SPEED RACER #3 – New Comic Review

Speed Racer #3, by Mad Cave Studios on 10/1/25, finds Speed facing off against the mysterious Racer X while the Mach 5 lands in the wrong hands, setting the stage for chaos both on and off the track.

Credits:

• Writer: David Pepose
• Artist: Davide Tinto
• Colorist: Rex Lokus
• Letterer: Buddy Beaudoin
• Cover Artist: Alessio Zonno (cover A)
• Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
• Release Date: October 1, 2025
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 32
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of SPEED RACER #3:

First Impressions:

This issue hits the ground running, throwing readers smack into a midnight showdown where every turn is a risk. Aggression sparks off the page. No gentle laps here, just full-throttle intensity and prickly exchanges. The world of Formula X has never looked faster, sharper, or more dangerous.

Recap:

The previous issue saw Pops Racer’s health spiral after a brutal shakedown at Pops’ Motors, leaving Speed racing against time to save his father and uphold the family legacy. Speed tangled with the shadowy Car Acrobatic Team and an ace rival, barely surviving a crash and getting a taste of the relentless world of Formula X. The stakes were set high for the championship, but the real battles happened off-track, tangled in family crisis and criminal chaos.

Plot Analysis:

Speed Racer, still reeling from the attack on Pops’ Motors, is haunted by the pressure to make things right for his family. Rex’s memory looms large, fueling Speed’s determination, even as Pops clings to life and the past threatens to overtake the present. Club Diesel becomes the next battleground, where Speed digs for answers, only to trigger a barroom brawl with the Car Acrobatic Team, pulling Spritle and Chim-Chim into the chaos.

The appearance of Racer X turns the whole encounter on its head; dismissive, cold, and quick to challenge Speed’s credentials, X throws down the gauntlet for a race that isn’t just about glory. It’s about survival and respect. The race itself is a masterful display of cunning and technical skill, with both drivers unleashing their tricks: Speed’s instinct and the Mach 5’s gadgets clash against Racer X’s precision driving. In the end, X forces Speed to confront the real stakes rather than just his own pride.

Ace Deucey and the Wild Card Gang swoop in, swiping the Mach 5 right after the big contest, with Spritle accidentally taken prisoner in the getaway. Speed partners with Racer X for a scramble rescue on the unfinished freeway, pushing both cars and nerves to the limit. Crazy maneuvers, gadgets, and teamwork manage to save Spritle and reclaim the Mach 5, despite dirty fighting from Ace and his gang.

The final lap is bittersweet: Speed hands over the Mach 5 to Racer X per their bet but earns unexpected respect and needed cash for the next qualifier. The emotional core lands with Speed’s honest drive to help Pops and Racer X’s cryptic advice about the importance of family, setting up the challenge with Black Jaguar in the next issue

Story

David Pepose’s dialogue snaps and crackles with tension, layering grit onto every exchange and giving each character, especially Speed and Racer X, a sharp foil in their rivalry. The pacing whips readers through scenes without letting up, and Pepose’s script never misses a chance to anchor action in emotional stakes. Every twist and turn in the story is built on Speed’s personal challenges and moral conflict, with clear through-lines that make this issue more than just another race.

Art

Davide Tinto’s art balances the wild, kinetic racing sequences with character-driven moments, delivering explosions of color and motion in every panel. The nighttime palette pops, rendering the city, cars, and gang costumes in high contrast against deep shadows. Layouts punch up the action, whether it’s a sprawling race or a bar fight. Each page reads like a storyboard for an over-the-top animated classic.

Characters

Speed’s desperation and stubborn drive take center stage, flanked by Racer X’s aloof wisdom and Spritle’s slapstick courage. The Wild Card Gang brings a whirlwind of chaos, their playing card-themed designs a comic relief in the tense mood. Even supporting characters like Pops and Trixie get enough screen time to feel like crucial pieces of Speed’s motivation.

Positives

Standout moments are everywhere: the race with Racer X, full of technical challenges; the rescue of Spritle, which mixes genuine peril with madcap comedy; and the strong emotional beats about Speed’s family ties. Tinto’s art is vibrant and expressive, and the pacing never drags, keeping each sequence taut but fun

Negatives

The bar fight drags on longer than needed and the Wild Card Gang’s antics stray into cartoon territory, sometimes undercutting the danger. Some transitions between action scenes feel abrupt, leaving supporting motivations in the dust, and Racer X’s cryptic advice can come off a bit forced or pat.

Art Samples:

Final Thoughts:

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SPEED RACER #3 roars off the line with smart writing and wild art, leaving only a few bumps in its wake; a bracing shot of adrenaline with a family-sized heart. Even when the plot stumbles, the energy never lets up, and this issue proves it: Formula X isn’t for tourists, and neither is sharp, kinetic comic storytelling

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