Tiger 11th January 1975

Although some of this week's stories disappointed me, the art was outstanding with some beautiful panels sprinkled throughout. Every story gave us at least one great panel, and many had two or three of note. Even as some plots intensify and others come to an end, the artwork always remains compelling and is one of the best things about reading Tiger comics from the 1970s.    

Tiger

11th January 1975

Roy Of The Rovers

It's been a long time since I saw a trainer running onto the field wearing a flat cap, but that's the image we start with this week and the trainer Taffy comes on to attend to an injured Roy Race. 

Roy has scored a second goal for Melchester, but in doing so has taken a blow to the head. Taffy wants him to come off, yet Roy must continue as the substitute Sammy Spangler still hasn't shown up. 

Roy scores two more times, and each time his condition worsens until eventually he collapses against the barrier and is taken off the field. Melchester are four nil up, and playing with ten men. The game begins to turn against them, and they eventually hang on for a four-all draw. 

Coming off the field they are greeted by Sammy Spangler who has finally shown up. It's too late to save this game, and talk turns to the next game which is an FA Cup fixture. Sammy is feeling confident, but we see that Roy is thinking that they might well be knocked out. 

A brief summary on paper, the story is better than it sounds here. The on-field action was tight and we were only shown what we needed to see. Each one of Roy's four goals was hard fought and justice was done in the artwork. The most dramatic panel of the story was his eventual collapse, and the balance of the panel with Roy off to one side made one feel for his situation. Sammy Spangler doesn't excite me, and the story was better for not having him in it. It adds some fuel for the coming weeks, and it had better be worth it when he finally makes the field. Brilliant artwork tempered with some ho-hum plot makes this a mixed bag, yet overall I remain positive about where this is heading. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "You've done enough, lad! Call it a day, Roy...please!"

Skid Solo

The first Grand Prix of 1975 takes place in Argentina and that's where we find Skid Solo and his team this week. 

Both drivers are on track putting in practice laps, and it's already clear to Skid that Sparrow is on form already with some fast driving. 

The practice doesn't end well for Skid, his car starts making a bad noise, and as Sandy inspects it in the pits he tells Skid that the engine will need replacing and he should drive Sparrow's car the following day in the race. 

Sparrow overhears this, and feeling blue he wanders off to watch the other cars. It is then that he is offered a chance to drive for one of the other teams, a chance he takes immediately. 

On the day he finds the Martine car he is driving to be very fast indeed, and after a hard-fought race, he manages to lead the Martine team to a one-two finish.

After the race, Skid congratulates Sparrow, and we receive one final surprise. Sparrow has been offered a job as the number driver for the Martine team for the whole season, an offer he has readily accepted. 

Skid is understanding and wishes him luck. Sandy is equally gracious and later tells Skid that he'll still be seeing plenty of him - they'll be racing hard against each other all season. 

So, Skid Solo is now truly solo. It will be interesting to see where we go from here, and this was just the kickstart we needed for the 1975 season. A lot of questions were raised for the coming months - will Skid race alone, who could possibly join his team, and how will he go racing against Sparrow Smith.  One of my favourite things about Skid Solo is the relationship between Skid, Sandy and Sparrow, and this surprise ending has thrown all that out the window, leaving a world of possibilities ahead of us. All of a brilliant excuse to read the next issue immediately, despite what my instincts tell me. The race action in this issue was intense and was served well by the artwork on the page. If the rest of the season can live up to this we should be in for a great run from Skid Solo over the next few months, and I'll be here for all of it. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Hang on, Skid. I've something to say. Mister Martine has offered me a job...as his number one driver...for the whole season!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Martin and Tiny are practising for a baton relay race when their second car has run away downhill on its own. Running after it as fast as they can, Martin manages to jump onto the bonnet. From there he has no choice but to kick in the front windshield and reach to grab the steering wheel. 

Just in time too, as he manages to swerve to avoid a large boulder. Scrambling inside the car, he takes control and drives it back to safety. After a quick chat, the two pals decide that to avoid a similar situation happening again, the safest thing to do would be to remove the doors from both vehicles, simplifying the baton exchange. 

It works well, and thinking that they have the crucial advantage they head to the track. At the track, the race is about to begin, and Tiny and Martin are shocked to see that everyone has had the same idea, all the cars have removed doors. 

All good fun, although nothing here to propel the story forward. The opening hijinks were the best part of the story, and quite rightly took up most of the pages. The debrief and removal of the doors didn't hold much interest, nor did the final revelation at the track. It will be next week when this part of the storyline comes to fruition, and we get the payoff for the meandering final third. Perhaps saved by the colour and the artwork, this week's story was more enjoyable than it had any right to be, 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Look out! That boulder you're heading for is bigger than the car!"

Johnny Cougar and Splash Gorton

Johnny Cougar has quite a fight on his hands against the Stonage Man and we ended last week with Stoneage Man punching both Johnny and the referee. Things deteriorate this week as the Stoneage Man receives a second official warning. 

Johnny is in no mood for any shenanigans, he fights with intensity for the next minute, throwing the Stoneage Man to the corner with a powerful toss. It is not enough to slow his opponent who comes back equally strongly, wrapping Johnny in a muscular grip against the ropes. The outcome of all this is the ropes giving way and the ring posts collapsing as Johnny and Stoneage Man tumble to the arena floor.

Even then, Stoneage Man is still full of fight and venom. Rejecting Johnny's hand to help him up, he instead bites Johnny's hand. This is the last straw for Johnny, and using his strong legs, he throws Stoneage Man back into the ring and is ready to teach him a lesson. 

Unfortunately for all involved, the referee intervenes, declaring the bout a no-contest. Thus we finish this week's strip with the surprised face of Splash Gorton wondering what happens now with the overall standings as Johnny and Big Jim Jackson share the exact same score.

It may have been a no-contest, but this story was visually top-notch and gave us plenty of memorable images. The sight of Stone Age Man being thrown into the corner post was an early favourite, as was the sight of the ropes all collapsing and Johnny falling from the ring. Stoneage Man was made to look like the brute he was, and although we never got to see Johnny outsmart him, the fight was still intense and as hard-hitting as we might expect. I'm not sure if this is the finale or the beginning of the next round of matches, but we are ending on a high note from this series of bouts. Whatever comes next has a high standard to meet, and I look forward to seeing whatever that might be. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "I've had enough...I've seen punching, biting and collapsing rings...its all too much. I'm declaring this no contest!"

Nipper

Asleep in a derelict house, Nipper has been awakened by a ball smashing through the wall, showering him with bricks and glass. 

