closely. 

Rating: 8.5/10

Best line: "Sandy's in hospital. Skid...he was hurt in that crash. I--I kept it from you. Sandy wanted it that way..."

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Although in fourth place behind three Ravnian cars, Tiny and Martin are making up for lost time in the Scandinavian rally, and already have the Ravnian team in sight.

The third of the Ravnian cars tries to block them from passing, but some off-track driving by Martin has the mini moving into third place, although not without a cost. As the car swerves back onto the track it hits a glass bottle, puncturing a tyre. 

The puncture is slow, and it's not until Tiny and Martin reach a village that it really comes into play. The tyre bursts, and the pair crash into a vegetable stall. Luckily no one is hurt, and with the help of one of the large local chaps, they soon have the tyre changed and are pointed in the direction of a shortcut. We finish with the boys driving down this shortcut, worried that the drop is very steep and wondering if this was a good idea. 

Superb action, and seeing the mini get by one of the Ravnian team was a highlight for the story and in the artwork. Their chief nemesis Mister Vedgic only played a small role this week, and most of the action revolved around the car racing. On this front, it delivered in spades, and the artwork was excellent in capturing all the action. We had a good mix of intensity and out-and-out action, perhaps best captured when the mini sideswiped the vegetable stand. The look of Tiny and Martin's faces spoke volumes, while the flying vegetables were visually stimulating and added to the vibrancy of the strip. I often comment on the artwork of Martin's marvellous Mini, and this particular story was a good example of why I hold it in such high regard, 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "It is a little bit downhill..yes? But it goes up again in the end! It is a very quick way!"

Johnny Cougar

It looked like this Johnny Cougar story was almost done, with the kidnappers caught and Mister Mitchell free. However, a surprise twist in the last issue has revealed that Mister Mitchell is also one of the villains, and now Johnny must catch him too. 

Using his tracking ability, Johnny pursues Mitchell through the woods. Mitchell catches him off guard, jumping out of one of the trees and hitting Johnny with a double-footed kick.

From here it becomes a typical Johny Cougar fight, and after a page of back and forth, Johnny wins with his patented forearm smash.

All that remains is for the final wrap-up as Johnny returns to the school and tells the three boys who asked for his help all that has happened. They are surprised but upbeat as we finish the story of the three watching Johnny win by knockout in a wrestling match. 

There wasn't much to this story, and although there was some crunching fighting action, it was a downbeat finish. Still, I rated it highly on the look of the strip alone and found it an enjoyable read without becoming overly exciting or challenging. I always have such high expectations for Johnny Cougar, and sometimes I forget that even when it doesn't achieve its high standard, it is still better than most. This is one of those occasions. It only suffers in comparison to itself, and any other day this would be rated highly. A new adventure next week gives us a fresh start, and with this story running an issue too long for liking, I look forward to seeing what fresh challenge Johnny faces next.     

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Broken twig show man go this way. Grass still bent over...Mitchell only just ahead..." 

Hot Shot Hamish 

Hamish has returned to his home island where he has entered the island games - competing against a stranger known as Big John. The rivalry is intense from the start as Big John throws Hamish's Daddie into the sea. 

Hamish has revenge on his mind as the games begin. The games consist of four events - cross-country running, caber-tossing, boxing and golf. The first event is the cross-country run, and as the race begins it's all between Hamish and Big John, none of the other competitors has a chance. 

Hamish's Daddie takes to a bike to act as a pacemaker, and soon Hamish is far ahead of the pack. Coming over the hill they see that Boig John also has a pacemaker, although in this case, Big John is riding on the back of the bike. 

Fighting fire with fire, Hamish jumps on the back of his Daddies bike and soon the pair are zooming downhill in an attempt to catch up. 

Coming around a bend, they find that Big John has blocked the road with a boulder, and taking evasive action Hamish and his Dadiie swerve off the cliff and into the sea. However, this plays in their favour as they come ashore and take a shortcut along the beach, arriving at the finish line far ahead of Big John. 

Big John furiously shakes his fist at Hamish as he crosses the line, promising to tear Hamish to pieces in the boxing match the next day. 

Not a football in sight, but highly enjoyable from start to finish., Plenty of humour on display here and none of it was silly or over the top. It was all part of the story being spun and gave the characters some depth as they competed in the race. I didn't expect a run to deliver as much excitement as it did, and we were treated to some impressive panels as Hamish and his Daddie took to the bike and around the cliff edges. The art has returned to its previous heights after a quiet couple of weeks, and although the previous football story wasn't as rich as I thought it could be, this one is more than making up for it. Next week's boxing match has the potential to be even better and I can't wait. 

