Tiger 10th January 1976

This week's issue is a cracker, and we have a splendid mix of intriguing plotlines and eye-catching art. I have even rated one of the stories 10/10, a noteworthy occasion in itself. I had a good feeling about 1976, and after some silliness over the Christmas period, we hit the ground running. It's hard to pinpoint what has changed, but the art seems more confident, and the storylines have taken on a new clarity. It all makes for a fantastic read, and this week, I was well and truly transported off into these fictional worlds as my two pet loves, sports and comics, came together to ease the work stress and worries on my mind. 

Tiger

10th January 1976

Roy Of The Rovers

Roy is in goal and pulling off a series of brave saves against Kingsbay.

With a bit of skill and a lot of luck, he makes it through the game without conceding, and Rovers steal a point. 

After the game, all eyes remain on Roy as he struggles with the exhausting task of managing the team through three games in eight days. Tubby Morton is brought in to replace the injured Charlie Carter, and the doctor presses Roy to also get himself medically checked. Roy doesn't have time and is visibly tired as the team prepares for the cup game. Walking onto the field, Roy sees double as his head begins swimming.

I wanted to roll my eyes at the sight of Roy in goal, but the truth is I enjoyed every moment of it. His save on the cover of the comic set a high standard for what was to follow and was bettered by some of the panels that followed. The pick of these was the montage panel showing Roy pulling off a variety of saves in different situations. We also had an almost own goal from Lofty Peak, and the dialogue between Roy and Lofty was nice and added to the overall storyline. I do look forward to seeing Tubby Morton back between the sticks. It's a couple of years now since we last saw him, and he brings a sense of history to the club and the story. I didn't expect this week's story to be as good as it was, and with the plot moving quickly and the art delivering on every page, we should be in for a good run over the next few weeks. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Pheeeew! Everyone looking forward to our third game in eight days?"

Skid Solo

Sandy has designed a new car for the forthcoming race season. Skid has doubts that it will ever be built in time, but Sandy surprises him by revealing that it has already been built.

The car looks fast, and the test drive by Skid shows that it is as fast as it looks, getting up to speeds of one hundred and eighty miles per hour on the straight. 

Not long after this, things go bad as a dog runs onto the track. Skid puts the car into full lock to try and avoid it, and the car spins off the track in a horrific accident.

Skid is thrown from the car, and Sandy and Tommy rush to him and find he is in a bad way. This is reinforced by the arrival of an ambulance, and at the hospital, Skid is rushed through for surgery, with the surgeon telling Sandy and Tommy that Skid has multiple injuries and it's going to be a long job to save him.

I thought we saw some great panels in the opening Roy of the Rovers story, but Skid Solo tops them all in every way possible. I quietly sighed at the opening and Skid testing a new car in a scene that felt all too familiar. That changed over the page with the crash, and even on the comic page, it looked shocking. The panels of Skid's face as the dog ran onto the track were intense, and the close-up images added to the drama. The sight of the car crashing off the track was dynamic, and seeing Skid thrown from the car was particularly impactful. Even more shocking was seeing Skid lying still on the grass verge and Sandy and Tommy running toward him. Things look grim for Skid, very grim indeed, and next week's issue will be a must-read. I still feel shocked, and this story will stick with me for the next few days. This week's story is the best we have seen for a long time, and as such, I rate it highly. 

Rating: 10/10

Best line: "A dog on the track!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

In France, George is stolen by two mysterious men, and Tiny and Martin rush toward them as they attempt to push George into the lake. 

The men escape in a Citreon (what else?), and the pursuit is on.  After some wild driving, it all comes to an end as the Citreon crashes into a stone fence. 

The two men take to their heels, leaving Tiny and Martin to clean up the mess. In the back of the Citreon, they find a variety of items, all stolen from the chateau they visited earlier. Not wanting to lose time in the rally, they carry the items to the French-German border and hand them over to the guards, quickly explaining what happened. 

They continue racing across Germany, making up time as they go, and soon they arrive in Berlin. They are quickly waved through into the Russian section, but there, they are surprised when three burly Russian soldiers demand that they come with them. 

This was a great reminder of a different time. A divided Germany and a Russian sector gave me serious flashbacks, and it's hard to believe that I lived through such times. The story moved quickly, and although last week I had hoped we would spend more time with the chateau and the mysterious men that didn't happen - although I suspect the Russian interest in Martin and Tiny is related to their French adventures. This was a comedown from the previous two stories we read today, but it did gain some extra shine from being in colour. The car chase was fun, and, although short-lived, it did give us the wonderful image of the Citreon crashing into the stone wall. Luckily, no one was hurt, and it was lighter than the Skid Solo story that preceded it. There is enough here to make it a compelling read next week, and despite not loving everything in this issue, I still walk away pretty happy with what we have seen.    

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "What gives with those guys? Do we follow them?" 

Hot Shot Hamish 

Hamish has been working on his speed training, and it's paying off as he scores two quick goals against Fullford Town. In the second half, Fullford Town marks Hamish closely, but Hamish manages to slip his marker and looks as though he will score a third goal. However, he is hacked down from behind and earns a free kick. We all know what's coming, and with a hot shot, Hamish scores his third. 

With the game won, the team celebrates in the dressing room. Mister McWhacker has further good news for Hamish - he has found him lodgings that will allow McMutton to stay. 

Hamish is buoyed by this, but when he eventually finds the address, he is shocked to see it is not a cottage but rather a wee boat. The master of the boat is one Captain McSail, and although he is friendly enough, Hamish frets as McMutton doesn't like water.  

Despite some good art moments and some outstanding football action, the story felt a little flat. The final half page let it down, and although it set the scene for what comes next, it didn't match the promise laid out by the exciting football we saw. The football gave us some good Hamish moments, with the hot shot providing some of the best dialogue of the strip as the opposing players all offered excuses for why they dived out of the way. The best panel, however, was the tackle on Hamish, and this gave the story the impactful image it needed earlier on and set us up for the humorous hot shot that followed. There was some joy to be salvaged from the final panels, and I did like the quiet way in which McMutton showed his displeasure. I'm not sure how I feel about the Captain being named McSail. It's a little on the nose, but then again, so is 90% of all the characters, so it is par for the course. At least it wasn't Boatie McBoatface.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "I didn't duck...I bent to tie my shoelace!"

Johnny Cougar

Johnny is still wrestling against the Footballer, and the Footballer has the upper hand as he locks Johnny in a submission hold. Johnny fights his way out of this hold, throwing the Footballer headfirst into the ring post, leaving him groggy.

The match continues in this heavy style before both wrestlers cannon off the ropes and rush toward each other. Johnny flips into a handstand, catching the Footballer full in the face with his feet and knocking him out 

Johnny has won his first match and now faces the Masked Maniac. The Masked Maniac delivers a message in the final panel, telling Johnny that he's about to face the toughest match of his career. 

