On this day, 24 May 1975: Tiger and Scorcher
Cover artwork: John Gillatt (artist)
On this day, 24 May 1975 ... Tiger's most successful sporting stories were generally concerned with football, cars or wrestling. Despite cricket's national popularity and the fact that test matches and other international fixtures see it played all year round, it mostly appeared in Tiger during the summer months, as a close-season distraction for the stars of the football strips. I bought my first copy of Roy of the Rovers while on summer holiday somewhere and remember that especially summery sight of seeing Roy and his Rovers chums diving around in cricketing togs on the front cover. This Tiger is from a few years earlier but Billy Dane and pals in whites, a swinging bat and flying stumps recall that bright, exciting, warm-weather feeling. Later in the issue Nipper also tries his hand at cricket, although he hasn’t yet had the courage to change out of his Blackport Rovers footy gear. Dirty Leeds occupy the centre pages, also all in white for the occasion.
Back to Billy’s Boots, and Billy really does seem to be the luckiest guy around. Not content with having discovered Dead-shot Keen’s old football boots, in the summer of 1975 he coincidentally happened across Dead-shots old cricketing clogs – giving him wicked skills on the wicket. Talk about jammy! Watch out for forthcoming series Billy’s X-Factor Microphone, Billy’s Lottery Number-picking Pencil and Billy’s Mint Copy of 23 October 1976 Action Comic.
Billy’s Boots: Fred Baker (writer), John Gillatt (artist)
Skid Solo: Fred Baker (writer), John Vernon (artist)
Martin’s Marvellous Mini: Fred Baker (writer), David Sque (artist)
Hot-shot Hamist: Fred Baker (writer), Julio Schiaffino (artist)
Johnny Cougar: Barrie Tomlinson (writer), Sandy James (artist)
Nipper: Tom Tully (writer), Solano Lopez (artist)
Roy of the Rovers: Tom Tully (writer), Yvonne Hutton (artist)
Roy of the Rovers: Tom Tully (writer), Yvonne Hutton (artist)
Tallon of the Track: James Bleach (artist)
