Mattel And IDW Partner For ‘Street Sharks’ Comic Series This September
by Brendan M. Allen
IDW and Mattel have announced Street Sharks, a new five issue comic mini series that follows the adventures of the four half- human, half-shark Bolton brothers. This will be the first release in the franchise in over twenty years. The original Street Sharks show ran from 1994-1997, and inspired a popular Mattel action figure line. If you want a laugh, Google the Street Sharks 1994 Toy Fair promo video featuring a very young Vin Diesel.
Street Sharks #1 is scheduled to drop in September 2025 from writer Stephanie Williams and artist Ariel Medel. The five piece mini is based on the classic 90s animated series, as the Sharks protect Fission City from a range of gene-slammed threats. These include monstrous lobsters, squids, and diabolical mad scientists that transform into vicious piranha monsters. Expect Sharks riding cool motorcycles and eating a lot of burgers, while listening to hair metal and swimming through the city’s concrete to take down the bad guys.
“Celebrating over 30 years of the animated series, Street Sharks has become a cult-favorite and fans have been chomping at the bit to see more of the crime-fighting brothers Ripster, Jab, Streex, and Big Slammu,” said Ryan Ferguson, Global Head of Publishing at Mattel. “We are thrilled to continue the legacy of this franchise and dive deeper into the waters with IDW to extend the world of Street Sharks through new comic books.”
“It is so exciting to introduce a new generation of fans to the Street Sharks,” commented series editor Nicolas Niño. “The Sharks epitomize ’90s adolescent X-treme sensibilities and that makes them translate so naturally to comics. Stephanie and Ariel are putting together a series that serves a beautiful love letter to the original cartoon that old fans and new are sure to adore”
The timing of this announcement coincides with a massive wave of 90s nostalgia that’s been hitting the vintage and retro toys and collectibles market for a few years now. We actually talk about this trend quite a bit on Who the F*#k is Frank?, a weekly podcast I record with Pawn Stars toy experts Johnny Jimenez and Steve Johnston.
Street Sharks is an interesting choice to revisit, because while those 90s properties are red hot at the moment, it’s a very niche franchise. Despite that, the Mattel Creations 30th Anniversary Ripster and Streex figures sold out when they dropped last year. (Big Slammu, Dr. Piranoid, and various T-Shirts, hoodies, and ball caps are still available.)
Steve says “The fact this new Street Sharks comic is only scheduled for a miniseries tells me there isn’t a new full product line planned. In the secondary collector’s market, Street Sharks are very cool, but they’re not necessarily a mainstream toy line. It’s a little odd that Mattel is giving them the iconic license treatment without developing a new line.”
Mattel may have more figures in store for us to coincide with the fall 2025 release date, but it really would have made more sense to release the comic last year, on the show’s 30th anniversary, when the Mattel Creations line dropped. I’m absolutely going to read it, and my kids will probably get a kick out of it, but without connecting to something bigger, it feels like just another nostalgic blip.
Street Sharks #1 (of 5) is currently available for pre-order at your local comics shop.