Robert Windom and Lily Windom team with Eisner Award winner Jae Lee and colorist June Chung for M1: Monster Racing League, a new ongoing series from Image Comics.
The high-energy title launches June 10 in comic shops and on digital platforms. The announcement debuted exclusively through ComicBook.com.
High-Speed Story With a Sci-Fi Edge
The series follows Dev, a 17-year-old who moves to Japan and discovers an underground world of illegal street racing. In this near-future Tokyo, speed is power and mutation determines champions.
The story blends high-stakes racing with sci-fi elements. It draws inspiration from franchises like Fast & Furious, Arcane, and Akira, with a K-pop influence shaping its tone and style.
Creators Highlight Energy and Emotion
Robert Windom pointed to the visual impact and deeper story layers.
“I’m excited for readers to see Jae’s amazing art and June’s beautiful colors, which really bring the exciting and mysterious world in series to life,” he said. “There are lots of unexpected twists and deep lore that we’ll explore.”
Lily Windom emphasized the character-driven focus.
“M1: Monster Racing League is high-stakes monster racing meets K-pop,” she said. “It’s fast-paced and exciting, but also real about friendship, competition, and finding where you belong.”
Jae Lee said the project pushed him in a new direction.
“Robert and Lily have come up with such an amazing story, it’s inspired me to try something I’ve never done before: Manga,” Lee said. “I’m cutting loose with the art and having a blast. This is an ongoing series and I’m in it for the long haul.”
Notable Creative Milestones
The series marks the second collaboration between Robert and Lily Windom, following the graphic novel Family Time, which Lily co-wrote at age eleven.
It also represents Jae Lee’s first time as an interior artist on an ongoing monthly comic since the 1990s. Lee and Chung, a husband-and-wife team, are known for their work on This Ends Tonight and Batman/Superman.
Robert Windom also serves as an executive producer on the documentary Dave Stevens: Drawn to Perfection, directed by Kelvin Mao. The team previously collaborated with Mao on This Ends Tonight and Seven Sons.
Variant Covers and Expanded Media Plans
M1: Monster Racing League #1 will feature a variant cover by Jon J Muth, a Caldecott Honoree known for Zen Tiesand The Mystery Play. Additional covers by Jae Lee will also be available.
An animated adaptation is already in development from Emmy Award-winning writer and producer Jeffrey M. Howard, known for Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.
With a mix of racing, sci-fi, and character drama, M1: Monster Racing League positions itself as a high-speed new entry in Image Comics’ lineup this summer.
