This 90s animated series about four half-human half-shark teenagers aired from 1994 to 1997. Street Sharks tells the story of these four boys whose father was kidnapped and turned into a monster by the evil scientist, Dr. Paradigm. Then, when the boys try to rescue him, Dr. Paradigm turns them into anthropomorphic sharks. The story began in 1994 and gained popularity of fans through the animated series, toys, comics, and more. Follow along in this Retrospective of Street Sharks with us as we go through the years of these heroic characters.
Join Us on a Retrospective of Street Sharks
Follow along through this Retrospective of Street Sharks with the hit characters: Ripster, Streex, Jab, and Slammu. We will dive into the storyline of the animated series as well as the comics and the widely- popular toys released. We will also mention the return of these Street Sharks in the 21st century!
Street Sharks 1994 Animated Series
First, on our Retrospective of Street Sharks, we have the animated series of the 90s that sparked it’s popularity. This superhero action adventure series first aired on September 7, 1994 on ABC. The story of these four adventurous sharks, Ripster, Streex, Jab, and Slammu, begins when their father turned into a monster. When the brothers set off to rescue their father from the scientist, Dr. Paradigm, he turns each of them into sharks. Ripster takes the form of a great white shark and acts as the leader of the group. Streex, the second in charge, takes the form of a tiger shark. Jab, a hammerhead shark, takes the role as the mechanics expert. Lastly, Slammu takes the form of a whale shark and shows his strength as being the youngest of the four.
In the first battle, Dr. Paradigm intends to give the sharks’ sidekick a chemical mixture. This mixture then winds up injected into the scientist instead, giving him the ability to turn into a viscous piranha monster when angry and nicknaming him Dr. Piranoid. Because of the work of this evil scientist, the four sharks appear as the city’s villains. This also makes the villain the city hero even though he wants to turn everyone into mutants. Throughout the show, the sharks’ allies join and assist them. Lena and Bends, Rox, Moby Lick, Mantaman, and El Swordo all join the brothers against their rival, Dr. Paradigm. Street Sharks, originally produced by DIC Entertainment in 1994, then teamed up with the Dino Vengers in 1996 to make a new show. This show came out intending to promote the toy line of the same name by Mattel.
Street Sharks Toys
Next, on this Retrospective of Street Sharks, we take our journey to the toys that first released with the show. Mattel, an American manufacturing toy and entertainment company, released figures and other toys for the Street Sharks, beginning in 1994. During the three years, Mattel released a total of 36 figures, shark hand puppets, 8 vehicles, and even an exclusive Mail-Away figure.
1994 Figures
The first wave of Street Sharks figures released by Mattel in 1994 includes seven characters, the four main sharks and the three main villains from the animated series. The four main shark figures came out in both a normal paint and a metallic paint coat. All seven characters, Ripster, Blades, Big Slammu, Jab, Dr. Piranoid, Slash, and Slobster, came in a box with plastic bars resembling a cage. The metallic paint as well as the vibrant coats of characters like Blades and Dr. Piranoid catch the eye and show the uniqueness of this first wave.
1995 Figures
In 1995, two more waves of Street Sharks figures released by Mattel. The second wave of figures features five characters, some of these include previous characters with new sculpts and accessories or action features. Others in this wave are new characters. Those featured are: Killamari, Moby Lick, Ravenous Ripster, Rox, and Streex. After the first wave, all other boxes unfortunately removed the cage details on the front. Wave three of 1995 features five more characters, one of them being the only human in the entire collection. The characters, Evil Repteel, Jet Pack Jab, Power-Bite Piranoid, Radical Bends, and Sluggar Slammu, are featured in this wave.
1996 Figures
Lastly, in 1996, the final Street Sharks vintage figures released. The first of these features a 5 figure boxed wave like the previous ones released. The characters, Mantaman, Moto Streex, Pool Shark Ripster, Super Slammu, and Turbo Jab, came in boxes as the last 6 inch figures. After this wave, Mattel decided to change the original box packaging to blister packs for the final figures. At this time, a three figure mini-wave titled Night Fighters released and features three of the main characters along with more accessories than the previous figures. The Night Fighters mini-wave shows characters: Hydrofire Jab, Stingshot Streex, and Trapjaw Ripster. The sixth and last wave of Street Sharks figures shows characters: Battleclaw Streex, Powerarm Ripster, Steeljaw Jab, and Evil Draxx. This wave and the previous one are possibly the rarest and most expensive figures from this collection today.
Mail Away Ripster
The only other figure originally released for Street Sharks is the Mega Shark Mail Away Ripster. This figure stands tall at around 10 inches and did not release in stores as it could only be found online. The Mega Shark exclusive also featured four buttons on the back that signaled recordings, allowing the figure to “talk”.
Vehicles
Adding to these epic action figures, Mattel also released eight different vehicles. Four of these have the part already in the vehicles design while the other four allow the assembly of any part within the line. The eight vehicles, Mecho-Shark, Rip Rider Motorcycle, Shark Force Jet, Shark Force Tank, Sharkopter, Sharkruiser 4×4, Slobster-Zooki, and Streex Wire-Controlled, are all featured in the release of these vehicles.
Hand Sharks
In 1994, Mattel also released six Hand Sharks. These Hand Sharks featured the characters from the animated series, Street Sharks, as epic hand puppets. The characters, Blades, Jab, Ripster, Slammu, Slobster, and Streex, are all shown as puppets through these Hand Sharks.
Street Sharks Comics
Next up on our Retrospective of Street Sharks, we take our journey to the Street Sharks comics. These comics released in two separate series, each consisting three comics. The famously well-known Archie Comics published these comics in 1996. The first three comics released as a three part mini-series. These followed the storyline of the original animated series closely. They told the story of the brothers and Dr. Paradigm similarly to the 1994 cartoon. Unlike the first three, the second series of comics presents an entirely new story.
At first, Dr. Paradigm creates a mutated evil giant crab to attack the city and take out the sharks. The next story brings about an underwater race of mutant humanoid people who hid from the rest of the earth until they could reveal their intentions to destroy the rest of the human race. The illustration and coloring of these books also appealed to fans. The bright blues and intricate detailing of the characters show the personality of each character as well as the vibe of the story. Although these comics were short lived, they showed popularity among the characters and the hit series. These comics can still be found in some comic book stores as well as online.
2024 Street Sharks Return
That’s Right, these sharks are returning to action figure form by Mattel once again! As we finish up this Retrospective of Street Sharks, we will dive into the new figures of these loved characters. Because it is the 30th year since the animated series came out, Mattel is releasing three characters as remodeled and upgraded figures.
Street Sharks 2024 Action Figures
The characters, Ripster, Jab, and Slash, are brought to the 21st century as the new Mattel Street Sharks figures. Although these figures don’t ship until September 1, pre-orders are available until then for fans to grab one of these epic toys. These three figures’ packaging is clearly very eye-catching. Each bright blue box contains the figure inside a plastic cage, a fitting decorative element and perfect for display. The cage-like detail also brings back nostalgia for fans with the remembrance of the first wave figure’s packaging. Aside from the packaging, these figures show immaculate detail from the colors used to the sculpting.
Both shark figures also feature a “real feel” soft textured skin as well as the typical hard plastic, that give a skin-like realistic look. The shark figures can also open their mouths through the dual action lever found on their back. Each figure’s dual action lever has special abilities to the unique character. Ripster’s action lever opens it’s mouth and pushing down on it’s fist allows his torso to twist in a punching motion. Jab’s lever opens it’s mouth as well and pushing down on his fist makes the figure do a headbutting motion. Lastly, Slasher’s dual action lever spins the drill nose and although the other two figures feature the “real feel” skin, this one does not. The slasher figure is made up of all hard plastic but still has epic detailing. All figures also include up to 9 points of articulation, perfect for optimal posing.
Do You Have Old Street Sharks Toys?
If you have a collection of old and used toys, you can turn those toys into cash. There is no reason to let those old toys collect dust. Contact us today to sell your Street Sharks toy collection.
Made in Collaboration with:
Chris Ingledue
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Bio: I am the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab Pop Culture and Toy Shop. My vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys and pop culture, triggering fond memories, and reigniting their imaginations. Every day, I work in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year. I scour the internet, like when we had the Sears Catalog of yesteryear, for the next great treasure. Then, I await the arrival of the postman as if he were Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!