Pulling himself out of the wreckage, Nipper heads off to the game, although he does have a sore head from where one of the bricks struck him. His troubles compound when the bus driver refuses to let him on board, forcing him to walk to the stadium where he finds he has to scramble over a fence to get in. Even worse, Brian Crawford the journalist sees him doing so and they exchange words in the car park, after which Nipper walks directly into a parked car without even seeing it. 

Thinking a quick shower will sort him out, Nipper is feeling a lot better as he takes to the field. However, as the play comes towards him he realises that he's seeing double.

A lot of build-up here, but the payoff was worth it as Nipper sees double with the opposing player running at him. I thought the ending of last week was a little silly and this week did a lot to improve on that. By the time Nipper had gone through all his trials and tribulations to the game, I was far more satisfied with what I had previously read and now see where all this is going. Some clean and bright artwork helped emphasise poor Nipper's situation, and with the story now moving to the pitch we have more space for the story to bloom. Things are currently delicately poised, and I like where we are a lot. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best Line: "That shower seems to have done the trick! At least my head has stopped pounding." 

Hot Shot Hamish 

It's New Year's morning, and the Princes Park players are waking up to a glorious Hebridean day, snow and wind howling through the front door that Hamish's Daddy has swung open to embrace the day. 

None of the players are feeling particularly well, and soon Hamish's Daddy has them following his morning routine to get them feeling fit and healthy. Out into the snow, and up the hills through the heather, soon they are struggling to keep up and collapsing where they stand. 

That afternoon they take the ferry back to the mainland, and the players tell Hamish that they still feel terrible. Come game day though, and they are all spritely and energised - it seems Daddy's exercise has paid off.  

They are full of life and confidence as they take to the pitch. This proves misplaced as their opposition, Dunferlie, runs rings around them and soundly beats Princes Park 7-0.

The team sit depressed in their dressing room after the game when they receive one final piece of bad news. The draw has been made for the first round of the Scottish Cup and they have been drawn against Dunferlie - the team that has just thrashed them 7-0.

Not much drama in this week's story, yet I found I warmed to it just the same. Hamish and his Daddy are eminently likeable, and one can't help but smile at their relationship and home life. The sight of Hamish's Daddy embracing the new day summed up all that I like about the character, and his training regime across the land only added to this shine. The football part of the story was short this week, and sadly there was no hot-shot, but it is all part of a wider storyline and I expect we shall see much more for the next game against Dunferlie. Hot Shot Hamish is off to a strong start for 1975 and can only get better.

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Wake up, ma wee bairns! It's no time to be in bed! Up ye get and greet the new day!" 

Billy's Boots

Billy is on the run from some local lads on bicycles and takes the only escape route available to him- over a wall and into the grounds of a large house. Thinking quickly, his pursuers make for the front door and alert the owner that a potential burglar could be on the grounds. 

Now faced with some angry dogs, Billy again takes the route available - through a window and into the house. Here his luck takes a turn and meets the cook and explains what has happened. The cook takes pity on him and shows him some of the house before they run into the master of the house in the hallway. 

He is a former footballer himself and introduces himself as Tommy Slade. He played for England with Billy's great hero, Dead-shot Keen, and regales Billy with stories of their time together. He goes on to explain that Dead-shot taught him the technique for scoring goals from a header- that is to get above the ball and head it downwards. 

Billy takes the lesson onboard, and after leaving with a warning not to climb over the wall again, he heads home to practice. This practice goes well, and he feels has mastered the skill. However he fails to be named to the school team, and instead, he is listed to play for the reserve team. We finish the story with Billy hopeful of a good performance to propel himself back into the first team. 

A more sedate story this week, we seemed to linger a long time at the house Billy escaped to. It was nice to see some back story for Tommy Slade, but essentially it was all filler just for him to give Billy some advice on how to header the ball.  Still, Billy's Boots excels in its hominess and this week's story fits well with what we have seen before. This is the second skill we have seen Billy learn in the last few weeks, and we must be building towards a storming performance on the field at some stage. One hopes it will be next week, after a gentle month of stories we need to get Billy back on the field and put his skills to use. Not quite as good as some of the recent issues, but we're still building nicely to some sort of climax. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Thanks for the tip. I'll set the dogs loose...they'll soon find him!" 

Tallon Of The Track

Somewhere in snowy Russia, Jo Tallon is heading towards a precipice on an out-of-control ski-bike. There is only one option - to try and attempt a jump, and this is exactly what Jo does. 

She doesn't land well, but she does survive. Once again she sets off with Debenko, and two hours later they arrive at the main road. They find they have arrived ahead of the Ospreys convoy, and soon enough they have flagged them down and they are reunited. 

There is talk on the bus of their next opponents, the All-Stars, but this comes to an end when they reach a detour in the road. It leads five miles down a country road before coming to an abrupt halt. It's immediately clear why they have stopped so suddenly- the bus is surrounded by a bunch of hard-looking men all carrying rifles. 

I had expected something like this to happen to Jo and the team ever since they arrived in Russia. With the vastness of Russia and some snow, there were bound to be bandits with rifles at some stage. At least I presume they are bandits, I may well be proved wrong with the next issue. I hope I am proved wrong, I love a surprise twist. The open page of the story was fun had had the energy and excitement that so often propels Tallon Of The Track. Once they reached the road the story could have lost its way with constant talk of the next race meeting, instead, we had this immediate twist which kept the flow of the story moving. Not what I expected this week, but I found I enjoyed the outcome of last week's adventure and the way we are thrust into the next episode, leaving me finishing this week's Tiger comic on a high and ready to plunge straight into the next issue. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Little Tallonski, I hardly dare to look! You haf survived?" 

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Skid Solo 

Best Line: "An' a breath o' the good salt air from the sea...to tone a man up!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz:

Tiger 4th January 1975

Hello, 1975! It seems like I had only just greeted 1974, and here we are a year on. I've hardly had a chance to catch my breath, and neither have the characters of Tiger.  As I thumb my way back over the last twelve months I see that we have all come a long way together. Despite that, we still have a long way to go. The pile of comics next to the bed hasn't got any small (as my wife so thoughtfully reminds me) and we still have plenty of years ahead of us. Let's slow down for a bit and enjoy 1975 while we can, I know for a fact the future isn't all it's cracked up to be.    

Tiger

4th January 1975

Johnny Cougar and Splash Gorton

Johnny Cougar is on the front cover and about to take on the Stoneage Man as we pick up this week's issue. There is little time to dwell on the colourful opening, for as Johnny enters the ring the Stoneage Man picks up a club and attempts to catch him off guard.

