For many children who grew up in the 1980s, the namesBuzz,Honcho,Wrecker and Rebel brought back memories of motocross action figures and comic books filled with high-speed adventures. Now, one Oklahoma writer is giving those motorcycle heroes a second chance on the page.
Matthew 'Matt' Price, owner of the longtime Norman comic bookstore Speeding Bullet Comics, has revived theclassicTeamAmerica franchise with a new comic series titled Team America Racing. The project reimagines the motorcycle-racing heroes for a modern audience while maintaining the spirit that made the original series popular with young readers in the 1980s.
Price and his wife, Annette, have owned Speeding Bullet Comics for more than 25 years, making the store one of Oklahoma's most recognized comic book destinations. The shop, located in Norman, has become a gathering place for comic enthusiasts and has earned national recognition for its commitment to comic book culture and literacy.
The new series follows a team of young motocross racers traveling across the United States while competing in high-stakes races and unraveling mysteries that threaten their sport. Price has described the project as a 'spiritual sequel' to the original comics, updating the themes and characters to reflect what it means to be a young competitor in today's world.
The original Team America property debuted in the early 1980s through Marvel Comics and was based on a line of motorcycle action figures produced by Ideal Toys. While the rights to the original Marvel stories remain elsewhere, the new publication allows Price to revisit a franchise that inspired him as a child and introduceittoanentirelynew generation of readers.
Price is no stranger to storytelling. A former journalist and features editor for The Oklahoman, he has spent decades writing about comics, film and pop culture. He has also created original comicbookcharactersandcoproduced independent films, earning a reputation as one of Oklahoma's leading voices in comic book storytelling.
ThereleaseofTeamAmerica Racing marks more than just the return of a nostalgic property. For Price, it is a celebration of the stories that inspired him and proof that even characters left in the past can find new life with a fresh perspective.
As comic fans across the country rediscover the motorcycle-racing heroes of the 1980s, an Oklahoma writer and bookstore owner is once again proving that good stories never truly disappear, they simply wait for the right person to bring them back to life.