Rating: 8.5/10

Best line: "Hey, Daddie - Big John's having a lift on the mon's bike!"

Nipper

Nipper has started his new part-time job as a dealer and discovered a case of coins accidentally given to him at his first call. Nipper is honest, and thinking of the trouble the poor maid would be in for giving him the coins, returns them to the wealthy owner, Sir Henry Gifford. 

Sir Henry is most grateful to Nipper for returning them and asks if there is anything he can do to show his appreciation. At first, Nipper says no, but then he recognises that Sir Henry is the honorary secretary of the Grove cricket club, where he was denied a trial last week. 

He has Sir Henry pull a few strings, and come Wednesday Nipper is on the team sheet. The team are surprised when Nipper appears from Sir Henry's car, and aghast at what has happened. 

Nipper looks scruffy and plays with a taped-up bat, a look the team doesn't approve of. Sir Henry may have requested that Nipper be put on the team sheet, but the team still finds a way to deal with this unwanted interloper, and Nipper is disappointed to see his name last on the batting order. 

A very nice surprise here to find the gold coins storyline intersecting with the cricket storyline. I really thought Nipper was going to be falsely accused of stealing the coins, so I was most pleased to see the story swing the other way and Nipper find a way into the team. This is shaping up to be a fish-out-of-water storyline and Nipper will only fit in by proving his worth on the field. That looks difficult from this position, and next week should give the story plenty of time to show Nipper at his sporting best. There is still plenty of friction between all involved to be had, and with a mix of sporting action and conflict within the team, the story is shaping up nicely to carry us for the next few weeks. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Great scott, lad, the Gifford collection is worth thousands! What can I do to show my appreciation?" 

Billy's Boots

Billy and Jimmy are opening the batting in their second school game, and with an expert bowler steaming in Jimmy tells Billy that he will shield him from the strike. 

Scoring in twos and fours, with a single at the end of the overs, Jimmy is doing a good job of hogging the strike, although Billy is frustrated as half an hour passes before he faces a ball. 

Jimmy needn't have bothered protecting Billy as Billy is in fine form - scoring a quickfire eighteen runs off the fast bowler. He isn't as good against a spin bowler though, and is out first ball when the new bowler takes over. 

While his Groundwood team continues their innings, Billy and Jimmy find a football game taking place just over the wall from the cricket pitch. The pair can't help themselves and are soon involved in the game. Billy is surprised to find himself playing well without his old boots, and he and Jimmy earn the respect of the guys they are playing with. So much so, that one of the players tells them to talk to their manager as he is always looking for new talent for the youth side. 

All this goodwill is punctured by the furious sportsmaster who appears at the top of the wall. He angrily tells Billy and Jimmy that the team are all out, and they are waiting for the two of them so they can start fielding. 

Another great episode of Billy's Boots, and having both football and cricket in the same issue appealed to the sporting side of me. Billy playing football well without his boots was surprising and added some intrigue to a straightforward story. He played well in both sports this week, and we had a nice balance as his Achilles heel against the spin bowler was revealed. The sports looked clean on the page, and my eye raced across the panels featuring sporting action. As good as that was, it was the angry sportsmaster that stole the show for me. As I read the final panel I was right in the moment with Billy and Jimmy, it was a familiar page from my own history, and instantly relatable even forty years later. A splendid way to end the strip, and I can still hear the sportsmaster's voice ringing in my ears as I turn the page to Tallon Of The Track. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "I think you ought to get back on the cricket field! Groundwood are all out, you know...and we're waiting for you two to start fielding!" 

Tallon Of The Track

Jo and Dave are in the midst of a cross-country race when their bike has let them down with a broken front wheel. Fortuitously they have found an old bike in a shed, and using it for parts Dave makes a running repair. 

With ten miles to go, they are back in the race and as they belt down the track they can see Miles Guthrie and his co-rider taking a rest.

Jo and Dave roar past, and although Guthrie gets back on the bike Jo already has a handy lead on him. However, there is one final twist as they approach the finish line. The front tyre gives out, and Jo and Dave desperately push their bike toward the finish line. They just make it, and they beat Guthrie by a whisker. 

Guthrie is impressed by Jo's never-give-up attitude. He proves to be a man of his word, and conceding defeat he agrees not to sell the Ospreys Speedway stadium. Furthermore, he offers his full support to the club. The story ends with all of them back at the speedway track, with Miles Guthrie taking the club chairman, Basil Oldfield, aside to explain all that has happened.

The last page of the story was anti-climatic, although I immensely enjoyed all that came before that. I was expecting perhaps one or two more twists in the race and perhaps another week's worth of racing. Alas, it wasn't to be and we ended with the bike being pushed across the line. It was dramatic, just not as dramatic as it could have been. Another few panels showing the struggles with the patched-up bike would have been good to further build the tension, and there was certainly time to do that. Still, this has been a worthy adventure for Jo, and the world is our oyster with a new adventure for her next week. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Step aside, Yank! Over here in Britain we never say die! Now catch us if you can!"  

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Hot Shot Hamish

Best Line: "They've diddled us, Daddie! We've had it!" 

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 31st May 1975

The following blog post was written in a football-funk post the Chelsea loss against Manchester City in today's F.A. Cup semifinal. That may explain why I love the cricketing stories in this week's comic while the football strips remain unloved. Funny how sports can affect one's mood, and even an afternoon's drinking with old friends has failed to lift my spirits. Still, this blog is about Tiger comic and not my feelings about football, and with that in mind here's this week's look back at the comic in 1975. 

Tiger

31st May 1975

Roy Of The Rovers

Evel Knievel is on the front cover of this week's comic in a quintessential 1970s moment, but I am far more interested in the stunts being pulled in Roy  Of The Rovers.

All talk is of the upcoming final of the European Cup Winners Cup, although we learn from a TV interview with Roy that the team they will be playing has yet to be decided in the other semi-final. 

That semi-final is between the Mighty Atletico and Niarkos, a bunch of Greek part-timers. Roy pitches his stall early, telling the TV crew that he expects Atletico to win. We see this thinking play out at the tactical sessions Roy runs, showing plenty of film on how he expects Atletico to play. 

With Roy preparing his team for the threat Atletico presents, there is little thought to the semi-final between Atletico and Niarkos. That changes on the last page of the strip as Roy is informed that Niarkos currently hold a three-one lead with only minutes left in the game. Roy rushes to a nearby TV as Atletico are about to take a penalty, a chance they need to score from to make the team's level on aggregate. 

A nice change of pace in this story as we saw no football action at all. Instead, the drama of the piece relied on Roy's choice to concentrate on Atletico for his coaching. This was a risky move and as we see in the final panel it may be the wrong decision by Roy. I enjoyed seeing the path forward for Rovers dictated by another game and another team. Usually, I would be disappointed not to see Rovers in action, but this is part of the wider story of Roy managing the team and as such I did appreciate why we were concentrating so much on a different game. It didn't reach the same heights as previous strips for drama, although there is just enough of a hook in the final panel to make me want to come back next week to see what happens. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Roy, do you think it's wise to concentrate solely on Atletico? Suppose those Greeks manage to scrape through..." 

Martin's Marvellous Mini

The Scandinavian Rally has thrown up an odd situation for Tiny and Martin. Rival team manager, Mister Vedgic, has trapped them in a castle, and with the draw bridge up and locked their chances are rapidly fading. 

However, our two boys are resourceful and after bashing the winding gear with an old mace, they manage to get the draw bridge halfway down. It's enough for them to take a run at it, and in a moment worthy of Evel Knievel on the front cover, they use the draw bridge as a ramp and jump the moat. 

They survive the jump, although their Mini isn't so lucky and requires some urgent work on the suspension. While Tiny works through the night, Martin gets a good night's sleep. Come morning Tiny has finished his work and is asleep next to the car with a note around his neck telling Martin the car is OK to go. Tiny is still asleep as Martin straps him into the car, and Martin silently promises him that he'll do his best for him in an attempt to make up for the time they have lost. 

As usual for Martin's Marvellous Mini, this is a story of two halves. In the first half, we saw them face the obstacle of the castle and its locked draw bridge and this worked us into the position for the second half of the story as Tiny worked on the car. I enjoyed both parts of the story, The first part gave us some good action, and some great artwork as the car flew through the air. The second half brought to light the friendship between Tiny and Martin, and this was again reflected well in the artwork and the dialogue between the two. The final panel of Martin promising to do his best for Tiny was a highlight for me. It was warm and showed some feeling while promising more action in next week's issue. A lovely way to finish the strip, and I am completely sold on the story. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "That's a job for you, old buddy...when we get to the night-stop! We can't be far away!"

Johnny Cougar

Johnny and a police officer are in pursuit of a kidnapper when both vehicles suddenly face a head-on crash with a lorry. 

While Johnny and the police officer swerve to the right, the kidnappers swerve to the left, and both cars crash through the barriers at fifty miles an hour. While Baxter, the kidnapper, crashes into a barn, Johnny and the policeman are far more lucky and crash into a haystack. 

Johnny and the policeman run towards the other car as the two crooks pull their pistols for a fight. They needn't have bothered as Johnny and the law is swiftly upon the car and slam the doors shut on the kidnapper's hands, forcing them to drop the guns. 

