Tiger Kelly remains a figure of menace after all these decades. Is he a man or a boy, or someone pemanently stuck in limbo? These boy-men actually exist, hanging around small towns with nothing to do.
G’day Jason, Dry, JFri, Ottod,Meggsiefan, Frank and all Meggsie’s mates.Another great moment in Meggs. For all my life (and ain’t tellin’ how long that is) I’ve wondered about Tiger’s age and background; at last I at least know how old he is. He has always been a character that steps out of the ether ever so often, does his mischief, and goes away again. The closest analogy I could ever think of was the knight in chess.Perhaps I’ve thought of him as older than 15 but still of indeterminate age. His home life remains a mystery, does he reside in an institution? No parent or neighbours in some sort of communal living could put up with him. As far as my references can indicate he appeared in 1925 wearing similar attire to that nowadays, except that his top had red and black stripes and long sleeves. In keeping with the times he wore a boater hat. Around 1926 he obtained an outlandish check pattern suit which, without doubt, became unwearable after 60-plus years but was never tattered or dirty. He also got a new floppy hat at one stage. Nowadays he seems to still keep his trousers and T-shirt impeccable. He also shaves his head, well, maybe once a week. All that precludes his domicile as being under a bridge somewhere in your locality.Of all the characters in Ginger Meggs, Tiger Kelly has always been an enigma to me. It does not seem possible that at some point of time in the future he will achieve the status of a real life bully. How many followers have attended school reunions in trepidation of renewing enmities with traditional adversaries only to find that, as adults, we found them to be real mates and finished up laughing with them for hours over old times!Conversely, how many of us longed to be an adult one day because ‘adults never argue’, only to find the opposite and yet we could be friends with the old school days adversaries.Jimmy Bancks may have had a reason for introducing Tiger Kelly as a bully who was much older than Ginger; usually bullies are around the age of those they bully, in childhood years anyway. Did/does Tiger represent the unknown perils ahead for a 12 year-old?
Us Fellers. Tiger Kelly lives with his mother. I know because once, when Ginger was looking for a place to hide, he sought sanctuary in TK’s home, talking about music with Mrs Kelly.
I once knew a Tiger Kelly type. Tragically, he committed suicide after years of hanging around, pretending to be a menace.
How do you say Good Evening in Aussie, as the day is over and I am just getting here!Hello I guess for now. Jason, JFri, Us Fellers, ottod and Meggsiefan!
davidblack about 13 years ago
Tiger Kelly remains a figure of menace after all these decades. Is he a man or a boy, or someone pemanently stuck in limbo? These boy-men actually exist, hanging around small towns with nothing to do.
Ginger Meggs about 13 years ago
It seems to have disappeared in the top right corner. Sorry about that, afficionado.
Tiger Kelly is 15 – the boys are 11/12.
usfellers about 13 years ago
G’day Jason, Dry, JFri, Ottod,Meggsiefan, Frank and all Meggsie’s mates.Another great moment in Meggs. For all my life (and ain’t tellin’ how long that is) I’ve wondered about Tiger’s age and background; at last I at least know how old he is. He has always been a character that steps out of the ether ever so often, does his mischief, and goes away again. The closest analogy I could ever think of was the knight in chess.Perhaps I’ve thought of him as older than 15 but still of indeterminate age. His home life remains a mystery, does he reside in an institution? No parent or neighbours in some sort of communal living could put up with him. As far as my references can indicate he appeared in 1925 wearing similar attire to that nowadays, except that his top had red and black stripes and long sleeves. In keeping with the times he wore a boater hat. Around 1926 he obtained an outlandish check pattern suit which, without doubt, became unwearable after 60-plus years but was never tattered or dirty. He also got a new floppy hat at one stage. Nowadays he seems to still keep his trousers and T-shirt impeccable. He also shaves his head, well, maybe once a week. All that precludes his domicile as being under a bridge somewhere in your locality.Of all the characters in Ginger Meggs, Tiger Kelly has always been an enigma to me. It does not seem possible that at some point of time in the future he will achieve the status of a real life bully. How many followers have attended school reunions in trepidation of renewing enmities with traditional adversaries only to find that, as adults, we found them to be real mates and finished up laughing with them for hours over old times!Conversely, how many of us longed to be an adult one day because ‘adults never argue’, only to find the opposite and yet we could be friends with the old school days adversaries.Jimmy Bancks may have had a reason for introducing Tiger Kelly as a bully who was much older than Ginger; usually bullies are around the age of those they bully, in childhood years anyway. Did/does Tiger represent the unknown perils ahead for a 12 year-old?
COWBOY7 about 13 years ago
You need to rethink your strategy, guys!
Good Morning, Meggsie Fans!
davidblack about 13 years ago
Us Fellers. Tiger Kelly lives with his mother. I know because once, when Ginger was looking for a place to hide, he sought sanctuary in TK’s home, talking about music with Mrs Kelly.
I once knew a Tiger Kelly type. Tragically, he committed suicide after years of hanging around, pretending to be a menace.
Ginger Meggs about 13 years ago
Jugears Johnson is Ginger’s same-age bully rival. Tiger is the classic case of ‘the bigger they are, the harder they fall..’
Dry and Dusty Premium Member about 13 years ago
How do you say Good Evening in Aussie, as the day is over and I am just getting here!Hello I guess for now. Jason, JFri, Us Fellers, ottod and Meggsiefan!
i_am_the_jam about 13 years ago
And bullies in Australia are about as untouchable as they are in the US?