Sajad Shah PCB Hobby Foil Variant
M1: Monster Racing League #1
Writer: Lily & Robert Windom
Artist: Jae Lee
Cover Artists: Jae Lee, Anna Zhuo, Jon J. Muth, Johnny Segura, Tony Trophy & Sajad Shah
Colorist: June Chung
Letterer: Joe Sabino
What happens when you mix the breakneck speed of Initial D with the laid-back charm of a slice-of-life anime? M1: Monster Racing League #1 has an answer, and while the destination isn't entirely original, the ride is undeniably stylish.
Faster Than a Laser Bullet, Louder Than an Atom Bomb...
Dev Raines is a high school senior who moves from San Diego all the way to Tokyo. While taking in everything the city has to offer, she stumbles upon a cat café and meets the chaotically wholesome Marise. Looking for an adrenaline rush, Dev gets introduced to an underground racing circuit known as The Line, where the best racers compete in regional tournaments. Perform well enough, and you earn the opportunity to compete in the national championship.
Will Dev rise to the occasion? And will Marise ever switch to decaf?
Quench My Thirst With Gasoline
As Dev takes in the sights and sounds of Japanese racing culture, we’re introduced to Marise’s brother, Kaito. A too-cool-for-school, blue-haired racer who, according to Dev, looks like Felix from Stray Kids. I’ll just pretend I’m keeping up with the K-Pop references and ignore my 30th birthday slowly creeping closer...
Anyway, Felix, or Kaito, I should say, finishes second in his race. Not a bad result, but there’s just one problem: the winner is Ryuuki, a true ladies’ man who appears to have gone through an entire bottle of hair gel and hairspray before putting on his helmet. (I’d hate to see the dandruff situation hiding underneath.) To make matters worse, he rubs salt in the wound by reminding Kaito that he drives like a GIRL!
After Dev talks with Kaito about what went wrong, Marise makes a bold claim: Dev could easily beat Ryuuki in a race. Using some clever psychological manipulation, Marise backs Kaito into a corner by telling him that his options are either handing the keys over to Dev or spending a week at their grandparents’ house with no Wi-Fi, no cell service, and a grandmother forcing them to pose for 1,000 pictures together.
Yeesh.
I’d hand over the keys, too.
Kaito reluctantly agrees, and Dev prepares to take on Ryuuki.
Tokyo in Techno-Pastel
The artwork is, quite simply, the fuel that keeps this book’s engine running at full throttle. Jae Lee has long been one of the industry's most well-renowned artists for good reason, and he continues to prove why with M1: Monster Racing League #1
The Tokyo skyline is beautifully enhanced by June Chung’s colors, with a lush pink aesthetic filled with flowers and greenery surrounding Dev throughout her journey. Every time she takes a stroll through the city, it feels like a scenic walk worthy of appearing on a travel influencer’s Instagram page. Even the cat café scene where she meets Marise captures such a warm and inviting atmosphere that you’ll wish you could step inside yourself.
Tokyo almost becomes a character in its own right, bursting with personality through June’s pastel-heavy palette.
The biggest issue I have with the artwork comes during the racing sequences themselves. While the panel layouts are creative and visually striking, they don’t always succeed at capturing the speed and intensity these moments require. At times, the cars feel as though they're gliding across the page instead of clawing at the asphalt, and the exaggerated panel shapes, while stylish, make the action feel less dynamic.
The heavy use of smoke surrounding the racers also works against the sense of movement. Reducing it would allow the vehicles to feel like they’re speeding forward rather than sitting at the starting line waiting for the green light.
Ironically, the comic's biggest race is over almost as soon as it begins, leaving very little room for tension to build before the checkered flag falls. That’s disappointing, especially since the sharp car and suit designs deserve more time in the spotlight.
The race environments themselves also leave something to be desired, feeling noticeably more generic compared to the vibrant and detailed portrayal of downtown Tokyo.
Slam in the Back of My Dragula
M1: Monster Racing League #1 has all the ingredients necessary to become a major hit for Image Comics. With its snarky humor, gorgeous artwork, and a fun, quirky supporting character who complements the protagonist, there’s plenty here to enjoy.
While the racing sequences leave room for improvement, the foundation being built is incredibly promising. It might not cross the finish line at full speed, but it doesn’t have to. This debut is about proving there’s enough horsepower under the hood to justify the journey ahead, and on that front, it succeeds.
Rating: 7/10
Start Your Engines (MASSIVE Potential Awaits Around the Next Turn)