In the (paraphrased) words of Bart Simpson: Why am I just hearing about this now?!
From the comic book writing and art team behind the hipster 'Batgirl' "revamp" and 'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Pink', comes a new fun and energized series, 'Motor Crush'. I'm starting this review like a trailer, because the comic needs to be made into a movie. Forget the neverending 'Fast and the Furious' snake-eats-tail beast, 'Motor Crush' is the "extreme sports" story that is legitimately worth talking about, and this is coming from someone who is not interested in sports or racing in the slightest.
'Motor Crush, Vol. 1' is a hell of a ride, fun like a wild, strobe light-filled night out at a rave. Don't let the authors' previous work deter you: This is not for the kiddies, and it is not light in tone. Welcome to a sci-fi World Grand Prix bike racing world consisting of: robot TV cameras and intels; drugs; gangs; illegal night races; imploding bodies; mysterious inhuman beings; a giant, ominous and deadly monolith; and time travel. Style and substance come together beautifully in a meaningful and heartfelt story with strong, three-dimensional and unforgettable characters.
Our main lead is motorbike racing champion Domino Swift, a 23-year-old woman of colour living in her dad's garage and mechanics business. She has a dark secret that is linked to a dark past - she's a mystery even to herself. She will do anything to help her father and her home, and her fame and fortune aren't enough to sustain her needs in this corrupt world; in spite of her shifty actions and deeds throughout the volume, she loves her family dearly.
Domino is a complex creation worth rooting for. She is like a female Will Smith: naturally cool no matter what. I love her relationship with her dad, and her complicated one with her ex-girlfriend, Lola de Carmen, a gorgeous genius mechanic who has financial troubles with big companies of her own. Domino is a lesbian, a Black woman, but that's not all: she uses an inhaler. How's that for inclusion? For a protagonist, at that!
And the comic gives us a cute little robot sidekick with heroic uses near the end, courtesy of Lola. How's that for a bonus?
When people talk about diversity in comics, heck, in anything: this is what they mean. 'Motor Crush, Vol. 1' has a fantastic kickass heroine who happens to be a diverse representation of multiple, real marginalized groups of people.
The story is interesting and intense - there is definitely more going on here than racing. Everything is always moving forward, however, getting more and more invigorating as it reaches the finishing line. The pacing is near perfect, swerving and manoeuvring with each edgy, gritty turn - 'Motor Crush' makes sure you are never bored for a single panel. Acceleration! Velocity!
Dark but with heart. There could have been a little more to it, but it is only the first volume. A solid recommendation from me. You won't regret picking it up.
Final Score: 4/5
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