Speed Racer #6: Pops is Back

Pepose sends Speed Racer’s overarching story arc in a new direction in Speed Racer #6. Pops is awake, and though he still needs a heart transplant, this development reduces the perceived urgency to solve that problem. Whereas the previous four issues centered around Speed trying to raise money and the direct impediments to that at the expense of almost any other development, there is now room to play that goal alongside other, smaller storylines.

The introduction of Carl Cranum fits this bill. Carl comes in with a family grudge against the Racers thanks to a past interaction between his father and Pops. Carl holds Pops responsible for the failure and destruction of a new engine that Pops and his father had been working on. This connection immediately turns Pops into a full fledged character rather than just a motivating object for Speed. The personal racing challenge also has a different feel to it than previous races, including the challenge between Speed and Racer X. Speed is racing for family honor rather than money, and Pepose writes Speed differently in accordance with the different motivation.

This family honor story point also adds depth to the ongoing Speed/Pops disagreement over racing. The argument between Speed and Pops that gave Pops the heart attack has immediately resumed at the start of Speed Racer #6. At first this seems like a retread: Is this all that Pops is going to be used for? But pulling him into the larger story and having Speed immediately step up to defend his father creates a sense of solidarity between them that deepens the relationship beyond what has been seen to this point.

Tinto draws an expressive Pops Racer, more so than most other characters in the issue. It’s a good match to Speed who is a likewise overly expressive character. From a visual standpoint, the two characters are well matched. In fact, Speed Racer #6 is more of an introduction to Pops than Speed Racer #1 was. Given the richer character development in this issue, it’s good to see a greater range of expression on the character.

Carl Cranum’s design makes him an imposing villain. This is entirely due to his relative size. Unlike most of the antagonists Speed has come across, there are no smarmy grins or overall villainous expressions. Carl’s design fits his motives–more blue collar as a designer and engineer and less motivated by pure monetary gain.

Canola’s brighter color palette plays well into the excitement of the race between Speed and Carl. The selection of reds and oranges reinforces the intensity of the shocking ending. Many things leap off the page throughout Speed Racer #6. Carl does so frequently. But no moment does so much as the end of the race.

Caption boxes are used for multiple characters in this issue, but Speed’s is by far the most effective. Where Beaudoin uses different colored fill for Pops and Carl, Speed’s is white with a checker flag side border. It’s an effective way to highlight Speed’s main character status.