“Yesterday’s” Comic> Speed Racer: Chronicles Of The Racer #1

Is he supposed to be running up a hill?

Speed Racer: Chronicles Of The Racer #1

IDW (2008)

During a race, the Mach V goes out of control, launching Speed into the air. Only Racer X’s actions save his life. Speed finds a card from “Mercury Pictures” calling him out. Deciding this somehow proves it’s time, Pops shows Speed an underground museum to the Racers. Before it was their last name it was a title of people with a special gift for speed. Speed reads through the Chronicles of previous racers, including one story where charioteer Swiftus Romulus and his Marcus V chariot races the alleged chariot of Mercury, which appears to have no driver. Swiftus ends up winning the race and later that night tracks down the chariot. The driver is actually an albino that turns invisible thanks to an amulet. He poisons Swiftus so that he will race him again, only this time the charioteer takes out more tricks and even the gadgets of the Marcus V is not enough without the help of a masked charioteer, who cuts the amulet in half, one half of which the Racers have protected all this time. Back in Mercury Pictures, someone is watching as Speed enters, not knowing that (as usual) Spridle and Chim-Chim were hiding in the trunk.

I think you may already see my problems with this comic, but I haven’t told you everything. Swiftus’s supporters are dead ringers for Speed’ family and friends, except Spritus has a pet hawk named Chimera. This is a running gag by the way. I wouldn’t mind if the gimmick was simply retelling Speed Racer in other time periods. That might be fun. The problem is these are all Speed’s ancestors and predecessors (I’ll get back to that) and they all seem to be exact matches of the current models but with period names and vehicles. (Except the comic opens with Nubia, 3100 BC, and the Racer is on foot, as is the black-masked guy chasing him.) These aren’t just fun re-imaginings, this is all canon to Speed’s history.

A history that isn’t born of people having a thrill for racing and good skills. No, Speed’s racing ability is the result of “racer powers”. The Nubian guy even has his eyes glowing. The Racers now tap the Speed Force or something, which diminishes all of Speed’s skill as a racer. This was a most unnecessary addition to Speed Racer’s history and actually hurts the character as a result. We’ll be seeing more of that before this series ends on Thursday.