Johnny is displeased, and while the Stoneage man is restrained by the referee and some of the audience, Johnny tells Splash that while his opponent is strong, he is also slow thinking, a trait that Johnny is hoping to use to his advantage. 

A chop from Johnny has little effect, and he is soon on the back foot as Stoneage Man grabs his hair. A warning from the referee is ineffective as the brute hits Johnny with a punch, before delivering a similar blow to the referee. 

Wild wrestling action was what I was hoping to see after last week's tepid episode, and I got that in spades across the three pages of Johnny Cougar. We have seen Johnny take on numerous heavy-set opponents in the past, and Stoneage Man is the latest in that long line. We have seen it before, but I love seeing two big bodies coming together and hearty blows exchanged. Every page stayed tightly on the action in the ring, with the story boiled down to the essentials - two large men fighting each other with one of them bending the rules to breaking point. It's not complicated, but it works and I rate this issue highly on the sheer physicality alone. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "Watch out, Mister...that thing in there is a killer!"

Roy Of The Rovers

Sammy Spangler is missing, and the Rovers have a game in the afternoon. Setting out in a very cool car, Tony Storme and Roy Race set out to find Sammy, first heading to the circus tent where they first met him. 

Disappointment awaits them, the circus has moved on to Kendale, sixty miles away. All they can do is return to Melchester Stadium, where as luck would have it, they walk in just in time to receive a call from Sammy Spangler himself. It seems that he has promised his family one final show, a matinee, and he promises Roy that he will return as soon as it has finished.

That is not the only problem Roy is facing, the rest of his team is weary after partying with the circus folk the night before. Roy takes drastic action, forcing them all into a cold bath before the match begins. It pays off, the revived team makes a fast start and scores their first goal after ninety seconds. 

It looks as if this week's story will end on a high, but in the final panels, Roy takes a knock to the head, leaving him laid out on the ground while Tony Storme frets that he may be out for the season. 

Fear not, Tony, I'm pretty confident that Roy will be back in business soon, after all, it is his name that is emblazoned across the top of the strip. A delicate balance played out this week and we tread the line between football action and the distractions off the field. I enjoyed the first half of the story as Roy and Tony looked for Sammy, especially the wild-looking car they were driving. The switch to football was handled well, with some nice transition panels as Roy perked up his team. All in all, a fine instalment, and a good recovery after last week's Christmas story. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Oh, no...it's gone, the whole perishing outfit!" 

Martin's Marvellous Mini 

Tiny and Martin are looking for an old banger so they can race together in the relay race. The first page of the story is dedicated to one such car, a banger in every way. Falling apart in front of their eyes, the car salesman is adamant that it's fine, only for him to finally admit that it is a worthless piece of junk. They can have it for free, but he never wants to see it again. 

Over the page, the pals get to work on the vehicle, and soon enough they have it up and running. A quick practice of passing the baton is in order, and this is where everything once again goes wrong. The baton gets hooked in the door frame of the car, pulling Tiny from the vehicle. We end with the car just about to disappear over a hill while Martin and Tiny desperately chase after it, hoping they can stop it before it hits something. 

As Martin rightly says, what a way to start the new year. The first half of the story was gently amusing, but things accelerated over the page and we were back into the full swing of things by the time the story closed.  I liked both sections of the story, and although I gravitated more to the final section, I still could have happily read several pages of the boys trying to find a new car, such was the light humour and easy friendship between the two. We have yet to reach the start of the relay race, but things bode well, especially given how much fun this issue was. A long way to go, and it all looks very promising. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "But this car is a super little job! Take a trial run, sir...you'll enjoy every minute!' 

Billy's Boots

Christmas is over, leaving Billy to reflect on all the lovely gifts he has received. Foremost of these is a book by Jimmy Collins, Dead-shot Keen's former manager. In it, Billy finds a training method that greatly helped Keen, the heavy ball. 

It was exactly as it sounds, Keen had trained with a heavy ball, so when the time came to play with a regular ball he had developed incredible strength and accuracy. Digging out an old ball himself, Billy sets out to make his own heavy ball. 

He is a little too successful, and trying it at the local grounds he finds it is too heavy to kick. However, it is ideal to practice throw-ins, and he dedicates himself to this task. 

He is interrupted by a group of boys on bikes, who set about stealing his ball. They get a rude awakening when they try to kick it, it is far too heavy, and their leader takes a spill off his bike, 

We finish with Billy on the run, the group of angry boys on bicycles chasing him and threatening to beat him up. 

Not the best Billy's Boots this week, but the artwork remains of its usual high standard. The opening images of Billy and his Gran, and of Billy reading his book, bring us straight into Billy's home and add an authentic feel to a story about magic boots. The final panels of the biker boys chasing Billy are also realistic and took me back to when I was a youth. The biggest problem I had with this issue was there was too much messing about with a heavy ball, and not a lot else. We saw Deadshot Keen play with a heavy ball, Billy making a similar ball, and then Billy playing at the park with the ball. None of it was particularly thrilling and the story slumped from where it was a couple of weeks ago. I liked some of the key elements here, but it never really came together and left me thinking this is a flat spot for Billy's Boots.   

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Look at that kid messing about. Let's nip over and nick his football for a lark..."

Skid Solo

Speed is the name of the game this week, although we are on skis rather than in motorcars in this issue of Skid Solo.

Skid and his team are celebrating in the Swiss Alps for the new year, with all three on the slopes following Sandy's New Year's resolution to ski better than Skid and Sparrow. 

He is not off to a good start for his resolution and in the first panels we can see that Skid and Sparrow are much better skiers. Heading to the top of the mountain Sandy regrets his resolution as they ride the chairlift. 

At the top, they are greeted with the news that there has been an avalanche warning, and they are the last ones to come up on the chair lift. Advised to get down as fast as they can, they hear a rumble of an avalanche soon after they set off. With the avalanche coming right at them, it's imperative they stay ahead of it. It is Sandy who leads the way, suddenly finding that he can ski very fast when he has to.

The avalanche does catch them, but only the tail end of it, and emerging from the snow Skid and Sparrow find that Sandy has managed to out ski both of them and the avalanche. 

We end with a happy scene as they toast the new year and the hope that they will go faster in their motor cars than they did on skis. 

Avalanches are serious business, and Skid Solo got off far too lightly in this story. I appreciated that we didn't have a car storyline, but that also meant that a lot of the drama was missing. You might think that an avalanche is plenty of danger, but it only appeared in the latter part of the story and the bulk of the story was the chaps larking about on skis. The highlight was easily the friendship between the three main characters and their interaction. A half step behind was that artwork, which although pretty, wasn't as scintillating as when cars are involved. A pleasant winter story, but far from essential in the Skid Solo canon.

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "I think you're right about skiing Sandy...it's a bit of a dodgy game!"

Hot-Shot Hamish

Hot-shot Hamish gives us a feel-good New Year's Eve story, while still managing to make it all about football and the team. 

With Princes Park struggling, Mr McWhacker has called for an extra training session for the team on New Year's Eve, with no exceptions. While the team sweat it out on the field under the watchful eye of Mr McWhacker, Hamish suddenly emerges from the tunnel, telling his manager that he has come to say goodbye. It's New Year's Eve, and the Balfours always have a party. Hamish's Daddy is expecting him home, no matter what. 

McWhacker tells Hamish he must train, and Hamish obliges, although someone will have to call his Daddy to explain. It is McBrain the trainer who makes the call, and after taking an earbashing from Daddy decides that perhaps it would be better if Hamish went home. 

McWhacker agrees, adding that the whole team will attend. After an eventful journey, and a stormy boat crossing, the Princes Park team and the Balfour Clan celebrate in the snowy highlands. Everyone is happy, and McWhacker concedes that the journey was ten times tougher than any training session. 

The final images of the Balfours and Princes Park team around a hearty fire and raising a toast warned my heart beyond description. It was delightful, and came on the back of a well-paced and interestingly told story. It may look simple on paper, but every part of the story made sense and it was greater than the sum of its parts. Hamish's Daddy lived up to expectations and remained as fiery as ever in the face of the rules imposed by Hamish's manager. Football was a key part of the story, it may not have intruded on the page, but it remained at the centre of all that happening to the team. Hamish's innocence and simple nature warmed the colder edges of the story, and coupled with some expressive artwork, made this the most inviting strip of the issue. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "If ye cut oot the bad words, Mr McWhacker...he says if Hamish doesna come game for New Year....he'll come down here and pull Princes Park to pieces!"

Tallon Of The Track 

Jo Tallon and her team are still in the Soviet Union and just about to move on from Leningrad and head off to Moscow. First, there is one small piece of business for Jo to take care of. 

Leaving the rest of the team, she drives deep into the countryside, eventually arriving at a secluded location where the car can travel no further and she must walk up a hill to her final destination.

Her final destination is Vladimir Debenko's log cabin, and here she finds him in the snow chopping up firewood. She gets to the point quickly, she would like to take Debenko back with her to Britain to ride for the Ospreys and he immediately agrees.

There is just the small matter of getting back to Moscow, and an avalanche has just cut off the road. Debenko is unfazed, he has a couple of ski bikes in his shed, and soon he and Jo are making good time.

The final wrinkle in the story comes as they approach a bridge that has been destroyed by the avalanche. Debenko calls to Jo to slow down, but she is going too fast to stop and we finish with her heading towards the drop. 

I love the idea of Debenko, but his accent throughout this story was distracting and didn't add anything to his character. In fact, it was downright annoying, and the best panels of the story were the ones when Debenko didn't speak at all. That is not to say I didn't like this week's strip, and I like this new direction we are moving in. I can already see how Debenko will fit into the team, and it will bring balance to have another strong male character besides Dave Trent. With outstanding art, especially the final panel, Tallon Of The Track remains a favourite and although we have been uneven of late, I expect it to kick into high gear very soon. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "You're one of the best speedway riders I've ever seen, and I'd like to sign you on as a regular member of the Ospreys' team!" 

Nipper

With his foster parents away, Nipper has thrown a house party only for them to return at an inopportune moment. Now facing their wrath, Nipper's friends leave and it is Nipper alone who must suffer through Mrs Watkin's anger. 

She lets him know exactly how she feels, and it is all too much for Nipper who packs his bags and goes. After a hasty exit, Nipper realises that he has no place to go, and he soon finds himself drifting back to the old abandoned house where he used to live with his Uncle Charlie.

With a game scheduled for the following day, Nipper tries to get to sleep on the wooden floor. He manages to sleep and is still out to it the following day when some Blackport fans stop outside and begin to kick a ball around. One hits the ball a little too well and we finish with the ball and a shower of bricks and glass crashing into the just-waken Nipper. 

It was the artwork that carried this story, and all the drama of the story was beautifully rendered in black and white silhouette as Nipper left the house. It looked wonderful on the page and I could only wish that the second half of the story was strong enough to deserve the art lavished upon it. Sadly it wasn't, and by the final panels, I could feel my interest already beginning to wane.  I liked the party Nipper was throwing, and the fallout as his foster parents came home, however when the local fans accidentally kicked the ball to where Nipper was sleeping I could feel all the air go out of the ballon. After some solid heavy drama, we were back to some lightweight fluff, and even the high-quality art couldn't paper over that. I'm still hopeful that next week will see the story return to an even keel, and if we can get back to the quality of the first page of this week's strip I will certainly be giving it a much higher rating. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line:  "Stone me, it's still in one piece, isn't it? If the kids have caused any damage, I'll flippin' well pay for it myself!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 7/10

Best Story: Hot-shot Hamish  

Best Line: "...canna come game? Dinna talk to me like that, ye jumped up lump o' rotten cheese!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: 

Tiger 28th December 1974

It seems like only yesterday I was celebrating the Christmas issue of 1973 and here we are already with the Christmas 1974 issue in hand. It is true what they say, time really does fly when you're having fun. With Christmas comes Christmas storylines. I don't want to sound like a Grinch, but I'm not a fan of them. I don't like how they are shoehorned into the regular story arch and I find that they detract from my enjoyment of the comic. Much like real Christmas then in the way that it arrives every year and no matter where you are with life you have to acknowledge the day and all that comes with it. Now I really do sound like a Grinch, time to step away from the keyboard and pick up this week's comic. 

Tiger

28th December 1974

Johnny Cougar and Splash Gorton

It is Johnny Cougar who kicks off the 1974 Christmas issue with a scene familiar to most, walking past shops with their Christmas message and a Christmas tree prominent.

This is just a scene setter and soon Johnny and Splash are at a nearby swimming pool, where Splash is putting on a special free show for all the children who normally wouldn't be able to come to a show like this. 

There is a lot of clowning involved, and Splash entertains the children with some slapstick with Johnny and the pool. It's a lot of fun and the kids are entertained, especially with the appearance of a certain red-suited man in the final panels.

