Review: ‘Petrol Head’ Issues 1 & 2 — A Breathless Robo-Hot-Rod Of A Comic

I’ve already previewed issues 1 & 2 for you here at Comicon, but I just couldn’t leave Petrol Head alone. And neither should you.

There’s a real art to getting something this right. And Rob Williams and Pye Parr really are getting everything about Petrol Head so right. I knew it was going to be great within the first few pages of the first issue, it’s just one of those rare debuts that absolutely does everything perfectly, drawing you into the story so quickly and never letting up. It’s got bits of Mad Max, Akira, Wacky Races and Hot Wheels, but it’s still Williams and Parr’s vision that drives this one – drives it fast enough to leave you breathless.

If you missed the previews (issue #1 here, issue #2 here), it goes something like this: future world ravaged by climate change where the last remnants of humanity live in six domed cities; their only protection from the deadly toxic wastes outside. It’s all controlled by the obvious bad guy of the series, The O, city administrator, who once ran the Petrol Head races to amuse the populous.

That was then. This is now. All the Petrol Heads are either destroyed or, like Petrol Head himself, retired and living out an existence in the designated smogzones as obsoletes. He’s there building a (not exactly legal) hot rod and living with the mechanical bird he built called Dave, companion, something to talk to, and, as things get more difficult, something of a conscience as well.

Into all this comes a scientist and his daughter, Lupa. There’s an idea that he can bring the good times back, save the world, roll back the climate crisis, something to do with nano-bots. And, wouldn’t you know it, that’s something that The O just won’t allow, which is why Lupa and her dad are on the run… straight into Petrol Head’s garage and then out into the world in a fast and furious adventure.

The second issue brings us more of the same, as Petrol Head, Dave, Lupa, and her dad career through the streets, attempting to get away from their pursuers, whilst we see a little more of The O and his minions – all Vader and the Empire in the way they’re played…

There you go. Simple, eh? But what’s quite brilliant about Petrol Head is how Williams and Parr take this simple, albeit rather great idea, and turbocharge it, creating a storyline that just doesn’t let up for more than a moment across the first two issues.

Page after page flashes by, Williams’ pacing is beyond fast, this is just breathless stuff. One of those comics you have to read a few times because the first time is just done faster and faster to match the pace of what’s racing off the pages, with Parr’s artwork integral to make it all speed on past. There’s such a skill in making something go 0-100 in a few pages and you’ll not see it done better this year than here in Petrol Head.

The only problem with the sheer speed of it all is that there’s a risk that you’ll miss all the beauty of Parr’s artwork as you race your way through. It’s a bit like driving through a stunning city full of delights at 100mph – sometimes you just need to slow down a bit and take it all in. So second time round, third time round, you can relax a bit more, knowing where it’s all going, and really take in those gorgeous views.

But instead of me banging on about its breathless speed and perfect timing and dynamic yet detailed artwork that just flows so well, here’s a couple of pages that are the epitome of everything I’m absolutely loving in Petrol Head…

C’mon. If those don’t float your boat then I just don’t know what will. And Petrol Head is packed with stuff like this. Accelerating away with all those deliciously popping colour palettes and art that roars its way through the panels and pages while Williams does a damn good job of keeping up and delivering a story that just positively rips through the couple of issues so far.

Yes, there’s a fine skill involved in making a first and second issue that just grabs hold of you and doesn’t let you go. And Petrol Head is exactly that sort of comic. I’m absolutely loving it and I’m certain you’ll love it too.

Petrol Head #1 and #2 are both out now from Image Comics.