I have heard this plenty of times before over Johnny's career, and although I have no doubt that the Masker Maniac will give Johnny a tough fight, I don't think it will be the toughest of his career. The fight we have just seen started slowly, before finally delivering in this week's comic. The action was hard and heavy, and although there was a moment of lightness with Johnny's humour, it stayed focused on the wrestling itself. This played well to my sensibilities, and despite thinking the Footballer was silly, I enjoyed seeing the fight unfold. The blows looked fearsome, and the final kick by Johnny was both inventive and devastating. The Masked Maniac looks serious in the last panel, and I assume he will deliver a match as good as this one. Hopefully, there won't be too much silliness along the way, and I can rejoice in the sight of two wrestlers hammering each other, all delivered with some of the best art in the comic. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Someone's going to get hurt...and soon!"

Nipper

Nipper has been ambushed by a bunch of masked figures, and this week's story gets off to a fast start as he attempts to fight them off. 

He is unsuccessful and later comes around to see that his kidnappers have removed their masks. They are a bunch of university students, and they tell Nipper that they have kidnapped him as a stunt to raise funds for University Rag Week. Nipper is angry that he has been kidnapped, and he is even angrier about the fact that they are only asking for one hundred pounds in ransom. 

The students decide to change hideouts and load Nipper into the back of their van. Nipper manages to cut through the ropes holding him and angrily confronts the students driving the van. The driver loses control of the van briefly, and Nipper falls out the back door. As Nipper lies on the road, the students run to check on him but flee as a car approaches. The driver of the car helps Nipper to his feet and offers to drive him home - but Nipper can't remember where he lives or even his own name. 

I like where this is going. The opening panels of Nipper being kidnapped were good, but then when the wider plot of the University Rag Week was revealed, the story seemed to stall. This new angle of Nipper losing his memory restored the energy to the story, and we should get some mileage from this plot line. Already, I am hoping that it's not resolved in a week, as it has the potential to be stretched for several months. We shall see. Like the plot, the artwork was at its best early in the strip and on the final panels. The look of the masked kidnappers was spot on, and the sight of Nipper lying on the road on the final page gave me the same vibe as the Skid Solo story. It's serious, although not to the same degree, and it was given the sober treatment it deserved. We still need to tidy up the student storyline, but that remains secondary for now as the memory loss storyline dominates my thoughts going forward, and it feels that Nipper is finally getting a heavy and dramatic story worthy of his tough character.

Rating: 8.5/10

Best line: "You...crazy chumps! Let me out of this! I...I'll give tiy the hundred pounds myself!" 

Billy's Boots

Billy is playing for the English school boys team against West Germany school boys. After tripping over his own laces in the German box, Billy is awarded a penalty, but he speaks to the referee and explains he tripped over his own laces. The penalty is waved off, and Billy earns the respect of the German players for his sportsmanship and the praise of his own manager. 

At half time, the English school's team is down one-nil, and the manager has Billy swap positions with another lad who was struggling with the player marking him.

Billy has the same trouble with his marker, but later in the half, some quick passing sees Billy slip his marker and break down the wing. Billy sweeps in a low and hard cross, and one of his teammates is on hand to score the equaliser.  

With only minutes remaining, Billy finds his old boots, suddenly making him run toward the German goal. He is in the right spot as the German player makes a poor backpass, and Billy scores the winning goal with only a minute remaining. 

Two hours later at the airport, a snowstorm has the players worried about the flight home. Walking through the snow toward the plane, all talk of the weather and Billy has the thought that Dead-shot Keen never travelled by aeroplane, he always used to go by train and boat in his day. 

Surely, this isn't going to end up like the Munich air disaster of 1956? The Munich air disaster occurred on 6th February 1956, which would make it almost exactly twenty years before this issue of Tiger. Given that Billy is in Munich, this can't just be a coincidence. I am surprised that the comic would draw from such source material, especially now that I know that twenty years isn't very long at all. I'm only speculating, and we won't know until the next issues, but everything seems to signpost some trouble in the snow in Munich. The rest of the story was sturdy enough and gave me entertaining moments throughout. I liked the crispness of the artwork, and this matched the crispness of the play on the field, making for some fast movement in both the football and the story. Billy's play on the field wasn't overdone, and although the boots played a part, it wasn't over the top. A nice cross from Billy, and then running down a loose backpass was about right and gave the story the right outcome without fate taking too much of a hand. The final panel of the boys boarding the flight was my favourite, not for the impact of the image, but for the quiet menace it presented and the nod to what may come. Understated yet evocative, it was just the ending we needed to take us to the next story. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Well done, Dane...you did quite right to tell the referee what really happened! Now, lads...we're one down...but you can still win..."

Tornado Jones

Tornado Jones is about to set off to break the record time to cross the Pennines and hopefully win ten thousand pounds.

The fact that several riders have gone missing while attempting the same hasn't deterred him, and after Sir Gerald Fitzroy-Parker helps him set up his bike, he sets off. 

He makes good time across the moor early on, but as he begins his journey over the mountain, a snowstorm hits. He seeks shelter and waits out the storm before again starting across the snowy peaks. 

He crashes into an object buried in the snow, and pulling it up, he finds that it is a motorcycle, presumably of one of the riders who has gone missing. Riding on, Jones wonders where the rider might be but is sapped out of his thoughts as his own bike suddenly drops into a hole opening up beneath him. 

Tornado Jones continues to go from strength to strength, and I am well and truly invested in everything we see here. We have some good motorbike action, a mystery at play, and some peril for Jones as the strip ends. With Jim Bleach providing intricate yet easy-to-digest artwork, we get a lot of information from the art itself, and his art is just as important as the words on the page. I'm not a stuntman type of guy, nor am I a bike guy, but I do like the sight of Tornado Jones moving through the landscape, and this is helped by the personality imbued in his face. I could feel the cold chill as the snowstorm hit and lived his struggles as he pushed his bike through the snow. We feel a long way from the Tornado Jones who attempted to jump his bike off the ship when he first arrived in the UK. This character isn't as frivolous, and his battles against nature are far more relatable as the character takes on a serious tone for this week and hopefully future episodes.   

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Wow-ee! My bike's half-frozen and I'm three-quarters frozen! Maybe this ride isn't going to be as easy as I thought it would be!"    

 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 8/10

Best Story:  Skid Solo 

Best Line: "Och, Skids got to be all right...He's just got to be!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 3rd January 1976

1976 has arrived. I was only three at the time, but people tell me that it was a very good year, at least on the pages of Tiger. 1976 was the year that Roy Race got his own comic, and although he will remain on the pages of Tiger for a while yet, it will irreversibly change things. That's still to come, and as they say, a journey of a thousand miles starts not with the first mile but with the first page. Or something like that. Anyhow, 3rd January 1976 presents us with a bold issue pointing to new beginnings and mysterious storylines, all of which bode well for the next few months. Like all the best things in life, I always feel like I was born too late, and although I was three when this issue came out, I know the ten-year-old me would have loved it, just as the fifty-year-old me has.    

Tiger

3rd January 1976

Billy's Boots

A Jumbo Jet in full flight is the attention-catching image that opens Billy's Boots. Splashed across the cover of the comic, it demands I look at it and is a spectacular start to the story.

It may seem surprising to catch a Jumbo from Heathrow to Munich, but Billy quickly explains that it was just making a stop on the way, and he was lucky to get a ride for the last leg. There are further surprises as he lands, with some media on hand to ask questions about his arrival in Germany. 

Over the page, we get to the football as Billy arrives at the Olympic stadium. A quick training run with the lads settles Billy's nerves, and his boots seem ready for the big game. However, the manager doesn't like the look of Billy's old boots and come game day, he is issued a new pair of boots. 

Without his old boots, Billy struggles. His warm-up is terrible, and although the coach offers to get his old boots, Billy finds himself starting the game without them.

His first shot at goal is wayward, and just as things are looking grim, his old boots arrive. Quickly putting them on, Billy is soon dribbling his way through the German team. However, just as he enters the box and is about to shoot, he trips over his own lace and is fortuitously awarded a penalty. 

I'm sure we had a similar situation not so long ago with Billy falling over in the box. I would have to go back and check, but I swear it was only a couple of months ago. Billy had best be careful, lest he get a reputation as a diver. This was a lot of fun, and although some things felt shoehorned in, it was still enjoyable. I did wonder why a Jumbo Jet would be flying Billy to Germany, but the quick explanation put me at ease. The sight of journalists waiting for Billy also stretched my belief, but being full of goodwill and cheer, this too I enjoyed for the fun aspect. The front cover was commendable, and it made me want to pick up the comic and read on. The rest of the story is a Billy's Boot story by numbers, with all the usual tropes in place. Billy does not have his old boots for the game, and then gets them just as the team go down a goal before the final scene of Billy dribbling through the team. We have seen it all before, but that doesn't lessen my enjoyment of it, nor does it feel stale in this case. The image of Billy shooting at goal and missing was memorable, shown from the pitchside rather than Billy's point of view, and the sight of the two cameramen beside the pitch taking evasive action was a delightful touch. This was a typical Billy's Boots story done well, and although it didn't mine any new material, it still remained an integral part of the comic. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "You're not going out there with those old things on, Dane. You'll look ridiculous..."

Roy Of The Rovers

Roy has been advised by a doctor to take a medical, but instead, we find him running stairs at the Melchester ground as the story opens. 

Roy is ignoring the doctor's advice, and later, he angrily tells a television reporter that he's sick and tired of being reminded what a tough job he has taken on as player-manager. 

The following Saturday, Melchester are playing Kingsbay, and we learn that Roy has had to apologize to the TV people and that he still hasn't taken a medical. 

Roy appears to be a little slow in the field, but when Charlie Carter is taken off injured, Roy volunteers to take his place in goal, telling the team that everyone wants him to take a rest, so that's exactly what he will do between the sticks. 

Seeing Roy in goal is always a treat, and I would have given this an 8/10 if not for the fact that he hasn't actually taken his place in goal yet. The rest of the story did a good job of getting us to this point, and this wasn't the twist I expected when I started reading today. I was surprised to see Roy avoiding going to the doctor; this doesn't seem very professional for a footballer such as Roy, but it was just the tension we needed to keep the reader interested and the story moving forward. I expected to see a medical emergency, so this new plotline of Roy in goal is a good diversion and a timely way to keep me involved for a few more issues. The strip continued with strong artwork, and although we didn't see a lot of Roy in action, we did get the spectacular image of Carlie Carter getting injured. I'm not an ambulance chaser, but this was the best panel in this week's story, and despite the story being about Roy, the one time another player made an impression. Next week, we get to see Roy in goal, and I expect to read the comic with a huge smile on my face as Roy once again demonstrates his all-around footballing ability. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "You did it - you reached the top of the Granite Hill Terraces in thirty-two seconds!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Leading the rally out of Paris and towards Berlin, Tiny and Martin make good time despite the change in weather and the prospect of the rain turning into snow. 

They reach a washed-out bridge near the border with Germany, forcing them to change their route and cross a small wooden bridge further upstream. Later, they find a fork in the road, and unsure which to choose, they go to the right. This turns out to be a mistake as they find it's a private road leading them to a large chateau. 

The chateau appears to be empty, and glancing out the window, they catch the sight of someone stealing their car. Quickly following the tracks, they find two men about to push it in the lake.

This week's story was one of intrigue and mystery, and although it was like Billy's Boots in that there was a feeling that I had seen it all before, it was still captivating. The final page held all the treasures, with the jewel of the story being the moment Tiny and Martin saw the car being stolen. Not only did this get the pulse racing, but coming on the same page as some intriguing panels of the empty chateau had me asking a lot of questions that can only be answered in the next few issues. The chateau itself looked wonderful on the page, and the entrance hall with the suit of armour was a particular favourite of mine. We have seen the boys in castles and similar buildings before, and it never fails to delight. Although the final panel saw Tiny exclaiming that the rally would be lost if the car went into the lake, any thoughts of the rally had already been banished from my mind as I just wanted to see more of this country house and the mystery surrounding it. 

Rating: 8/10 

Best line: "It...it's a bit spooky in here..."

Nipper

Nipper and his team are playing the first round of the European Cup against Zalmo of Switzerland. After the first leg, Blackport is three-nil up, and in the second left, Zalmo is fighting for survival. 

With home-ground advantage, Zalmo is attacking strongly, with Nipper in the thick of the action, defending wherever he can. Needing to ease the pressure with a goal, Nipper outsmarts the Zalmo team when they have an attacking corner - stealing the ball and, after a series of plays, scoring at the other end. 

With a one-nil victory, Blackport is through to the next round, and the flight home is a relaxed one. On the flight, Nipper's landlady tells him he has had a lot of offers for his business and it looks like he will be very busy when they return home. 

Nipper's first job is at an empty house on Blenheinm Avenue. Entering the house, Nipper walks into a trap as four masked men appear and quickly overpower him. 

This was a good ending to an otherwise ho-hum story. The return leg against Zalmo wasn't particularly interesting, and there was a feeling that this was just tying up some loose ends before we got into the serious business of the last half page. The last half page was another beast entirely, and the entertainment factor was high as we had some action and a mystery appear all at once. The final panel of Nipper on the ground with four masked men pouncing was the highlight of the strip, and the anguish on his face was matched in intensity by the dynamic leap of his assailants. It was a satisfying conclusion, and like Martin's Marvellous Mini, it raised a lot of questions that can only be answered in future issues. This is proving to be a strong issue of Tiger comic, and with many stories having cliffhanger endings, there is a lot to lure me back next week. Nipper has bounced back after a slow start this week, and the final panel alone was enough to redeem it in my eyes and make it another favourite. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "He's walked right into the trap!"

Skid Solo 

Skid, Tommy and Sandy are watching bobsledding when Sandy tells his pals that he once won the two-man bob about fifteen years ago. 

Skid thinks he's kidding, but back at the hotel, there is a photo of Sandy and Sir Thomas Mainly to prove it. Sandy then regales Skid with the story of how it came to be. 

Sandy was working for Sir Thomas at an engineering firm, and Sir Thomas talked him into racing with him. All Sandy had to do was work the brake while Sir Thomas did the steering. 

Their first training run was very slow, with Sandy being scared and braking all the way down. On race day, Sit Thomas chastises him and tells him they will have to be much faster to win. 

Their race goes well, with Sandy resisting the urge to brake, and the pair winning the race by a mere two seconds. Sir Thomas asks Sandy what happened, as the day before, he had been much too scared. Sandy confesses that the reason he didn't brake was because he fainted with fright halfway down the run and was unconscious for most of the run. 

Back in the present, Sandy tells Skid that he made a resolution never to race a bobsleigh again, and Tommy chips in that it's probably the only New Year's resolution that Sandy has ever kept.

I love it when Sandy gets some time in the spotlight, and with Skid taking a background role in this story, it was an exciting read that had a freshness to it. Sandy was the everyman character in this story, and his plight of being stuck being brakeman for Sir Thomas had an air of authenticity about it that I liked. Having been talked into one too many uncomfortable situations by my boss, I felt for poor old Sandy sitting in the back of the bob. The artwork that came with the story was outstanding, and instead of having two or three outstanding panels, we have a couple of pages of them. Every panel showing the bob racing, or Sandy and Sir Thomas, was top-notch, and there were any number of moments here that I could have picked as a favourite. This was one story that I wanted to read twice; the art was a delight to the eyes, and even without the strong storyline, it still would have remained an essential read. No Skid this week, but the story was as strong as ever, and one can only hope that the next time Skid gets on the track, he can deliver a story as good as this one. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "I dinna think I can, sir...my legs are like jelly!"

Tornado Jones 

Tornado Jones is riding the Wall of Death at a fairground, hoping to make some good money with a 50/50 share of the profits. Unfortunately, the Wall of Death is rather old-fashioned, and despite his riding abilities, no one is interested in watching except one older gentleman.

Coming down off the ride, Tornado Jones is approached by this man who, it turns out, has an interesting proposition for him. This man is Sir Gerald Fitzroy-Parker, and he owns the old mansion up on the hill. Many years ago, his father rode the two-hundred and fifty-mile trek across the Pennines on an old Starlight Special. This took place in winter, and despite the conditions, he completed it in two days, four hours and ten minutes. 

He was so proud of his achievement that he offered a prize of ten thousand pounds to anyone who could beat his time. Tornado Jones is immediately interested, although Sir Gerald warns him that he has made the same offer to three other riders in the past month, and all of them have vanished on the moors without a trace. 

This was a lot better than last week, with a clear plotline and the groundwork laid for another intriguing storyline. Vanishing riders on the moors sounds like just the ticket, and finally, there is the feeling that Tornado Jones has a solid storyline to embrace. He has been uneven since his arrival, and it was only the storyline about the giant wave in Wales that provided any substance to the character. This moor ride should prove all the more challenging, and with mystery in the air, there is more than pure action to drive the story. This week's story started slowly, and we had a whole page dedicated to the Wall of Death before the real story emerged on the second page. With little action, it was the facial expressions of the characters that carried the drama, and as we have commented many times before, Jim Bleach is a master of this, this issue being a fine example of his craft. A slow issue, but a most necessary one, and next week we should see some reward for this plot that has been put in place.  

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "You'll never make a fortune that way, Mister Jones! You'll have to try something more original...like the ride of Moorland madness!" 

Johnny Cougar 

Finally, all the Christmas nonsense is behind us, and Johnny Cougar is starting his bout against the Footballer. 

The Footballer proves to be a worthy opponent and early on gains the advantage with some strong kicks. Johnny comes back later in the round, and the Footballer is flung from the ring.

There is some playful silliness from Johnny, but the fight soon regains its intensity, with both wrestlers having moments of strength. However, it is the Footballer who finishes the stronger, and after it looks as though Johnny has him in a pinfall, the Footballer grabs him in a submission hold.

Great, after weeks of mucking about, we finally have an episode dedicated to wrestling. As much as I have enjoyed the issues leading up to this, with last week being the notable exception, I am pleased to see us getting back to basics with Johnny in the ring. The entire story was dedicated to wrestling, with only one panel showing Johnny playing a practical joke. Every other panel was physical combat between the two men with a series of holds, kicks and throws appearing throughout the comic. I enjoy the periphery action that surrounds Johnny Cougar, as this gives an interesting context for these fights to occur, but nothing beats seeing the big man in the ring doing what he was born to do. Not the most exciting of episodes, but for wrestling purists, it was a delight, and there's nothing like getting back to basics to reignite my enthusiasm for the story. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "What's wrong, Cougar? I don't see any smile now? Try joking your way out of this situation!"

Hot Shot Hamish 

After celebrating Christmas on Hamish's island, the Princes Park team is now doing a training run to work off the party. 

Hamish is falling behind, and as Mister McPodger goes past in a cart, Hamish asks him what his secret was to being a fast runner when he was younger. 

Mister McPodger tells him he needs to run over the hills, and, giving him a heavy parcel, he asks him to deliver it to McHackle's place. He also tells him that once he reaches McHackle's, he should ask if he can take a run with Rufus, which will increase his speed. 

This Hamish does, although he is surprised to find that Rufus is a ferocious dog, and his run consists of him trying not to be bitten by Rufus. 

Come game day, and it all pays off. A long kick has Hamish racing down the field, and with his newfound speed, he reaches the ball and smashes it into the net with his hotshot. The comic ends with Hamish telling us that 1976 is going to be their year, and they are out for promotion.

A gentle end to this week's Tiger comic with some light comedy taking us into 1976. Unlike other strips in this week's comic, the story didn't end with a cliffhanger and some outstanding action, but rather, it put a bow on what had come earlier in the pages. The vein of comedy mid-story was the essence of this week's strip, and it gave us some more great artwork with the sight of Hamish trying to outrun the dog. It was funny without being hilarious and was the best moment of the strip. The buildup to this was pleasant without being essential, as was the game that followed. It seems that next week will be when the real story starts, and although this was pleasant, I can't wait to see something more substantial appear as we embrace 1976. 

Rating: 7/10

Best Line: "Ye're a traitor, McPodger! Ye tricked me!"    

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7.5/10

Best Story:  Skid Solo 

Best Line: "This is the slowest time ever recorded, McGrath! You'll have to do better than that tomorrow or we'll be a laughing stock. Now, get up, man..."

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 27th December 1975

The annual Christmas issue is never my favourite issue of Tiger. Christmas stories are shoehorned in, disrupting the natural flow of the stories, with only the odd one managing to weave Christmas Day naturally into the plot. This year, Billy's Boots is the most successful in doing this, while all the other Christmas storylines feel jarring in the wider context of each story. It's hard to believe that the next issue will be from 1976. This year has gone by so fast, and this Christmas issue isn't quite the exclamation point I would like to put on the year. It does what it has to do, but 1976 will be a whole lot better, and I can't wait to pick up all the threads next week.  