Interspersed with the main story, we see Johnny's next opponent, Stoneage Man. He is sitting in a cave alone, with Christmas having no meaning for him. In the final panel of the story, we see a close-up of his face and the promise that he will be seeing Johnny Cougar in the wrestling ring very soon. 

This was a filler episode, with neither plotline enough to hang my hat on. The entertaining of the children was light and didn't seem to have any serious element to it. Splash rode a bike and fell into the pool, as did Cougar. Later we saw them executing perfect dives, but neither felt particularly thrilling. The images of Stoneage Man weren't enough to whet my appetite for next week, and it felt like the story failed to commit fully to either plot thread. Understandable given that this is the Christmas issue, but I would have liked just a little more from the characters. Uneventful and unmemorable. 

Rating: 4/10

Best line: "Okay, kids... now it's time to eat...and we've got a giant-sized cake...with enough for everyone! Come and get it!" 

Billy's Boots

Billy is keeping match fit by playing for local club Welldale Wanders. Being a boy among men Billy is finding it tough and although he has scored one goal, the burly defender he is playing against is making it a tough afternoon for him. 

Switching to the other side for the second half Billy finds it easier, and although he doesn't score he acquits himself well. The rest of the team is happy with how he played, and he finds himself asked to play in a five-a-side Christmas match.

Billy agrees, and Christmas appears again as he buys some flowers for his Gran with the last of his money. His Gran is pleased, and when he mentions he is playing in a five-a-side she asks if he can bring home the turkey from the butchers nearby after the game.

Game day arrives, and Billy plays well, although he plays in goal all game. Heading home he realises that he has forgotten to pick up the turkey, and he fears for the worst. However, we finish the story on a high as his Gran tells him that the butcher has already delivered it and Billy needn't worry. 

Much better than other preceding Johnny Cougar, this story managed to feel proper Christmassy, as well as cramming in a good amount of football. The cliffhanger of last week with Billy tangling with the tough defender is quickly dealt with and was a non-event this week and Billy simply swapped sides. There was no drama in the five-a-side game, but it did give us some fantastic images of Billy playing in goal. The artwork was outstanding throughout this story, and we not only have some dynamic panels of Billy diving in goal, but also some excellent images of his face as he forgets the turkey, and then finds out that everything is going to be OK. This story was better for the lack of Billy's special boots, and with those being a non-factor the story felt refreshed and far more focused on Billy and his family. There was a surprising mention of Billy's Aunt Kate, an Aunt I can't recall ever hearing about before, although to be fair it is thirty years since I last read this story. My Christmas spirit is restored with this story and its tasteful Christmas artwork once again fills the cockles of my heart.

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "The turkey! I forgot it! And the shops are closed now!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

It's always nice to see Martin's family and home, and we begin with the family carving a turkey and wondering how Martin and Tiny are doing in hot and sunny Australia. 

Tiny and Martin are doing alright and with some extra cash in their pockets about to organise a free kid's party. It's a beach BBQ and proves most successful. The kids enjoy themselves, with a surprise appearance by Father Christmas (Martin dressed up and feeling hot) giving out toys. They even take the kids for rides in George, going so far as to let them steer, that is until one comes too close to the sea for their liking.

The day winds down with one of the children showing Martin an article in a book about a new type of car race - a relay race. It takes two cars, but Martin thinks they could buy an old banger for the race. The children tell them that lots of cars get smashed up, to which Tiny is worried, but Martin remains confident and is already thinking about the prize money and heading home to Britain. 

Another typical Christmas story and a kid's party. This one gave off a nice Australian vibe, and having Martin's family at home in Britain wondering how the boys were doing in Australia was a nice touch and highlighted the difference between the two Christmas celebrations. Having the strip in colour certainly helped in that respect, and I appreciated seeing the sun and suf looking as they should. We have a nice introduction to the boy's next challenge, and that was seamlessly worked into this week's story. Drama-free pages throughout the story yet it left me feeling good and wanting to read next week's issue. If it looks as good as this week I will be happy for the boys to be stuck in Australia for as long as possible. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Have you seen the card Martin sent us from Australia? He says it's hot, with lots of sun!"  

Skid Solo

Last week Skid was in sunny Florida, and this week he is back in Britain facing a cold and dark Christmas Eve. There's even snow falling as we embark on this week's adventure with a mysterious van parked outside of Skid's house. 

A note under the windscreen wipers explains all - a lorry load of Christmas toys left from Reverand Tommy Harbour to be delivered to the Weyburn orphanage. It's Christmas Eve, snow is falling, and Skid and his pals have to drive twenty miles to deliver the toys in time. 

Putting on their Father Christmas robes they set off. It's not easy, with the van slipping and sliding on the road from the start. As the snow gets worse they find themselves driving off the road several times, and we have a few occasions when they have to dig themselves out. 

They eventually arrive at the orphanage. The head of the orphanage is surprised to see them, especially as he had previously thought Skid was in Florida. He is further surprised when Skid tells him they have toys in the van for the kids, and quickly tells Skid that the kids already have their toys. He further explains that Reverand Tommy Harbour didn't think that Skid would return from Florida in time and had taken it upon himself to bring the toys in the van over in the morning. The three friends open the van and see that what he says is true - they have just driven an empty van through a dark and stormy night for nothing. 

With this misunderstanding cleared up, Sparrow, Sandy and Skid can only sit in their tired state and watch the children play. A late arriving Reverand comments on how tired they look, while the headmaster tells him that it wouldn't be advisable to ask them why they're so tired. 

I'm sure we saw Skid driving through snow this time last year as well, although I'm not going to go back and confirm it. An enjoyable enough story, it is a shame that it wasn't on the front cover this week - a splash of colour would have sold the story better than what we have here. For that though, it was a good story and delivered what it needed to. On the pages of Tiger Christmas is all about charity work for young kids, and Skid excels himself as he goes to the aid of an orphanage. The outcome may not have been what was expected, but I fully expected to see a story such as this somewhere in the issue. In the wider context, it was slight, and in a few months I won't remember it at all, but for a feel-good Christmas, story it checks all the boxes and has me walking away feeling good about myself and the work of Skid Solo. As always, the art was sympathetic to the story, and although it will be forever rooted in Christmas of 1974, it remains a fine example of the synergy between artist and writer on the pages of Tiger. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "Hoots, I'm glad we've got these Father Christmas robes...we need 'em in this weather. It's freezing!"

Roy Of The Rovers

Tony Storme was on the cusp of signing an exciting young talent from a circus background by the name of Sammy Splanger when we last left Roy and his team. We pick up on the thread immediately this week as Roy and Tony watch on as Sammy Spangler gives a further display of his talents. With their minds made up, they go ahead and offer him a contract. Although he is eager to start, there is just one more thing between Sammy and his first game - Christmas.

