Tiger (Fleetway)

Tiger
Publication information
Publisher	IPC Magazines Ltd Fleetway
Schedule	Weekly
Format	Ongoing series
Publication date	September 11 1954 – March 30 1985
Number of issues	1555
Main character(s)	Roy of the Rovers
Editor(s)	Derek Birnage

Tiger was a British comic magazine published from 1954 to 1985. The comic was launched under the editorship of Derek Birnage^[1] on 11 September 1954,^[2] under the name Tiger – The Sport and Adventure Picture Story Weekly,^[3] and featured predominantly sporting strips. Its most popular strip was Roy of the Rovers, a football-based strip recounting the life of Roy Race and the team he played for, Melchester Rovers. This strip proved so successful it was spun out of Tiger and into its own comic.^[4] The next Editor was Barrie Tomlinson. Barrie became Group Editor in 1976, with Paul Gettens as Editor. Following successive mergers with other Fleetway publications in the 1960s the comic was known as Tiger and Hurricane, then Tiger and Jag, then it was coupled with the football magazine Scorcher in 1974, resulting in Tiger and Scorcher appearing for more than 6 years. Later there was a further, less successful, merger with another comic called Speed, in 1980. The end finally came on 30 March 1985, with some strips moving to The Eagle.^[5] In all, 1,555 issues were published, as well as a number of hard-cover annuals.^[6] Editorial Assistants have included Tony Peagam, Paul Gettens, Terence Magee Art Editors included Mike Swanson, Trish Gordon-Pugh Art Assistant: Maurice Dolphin Letterers: Stanley Richardson, Paul Bensberg, Peter Knight, John Aldrich

List of strips

This list is incomplete. You can help to complete it.

• Billy's Boots (writer Fred Baker artist John Gilliat) – moved to Eagle, then Roy of the Rovers
• Death Wish (writer Barrie Tomlinson artist Vano) – moved to Eagle
• Fairs Please!
• File of Fame (writer Terence Magee artist Jim Bleach)
• Fisty Flynn
• Football Family Robinson(writer Fred Baker artist Joe Colquhoun) about a lower division side called Thatchem United. All players had to be Robinson family members under the tutelage of Grandma Robinson. Team members included Crash Robinson (goalie), Alf Robinson, Fred Robinson, Grizzly Bear Robinson, Ron Robinson and Tich Robinson. Their biggest moment was when they got to Wembley and won the League Cup, in a manner similar to Swindon Town's 1969 victory over Arsenal in the same competition. The story resumed in Roy of the Rovers in the late 1970s.
• Golden Boy – moved to Eagle
• Hot Shot Hamish (writer Fred Baker artist Julio Schiaffino) – moved to Roy of the Rovers
• Jet-Ace Logan
• Johnny Cougar (writer Barrie Tomlinson artist Sandy James) – A native American wrestler who grappled with a number of colourful opponents.
• King Of The Track (writer Paul Gettens artist?)
• Martin's Marvellous Mini (writer Fred Baker, artist David Sque^[7])
• Nipper(writer Tom Tully artist Roylance)
• Olac the Gladiator
• Paceman
• Rod And Line (writer Paul Gettens artist ?)
• Roy of the Rovers (writer Tom Tully, artists David Sque^[8] and Yvonne Hutton) – spun off into its own comic in 1976 (but continued to have stories in Tiger for a couple of years after this)
• Skid Solo (writer Fred Baker artist John Vernon) – a British Formula 1 Driver in the 70s/80s
• Sintek
• The Slogger from Down Under
• The Strong Guy
• Star Rider – moved to Eagle
• The Suicide Six
• Tallon of the Track – tomboy Jo Tallon runs the Flying Ospreys speedway team
• Topps On Two Wheels (title later changed to Topps)
• The Tough Game – a rugby league story involving the exploits of three friends, Duggie Batson, Big Ernie Barnes and Ape Man.
• Typhoon Tracy, Trouble-shooter

In addition, sports stars such as Tony Greig, Geoff Boycott, Trevor Francis, Ian Botham and Charlie Nicholas wrote columns for Tiger. Also many TV stars such as Morecambe and Wise appeared in Christmas issues, usually dressed up as Santa Claus!

Notes and references

External links

• Roy of the Rovers official website