Graphic novels are becoming more and more popular. I get asked frequently from parents, relatives, and young readers about recommendations. Although I don’t often have available dates to review these colorful stories, I always suggest they start with Papercutz, a leader in graphic publishing for middle grade.
Today, I am featuring this fun and engaging tale about speed racing. Though Speed Racer Adventures is a brand-new story, the characters are inspired from the Flash Gordon Adventures and Tiny Titans. Here’s what to expect from the official back cover blurb:
The best race car driver in the world has been invited to drive the most advanced artificial intelligent car in the world. Speed Racer is not that driver, and the Mach Five is not that car, but that’s not going to stop him from entering that race and winning! When the world’s richest man uses unlimited funds to build the most technologically advanced car in the world and hires Racer X to run a race he created, the deck is stacked against Speed Racer! Its not going to be an easy race, but with his secret weapons, his friends and family, Speed has a pretty good chance of getting in the race and winning, but he’s going to hedge his bet by using a whole lot of candy! Come for the laughs, the hijinx and the amazing speeds the cars reach. Go Speed racer, GO!
A supportive family is the basis of the story. Speed Racer has loving parents and two younger siblings, one of whom has a pet monkey. As you can see from the cover, illustrations are superbly drawn with color and emotion. The page turning adventure has quite a few surprising twists along the way and the tale wraps up nicely by the last panel. Those new to middle grade books who aren’t ready for longer text based novels will be instantly hooked. SPEED RACER Volume 2 is up next and will be anxiously anticipated.
BOOK BIRTHDAY: April 28, 2026 PAGES: 114
Author, Franco
Franco is the co-creator of AW YEAH COMICS! Publishing and retail stores. Franco created the DINO-MIKE book series and has worked for various Comic properties including the critically acclaimed SUPERMAN FAMILY ADVENTURES, YOUNG JUSTICE, BILLY BATSON and the MAGIC of SHAZAM, and the New York Times bestseller, multi-Eisner award and Harvey award winning series TINY TITANS! (DC Comics) GRIMISS ISLAND and Eisner Award winning ITTY BITTY HELLBOY (Dark Horse Comics), Little ARCHIE (Archie Comics) and FLASH GORDON ADVENTURES (Papercutz), the original graphic novels THE GHOST, THE OWL (Ringo Award Nominated) and FAE AND THE MOON (Little Bee)
Franco was also a High School Art teacher for 24 years and has shown work in galleries.
Twitter/Instagram/Blusky: @awyeahfranco
Illustrator, Derek Charm
Derek Charm is an Eisner Award winning comic artist, illustrator, and character designer for animation. He was the artist on several monthly comic runs, including Jughead and Jughead’s Time Police for Archie Comics, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl for Marvel, and Star Wars Adventures for Lucasfilm/IDW. Outside of comics he has done work for Marc Jacobs, Pepsi, and DreamWorks Animation. He currently works as a Character Designer on Batman: Caped Crusader for Warner Bros Animation.
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Always in the Middle... 