The Rovers come together at Jumbo Trudgeon's for a Christmas party, and it becomes quite an affair, with Sammy Spangler not only delighting with his tricks but also with an elephant and half the circus he has he has brought along.

Roy considers it one of the best Christmases he has ever had, although he isn't so happy when he sees the rest of the team draped across the furniture, weary from the celebrations. With a vital league game the following day he is concerned, and even more so when he realises that Sammy Spangler isn't there and they are a man short. 

It was great to see this story moving forward and the Christmas party becoming part of the wider arc rather than a temporary diversion. Sammy Spangler remains the centre of the story, and he is right in the thick of the action throughout here. From his on-field trial at the beginning to his hijinks at the party, we saw plenty of what he was about. His final disappearance could be a red herring, but I'm happy to go along with it for now. Surprisingly there were no children involved in this story and it remains rooted in the adult world, although we never did get to see Roy sipping a whiskey as the night went on. Well crafted around the Christmas intrusion, next week the story should be off to a fast start as we easily put this behind us, and I look forward to hopefully seeing Sammy Spangler finally on a football field. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Football on stilts! Now I've seen everything!"

Nipper

Last week we saw Nipper approaching a mysterious figure in the crowd who had been watching him play, but there is no mystery this week as in the first panel we find that it is Gordon Jackson, manager of the England youth team. 

Gordon Jackson tells Nipper that is now in charge of the England under-23 team, and although the selectors have left early he will be putting in a good word for Nipper based on his performance on the field. There is one caveat though, Nipper must keep his nose clean for the next few weeks.

A tough ask, especially as Nipper has all sorts of troubles on his plate. Still, it's Christmas time and Nipper thinks it's time to relax for a bit. As his foster family heads out of town, Nipper decides it might be a good time to throw a party. With a few days to clean up after the party, Nipper feels he is on safe ground, but as the party gets into full swing his foster parents appear outside, their own plans having been cancelled due to the flu in the family. Nipper doesn't know it yet, but he's just about to face a whole lot of trouble. 

After a Christmas-heavy issue so far, I quite enjoyed the Nipper storyline. The party was a Christmas party, but it could have been any type of party, and just like Roy Of The Rovers, the Christmas theme was folded into the story that we are already following. Mike and Nipper's friendship is again played up, and I think that works well given the age of Nipper. Most young boys have a friend who they do everything with, and it was great here seeing Mike helping Nipper off the football field, before being the very first person to arrive at the party. I appreciate that this story has two or three threads running at once as Nipper not only battles to make the English football team but also breaking the club's goal-scoring record, as well as his ongoing antagonism with the journalist Brian Crawford. A lot going on, and all of it is condensed into two pages. I was slow to warm to Nippoer, but now we are steaming ahead and it is one of the stronger strips in the comic. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "I think I can say my journey wasn't wasted! But what's all this about suspensions...and rows with reporters? Sounds as if you've been getting into trouble again!"

Hot-shot Hamish

Needing to win their European Cup tie by three goals, Princes Park and Hamish Balfour are on all-out attack as we are dropped into the action on the first panel of this week's story. A diving header from Hamish hits the crossbar, leading to a series of bad luck moments and eventually a goal to their opposition. 

With twenty minutes to go, and needing four goals, Hamish explodes into action. A scorching hot-shot ignites the Princes team, and they follow up with a frenzied second goal. As their livewire winger Alex McTwitter scores a third it looks like the impossible might be possible, but a last-gasp attempt from Hamish comes to nothing and the team comes off the pitch as the winner of the game, but ultimately losers of the draw - knocked out by away goals.

Hamish fronts up at the hospital where he had promised the children a victory. It's a warm welcome, and although the children are disappointed with the outcome, they are delighted to see Hamish, and even more so when the rest of the team appears right behind him. We end on a high note as Hamish hands out gifts and everyone offers a hearty merry Christmas. 

Don't be fooled by the final panels, this story was all football action, and it was superb. An angry Hamish is quite a sight to behold, and watching him lead his team through the last twenty minutes was worth the cover price alone. We saw the hot-shot, we saw the team and all their diversity, both strengths and weaknesses, and we saw the polar opposite of Hamish in wee Alex McTwitter score the goal that almost saved the tie. It all looked splendid on the page, and although I'm not sure where we are going to go next in the storylines, this ending of their chances in the European Cup was everything I could have hoped for. Being knocked out by away goals is tough, but it felt right for the story being told and at the end of the day I was more than satisfied with what I read here. Once again, when it comes to football action, Hot-shot Hamish leads from the front. 

Rating: 8/10

Best line: "What a tangle...it's going everywhere but in the net!"

Tallon Of The Track

Ospreys are not going well against their Ukranian opposition as Jo Tallon takes her place on the track to race against the Ukrainian Bears captain, Vladimir Debenko. Debenko is unhappy to see a girl racing against him and promises her that he will ride her into the dust. 

It does quite work out that way, and Jo snatches victory on the line after some hard-fought racing. This demoralises the Bears team while giving the Ospreys and lift, and it changes the tenor of the whole race meet. After this, it is Ospreys all the way, and they triumph in the competition 40-38.

The next day, Debenko meets the British team at their hotel and takes them out on a sleigh into the countryside, where they enjoy a full Russian Christmas with all the trimmings. All's well that ends well, and the story ends with Jo wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. 

All the drama of the last few weeks washed away in just a couple of panels as Jo wins her race and the Ospreys the meeting. I like seeing Jo on the track, but her race wasn't much, there was nothing of note in the race, and only a close finish made it noteworthy. The rest of the competition was dispensed with far too easily, and it was a letdown after the building tensions of the last few weeks. The Christmas party made amends somewhat, and I enjoyed seeing a table of food and some very happy people celebrating. Perhaps this would have been better if Christmas could have been part of the overall storyline, but with the competition ending it made for a sudden halt, and the Christmas party came as a garnish rather than a heavy meal. We are still in Russia, and with only the first race meeting behind us we still have someway to go, so hopefully future stories will pick up from this strong start. It was a pleasant ride, and I can only hope that next time the finish will be as good as the start. 

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "I am disgraced...humiliated! Me, the great Debenko, beaten by...a girl!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6.5/10

Best Story: Billy's Boots  

Best Line: "Twenty minutes left! I'm no' giving up without a struggle! The wee bairns in the children's ward are expecting us to win! I promised 'em!""

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: 

Tiger 21st December 1974

A beautiful cover featuring the Skid Solo story, hints that this could be a great issue. Today's issue is from 21st December 1874, right in the middle of winter. What better way to brighten that winter gloom than a brightly painted racing car, and in sunny Florida to boot. My spirits are raised already, and I haven't even charged my glass. I will have a swig now, and we'll see if the rest of the Tiger lives up to this delightful cover.

Tiger
21st December 1974

Skid Solo

It's the week before Christmas and Skid and his team are getting some sunshine in Florida. The front cover of this week's Tiger comic features a resplendent red and white striped car which is matched in loudness only by its driver, the brashly confident American Bud Danvers.

Bud lets Skid know that this car is a world-beater, and that Skid has no chance of beating him in the next day's race. Skid counters with a fast practice time, but at dinner that evening Bud arrives and confidently tells Skid he has beaten his time by two seconds, and it will be Bud on the front row of the grid tomorrow rather than Skid. 

This brash American is beginning to grate on Sandy and he offers to go over and sort him out. Skid calms him, and tells Sandy he will do his talking on the track the next day. 

The race itself is a close-run affair. Bud's Candy-striped car is considerably faster than Skid on the straights, but when it comes to cornering and bends Skid has a wealth of experience that he puts to good use, and try as he might, Bud just can't shake him.

It is Skid who holds a slender lead as they enter the final half lap, but the power of Bud's car proves to be the deciding factor and on the straight he just edges Skid to the finish line. 

We finish with the three friends heading back to the UK, and Sandy still complaining about how much he dislikes Bud. He is interrupted by the air hostess, who hands them a candy-striped box each. They are expecting cornflakes, but upon opening the boxes they find solid gold watches, gifted to them by Bud along with an explanatory note saying he wishes them all the best, and he may have had the faster car, but it was Skid who was the faster driver. 

This isn't the first time we have seen the stereotypical loud American, and it felt overdone in this issue. I half expected Bud Danvers to burst into a "U.S.A, U.S.A, U.S.A" chant as he sped around the track in his highly commercialised colourful car. However, it was a nice change of pace from Skid testing cars, or getting caught up with criminals, as is his wont in the off-season. I could criticise this story for being too simple, but that would be unfair. It has Skid racing a car, and racing it well, and that is the most important thing to me when reading a Skid Solo story. There wasn't a lot at stake, and it was a gentle telling, yet I still got a thrill from seeing the cars on the track. The most striking image is the candy-striped car on the front cover, and it was easy to carry this visual in my head for the rest of the story. Tidy from start to finish, this was Skid at 50mph rather than 100mph.

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Go on, Skid! Show that boasting oaf what it's all about!"

Roy Of The Rovers

Roy is in an unusual spot, the circus big top. He is there with Rover's new scout, Archie Miller, who is convinced he has found their next star player.  

As Roy watches on from the stands, Sammy Spangler puts on a spectacular show. Riding the unicycles he flicks footballs onto his head, where he balances them, before showing some more conventional skills by chipping the ball through a swinging pendulum.

Archie is keen to sign him, but Roy has reservations. So too does Sammy's father as he considers football to be a roughneck game. However, a trial is organised and a few days later Sammy arrives at Rovers to see if his football skills and tricks can translate to team play.

He is successful with his trial, setting up a couple of goals, leaving Tony Storme facing the final decision as to whether or not he should sign him.   

The scene at the circus dominated this week's story, and most of the panels were devoted to Sammy's tricks. I didn't mind it too much, but by the end I was pleased when we finally got back to Melchester and saw him with the rest of the team. This isn't the most riveting of storylines, and I know we are still facing a few weeks of this. No doubt next week Roy will do something Christmas-related, so the story will probably stretch into January. Some action wouldn't go astray right about now, and perhaps Sammy should have been thrown onto the field this issue. However, the writers are taking their time, and my impatience is just that, my own impatience. Roll on the new year, and some proper football action. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "The cheeky little perisher! He back-heeled a perfect pass through Loft Peak's legs..!"

Martin's Marvellous Mini

Last week we saw George falling off the edge of the edge of a pier and into the water. What I didn't realise at the time was that poor Martin was still inside the vehicle. 

Tiny, good friend that he is, immediately dives into the water and pulls Martin from the car and to safety. Both ashore, the next problem they face is getting George out of the water, but this is accomplished soon enough as a rescue vehicle with a crane hauls him up and onto dry land. 

Three days of cleaning follow, and the pals' hard work pays off as George's motor starts the first time they try it. They quickly set off to the nearest town, fifty miles away, and it's here that they have another stroke of luck when they see the launch belonging to Mr Eazzi, the man who stole the money, docked.

It turns out that the launch has been sold, but further down the street, they see Mr Eazzi eating at a cafe. A small chase and they soon have him cornered. With nowhere to go, he practically throws the money he owes to the two friends, before scurrying off as fast as he can. 

I can already see where we are going with this next week. Martin alludes to it in the final panel as he tells Tiny that they now have a stack of money, and Christmas is only next week. No doubt a charitable event is on the horizon. This was a fine finish to this storyline, and I appreciate that it didn't linger too long. It was only a couple of weeks ago that we met Mr Eazzi and already he is gone and his storyline with it. It was mostly chasing, last week wasn't particularly exciting, and this week was more satisfying, especially with a red herring thrown in with the launch being sold. The story never scaled great heights, but it did just enough to keep me turning the page, which I guess is the goal of any story writer. Not the best in class, but easy on the eye and a pleasant read.

Rating: 6/10

Best line: "Hang on, old buddy...I'm on my way!" 

Hot-shot Hamish  

Hamish is tense right from the first panel of the story as he prepares for the second leg of their European Cup game against a Spanish side. The thought of winning the game for the children he met in the hospital is weighing heavy on his mind, and as the game begins he can't stop talking or thinking about it.

Of course, it affects his play, and he makes a foolish backpass that gives the Spanish an early goal, and a two-nil lead on aggregate. Now needing to score three goals, Hamish plays like a charging tank, and in the final panel of the strip he unleashes the hotshot, only to see it saved by the keeper in a dramatic dive. Even Hamish is applauding, as the children back at the hospital are despondent at the thought of Princes losing. 

Once again, Hot-shot Hamish has the best art in Tiger comic. We see football action in plenty of these strips, but in Hot-shot Hamish there are constantly new ways and angles of showing what is happening on the field. It makes it far more dynamic and interesting than any of the other football stories, and even if I don't like some of the silliness in Hot-shot Hamish I always have the art to treasure. This week we see action from ground level, some from above, and some right on the shoulder of the Hebridean Giant as he blasts his shot at the keeper. It brings me right into the action, and along with the use of the newspaper in the opening panel to tell the story, it is my favourite part of this week's issue. I don't care if the team win or loses, I just want to see more like this, and I sincerely hope that we get at least a couple more weeks out of this game. 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "What are ye doing Hamish?...Ye great loon!" 

Johnny Cougar and Splash Gorton

An odd Johnny Cougar story this week, as he continues in the international wrestling tournament. 

Johnny is training hard, and his companion Splash warns him that he needs to be at his best as he faces his next opponent, Big Jim Jackson. This is backed up by the appearance of Barney Thompson, a reporter from the wrestling magazine, who reiterates to Johnny what a threat Jim Jackson is, and that Jackson had knocked out his opponent in the first match with a killer knockout smash.

Suitably warned, Johnny arrives at the match, only for members of the crowd to likewise warn him what a threat Jim Jackson is. Johnny takes it all in, but he tells Splash that he is sick of all the warnings and just wants to fight. 

Big Jim Jackson lives up to the big part of his name, and he stands considerably higher than Johnny as they face off in the ring. Once the bell rings through, it is Johnny who seizes the initiative. First, he charges Jackson, before hitting him with a shot to the gut. He follows this up with a two-hand smash, and Jackson is laid out, barely seconds into the match. 

With the match won in record time, Johnny tells us that his previously undefeated opponent was too used to winning, and didn't expect an early attack. Splash is overjoyed with the victory, excitedly telling Johhny that he is pleased he won as that makes next week's Christmas celebrations so much bigger.

With a break in the tournament next week, and Splash promising Christmas celebrations, we have another story that will be angling towards a charitable Christmas story. For now, I am celebrating a short sharp story that was purely wrestling focused. I am pleased we didn't dwell too long on this fight, and it was just as satisfying as any other Johnny Cougar bout we have seen. Everything was distilled to its essence. We have a good introduction to his opponent, highlighting how dangerous he was, some in-ring banter, and then some dynamic wrestling action, albeit across only three panels. Not a breath was wasted, and I appreciated it. Next week will be a throwaway storyline, but I look forward to picking up this tournament storyline in the new year 

Rating: 6.5/10

Best line: "Haga! Cougar beat opponent and all warnings!" 

Billy's Boots

Billy is facing the angry tongue of the sportsmaster after dribbling the ball around the referee at the end of last week's issue. A half-mumbled excuse seems to do the trick, and Billy is told he can go back and watch the rest of the game, but he must stay out of trouble. 

He accomplishes this easily enough and as he watches from the sidelines his team win three- one and are through to the next round. There is a chance that Billy might be picked, but first, he has to get over his injury. 

On Saturday morning he heads down to Groundwood Town's ground where he is cleared by the team's doctor. It is now just a matter of Billy finding a way to get match fit. Calling in on the Welldale Wanders he is offered a game, although when he tells his Gran later she expresses concern about him playing with grown men. 

Billy plays well, using his new dribbling trick to beat the opposing left-back. He only does it once, and after that the defender resorts to rough physical tactics to stop him. After crashing to earth a couple of times Billy threatens the defender, only for the referee to warn them both that he'll send them off if this continues. 

The first half of this story wasn't much, but I found the second half very good indeed. Seeing Billy being roughed up by the opposition was true to life, and I could feel the heavy impact of some of the tackles. The art seemed to improve as the strip went along, and again on the final page it became a real highlight, adding to the intensity of what was happening on the page. With the artwork firing on all cylinders, and the writing hitting a fertile streak, Billy's Boots has made great strides this week, and I think this is one of the best ones we've had yet.

Rating: 7.5/10

Best line: "I'll be okay, Gran. Being smaller will help...I'll be able to dodge quicker!"

Tallon Of The Track 

It's racing all the way as the Ospreys take on the Ukrainian Bears. Debenko, leader of the Bears, is giving the Ospreys a hard time, and it is left to Jo Tallon, and her waggling finger, to defend her team. Debenko laughs off the tongue-lashing he receives, telling Jo that perhaps they should be riding pedal bikes. 

Taking stock, Jo rallies the troops. Reserve bikes are bought out, as are the reserve riders, and before heat three she tells her riders she has to attend to a few things, and they should ride as fast as they can from the start.

They do ride fast, but not fast enough, and once again it is the Ukrainian riders who sweep the points. This time it is David Trent who suffers Debenko's boasting. As he looks around for Jo he notices one of the reserves riding onto the track, and realises that it's Jo herself who's about to take on Debenko. 

We were on the track, but not a lot happened. The focus wasn't on the bikes on the track at all, but rather on the drama surrounding the track as Jo and Debenko clashed verbally. I do like seeing the fiery side of Jo emerge, although in this case, it wasn't enough to hold my attention on the story, especially as she was missing for half the story while her team was racing. And the racing itself was hardly gripping, with the team being comprehensively outridden. It all felt rather flat, and as much as I wanted to enjoy it I just couldn't. Debenko is a great character, but the story around him isn't strong enough, and overall I feel this is a wasted opportunity. 

Rating: 5/10

Best line: "Perhaps it is pedal bikes you should be riding...haar, haar, haar!" 

Nipper 

Nipper has scored, but it's too late and the England selectors have already left the ground. Nipper is downhearted, but the rest of the team points out that there are still forty thousand fans at the ground for him to play for and Nipper responds with an outstanding performance - scoring three goals himself and setting up Wilf Tucker for the fourth of the afternoon. 

This earns Nipper a standing ovation, and as he comes off the field Mike Beatson has one more surprise for him - a mystery figure is waiting to meet him and the three goals he has just scored might be the most important of his career. 

Lots to like here. The story was strong throughout, and we continually moved forward on and off the field. Seeing Nipper respond to his fans was entirely in character, and just as important as his relationship with his own team. Mike Beatson again plays an important role in the story, last week it was feining an injury so Nipper could come onto the field, and this week it was finding the mysterious figure who will propel us forward into next week's strip. Throw in a few good goals in typical Nipper style, and we have a great ending to this week's Tiger comic. 

Rating: 7/10

Best line: "The cheeky shrimp! He pushed the ball through the goalie's legs!"

Issue final ratings:

Overall: 6/10

Best Story: Billy's Boots  

Best Line: "Och, it's a' very well to say relax Mister McWhacker but I canna relax! I promised the wee bairns up at the hospital that Princes Park would win!"

Best Panel:

Roy's Sports Quiz: