Pardon the bad pun, but all cylinders are firing when it comes the epic, motorcycle-jousting, sapphic romance comic that is S.I.R. from BOOM! Studios. Written and illustrated by Ringo Award-nominated cartoonist Fell Hound, S.I.R.’s action-packed arena motorcycle battles and star-crossed lovers tale is really a sandwich that needs no “secret sauce” to sell, but this is a story layered with more than just flash and tropes. Fell Hound has cooked up an adventure that not only thrills, but also speaks to many of the issues society currently struggles with, including wealth disparity and class warfare.
SPOILERS BELOW
Out of the gate, S.I.R. establishes itself as a high-octane motorcycle comic that blends anime-inspired designs and intense combat with the collegiate atmosphere and social politics found in the prep school film genre. Lead character Avery Sakai enrolls at Bridleham Academy in a secret effort to discover what happened to her missing girlfriend, Nico Xing. When Avery discovers that Nico has gotten caught up in an underground motorcycle jousting fight club run by the elite students attending the school, she has no choice but to enter the ring and rely on her courage and skill to save the woman she loves.
It’s an attractive pitch and the comic delivers on all expectations. The action is white-knuckled and the armored “knight” personas the riders adopt are both pulpy and iconic in all the right ways. The romance is passionate while still being relatable. Fell Hound’s script nimbly avoids falling in the pit falls of predictability with surprising and clever turns and twists. The artwork is clean, precise, and sells every aspect of the story it needs to. The book’s art really excels in depicting the motorcycle battles and conveying the quiet, more intimate moments between Avery and Nico. Eleonora Bruni and Freddie Tanto deserve a shout-out for their bold and exuberant colors, and so does Becca Carey for a noticeably stellar job with lettering and logo design, especially the individual “mastheads” for each rider. These details and extra touches add a lot of unique personality to the book.
S.I.R. could have rested on all that alone and been a pretty fantastic comic book, but it’s the thematic elements that give this book its true strength. One one hand, S.I.R. is a story about loss. Loss of loved ones, loss of self, loss in physical battle, and loss of honor and dignity. Loss and how we survive it is a defining force in all of our lives. Furthermore, those in power always seems to underestimate the chaotic force that is the person with nothing left to lose.
Speaking of those in power (and those who are not), S.I.R. is also a story about privilege and class warfare in a place where the system is undeniably rigged against those without influence. While S.I.R.’s “knighthood” reflects the historic tradition of status being “bought, not earned” among the armored recipients of honorary titles in that day and age, there are parallels to our own reality and the ongoing attempts from the ruling class to strip those with almost nothing of what little they still have. S.I.R. is a microcosm of where most readers find themselves these days, touching on mental health, bullying, racism masked as “anti-diversity,” and the crushing feeling that you were never meant to “win” the game, let alone be on “the board.
Miscellaneous Notes:
*Don’t Miss Knightriders: Personally, I had the pleasure of connecting with S.I.R. writer/artist Fell Hound over a shared love for the 1981 George A. Romero film, Knightriders. My own college background took place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – a city with a strong connection to Romero’s work, especially his legendary zombie films. My appreciation of Romero’s filmology led me to the gem that is Knightriders, the tale of a roving band of hardened bikers who earn money by jousting at medieval fairs and live by a strict code of honor as a form of rejection of the modern world and its values. The film features Ed Harris, Tom Savini, Stephen King, along with other notable Romero regulars and is well worth seeking out.
*What Does S.I.R. Have to Say About Community? This year is Fanbase Press’ 15th anniversary, and we’re focusing on “community” as our theme of 2025. I encourage those interested to learn more about the #BuildYourCommunity initiative here, but this concept of community also deserves some attention when analyzing the stories we encounter. So, what does S.I.R. have to say about the concept of community and its importance in our lives? That community is a necessity to success. While success can be defined by the individual (for example, relating to status, financial gain, achieving personal happiness, or more), there is no path forward without community. Both Avery and her adversaries find strength, belonging, and purpose through their connections to their peers. It’s a simple lesson, but one that sometimes is too easily ignored by those who have a tendency to spend more time alone than others. (I’m looking at us, my fellow comic book readers and/or creators.)
FINAL VERDICT: You should definitely pick up this book if you’re even remotely intrigued. Let’s put it this way: If S.I.R. was a fine wine, I would describe it as a bold blend of anime-flavored action, vehicular romanticism, and epic queer romance that also features notes of The Running Man, Cruel Intentions, A Separate Piece, and The Chocolate War to name just a few.
Pre-order a copy of S.I.R. It’s earned a spot in your comic book library.
Creative Team: Fell Hound (script & art), Eleonora Bruni (colors), Freddie Tanto (color assists), Becca Carey (letters & logo), Elizabeth Brei (editor)
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
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