The Creators – David Pepose – Writer, Davide Tinto – Artist, Rex Lokus – Colours, Buddy Beaudoin – Letters

The Players – Speed Racer, Rex Racer, Spritle, Racer X, Trixie, Pops

The Story – Speed Racer just wants to race. Speed Racer is going to race.

The Take – It is a new era for Speed Racer as he blazes into his first ongoing title since 1987 courtesy of David Pepose, Davide Tinto and Mad Cave Studios. The result? A book that resembles the best aspects of the Fast and Furious franchise – fast cars and family. Everything is done right in this initial outing as readers are introduced to the main cast, including Speed, his father and Spritle. His love of racing and the reasons behind it are revealed in flashbacks, which include the death of his brother Rex.

Meanwhile, the present finds his father demanding that he stop, so he does not share the same fate. Pepose wastes no time in bringing in Racer X, who is going to get his own book while also referring to one of the main antagonists of the series, Dante Ferno. The entire issue is packed with action and races as fast as Speed does on the track. It is exactly what is needed to establish what this title is about, and readers cannot help but be excited as they pore over each and every page. A share of that excitement can be credited to Tinto, whose artwork is the perfect fit for the series. His linework is crisp and clean, detailed and expressive when called for and all of it simply a joy to examine during a second read-through, because one is not enough. Factor in the incredible colours from Red Lokus, and the book is just beautiful to behold. As for Pepose, he has been on a tear as of late. His Space Ghost and Captain Planet books are two of the best on the stands currently, with Speed Racer looking to take its place up on that shelf among them. The man knows the material, and he brings this new iteration into the present while paying dues to the past, and it is thrilling to see this blast from the past make its way to audiences old and new. Of course, the book leaves off with Speed finding himself in a bit of a pickle. How he makes it out is going to make for interesting reading, but it should be a lot of fun finding out. As for Racer X and Dante Ferno, the same applies; each character is a mystery unto themselves at the moment and a mystery that definitely needs exploring. A fun, fantastic start to one of the best series to hit the shelves this summer.

Worth It? – Yes.