SPEED RACER Takes Off!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

APRIL 18, 2025 (PORTLAND, OR) — Drive like your legacy depends on it. Get ready, get set, SPEED RACER roars into a bold new era!

Mad Cave Studios and Tatsunoko Production are about to launch Speed Racer, the brand-new ongoing series and the first entry in a larger universe that will include Racer X and Speed Racer: Tales from the Road. Set in a neon-soaked future where racing isn’t just a sport—it’s survival—Speed Racer blends turbocharged action with gritty family drama and high-stakes emotion.

Written by Ringo Award-winner David Pepose (Space Ghost, Savage Avengers) and illustrated by fan-favorite Davide Tinto (Spider-Man, Star Wars), colors by Rex Locus, with lettering by Buddy Beaudoin, this explosive launch centers on a fractured Racer family caught in the fast lane of the deadly Formula X Championship League—featuring a series of exciting star-studded cast of artist variant covers: Cover A by Alessio Zonno, Cover B By Sean Galloway, Cover C by Paulina Ganucheau, Cover D by Nicolette Baldari, Cover E by Sebastian Piriz, Cover F blank sketch, Cover G Retailer Incentive by Chris Batista, Cover H Retailer Incentive by Ken Niimura; plus a Mad Cave exclusive cover by Michael Cho, and a San Diego Comic-Con exclusive by Jo Chen.

Notably, at its heart, Speed Racer is a story about legacy—the one we inherit, the one we outrun, and the one we choose to build.

An all-new interpretation of Tatsunoko Production’s classic anime, Mach GoGoGo, known to Western audiences as 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 goal: 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.

“Buckle your seatbelts, comic fans… we’re putting the pedal to the metal with the return of Speed Racer,” said David Pepose. “I couldn’t be more excited to launch this brand-new series based on the classic cartoon — think of Rocky in a race car, as we push Speed to his absolute limits and beyond in the high-octane Formula X Championship League. As he drives the legendary Mach 5, can even Speed move fast enough to save his family and bring justice back to the tracks? Starting this Free Comic Book Day, get ready for more action, heart, and car chases than you can imagine in the pages of Speed Racer!”

“I am grateful to Tatsunoko and Mad Cave for choosing me to draw this new run as the main artist,” said Davide Tinto. “It’s amazing to be able to work on one of the longest-running, complex, and most exciting stories in entertainment, and I am very happy to have contributed to the aesthetics of this splendid new version of the Speed Racer universe. I can finally say that my name is on this great story that has been driving fans crazy and stimulating collective imaginations for over 50 years.”

Also included in Speed Racer #0 is a gritty backup story from Eisner-winning writer Mark Russell (The Flintstones, Superman: Space Age) and artist Chris Batista (Steel, Spaceknights), which sets the stage for Racer X, a four-issue noir miniseries launching this September.

“I’ve loved the Speed Racer cartoons since I was a kid,” said Mark Russell. “But as an adult, I feel like Racer X is the character who speaks to me the most. So while I’m thrilled to be working in a universe I’ve loved for so long, getting to write a character with the mystique and gravity of Racer X makes it a truly unique opportunity. I hope readers not only enjoy the new direction in which I’m taking Racer X, but sense the love and respect I have for the character as well.”

This isn’t a reboot. It’s a reinvention—one that honors the anime/manga roots of Mach GoGoGo while charting a cinematic new course through tactical racing, espionage, legacy, and redemption.

Whether you’re a nostalgic fan of the Mach 5 or a newcomer seeking high-octane heart, this delivers a story that’s fast, furious, and emotionally resonant. It’s a generational torch-passing done right! Set in the neon-lit chaos of Palm City, Speed Racer #0—which also includes a special Racer X back-up story—is available at comic shops everywhere this Free Comic Book Day (May 3), and will continue with Speed Racer #1 on July 30, 2025.