SPEED REPUBLIC #1 – Review

SPEED REPUBLIC #1, from Mad Cave Studios on February 2nd, 2022, imagines a future Europe where resources are scarce, and the only choice is to drink polluted water or participate in the annual Speed Race.

The Details

• Written By: Ryan K. Lindsay
• Art By: Emanuele Parascandolo
• Colors By: Michele Monte
• Letters By: Joamette Gil
• Cover Art By: Emanuele Parascandolo, Michele Monte
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: February 2, 2022

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Was It Good?

SPEED REPUBLIC #1 is a new series that borrows from the action subgenre of gladiatorial competition in a dystopian society ala Death Race 2000. The main character, Sebastian, agrees to compete in the annual race where craftiness, guile, and outright sabotage are the norm when competitors vie to be the first to cross the finish line 1300+ miles away.

You can’t find a lot of comics that borrow from the Death Race motif. This series is a pleasant change of pace from the increasingly common horror, superhero, and slice-of-life deluge hitting the markets these days. That said, there are a lot of good elements in this comic, one or two weak spots, and one glaring blank spot that make this issue just a decent start.

The good or strong elements are the clever ways competitors try to sabotage each other during the race. This annual competition has been going on for years, and the narration does an excellent job of grouping the drivers into different categories of motivation. Some are government plants to keep the race “lively”. Some are nihilists simply in it for sanctioned mayhem. Others have something to drive for. You can tell which is which by their crazy maneuvers and inventive collection of booby traps.

The narration, also, clearly lays out how the roadside citizens and businesses are not a fan of the destruction racers cause as they pass by. The mutual dislike between racers and spectators creates an amusing opportunity for sabotage from the public as well as other racers.

The weak points revolve around, to be blunt, a lack of flair or personality in the race. The racers don’t wear unique outfits. The vehicles are generic and don’t appear to have been modified in any way to help with speed or defensive measures. The start of the race looks like any collection of cars moving down the highway you’d find on any given day, so the story is weak on visual distinctiveness.

The glaring omission, the very surprising omission, is the lack of stakes or prize for the winner. If there is one, it’s not mentioned and it’s not tied to the main character’s decision to drive in the race. Why would anyone put themselves through a grueling, deadly race without a reason to do it? Again, if there is one, it’s not spelled out here and its absence is a head-scratcher.

Flaws aside, the art is solid, the premise is unlike anything on the market today (albeit, not a new concept), and the main character is fleshed out enough to make you curious to find out what happens to him.

Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

The premise is simple. We visit Europe in the not-too-distant future. Society has veered into a dystopian territory, import resources are scarce, water is polluted to toxic levels, and the only means of distraction is the annual speed race petitioned by the Autocrat.

The racer rules are simple – get from A to B as fast as you can while obeying safe zones and mandatory stop points. For every stretch of road in between, the only rule is to survive.

Sebastian has signed on to the race. It’s not clear why. During his time to think on the road and mandatory stops along the way, he thinks about his dying father, his siblings, and the girlfriend he left behind. We conclude the issue with emotional flashbacks, booby traps and more booby traps, and a surprise sibling reunion.

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