Tiger 30th August 1975

A spectacular cover hints that this could be a great issue. A colourful balloon floating over Skid Solo has me asking a lot of questions, and this comic is begging to be picked up and read. With Martin's Marvellous Mini also featuring colour images of men floating away to the clouds, we have a theme appearing, and one that I'm totally on board with. If the stories can match the lightness of these images, then we should be in for a dreamy read and a most relaxing half hour. Let's turn the page and see what's in store.  

Tiger

30th August 1975

Skid Solo

With the sight of a balloon floating above a road, it looks as though Skid Solo is treading on the same ground as Martin's Marvellous Mini. 

The balloon elicits excitement in the car Skid is driving, with Tommy and Sandy keen to check out the balloon before they finish their drive across Italy to Monza. 

The ballon drops at a nearby castle, although by the time Skid and his friends have made it through the gate, the ballon has seemingly disappeared. Exploring the castle, they find a cache of weapons, and all three automatically fear the worst - the ballon has dropped a shipment of weapons for the local arms dealers. 

They return to their vehicle just as a similar car arrives, and not waiting to ask questions, they speed off before trouble finds them. 

The trouble follows them, with the other car chasing them for some time. Skid tales evasive action through the forest with a fine exhibition of off-road driving, but in the end they are undone as a type bursts when they smash through a gate. 

Their pursuers call to them, and we find that they are making a movie and have mistaken Skid for their stunt driver. They ask if Skid could drive like that again, and he gives an emphatic "No". The story ends with Skid, Sandy and Tommy heading towards Monza, and Sandy telling them they will mind their own business in the future. 

This story was fun, yet left me empty by the end of it. This is not the Skid Solo I signed up for. I enjoyed the setting, and the driving to escape, but I felt let down by the ending. The concept reads OK and would have worked as a multipart storyline. Hard to do when we have the Grand Prix racing every couple of weeks, yet with so many good things about the strip this week it felt like lost potential. The movie aspect of the story was the part I didn't enjoy, and although the start was strange, it could have spun off into a longer story about the castle and gun runners. This was an excellent location, and it provided some great artwork, it was just a shame the story didn't deliver at the very end. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "There's something dodgy going on here. I wonder if those guns came from that balloon?" 

Billy's Boots

Billy is feeling blue after going out for a duck while playing for the seaside team. His Gran tries to cheer him up, pointing out how easy it is to hit the ball, but Billy remains sullen and dwelling on the thought that both he and his friend Dave have let down the team. 

He is given a chance to redeem himself when the ball is tossed to him to open the bowling. Yet again, he fails, and after a miserable over he is removed from the bowling and sent to the boundary to field. Still moping on his failures, he doesn't see a lofted shot coming his way, and after missing a chance to catch it and being hit on the shin, he is subjected to further ridicule from his teammates. 

He is saved when the rain comes, and he retreats back to the hotel and the comfort of his Gran. As it is Billy's last day of holiday he goes to say goodbye to Dave. They chat for a while, Dave telling Billy that he is a great goalkeeper and hoping to get a football apprenticeship soon. Billy takes this knowledge onboard, and after a firm handshake goodbye, Billy catches the train home. 

On the train, he reads in his comic that Colin Burns, the manager of Darnbury, is seeking new talent. Lowering the comic for a moment, Billy realises that he is sitting directly opposite Colin Burns, and now would be a good chance to ask if he would give a trial to Dave. 

I knew I was going to rate this high as soon as I saw Billy's Gran in the first panel. Not only did she open with one of her very best lines, but she also reappeared later in the story,  giving an extra push to Billy and the peril he was facing. She may not have been a key part of the train ride home, but she was also there in the final panels and the story moved back towards its primary focus on football. This final seaside holiday has been great, and given a chance for the relationship between Billy and his Gran to take centre stage. In the earlier issues, it looked as though there may have been a potential love interest for Billy, although we veered quickly away from that and returned to a more familiar setting of Billy playing sports with the lads. It's been an interesting month, and although I look forward to returning to football, a little part of my heart is left in the seaside town where Billy had a lovely holiday with his Gran. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "I hope that's the end! I've done enough damage for one day...and my leg's hurting where that ball hit it!" 

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Martin and Tiny are in their mini dangling beneath Martin's father's caravan, which is now floating away like a hot air balloon. 

Blowing out over the sea, there seems little they can do about their plight but lucky they see they are blowing towards an island. Puncturing the airbags with a small hole, Tiny manages to make a gentle descent, and surprisingly the mini and caravan manage a safe landing with no damage done. 

 A quick search of the island finds that it is deserted. On the negative side, a prominent rock they saw when they landed has now disappeared under the tide. Realising that their car and caravan may be at risk, they rush to the beach where they can see the sea is already kissing the tyres of the vehicles. 

I've scored this an eight because you can't enjoy the sight of a mini dangling beneath a floating caravan, then I'm sorry, I can't help you. Ridiculous and silly, yet it looks wonderful on the page. They get away with this silliness because the relationship between Tiny and Martin is so real, and no matter what the story throws at them, their interactions and dialogue always ring true. Some wonderful images in this week's story, and several panels I will remember for a long time to come. Completely bonkers, yet brilliant in its execution, and it all works due to the quality of the craft.  

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "We've got to do something! We're still going up! Reach through the window and puncture an airbag, Tiny!" 

Roy Of The Rovers

It is the first game of the season for Melchester, and already they have hit a run of bad luck. Ralph Derry has been stretched off with a broken leg, and later with the game tied at one each, Roy steps up to take a crucial penalty. 

The keeper saves it (although the Tiger reply shows that the keeper moved too soon) and from the resulting corner, Roy is again denied on the line as the ball cannons off an opposing player's head. 

This results in the ball being booted downfield, and with the Melchester defence left flat-footed, it is left to Charlie Carter to come off his line to try and narrow the angle. Despite his best efforts, there is a mix-up between other Rover's players and a goal is scored. This goal gives Weston Town a surprising 2-1 lead and with the final whistle a victory. 

All Roy can do is clutch his head and wonder about his luck, and what he will do to try to find a replacement for Ralph Derry while negotiating this bad luck that has arrived. 

The Tiger replay was the highlight of a story that otherwise remained as muddled as the mix-up between the two Melchester defenders. Rovers are having bad luck, and this was hammered home across every page, to the point of annoyance. A single miss by Roy and the broken leg would have been enough to sell this plot, and I found the save of the line followed by a breakaway goal to be too much. Subtle it is not. Now that this game has finished the story should hopefully speed it up. The hint was dropped several weeks ago about Duncan McKay, and it's time to cash in on that promise and bring one of my favourite characters into the fold. Next week we will take a big stride in this direction (I hope) and my only wish is that the story will take a more nuanced approach. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "It's daylight robbery! The Rovers will play worse than this, and win easily!"  

Johnny Cougar

With no sign of Johnny Cougar, Splash Gorton enters the ring alone to take on the American wrestler Kolchak.

