SPEED RACER #1 / Script by DAVID PEPOSE / Art by DAVIDE TINTO / Colors by REX LOKUS / Letters by BUDDY BEAUDOIN / Published by MAD CAVE COMICS

Speed Racer was never a franchise that held much appeal to me. I had seen the classic anime, of course, but I’ve never been much for the racing genre in general. Still, I have yet to read a David Pepose story I didn’t enjoy, so I gave Speed Racer #0 a try. And since I enjoyed it, I have likewise given the first official issue of Mad Cave’s Speed Racer a shot. I still do not regret it.

It would be understating it to say that Pepose has updated Speed Racer for the Fast and the Furious generation. Such comparisons are inevitable, however, given the changes to the classic formula. Changes that make the already dark dynamics of the classic cartoon even more serious.

Speed is now a university drop-out, street racing in defiance of his father’s wishes. His parents are separated due to the strain the apparent death of their oldest son had on their relationship. And then there’s the gangs running Palm City from the shadows and the crooked cops that are worse than the gangs…

However, despite the more serious tone, this revamp has changed little of the classic formula. Yes, Spritle is older and working as his brother’s hype-man. Yes, Speed has moving monologues on how he equates racing with freedom. And yes, Trixie, Speed’s new love interest, seems to have secrets of her own. But underneath all the subplots, this is still an action manga about a boy and his car.

This is reflected in the driving sequences, which is where the art team shines. Davide Tinto does a fantastic job rendering the Mach 5 and all the other cars and their outlandish weapons. The colors by Rex Lokus are eye-catching and a project a continual sense of motion. So do the letters by Buddy Beaudoin.

If you ever enjoyed Speed Racer, you would do well to see how Mad Cave have revamped it. If you didn’t enjoy Speed Racer, you might give this book a try to see how they’ve built on the base vehicle. Either way, I think this series is going places.