From here it becomes a brawl, and there can only be one winner in such situations. While the policeman punches out one kidnapper, Johnny deals with the other with a quick chop, followed by a hammerlock move. 

With the kidnappers captured, all attention turns to the school teacher Mister Mitchell who was snatched by the crooks. Here the story takes a massive swerve, as we find Mister Mitchell has vanished. Baxter quickly tells Johnny that it was Mister Mitchell's evidence that had Baxter convicted, but what no one knew at the time was that Mitchell was involved with the bank raid and he was the one that got away with all the money.

Johnny is shocked and asks why Baxter didn't say this earlier, only for Baxter to tell him that he wanted a chance to catch Mitchell himself and get what's left of the money - but now it's too late and Mitchell has got away. 

A fantastic swerve at the end of the story, and just as it looked like the story was coming to an end it reignited with this new information coming to light. It added a bit of interest to a story that otherwise was playing to all the tropes of Johnny versus the bad guys. This story was well served by the artwork, and we had an array of close-ups of the faces of the characters involved, each adding to the layers of the story being told and saying just as much as the dialogue. The car action looked great, the fighting scenes were hard-hitting, and the final panels with the reveal were all superb parts of the story being spun, making for a solid issue that delivered several memorable images that will stick with me until next week's edition. 

Rating: 8.5/10

Best line: "By Manitou...you drive heap well!"

Tallon Of The Track

Jo Tallon and Dave Trent have stopped for the night in their cross-county race against Miles Guthrie, while Guthrie has continued on with lights attached to his bike. 

Jo decides that they should press on too, and sets off at slow speed while waiting for the moon to rise in two hours. Reaching the top of the mountain just as the moon rises, Jo opens the throttle and roars off into the night. 

Unfortunately, they have an encounter with a log lying across the road, and the front wheel is buckled beyond repair. However, they find shelter at a farm at the foot of the valley where they also find a solution to their problem. An old bike in the barn gives Jo the parts they need to fix their wheel and the final panel has Jo excited at the prospect of a fighting chance. 

I wasn't as excited as Jo by the story, although I have nothing but praise for the art. It looked fantastic, and the image of Jo and Dave tumbling over the log was a highlight. Close behind was the panel of them thundering down the mountain. It captured the speed and thrill of the moment, and I felt my enthusiasm rise just at the sight of it. We didn't see the team that Jo and Dave were racing against, and this story was about them against the elements. Fortuitously the writer planted a bike in the barn of the farm they chanced across, and another time I may have rolled my eyes at such a moment. Not this time, such was my hangover of joy from the previous images of the bike coming down the mountain. The art was the driving factor of my overall feeling for the strip, and like Johnny Cougar previously, it said more to me than any words on the page. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Same here, Dave! My fingers have been itching to open this throttle, so hang on! 

Skid Solo

The sight of Tommy loading a kayak onto a car and about to go to the river immediately tells us what this week's story will be all about. 

Being the sensible man that he is, Skid tells Tommy that kayaking is dangerous and that he should be extra careful. 

Driving to the track with Sandy, Skid expands his earlier thoughts, again reiterating how dangerous kayaking can be. Sandy scoffs at this and encourages Skid to try kayaking himself after the practice. Skid says he will come to watch Sandy try, but there's no way that he'll try it himself. 

Reaching the river, an instructor takes Skid aside to show him some basics, while Sandy says he'll be along in a minute, just as soon as he has a look at a couple of things himself. 

Before he knows it, Skid is out on the water, and soon he is caught in a fast stretch of water. Navigating some rapids, he decides that's enough for him, and he waits on the banks of the river for Sandy to come down. Ten minutes later Sandy does appear, but not on the river, instead walking on the bank towards Skid. 

He tells Skid that on second thoughts the river did look too dangerous to try and he changed his mind. Skid is taken aback by this, and the two drive back to their hotel. There Skid gets another surprise, Tommy has returned and the kayaks are smashed up. Skid asks what happened, and Tommy tells them that they never actually got to try kayaking - the kayaks fell off the roof of the car as they were going to the river. He adds that it is just as well too, for once he saw the river he decided it was much too dangerous. 

We finish the strip with Skid saying he was the one telling them all that it was too dangerous but was the only one who actually did it. 

A similar story to last week, and a story that didn't involve racing, I wasn't so fussed by this week's edition of Skid Solo. The drama was weak, and the usual snappy dialogue between the friends was lacking. We didn't even get some good lines out of Sandy, usually, the first character to deliver something clever or fun. The story was gently paced and felt more like a Dad and his sons having a family outing rather than a team of testosterone-fueled racing drivers trying an adventure sport. Skid Solo belongs in a racing car, not a kayak, and this wasn't the type of story I wanted to read this week. Another time it may have been passable, but it was weak in too many departments and left me cold. 

