Some Early Tiger Comics

I don't own very many Tiger comics as I'm more interested in humour strips than I am adventure ones, but I did pick up a cheap bundle in a secondhand shop the other day to see what it was like. There were five issues, numbered #146, #153, #154, #155 and #159, all from 1957. Subtitled 'The Sport and Adventure Picture Story Weekly' and having incorporated The Champion, Tiger does have a nice header, but the real star of the cover is of course Roy of the Rovers, having being there since the very first issue in September 1954. Issue #155 features the first episode in a new adventure in which Roy investigates the football career of Andy McDonald, who will be retiring at the end of the season. Apologies if the images look a little weird, but the comics are a little too big for my scanner so I'm stitching two scans together as best as I can.

I noticed in the title box that it always says "by Stewart Colwyn". Stewart was Roy's scriptwriter; Tiger is good in the way that it credits the writers of the strips which is something I wish comics had done more often.

Tiger had its very own Winker Watson type character on the inside of the back cover. His name was Dodger Caine - The Lad With A Wheeze Up His Sleeve! Of course, this strip beat Winker Watson by several years, as the first adventure of Eric Roberts' creation wouldn't appear until 1961. Ted Cowan writes this strip and the name is, of course, a pun - Dodger Caine - dodge a cane - geddit?

Adverts in old comics are always interesting but these two stood out for me, a couple of adverts for the second Tiger annual and the very first Roy of the Rovers annual.

To wrap up this post I'll show one more strip, and it'll be an episode of Spike and Dusty - Frogman Daredevils. I don't know who the artist is but it has some stunning artwork - that last panel is just jaw dropping. The author is John Chester.

Football in Comics (Part 2)!

It's time for part 2 of my football in comics post! This time we take a look at the 1965 Tiger annual! First up is the mystery of Chinese football! Bet you didn't know these facts!

Of course, Tiger is known for giving birth to one of comics most successful footballers - Roy of the Rovers! This story is about a goalkeeper who gets some ancient perfume for just 5 bob! This strip was printed on glossy paper, but sadly isn't in colour. Drawn by Paul Trevillion.

Suprisingly, that's all on the footy side of things in this annual - but fear not! I'll be back soon with some more footballing antics! If your a fan of humour strips - make sure you keep your eyes peeled!

Football in Comics (Part 1)!

Roy of The Rovers from Tiger annual 1963.

Of course, the big theme at the moment is football - since Euro 2012 has just kicked off! Football has always been a big theme in comics, since there are just so many great stories to be written around the game! We start off with the origin of Odd Ball. This crazy sphere first appeared in Whizzer and Chips issue one from 1969, when he was kicked from the planet Bounco right into the middle of Nobby Noodle's game! Illustrated by Mike Lacey.

School Fun's Coronation Street School were to get into some footballing action, when they challenge Daffodil Avenue to a game - but don't have a team kit! Art by Colin Whittock.

Going back to 1939, the first issue of D.C. Thomson's Magic comic featured Koko the Pup kicking a ball, but a nasty guard bursts it!

This early Joker strip from Knockout in 1971 was the story of our funny lad trying to get into the stadium to watch Knockout United F.C. Obviously, things don't quite work out for him! Drawn by Sid Burgon.

This Mummy's Boy from Monster Fun is all about cunning disguises - the old 'paint your face on a ball' trick! Art by Norman Mansbridge.

You may notice that it says 'Part 1' in the title, and that's because I plan to post some more football comics - including some Hot Shot Hamish and a cartain issue of a comic with loads of football themed strips! Stay tuned!