Interview: Chas Pangburn and Mari Yamauchi on SPEED RACER at Mad Cave Studios

Sponsored by MAD CAVE

Thanks to a partnership between Mad Cave Studios and Tatsunoko Production, a whole new era of Speed Racer comics will be screeching into your Local Comic Shop (LCS) soon! Led by a new Speed Racer flagship title, which will be joined by books like Racer X and Speed Racer: Tales from the Road, fans will soon be up to their wheel wells in new Speed Racer stories.

To learn more about the partnership, Comics Beat caught up with Mad Cave Editor Chas! Pangburn and Tatsunoko Division Director of Sales and Director of International Business Mari Yamauchi over email. Read on for a glimpse at the road map, and be sure and let The Beat know what you’re thinking about these exciting new comics in the comment section or over on our Bluesky social media page!

AVERY KAPLAN: Chas!, what has it been like working with the incredibly exciting creative team you’ve assembled for this project?

CHAS! PANGBURN: Pulling in collaborators is one of the most interesting and exciting components of any new project. You’re not just pulling in another warm body–you’re pulling in a writer, artist, colorist, and/or letterer for their specific voice and expertise. From there, it’s all about finding creators that complement each other’s work and jell together.

Thankfully, with Speed Racer, I’ve got a dream team. David Pepose is no stranger to writing and rebooting classic properties for modern audiences; Davide Tinto has made a name for himself because of his art across numerous licensed tales; Rex Lokus brings his DC/Marvel colorist sensibilities to a series known for its bright/poppy colors; and Buddy Beaudoin chiseled his ever-malleable lettering into something that walks the line between manga and traditional comics.

When you’re playing in someone else’s sandbox–as you do with I.P.s–you want to make sure you’re not forcing a circle into a square hole. Everyone needs to be firing on all cylinders…and that’s exactly what we’ve got with the Speed Racer team. Fans–new and old–reap the rewards!

KAPLAN: Mari, can you tell us a little bit about your position as Director of International Business at Tatsunoko Production? What does a typical day look like?

MARI YAMAUCHI: As the Division Director of Sales and Director of International Business at Tatsunoko, I oversee the company’s domestic and international sales and licensing work. Licensing work is Tatsunoko’s core these days, along with our production business. We manage properties based on our animated programs, including Speed Racer, Gatchaman, and Samurai Pizza Cats.

My day tends to involve chasing time differences—coordinating with our global partners, while also handling middle management duties. I usually start work at home immediately after waking up. Then I move to the office and have a lot of meetings there, reviewing project updates, approval meetings with our design team, and meetings with our partners based in Asia and/or Japan, etc. I go home in the evening when it is morning in Europe, and then I work on projects with our partners there.

At night, it turns into morning on the East Coast and Midwest of the U.S., so I try to follow up with our partners on what I discussed with my teams earlier that day. Our partners work very hard with infinite passion, so I naturally ended up working this way to try to match their dedication. 

KAPLAN: Chas!, what has it been like working with Tatsunoko Productions?

PANGBURN: Mad Cave Studios is fortunate to have a long-term partnership with Tatsunoko Productions across multiple projects and properties. We first kicked off collaborations on Gatchaman (and associated spin-offs) in 2024, pulled in Infini-T Force for our Nakama Press imprint, and are now working on all things Speed Racer.

With some comic projects–like Gatchaman–they’re an extension of the original 1972 series, so we work with their team to dot our Is and cross our Ts. With hundreds of episodes across multiple seasons, it’s a lot of lore, and we want to make sure we’re playing well with their continuity and toys.

For projects like Speed Racer–where it’s a full-on reboot–we have a lot more leeway to play since we’re not constricted to any existing continuity. That being said, we still do our best to make things interesting/surprising for existing fans. Cameos and “Easter Eggs” galore!

So, in a way, we get the best of both licensing worlds. We get to expand the world of an existing series and work with Tatsunoko to create all-new worlds. Unlike some licensors, they actively encourage us to play, experiment, and come up with stories to delight readers. It’s been a blast. 

KAPLAN: Mari, what has it been like working with Mad Cave Studios on both Gatchaman and Speed Racer? What excites you about this project?

