The 90s cartoon revival in the world of comics rolls on with Street Sharks from writer Stephanie Williams and artist Ariel Medel. These crime-fighting half-man, half-shark heroes pulled me straight back into my childhood once again!
The four Bolton Brothers were happy playing sports and meeting babes. But when a run-in with a mad scientist turned them into giant sharks, they only got COOLER!
Kick some serious fin with Ripster, the great white head of the pack; Streex, the rollerblading ladies’ man (er, ladies’ SHARK); Jab, the hammerhead who loooves using his noggin; and Big Slammu, the whale shark with the whale-sized muscles, on their newest adventure! They’ll need all the help they can get to stop their arch nemesis, Dr. Piranoid, from developing…the perfect predator! Little do they know, it’s already too late to stop the grossest monster they’ve ever fought from being born!
Over 30 years after debuting as a syndicated television show designed to promote Mattel action figures, Street Sharks is back, this time back in comics from IDW Publishing. As one of the more iconic animated shows and action figures I remember from my childhood, I was thrilled to see it return. The quintessential 90s cartoon has always had a place in my heart, now the stories continue.
I never expect 90s cartoon comic revivals to be groundbreaking or even award-winning, but I do hope for solid storytelling. With Street Sharks, I had tempered my expectations as it is only fair to the creative team, considering how challenging it is to bring these man-shark hybrids into the modern era. Unlike many recent reboots, Street Sharks doesn’t try to reintroduce the story from scratch. Instead, rather than reinventing the title, this series seems to serve as a continuation of the animated show.
Street Sharks delivers plenty of action and crime-fighting, just as you’d expect. However, I was hoping for more character development and maybe a chance to smooth out some of the flaws from the original show. That said, this is more of a personal gripe than a critique of the quality of work itself. Stephanie Williams’ writing is strong, and Ariel Medel’s artwork nails the 90s animated look perfectly.
Street Sharks, and any future comics based on 90s cartoons, faces the tough challenge of being compared to other big 90s nostalgia revivals, a comparison that isn’t entirely fair. Still, Stephanie Williams takes on this iconic series and handles it well. In the end, it does exactly what it sets out to do, scratch my nostalgia itch as well as entertain me along the way. I recommend this series for those looking to reminisce a bit about their childhood cartoons and see some crime-fighting sharks.
Street Sharks #1 hits local comic shops on September 17, 2025 (FOC: August 11) from IDW Publishing.
Street Sharks #1 Covers Preview