From the first bell, Splash does his best to avoid physical confrontation, running around the ring and generally avoiding being caught in the bigger man's clutches. Eventually, his luck runs out, and he finds himself caught, and about to be tossed from the ring. 

At that moment a silent Johnny Cougar enters the arena and makes his way to the ring. Without a word, he climbs into the ring and stares at Kolchak, while the ring announcer proclaims it looks like the fight is on. 

This wasn't a bad story, but it just wasn't as great as I wanted. As much as I liked the artwork (and I  liked it a lot)  the rest of the story didn't live up to it. Splash in the ring brought a brief smile to my face, although it did feel like a wasted opportunity as he ran to avoid confrontation rather than present us with the spectacle of him grappling with the much bigger man. Johnny's arrival at the arena is played out with a slow burn, and his silence helps increase the anticipation of the upcoming fight. It also added an air of mystery to the story and although Johnny is now on the page, we still don't know where he has been. Lots of questions and not many answers, the story has plenty of scope to grow from here, and no doubt I will soon be writing again that this is great. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "But now you're here, I don't need that crumb anymore!" 

Tallon Of The Track

Thrown out of her own team due to the manipulations of Billy Bolton, Jo Tallon has taken to stunt riding to pay her way. After her first stunt at the county fair, she is approached by a reporter named Pete who tells her that he suspects Bolton of being up to something crooked. 

Pete tells her that he has seen something suspicious and leading her aside he shows her where Billy Bolton is secretly talking to Ken Hodges, manager of Ruxford Ravens. 

With the Ospreys due to compete against the Riuxford Ravens that night, Jo and Pete decide they need to follow this up immediately. As Bolton and Hodges leave the fair, Jo and the Pete follow in a car, and eventually end up in a swanky part of town. 

They see Bolton and Hodges enter Hodge's house and creeping up the driveway, they climb on a plank of wood to observe through the window. Of course, they take a tumble, but luckily they get away with it as Bolton fails to see them as he looks out the window. 

They see some money exchange hand, and then quickly slip away. Jo tells Pete to go develop the photos he has snapped through the window, while she makes plans to get to the speedway meeting to ensure that Bolton doesn't try any funny stuff. 

Things are heating up, and I am greatly enjoying this story at the moment.  It feels like we have rewound the clock back to two years ago when it was essential reading. We didn't get too much of the villain Billy Bolton in this issue, but Jo's new alliance with Pete is holding my interest and provides us with a very good scene as they spied on Bolton. We were also introduced to another piece of the puzzle, and the money changing hands added another layer of interest to the story. It is no longer a clash of personalities, but a proper conspiracy in the background is being tied tighter to the story. Good groundwork is laid out here, and I am pleased to see that the story is growing in scope while retaining a constant sense of drama.  

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "It was touch and go!  I only had time for one hurried snap before we fell. What happens now?"  

Hot Shot Hamish 

Hamish is in the reserve team, and marvelling at the energy and enthusiasm of the youngsters.  He snaps out of this revere and with a flying header scores a goal from a beautiful cross by one of these young players. 

Hamish is sure that if the manager saw these young players he would take them for the first team, and as he scores his second goal he promises himself that he will talk to Mister McWhacker. 

While Hamish manages to get a hat-trick, Princes Park loses three-nil, invoking anger from their fans. Mister McWhacker is adamant that Hamish isn't welcome back to the first team and sticks with the same team for Wednesday's game. The fans are unhappy with this, and shower the players with rubbish while piling abuse upon McWhacker.

Resting at home, Hamish's landlady announces two guests. Hamish assumes it will be Mister McWhacker and  Mister McBrain, but is surprised to find it is Grundley and Spires from Marborough United with a contact and an offer to play for their team. 

We saw Hamish being offered a contract with another team just six months ago when he was selected for Scotland. He is no longer in the first team, yet offers are still coming in for him, and the way the story is tilting at the moment, this current circumstance points to Hamish leaving. I'm sure the inspiration that Hamish is drawing from the young players of the reserve team will keep him at Princes Park, but you never can tell and this creates the tension in this story. A solid issue this week, and despite not reaching its previous heights, it was still a great read. Some of the humour was absent, making the story being told all the more poignant. A lot to like here, and with it all up in the anything could happen in the next few weeks. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Och, these young reserves are playing really well...look at the young feller go!

Nipper

Nipper has seen a back street quack for help with his injury, and it seems to have worked. Back on his feet in less than twenty-four hours,, he is now on the field for Blackport although he has taken a heavy knock and the team is concerned that he may have reinjured himself. 

The opposing team think so too, and this gives Nipper an idea. As Len lines up to take the kick, Nipper jovers off to the side, before dashing forward to take the kick himself. Taking the kick with his supposed injured foot, he beats the wall and scores. 

The team congratulates him and on the bench, Ron excitedly exclaims that it is amazing, especially since just twenty-four hours ago Nipper couldn't walk. Andy Stwert is shocked to hear this, and the expression on his face lets us know that he is extremely displeased. 

The cat is out of the bag, and as Nipper comes in at halftime, a furious Andy Stewart is waiting for him on the sideline. Nipper is dragged to the club doctor who examines him and tells Andy Stewart that it looks like Nipper's foot is perfect. This isn't enough to satisfy Andy, and he tells Nipper that he's taking him off for the rest of the game. 

Last week was excellent with the cameo from Mother Carey, and without her on the page this week it felt like a step back. She was still mentioned and is a key part of the story, but a big part of her impact last week was her wild look. Without a striking image to match this, the strip this week was less impactful and felt pale in comparison. We did have a couple of nice touches, and Nipper outfoxing the opposition to score was an obvious high point, as was the furious countenance of Andy Stewart. After our diversion through the world of cricket and the work of Mother Carey, we are now returning to football and the conflict between Nipper and his manager. This is the core of the Nipper comic, and for all the fun we have had over the previous months we are now back to basics, and the sight of Andy Stewart bawling out Nipper is a welcome one. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "It had better be good, laddie! If young Nipper is playing with a suspect foot, I'll have his ears for book-ends!" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story:  Billy's Boots 

Best Line: "Those boys are hitting the ball a nice long way, Billy...why didn't you do the same? It looks simple enough!" 

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: 

Tiger 23rd August 1975

Twenty-four hours until the final of the Euros 2024, and here I am reading comics from fifty years ago. Living in the moment I am not. The older I get, the more I appreciate the craftsmanship of these comics that I used to read and then throw aside as a kid. I never once gave a thought to the creators at the time of reading them, but now that's all I think about. The hard work of the writers and artists to produce week after week, the people behind the scenes involved with the printing and distribution, all of it a huge operation that I was completely oblivious to when I was a child. I just liked the football stories. I still do like the football stories, but now I can see the extra depth to them, the people behind the crafting of them, and how the stories unfold week after week. It all looks like a lot of hard work, but work that has brought joy to thousands around the world, and still continues to do so fifty years on.      

Tiger

23rd August 1975

Roy Of The Rovers

It is the first game of the season for Melchester Rovers, and Ralph Derry has gone down with what looks like a broken leg. Roy's worst fears are realised as Taffy confirms that it is broken, and as Ralph Derry is stretched off, Gary Fane comes on as a substitute. 