Tiger

27th December 1975

Billy's Boots

You know it's going to be a good issue when the first thing you see is Billy at home with Gran. In a warm scene, Billy's Gran decorates the Christmas tree while the two talk of Billy's forthcoming trip to Germany. Billy's Gran is worried about the prospect of spending Christmas alone, but Billy assures her that he won't be leaving until the day after Christmas.

Raiding his piggy bank, Billy goes Christmas shopping with Jimmy. It's a fruitful trip, and Billy gets a gift for his Gran,

On Christmas day, Billy's Gran is delighted with her gift, as is Billy with the gift he gets in return - a new sports bag he had desired. 

With the festivities over, Billy goes to the airport alone. He is sent to the gate, and as he wanders out to his plane, he begins to worry about what awaits him in Munich. 

A lovely little story with Billy and Gran at the centre of all that's happening. The opening dialogue helped cement the reasoning behind Billy suddenly making the Schools Team visiting Germany and helped appease some of my complaints last week. It was heartwarming to see the boy help his Gran prepare for Christmas, and although the shopping expedition briefly became silly, order was restored as we saw Billy and his Gran celebrate Christmas day. Billy's fears about travelling abroad alone were nicely highlighted, and I did have a giggle at his Gran referring to his "passport thing that the man gave you." This was easily the best Christmas story this week, with Billy's main footballing story continuing to move forward, while we had time to celebrate Christmas with his lovely Gran. Perfectly pitched, it caught the tone of the season just right and left me looking forward to Christmas myself.  

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Now you've got your ticket...and that passport thing the man gave you! And remember to behave yourself out there!"

Tornado Jones 

Tornado Jones has agreed to play the part of Santa Claus and distribute toys at a local hospital. However, it is with a twist, and Jones jumps his motorbike onto a see-saw, sending a box of gifts flying into the air and the awaiting arms of the children. 

It looks like trouble for Tornado Jones as a police car comes through the gate and asks who is riding the motorbike. They tell Jones that all riders must wear a crash helmet at all times, but Jones is in the clear as he pulls back his Santa hood to reveal his helmet underneath. 

The police recognise him as the famous stunt rider and ask if he could help with their motorbike display that afternoon since they are a man short.

Jones agrees, and the story ends with Joens playing a key part in the motorcycle pyramid display that the police team put on.

In contrast to Billy's Boots, this story focused solely on Christmas and Tornado Jones's part in it. There was no overarching storyline, and there was nothing more to be inferred than what we saw on the page. Tornado Jones gave out gifts. Tornado Jones helped the Police riding team. A basic idea, simply told. The art looked great, and once again, it was far better than the story being told. This week's issue is full of children's Hospitals and orphanages, and this story sets the tone for what will follow. It's all very commendable but not always the most exciting thing to read. The final tagline promises a new adventure next week, and we can only hope it will be as good as the recent Welsh storyline, and we can quickly forget what we saw here. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "Yikes...these cops are all stuntmen... every one of them!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini 

With their mini dangling over a cliff tied to a rope, and the tree it is tied to about to give way, things are desperate for Martin and Tiny. They aren't helped by the appearance of a photographer sent by Mr Twastle, who takes photos of their predicament for publicity.

However, help is at hand, and a local farmer helps them save their car, and soon they are back in the race.

They have a further stroke of luck as they approach Paris and find all the other competitors have been stopped by the police and are being fined for speeding. With no one in front of them, Martin and Tinty arrive first in Paris and have the lead. 

They celebrate in typical style, buying a load of Christmas gifts and driving to the nearest children's hospital. Mr Twaste doesn't see how he can get publicity for this, but in the final panel, Tiny tells him he can advertise this with the caption "Give yourself a present! Take a holiday at Twastle's Island"

The first half of the story was highly enjoyable, and I liked the idea of an idiot photographer following them around. In some regards, this story is ahead of its time, and being followed by a photographer speaks far more to this current generation than it does to someone in 1975. We are still twenty years away from the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, and the idea of being pursued by photographers who offer no help is a novel idea. This would read very differently in 1997 and wouldn't be as much fun. The second half of the story, although well-intentioned, wasn't as good, and seeing Martin and Tiny giving gifts to Children in a hospital didn't fill me with seasonal joy. I am sounding like a Grinch here, but the truth is I love Christmas. It's just that I love these stories so much, and I want to cram as much of what each story does best on the page, rather than get distracted by gift-giving and other children. A little selfish, I know, and Christmas does come but once a year. Rest assured, my loved ones will reap the rewards of my generosity when Christmas Day comes, but until then, I wish it was a little more low-key in the comics I am reading.     

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "I wonder where that idiot photographer is?"

Roy Of The Rovers

England is one-nil down as in the closing minutes, Roy attempts to get onto the end of an incoming free kick. His shirt is pulled by a Mulvanian player, but despite being thrown off balance, Roy scores with a dynamic overhead kick. 

It's real Roy Of The Rovers stuff, and the England players celebrate the end of the match and Roy's incredible goal. However, in the dressing room, Roy receives a shock when Penny tells him that Melchester Robvers squandered their two-goal lead and the game ended as a two-all draw.

In the car on the way home, Roy tells Penny that he is shattered and all he wants to do is rest. Penny reminds him that they have one more thing to do - a television broadcast from the Children's Hospital. 

Roy makes his appearance, and with the cameras rolling, he delights the children with some gifts and a display of his footballing skills. Things take a turn as he falls while kicking the ball. A doctor comes to see him and tells Roy he needs to get a complete medical checkup as soon as possible, leaving Roy worried about what could possibly be wrong. 

Roy Of The Rovers successfully manages to weave Christmas into its main story, and having Roy take a tumble at the hospital was timely. It sets up well for a medical examination, and pulling back a little, I can see how we were manoeuvred into this position. It was very well done and almost seamless in execution. The highlight of the story has to be another appearance of Penny. Once again, she looks dazzling, and I love her fresh look. Her cute hat is very of the time, but it adds to her allure, giving her a fashionable look suitable for a WAG. Nowadays, she would be a social media influencer, flaunting a new look every week on Instagram. As she is stuck in the seventies, she remains untainted by modern technology, and she is all the better for it. I want to see what is the cause of Roy's troubles, but more than that, I want to see Penny by his side, supporting him all the way. She's that type of girl, so expect to see plenty more of her as Roy's troubles continue to escalate.      

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "All this pressure is giving me nightmares! Thank the stars it's nearly Christmas, Penny! All I'm going to do is flake out in front of the telly!"

 

Skid Solo

Skid and half a dozen top racing drivers have decided to put on a free show for the boys and girls of a local orphanage. Snow ruins this plan, and instead, they meet the children in a big hall where Al Ledstock tells them the story of how he first became a racing car driver.  

Using flashbacks, Al tells of his poor upbringing on a farm in America. Saving hard, he got his first car when he was eighteen, an old banger that he drove fast.

His mother receives two expensive tickets to the Grand Ball in New York. She would love to go, but she can't afford to buy a dress grand enough for the ball. 

Al decides that he will give up his dream of being a racing car driver and sells the car to get enough funds to buy a fancy dress for his mother. He visits a dress shop and selects a beautiful dress, which he later surprises his mother with when he gets home.

Unfortunately, his mother has sold her expensive tickets to the ball so the family will have extra money for food. This is no problem for Al; he still has some money left over from selling his car, and he uses this to buy two more tickets for his mother.

At the ball, there is a prize draw, and luckily it's Al who wins it. The prize is a new sports car and a thousand-dollar check. With that, Al's dream of becoming a racecar driver is reignited and leads him to where he is now. The strip ends with Al telling Skid that he hopes one of the youngsters in the orphanage has a fairy tale like his come true. 

A nice story about Al, and it left me wanting to know more about the other drivers Skid races against. It had the usual Christmas themes but came at it from a new angle and gave us something we hadn't seen before on the page, making it an interesting read. It's hard to see how other drivers could be presented with a back story. Skid Solo doesn't normally lend itself to other drivers and flashbacks, which makes this one all the more curious. A great Cinderella story reworked for the times, I rejoiced in seeing Al Ledstock's humble beginnings, and it left me hungry for more. I never thought I would enjoy a story without Skid Solo, the main character, so much, but I did, and now I'm open to seeing much more of the same. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "I guess I've got to grow up one day...and stop dreaming of being a racing car driver. It just isn't the sort of thing that happens to a boy like me..."

Hot Shot Hamish 

When we last left Hot Shot Hamish, it had just been discovered that his pet sheep, McMutton, had eaten the player's wages. That is quickly put to rest this week as in the first panel, Alistair McBrain tells the gathered team the wages are safe as he had locked them in the safe. 

With that, the team dispersed for Christmas. Hamish would like to invite them all to his home island to spend Christmas with him, but they quickly disappear, leaving him alone with his thoughts as he does Christmas shopping. 

Returning to his island, Hamish finds that the house is empty, and even his Daddie is gone, leaving Hamish alone for Christmas. 

Depressed, Hamish sits alone, watching the TV. On TV, we see a column of guests about to surprise someone for Christmas, and at that moment, Hamish receives a knock on the door.

Opening the door, he is surprised to see a TV crew and the Princes Park players there to celebrate Christmas with him. It is a wonderful surprise, and Hamish celebrates Christmas with his teammates, his Daddie, and, of course, his pet sheep, McMutton.

Despite being another Christmas story, I couldn't help but love all I read here. The artwork was splendid, and the images of Hamish alone on his island were evocative and gave the story a great feel. The plot itself was fairly predictable, but it was elevated by the morose face of Hamish and the way that McMutton stuck by his side. In a nice twist, it wasn't Hamish helping out other people or visiting a hospital, but rather his friends and family coming to see him. It wasn't overplayed in the final panels, and I felt it was pitched just right for the story it was telling. I first read Hamish because he was my namesake, but after all these years, I am finding the story to be deeper than I first thought as we dip into Hamish's loneliness regularly. This is a theme that has surfaced several times in the last couple of years, and there have been many instances where we see Hamish outcast and alone. He deserves better, and it usually ends well for the big man, but still, it's an interesting choice to take with the character. This story isn't the best of the week; Billy's Boots just pips it, but it is a close second, and if I was basing it on art alone, it would easily be the best. 

Rating 8/10

Best line: "Och, ma Daddie's awa', too! Maybe he's had an invitation to stay with friends. No-one wants us, McMutton!"

Johnny Cougar

Despite fighting against The Footballer, the Christmas theme is strong throughout Johnny Cougar. The bout begins with some football shenanigans, but soon, Johnny Cougar has broken out Santa outfits, and he and the Footballer are suitably clad for the season. 

After throwing gits to the crowd, Cougar surprises his opponent with a spring-loaded Christmas tree. Not to be outdone, the Footballer responds with a cream cake aimed at Cougar's face. However, this cake is misdirected, catching Soplash Gorton in the face, leaving him to deliver the last line, wishing everyone a merry Christmas. 

This was silly through and through - and not in a good way. Last week, I thought the Footballer might be a worthy opponent for Cougar, but this week, both are portrayed as cartoon characters fooling around in the ring. The art looked good, but one look at the word balloons made it clear that nothing here was to be taken seriously. I thought the fight could have been portrayed as more serious than it was, and although I expected some Christmas silliness from Cougar, I didn't expect the whole strip to be devoted to it. Nor did I expect the Footballer to take part in it. Presenting the  Footballer as a serious threat was already an uphill battle, and this Christmas issue has done him no favours. All we can hope for now is that he is quickly defeated, and we can move on to a far more serious opponent. Somewhat of a wasted opportunity. I appreciated the Christmas angle of the story, but it failed to do much more than present a series of slapstick events that left me wishing the next issue would quickly come. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "Cougar declare a truce. Right now, put on Father Christmas outfit...we have heap pleasant work to do..." 

Nipper

Nipper's marathon twenty-four-hour fundraising game continues this week, and as we pick up the action, Nipper and his pal Mike Bateson are almost out on their feet. 

Help is at hand, and just as they are about to collapse, the rest of the Blackport team arrives to raise the flagging energy levels. 

The game ends later on Christmas Eve as Nipper scores his one-hundredth goal. With the supporters club offering their venue for free, and a healthy sum raised by the match, the party for the kids goes ahead on Christmas day. The highlight of the party comes as a giant football decorated like a Christmas pudding is wheeled out. The children are delighted as Nipper bursts from this ball, and with new strips for all, he is the hero of the moment. Despite all this good cheer, Nipper is worried about the game the following day, especially as every part of his body has cramps.

Come at the end of the comic, Nipper often suffers from reading fatigue. This week, it's not me that is fatigued, but rather him, and I enjoyed the first half of the story immensely. Seeing Nipper and Mike struggle with their marathon game looked great on the page, and there were several memorable images of them both almost out on their feet. We had the predictable outcome of the game, with Nipper scoring the final goal and the money raised for the worthy cause, and the rest of the story merely put a bow on all that came before. I was surprised to see Nipper with a Martini glass in his hand in the penultimate panel, but the final panel does show a bottle of fizz nearby, so I guess we are to make the assumption that he's drinking something non-alcoholic. The final party I could have done without; I feel partied out by all the other parties scattered through the comic, but it was right for the story and did give Nipper a chance to mention what is coming next. A European game next week, and it looks like we will be straight into the action in 1976. Get a good night's sleep, Nipper, you're going to need it.  

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Wakey, wakey, Nipper! The lads are here!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6.5/10

Best Story:  Billy's Boots 

Best Line: "You're going to Germany? Oh, Billy, not on Christmas day! I'll be all alone..."

Best Panel:

who did it better?

Roys Sports Quiz:

Tiger 20th December 1975

There was no blog post last week. Somebody decided to go to the local pub for the Hazy Beer Festival. Somebody decided to try as many as they could. Somebody then stopped on the way home to buy more, and then the following day, somebody was sick in bed all day with a hangover. That somebody is very sorry, and I promise I won't do it again, although to be honest, it was all worth it. Here's this week's blog post, written with a fresh mind and fuelled by nothing more than a nice cup of tea and a slice of toast. 

Tiger

20th December 1975

Skid Solo

Skid Solo is the cover star of this week's issue, preparing to race a vintage car against a young man who needed to be taught a lesson.

As Skid tells his co-driver, Sandy, to be ready for anything, the story flashes back, and we learn how Skid came to be in this situation. 

Two days earlier at a racing drivers' dinner, Gerald De Harcourt had boasted that while Skid was fast in a modern Grand Prix car, he wouldn't be able to beat Harcourt in a race between two old Valderlanes. Skid accepted the challenge, and with a thousand pounds to go to a charity of the victor's choosing, the race was set. 

The race is full of dirty tricks by Harcourt, but after resorting to some dirty tactics himself, Skid is victorious. 

The story ends with Skid telling Harcourt to donate the thousand pounds to a local hospital because the way Harcourt drives, he'll be there himself sooner or later. 

Although this was a typical by-the-numbers story for Skid Solo, it still had an element of fun about it. A large amount of this could be attributed to the fabulous-looking cars they were racing and the dirty tricks going on while they were racing. It's always good to see an over-confident and boatsful character get their comeuppance, and I delighted in seeing Harcourt coming off second better in his own race. The panels showing the cars crashing into each other were my favourites, although a small part of me died when I thought of the cost and love that generally goes into vintage cars, only to see them smashed about like this. The story was well-balanced, and we had a good mixture of car action and character interaction. Normally, I would lean toward the car action, but there were some compelling images of the characters' faces as they came into conflict, and these were the best in the strip. I expect to see a Christmas strip next week, and hopefully, it will gift us a story as joyful as this one. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "I know a trick worth two of that! Hold tight, Sandy!"

Johnny Cougar

The press conference introducing the five wrestlers taking part in the international tournament has descended into chaos, with all five wrestlers rumbling on the floor in front of the press corps.

A quick call to the fire brigade saves the day, and the wrestlers are hosed down, cooling their tempers and ending the fight. 

Johnny returns to the hotel with Splash, where he has another surprise in store. Jonnny smashes down the door of the room with a karate chop before revealing that he had the door replaced earlier with a lighter one, all so he can get some good publicity shots before his match.

The first match is against the Footballer, and the crowd arrives expecting a good fight, while in the dressing room, the Footballer promises that it will be he who has the last laugh, not Johnny Cougar. 

On paper, this looks silly, but reading it was a lot of fun, and it's a lot better than I made it sound in the summary above. The firefighters hosing off the wrestlers was captured well on the page, and we had several panels leading up to it showing the firetruck on its way, adding to the fun and sense of drama. The images of several wet wrestlers made me smile and went a long way toward my overall enjoyment of the strip. The Footballer as a character also touches on silliness, although his evil intent on the final panel has me feeling that he is a lot more dangerous than his name suggests. None of this should work, these wild characters, the chaos at the press conference, or a footballer wrestler preparing to take on Johnny but I get a kick out of all of it, and I am strangely engaged as we head toward the next issue. Hard to see how they will shoehorn in a Christmas theme next week, but no doubt they will.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Okay, men, get those hoses unwound fast...this is an emergency!" 

Martin's Marvellous Mini

To improve his speed in the kart race around the ship, Martin has hit upon the idea of a banked track. 

The crew oblige him and builds this banked track, although Martin still ends up crashing the kart overboard as he attempts the track before construction is finished. 

With the kart lost at sea, the journey continues with Mr Twastle telling the boys he had to pay five hundred pounds for the kart and now needs publicity more than ever.

Reaching Europe, the rally continues from Barcelona north up through the Pyrenees. In the snowy mountains, Martin runs off the road. Luckily, the car doesn't drop over the sheer cliff, but they decide it will be easier to lower the car down the cliff rather than trying to haul it back up. This plan starts well, with a rope hitched around a tree, but in the final panel, there is a cracking noise, and the tree looks as though it is about to give way.

I felt we had seen it before in the first half of the strip, and although the second page was better, it still had a hangover from the first. Karting on a ship was done previously in the year, and there was nothing new added this time around. Once again, the kart ended up in the water, and the race came to nothing. Things improved when we got to Europe, and I was especially taken by the map provided. I love a good map in Martin's marvellous Mini, and I was quite pleased to see one appear here. Like the kart race, I feel we have seen the boys having trouble in snowy mountains before, although this one did seem unique with the rope being tied around a tree. The story moved very quickly this week, and we didn't get involved too much in any one thing, which seems to be a trait of Martin's Marvellous Mini. Obstacles are quickly dealt with, and we never stay too long in one spot. The final page looked suitable wintery, and with 1976 just around the corner, we are in a good place with the story and ready to quickly travel across Europe. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "Oh no! I've lost it! We're going over the edge!"

Roy Of The Rovers

Roy may be playing for England, but his heart is firmly with Melchester Rovers as they play a vital league game on the same night. 

Penny is keeping Roy informed of what is happening in the Rovers game, and after showing him a card showing the score as 0-1, Roy loses concentration as he begins to worry about Rovers. Things settle as Penny holds up another card, which is upside down, that says 0-2, and Roy realises that the score is actually 2-0 to Rovers. 

Now reassured, Roy turns his full attention to the England game, and in the second half, he comes out as a new man. It is only a series of fouls on him that stop him from being effective, although Mulvania go too far, and Roy is fouled just inside the box. A TV replay shows it should be a penalty, although the referee only awards a free kick on the edge of the box. Roy plants himself in the wall, and as the kick curves around the wall, it strikes the post, setting Roy up to score from the rebound. 

It looks to be a certain goal, but the strip ends with a Mulvanian player pulling Roy's shirt and spoiling his chance of reaching the ball. 

Although predictable, I liked all I saw here. One always had a feeling that Pernny had her signs wrong, and once this was sorted, it was obvious that Roy was going to have a good game for England. The artwork depicting the game was splendid, and several panels stood out. It's hard to finger a favourite, but the final image of Roy being pulled back by his shirt sticks in one's mind. With the change of artist, Roy Of The Rovers has taken on a new sheen, and the last month has been lovely to look at. The storyline remains uneven, but I can't complain in the slightest as I find it a delight to read from start to finish. It has shaken off its old-fashioned feel, and it looks as though it has embraced the future with this new look and storylines. Roy is reaching new highs as 1976 approaches, and in 1976, this will be capped with a new eponymously titled comic. One can see why, as Roy continues to go from strength to strength and remains essential reading.   

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "The Mulvanians have gone berserk! They're obviously complaining that Race made a meal of it! But we'll soon see from the action-replay! 

Billy's Boots

Groundwood is losing three-nil, and the late-arriving Billy Dane has just come on as a substitute in the second half. 

It doesn't take long for Billy to make his mark, and he soon scores two goals, both with a header. A third follows soon after, also from a header, and the scores are tied. 

In the final minute of the game, Groundswood attacks again, and Billy's magical boots make him walk back to the edge of the box. He is rewarded with a rebound coming his way, and he hits it with a superb volley to score the fourth goal and win the game 4-3.

As Billy is carried off on the shoulders of his teammates, two men watch on from the sidelines and discuss the prospect of Billy playing for the Schools Side in a Christmas match against West German schools. It's decided that he could meet up with the rest of the team in Munich, and Billy is interrupted in the changing room by one of his classmates bursting in to tell him that he has been selected to play against West Germany Schools.

That was sudden. A few weeks ago, Billy was struggling to make the school team and was playing for his street team, and now suddenly, on the back of one great performance, he has been selected to face West Germany School. The goal he scored off the volley was great, but I don't think he should be picked based on that one performance. I like the idea of Billy going to West Germany, and I anticipate a good storyline with it, but it is jarring how quickly this has happened. I don't know how Billy will break this news to his Gran, and I feel a bit sorry for her now that she'll have to spend Christmas alone. The game played by Billy looked as good as you might expect, and I did get a kick out of seeing Billy score three goals with headers. He's obviously a well-rounded player, and it did give the artist some new angles to play with. The final goal got the artwork it deserved, and it looked just as spectacular in the comic as it would have in real life. This issue capped off the recent storylines in fine style while veering us into a new storyline heading into the new year. It was all fast and furious, but fun to see on the page. It's always a bonus to see things going well for Billy, and in this issue, things went very well indeed. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "On that showing, Dane has to be included! I only hope he can go...we're not giving him much notice!"

Hot Shot Hamish

Hamish's pet sheep, McMutton, is causing trouble at the game and has just been booked by the referee. Mister McWhacker promises to put him somewhere safe, and the game continues with a quick goal to the opposition before Princes Park has a chance to settle.

In the rest of the first half, they have several chances, although they fail to score a goal. While Mister McWhacker delivers a succinct halftime message to the team, get the ball to Hamish and his Hot Shot, in the office down the hall, McMutton is eating everything in sight. 

The second half is better from Princes Park, with Alec McCloud scoring from a rebound off Hamish's shot, before Hamish scores a second with his famed Hot Shot. 

However, the team receive a shock as they come off the field, as Mister McWhacker informs them that all their wages are gone, McMutton has eaten the lot. 

This is just what I expected to see from McMutton, and the story delivered another fun-fuelled issue. There were smiles aplenty, generated by both McMutton and the football being played, and I read this strip with a lightness in my heart. Mister McWhacker's facial expressions were spot on, and I felt for the man as he had to deal with the various shenanigans. The on-field action was fast and intense, and we saw Hamish strike an unsuccessful hot shot that caught an opposing player full in the face- again, I felt for the man. Hamish too ended up face first in the turf, and this was another dynamic image that caught my imagination, The story may have centred around McMutton and the problems he was causing, but the best panels all occurred on the football field, making for a balanced story that ended on just the right note with drama to carry us through to next week.  

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "McMutton's eaten the lot! Yere wee pet's got hundreds of pounds inside him, Hamish!"

Tornado Jones

Tornado Jones is about to ride a freak tidal wave off the Welsh coast when suddenly he sees a girl, Polly, fall from the cliff and into the water, He manages to pull her onto his makeshift surfboard, and just as they are about to be hit by the huge wave they find refuge in a crevice in the headland. 

They are saved, and calling back to Polly's brother, they send him to fetch a rope to pull them up. Soon, all three are reunited at the top of the cliff. Torando Jones asks the children not to report him to the law for attempting to ride the wave, and the children agree and tell Jones they would be in trouble themselves for sneaking out. Jones looks sadly at his smashed surfboard and wonders if he could have done it. Both children enthusiastically reply that they have faith in him and that he is the bravest and best stuntman in the world. 

A soft ending to what has been my favourite Tornado Jones story so far. This story had great characters, a fine location, and well-worked action sequences. The final episode aspired to give us more of the same, but unfortunately, the action wasn't as dramatic as it reads, nor were the characters as fun as we saw previously. The artwork was undeniably good, which helped paper over these things, and the story was still a good read despite not reaching the highs previously set. Tornado Jones has improved over the last month, and my feelings towards the comic and the character have warmed. Another strong storyline should cement its place in the comic, and now that we have seen what the strip is capable of, I expect a lot more from whatever comes next.   

Rating:7/10

Best line: "What happened will always remain our little secret!"

Nipper

Nipper has roped in his former rival Danny Marvin to play in a sponsored non-stop football match to raise funds for a team of youngsters from one of the poorer districts of Blackport. 

Nipper's pal Mike Bateson agrees to play, and it is decided it will be a three-a-side game with rolling subs. Nipper goes door to door to collect sponsors, and despite Len Duggan, Blackports Skipper and centre forward, warning him to be careful, Nipper is soon ready and game day arrives. 

The game begins well, with plenty of refreshments available, but as darkness falls and enthusiasm wanes, especially as some of the younger players have to go home, leaving more of the load on Nipper and the other players. Finally taking a break, Nipper asks Kerry how much they have made so far and is surprised to learn that it's only twelve pounds. With the cost of the party being two hundred pounds, Nipper realises that they'll have to play until next Christmas at this race, and the marathon football match is turning into the non-event of the century. 

Sad to say, Nipper, the non-event of the century was the Y2K bug twenty-five years later (or the second Stone Roses album, take your pick), but I get your gist. This marathon football game is in danger of becoming a non-event, although I do like our path to this point. The story was laid out quickly, and all the necessary pieces were pushed into place with minimum fuss. Nipper got players to sign up, gathered sponsors, and started the game strongly, all rapidly told over a couple of pages. We even had time to see a cracking goal, which helped the story gain a bit of excitement. We also had two panels of Len Duggan warning Nipper not to get on the wrong side of his manager, nicely foreshadowing what may come next. I liked the look of the game being played at night, and if we see plenty more of this next week, I shall be well satisfied. Again, I am reminded that next week is Christmas, so expect to see Nipper doing good with the young kids of Blackport and some Christmas cheer. Meanwhile, back in the real world, Christmas is only five weeks away here. I'm off to get some shopping done and maybe a cheeky pint on the way home. See you all next week as we begin to look forward to 1976.   

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "You'll get in the boss's bad books if you crock yourself! Take my advice and call it off, Nipper!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7.5/10

Best Story:  Roy Of The Rovers 

Best Line: "Locked in my office! I'm no' having that walking Sunday dinner wandering oot on the pitch again!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: