Speed Racer (1st Series)

    (Now, 1987-1990, 2008)
™ and © Now Entertainment, Inc.

Speed Racer was one of the first Japanese animation series to really strike it big in America. A longtime favorite of television, the show was about a fearless boy race car driver who outwitted bad guys using his wits and driving skill. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he drives the best car on the road: the “fabulous Mach 5.”

The title character was always referred to simply as “Speed,” but this Now Comics adaptation reveals that his real name is Greg (thus the “G” on his shirts). It also tells the story of how his father, Rex Racer, was killed by Alpha racing team and sent flying over a cliff. Speed was then adopted and taught to follow in his departed father’s footsteps. Only with Speed, it’s always the bad guys who get their comeuppance. Rex, meanwhile, would reappear as the mysterious Racer X, popping up periodically just in time to save Speed from danger.
Jump to issue:
  • 1
    #1
    Aug 1987
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Len Strazewski  ·  A: Gary Thomas Washington
    Origin of Speed Racer
    1 copy for $17.98
  • 2
    #2
    Sep 1987
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Len Strazewski  ·  A: Gary Thomas Washington
    8 copies from $3.25
  • 3
    #3
    Oct 1987
    Cover: $1.50
    10 copies from $0.75
  • 4
    #4
    Nov 1987
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Len Strazewski  ·  A: Gary Thomas Washington
    7 copies from $0.99
  • 5
    #5
    Dec 1987
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Brian Thomas  ·  A: Jill Thompson
    8 copies from $0.99
  • 6
    #6
    Jan 1988
    Cover: $1.75
    7 copies from $0.99
  • 7
    #7
    Mar 1988
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Lamar Waldron  ·  A: Jill Thompson
    7 copies from $0.99
  • 8
    #8
    Apr 1988
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Lamar Waldron  ·  A: George Booker
    4 copies from $1.99
  • 9
    #9
    May 1988
    Cover: $1.75
    4 copies from $1.99
  • 10
    #10
    Jun 1988
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Lamar Waldron  ·  A: Tom Morgan
    8 copies from $0.75
  • 11
    #11
    Jul 1988
    Cover: $1.75
    5 copies from $0.99
  • 12
    #12
    Aug 1988
    Cover: $1.75
    4 copies from $1.99
  • 13
    #13
    Sep 1988
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Lamar Waldron  ·  A: Joe Phillips
    3 copies from $1.75
  • 14
    #14
    Oct 1988
    Cover: $1.75
    4 copies from $0.99
  • 15
    #15
    Nov 1988
    Cover: $1.75
    2 copies from $2.98
  • 16
    #16
    Jan 1989
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Lamar Waldron  ·  A: Joe Phillips
    Indicia has date of Dec 1988
    5 copies from $0.99
  • 17
    #17
    Feb 1989
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Lamar Waldron, Brian Thomas  ·  A: Joe Phillips, Brian Thomas
    Astro Boy backup story
    5 copies from $0.99
  • 18
    #18
    Mar 1989
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Lamar Waldron, Marc Hansen  ·  A: Joe Phillips, Marc Hansen
    2 copies from $3.98
  • 19
    #19
    Apr 1989
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Lamar Waldron  ·  A: Joe Phillips
    3 copies from $0.50
  • 20
    #20
    May 1989
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Stephen Sullivan  ·  A: Neil Vokes
    Story continued from Racer-X #8
    1 copy for $4.00
  • 21
    #21
    Jun 1989
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Nat Gertler  ·  A: Michael Ebert
    4 copies from $0.99
  • 22
    #22
    Jul 1989
    Cover: $1.75
    4 copies from $0.99
  • 23
    #23
    Aug 1989
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Lamar Waldron  ·  A: Norm Dwyer
    Includes poster
    6 copies from $0.99
  • 25
    #25
    Oct 1989
    Cover: $1.75
    2 copies from $3.99
  • 26
    #26
    Nov 1989
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Lamar Waldron  ·  A: Norm Dwyer
    3 copies from $1.96
  • 27
    #27
    Dec 1989
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Lamar Waldron  ·  A: Norm Dwyer
    4 copies from $1.00
  • 28
    #28
    Jan 1990
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Lamar Waldron  ·  A: Norm Dwyer
    3 copies from $0.99
  • 29
    #29
    Feb 1990
    Cover: $1.75
    3 copies from $0.99
  • 30
    #30
    Mar 1990
    Cover: $1.75
    3 copies from $2.47
  • 31
    #31
    Apr 1990
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Lamar Waldron  ·  A: Norm Dwyer
    2 copies from $4.00
  • 32
    #32
    May 1990
    Cover: $1.75
    3 copies from $2.66
  • 33
    #33
    Jun 1990
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Diane Piron  ·  A: Norm Dwyer
    4 copies from $3.36
  • 34
    #34
    Jul 1990
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Diane Piron  ·  A: Norm Dwyer
    7 copies from $0.99
  • 35
    #35
    Aug 1990
    Cover: $1.75
    3 copies from $1.00
  • 36
    #36
    Sep 1990
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Diane Piron  ·  A: Norm Dwyer
    2 copies from $2.87
  • 37
    #37
    Oct 1990
    Cover: $1.75
    2 copies from $4.50
  • 38
    #38
    Nov 1990
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Diane Piron  ·  A: Martin King
    Final Issue
    1 copy for $49.98
  • Bk 1
    Book #1
    Feb 2008
    Cover: $19.99
    W: Len Strazewski, Brian Thomas  ·  A: Gary Thomas Washington, Jill Thompson
    Collects Speed Racer (1st Series) #1–5; Published by IDW
    1 copy for $13.00
  • Bk 2
    Book #2
    Feb 2008
    Cover: $19.99
    W: Lamar Waldron, Fred Schiller  ·  A: Jill Thompson, George Booker, Tom Morgan, Joe Phillips
    Collects Speed Racer (1st Series) #6-13; Published by IDW
    1 copy for $8.50
  • SE 1
    Special Edition #1
    Mar 1988
    Cover: $2.00
    W: Fred Schiller  ·  A: Tom Morgan, Ken Steacy, Andrew Pratt
    Origin of the Mach 5 (Speed Racer’s Car)
    7 copies from $1.96