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Speed Racer Vol. 1
Not yet published
Expected 31 Mar 26Buckle up for an explosive new take on Speed Racer—where underground races are lethal, a crime syndicate has his family in its sights, and the road to victory is lined with bullets, betrayal, and burning rubber. In this high-octane reboot from David Pepose and Davide Tinto, Speed’s toughest battle won’t be on the track…it’ll be surviving what comes after the finish line.
An all-new interpretation of Tatsuo Yoshida’s classic manga/anime, MachGoGoGo, known to Western audiences as Speed Racer! Buckle up for an explosive new take on Speed Racer—where underground races are lethal, a crime syndicate has his family in its sights, and the road to victory is lined with bullets, betrayal, and burning rubber. In this high-octane reboot from David Pepose and Davide Tinto, Speed’s toughest battle won’t be on the track…it’ll be surviving what comes after the finish line. We're going pedal to the metal in this all-new interpretation of Tatsuo Yoshida’s classic manga/anime MachGoGoGo, known to Western audiences as the demon on wheels -- Speed Racer! Speed Racer lives for the thrill of the race, but on the underground circuit, the rules are anything goes. Dodging bullets, explosions, and dirty tricks, he’s got one to prove he’s the best. But when a dangerous syndicate targets his family, Speed’s greatest challenge won’t be on the track…it’ll be on the streets. With the police closing in and a masked racer lurking in the shadows, Speed is about to learn that some races can’t be won with horsepower alone. Award-winning writer David Pepose (Space Ghost, Savage Avengers) and superstar artist Davide Tinto ( The Mystery of the Ultraseven, Star Bounty Hunters) co-pilot an action-packed reboot of the classic franchise. Collects issues 1-5 plus the Free Comic Book Day short story.
An all-new interpretation of Tatsuo Yoshida’s classic manga/anime, MachGoGoGo, known to Western audiences as Speed Racer! Buckle up for an explosive new take on Speed Racer—where underground races are lethal, a crime syndicate has his family in its sights, and the road to victory is lined with bullets, betrayal, and burning rubber. In this high-octane reboot from David Pepose and Davide Tinto, Speed’s toughest battle won’t be on the track…it’ll be surviving what comes after the finish line. We're going pedal to the metal in this all-new interpretation of Tatsuo Yoshida’s classic manga/anime MachGoGoGo, known to Western audiences as the demon on wheels -- Speed Racer! Speed Racer lives for the thrill of the race, but on the underground circuit, the rules are anything goes. Dodging bullets, explosions, and dirty tricks, he’s got one to prove he’s the best. But when a dangerous syndicate targets his family, Speed’s greatest challenge won’t be on the track…it’ll be on the streets. With the police closing in and a masked racer lurking in the shadows, Speed is about to learn that some races can’t be won with horsepower alone. Award-winning writer David Pepose (Space Ghost, Savage Avengers) and superstar artist Davide Tinto ( The Mystery of the Ultraseven, Star Bounty Hunters) co-pilot an action-packed reboot of the classic franchise. Collects issues 1-5 plus the Free Comic Book Day short story.
120 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 31, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 25, 2026
Such a fun take on Speed Racer that is true to the original cartoon but adds modern tech and great melodrama to the series along with amazing car chases and races that also hits so many great emotional beats.
Special Thanks to Mad Cave Studios and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
Special Thanks to Mad Cave Studios and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for an advance copy of this graphic novel that tells of a boy's need for both speed and revenge, the fantastic races he finds himself in, his family, his mysterious protector, and maybe even love.
I remember watching MTV when they were showing just about anything in an attempt to get people watching them. This was before TRL made it destination viewing for tweens, the crazy days where the hype was off music videos, and showing the Monkees and other odd things just worked. I came across a cartoon that I had never heard of, one I knew was old from the animation, and the many ah noises the characters made. Cars flew through the air, there was a chimp, which sold me, and lots of explosions and people dying, usually off screen. I was hooked. Speed Racer was based on an older Japanese anime, updated in some ways, not well, but a lot of fun. Odd, but fun. So when I heard that Speed Racer was returning, I didn't really give it much thought. Just another intellectual property I thought, but in this I was wrong, and I am happy to say this. This was a blast, like being passed by the Mach Five, as it catapults through the air. Speed Racer Vol. 1 is written by David Pepose with art by Davide Tinto and updates the story of a young man with a need for the Speed in his first name, hoping to save his family from an evil group of racers, and maybe impress his female boss.
