Review: Speed Racer #9
From Mad Cave Studios
The beginning of a new story arc and something a bit darker in Speed Racer #9 from Mad Cave Studios.
The Demon on Wheels!
A new performance drug called V-Gas is turning drivers into fearless, violent monsters and after a brutal clash with the Crazy Mask Gang, Speed Racer may be its most dangerous victim. Racing harder, faster and more ruthless than ever, Speed transforms the Mach 5 into a weapon, leaving wreckage in his wake.
Now Racer X must make an impossible call: save his brother from the gas’s grip… or stop the demon on wheels before he destroys everything.
Written by David Pepose
Art by Davide Tinto
Colors by Jão Canola
Lettering by Buddy Beaudoin
A new story arc that begins with a flashback to give us some history of this gas, and Racer X’s involvement in getting it off the streets.
Regrettably, it appears he wasn’t totally successful in this endeavour, and it has now entered the race circuit. And this is going to cause more problems.
After a race where Speed is exposed to the gas, there is a quick change in Speed’s demeanour, and now he is more reckless and aggressive. This leads to some excellent action sequences involving Speed and his new way of racing. There are some exceptional panels here, and there is some real high-octane moves.
Speed’s reaction to the drug is especially well-told. Driving like he is and also driving those around him away from him as he reacts to the drugged gas. This adds something to the story and Racer X’s involvement book ending the story works to add something extra to the story for us readers.
This looks to be an interesting addition to the story and adding a new type of threat for Speed. This needs to be dealt with in a new way: with the added threat of withdrawal symptoms to the gas being violently aggressive.
This was a packed issue with some fast racing scenes, family aspects and some threat from a new location for the team. It will be intriguing to see where this will go next.
