Let the race begin.
As great as DC's Rebirth lineup is, the absence of the previous Batgirl creative team (co-writers Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher and artist Babs Tarr) is sorely felt. The good news is that all three creators have reunited at Image. Motor Crush may not feature any superheroes, but there are enough motorcycle chases and bad-ass ladies to make any Batgirl lover feel at home.
The easiest way to describe Motor Crush would be to label it "cyberpunk Fast and Furious." The series is a celebration of extreme sports and street race culture, both the visceral thrills and the dangers involved. The series centers around an up-and-coming biker named Domino. She races not just for glory and money, but to feed her addiction to a dangerous drug known as Crush. While this first issue doesn't dive very deep into the supporting cast, Domino is compelling enough on her own to drive the story. She's equal parts cool and and dangerously flawed, which probably isn't the best combination for an aspiring racing star, but it makes for a quality protagonist.
The racing sequences and the general world tend to steal the show in this issue, as Tarr and letterer Aditya Bidikar are very much the stars of the show. Tarr's dynamic style is in full effect. At the same time, there's a harsher vibe and a gritter texture to her art that suits the cyberpunk setting nicely. This book is a little less cutesy and more adult in tone than Batgirl. But much like Batgirl, there's a great energy and flow to her action scenes. The races never fail to draw the readers eye and generate a clear sense of motion. It's also impressive how much Tarr is able to convey about the individual racers through elements like costume design and posture. Each racer has a distinct personality, regardless of whether they actually have any dialogue.
Bidikar's lettering is crucial given how much this series leans on the futuristic social media element. Batgirl certainly embraced the Twitter realm, too, but even those who found that material obnoxious may be won over here. The social media balloons lend an extra touch of personality to the book and deliver vital story information without being obtrusive. And the sheer variety in fonts and balloon styles as the lettering bounces between traditional dialogue and online chatter is always a delight to read.
The Verdict
Shockingly, another Image Comics has debuted another promising new creator-owned series. This creative team already proved themselves on Batgirl, and if anything they feel even more in sync as they begin building this high-stakes new world of underground motorcycle races. If you enjoy cyberpunk futures or stylishly rendered race sequences, Motor Crush won't steer you wrong.
Editors' Choice
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