Mad Cave
Racer X and Speed Racer are back on track to rejuvenate an age-old franchise that not every anime fan may remember. Sure, the Wachowski Brothers (as they were known then) gave us a live-action version, but not everyone was exactly heading to theatres for it. That film was praised for its wildly colourful, hyper-stylized visuals, though its faithfulness to Tatsuo Yoshida’s original creation is debatable.
I loved it for those visuals alone—it’s a surreal fusion of anime and pop-art sensibility that only this team of filmmakers could dream up. And that hubba-hubba in the trailers? Well….
The new comics take a more grounded approach, which feels like the perfect evolution. Both stories explore the emotional and moral engines driving their heroes, especially the bond between Speed and Rex. Rather than just focusing on life in the fast lane, they bring heart, regret, and family legacy to the forefront.
Rex’s arc, written by Mark Russell with art by Nuno Plati and colours by Giada Marchisio, reads like a sleek noir. His story explores how a man torn between justice and family finds himself fading into the shadows to protect those he loves. It almost plays out like a high-octane reimagining of The Green Hornet—a masked vigilante balancing law and legacy. The art team delivers pure intensity, giving Racer X’s journey the grit it deserves. It’s no surprise this origin tale is planned as an eight-issue mini-series; it’s stylish, pulpy, and quietly tragic.
Meanwhile, Speed Racer’s storyline hits the gas with its own emotional stakes. Speed must race harder and faster than ever, haunted by his brother’s presumed death and the weight of his father’s failing health. Pop Racer’s heart problems add a deeply human urgency—if Speed doesn’t win, he might lose more than a race.
By issue #2, the stakes skyrocket when the C.A.T. Team (Car Acrobatic Team) reappears, tying directly into Rex’s past. With #5 (released in early November) near the finish line as Speed is racing toe to toe with Kim Jugger, only one is guaranteed to cross it! The action is beautifully storyboarded, and it’s taking the Fast and Furious formula to a different level!
Supporting characters like Spritle and Chim-Chim are still along for the ride, but they’re treated with more restraint here. Trixie, meanwhile, has been kept in the pit crew for now—though I’m eager to see her take the wheel in later issues.
The creative pit crew—David Pepose (writer), Davide Tinto (pencils), and Rex Lokus (colours)—bring high-octane energy to Speed Racer’s world, offering a perfect counterbalance to Racer X’s grittier tone. Together, both titles create a dynamic narrative engine, setting up what could become Mad Cave Studios’ own shared universe. Given how they’re handling Gatchaman, it’s safe to bet more character one-shots and crossovers are on the horizon.
This reboot isn’t just nostalgia fuel—it’s a stylish and emotionally charged reinvention that knows when to hit the brakes and when to floor it.
5 out of 5
Speed Racer Original Music
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