YAMAUCHI: I’ve been working with the Mad Cave team for almost two years, and I’ve enjoyed every single moment of our collaboration. When I wake up, I usually find several emails from someone at Mad Cave. During busy seasons, such as before conventions, I receive separate emails from everyone on the team about different topics, and that’s when I feel their madness (in a good way, ha ha). I think our great amount of day-to-day efforts has earned us an unwavering working relationship. Publishing a monthly comic is really a collaborative process between the editors, writers, artists, the publisher, and the entire marketing team. So, when it comes to Mad Cave projects, I try to work as if I were a member of their Japanese branch and do my part as quickly as possible. 

For me, seeing the process of making American comics is magical. I can’t forget when I saw Chris Batista’s Gatchaman pencil pages for the first time. It was amazingly beautiful and powerful work. And then, I received the inks, the colors, and the lettering and saw the whole process of a script turning into a comic book. I’ve been fascinated ever since, and every time I receive something—from an initial outline to a retailer variant cover—I’m always amazed and just can’t wait to share it with our team. Being even a small part of this process is the greatest joy for me, and I feel fortunate for my work every day. 

KAPLAN: Why has Speed Racer proved to be such an enduring brand? How does the Mad Cave interpretation complement what’s come before?

PANGBURN: I’d say the answer is in the question: endurance.

Speed Racer himself is, in many ways, an underdog. With troubles off and on the track, he has to weave, turn, and power through whatever comes his way. It’s a person who is passionately dedicated to the wheel, his family, and his friends…and he never gives up. It’s charming, wholesome, and something everyone can relate to. Within us, I’d say we all want to “win” and/or do right by those we care about.

With primal elements like that, the storytelling becomes timeless. From the original series in the 60s to the cartoon in the 90s to the (critically underrated) film and various forms of other media, it’s something that can speak across generations.

And, well, the Mach 5. Cool cars always help.

Mad Cave’s take on the property carries over these essential elements and gives both the characters and vehicles a modern storytelling sheen.

YAMAUCHI: Speed Racer is not a massive IP franchise, but it’s a property with nearly 60 years of history that many people around the world hold dear in their hearts. When fans come across Speed Racer, they react as if they’ve rediscovered a cherished treasure from their childhood. Working at Tatsunoko, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing such moments countless times.

I think the continuing appeal comes from the originality of the 1967 series. Speed Racer was one of the first Japanese animated programs brought to the U.S. that was aimed more at adolescents than children. The dramatic stories and designs of the characters and vehicles set it apart from anything else at the time. It was impactful for many, especially in a car culture like the US.

The excellent adaptation of the English language version was undoubtedly a huge factor in its international success. The continuing challenges of animated remakes, spin-off series, and the 2008 live-action film were also huge. I think it was the efforts of everyone involved through the years that have allowed Speed Racer to spread so widely and be so well-remembered to this day. 

KAPLAN: How has Mad Cave evolved the Speed Racer brand for this incarnation of the franchise? What does into, say, updating the Speed Racer logo? What themes does this incarnation explore?

PANGBURN: The franchise is no stranger to action/adventure, so our reboot is no different on the front. However, to paraphrase David Pepose, our take is a modern amalgamation of Speed Racer, The Fast and Furious, Drive and Baby Driver.

Instead of only seeing sanctioned “Formula X” races, there are also street races with very different types of stakes. Readers see the glitz and glamor of the professional world…and they experience the seedier side of back alleys and closed roads.

At the heart of it all are interpersonal relationships. Brothers, sons, fathers, girlfriends, employees–for better or worse, every action taken can affect others in numerous ways. High-stakes racing isn’t the only stakes the Racer family experiences.

YAMAUCHI: I think it’s too early to evaluate how Mad Cave evolved the brand, but Tatsunoko is thrilled that they’re creating new Speed Racer content for the first time in many years. I remember exchanging long emails with Mad Cave editor Chas! Pangburn, when I first learned that their Speed Racer comic would be a reboot.

As we always do with our partners working on any remake or reboot project, I asked him the same questions: What exactly is a “reboot?” Which elements of the original Speed Racer remain, even if the settings and designs change? What makes Speed who he is? After lots of back and forth and confirming that they wanted to create a new Mad Cave version of Speed Racer, we approved their proposal and left it up to them.