Rovers slowly fight their way back into the match, and after a series of corners, Roy manages to score from close range. 

Gary Fane is playing well, but is a little too keen and gives away a bad foul that brings a rebuke from Roy. Things get worse for the substitute, and in a panicked moment, he accidentally scores an own goal. 

Scores are now level, although the game is far from over. Another attack from Rovers sees Jimmy Slade cut down in the box and a penalty is awarded. Roy steps forward to take it, knowing that the team needs him to score to not only win the game but to also break this bad luck jinx. 

A grim front page of this week's issue, with Ralph Derry lying prone with a broken leg. It gave me traumatic flashbacks to when I was thirteen and my teammate Phillip broke his leg during a game. I still recall the frightful crack as he went down and his cries of distress. Ralph Derry is made of sterner stuff, and although covering his face, seems to be taking Taffy's treatment rather well. The rest of the story progresses well after this shocking cover, and what happens within the pages is both relatable and believable. Seeing an enthusiastic reserve making mistakes is something we have all seen before, and it was covered well in the comic. It gave some great action panels, and the footballing was to the fore for the rest of the strip. This is always welcome, and as I have said many times, Roy Of The Rovers is at its best when it sticks to football. A good way to open up this week's issue, and with all my favourite stories to follow we should be in for a treat. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Forget it! You've made a hash of things, and you know it! Now start grafting! It's not the end of the world!"

Billy's Boots

Billy has had himself a day, overachieving on the cricket pitch and then cleaning up at the fairground afterwards. Returning to his Gran with a haul of prizes he relates his adventures and she is delighted to hear how well he has been going. 

The next day Billy arranges to meet his friend Dave at the beach at 10am. However, Dave fails to show up on time, and Billy is concerned for his new friend. He needn't have worried, for Dave eventually shows up and has some good news to share. The reason he is late is that a man from the local cricket club has been around and asked if he and Billy could play in the cup final that afternoon.  

Billy accepts and over lunch, he tells his Gran and invites her too. At the ground, a large crowd has gathered to watch the final, and with expectations high of another good performance from the two boys the team is confident.

Billy asks his Gran if she has his boots, and she tells him that she thought he had them. Before Billy has time to dwell on this he is told to prepare to bat immediately. Billy is worried that he will not be able to perform without his boots, and so it proves as first his friend is out for a duck, and then Billy follows him a few balls later, also without scoring a run. 

Although Dave is confident they can make amends when it's their turn to bowl. Billy isn't so sure and is worried that without his boots this match will be an embarrassing failure. 

A Gran-heavy issue this week, and the story gets a real boost with her appearance on every page. Her pride in Billy is evident on the page and makes the stakes even higher as he looks like failing in the second half of the comic. There is a love between her and Billy which the artist manages to convey on the page, and the story resonates deeply with this relationship given the time that it deserves. The first half of the story did a fine job of setting up what was to come, and the payoff over the page as Billy and Dave took to the pitch was worth it. Again, the artist deserves full credit here as we see some scintillating cricketing action, and it felt as real as it looked. This seaside storyline with Billy and his Gran is coming up trumps, and next week I'm sure we'll see more of the same. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "That's my grandson, Billy Dane..."

Martin's Marvellous Mini 

The two lads are preparing to jump over six cars while towing Martin's father's caravan. The first trial works well, with the inflated airbags in the caravan lifting across the jump. However, they do clip the final car as they land, giving Martin several more worry lines. 

The day of the stunt arrives, and the two friends are happy to see a large crowd has turned up. The owner of the fairground is also very happy and tells them that he will give them a bonus of ten pounds in their wages.

Martin still has concerns about the caravan, and with Tiny he makes it clear to the man inflating the bags that he wants extra pumped in, just in case. 

The stunt starts well, and they make a good take-off from the ramp. However, things are going too well, and the caravan is practically floating behind the car. This leaves the pair in peril as we see them in the final panel, their car dangling under the caravan which has now taken off like a giant balloon. 

A great issue that could have come across as silly but instead was a lot of fun. The images of the car floating beneath the caravan were brilliant and the most memorable of the entire comic. It is very rare that I laugh out loud, but I did twice on the second page of the strip, and the smile stayed on my face for a long time after. We have seen the two lads get themselves into some strange situations in the past, and of all of those, this is perhaps the strangest. The images produced from these moments are eye-catching and humourous while pushing me forward to read on. Some may dismiss this all as being unbelievable. I choose to enjoy it for what it is, a highly funny story that at once has me feeling for the two main characters while laughing at their predicament. 

Rating: 8.5/10

Best line: "Oh no! We're floating! There's too much pressure in the airbags!"

Hot Shot Hamish 

Sadly the former star of Princes Park has now been relegated to the reserves. It is not a happy time for Hamish Balfour as we see him pouring all his efforts into getting better, faster, and stronger. 

The day of the game arrives, and Hamish trudges past the crowds at Princes Park on his way to the reserve game at Hollypark. At Hollypark he finds there are no crowds waiting to watch them play, and the manager of the reserves team tells him that nobody ever bothers to watch the reserves game. 

As the only member of the team with first-team experience, the manager tells Hamish that it is up to him to help the youngsters. Hamish nods in assent, and soon on the field, an exciting young player catches his eye. This player dribbles by several players before the opposing side chops him down with a heavy tackle. 

Hamish is incensed by this rough play, and threatens the Hollypark player, earning himself a booking and a stern telling off from the referee. However, in the dressing room, the mood is buoyant as the players hear that the first team is losing two-nil. 

If the first team lose, there is every chance that the manager will make changes. This offers a slim chance for some of the reserve players, and as they return to the field their only thought is to beat Hollypark and earn a place in the first team. 

Not quite as good as last week, although we still had the artwork carrying the load. In particular, the panels of Hamish doing his training are essential, and hold an unspoken humour that lifts the strip above its heavier storyline. We didn't get a lot of football this week, with only half a page, yet it retained all the key elements I have come to appreciate. Spindle-legged footballers being cut down by barrel-chested players who look like they should be playing rugby rather than football, while Hamish retains his innocent nature as he tries to protect his players. It was all spot on, and my only complaint was that there wasn't more of it. The story didn't reach the same heights as the artwork, and it did feel rather flat in comparison to other issues of Hot Shot Hamish I have read. A strong issue next week could easily rectify this, and I look forward to seeing if Hamish can regain his place in the first team. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Ye're booked, Hamish. A mon o' yere experience should know better than to raise a hand."

Skid Solo

Skid has decided he needs a holiday before the next Grand Prix in Italy. With this in mind, he and his team are on the back of donkeys and approaching a village high in the Italian Alps. 

The village is so high up in the mountains that there are no cars at all, and for the next few days, Skid has a complete break from racing. Speaking to one of the old men from the village he learns some history of the region, and in particular a story from the Second World War. During the war, the Nazis came to the village. The local men wanted to put up a fight, but they only had one old car and one old cannon. Using the car to haul the cannon further up the mountain they were able to fire a lucky shot from the cannon into the cliffs above the Germans, collapsing the cliff and killing the invaders,

Skid is still pondering this story when a woman emerges from a nearby house with a medical emergency and a baby in her arms. The baby needs to get to the hospital, and fast. Thinking quickly, Skid asks if the old car that was mentioned in the war story is still in the village. he is told that yes, it is, and soon Skid is aboard the rusty old vehicle with Tommy and the baby next to him. 

They make a dramatic drive down the narrow roads, before eventually lowering the car over a cliff edge by rope. From here it is a death-defying drop and drive by Skid until they reach the main road. Once again Skid has saved the day, and the baby makes it to the hospital in time. 

The strip rounds out with Skid telling Sandy and Tommy that the car was ruined but he has replaced it with a new one. This new car is being taken to the village piece by piece on the backs of donkeys and reassembled in the garage there. Tommy wonders why they would need a car at all, given there is nowhere to drive, and Skid tells him that after his intervention, they decided they needed a car for emergencies. It's Sandy who gets the final word, saying it's all very well having a car, but where will they get a world champion to drive it should such an event occur again. Skid points out that it is luck that they rely on, and they have been very lucky twice now. 

For a brief moment, I felt like I was reading another comic entirely. A portion of this story read more like the Battle comic that I used to read, and I must admit, I quite liked seeing it here. With the distinct style of the Skid Solo artist turned to a war setting, the page came alive, and I was reinvigorated by this brief war story popping up in the middle of a Skid Solo strip. The rest of the strip wasn't as good as the war scene, and a lot of that had to do with the story of Skid driving the baby to the hospital. It didn't feel as important or thrilling as the war scene we had just seen, and it paled in comparison. The story peaked too soon, with the art too good early on for what was to follow. It felt uneven, and although I found it overall enjoyable, there were a couple of moments where I dropped out of the story and wished it had been something else - perhaps an entire war story. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "This is it, Skid. We asked for somewhere away from it all!"

Nipper

Nipper is reluctant to tell his club about the injury he picked up while playing cricket and is wandering around Blackport in funk, wondering what he can do next. 

In a dilapidated part of Blackport, he spies a sign advertising Mother Carey and her surgery that treats a variety of ailments. Trying his luck, Nipper enters and soon Mother Carey is fussing over him in all her gowns and shawls, preparing a vile concoction in the best traditions of wild witches. 

This remedy is poured over Nipper's foot, and despite the burning sensation and his protestations, Nipper pays his two pounds before leaving. 

He awakes to find that the remedy has set hard around his foot, hard as a plaster cast. He is resigned to his fate and knows that he must face the consequences and return to training. The first thing that the club doctor does when Nipper turns up is to smash off this cast with a hammer. Nipper is pleasantly surprised when he finds that not only is his foot intact, but it is better than ever. 

For the rest of the practice, he puts his full weight on the foot and performs beyond any expectations he may have had. This carries over to the first match of the season, and things start well against Redstoke. However, a heavy tackle sends Nipper crashing to the ground, and just behind him, Mike Beatson thinks that he may have injured his foot just as bad as previously. 

What a fantastic character Mother Carey is. As soon as I saw her sign I had my suspicions about what sort of character she might be and I was more than happy when my wishes were fulfilled. She had the best lines in the strip and the best look, and she stole the show on every page she was on. One had to feel sorry for Nipper, although it looks like he may have got away with one here. I didn't think that this storyline would give me much satisfaction, and I am happy to admit I was wrong as I soaked the joy up from the page. Nipper still whines and grumbles, but in Mother Carey, I had a character I could smile at, perhaps even laugh, as she fussed about in her motherly fashion. An average episode propped up by a fantastic character, and this was a story that surprised me with its humour. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Oh no! It's set like a lump of concrete! That does it, Stumpy...I'll have to face the club officials now! It's my only chance of getting my foot back!"

Johnny Cougar

A new adventure this week, and a familiar face returns as we see Splash Gorton in the very first panel. Gorton is on a train to London where he plans to meet Johnny to tell him of a match he has arranged. This match will pitch Johnny against the American Champion, Big Bernioe Kolchak.

Splash is surprised to find that Johnny isn't at the hotel, and even more so when he finds that Johnny checked out a few days ago without leaving a message. Checking at the local gym, Splash learns that no one has seen the wrestler for several days, and he has suddenly vanished. 

Splash goes to the airport to meet Bernie Kolchak, and Kolchak is angry to see that it is Splash waiting for him and not Johnny Cougar. After an angry exchange, Splash is forced to sign a contract, and only after signing does he learn that if Johnny fails to turn up for the fight, SPlash will have to take his place, 

This is exactly what happens, and come the day of the fight there is still no word of Johnny. Splash prepares himself for the bout, and in the final panel, he presents a pitiful sight, too skinny for his wrestling costume, and about to take a beating from a much larger wrestler. 

If Johnny Cougar doesn't appear in a Johnny Cougar story, is it a Johnny Cougar story? It's hard to say, but I'm sure Splash Gorton is familiar to most. He did a good job of laying the groundwork for this new Johnny Cougar story and managed to fill the space left by the big man. His first panels were memorable, and I did enjoy his interaction with the first-class passenger on the train, and his reference to Tiger comic. Our final view of him is also worthy of note. Seeing him dressed for the ring, looking particularly scrawny and weedy in his wrestling outfit, highlights the mismatch that is about to take place and leaves one hoping that Johnny will appear soon. Should Cougar appear next week, the contrast between him and Gorton shall be noticeable, and worth a chuckle itself. Here's hoping we'll see it.  

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "But Splash, you'll be murdered! You'd stand more chance against a tank!"

Tallon Of The Track

Jo has a mutiny on her hands with the whole team threatening to quit in support of new rider Billy Bolton.  Even Dave has turned against her, and by the third panel of the story, the worst possible outcome eventuates with the team quitting and the Ospreys withdrawing from the race meeting. 

The blame for the team quitting is laid firmly at the feet of Jo, and in the next half page, we see her suffering from the boos of the fans, an inquest by the board, and the newspaper headlines full of the story. The is only one possible outcome of all this drama, and Jo's contract with the Ospreys is terminated.

Without a job, Jo is forced to return to her old life as a stunt rider to make a living. We see her at a local county show crashing her bike through a furniture van and out the other side in a display that shows off her skill and determination. As her bike comes to a halt she is approached by a reporter who has been watching in the crowd. He is desperate to talk to her, telling her he has a feeling that Billy Bolton is up to no good. 

I didn't expect the story to move as quickly as it has, and it is all the better for it. The first few issues of Billy Bolton seemed to stretch on as he was set up as the bad guy. Here we get the payoff of that as Jo quickly falls from grace and is left with no option but to go it alone. This all takes place across a mere three panels, and it is almost as if a trap door opened beneath Jo's feet, dropping her straight into another world. A world of stunt riding and country fairs, and it was pleasing to see her on her bike showing her raw courage. The Billy Bolton storyline is far from over, as we saw in the final panel, and I hope that Jo is left in the wilderness for sometime yet before she finds a way to return to the fold within the Ospreys team. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Miss Tallon, the team members flatly refuse to ride again while you're in charge! We have therefore no option but to terminate your contract!"      

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7.5/10

Best Story:  Martin's Marvellous Mini  

Best Line: "So you'll need my bread and nettle poultice, soaked in a healing ingredient only known to Mother Carey!" 

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 16th August 1975

My exciting weekend of sportball didn't quite go to plan. My beloved All Blacks managed an unconvincing win over England by a single point (What a player Itoje is - the one Englishman I fear more than any other). Then the next day I got up at stupid o'clock to watch the English football team play out a ridiculously boring Euro's quarter-final against Switzerland. It was hardly pulse-raising stuff, and I now find the most thrilling part of my sporting weekend comes from these old comics from 45 years ago. There is more excitement on the second page of Roy Of The Rovers than the entire 90 minutes of England at the Euros, something that I didn't think would be possible after the previous couple of issues of Tiger. Given the sport I have seen over the last 48 hours, you can keep the here and now. I'm going to retreat to the past for the next half hour and follow some top-notch sporting action on the pages of Tiger from August 1975.     

Tiger

16th August 1975

Roy Of The Rovers

Melchester Rovers are playing well in their final pre-season warm-up game against Barford Albion, and as Roy pokes home a fourth goal all seems well in the world. Roy's management style looks like the winning ticket, and the opening caption even goes as far as to describe it as one the finest displays of football ever seen at Melchester. 

The Rovers are applauded off the field by Barfield, and their six-nil victory is all over the front pages the following day. Across all media, their style of play gathers acclaim, and we even see one of the TV pundits predicting that Melchester will do the double. 

Roy is unhappy with all this praise and warns Rovers that every other team will be coming at them hard. This bears out on their first game of the season against Weston. There are some heavy tackles earlier on, and Roy hopes the referee will calm things down before someone gets hurt. A minute later Weston is on the attack, and as Ralph Derry goes in for the tackle there is a sickening crack. The team look on shocked, and Roy immediately suspects that Ralph has broken his leg. 

Ralph Derry has barely been mentioned in the last two years, and here he is at the centre of the story with a broken leg. I had trouble recalling his name, and if I had more time I would go back and see what role he has played over the last couple of seasons. However, I don't have time, and I would much rather keep reading forward. Last week we saw that Duncan McKay was on the transfer list at a rival club, and I surmised that an injury crisis might bring him to Melchester Rovers. That injury crisis looks like it has just arrived, and the next few issues should see Duncan McKay playing a bigger role in the story. This week's comic did what it had to do in setting up the context for this eventuality, with Melchester being built to great heights by the media, only for them to come crashing back to earth with this broken leg. The scene is set, and we are on a steady course for the inevitable. I can't wait. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Roy, that... ghastly, cracking sound..."

Martin's Marvellous Mini

The caravan race is about to start and Martin is desperately worried about damaging his father's caravan. 

Martin takes it easy on the first lap, and on the second lap, he finally makes his move, pulling alongside the car he racing against. He is shocked when the other driver gives a little swerve and the two caravans collide. Martin is determined not to get caught by this move again, and the second time the other driver tries it, Martin brakes heavily. This evasive action works and the other driver and caravan veer in front of him before tipping over. 

This is the end of the caravan racing idea, and the next suggestion from the fair owner is perhaps they could do some jumps with the caravan. Martin envisages his caravan being wrecked as he jumps over cars, but the owner has something much more sedate in mind. The caravan will be filled with helium-filled bags, before jumping over a small ramp.

This works well in the trial, and soon the owner has a series of posters printed up, all promoting Martin and Tiny and their amazing flying caravan. 

The first page was fun, but the story failed to build on this and it petered out quickly. The prospect of doing a jump with a lightened caravan has promise, although I would have liked to see the caravan race get a little more time first. I thought this fairground storyline would have delivered much more than it has, and as much as I love losing myself in the artwork, the strip has yet to deliver something spectacular on the page. Like Martin, I am worried about his father's caravan, but thus far I needn't have worried too much. Some trouble next week wouldn't go astray, and I'm hoping for some hair-raising moments to show off the lovely art we always get. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Serves you right! No more caravan racing for me! I'm not wrecking my Dad's caravan for anyone!"

Billy's Boots

Billy is on holiday, and with his new friend Dave, he is playing for the local seaside team. The opposition are grown men, and as they bring on their fastest bowler Billy finds his boots are advancing him down the pitch. 

It all turns out well for him, and he hits the ball cleanly over the fence for six. The grownups in Billy's team are suitably impressed, and as Billy and Dave both approach their fifties, there is talk about whether they can bowl as well as they can bat. 

Billy and Dave soon have their fifties, and at the end of the innings, they have a one-hundred-run partnership. In the field, things start slowly, with both Billy and Dave fielding in the deep. Eventually, the team decide to give Billy a bowl, and Billy insists on having Dave as a slip fielder.

This brings results, with Billy snaring three wickets in the over, and Dave taking a fantastic catch in the slips for one of them. At the end of the game, Billy and Dave are rewarded for their efforts with three five-pound vouchers to be spent. 

Billy's luck continues as they head to the fairground. After winning prizes at the shooting gallery, Billy has success at the bingo table. Unusually for a Billy's Boots story, we end with everything going right for Billy and the prospect of more success on the horizon. 

It's odd to read a Billy's Boots story where everything goes right for the lad, and I'm not sure I liked it. I'm also uncomfortable with the idea of Billy playing cricket with adults, something we have seen several times over the last six weeks. With all the good luck flowing Billy's way, I'm confident next week will see things take a turn, and normal service will resume. Until then we have the sight of Billy smiling on almost every panel, and winning his way through the day. If only he had such luck with the ladies, and I briefly wonder what happened to the young girl who was in the strip a couple of weeks ago. An interesting issue this week, and we all look forward to the flipside when the real world raises its head, and Billy once again becomes a relatable character.  

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "They can play cricket, after all! When we field, we'll let them have an over or two...they might be able to bowl as well as they can bat!"

Johnny Cougar

Golden Boy has a good lead over Johnny Cougar and is already halfway down the pool by the time Cougar reaches the water. Swimming with only one leg, Cougar miraculously closes the gap and at the turn is only a couple of metres behind.  

A great turn and a burst of speed from Johnny see the two neck and neck halfway down the final length. Johnny is first out of the pool by a whisker but still has to find the strength to climb the diving tower. He achieves this without using his injured leg and pulling himself up by his arms and hands alone he reaches the top of the diving tower at the same time as Golden Boy. 

As Golden Boy runs to the end of the diving board, Cougar instead throws himself straight off the tower and into the water below for victory. Golden Boy is angry about this and accuses Cougar of cheating, saying that he didn't run to the end of the board. The officials tell Golden Boy that there is nothing in the rules about this and that Cougar has won fair and square.

The story ends with Golden Boy protesting violently, and finding himself falling backwards into the pool. As Golden Boy spits water from his mouth, Cougar laughs and tells him that he should always compete to win, but compete fairly. 

That is the end of the Golden Boy and Johnny Cougar competition, and next week we will be embracing a new story. Hopefully, it will be one involving wrestling. As much as I enjoyed seeing Johnny try his hand at various events here, I do like to see the big man slapping around other big men and in the last few weeks, we have strayed away from his raison d'etre. Overall the story was good, although there were a couple of issues that felt like padding. The ending felt right for the story that had been told, my only issue is that Johnny's final words on playing fair felt a little preachy and unnecessary.  This would have been a stronger story if it had been tightened up, and some of the unnecessary flab removed. Usually, I can tell when the time is right to finish a story as it begins to become stale, and we are just at that stage in the last couple of issues. It was fun while it lasted, but it's time to move on to the next adventure, and hopefully, one that's tighter on its focus and can deliver a knock-out blow early on.  

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "It was all one big cheat! Cougar didn't run to the end of the board!"

Hot Shot Hamish 

Hamish is late for the final match in Austria and faces a terrifying descent by sledge to the village at the bottom of the mountain. 

The men carrying the sledge are impressed by Hamish's bravery, interpreting his cries as Hamish yodelling as he relaxes. He is far from relaxed, but all ends well as he arrives safely at the bottom of the mountain where he is escorted by two policemen to the game. 

Mister McWhacker gives Hamish a frosty welcome. Princes Park is winning five - nil, and Hamish's replacement, Angus McKay, has scored a hattrick. McWhacker tells Hamish that the team does just fine without him, and they don't go to pieces when he's not there. 

He reiterates this on the plane flight home, telling the team that their goal for the forthcoming season is to win promotion. It will take hard work and dedication, and no one can think he can miss a game just because he wants to. This is an obvious barb aimed at Hamish, and coupled with the fact that no one is talking to him, leaves Hamish feeling very much on the outer. 

In the week leading up to the first game, they train hard. However, Hamish is shocked to find he has been dropped from the team for the first game, and his mood darkens when he overhears Mister McWhacker saying he's got no time for him since he failed to turn up in time for the Austrian game. 

The strip ends on a downer as Hamish walks away with Mister McWhacker emphatically stating that he must prove he's worth his place and that it will not be easy. 

I have a lot of empathy for Hamish in this story, and the expression on his face in the final panel was heartbreaking. This was a story of two halves, and while the first portion of the story gave us some laughs, it was the more serious second section of the story that made for compelling reading. We have had an interesting time with Hamish in Austria, with a variety of humourous situations, although not of them were paid off. This last hurray was a worthy ending, with one final laugh as Hamish shot down the mountain on a sledge. The return to Princes Park and the fallout of this European sojourn deepened the storyline and brought Hamish back to grey Scotland with a plot to suit. He now faces an uphill struggle to regain his place in the team, and no doubt that struggle will power the story for the coming week and perhaps months. You have to feel sorry for the big man, but adversity brings the best out of him, and the next few weeks should be a compelling journey. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "I'm in trouble... no-one's talking to me...they think I missed the game on purpose!"

Skid Solo

It's race day at the Austrian Grand Prix, and Sandy has Skid's replacement car all ready to go. As they make the final preparations they see Von Vargen having some trouble with a bee. After falling over an oil drum in an effort to get away, Skid goes to his assstance, where he learns that Von Vargen is petrified of bees, and it is his one great fear.

The race starts, and Skid is soon in the lead and going fast. A little too fast, and it begins to take its toll on his rear tyres. Sandy calls him into the pits and although he and Tommy make a fast tyre change, Skid is fourth as he heads back out onto the track. 

Skid makes up for lost time, and is soon behind Von Vargen, pushing him hard. However, at this moment Von Vargen finds a bee inside his helmet, and he quickly pulls it off and throws it aside. Skid is surprised to see the helmet flying out of Von Vargen's car and takes evasive action to avoid being hit. Unfortunately in doing so, his car skids off the track and Skid is out of the race. So too is Von Vargen, who also comes off the track at the same time, and he quickly explains to Skid what happened. 

With Skid and Von Vargen both failing to take points, their respective positions in the championship stay the same. Skid explains in the final panel that he looks forward to getting his old car back, as he has only gained one point with this current car in the last three races. If he wants to remain world champion he is going to have to start winning, and fast.

I cannot wait to see Skid return to his regular car and for the story to tighten its focus. There has been a lot of distraction of late, and although Skid has continued to race throughout, I feel our attention has strayed away from the track. This week's episode may have taken place on the track, but there were all sorts of bits and bobs thrown into the story, leaving me unsatisfied with what I read. On a better day, I may have been more charitable to a storyline involving a bee in a helmet. Not today, and it was silly and unbelievable in my eyes. This isn't me speaking as an adult reading a boy's comic, I am sure that even as a ten-year-old I would have been disappointed to see Skid crash out of the race due to Von Vargen throwing off his helmet. All will be forgiven next week if Skid turns up in his old car and wins the race, we have no talk of Tommy and his licence, and we never have to mention this current mismatched car again.    

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "What--what's that? It's...his helmet!"

Tallon Of The Track 

Osprey's new signing, Billy Bolton, is turning the Ospreys against Jo Tallon, and this week things get worse for Jo as Billy stirs up more trouble.

As they prepare for their next race against the Pirates, Jo tells Billy that the Pirates rider likes to ride out wide and then cut in at the corner. If Billy hugs the inside line he should cramp his style and have an edge. Billy is against doing this, telling Jo that the inside line has soft clay, and it will only make him slower. There is a heated argument, and Billy tells Jo he will do it her way, but don't blame him if it doesn't work. 

The race begins, and it unfolds as one might expect. The Pirate's rider does stay wide, and when he cuts in at the corner Billy is on the inside line, but his bike is travelling slow and the Pirate rider gets the win.

In the pits after there is another argument, with Jo accusing Billy of deliberately going slow. He tells her that she knows nothing of riding and the strip closes with Billy throwing his gloves and helmet down, telling her that he quits the team. Two other riders behind him support him and tell Jo they quit too. 

Things are coming to a head, and although there wasn't a lot of action in this week's strip, there was plenty of drama. It was all good solid writing, and we are in the perfect place as we look forward to next week. There is no easy way out for Jo and her predicament, and it will be interesting to see how the story will unfold from here. Expect the unexpected, and I expect to keep the pages quickly turning as Jo continues her struggles with the team. Once again, my biggest takeaway from the strip is what a great villain Billy has been thus far. He has wormed his way into the good graces of the team, with his nefarious deeds only apparent to Jo. All of it makes for a deliciously tangled web, and after a slow start, I am well and truly caught up in the intrigue. It is not quite at the level of a Netflix drama, but it is well on the way, and pretty good for a boys comic from almost 50 years ago.  

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Only you wouldn't know that - because you're never astride a bike to find out!" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story:  Billy's Boots  

Best Line: "Thanks to the press, we've as good as won everything...which means every team in the land will be looking to us apart!" 