Rating: 4/10

Best line: "This canoeing lark sounds dodgy, Sandy, They don't do it in a pond...they almost do it down a waterfall!"

Hot Shot Hamish

About to be subbed off in his first international game for Scotland, Hamish is determined to put in one final shot before he goes,

Beating a player, Hamish dribbles the ball into the Borania penalty area where he unleashes the hot shot. It's a sensational goal for the big man, but unfortunately his shot not only bursts the net, it also strikes the bottom of one of the floodlight towers. The tower topples over and crashes onto the pitch, and the game is duly abandoned by the referee.

It's an inauspicious end to Hamish's first international, and with the season over Hamish and Willie travel back to Hamish's home island. Of course, they arrive to find trouble between Hamish's Daddie and one of the other men on the island. The Island games are about to begin, and Big John is taking part. The problem for Hamish's Daddie is that Big John is from the mainland, although the rules state that if you have lived on the island for a month you can participate in the games, and Big John meets this criteria. 

Things come to a head, and we finish the strip with Bg John dropping Hamish's Daddie in the water, and Hamish steaming in for revenge. 

I feel sorry for Hamish and the way his first game for Scotland ended. It would have been nice to see a full game, but I guess the writer had his reason for wrapping it up quickly. We have seen towers collapse before in the face of Hamish's hot shot, so I wasn't too surprised with what we saw here. Likewise, Hamish's Daddie causing trouble was no surprise and completely fitting with all that has come before. The story almost writes itself from here, and although I am disappointed with the football story this week, the thought of Hamish competing against Big John at the island games offers plenty of opportunities to see Hamish at his physical best, no doubt with a healthy dose of humour thrown in. Overall, disappointed with this issue, but the future looks bright and I look forward to next week. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Yon goalie saved ma last hot-shot. But he'll no' save this one!"

Billy's Boots

After beating Moreton School at cricket, Billy and his Groundswood team must now face the wrath of the Moreton boys. The Groundswood team are pelted with eggs as they exit the pavilion, and they beat a hasty retreat. 

Billy has the idea of fighting off the Moreton boys by kicking footballs at them, and behind a barrage of footballs, the Groundswood team escape the grounds. However, the Moreton School headmaster has seen them and decides to ring the Groundswood headmaster. 

There is trouble for Billy and the team when they return to school, the headmaster has decided they must all stay behind after school as punishment. However, the sports master is sympathetic to their plight, and aware of the eggs incident, and tells them they will all stay behind - and practice cricket. 

The rest of the issue reads like Billy's Sports tips that will appear in later years in Tiger. Jimmy Dawson runs through some batting tips with Billy, as well as offering a training idea that can help with their skills. By the end of the week, Jimmy feels Billy has improved with the bat and recommends to the sport master that Billy opens the batting with Jimmy. Walking to the crease in the next match, Jimmy tells Billy that he'll keep Billy away from the strike as much as possible as the opening bowler is supposed to be one of the fastest in the country. All Billy can do is hope that Dead-shot's boots will help him.

A strong episode, with problems for Billy both on and off the field. Again it plugs into the world of a young boy navigating his way through school and the issues encountered with other boys and teachers. Every action has a consequence, and this played out in a schoolboy drama that was instantly relatable. This cricket story is proving just as intriguing as the football season that has just finished, and already I am well and truly hooked by the storylines thrown up. Next week should present just as many problems for Billy, and if the artwork continues to match the story for intensity I shall be very happy indeed. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Gosh, I hope I'm good enough!" 

Nipper

We start fresh with this week's Nipper story. A sedate beginning sees Nipper strolling towards the nets where Mike Bateson is taking part in a practice session for the professional cricket team, Grove Lane. 

Nipper is expecting a trial, but despite what Mike said earlier, there is no trial to be had. Things deteriorate as the Grove Lane team instantly dislikes Nipper, and they talk down to him from the start. 

This aggravates Nipper, who picks up a ball to bowl in the nets. The batter he is bowling against isn't ready, and when Nipper strikes him on the elbow, the rest of the cricket team is incensed. 

As Mike criticises him, Nipper realises that Mike is ashamed of him. Nipper accuses Mike of worrying too much about this reputation and his toffee-nosed club. Angrily Nipper leaves for home, where he finds a pile of letters in his mailbox. 

Nipper has been advertising for work in the local newspaper and is now inundated with work. His first call is to an imposing house named Gifford Grange. Here the maid sends him around the back, where there is a large pile of rubbish that Nipper can have for ten pounds. Nipper pays up and begins to load the goods onto his bike. As his dog Stumpy scrambles to get out of the way, he knocks over a box which Nipper has loaded on the bike, exposing a case of gold coins. Nipper is excited by the find and the fact that they were sold to him for merely ten pounds. 

I think I see where this is going, and expect to see some trouble with the law next week in a case of mistaken intentions. Nipper may be excited now, but I can't see this ending well. The drama with the cricket that started the strip is simmering away nicely, and the best panels of this week's strip involved the Grove Lane team and their attitude toward Nipper. The way they looked down on him and spoke to him was beautifully captured, and I felt uncomfortable on Nipper's behalf through these panels. Mike's discomfort was tangible, and it is a credit to both the writer and the artist in the way this played out. There was much to like here, and with two threads of the story building up, this is another storyline with an upward trajectory.  

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Great Scott, Bateson! Surely this little...urchin, isn't a friend of yours?" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Johnny Cougar

Best Line: "As for giving him a trail for the 'Grove', we've already hired someone to sweep out the pavilion!" 

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: 

Tiger 24th May 1975

Comics and hangovers are not a good combination. Or should I say, comic blogs and hangovers aren't? Last night I was in fine form. This morning, not so much. Lying on the couch reading comics is a good option, however, the thought of trying to write about them is terrifying. I shall see how I go, but if you notice the below riddled with grammatical errors and spelling mistakes, you'll understand why.    

Tiger

24th May 1975

Billy's Boots

Billy's Boots prove their worth on the front cover of the comic as we are treated to the sight of Billy bowling against the famous cricket school of Moreton. Surprising all, including Billy himself, Billy delivers the ball at express pace, claiming a wicket with his very first ball. 

Following this dynamic start, Billy unleashes a series of bouncers over the page, rattling the Moreton batters and snaring another wicket

Wickets continue to fall, although Moreton continues to accumulate runs and steadily approach their target of 97 runs to win the match. In the field, Billy makes another valuable contribution, first with a splendid catch on the boundary, before sealing the game for Groundswood with a dramatic runout and a fantastic throw from out in the field. 

Although some Moreton players take the loss with good grace, we finish the strip with other Moreton players preparing to lob rotten eggs at the Groundswood team as they exit the changing rooms. 

Last week I wrote that I was looking forward to seeing how Billy would fare against this Moreton team, and I had high hopes that he would excel. All my hopes and expectations were exceeded, and from the very first image of Billy bowling at full pace against Moreton, I was grinning from ear to ear. Dead-shot Keen's cricket boots are proving to be just as powerful as his football boots, and Billy looks like he has a successful cricket season ahead of him. This first sight of him bowling delivered all that a young boy could have wanted from a sporting comic, and even someone as old and jaded as myself found joy in Billy's performance. We all know that there will be trials and tribulations ahead of Billy, and no doubt a few cases of the boots going missing, but this was an issue where we could revel in Billy's success and enjoy the story of an underdog coming out on top. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Don't ask me, Davis! I didn't even see it! That kid they've got opening the bowling is really fast!" 

Skid Solo

It's the week of the Belgium Grand Prix, and watching the practice laps all can see that Sparrow Smith is the one to beat and he puts in a series of fast times. 

Sandy tells the team that Skid's only hope is that it rains,  as in the rain Skid is untouchable. However, a timely weather forecast tells us that the current dry spell is set to last at least another twenty-four hours while several forest fires continue to rage nearby.

The smoke from these forest fires can be seen from the track, and once the race begins this smoke causes some problems. With smoke blowing across the track, it becomes a hazard and the pace of the race slows considerably. 

Meanwhile, the firefighters continue their battle with the fire and pray for rain. Their prayers are answered, and rain is soon falling, aiding the firefighters, and giving Sandy hope that Skid can deliver on the track.

However, Skid soon finds he is in trouble, and he slides off the track in the wet conditions. With both Skid and Sparrow sliding off the track, Corbonne takes the race, and the following day the newspapers tell the story of how the rains helped the firefighters but ruined the race. 

Skid drily tells the others that if it hadn't rained he might have won, and Sandy points out that it did someone some good - the firemen and Jean Corbonne - who is now only five points behind Skid in the driver championship. 

A solid Grand Prix, although I'm not convinced that the fire subplot worked as well as it could have. It did feel disjointed and perhaps the fire on its own would have been enough of a plot point without the need for the rain to be involved. The race did however deliver some excellent artwork, and the sight of Skid sliding in the rain was an excellent image that carried most of the drama of the race. This wasn't the best example of a Skid Solo Grand Prix and did just enough to keep me interested without ever delivering a knockout blow that could have elevated it to the next level. One can only hope that it is just a temporary blip, and the next race will deliver a lot more of what we have come to expect from Skid Solo. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Can't do much here. Not enough water. What we want is rain!" 

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Tiny and Martin have been sent in the wrong direction by the nefarious Mister Vedgic, and are now stuck at the bottom of a steep valley. 

Help is near at hand, and a friendly tractor diver is soon pulling them back to the farmhouse and a track leading to the road. Reaching a checkpoint they find they have not lost too much time and are currently in fourth, just behind the three rival Ravnian cars managed by Mister Vedgic. 

Driving at top speed they manage to get by one of the Ravnian team, but another sign put up by Mister Vedgic sends them again in the wrong direction. Speeding into a gloomy castle, they are trapped when Vedgic raises the draw bridge and locks them in.

Once again the boys have easily escaped one problem only to face a greater one at the end of the story. Along the way, we had a steady stream of exciting panels, the pick of them when they sped by the Ravnian car. I'm a sucker for spooky castles and the ending of this story had me abuzz about what might come next. Although I wasn't enthralled by the opening peril or some of the racing, the appearance of this castle righted all the previous wrongs, and we are in a good place for the next issue to pick up the action. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "I hope they've got some baked beans ready...I'm starving!"

Hot Shot Hamish 

It is Hamish's first game representing Scotland, and his Daddie watches proudly from the stands. 

Hamish finds the international standard rather higher than second-division football and struggles at first. Even his hot shot is saved, and Hamish begins to question if he is good enough for the team. 

Hamish is about to be subbed off, but before the change can be made Hamish gets his head to a corner kick, sending the ball into the back of the opposition net. However, the goal is disallowed, leading to Hamish's Daddie storming onto the pitch to confront the referee. 

Hamish's Daddie is escorted off by the police, and Hamish cottons onto the fact that he is about to be subbed off. As play resumes, Hamish decides that it is his last chance to do something and we finish with the image of him running towards the ball to make a mark while he can.

This wasn't what I expected from Hamish's debut, and the story was all the better for his struggles. It would have been all too easy to have him score with his first hot shot, and seeing it saved highlighted the fact that this is international football with a much higher than the second-division action we see week after week. Hamish's Daddie was true to form and his appearance fitted in very well with Hamish's performance on the pitch and understanding that he was about to be replaced on the field. Not the most exciting Hot Shot Hamish story we have seen, but there was plenty to enjoy here, and one has to take some pleasure from seeing Hamish take the field in a Scottish jumper. My Irnbru was flat by the end of the story, but I know that Hamish will bounce back next week, and my hopes are high that we will see a goal from the big man.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Did ye see that? What a header. That's ma boy who scored! I told ye he was the greatest!"

Johnny Cougar

Johnny is facing Scarface Baxter, an escaped prisoner with revenge on his mind, and with Baxter holding a pistol things are not in Johnny's favour. 

However, Johnny has a unique set of skills, and after a couple of wrestling moves he has disarmed Baxter. This moral victory is short-lived, and Johnny is hit from behind by Baxter's accomplice. The two villains make a getaway, with the kidnapped Mister Mitchell whom Johnny was supposed to protect. 

A police car appears, and collecting Johnny gives chase to the kidnappers. They catch up to the kidnapper's car but are forced off the road by some reckless driving. Resuming the chase they again gain on the crook's car, only for the story to finish with the two cars locked side by side and driving directly towards an oncoming lorry. 

An excellent Johnny Cougar story with plenty of highs and lows throughout. I was quite taken by the swings and roundabouts of the story and never once did the story let up as the chase sprawled across two pages. We had the early sight of Johnny putting his wrestling skills to good use before the story settled into the car chase that dominated the bulk of the story. All of it felt important, and although it wasn't Johnny driving the police car, it still held my attention and felt like a proper Johnny Cougar story. It seems the end is almost upon us for this story, although I hope not. It did take a few weeks to really warm up, and now we are in the midst of it I would hate to see it blow by us so quickly. Next week will be make or break, and I can only hope that there is some way that this story can be extended. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Now we fight with bare hands...only weaklings use guns to protect themselves!" 

Nipper

The football season is over, and after winning the league Nipper and Mike Beatson are now playing cricket in the car park. Should Nipper survive the last two balls bowled by Mike, he expects Mike to get him a trial for Grove Lane, a situation Mike is desperate to avoid. 

Nipper survives two close chances and gratefully receives the five pounds he has bet against Mike. The question of the trial for Grove Lane remains unresolved, and the next step for Nipper is to take a turn bowling against Mike. 

