Start your robo-engines! Petrol Head has found himself on the run from the government after saving a scientist and his daughter. Find out more in Petrol Head #2 by Image Comics!

PETROL HEAD #2

Writer: Rob Williams
Artist: Pye Parr
Colorist: Pye Parr
Letterer: Pye Parr
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 6th, 2023 

Previously in Petrol Head: Petrol Head is a robot racer, but he was out of a job when racing was banned. Instead, he lives in the SmogZone, working on an illegal hotrod and keeping to himself. When Lupa and her father are on the run for his experiments, Petrol Head has no option but to save them and gun it as fast as possible.

Petrol Head #2 starts by revealing that Lupa fears robots because she remembers her mother in an atmosphere suit, whom she thought was a robot. Unfortunately, that memory was her last, as her mom died that day. At present, Petrol Head continues to run from the security drones and robot police. We get to see some of the car’s abilities, including a ramming mode and an AI called Satnav Sid that helps Petrol Head navigate. During the chase, Lupa’s dad is shot and is bleeding out. Through some talented driving, they head into the sewers. Lupa tries to convince Petrol Head to take them to a doctor, but he initially refuses until his small robot companion, Dave, says the right thing to get under his metallic skin. “What would the chief have done?”

Lupa protects her father’s bag while Petrol Head takes the father to a doctor. When he returns, he reveals that his dad will survive, but Lupa and he must leave there as soon as possible!

I am immediately drawn into this cast of characters. Petrol Head #2 shows the title character and Lupa being filled with personality, engaging well with the plot and setting. The book is a page-turner, and I don’t know what will happen next. While I can make some educated assumptions, I feel like I am on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what is happening. While the initial plot is not anything new, a sense of uniqueness really grips me. I can’t understand why, but this book checks off all the boxes I want from a good story. The art is busy but not overwhelming, and the writing has a sense of complexity. And despite Petrol Head being a robot, I think the art shows a sense of emotion that is surprising and difficult to pull off.

But I want to take a moment and talk about Lupa. There is a certain bravery to her. When we learn she hates robots because of a traumatic event when she was younger, you feel her distrust and hesitation towards Petrol Head. But she chooses not to judge based on preconceived notions because 1) her options were not great, and 2) I like to think she is learning to grow out of that. Which feels like a good balance for the character.

There are only two issues, but I am invested in the story. I don’t know why, but this book has gripped me like few books have in the past year. I plan to pick up every issue for a while, and I hope to see this momentum continue. While this isn’t a perfect book, I don’t have any suggestions to improve it. Because of that, Petrol Head #2 is a 5 out of 5 stars.

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Petrol Head #2

100%

100%

I Love this Series

Petrol Head #2 has gripped me in a way that engages me fully.

• Writing

  10
• Art

  10
• Coloring

  10
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