M1: Monster Racing League #1 Introduces us to a Different Tokyo Drift
When 17-year-old Dev moves to Japan, she stumbles into an underground world of illegal street racing, where speed is power and mutation wins championships. M1: Monster Racing League #1 is an intriguing debut that has us wanting to see what’s next.
With a description of “K-Pop Demon Hunters meets Fast & Furious,” we had to check out M1: Monster Racing League #1. The debut issue, from writers Lily Windom and Robert Windom is interesting and you can see its influences. The story is simple, a girl named Dev moves to Japan from San Diego, California and then gets into street racing. While the teaser text mentions Fast and Furious, it’s more specifically Tokyo Drift. A rather strict and ominous father, a rebellious kid, teases of trouble back in the US, and underground racing. All it’s missing is Han… might that might not be the case and we do have one in Kaito, a racer Dev outshines.
The Windoms put together an entertaining start with memorable characters that are full of personality. Dev is a grumbling teenager, angry over her move to Japan and what she left behind. There’s Marise, a chatty school mate who seems to be packed with energy and the inability to stay quiet as well as her brother Kaito, an underground racer.
All of that is draped in the art of Jae Lee with color by June Chung and lettering by Joe Sabino. The comic has style and the racing itself has visuals that pop. But, it’s Jae Lee’s art which you have to enjoy to appreciate the comic. For me, some of the faces look odd and at times look a bit similar. It’s a Lee’s style and it’s unique and distinctive. Overall, when it works, I think it works really well but when it doesn’t, it’s distracting. The page layouts, and color, also don’t keep this a pop infused comic. Instead, it’s more muted with the colors tending to be more muted and the page layouts handling the flow and excitement.
M1: Monster Racing League #1 is an interesting start with a lot of potential. There’s teases of something bigger as the racing progresses but the first issue dips its toes onto the track for an experience that’s entertaining, fun, and a lot of potential.
Story: Lily Windom, Robert Windom Art: Jae Lee
Color: June Chung Letterer: Joe Sabino
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Read
Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
