Hot Speedracer Hats News Right Here!

Speed Racer is one of the most successful Japanese imports to the United States, and the associated marketing of Speed Racer merchandise is similarly successful. With the new feature film coming out, people will be even more excited to own a piece of the action with DVD’s, toys, video games and comics. What Speed Racer stuff is available to buy?

The first 5 seasons of the DVD, comprising a total of 52 episodes, are available from Artisan/Lion’s Gate Entertainment. The original manga has been released by DC comics under the name Speed Racer: The Original Manga. Other revivals of the series include NOW Comics’ The New Adventures of Speed Racer, which highlighted the airbrush work of Ken Steacy and ran for about 40 issues. IDW is re-releasing the 1991 Wildstorm Productions Speed Racer series in time for the new movie.

There is lots of non-comic-book-related merchandise for Speed Racer, as well- Lego has released a set of toys and Mattel has acquired the master license for the new film. JADA toys has exclusive rights to produce die-cast models of the Mach 5 and have also produced a plastic model kit of the Mach 5, as well. The Barbie Collector line will put out Speed and Trixie dolls, timed to the live action move. Toynami is manufacturing large-scale reproductions of the cars in the movie and Art Asylum is coming out with a line of their very successful MiniMates with a Speed Racer theme.

Not to be outdone by the physical toys, Speed Racer has also made appearances in video games. Starting with 1992’s Speed Racer in The Challenge of Racer X in DOS format (ah, DOS…the nostalgia!) and continuing with Speed Racer in My Most Dangerous Adventures, Accolade has seen success in the video game market. The Japanese company Namco also released a Speed Racer arcade console in 1995, and Jaleco made a Speed Racer game for Playstation in 1998. Timed to coincide with the release of the new movie is a multiplatform title for Wii, Nintendo DS and Playstation- this game will feature the actors from the movie reprising their roles for the video game.

Let’s not forget the ubiquitous apparel; there is plenty of classic Speed Racer merchandise to choose from. Hats, Ties, Boxers, T-shirts and much, much more are available, and there’s plenty of “re-imagined” merchandise from the new movie, as well.