Palm City is not a peaceful place. The streets are filled with the revving of car engines, the screech of brakes, and the cries of wounded metal as cars race, crash and explode. Into this drives Speed Racer, the son of Pops Racer the car designer. Speed has always wanted to be a racer, but his father is against this. The lure of racing has cost the family Speed's older brother Rex, killed in a suspicious crash, and Pops is adamant that Speed will not race. So Speed takes to street racing, along with his younger brother and his monkey companion, filming Speed's races for social media. While out Speed's father is beaten by a rival gang, the same that killed Speed's older brother. The only cure is an expensive operation, one the Racer clan can't afford. Speed's only option is to take his father's experimental car the Mach Five, and win enough races to pay for the operation. Speed is soon beset by various villains, hoping to stop Speed, but is helped by the mysterious Racer X, who has his own reasons for helping Speed. Soon the biggest race is at hand, the one where he lost his brother. Does Speed have the skill to win, and what dangers await him high in the hills.
This was a lot of fun. The plot and characters have been updated, girlfriends, are race owners, people are aged up, and a few of them are missing. For now. The story is good, drawing on many classic race stories, and keeping the fact that Mach Five can jump, bounce shoot grappling hooks, have giant blades, and yet not sacrifice weight for speed. The art is really good. The characters look great, the environments are really clean and crisp. The racing scenes are very kinetic, with lots of motion, lots of action, and some real cliffhanging stunts. All without losing the feeling of the classic show. Plus there is a monkey.
I enjoyed this a lot, more than I expected. I have read the first volumes for both this and the Racer X story, and really want to read more. Both capture the feel, the craziness of the show, with a nice modernizing that doesn't take anything away. I can't wait to read more adventures set in this world.
I remember watching MTV when they were showing just about anything in an attempt to get people watching them. This was before TRL made it destination viewing for tweens, the crazy days where the hype was off music videos, and showing the Monkees and other odd things just worked. I came across a cartoon that I had never heard of, one I knew was old from the animation, and the many ah noises the characters made. Cars flew through the air, there was a chimp, which sold me, and lots of explosions and people dying, usually off screen. I was hooked. Speed Racer was based on an older Japanese anime, updated in some ways, not well, but a lot of fun. Odd, but fun. So when I heard that Speed Racer was returning, I didn't really give it much thought. Just another intellectual property I thought, but in this I was wrong, and I am happy to say this. This was a blast, like being passed by the Mach Five, as it catapults through the air. Speed Racer Vol. 1 is written by David Pepose with art by Davide Tinto and updates the story of a young man with a need for the Speed in his first name, hoping to save his family from an evil group of racers, and maybe impress his female boss.
Palm City is not a peaceful place. The streets are filled with the revving of car engines, the screech of brakes, and the cries of wounded metal as cars race, crash and explode. Into this drives Speed Racer, the son of Pops Racer the car designer. Speed has always wanted to be a racer, but his father is against this. The lure of racing has cost the family Speed's older brother Rex, killed in a suspicious crash, and Pops is adamant that Speed will not race. So Speed takes to street racing, along with his younger brother and his monkey companion, filming Speed's races for social media. While out Speed's father is beaten by a rival gang, the same that killed Speed's older brother. The only cure is an expensive operation, one the Racer clan can't afford. Speed's only option is to take his father's experimental car the Mach Five, and win enough races to pay for the operation. Speed is soon beset by various villains, hoping to stop Speed, but is helped by the mysterious Racer X, who has his own reasons for helping Speed. Soon the biggest race is at hand, the one where he lost his brother. Does Speed have the skill to win, and what dangers await him high in the hills.
This was a lot of fun. The plot and characters have been updated, girlfriends, are race owners, people are aged up, and a few of them are missing. For now. The story is good, drawing on many classic race stories, and keeping the fact that Mach Five can jump, bounce shoot grappling hooks, have giant blades, and yet not sacrifice weight for speed. The art is really good. The characters look great, the environments are really clean and crisp. The racing scenes are very kinetic, with lots of motion, lots of action, and some real cliffhanging stunts. All without losing the feeling of the classic show. Plus there is a monkey.
I enjoyed this a lot, more than I expected. I have read the first volumes for both this and the Racer X story, and really want to read more. Both capture the feel, the craziness of the show, with a nice modernizing that doesn't take anything away. I can't wait to read more adventures set in this world.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I've heard of Speed Racer for ages but never saw the original anime, read the manga, or even bothered to watch the 2008 film. But I really wanted to read this in order to finally get acquainted with this long-beloved, iconic series, and I'm so pleased that Mad Cave studios granted me a digital ARC for the purposes of leaving an honest review.
I had a lot of fun with this. There's a classic feel to the comic, thanks to some cheesy character names (Dante Ferno, for example) and fun word play and puns. There's a lot of action and the pacing is top-notch for a story that's all about the thrill and speed of the chase. I was not bored the entire time I was reading this--in fact I zoomed through this comic.
I like that Speed Racer is motivated not only by the joy of racing, but even more so by the love of his family. He wants to honor his dead brother Rex's legacy, but also needs to provide for his family. He's been helping pay back bills through his street racing wins, and when his father is attacked and has a heart attack, he learns that the hospital bills for a transplant will total to about one million dollars, which just so happens to be the pot for a certain Formula X racing competition. So, Speed Racer rises to the occasion!
There are enemies on all sides here--crooked race teams, and of course, the cops of Palm City--but Speed Racer can't help but come out on top, even with the introduction of a mysterious masked racer, Racer X, who at first tries to talk Speed Racer out of racing (even betting against Speed's racecar). However, when Racer X sees that Speed is all heart, he relents and encourages Speed to go even further, especially if it's for the sake of others.
I kind of knew in my gut almost immediately who Racer X was going to be (his identity is revealed at the end of the volume) but that didn't bother me one bit. In fact, it excited me to go further with reading this series.
With frenetic pacing, vivid artwork and colors, and nonstop action, this first volume of Speed Racer goes down in my book as a hit.
I had a lot of fun with this. There's a classic feel to the comic, thanks to some cheesy character names (Dante Ferno, for example) and fun word play and puns. There's a lot of action and the pacing is top-notch for a story that's all about the thrill and speed of the chase. I was not bored the entire time I was reading this--in fact I zoomed through this comic.
I like that Speed Racer is motivated not only by the joy of racing, but even more so by the love of his family. He wants to honor his dead brother Rex's legacy, but also needs to provide for his family. He's been helping pay back bills through his street racing wins, and when his father is attacked and has a heart attack, he learns that the hospital bills for a transplant will total to about one million dollars, which just so happens to be the pot for a certain Formula X racing competition. So, Speed Racer rises to the occasion!
There are enemies on all sides here--crooked race teams, and of course, the cops of Palm City--but Speed Racer can't help but come out on top, even with the introduction of a mysterious masked racer, Racer X, who at first tries to talk Speed Racer out of racing (even betting against Speed's racecar). However, when Racer X sees that Speed is all heart, he relents and encourages Speed to go even further, especially if it's for the sake of others.
I kind of knew in my gut almost immediately who Racer X was going to be (his identity is revealed at the end of the volume) but that didn't bother me one bit. In fact, it excited me to go further with reading this series.
With frenetic pacing, vivid artwork and colors, and nonstop action, this first volume of Speed Racer goes down in my book as a hit.
Review of advance copy
I've been reading this comic month by month as it's come out, so I don't have the TPB yet, but I have read the story.
This was a fun reimagining of the world of Speed Racer. I've been in love since I watched the 2008 movie, and this has been a great addition to the world.
The family is still the heart of the story, and it still revolves around the little guy punching up against the big corporations, two aspects essential to telling stories about Speed Racer.
The new character designs are awesome, the world is vibrant, and the cars are more akin to stock cars than in the movie, but they each still have their own character.
The best reimagining has to be Trixie's character. Rather than being the jealous girlfriend of the 1967 anime, or the badass girlfriend with little identity outside her relationship with Speed, she is now the team principal of her family racing team, kind of like Clair Williams used to be in F1. It's a great upgrade that gives her a stronger sense of history.
I do have two complaints:
1. I don't like Mom and Pops being split up. It doesn't really add anything to the story.
2. In some of the earlier issues, I want a little more from the racing. This does get better as the story progresses.
Overall, this was really enjoyable and I recommend to all fans of Speed Racer.
This was a fun reimagining of the world of Speed Racer. I've been in love since I watched the 2008 movie, and this has been a great addition to the world.
The family is still the heart of the story, and it still revolves around the little guy punching up against the big corporations, two aspects essential to telling stories about Speed Racer.
The new character designs are awesome, the world is vibrant, and the cars are more akin to stock cars than in the movie, but they each still have their own character.
The best reimagining has to be Trixie's character. Rather than being the jealous girlfriend of the 1967 anime, or the badass girlfriend with little identity outside her relationship with Speed, she is now the team principal of her family racing team, kind of like Clair Williams used to be in F1. It's a great upgrade that gives her a stronger sense of history.
I do have two complaints:
1. I don't like Mom and Pops being split up. It doesn't really add anything to the story.
2. In some of the earlier issues, I want a little more from the racing. This does get better as the story progresses.
Overall, this was really enjoyable and I recommend to all fans of Speed Racer.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐ Comics | Action | Racing
Thank you to Mad Cave Studios for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Speed Racer Vol. 1 drops readers straight into the high-octane world of Palm City, where racing is intense, flashy, and anything but ordinary. The story follows Speed as he competes against rival racers whose cars feature wild, over the top mechanics, pushing each race into almost impossible territory. Speed’s own car pulls off gravity defying stunts that make every competition feel explosive and fun.
The narrative weaves in flashbacks that add context to the characters and their motivations, helping balance the nonstop action with bits of backstory. This comic feels very true to the classic Speed Racer cartoons, capturing that same exaggerated energy, fast pacing, and larger than life racing spectacle.
Overall, Speed Racer Vol. 1 is a ride that leans fully into its roots. Fans of the original series, or anyone who enjoys action-packed racing comics with outrageous mechanics, will likely have a great time with this one.
Thank you to Mad Cave Studios for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Speed Racer Vol. 1 drops readers straight into the high-octane world of Palm City, where racing is intense, flashy, and anything but ordinary. The story follows Speed as he competes against rival racers whose cars feature wild, over the top mechanics, pushing each race into almost impossible territory. Speed’s own car pulls off gravity defying stunts that make every competition feel explosive and fun.
The narrative weaves in flashbacks that add context to the characters and their motivations, helping balance the nonstop action with bits of backstory. This comic feels very true to the classic Speed Racer cartoons, capturing that same exaggerated energy, fast pacing, and larger than life racing spectacle.
Overall, Speed Racer Vol. 1 is a ride that leans fully into its roots. Fans of the original series, or anyone who enjoys action-packed racing comics with outrageous mechanics, will likely have a great time with this one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Mad Cave Studios provided an early galley for review.
I remember watching syndicated reruns of the late 1960's Speed Racer cartoon as a kid. It was nice to see that Mad Cave produced a mini-series (issues 0 to 5 are collected in this volume) of the classic.
Of course, the story is moved into modern times (right out the gate, we see Spritle does live streams on ViewTube) while also maintaining so many of the classic elements as well. All the supporting cast is here as well as the high-speed action and out-of-this-world gadgets that trick out the Fomula X vehicles.
All the elements work here to create a classic origin story for this hero. Pepose brings the heart and family values that were foundational to the original franchise. Tinto does an outstanding job whether its the people, the fashion, the scenery of Palm City or the vehicles: everything looks amazing. And the colors by Rex Lokus bring it all over the top. It is a good-time read.
I remember watching syndicated reruns of the late 1960's Speed Racer cartoon as a kid. It was nice to see that Mad Cave produced a mini-series (issues 0 to 5 are collected in this volume) of the classic.
Of course, the story is moved into modern times (right out the gate, we see Spritle does live streams on ViewTube) while also maintaining so many of the classic elements as well. All the supporting cast is here as well as the high-speed action and out-of-this-world gadgets that trick out the Fomula X vehicles.
All the elements work here to create a classic origin story for this hero. Pepose brings the heart and family values that were foundational to the original franchise. Tinto does an outstanding job whether its the people, the fashion, the scenery of Palm City or the vehicles: everything looks amazing. And the colors by Rex Lokus bring it all over the top. It is a good-time read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley & Mad Cave Studios for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.
What a fantastic reboot of a beloved series!
Pepose did a great job in updating the Speed Racer world while still keeping true to its roots. Spritle being a Youtuber is GENIUS and makes perfect sense. The racing is easy to follow and it's so fun and fast-paced!
I really like the artwork too, sometimes artists can only draw cars really well but struggle with humans, or vice versa, but Davide Tinto did a fantastic job with drawing everything! I especially like Trixie's updated design--as well as character, I'm glad she's going to be fleshed out more than just "Speed's girlfriend" haha.
The only complaint I have is Ma not being in the picture but I'm guessing that'll be family drama saved for later. I guess they have to spice up the formula somehow!
What a fantastic reboot of a beloved series!
Pepose did a great job in updating the Speed Racer world while still keeping true to its roots. Spritle being a Youtuber is GENIUS and makes perfect sense. The racing is easy to follow and it's so fun and fast-paced!
I really like the artwork too, sometimes artists can only draw cars really well but struggle with humans, or vice versa, but Davide Tinto did a fantastic job with drawing everything! I especially like Trixie's updated design--as well as character, I'm glad she's going to be fleshed out more than just "Speed's girlfriend" haha.
The only complaint I have is Ma not being in the picture but I'm guessing that'll be family drama saved for later. I guess they have to spice up the formula somehow!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A western remake of a Japanese original, MachGoGoGo. It’s set in an imaginary Palm City where Formula X racers fill the streets at night. X stands for experimental, which means anything goes, including weapons.
Speed Racer, a college drop-out, wants to be the best driver, to beat even his older brother who has died in a race. His death has broken their family, but when a crime syndicate targets his father, he wows to win the tournament to save him.
This was fast-paced and very confusing. There were too many elements. Racing, criminals, cops, and family drama. Art was very old-fashioned, maybe as an homage to the original, even though the story takes place in modern world, but it was full-colour and beautiful. There was a good twist at the end, though I’d already guessed it.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Speed Racer, a college drop-out, wants to be the best driver, to beat even his older brother who has died in a race. His death has broken their family, but when a crime syndicate targets his father, he wows to win the tournament to save him.
This was fast-paced and very confusing. There were too many elements. Racing, criminals, cops, and family drama. Art was very old-fashioned, maybe as an homage to the original, even though the story takes place in modern world, but it was full-colour and beautiful. There was a good twist at the end, though I’d already guessed it.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“Speed Racer Vol. 1” collects the first 5 issues of David Pepose’s rebirth of this racing legend. As a kid in the 70s and 80s, Speed Racer was must watch tv for me. So, when I saw this graphic novel on NetGalley, I begged to be able to read this. And I was not disappointed.
The artwork is so beautiful. It’s colorful, clearly defined, yet never strays from honoring the legendary work that went before it. The story is good, but a little drawn out.
It was enjoyable catching up with my childhood friends, but I must say, please let Chim Chim get into a bit of mischief. Looking forward to the Racer X graphic novel that was advertised at the end.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
The artwork is so beautiful. It’s colorful, clearly defined, yet never strays from honoring the legendary work that went before it. The story is good, but a little drawn out.
It was enjoyable catching up with my childhood friends, but I must say, please let Chim Chim get into a bit of mischief. Looking forward to the Racer X graphic novel that was advertised at the end.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Speed Racer Vol. 1 is a fast, high-energy reboot that brings the classic franchise roaring into the modern era. This version leans into darker, underground racing, where the stakes go far beyond winning trophies and quickly become personal for Speed and his family.
The story balances nonstop action with tension and mystery, pushing Speed to rely on more than just raw driving skill. The artwork is dynamic and kinetic, making every race feel chaotic and cinematic, and it’s easy to get swept up in the momentum.
Overall, this is a strong, stylish start that works well for both longtime fans and newcomers. A solid 4-star read for anyone who loves action-packed comics and high-speed thrills. 🏁🚗💨
The story balances nonstop action with tension and mystery, pushing Speed to rely on more than just raw driving skill. The artwork is dynamic and kinetic, making every race feel chaotic and cinematic, and it’s easy to get swept up in the momentum.
Overall, this is a strong, stylish start that works well for both longtime fans and newcomers. A solid 4-star read for anyone who loves action-packed comics and high-speed thrills. 🏁🚗💨
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It’s not bad actually, I never knew there was a anime adaptation of this back in the 60s. It reminds you of wacky races in the 21st century actually with all kinds of racers killing each other with booby traps. Even if you’re not into the racing genre, you might get a kick out of this. However the story was too fast, Speedys relationship with Trixie was too fast and we hardly get to know the other characters properly outside the main leads circle. I just felt we needed more variety of interesting characters then just the “generic hero” leads.
Got this via Netgalley and publisher to waste time on!
Got this via Netgalley and publisher to waste time on!
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