Mike dispatches Nipper's first ball out of the car park but is undone by Nipper's next ball, a spinner, and is bowled out. Mike is aghast and quickly leaves, telling Nipper that he'll see what he can do, but is making no promises. It is up to Len Duggan to take Nipper aside and warn him that Mike has his own reputation to consider, and Nipper should perhaps stick to football.

This story is still stuck in second gear. After the football season wrapped up last week I thought we might have sunk our teeth deep into this story, but it is yet to truly get started. Watching the banter between Mike and Nipper was the highlight of what we have here and although the cricket hasn't started properly we have already seen what sort of player Nipper is, and Mike's obvious abilities. With contrasting styles, not to mention personalities, there is fertile ground here for the story to grow organically and overall I'm not too disappointed with the pace of the story thus far.  We have just a small taste of the artwork that is to come with Nipper with a ball and bat in hand, and it should be just as lively to read as his football exploits. A strong strip next week should set this story on firmer ground, and I shall be much happier when we get onto a proper cricket pitch and see what Nipper and Mike can really do. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "It...m-must have turned a yard! Where the heck did you learn to bowl spinners like that?"

Roy Of The Rovers. 

With Roy intent on catching the mystery man who has been helping the team, Rovers have fallen three-nil behind against Durmstadt in the second leg of their Cup-Winners Cup semifinal.  With Roy subbing himself into the game, the ship is soon righted, with Roy taking on the responsibility of shutting down the Germans's key player, Franz Heller. 

It is still three-nil at halftime, but Durmstadt are no longer as threatening as they were. The Melchester team is eager to learn the identity of the mystery man as they come into the dressing rooms, and Roy immediately reveals that it is Tony Stormes' brother Brian. It seems Tony wanted to help Roy with the transition into management, and he had been using his brother as an intermediary to pass on notes and advice.

With this drama behind us, the game continues. Durmstadt are still behind on aggregate, and with Rovers putting on a stronger showing in the second half they have no chance. The crowning moment comes late in the second half when Roy scores, putting the result beyond doubt. 

The game is won, and as the team leaves the field Roy is already thinking ahead to the next game and the fact that he alone will be making the managerial decisions. 

This was the ending we all expected after last week's issue. Even so, it was disappointing to find the mystery man is Tony Storme's brother. Since the opening salvo was fired in this mystery man saga, Tony Storme has always been the front runner of possible suspects, and having him deliver notes via his brother felt like a copout. Better to have Tony Storme himself do it, or a total stranger, rather than this note passing by proxy. On a positive note, the footballing side of the strip looked great, and in particular, I enjoyed seeing how Melchester Rovers played against Franz Heller. It looked intense on the page and captured the drama of these two-legged European games well. I am excited to see what new story will spring forth next week, and with the final of the Cup Winners Cup still to come, the next few weeks should be a riveting read.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Right, Blackie! Tony had built up a fantastic knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of other teams over the years, and he gave me a thorough briefing before the start of each game. My own experience...gained through running sports centres...did the rest!

Tallon Of The Track

We are still in the midst of Jo's race against Miles Guthrie for control of the Osprey's stadium. Racing across the country, each with a sidecar passenger, Jo encountered trouble early on with a fuel leak on her bike. Taking a handkerchief from her passenger, Dave Trent, Jo makes a quick repair and soon they are back on track and chasing down Miles Guthrie. 

Guthrie is slowed by a flock of sheep, and Jo seizes the initiative with an awesome display of skill.  First, she manoeuvres her bike along a ramp, before jumping the flock and putting her and Dave back in front.

Gaining a solid lead, Jo and Dave continue until nightfall, and then prepare to camp for the night. However, they are shocked to find Guthrie has mounted powerful torches to his bike and he gloatingly speeds past them in the dark. 

Not as good as last week, but not too far off it. The early fuel tank leak was resolved rather easily, and it was the drama of seeing Jo jump over the flock of sheep that carried all the drama and thrill of the story in a single image. The final cliff hanger was slight in the face of this amazing jump and a let down after all that had come before. Having torches mounted to the bike didn't spin my wheels in terms of must-read comic action, but as always the art was excellent and worth every minute spent looking at it. I shall slip easily into sleep now, but it is unlikely I shall be dreaming of Tallon Of The Track. Instead, it is opening Billy's Boots that captured my imagination and that is where my thoughts turn to as I consider what is to come next week.

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "I'll get you for this, Tallon...if it's the last thing I ever do!" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Billy's Boots

Best Line: "Car we chase contains Scarface Baxter...heap evil escaped prisoner. He kidnap schoolteacher who give evidence at his trial! You call up reinforcements on radio?" 

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: