Tiger 13th September 1975

 "In Football,  everything is complicated by the presence of the opposite team" 
 - Jean-Paul Satre 

After this week's issue, I am sure Roy Race would agree with the above quote. Despite his player Gary Fane playing out of his skin, it is all undone by the opposite team and their outstanding goalkeeper. It is a scene we have seen play out countless times in the world of football comics and in the real world. Mbappé scored a hat trick and a World Cup final and still walked away a loser. Gary Fane surely earned his place in the Rovers team with a great, although ultimately goalless performance. Billy Dane played without his magic boots and....oh well, not every football story plays to type. The football stories in this week's issue were all of a high level, but again it is another performance in the comic that relegates them all to the second tier. Tallon Of The Track bids us farewell this week, and her final performance shades all the football stories and sees her ride off into the sunset on a high. We have had quite a run together, and I shall miss her feisty countenance glaring out of the page at me. Just like football, she too is facing complications from the opposing team, and this week we will see it all put to bed in a satisfying conclusion. Opposition team or not, Tallon Of The Track must finish, and this week it does. 

Tiger

13th September 1975

Billy's Boots

Billy is rubbish without his boots, and we get a good example of that on this week's cover as he blasts a shot over the top of the goal. Not an auspicious start to a trial for Darnbury Rovers and things don't improve for Billy as the trial goes on. 

After the match, Billy is politely told he is no longer required, while his new friend Dave is offered a contract. 

Back to the reality of the school trial, Billy meets the 'D' team he is trying out with. It is a motley group of boys, and many have attitudes as poor as their playing abilities. Mister Renton, the sports master, is unhappy with what he sees and tells Jimmy that it's all kick-and-rush football and there isn't a footballer amongst them. Just at that moment, Billy gets the ball, and Jimmy tells Mister Renton to wait a minute. In the final panel, we see Billy with the ball at his feet and the thought on his mind that it has to go alone as it's now or never.

The final panel of the story was Bily's best moment, but as far as artwork and plot, the real gems all appeared earlier. The subplot of Dave and his trial was dealt with quickly and efficiently and we had a tidy finish to that part of the story. Billy's trial for the school team gave us a few more interesting characters and the sight of the boys Billy has to trail with gave us a fabulous insight into the uphill battle he will be facing. It added a touch of humour, and a moment of despair from Biilly, before finally giving us the moment we had been waiting for as Billy began to dribble the ball. Several ups and downs throughout the story kept things spicy, and the final hook made this one to watch for next week. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Awful! I made a right idiot of myself! I wish I hadn't gone...but I had to take Dave. How did the school trials go?"   

Roy Of The Rovers

The Melchester Rover's board is determined to sign Duncan McKay, but Roy thinks that young wing Gary Fane might be the solution to their problem. 

Gary Fane plays a great game against Burndean, but the Burndean keeper has an equally good game. Despite Rover's best efforts they just cannot score, and to make matters worse they concede an unlucky goal right at the end of the match. 

Coming off the field with a 1-0 loss, Roy meets Sam Barlow, chairman of the Rovers board, who tells him that he is happy to see Gary Fane had a great game, but they still have their heart set on signing Duncan McKay. With that, the die is cast, and the strip finishes with Duncan McKay signing for Rovers a couple of days later.

Duncan McKay is now officially a Rover. The next step will be getting him on the team sheet and out on the field. There will surely be more drama wrung out of this, and this is merely the first stepping stone to a wider story. McKay's appearance was only fleeting, and the story this week mostly concerned Gary Fane. This delivered some strong football action, and I must admit I was just as frustrated about Rover's inability to score as the board of directors were. Fane is still young, and as we all know you don't win anything with kids. I think this may be the last we see of young Gary, and with the arrival of Duncan McKay, he will soon be forgotten. I liked that the opposing team played well, all held together by their goalkeeper. Such is football, and I'm sure we can all recount times when one team clearly outplayed the other, only to be undone by a great keeper and an unlucky goal at the other end. Jean-Paul Satre would understand, as would any other football fan around the world. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "There was! You did the right thing to have a go, Gary! It's not your fault that Dawson has picked today to play the game of his life!"   

Martin's Marvellous Mini

The boys have entered a 24-hour race to win a trip to Honolulu, but first, they must qualify in a twenty-lap race. Martin tells Tiny that they'll have to share the driving in the twenty-lap race, as that's what they will expected to do in the much longer 24-hour race. Tiny is petrified by this thought, and they both know that Tiny isn't a very good driver. 

Martin takes to the track, determined to build a large lead before Tiny takes the wheel. The changeover comes halfway through the race, and Martin has built a solid twelve-second lead, almost half a lap, as he hands over to Tiny. 

He tells Tiny to drive with his foot to the floor, but despite Tiny's best efforts, the lead has dwindled to a mere two seconds as they approach the final lap. One car manages to edge by him, but Tiny knows that it's the top two cars that qualify, and he determinedly drives his foot flat to the floor for the final stretch, coming in second, but only just, and earning a place in the next race.

Good action in the second half of this story and the race had some of my favourite artwork in this week's strip. However, it was trumped, in my opinion, by the wonderful sight of Tiny and Martin doing laundry in the opening panels. There was a naturalness to this, and although these panels were mere exposition to explain that Tiny would have to drive, it was presented in a realistic domestic scene that made it believable to me. It also placed the story firmly in the real world and once again showed the domesticity that lies at the heart of Tiny and Martin's friendship. One could easily imagine them sharing a flat together, and living a simple life far from the race track. As far as the racing is concerned, it is all going to plan so far, and it looks like we are on course for that trip to Honolulu. Tiny's driving should again provide an opportunity for drama in the longer race, and this should be unmissable action. A great racing story, but my heart is stolen by the sight of two boys in a caravan hanging out their washing. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Ooops! I'd rather stay a mechanic than be a driver!" 

Johnny Cougar

Johnny Cougar is in a brutal fight against the American champion, Kolchak. Last week was heavy-hitting, and this week continues in that vein with both wrestlers unleashing heavy blows. However, it is Johnny who suffers the worst of it, and he loses by knock out. 

Splash comes to him after the match, and Johnny tells him that now he remembers. Splash asks more, but Cougar tells him no more questions, now he has provided his loyalty he must leave immediately. 

This is all very suspicious, and as Johnny leaves Splash decides to follow him Keeping a safe distance he follows Johnny through town, and then only a train. Johnny gets off a Windmarsh, whereupon he climbs onto a horse and rides off. 

It's a strange situation, and Splash needs to solve the mystery as soon as he can. 

It is quite a mystery at the moment. Johnny is only playing a bit part in his own story, and just like in previous weeks, it is Splash who is carrying the storytelling. It feels like we watching Johnny from afar, which is essentially true, as the story is told from Splash's perspective. Despite the cold feel of the story, I am intrigued, and with solid art throughout, one feels drawn to the story. The final sight of Johnny riding off on a horse was compelling and only served to raise more questions -questions that can only be answered by reading next week's issue. I guess in that case, I'll be back next week for more.  

Rating: 7.5/10 

Best line: "Right, driver...as they say in all the best dramas...follow that car!" 

Skid Solo 

The Canadian Grand Prix is on the horizon, but first Skid takes part in a small race meeting in America. 

After the race, Professor Miller, an electronics professor, tells Skid that he can design an electronic driver and eliminate all human error from racing. 

A few days later this self-driving car has been built and the Professor shows Skid and Sandy the innards of the car where all the electronics control the speed and the lines the car will take. 

The Professor wants to race against Skid to test his car, but before they do this he gives a quick demonstration. The self-driving car speeds along the straight, directly toward two cars parked across the track. Just as it looks like a crash is inevitable, the Professor yells "Stop" and the car comes to a halt in front of the parked cars. 

The two race to see just what this new car is capable of in a race situation, and it exceeds all expectations. It drives consistently at the limit, and nothing Skid does can get him past it. This continues for lap after lap and after ten laps Skid is still behind. 

However on the final lap, Sandy exclaims that Skid is in front, and as he crosses the line the electronic car is nowhere in sight. The Professor wonders how this is possible, but Skid offers a sly explanation. On the back straight he managed to get alongside the electronic car and yelled "Stop" With that the car dutifully stopped, and the rest of the race was easily Skid's. 

This story is forty-five years ahead of its time. Self-driving cars are now available, and I can only assume that Professor Miller was snapped up to work for Google or Tesla. The self-driving car aspect of this story was entirely believable, and the only break with reality that I suffered was when the Professor built the car in only a few days. He must have also built a time machine while he was at it. The rest of the story was a little too simplistic for my liking. I enjoyed seeing Skid behind the wheel and battling against the electronic car, but there were no real stakes to it and at the end of the day it was all just a bit of fluff. The real positive in the story was the artwork and the imagination to come up with such a concept. I may not have brought into it entirely but it looked great and had a unique appeal. Futuristic at the time, it has now found the right time and place, and in 2024 it was a believable and enjoyable read. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Do you think he really can build an automatic car, Skid?"

Hot Shot Hamish

Princes Park is two-nil up at halftime and playing with a lot of young reserves. The opposition team knows this and as the second half begins they decide that they will run these young reserves into the ground.

The Parcross players turn up the heat, and soon enough the Princes Park youngsters begin to wilt. Their inexperience shows, and they have failed to pace themselves. Parcross scores, and with ten minutes to go they are only a goal behind. However, Mister McWhacker brings on some reserves and instructs the team to give it the big boot. This Hamish does with authority, and Prince Park holds on for a narrow victory, their first of the season. 

In the dressing room, the team management can see that they have too many young players and too many old players. There is no balance to the team, and it is decided they need to ging a new player to link up between the defence and the attack. 

Wandering home that night, Hamish comes across an amateur game. One player stands out, and Hamish enquires after him. An older gentleman tells Hamish that the player might be available, and after the game we see this man talking to the player, telling him that he has a chance to make an honest living for once.

Good action, and a nice set-up for the future. I wasn't fussed by the final panels, and the introduction of the new character failed to excite me. That will change next week when we get to know him better, but for now, the real joy was in the football match that dominated the first half of the strip. The sight of the Princes Park players struggling with their fitness was captured well and remained just on the right side of humourous. It never became too far over the top (that was reserved for Hamish's big boot) and added to the story rather than detracted from it. There was also a warm and natural moment between Hamish and Mister McWhacker as Hamish left after the game, and this smallest of touches felt so natural that I instantly recognised the moment from my own experiences, At that point, I was no longer reading dialogue on the page, but experiencing something that naturally occurs in everyday life. A fantastic little detail, and once again it beautifully offsets the more extreme moments of the strip.  

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Ye've got to thank Hamish, Boss...he seemed to be playing in every position!" 

Nipper

Danny Marvin is dazzling the fans with his footwork, while Nipper sits on the sidelines wondering if he has lost his position in the team. 

However, it is clear to Nipper and Mike Beatson that Danny Marvin isn't a team player. It looks as though Andy Stewart sees things the same way, and Nipper is quietly pleased to see Andy Stewart speaking sternly to Danny Marvin after the game. 

Back in the real world, Mrs Brodie has asked Nipper to view her paintings in his role as a general dealer. He has forgotten his appointment, and to make amends he sets off immediately to go have a look. 

Danny Marvin is driving his car and sees Nipper on his bike. Marvin decides to give Nipper a scare and speeds by him. He is still laughing about it as he finds himself in the path of a lorry. Swerving to avoid a crash, Marvin's car gets out of control and is heading directly towards a milk cart as the story ends on a cliffhanger. 

A nice mix of football action, and action off the field. Nipper didn't feature in the football side of the strip, but he made up for it as we saw him riding his motorbike. The villainous Marvin is not to be outdone, and he tops the sight of Nipper on his bike with a fantastic image of Marvin in his sportscar. It's a scene stealer, and just as essential as the final image of him crashing towards a milk cart. I am surprised by how much I am enjoying this, and I think in large part it is because of the artwork. It shows us different aspects of Nipper's life, and with a lighter touch, the story suddenly seems to move much faster. Previously it had been muddy and murky, but in this week's issue, the panels of the car and bike on the road are crisp and clear, making the story move just as quick as the vehicles. It's not the first time we have seen some interesting-looking cars on the page, and once again we have returned to an old-fashioned-looking sports car. It has the right feel for the strip, and along with the evil face of Marvin, makes the story all the more appealing. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Well, if it isn't Blackport's wonder-boy! Let's give that old outfit of his bit of a roasting!"

Tallon Of The Track

Jo Tallon is desperately trying to prove that Billy Bolton is on the payroll of the Ruxford Ravens while trying to sabotage Osprey's team from within. Her photographic evidence isn't what she thought it was, and Dave Trent is far from believing any part of her story.

Her journalist friend Pete has an idea. Bolton probably has his bribe money at the tack, so while Jo forceable bundles Dave Trent into the dressing room, Pete pulls the bribe money from Bolton's locker. 

They rush back to the track, with Jo hoping that Dave will see Bolton's sabotage play out on the track. A clean start gives no indication of what is about to unfold, but soon the story explodes as we see Boltons discreetly pulling on his own teammate's jacket. It is enough to cause a crash, and Dave sees every second of it, convincing him that Bolton is guilty as charged. 

Bolton is found guilty by the speedway authorities and banned for life. Jo receives an apology from the Ospreys board and is offered her job back. All is well that ends well, and in the final panel of the story, we see Jo where she rightfully belongs, on her bike roaring down the track past her assembled teammates. 

Goodbye Jo Tallon, and thank you for two years of great memories. It's hard to write about this single issue with so many memories crowding my mind. My thoughts drift to the previous plot lines and scraps that Jo has found herself in, and she lived a full life across the last two years. This was a solid finish for the story, and although it wrapped up quickly we still managed to tick all the boxes and give Jo a happy ending. It didn't reach its previous fights in terms of art or plot, and only a couple of images truly stuck in my mind. The villains lost, Jo won, and Dave and the team are again united behind her. All is right in the world. Next week sees the arrival of a new story in the form of Tornado Jones. He has large boots to fill and had better get off to a fast start. No matter what happens next, Tallon Of The Track will always have a small piece of my heart and in particular, Jo was outstanding as a female lead in a male-dominated comic.  

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Gentlemen, speedway isn't just a job to me...it's my whole life! I'll be at the stadium first thing in the morning!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7.5/10

Best Story:  Tallon Of The Track 

Best Line: "This thing in front is a real marvel. It takes up a perfect line for every bend...and goes around as if it was on train lines..." 

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 6th September 1975

Duncan McKay is in the building. After being teased for a few weeks, this is the issue where we first see him in action, and he doesn't disappoint at all across the pages of Roy Of The Rovers. The joy of his appearance is bolstered by the quality of the artwork in this issue, and after a careful read, I am convinced that this is one of the strongest issues we have had in terms of art. Each story severed a platter of interesting and arresting art, and the choice of my favourite artwork was a tough one. I could have selected any number as a favourite, a testament to the quality of the work in this week's comic. There is not a single disappointment, and although not every story runs on all cylinders plot-wise, the art is reaching new heights and continuing to impress. I don't remember much about 1975 (I was two years old) but I am sure that I will remember this comic for some time. Welcome Duncan McKay to your new home. 

Tiger

6th September 1975

Johnny Cougar

Johnny Cougar is on the front page of this week's Tiger, and we are into the action straight away. After it looked like Splash would have to fight Kolchak by himself, Cougar appeared at the arena without a word and entered the ring to do battle himself. 

The fight against Kolchak is a brutal affair, with Johnny electing to use aggression over finesse. Fighting on raw anger, his first-round performance is poor, and in the corner, Splash tells him so. 

Cougar treats his words with indifference, and as the second round begins Johnny fights in the same style as before. The only words spoken to Splash were to tell him that Cougar was fighting to prove his friendship, using deeds, not words. 

Johnny gets the worst of it in the second round, and with his aggression misplaced, Kolchak gains the upper hand, the strip ending with a fearsome forearm connecting with Johnny's head.  

With Johnny remaining unresponsive, and fighting with an aggression we haven't seen before, he is barely recognizable as the character we have journeyed with over the years. This makes it difficult for me to warm to the story, and although I appreciated the fighting action in the ring, I remained detached from Cougar, and the story itself. That said, the in-ring action is superb, and we had plenty of hard-hitting moments for those who enjoy such things. The brutal edge elevated the action, and once again the artist brought plenty to the story as he made this action leap off the page. A little more humanity in the story would be welcome, at the moment it is poor old Splash who is carrying the load on that front, but despite my reservations about the characters in this story, there is no denying that I am anxious to see how this fits into the context of the wider story. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "What gives? Johnny-baby storms in here, without a word to anyone, then starts fighting as if he's a baddy instead of a goody!"

Billy's Boots

Billy's seaside holiday is over and he is on the train home. Sitting opposite Billy and his Gran is Colin Burns, manager of Darnbury Rovers. Billy isn't shy about speaking to Colin Burns, and he asks for a trial for his new friend Dave who plays goalkeeper.

Oddly enough, Colin Burns accepts Billy's assessment of his friend, and a trial for Dave is arranged. Billy writes to Dave immediately and a date is set for that Thursday. 

Back at school, the sports master is preparing for the football season. The school has entered the Southern School league, and Mister Renton tells the boys that it will be a tough competition. Even so, plenty of boys sign up to play, and they have enough players for four teams. A school trial is set for Thursday, which unfortunately for Billy also clashes with his friend Dave's trial with Darnbury. 

Billy tells Mister Renton of his problem, and Renton tells him he can trial with the D team, although he will have to play well as they are all useless. Billy readily agrees, happy that he can still make his appointment with Dave. 

Dave and Billy arrive at Darnbury for the trial, and Dave encourages Billy to get his kit on and play too. Billy again shows that he has some confidence for a young fella, and he quickly gets changed. On the field, he starts well, despite not having his boots. However, after doing a great run, Billy passes the ball off so he doesn't have to shoot at goal, only for the pass to come straight back to him and the strip ending with Billy having to take a shot in unfamiliar boots. 

The most striking part of this story is the opening panels when the manager of Darnbury readily accepts Billy's recommendation with a " "If he's as good as he says you are, then I'm interested...". Although it's a comic, I can't bring myself to accept this as believable (oddly enough I can accept Superman flying) and I inwardly cringed at this line. I also cringed when Billy had the front to even ask in the first place, although that says more about me than Billy. I would never have the confidence to ask such a thing from an adult, and I don't even think I would speak to an adult when I was Billy's age. Billy is obviously a better man than me, and we see his confidence resurface later in the comic as he takes the field to try out. I was surprised to see this, given that he didn't have his boots with him. This confidence is misplaced as we saw in the final panels as he falters with a chance to shoot. Once again I am cringing, which bookends this week's issue nicely, and I will read the next instalment with trepidation as Billy continues without his boots. It's all in the title, surely he should know better. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "If he's as good as he says you are, then I'm interested..."

Martin's Marvellous Mini 

After drifting out to an island underneath a caravan that acts as a balloon (don't ask) Tiny and Martin now find that the tide is coming in and the Mini and caravan risk being flooded. 

Once again the balloons in the caravan save the day, and the two friends inflate them beneath the car and caravan to act like a raft. 

This works better than expected (and much better than I expected) and they float away from an island and reach the safety of the mainland. Here the fairground owner approaches them and asks them if they would like to do more stunt work, a question they respond to with a resounding "No". 

The boys hit the road, looking for money and adventure, and as is often the way they see a poster beside the road advertising a twenty-four-hour race. They make some inquiries and find that the race organises already have too many Minis. To get around this, there will be a Mini race to decide who can take part in the main race, a race worth entering as the first prize is a trip to Honolulu. Tiny and Martin are greatly enthused by this, and judging by their faces, they are already dreaming of the sun and surf. 

The balloon story wrapped up quickly, and although I loved last week's issue, I think that was the right call before we became overwhelmed with silliness. This week we returned to solid ground, as the boys made it back to the mainland and their next adventure. Apart from sailing off the island, there wasn't a lot of action this week, and what there was all occurred in the first part of the story. However, the art amply made up for this, and there were some fantastic panels of the lads' face and their reactions. This lifted the story in my eyes, and although we didn't see a lot of the Mini, we were treated to plenty of interaction between Tiny and Martin. That is no bad thing, and judging by their reactions in the final panel, I think we can safely assume that they will win their upcoming races and earn a trip to Honolulu. Good times ahead if they do, and I think some time in Honolulu will do all of us some good.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Nothing doing!"

Roy Of The Rovers

In the first part of this week's story, we see the fallout from last week's disastrous first match, with Ralph Derry laid up in hospital with a cast on. Speaking among themselves, the team realise that he will be out for most of the season. Roy tells them that he would like to give an extended run to Gary Fane, although the directors have aspirations to sign the Scottish international Duncan McKay from Portdean. 

Roy drives with Ben Galloway to see Portdean's next match and check out Duncan McKay in the flesh. They aren't the only ones taking an interest, and there is an array of managers at the game to see his performance. Duncan McKay delivers, and we see him controlling the defence with confidence, leading from the front, and scoring a goal in the second half. All are impressed, although Roy has reservations about his three hundred thousand pound price tag. 

At the board meeting, Roy insists on giving Gary Fane another chance. He explains that he has concerns about Duncan McKay's dominating attitude, and tells them that he may not be good for the dressing room. 

