Comic Review // Petrol Head — Speed, Steel, and the Heart of a Dying World

Some comics whisper. Petrol Head does not. It roars.

I’ve been searching my local libraries for 2000 AD comics, Alien comics and anything world-building to help mould Sector 102. And when I saw this comic’s cover, I knew it was coming home with me. From the first page, this book is a collection of movement, noise, colour, and energy. It doesn’t ask for your attention; it takes it, accelerates it, and doesn’t let go.

Petrol Head

Publisher: Image Comics
Published: June 5, 2024
Page Count: 168

Fluff:
JUMP STRAIGHT INTO THE NON-HUMAN RACE WITH 42 ROBO-GORGEOUS LAUNCH-ISSUE STORY PAGES

In a climate crisis-ravaged future metropolis, an old, grumpy, obsolete, smoke-belching, cigar-chomping, HOTROD-RACING ROBOT is one 12-year-old girl's only hope. Together, can they outrace the chasing Robo-Cops with an invention that might just save humanity?

Review

The art is the first thing that hits you. Pye Parr’s visuals are vibrant and kinetic, with a retro-futuristic edge that feels both nostalgic and modern. Every panel is built around motion, and you can almost feel the engines burning.

But this isn’t speed for the sake of spectacle. The world of Petrol Head is broken. Climate has collapsed. The air is thick. The cities are loud. And racing has become society’s favourite distraction,m a way to look away from what’s been lost.

That context matters. Because at the centre of all this chaos is a quiet, emotional story about connection. Petrol Head himself is an outdated robot, no longer considered useful. And yet, he is deeply human in the ways that matter most. He cares. He protects. He remembers. Lupa, a young girl navigating this harsh world, becomes his partner, and together they form the emotional core of the series. Their relationship is tender, believable, and grounding, a reminder that even in a world obsessed with speed, stillness and empathy still have value.

What I love most about this comic is its balance. It’s fun. It’s explosive. It’s visually stunning. But it’s also thoughtful. It asks questions about technology, progress, and responsibility without ever becoming heavy-handed. It trusts the reader to notice the themes beneath the action, and that makes it linger.

Petrol Head is the kind of comic that stays with you after the last page, not just because of how it looks, but because of how it feels.

Fast. Loud. Emotional. And unexpectedly human.

If you’re looking for a sci-fi story with both horsepower and heart, this one is well worth the ride.

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