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 9th August 1975

 I have a superpower. I have the ability to always watch the wrong game. Right now, Euro 2024 is on. If there are multiple games on at the same time, I always watch the boring one that ends in a nil-all draw, only to change the channel at full time and discover the other game was a thriller that went right down to the final minute. Sigh. The knockout stages will suit me much better, with only one game on at a time. Even better is Tiger comic, when I can follow multiple storylines all at once, and across multiple sports. Simpler, yes, but just as enjoyable. I can enjoy it at my own pace and can linger on each panel as long as I want, safely knowing that the next story isn't going anyway and will be waiting for me, untouched, as I turn the page. 

Tiger

9th August 1975

Johnny Cougar

Gunplay on the cover of Johnny Cougar is an unexpected surprise that has me reading on expectantly. 

After several events, Cougar has a slim lead over the Golden Boy, although he now has a badly injured leg as they come into the final two events. 

We begin with a pistol shooting event, and although Cougar struggles with the weight of the gun, he still manages to shoot three bullseyes. The Golden Boy approaches the event with the supreme confidence we have seen throughout this strip, and he fires his three shots in quick succession. As the officials gather around the target, they assert that only one shot is a bull's eye. Golden Boy disputes this, telling them that all his shots must have passed through the same spot. A closer inspection reveals that this is not the case, and the Golden Boy has missed two of his shots. 

Johnny is awarded two points and we reach the final event with double points on offer. Cougar can't lose, and the best the Golden Boy can do is tie, but nevertheless, it's an intense finale. 

Tasked with running two laps of the track, followed by three lengths of the swimming pool and finishing with a high dive, the two competitors start quickly. Johnny struggles with his leg injury, and the Gilden Boy takes the early lead. He still has that lead as they reach the pool, and as Golden Boy enters the water there is still no sign of Johnny Cougar. 

What a weird completion we are in. I had not expected to see pistols involved, and it feels like we have come a long way since the boxing and wrestling match that started all of this. The ship was righted as we began the final running and swimming event. It was pleasing to see Johnny's injury finally affect his performance as last week we were told he was injured but he still gave a good account of himself. Now it finally means something, and just in time as we start this final event. There is no sign of Cougar as Golden Boy enters the pool, but there is plenty of scope for him to come from behind, and part of the joy of this week's strip is that I have no idea how Cougar can win it. The fun will be in finding out, and next week should be a fitting finale for this competition. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Swimming pool, here I come!"

Roy Of The Rovers

After his England adventures, Roy is back at Melchester Rovers and the strip begins this week showing him in his managerial capacity. Standing at a blackboard, he outlines the various roles in the overall team plan. Tactically, he's no Pep Guardiola, but he does have aspirations for the team to play total football and expects plenty of player movement. 

As they ready themselves for their first game against Barford, there is talk of Portdean's Scottish international Duncan McKay being unhappy and looking for a move. After this brief chat, it is straight into the game and Melchester soon takes a two-nil lead. The crowd is ecstatic, although Roy has a nagging doubt and thinks Lady Luck is about to turn her back on them. 

Mark this historic issue in your diaries - the first mention of the legendary Duncan McKay. We have yet to see him on the page, but any student of Roy Of The Rovers will know what a large part he plays in future Roy Of The Rovers stories. This brief one-line mention overshadowed everything else in this week's story for me, although to be honest, not a lot happened. Roy is back at Melchester, he has a plan, and the game is going well. The seed sown with the mention of Duncan McKay will no doubt sprout in the coming weeks and I have a suspicion that Roy may be about to face an injury crisis and need a new player. Still, it's not for me to guess, it's for me to read and enjoy and that is what I shall I do. For now, I am overjoyed at the mention of Duncan McKay and can't wait to see him appear on the page. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "I see that Duncan McKay...Portdean's Scottish international defender...isn't happy with the terms they've offered him! It's rumoured that he wants to move!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini 

Tiny is out on the water racing a speed boat, while Martin can only watch on and worry. His worries prove to be unfounded and after accidentally taking a short cut Tiny wins the race, and the desperately needed prize money. 

Their troubles are over and with their debts repaid they can start over. They still need a job, and they come up with a plan to borrow Martin's father's caravan and drive to the coast in search of work. 

Spying a fair, they think this might present an opportunity for some work, and this proves correct as the fair's owner tells them that the crowds have become bored by his current display of car stunts. Seeing they have a caravan with them, the owner suggests a car and caravan race. Each man has a different vision of how successful this might be, with Martin being the most pessimistic and having concerns about his Dad's caravan.

A clever way to finish the story, with each man envisioning a different outcome for the caravan race. I thought more may have been made of the motorboat race, although I am rather excited by the prospect of the caravan race and all that may come with that. The motorboat race looked good, but it never offered up any real sense of drama, and having Tiny win it, on the back of a huge slice of luck, was good enough for me. The set-up for the next part of the story was simply told, and with plenty of greenery, there was a nice sense of the countryside and the distance travelled. Not too much action this week, but we are set up for what is to come and it is a case of steady as she goes. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Don't worry, Dad! You know us - we're really careful with things!" 

Hot Shot Hamish 

Lost in Austria, Hamish has stumbled his way into a local football match, where he has come on as a substitute. Hamish's team is a goal down, and with only minutes left to play, Hamish takes it upon himself to save the day. Taking the ball, he bulldozers his way through the opposing team, before launching the hot shot which fires both the ball and the goalkeeper into the back of the net. 

The game is drawn, and as Hamish explains how he came to be on the field the team invites him to join them for dinner. They have barely sat down for dinner when they receive a message from the police telling of a man lost in the mountains. They set off to search for the man, and Hamish joins them, concerned that a man would be daft enough to get lost out there. 

The man they are looking for is described as big, ugly, and not fit to be left out by himself. This description rings a bell with Hamish, and he tells the others that this is how Mister McWhacker talks about him. With this, all is explained, and it is discovered that Hamish is the one at the centre of the manhunt. Hamish now only has a short time to get the game, but his newfound friends have an idea. They strap Hamish to a sledge and begin pulling him towards the north face of the Big Chief mountain. It will take a long time to get to the top of the mountain, but they assure him it will be a lot faster down. 

Plenty of laughs at Hamish's expense, especially as he hears Mister McWhacker's description and recognises himself in the words. The appearance of the hot shot is always welcome, and although it didn't win the game, it was a timely reminder that this is a football story. There were a few laughs after this before the final setpiece that lays the groundwork for next week. Hamish strapped to a sledge is quite a sight, and despite the reassurance of the Austrians around him, one can sense that there is trouble and excitement ahead. Apart from the laughs, this is another story with an eye on the future, and this week wrote a promise that should be delivered upon soon. More laughs ahead of us, and as we come to the end of our time in Austria it looks like Hamish will be leaving with a bang.   

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "The message from the police just said we were to look for a big man! His friends said he was big...ugly...and not fit to be left out by himself!"

Tallon Of The Track

Billy Bolton has made a terrible start to his race, and Jo is fuming as she watches from the sidelines. 

On the track, Billy is fast, and he has a plan to gain the lead. Cutting in sharply, he approaches the other riders, and Jo has a suspicion of what is about to happen. Watching through a pair of binoculars, she sees Billy tap one of the riders on the ankle, throwing him into his teammate and leaving the way clear for Billy to take the lead. 

The Ospreys take a one-two finish, and the team are pleased with Billy's performance on the track. The only one not happy is Jo, and she lets Billy know that she saw what he did out there. Nobody else saw it, and as far as they are concerned Billy is a great rider. This leads to some conflict within the team, with most of the team siding with Billy, including the captain Dave Trent. This leaves Jo isolated, and she is cast as the villain while the crafty Billy Bolton now has the trust of the rest of the team. 

The story has deepened this week, and I like the fact that Jo is on the outer. There is a sense of intrigue to it, and I look forward to seeing what Jo will do to win her team back. It is surprising that no one else saw Billy cheat on the track, although it wouldn't be much of a story if everyone saw it and Billy was exposed so soon. Billy has been built up as a character of great cunning, and this story may run for some time before we reach a conclusion. That's for the best, as this story is stronger than it has been for many months, This is story line that I can really get my teeth into, and although this week didn't rate highly for drama or development, it did give us an insight to what may lay ahead, and all of it looks juicy. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Just a minute, Bolton! You may think you're mighty clever, but I saw what you did!"

Billy's Boots

Billy is on a sea-side holiday with his Gran, where he has made some new friends and discovered that he can play cricket and potentially win some prizes. 

He also finds a game of football taking place on the beach, and he joins in the fun there. He enjoys this time with his new friends and after speaking with Dave, they decide to meet up the next day and practise their cricket before the game the following day. 

They get a chilly response at the town cricket club, and they are told they can't practice. Furthermore, the men at the club tell them that they take their cricket seriously and they aren't happy with kids being selected. 

The following day it is no surprise when Billy and Dave find themselves on the team list batting at numbers 10 and 11. The team starts well, but a collapse later in the innings sees Billy and Dave at the crease with plenty of work to do. They decide to take their time, and after a patient start Billy has thirty runs and Dave has forty-two. They begin to play with some confidence, so much so that the opposition team bring back their opening bowler. The strip ends with this opening bowler steaming in, and Billy surprisingly advancing down the pitch toward him. 

The story started brightly, with Billy's new friends pulling him towards the local sports on offer. We had both cricket and football make an appearance, and although it was cricket that grabbed the headlines, the football aspect gave the story a nice balance. The football gave the story time to breathe, and a chance for the boys to interact and talk about cricket away from the pitch. The interlude with Billy telling his Gran about his day was also a nice natural break in the story before we accelerated toward the conclusion and the day of the game. Once again Billy is dealing with grumpy old men, and he and Dave are proving their worth with bat in hand. Every young man must be heartened by the sight of Billy taking it to the opposition, and the final image of him advancing down the pitch gives me hope that he is about to put an exclamation point on it all. Or of course, it may all end in disappointment. We shall see next week. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Look here...you two push off! We play cricket seriously!"

Skid Solo

Skid and the team are in Austria, and all attention is on Tommy who is preparing to return to Britain to sit his driving exam. He puts in a lot of work on the track, and after watching him practice for many hours, Sandy offers to sit beside him and give him some tips. 

On the track, Sandy finds that Tommy is extremely nervous, and with Sandy sitting beside him he makes several mistakes. Sandy tries to boost his confidence, but Tommy is a bundle of nerves.

Reporting to Skid, Sandy tells him that Tommy is nervous, and he can only hope that Tommy finds a sympathetic examiner. 

It's finally the day of Tommy sitting his license, as he sleeps on the plane back to Britain he has several nightmares about all the things that could go wrong with the test. 

While waiting for the bus from the airport, Tommy witnesses a traffic accident. The driver of a larger car blames the other driver, but Tommy steps forward and tells him that he saw it all and the driver of the larger car was at fault - he should have stopped at the junction. 

Tommy hurries to his driving test, still nervous, and approaches the examiner. He is surprised to find it was one of the drivers from the traffic accident earlier, the one who was in the right,. 

This brightens Tommy, and he is certain that now he will pass the test. However he returns forlornly to Skid and Sandy at the end of the day and reports that he has failed his license. Sandy asssumes that it was because he was nervous, but Tommy tells him quite the opposite - he was overconfident. 

Just when I thought Tommy was about to pass his test, they went and did this to me. It seems the saga is far from over, and I'll have to watch on patiently as another week passes without Tommy gaining his license. The story was pleasant enough, and it was a good twist, but my expectations were so high that it all felt like a disappointment. I'm sure there was a lesson in there somewhere for me, although I have no idea what it was. There was no car racing for me to indulge in, and a lot of the story was talking heads as we moved Tommy closer to passing his test. I thought the driving examiner was a good character, and I hope he will return when Tommy resits his test. The examiner showed several emotions and was a well-rounded character, pretty good considering he only had four or five panels in the story. Skid and Sandy were sidelined this week, but next week should see them returned to action, no doubt with something more dramatic than what we saw here. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Yes, yes, Mister Carter...just a moment...can't you see I'm busy. There's no need to be so impatient!"

Nipper

Nigel Danvers is furious that Nipper has exposed him as the one behind the insulting phone call to Typhoon Tuggey, and comes at him swinging. 

Nipper is too fast, and ducks the blow, leaving Danvers off balance and falling onto the fist of Tuggey. The umpire sternly tells Danvers to leave the field as Tuggey and Nipper shake hands and the game resumes at a more gentlemanly pace. 

Tuggey hits Nipper's next ball for six but is out the following ball, and the team collapse around him as Nipper and Mike put on a display of fine bowling. 

Blackton is out for less than one hundred, and Lane Grove has won the game convincingly. However, in the dressing room, all is not well as Nipper and Mike examine his injured toe. The first Blackport training session is just days away, and Nipper finds the injury even worse the following day. This leaves him in a dilemma. He can't go to the club for treatment, and if the manager finds out he has been playing cricket, Nipper will be in big trouble. 

The cricket season is over, and we now wait to see what unfolds as Nipper begins his football training. It's not looking good for him, although he was very unlucky to get injured, especially considering he only played two games. This was a quick wrap-up of the cricket story, and as such I never expected too much from it. It was by the numbers, and Nipper's injury didn't figure in it until the final two panels, surprising considering it was last week when he got injured. This issue felt like it was padded out to get us one week closer to the football season, and the drama with Nigel Danvers could have easily been dealt with in last weeks issue. For all that, it did what it had to, and it didn't sag too much as it bridged the two storylines. A solid issue, and one that has set us up for some footballing next week, always a good thing. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line:  "I reckon it was Danvers who got the 'hard feelings', Typhoon! Put it there, mate!" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story:  Billy's Boots  

Best Line: "It will take a long time to get up the mountain...but you will go down much faster!" 

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: