Tiger 27th September 1975

"You shouldn't judge a book by its cover" - My Mum.

Well, sorry, Mum, you were wrong. I judged this week's issue of Tiger by the cover and was well rewarded as the dramatic opening image was matched by several more within. Even the more gentle stories still contained magic about them in the artwork, and I was again enthralled by the craft that goes into these comics. The Premier League kicks off this weekend, and I have just enough time before the first game kicks off to lose myself in these pages and some artwork that is just as thrilling as anything I'll see on the field. 

Tiger

27th September 1975

Skid Solo

The Skid Solo is on the front cover, and it's a case of another week, another experimental car to test. We are a week out from the deciding Grand Prix, and Skid is called upon to test an experimental car, starting by crashing it over the side of a cliff and into the river below.

Two small wings help stabilise the fall, and after sinking to the bottom of the river, the car is still drivable. This first test is a success, and Skid is called upon to replicate the test in the sea for the army.

He repeats the routine the next day, driving along the seabed and into the deeper seas. He drives past a sunken Spanish galleon, noting the name Neuvo Campeon.  

Ejecting to the surface, Skid reports what he has seen, and all involved are satisfied. However, Sandy is unhappy that Skid is taking such risks and lets his feelings be known. Skid shrugs it off, telling Sandy that he sees it as a good omen - after all, did he not pay attention to the name of the sunken ship? It was Neuvo Campeon, which translates to "New Champion" 

A great opening story and some interesting vehicles initially piqued my interest in this story. It was a shame then that there was no other great dramatic hook within, and I walked away from it feeling fairly ambivalent. We saw Skid test driving an experimental car just three weeks ago as he raced a driverless car, and although this case was quite different, the story still had the same feel. There was no high-stakes sporting drama, and it all felt like a gentle ride. I was taken by the car that Skid was driving and could not help but notice the comparison to the underwater car driven in the Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). Interesting that this predated that film by two years, and although Skid Solo is no Bond, it was still a cool moment to see him driving under the sea. Although the story alluded to the season finale next week, it distracts from the championship, and I would have preferred something around the track to hype up the final race of the season. I guess it's down to personal taste, and as enjoyable as this looked on the page, it never rose above mid-level in my eyes.

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Ye're crazy to do this a few days before the most important race o' yere life! What if something goes wrong?"

Roy Of The Rovers

Duncan McKay is off to a stormy start with Melchester Rovers. He's trying to do too much, and on the first page, we see him caught out of position, leading to yet another angry exchange with Roy as they come off for halftime. 

The two continue to have cross words, and when Melchester is awarded a corner kick, an exasperated Roy finally loses control. He tells McKay that the keeper will probably punch it clear and to wait at the edge of the box. This he does, and as the ball comes toward him, Roy makes a left-handed run, calling for the ball as he goes. 

Duncan McKay ignores Roy's calls, and he instead tries a shot himself. He miskicks it, although fortuitously it lands at the feet of Blackiehe scores. Rovers have edged out a win over their lowly-ranked rival, although Roy is annoyed to see the fans crediting Duncan McKay for the victory. Now he will be even harder to handle, and Roy has his work cut out for him in the next few issues.

A lot of panels of an angry-faced Duncan Mckay and Roy Race made this story tense, without strong football action to back it up. It was all about the conflict between these two men, and the story lacked nuance as we hurtled toward the concluding panels. A subplot could have cushioned the blow, and I can't help but feel that this week's story was one-dimensional in comparison with some of the other multilayered stories we have previously indulged in. It looks like there is no break in the weather on the horizon, and I fear the next few issues may be more of the same, with the strip dominated by Roy and Duncan glaring at each other. I was happy to see the appearance of Duncan McKay in the story, but now I just want to see him bed into the team and become the best player he can be.  

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "They should be eating these second division sides for breakfast! Sort 'em out, Roy!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

After six hours of the twenty-four-hour race, Martin has handed driving duties over to a nervous Tiny. There is nothing more Martin can do but hope that Tiny maintains the lead, and he heads off to sleep.

Out on the track, Tiny finds driving at night quite an experience. First, he has trouble with the glare of car lights in his mirrors, and then he comes across a car that has slipped off the track. Towards the end of his shift, he even falls asleep at the wheel, but luckily, he recovers just in time.

Tiny hands the car back over to Martin, telling him that he has lost the lead, but they are only ten seconds behind. Martin is happy with this and sets out to restore the lead as best he can.

Meanwhile, Tiny struggles to fall asleep. When he finally does, he has a nightmare about driving and finds himself waking up on the floor next to his bed. He gets up and makes his way trackside for his second drive, only to be told he is an hour early. The crew beside the track observe that he is still half asleep and wonder aloud if he's fit to drive.   

David Sque has done an outstanding job with the art in this week's issue, and I especially commend him for the facial expressions of Tiny. The image of him during his nightmare was evocative and only matched by the final image of him practically falling asleep on his feet. It gave the strip a lively dimension unmatched anywhere else in the comic, and although it's not my favourite strip this week, it's close.  The car racing wasn't as dramatic as one might expect, but it was more than made up for by the drama carried in Tiny's face as he battled his demons and wrestled with his fear of driving. This has laid a solid foundation for next week, and I expect it shall be the same high standard as we storm into October. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Well, there's nothing you could do, if he started to go round in reverse, chum! You'd better go get some sleep...you'll soon be back behind the wheel!"

Johnny Cougar

Johnny Cougar has told Splash that he is finished with wrestling. Splash is worried about his pal and has a plan to get him back in the ring. If Splash could just get Hardy Steele to agree to a rematch against Johnny, he is sure that the Indian matman would come out of his self-imposed exile. 

Splash goes to one of Steele's bouts, and over the next couple of pages, we get to see the dirty tricks he gets up to. Not only is he a dirty fighter, but he is mean with it, and this is emphasised again and again in the fight before he is finally disqualified.

In the locker room, Splash approaches Steele and tells him of his plan to get Cougar back into the ring. Steele isn't having a bar of it, telling Splash that he doesn't do favours for anyone. 

Johnny Cougar is again absent in his own comic as the action focuses on Splash and his manoeuvrings. This week was building up the character of Steele, and this was done efficiently through the bout we were shown. We saw that he is a strong character, a dirty fighter, and he has a mean streak that bodes well for any challenge against Johnny. Apart from this introduction, the story didn't progress much as the foundation was laid for the story to be built upon in the coming weeks.  We still have at least one more episode, and possibly more, before Splash wins over Steele, and then Johnny Cougar. From where we stand now, it looks like this story may run for quite some time. I wouldn't be surprised if this current storyline wraps up at Christmas, just in time for Johnny to wish everyone a happy new year. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Fighting back, eh? That's naughty..." 

Billy's Boots

Billy has been dropped from the first eleven for showing off, but he has a chance to redeem himself as he comes on as a substitute.

Billy's usual position as centre-forward is taken by Grant, so he takes up a position in midfield. He is stable in this position, getting an interception and a couple of nice passes, which begin to win over the sports master. His best moment comes near the end of the game as he gathers a loose ball, and with a long pass up the field, he picks out Jimmy Dawson. Dawson knows what to do and feeds the ball through to Grant, who scores the winning goal in the dying moments of the game. 

Mister Renton still has doubts, but Billy is redeemed in the eyes of several people near Mister Renton, and he reluctantly agrees to play Billy again in the next game. 

Game day rolls around, and a coach has been laid on to get the Groundwood players to the game. Billy is just setting off to meet the rest of the team when his Gran calls to him. She's sick, and as it's pouring with rain, she wants Billy to go get some medicine for her. Billy is desperate to make the coach, but he is unable to say no to his poor old Gran, so he dutifully heads off to the chemist. The rain and a long line at the chemist see him missing the coach, and Billy is forced to bike to the ground, getting soaked in the process.

It's all for nothing, for when he arrives at the ground, he learns that the game has been cancelled. Jimmy Dawson also tells him that he is in big trouble for missing the coach and that he has never seen Mister Renton so angry.

This deserves a higher rating than I gave it, and I think the only thing missing was some on-field action. Billy's magical boots played no part in the story, and we instead stayed firmly in the realm of the angsty school boy and his ever-loving Gran. This was executed well on the page, and we had several panels that displayed the full dismay of Billy as the situation was spinning out of his control. Billy riding his bike through the pouring rain was a highlight, but so too were the moments he was with his Gran and being a dutiful Grandson. I think most could relate as Billy did the right thing by his Gran and went to get the medicine, which meant that when he missed the coach there was an element of sympathy for the lad. This draws the reader deeper into the story, and even though it has been quite some time since I was a schoolboy, I still felt every ounce of Billy's pain and his situation. It was a highly believable scenario, and one step removed from the magic boots gave it a grounding that it doesn't normally have, making for a top-notch story buried mid-comic. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "I suppose I will have to go myself then. I didn't want to go out in this weather...not with my cough."

Tornado Jones

Arriving in Britain, Australian stunt rider Tornado Jones mistimed his jump off the ship and crashed his bike into the side of the dock. 

He sinks beneath the waves, and reaching the seabed, he finds his foot is caught in the bike. The frog men looking for him can't find him, and it is left to Tornado Jones to save himself, eventually freeing himself and swimming to the surface.

He immediately calls for his second bike, and speaking with the captain, he tells him that he will try again. This second attempt is far more successful, and the crowd are suitably impressed when he sticks his landing. 

After a brief line about never giving up, the strip ends with Jones asking to be taken to Wembley Stadium, where he intends to be fired from a cannon. 

Tornado Jones unfolded as expected, and although it didn't offer up any surprises, it did bring the twitch of a smile to my face. There is nothing too serious here and nothing that grabbed my attention and demanded that I read further. In the simple story of a man jumping his bike, we learn more about the character of Tornado Jones as he insists on completing his stunt. Visually, it looked great, and it was the artwork that carried us along more than the plot. I would be happy to look at this art all day, and although the story stayed firmly in second gear, I was quite happy with all I saw. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Except for feeling like I've been walked on by a herd of elephants, I'm fine, mate. Now stand back!"

Hot Shot Hamish

On the back of Hamish's recommendation, youngster Alfie McPhee has been offered a month's trial. However, while Alfie was on the pitch, his pal Tommy was nicking everyone's wallets out of the dressing room. And it's not just wallets, he has stolen their clothes and anything not tied down - a whole lorry load.

While Alfie and Tommy drive off, the Princes Park team discover they have been ripped off. While most of the team are worried about what items they have lost, Hamish also has a moment to worry about Alfie and his situation.

He is still concerned about Alfie, and later that day, he wanders the market with some money he plans to donate to Alfie. However, he stumbles across a stall selling his kilt, bag and jacket, along with a host of other items taken from the Princes Park changing room. Hamish is enraged, and in a furious moment, he overturns the stall and smashes up the market. 

His rage finishes and suddenly as it starts, and surveying what's left of the market, he appears contrite. However, the trouble isn't yet over for the big man, as Big Jackie and his brothers appear, demanding to know what the fuss is about and threatening to thump Hamish.   

We saw the full range of Hamish in this week's strip, and I am reminded why I like this character so much. His heart is always in the right place, and even when he is angrily smashing things, it is always for the right reasons. The panels of Hamish smashing up the market dominated this week's comic, but it was a quiet panel near the end of the story that caught my attention. Big Jackie and his approaching brothers have a quiet menace about them, and Hamish naively has no idea what is about to unfold. It said a lot, and although it's not my favourite panel in the story, it was the most essential. As always with Hot Shot Hamish, the plot is secondary to the interaction of the characters, and this was a fine example of that as Hamish the gentle giant looked after the less able in his team. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "When I find the mon responsible for this, McBrain...he'll pay dearly. It's a cowardly trick to play on our footballers."

Nipper 

Nipper is furious with his teammate Danny Marvin for not owning up to the accident that made Nipper late for training, and things are about to come to a head as Nipper storms onto the training pitch to confront Marvin. 

Nipper is left fuming as Marvin denies any accident, telling the other players that Nipper is just angry because Marvin has taken his place in the team. There is nothing that Nipper can do, and he resigns himself to his fate, returning to Andy Stewart's office just as he puts up the team sheet, with Nipper destined to play for the reserves. 

The one good thing in Nipper's life is his girlfriend, Kerry, and it is her that he turns to now for comfort. Kerry listens patiently to Nipper's problems before telling him to persevere; after all, class will show through in the end. 

Later, Nipper arrives at the reserves game, where all the team give him a hard time about what has happened. Nipper is steaming at this, and by the time they take the field, he is at boiling point and about to erupt. 

A little peep behind the curtain here. Normally, I write this blog on my battered old laptop, but because of the way things panned out this week, I ended up using my desktop for the final story, Nipper. On a larger screen, the art looked sensational, and after being low-key about the art in Nipper previously, this was a revelation. The detail jumped out at me, and the scenes of Nipper and Kerry made it all the more intimate. The milk bar panel was a highlight, but it was only the first of three excellent panels, which were the highlight for me. The following panel of the couple walking down the street was equally affecting, and it was all capped off by the close-up of Kerry's face as she encouraged Nipper to keep going. It would have been my panel of the comic, had my heart not already been swayed by the image of Billy riding his bike in the rain in Billy's Boots. My love affair with this art (and Kerry!) greatly influenced my feelings about Nipper this week, and although I don't care much about the shenanigans of Danny Marvin, I loved digesting every panel. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "There's nothing to own up about! Lawrence is just narked because I've pinched his place in the first team!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story:  Billy's Boots 

Best Line: "GRRRRRR! I'm fed up! I've had my clothes pinched... and I'm no' standing for ye lot throwing things at me!" 

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 20th September 1975

It's all Messi's fault. 

I thought I had plenty of time to finish today's post before I headed down to the pub to discuss fantasy football with some friends. However, seeing Billy Dane score a Messi-esque goal with a backheel sent me into the wilds of the internet to find a comparable picture. Several hours later, and about a hundred YouTube clips later, I made it back here only to realise my time was rapidly running out. I'm not complaining too much; anytime spent in the company of genius is worth it, but after watching peak Messi, it was a comedown to read about Billy Dane and his friends. Billy may have scored a beautiful goal, but he still has a long way to go to reach the heights of Messi. Still, it does have those magical boots.... 

Tiger

20th September 1975

Johnny Cougar

The mystery of Johnny Cougar continues this week the story opens with Splash watching him ride off on a horse. Splash is still in the dark about Johnny's strange mood and disappearance, and secretly following Cougar on a bike, he is hoping to get some answers.

It's a rough ride, and after following the trail of hoof marks through the woods, Splash comes across a teepee and a horse grazing nearby. Cougar is camping out Indian style, and Splash decides to sneak a little closer to see what it's all about. 

However, Johnny is one step ahead and has set up an early warning system, which, of course, Splash unwittingly stumbles into. 

Johnny is on him in a flash, but after realising it's only Splash, he lowers his fists. The situation isn't entirely defused, and Johnny angrily tells Splash that he just wants to be left alone. He was tired of everyone, tired of wrestling, and tired of wrestlers cheating. He is done with the whole scene and just wants to be left in peace. 

Splash rides away but is still determined to get Johnny back into the ring. A seed of an idea is germinated as he rides off - he will attempt to organise a match against Hardy Steele, a wrestler who beat Johnny unfairly many years ago and a wrestler that Johnny has always wanted to meet in a rematch. 

If a wrestler doesn't wrestle, is he still a wrestler? That thought danced in the back of my mind for the majority of this week's strip. The story remains intriguing, and in the final panels, we see wrestling on the horizon. However, my interest always falters when Cougar is away from the ring, and as curious as I was about his whereabouts, it wasn't quite enough to compensate for the lack of wrestling. Obviously, that will change soon enough, but first, we need to set up this back story to motivate Cougar to get back to what he does best. I did enjoy seeing Johnny Cougar on the front cover, and he always looks bigger and stronger in colour. His horse also seemed particularly muscular, although its legs were foreshortened in the first panel, and it did look like Cougar was riding a miniature pony, albeit a very strong one. The story is beginning to emerge from the mists of the last couple of weeks, and next week should see things leap forward as Splash hopefully signs both Cougar and Steele to a fight. I look forward to some clarity and, hopefully, some heavy-handed in-ring action. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Cougar heap sick of the world! Sick of meeting matmen who do not fight fair. Sick of tensions and trouble! No longer wish to be a wrestler! Cougar live here in peace"

Tornado Jones

How exciting, a new story this week. Tornado Jones is an Australian stunt rider, and a British boy reading of his exploits in the newspaper is our first introduction to him. He is in the paper having failed to jump the Sydney Harbour Bridge, hardly an auspicious start.

A few panels on, we meet Tornado Jones proper as he is pulled from Sydney Harbour. With his latest stunt a disaster, he decides that everything in Australia is just too big, and he is considering trying his luck in Britain, where everything is smaller. 

In a nod to the times in which this story is written, he sails to Britain aboard an ocean liner, and we pick up the story with him just about to arrive in Southhampton. He decides to impress the local crowd with a display of his prowess on the bike and arranges with the Captain to jump his bike from the deck to the dock thirty feet away. 

Tornado Jones looks confident, but as soon as he takes off the ramp, it becomes clear that he won't make it. In the final panel of the story, he crashes hard into the side of the dock, where one onlooker has the gall to say he might even be dead. 

I highly doubt he will be dead, son. This is his first appearance in the comic, and it wouldn't be much of a story if he died in the first issue. Oh dear, what would the readers think? What this reader thinks is that this story is covering a lot of similar ground to Tallon Of The Track, the story that it is replacing in the comic. Fast bikes, a smattering of stunts, the same artist- there were panels here that felt like they could have existed in either story. This familiarity helps give the story a jumpstart, and I already have a good feel for the story being told. Tornado Jones isn't the same type of compelling character as Jo Tallon, but he does have his own charm that holds the story together, at least so far. This story drew heavily from the period in which it was written, and it was a time warp to see people travelling between Britain and Australia by liner, along with the talk of everything being bigger in Australia. It once again highlighted the love affair that Britain seemed to have with Australia at the time, and as a proud New Zealander, I can only watch on bitterly as Australia is portrayed as the land of plenty. I shall carry my grudge onto the rugby field. I am reluctant to read too much into the first issue of a new story, and I do have some reservations about the potential silliness that could unfold with a stuntman for whom everything goes wrong. I love humour in my comics just as much as the next man (I refer you to my love of Hot Shot Hamish), but I wouldn't want to see this become a series of failed stunts. Only time will tell how they play this, and I have faith that it will be a well-balanced story with plenty of laughs along the way. The Tiger writers have never let me down before, and I will read on confidently. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "He's hit the edge of the dock! He could be killed!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

It's been a long time since I have seen a 24-hour race, so I look forward to seeing how Tiny and Martin will go with their exploits this week. 

Tiny is still nervous about having to drive part of the race, but Martin reassures him, explaining the schedule they will drive to. There is a clever bit of exposition at this stage, with the race organiser explaining the rules to the pair and educating any reader who might not be familiar with how a 24-hour race works. 

The race starts with the competitors running to their cars. Martin wins the footrace and is away first. It doesn't count for much, as there are various classes of cars on the track, and soon most of the fast, sporty cars have gone by. Martin isn't too concerned; they only need to win the Mini class they are in. 

After six hours, Martin comes into the pits to swap drivers. He has built a handy lead and tells the nervous Tiny just to do his best to maintain the lead. Tiny takes this advice and roars out onto the track, while Martin looks at the table and sees that he has entirely forgotten his orange juice, coffee, chewing gum and gloves! He can only hope that he does better on the track. 

There was a lot to like here and several moments of pure joy. As the boys are preparing the car, Tiny shows Martin that he has installed a device to hold their coffee cups and juice while they are driving. Tiny is ahead of the times and wasted on the pages here; he should be working for a car manufacturer. A cup holder in a car, who could imagine such a thing - it's bound to catch on. The dialogue between Martin and Tiny before the race was outstanding, with Tiny all nerves and Martin trying to reassure him. It had a natural flow to it, and in a world full of bravado, it harked back to a simpler time when men were men and Tiny was a nervous wreck. These softer moments between the two friends mean much more to me after accumulating fifty years of life experience. I find I am reading the comic differently from when I was a boy. I used to jump from action to action, always craving some excitement on the page, whereas now I like these quiet moments and taking pleasure in the two friends just spending time together. It mirrors my own life and the good friends I have, and it is always a treat to see it appear on these pages. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "It's no good Martin...I'm not up to driving in a big race like this! I'm not good enough! I'll only let you down!"

Billy's Boots

Billy is playing a trial game for one of the school's lower teams, and with most of the team being useless (I believe that's the correct technical term), he isn't given much chance to shine. That changes when he receives the ball and finds himself in space. With a mazy dribble (or amazing dribble if you like), he beats several players before rounding the keeper. To add salt to the wounds, Billy then turns his back to the goal and backheels it in. 

It's a great goal, but Mister Renton isn't impressed and perceives it as showing off. The opposing team isn't impressed either, with the goalkeeper threatening Billy. Revenge is dealt out the next time Billy receives the ball, and he is smashed between two heavy defenders (I want to say fat, but it's 2024- No doubt they'll get participation medals after).

Billy scores again in the game, but it isn't enough, and he doesn't make the school team. Mister Renton doesn't want a show-off on the team, and that is the label he has given Billy. 

At home, Billy sits with his Grans and reads Dead-Shot Keen's book to see if anything similar ever happened to him. The same thing had happened, and Billy reads that Dead-Shot was dropped after upsetting some of the older players with his style of play. 

Billy is comforted by this, and on Saturday, he is at the ground to support the team. One of the substitutes has to leave early, and he asks Billy to take his place on the bench. Billy is reluctant, but there is nothing in the rules about it, so he agrees. As luck would have it, the substitute has no sooner left than there's an injury on the field. Mister Renton is surprised to see that Billy is the sub, and Billy quickly explains the situation. There is nothing Renton can do, and he sends Billy on, but not before sternly warning him that if he larks about, he will be finished with the school team for good. 

It was only a trial game for a school team, but the first page saw Billy drawing on his inner Messi and destroying the opposing team with his dribble. It temporarily derailed me, and I did waste quite some time watching YouTube videos of Messi after reading this story, ostensibly to find the below photo, but also because I can't help but marvel at his pure skill. Billy was wrong to humiliate the keeper as he did with the backheel, but honestly, with a haircut like that, the keeper deserves all he gets. Next time, Billy should chip him and then hold him down and shave his head. Bad hair head cuts aside, Mister Renton's attitude is one of many coaches I have met, and one I find myself agreeing with more often as I get older. It is all about the team, especially at that age and skill level. Looking back at when I used to play, and that's a long way to look back now, it isn't the goals or flashes of brilliance that I remember (although I'm sure there must have been some) but the laughs I had with my team on and off the field and our now legendary trips away. I remember Brad Clarke puking after drinking too much at the hostel far more than I remember any of the goals he scored (Sorry, Brad!). Billy may not agree with Mister Renton now, but in fifty years, he will look back and remember the laughs with Jimmy Dawson far more than he remembers this backheel goal. Although, who knows, maybe this goal will be the greatest thing to ever happen to Billy. I certainly hope not.

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "That is not the sort of thing I like to see! It's just showing off!"

Who did it better - Billy or Messi? 

Skid Solo 

Skid must win the Canadian Grand Prix to have any chance of winning the title of World Motor-Racing Champion. The crowd is behind him, the car is in good shape, and as the race begins, Skid gets off to a solid start in fifth place.

Smith and Von Vargen are the early front runners, and after the first quarter of the race, Skid begins to make his move, sliding by  Jean Corbonne and moving into fourth place. 

The drama comes shortly after as the rain begins to fall. It's heavy, and soon the track is awash with water and crashed cars. Most of the other cars come in for rain tyres, but Skid stays out on the track alone, and he is soon building himself a lead. 

With the return of the other drivers, the race is on, and Skid is pleased when Sandy finally shows him the board where he sits with a twenty-five-second lead and ten laps remaining. The final ten laps see some close racing, but Skid clings onto his rapidly dwindling lead, eventually crossing the line to snatch the race by a mere half-a-car length. 

Congratulations are offered in the pits, and several drivers commend Skid for a fine drive without the aid of rain tyres. Skid then reveals that he was actually driving on rain tyres from the start, having earlier checked the weather forecast. The strip ends with a final look at the driver's table, where Skid now sits just two points behind the leaders, and the season rapidly coming to a close. 

It seems Skid is the only one who checks the weather forecast before a race. This isn't the first time this has happened, and surely one of the other drivers learnt their lesson from the last time. Skid is a great driver, and in the world of Tiger comics, he is also the smartest. That makes him hard to beat, and it's surprising he hasn't led the driver's table all season. This story worked well to get Skid into a position to challenge the championship, and the tension is ratcheted up at just the right moment. Most of the season has drifted by, but finally, we have something to play for, and Skid is peaking at just the right moment. Although I was disappointed with aspects of the story, and obviously the angle where Skid was the only one to check the weather, overall I was very happy with what was achieved and the race itself. The racing in the wet looked great, and we had one very memorable panel of two cars crashing out of the race. I would have enjoyed it even more if I hadn't watched the 2024 Belgium Grand Prix a couple of weeks ago, and reading this, all I could do was think about the difference between Formula One racing in 1975 and 2024. I laughed at Martin and Tiny's coffee cupholders earlier on the strip, but the difference between F1 then and now is even greater and almost an entirely different sport. I'm not sure how Skid would go nowadays driving as part of a team, but I have no doubt that Sandy would have loved to be in his ear the entire race with instructions and advice. 

Rating:7/10

Best line: "Not so good! No-one's going to like this! But...maybe they'll all like it less than I do!" 

Roy Of The Rovers

Duncan McKay is officially a Rover, and the story starts this week with Duncan introducing himself to the team at training. The team take to him straight away, and although he is aggressive, they all admire his spirit. However, this aggression causes problems at the end of the season as Duncan asks if he can continue to train with Portdean until he gets himself a place in Melchester. Roy refuses, pointing out that they only have three training sessions before the next leg of the league cup. The two exchange angry words before Duncan storms off, furious with Roy's attitude. 

Roy is equally unhappy with Duncan's attitude and is worried about what the future might hold. We find out soon enough as next Wednesday rolls around and Duncan McKay takes the field for the first time in Rover's colours. The crowd are anxious for him to do well, and Roy has even written a letter in the program welcoming him to the club (although I did notice he spelt his surname incorrectly).

The team is desperate to do well, and all the players are running around like a bunch of amateurs. Roy can see that they need to slow it down, and taking the ball himself, he runs into some space. He can see Mervyn Wallace is free to his left, but when he fires the pass, Duncan McKay intercepts it, determined to prove his worth to the team.

Mervyn is in a good position to shoot; Duncan McKay is not, and he dribbles the ball into the box where he is confronted by a wave of defenders. However, he unleashes a shot, much to the delight of the crowd, although it flies easily over the bar. McKay is encouraged by this, but in the final panel, we can see Roy is concerned that McKay is playing for himself rather than the team. 

 I want to rate this higher, but Duncan McKay is letting me down in his first game. He is also letting down the players in the team and clashing with Roy. It makes for good reading, although at the same time, I also feel uncomfortable. As someone who was always taught that the team is everything, it is uncomfortable for me to see a team misfiring in the field, with one player ineffectually dominating the play. We are also seeing something similar playing our In Billy's Boots, although I feel for poor Billy more than Duncan McKay. He was likeable enough in the first panels, but that quickly wore off when he crossed Roy. Roy was in the right in this case; McKay should be coming to the training. After all, he is a professional being paid by Rovers. A good goal may change my opinion of the man, but until then, I will be team Roy all the way. It is to the credit of the writer that they have created a believable story and character that makes me uncomfortable - I will read with interest to see how they redeem him and make him the integral part of the team he will become. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Er, sorry Duncan...I do mind!"

Duncan will not be happy when he sees Roy has spelt his name wrong!

Nipper

Danny Marvin looks to have stolen Nipper's place in the team, and at the end of the last issue, he was driving recklessly by Nipper when he lost control of his sports car as it raced towards a milk float. In the first panel of this week's issue, we see the outcome of that, with Marvin managing to pull out of the skid and hitting the milk float with a glancing blow. 

Marvin doesn't wait around to see the outcome of his actions, but Nipper does, and he pulls alongside on his bike to check on the milky. The milkman is unharmed, however, his vehicle isn't so lucky and not only are most often milk bottles smashed, but the axles are bent. Nipper takes time to drive the milkman back to the depot, as well as stopping by to report the incident to the police. 

All this makes Nipper late, and he arrives at Blackport stadium fifteen minutes after training has started. He has his excuse at the ready but holds his tongue, thinking about the consequences for Marvin if he were to be suspended so early in his career. Nipper decides it would be best if Marvin explained what happened, although Marvin remains silent while Andy Stewart demands an explanation. 

Andy Stewart isn't shy about expressing his displeasure, and not only does Nipper get bawled out, but he is also dropped for the next game and put in the reserves team. Nipper stewed on this for a whole thirty seconds before he decided that it was not worth all this trouble to protect a teammate, and the strip ends with Nipper storming the pitch, yelling that he wants a word with Marvin. 

This storyline with Marvin and his rivalry with Nipper is a good hand, but it is the artwork that holds all the aces. Each panel is a story within itself, and I find more to enjoy week after week. It started strong with the artwork and all it brought to the table with the backstreet herbalist, and each week it has built on that solid foundation to where we are now. The first panel would be an obvious highlight, as was the entire first page. The second page continued in a similar vein, and although the scene of the action changed, the intensity and fluidity of the art style did not. Previous issues of Nipper have almost been heavy-handed, but of late, it has become both brighter and lighter, and paired with a story mining a similar style, this feels a lot faster, and dare I say it, better. Nipper has a lot of problems at the moment, but his artwork and plot aren't among them.    

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Nipper's going for you Danny as if he hates him!"

Hot Shot Hamish 

Hamish has found a promising young player at the local recreational ground. He offers him a chance to try out for Princes Park, but little does Hamish realise that he's inviting a heap of trouble. 

Alfie, the young player in question, arrives at the ground, and while he gets himself ready, his mate Tommy appears at the changing room window, asking to be let in so he can steal everything within. 

Alfie doesn't want to get involved, but Tommy comes in anyway while Alfie takes to the field. Out on the field, Alfie performs well, although some of the Princes Park players take umbrage at his flashy style, and he finds himself heavily tackled as the game progresses. Hamish isn't one to stand by while an injustice takes place, and he steps in to protect Alfie, delivering a verbal barrage that is backed by his size.  

The game ends, and Mister McWhacker tells Hamish that he will take Alfie on for a month's trial, at fifteen pounds a week. Again, Hamish steps in to protect his man, telling Mister McWhacker that it is not fair and he should be giving Alfie twenty pounds a week, to which Mister McWhacker agrees. 

Alfie can see that Hamish is doing a lot to help him out, which makes it all the more shocking when the strip ends with Tommy calling to Alfie to hurry up as he has swiped all the wallets of the players out of the changing rooms, including Hamish's. 

Top stuff, with not much humour but plenty of pathos dripping from the pages. I'm not sure who I feel more sorry for, Alfie for his poor choices of friends that is blowing up on his face, or Hamish for naively picking a player up from the local recreational ground. Both have their hearts in the right places, and it's just circumstance that has landed us in these awkward outcomes. We all know that Hamish has a volcanic temper, and already I can see sparks flying come the next issue. Like Nipper before it, Hot Shot Hamish also contained some of the best artwork of the issue. It was the little details that added to the feel of the story, as you can see in the panel below. Looking at the position of Hamish's hand, one can sense exactly what he is saying to Mister McWhacker, and how he is saying it. It's all in this single detail, and one knows in a flash that it is an intimate conversation taking place. Hamish has the biggest heart of anyone in the Tiger comic, and little moments of genius like this from the artist mean that this strip also carries the largest heart in the comic. There is more feeling on these pages than anywhere else in the comic (although sometimes Martin's Marvellous Mini gives it a run for its money), which is why Hot Shot Hamish is, and always will be, my favourite story.   

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Yere pretty, pretty stuff will get ye nowhere, mon!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7.5/10

Best Story:  Hot Shot Hamish  

Best Line: "Ye cut that oot...or ye'll find ma fist stuffed in yere throat! The wee laddie's only trying to win a place in the team!" 

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 13th September 1975

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

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 Billy 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 worth watching 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 Sartre 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 be 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 on to 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 are 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 bought 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 get 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.

It's 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 sports car. 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, it 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 Bolton 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: