Get your motors running, it’s time for “So You Want To Read Comics”, a weekly feature where we take a look at a single topic and then offer up a pair of comic book recommendations that would be great for new readers, based on that topic.  This week we’re taking a look at the world of automobile racing.

From the days of Prohibition, when bootleggers would compete to see who had the fastest car for smuggling moonshine, to the days when global sway was gained and lost by which country fielded the latest grand prix victor, automobile racing has been a part of modern society since that first race back in 1867. There are currently well over 10 different categories for auto racing, from stock cars, to open wheel cars, to rally cars, to trucks, basically if it has four wheels and an engine, people are racing it on tracks in nearly every country in the world. Two of the most recognizable brands in auto racing, NASCAR and Formula 1, bring in roughly $630 million and $1.5 billion in annual revenue respectively.  So, there’s no shortage of fans out there. And, while you might be familiar with the movies that show off this sport like Days of Thunder, Ford Vs. Ferrari, and Rush, you might not know that comics also have gotten in on the fun.

Here are two comic book series’ that are perfect for the racing enthusiast.

Michel Vaillant: Vol. 1 – In The Name of The Son

Writer: Phillipe Graton
Artists: Bourgne & Benjamin Beneteau
Publisher: Europe Comics

You can purchase this volume via the comiXology affiliate link.

Michel Vaillant is a classic comic published in Belgium that originally began back in 1957 as a feature in Tintin.  This title told the story of the titular hero and his family as they tried to run their racing team and navigate all the pitfalls of that endeavor, both on and off the track.  This series over the years was praised for its high quality depictions of the various cars raced.  Basically, if you’re a fan of the machines themselves, especially from a design perspective, this is the comic for you.  Another positive aspect of this series is its usage of real-world locations and companies.  Unfortunately, a lot of the earlier stories haven’t been translated to English in a convenient way yet.  But, a new series written by the original creator’s son has been translated.  Basically, if you are at all interested in the inner workings of the racing world, this is your book.  There’s racing action, business drama, and family strife. Plus, some really nice looking cars.

Ghost Racers

Writers: Felipe Smith & Jim Starlin
Artists: Juan Goedeon, Felipe Smith, Jim Starlin, & Juan Pablo Villianueva
Publisher: Marvel Comics

You can purchase this volume via the comiXology affiliate link.

Alright, now that we got the more realistic depiction of racing out of the way, here’s a book where a bunch of people with fiery skulls and hell powers race each other to death.  Just a little backstory, this series takes place in a bigger event known as Secret Wars. But, it is mostly unconnected. Here we see a variety of characters who have carried the title of Ghost Rider over the years having to face each other in a race.  It’s high-octane, it’s exciting, it has crashes, it’s mostly vehicle based, it’s a little dumb in a fun way, and it’s basically a movie like Death Race in comic form, with a nice coating of Marvel on it. Now, with all that being said, I do think it’s a nice way to introduce readers to a character like Ghost Rider and other elements of the Marvel Universe. There isn’t a lot of setup here, nor does it get bogged down in the long history/mythology of the character.  You become familiar with all the people who have been Ghost Rider, what makes them unique, and once you find your favorite you can then track down more stories featuring them.

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