As a reboot, there’s no continuity between the original series in terms of the storyline and the character settings and designs. However, we provide them with insight from the perspective of the original IP holder and speak up if something strays from the rules of the Speed Racer world. I’m eager to see storytelling that only the comics medium can achieve, and look forward to seeing this version of Speed Racer grow. 

KAPLAN: How does this incarnation of the Speed Racer comic honor the many previous comic incarnations?

PANGBURN: Not to be too cheesy, but I’d say they all have the same engine but different bodies and paint jobs.

Tatsuo Yoshida‘s original Mach GoGoGo series–both the manga and the anime–are seminal pieces of media that not only influenced other reboots but also other franchises. Honoring Yoshida-san’s work–and the work of all those at Tatsunoko–is always at the forefront of everyone’s mind. We want to make them and the readers happy!

With such a rich history surrounding Speed Racer, it does present interesting opportunities, too. E.g., we’ve had some retailer variant covers for issue 1 that were created by artists who worked on past interpretations!

YAMAUCHI: I’m not as familiar with the previous comic incarnations, so I’ll leave the deeper comparisons to longtime fans and experts. That said, Mad Cave approaches Speed Racer with a lot of respect for the legacy, while also focusing on bringing something fresh and personal to the world.

KAPLAN: Do you have a personal favorite Speed Racer character?

PANGBURN: Oh, definitely Spritle and Chim-Chim. There’s nothing more fun than a boy and his monkey getting into mischief!

YAMAUCHI: Having worked at Tatsunoko for nearly 10 years, our characters feel like close friends or family to me, and it’s hard to pick a favorite. That said, I think Racer X is an interesting character who has a lot to explore. 

To share a little behind-the-scenes story: In the first proposal, Chim-Chim wasn’t included as a main character. But Tatsunoko strongly suggested adding him, and we’re glad everyone agreed. Thanks to the brilliant series artist Tinto, Chim-Chim turned out to be a charming little character who adds a nice break in the action. He’s cute, smart, and caring. I always look forward to seeing how he reacts to whatever tension the story brings. 

KAPLAN: What can readers expect from Speed Racer at Mad Cave? Will it appeal to those new to the franchise as well as fans who have come before?

PANGBURN: Since day one, the Speed Racer team has wanted to honor the past but also create something interesting, exciting, and new.

Naturally, existing fans will see classic characters with new looks, new cars, and new situations…but will be thrown for a loop through lots of unexpected twists.

Meanwhile, for new readers, it’s a perfect jumping-on point. You don’t have to read or watch anything else to prepare you for this tale. You can open up an issue and enjoy the ride!

KAPLAN: What do you hope readers will take away from this incarnation of Speed Racer?

YAMAUCHI: First and foremost, I hope readers will enjoy this new Speed Racer story and that it can be a great re-introduction of the 1967 Speed Racer animated series. Not only for long-time fans, but also to a whole new generation. I hope they will also keep an eye out for the new Racer X mini-series available to purchase in September, and any new series Mad Cave plans in the future! 

KAPLAN: Is there anything else you’d like me to include?

PANGBURN: In addition to the ongoing Speed Racer series, we’re also expanding this new universe through additional spin-off stories.

First up is the Racer X mini-series, written by Mark Russell and drawn by Nuno Plati. As any Speed Racer fan knows, Racer X is always lurking in the background and helping in whatever way he can. Naturally, in addition to his own journey, readers can catch glimpses of events from the ongoing series through Racer X’s eyes.

Following that, we also have Speed Racer: Tales from the Road, a quarterly anthology release. Each issue contains stories from different writers and artists that explore characters set up in the ongoing. The first issue features a 32-page story written by Mark London and drawn by Sebastian Piriz. It centers on Racer X racing against a mysterious figure known only as “The Viking”—the result is a lot of brutal hand-to-hand combat and vehicular mayhem!

I can’t speak beyond the above just yet, but keep your eyes peeled for further announcements! 

Speed Racer #1 will arrive at your LCS on July 30, 2025.

Sponsored by MAD CAVE