With the chance to save three hundred thousand pounds, the board agrees to give Gary Fane another chance before they make any signings. Come Saturday, things look promising as Roy puts a perfect through ball to Fane, and the strip ends with Roy hoping he can prove himself or they face taking on the unpredictable Duncan McKay. 

 Another historic day to mark in your calendars - the first proper appearance of Duncan McKay. It had been mentioned in earlier comics, but this is the first time we get to see what he looks like and what he can do on the pitch. I wasn't disappointed by any of it, and after this single issue, we can already see what a good footballer he is and have an insight into what sort of person he is. I can understand Roy's reservations, and we had a good balance in the story of the positives and negatives of Duncan McKay. I'm pleased we finally have him appearing on the page, and after a couple of weeks, I was beginning to wonder exactly when he would arrive. Just in time, as I'm not known for my patience, and I could feel the storyline gain momentum with him on the page. I'm unsure how long Roy will persist with Gary Fane, and the sooner he gets Duncan to sign on the dotted line the better, as far as I'm concerned. It's not the greatest of issues, but one well worth noting and I'll long remember the first time we saw Duncan McKay play.  

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "I think I will auction my plaster when it comes off, lads! It should be worth a small fortune with all your autographs on it!"  

Skid Solo

It's the day of the Monza Grand Prix and all the talk is of the battle at the top of the table between Sparrow Smith and Von Vargen. With Skid only taking one point from his last three races and only three races left in the season, many are writing him off. 

However, Skid is determined and as the race starts he shoots out to the lead. Some aggressive driving keeps him there, although, with two laps left, Von Vargen is making his move. Skid still has the lead, and Von Vargen misjudges the corner as he goes to pass Skid, crashing off the track and out of the race. 

Skid stops to check on Von Vargen, and as he does Sparrow Smith drives up. Skid waves Sparrow on, telling him the Von Vargen is OK. 

This costs Skid the race, and although he pushes Sparrow Smith hard to the line, Smith just edges him. This gives Smith a ten-point lead on the driver's table, although all three drivers know that if Skid hadn't stopped he would have won the race. Skid is the on-form driver and things could be a lot tighter at the top of the table. 

The Monza Grand Prix didn't break any new ground and there isn't anything here that we haven't seen before. The action was good, and the Grand Prix delivered what we expected, which is part of my problem - it delivered what we expected. There were no surprises, no plot twists, and nothing out of the ordinary here. Skid drives well, is true to his character in checking on Van Vargen, and still has a slim chance of winning the championship. This strip could have been from  1969, 1973,  or 1979 and I wouldn't have known any different. That said, it looked great, and the sight of the cars racing around Monza delivered all the action panels we have come to expect from a Grand Prix race. With a chance that Skid could still steal the championship we should be for a tense last two races, and I expect the drama to be cranked right up by the time we reach that final race. No surprises there either, but I'll buy what they're selling.  

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "He's okay, Sparrow. Just a busted car! Keep going!"

Tallon Of The Track

While Jo rushes to the track where Billy Bolton is about to sabotage his own team, her reporter friend Pete heads off to develop the photos they took of Bolton accepting a bribe from the manager of Ruxford Ravens.

Jo arrives and watches on as the Ospreys win their first races. Things change in the third heat as Bolton rides for Ospreys, partnered with Debenko. Bolton is in the lead when he suddenly slows. The crowd thinks his engine has stalled, and things get worse as he fights to control his bike. It comes to a head when he crashes on the track, taking Debenko with him. 

Jo is sure it's part of his scheme, and when Pete arrives she can't wait to show the evidence to the team. Ignoring Pete's call to wait, she storms into the pits and pulls the photo from the envelope. It is then that Pete catches up with her and says this is why he was trying to tell her - the photo was taken as they fell from their hiding place, and shows only the ceiling of the room where the money was changing hands. 

The final photo that Jo produces may not be good, but the images through this strip sure are. The first panel is a doozy, and the rest of the story continues in this vein, delivering a variety of eye-catching images. The artist James Bleach does a stupendous job of capturing all the action while giving the characters real emotion, making this far more than a story about bikes. Bikes I can take or leave, but I care about what happens to these characters on the page and that is the magic of this story. It looked as if Jo was finally going to triumph over her nemesis Billy Bolton this week, only for her haste to prove her undoing as she finds she doesn't have the evidence she thought she had. This gave us more artistic delights as we went from the early harried drama to the sight of bikes on the track, before finally resting on the faces of the lead characters in the final panels. Beautifully paced across two pages, this still is accelerating as we hit the final straight, and with a couple of deft manoeuvres we should soon be over the line.  

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Bad luck, my eye! Billy Bolton is simply earning his bribe money - he's succeeded very nicely in giving the Ravens that heat!"

Nipper

Nipper is in trouble with Andy Stewart after seeing a back-street herbalist to fix his injured leg. Stewart has subbed Nipper off at halftime, and Nipper isn't backwards in letting Steward know how feels about this. 

Angry words are exchanged, and Nipper backs down as he understands Andy Stewart's thinking. Wishing luck to Danny Marvin, Nipper's replacement, Nipper takes his place on the bench next to Stewart.

Danny Marvin is a confident player and is soon showing his flashy skills on the pitch. After a silky run, he ignores his teammates, and elects to have a shot himself. It should never be a goal, but it takes a deflection off an opposition player and goes into the goal. 

This only pushes Marvin to greater heights, and he showboats on the field. Watching on, Nipper is worried that this flashy play will him his place in the team, and Nipper might never get back on the field.

The smug look of Marvin speaks volumes about what sort of character he is. Like Tallon Of The Track before it, this story hinges on the characters as much as the action on the page. Nipper was absent for the last page, yet Marvin carried the plot forward, playing well while becoming villainous in the process. This gives the story a double edge, with the drama between Nipper and Andy Stewart still to be played out, along with the repercussions of his injury. We are off to a fast start to the football season, and already the cricketing storylines feel like distant memories. I've been waiting all summer for a cracking Nipper storyline, and now we are rewarded with just that. Brilliant artwork, a great villain, and dramatic football action - just the way I like. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "They should give the goal to Marvin! It was his solo run that made it!

Hot Shot Hamish

Hamish is being tapped up by two men from Marborough United. There are no Panorama cameras to catch the moment, but Hamish is well aware of the illegality of the situation and sends them on their way with a bee in their ear. 

Meanwhile, in Mister McWhacker's offer, McWhacker is listening to the director of Marborough tell him that he's poaching Hamish. McWhacker points out that that is illegal, and his words are backed up by the appearance of the two men who were sent around to speak to Hamish, both looking flustered and dishevelled after being run off. 

Mister McWhacker calls on Hamish, and although Hamish isn't home his neighbours are, and they tell him of Hamish's hard training and subsequent damage caused. Mister McWhacker leaves a message for Hamish that he's in the team, and must be at the park on Saturday to play. 

Hamish is overjoyed, and even more so when he learns that four of the youngsters from the reserve team have also been named. On Saturday, Princes Park starts brightly and they are soon two goals up. The only dark cloud on the horizon comes from the opposing team's team talk at halftime, as the manager tells them that Princes Park is playing youngsters who will run out of steam, and it's time to show them what real football is about. 

I have just noticed that the angrier Hamish gets, the stronger his accent gets. We have a fine example here as he turns down the two men visiting him about signing with another club. His Scottish accent goes up several notches, and although you may not understand what he said, you definitely understand his meaning. The opening panels were sublime, with the very first image taking the perspective of looking up. This made the men visiting Hamish seem more forceful and stronger than they perhaps were, but also gave us a sense of how Hamish felt when he was confronted by them. These first panels were also interesting from a historical perspective and a reminder of how prevalent tapping up was long before the scandal of 2006 (which in itself is almost 20 years ago. Unbelievable). The more things change the more they stay the same. The strong opening panels gave way to consistency throughout the strip, and  Julio Schiaffino's work looks just as good on the last page as it did on the first. With the strip turning towards football, we saw Hamish in full flight, along with some contrasting characters, all of which gave the strip a sense of movement, and a chance for Julio Schiaffino's work to shine just as much as the characters on the page. This is another strip with several contenders for my favourite art, only pipped at the post by earlier strips that had already caught my eye. Lovely to look at, and a strong ending to a mighty issue.  

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "It's no'legal to speak to a player about playing for another team...wi'oot permission! I'm staying with Princes Park...get oot o' here!" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story:  Tallon Of The Track 

Best Line: "And I don't think it'll be easy! McKay isn't popular with the other players, and he's a born individualist! His dominating style might be good for Melchester" 

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: 

 

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: