It looks like maybe just maybe, there might be good news for fans of IDW Publishing’s Street Sharks comics series. After having finished its initial five-issue run this past February, a brand-new issue was released late last month in the form of Street Sharks Annual. Spanning 40 pages and including two separate standalone tales, the recently released book is a presentation that audiences will agree is a welcome surprise. That is proven in part through its noted stories. The stories’ writing builds on the enjoyment established through that primary content. The book’s art rounds out its most important elements. Each element noted is important in its own way to the whole of this collection. All things considered they make Street Sharks Annual a real hope that this issue of Street Sharks is a sign that there is in fact a very real future for this series.
Street Sharks Annual, the recently released surprise issue of IDW Publishing’s comics series, Street Sharks is a welcome surprise for fans of this title. That is proven in part through the book’s stories. This issue of Street Sharks is composed of two separate stories: ‘Old Friends, New Depths’ and ‘Odds and Bends.’ ‘Old Friends, New Depths’ opens the book. Written by Stephanie Williams (who composed the stories for the series’ initial five-issue run), the story introduces readers to one of the Street Sharks’ friends, an orca named Moby Lick. Like the Street Sharks, Moby Lick was one human, too. And like the Street Sharks, he was transformed into his animal form by the villainous Dr. Paradigm. That Williams would reach back into the Street Sharks mythology and bring him to this title is something that is sure to appeal to fans of the original Street Sharks animated series.
Moby is introduced for the first time here as the story opens. As the brothers Bolton are enjoying a quite evening along Fission City’s water front following the events of the series’ initial run, Moby shows up to battle the forces of another familiar Street Sharks, the villain, Malcolm Medusa III. Medusa is to the Street Sharks universe as Looten Plunder is to Captain Planet for comparison. Like Plunder, he is a rich businessman. In his case though, his targets are endangered animals. The animal in this case that Medusa is pursuing is a prehistoric dinosaur that just so happens to look a lot like the infamous Loch Ness monster. At first the Sharks do not know it is Moby fighting the men, but it does not take long for him to join the group after taking down Medusa’s men. He explains Medusa’s plan to his friends, leading the Sharks to offer their help in stopping Medusa.
When the quintet finally locates the unnamed dinosaur at an abandoned theme park, things go south quickly as Medusa and more of his men show up and try to take the dinosaur. Things get even more tough for Moby and the Street Sharks when none other than Dr. Paradigm shows up. As it turns out Paradigm and Medusa had partnered to steal the dinosaur, but as the old adage states, “there’s no honor among thieves.” In other words, Paradigm ends up double crossing Medusa, leading Medusa to retreat. With Paradigm and his goons, the “Seaviates” on their own, it does not take long for the Street Sharks and their friend to take down the villains and get the dinosaur to safety. How it all wraps up will be left for audiences to discover for themselves. The whole is a fun story that even being a standalone tale, shows that there is still so much promise from this title and hopefully it will prove to executives at IDW that this series really does deserve to become an ongoing series.
“Odds and Bends,” the book’s second story, turns the attention from the Sharks to their ally, Bends. For those who may not know, Bends is essentially the Sharks’ “tech guy.” He is the one who makes all the cool tech that they use in their ongoing battle against Dr. Paradigm and his henchmen. In the case of this story – written by Jordan Morris – Bends has brought a young lady to the Sharks’ lair. It is the first time (as he points out to the girl, whose name is Dex) that he has ever brought anyone to the lair. He explains that he feels he could trust her enough. For anyone who may be lost, yes, this is essentially a rom com of its own type. As Bends is trying to woo Dex, Dr. Paradigm’s henchmen try to break into the lair. Interestingly, along the way, Bends so casually presses this button and that in order to stop them in their tracks. The execution thereof is an important item in relation to the writing. It will be examined a little later. It is not until the finale that Bends reveals he has been working to stop the “Seaviates” the whole time. This does not seem to bother Dex, either. She even tells him outright that his dedication to what he does is something she likes about that. Keeping that in mind, it will be interesting to see if the couple’s relationship maybe takes another step should this series – again – get the full, ongoing series treatment. Should that happen, it would be a smart way to bring in female readers alongside the male audiences who are of course, the book’s primary targeted readers.
The two stories that make up Street Sharks annual are both fun standalone tales that readers are sure to enjoy just for their primary presentations. The writing that went into each story adds its own level of appeal to the whole. In the case of the first story, it has already been noted that Williams reaching back into the Street Sharks’ mythology and bringing out one of the Sharks’ allies is a tribute to the legacy of the original animated series that audiences will appreciate. The same applies to the introduction to the introduction of Malcolm Medusa III.
On another level, that Williams would so subtly connect this story to the events of the story that she wrote for the title’s initial limited run is a nice touch. It lets readers know that Williams is reaching back to that run without outright requiring readers to check out that run. Rather, it is a subtle nudge, if anything. This gentle approach to the story’s very introduction is a smart approach deserving of plenty of applause.
Moving on to yet another item, the very introduction of Moby Lick to the Street Sharks universe here shows that Williams, like so many of the title’s fans are hoping for more expansion of this universe. After all, it really does deserve to be expanded and on a long-term basis (*hint, hint IDW execs*).
Moving on a bit, that Williams would have Moby Lick’s first story involve him saving a truly “endangered” animal rather than something just run of the mill makes for quite the original tale in itself, and having Dr. Paradigm, in his standard villain monologue, explain that he wants the dinosaur to make an army of “Seaviates” who could do his bidding on water and land is his own character development. To that end, this minor but still important item is another key example of the writing’s strength. Williams already showed in the series’ initial run that she could come up with plenty of original plans for Dr. Paradigm. Such a plan here is unique in its own way, so kudos to her for this, too.
Putting the proverbial icing on the cake is the finale to this story. After defeating Paradigm and his thugs, Moby declines the Sharks’ invite to join them long term, explaining there is still work to be done around the world. It is a nice way to say that he could still pop up here and there again, should the series get the full green light. Where he takes the dinosaur at the end is sure to give readers a nice laugh to close out the tale.
In “Odds and “Bends,” the writing shines just as much. As noted, throughout Bends’ “date” with Dex, he battles Paradigm’s “Seaviates” with such cool, calm demeanor. He never lets their attacks shake him, acting like it is “just another day at the office.” That Morris would have Bends react so calmly to the situation is just so fun. That is because at first, it seems like he does not even realize the “Seaviates” are there. It is not until the finale that readers realize Bends knew all along. It is a great approach to the writing and Morris deserves praise for taking this approach.
Staying on the matter of the attacks and how they were handled, Morris generates plenty of engagement and entertainment herein. At one point, he uses the Sharks’ Christmas decorations to stop Paradigm’s henchmen, going so far as to have none other than Santa Claus, the jolly old elf kicking their butts. If this does not get a laugh from readers, then nothing will. At another point, he uses honey and ants (yes, honey and ants) to stop them. Again, this seems so silly, but it works. To that end, it also makes for plenty of laughs. He even uses a “robotic suit” to battle the bad guys, stopping them in their tracks in doing so. Simply put, the execution of this entire sequence is a wonderful way to make the story progress. It leaves absolutely no doubt as to the strength of the writing herein. When it and the other items examined are considered in whole, readers get a full, clear picture of the strength of this book’s overall writing. When that impressive writing is considered alongside the book’s stories themselves, that overall content makes for more than enough reason for audiences to check out this issue of Street Sharks.
As much as the noted items do to make Street Sharks Annual engaging and entertaining, they are just part of what makes it enjoyable. The book’s visual presentation puts the finishing touch to the whole. Artist Margeaux Pepoy deserves her own credit, for instance, in “Odds and Bends.” That is because of her portrayal of Dex. At one point, Dex looks like she was lifted from the pages of another famed comics title, Archie. Maybe it is just the angle of the shot that makes her look that way. At another point however, Dex looks more alike the rest of the book’s familiar artistic style, which throws directly back to the look of the animated series that inspired this title.
On a related note, the first introduction of Moby Lick in “New Friends, New Depths,” and the discovery of the dinosaur that he is trying to save are their own interesting moments. That is because there is something in the sharp detail of the coloring, the use of shadow and light, etc. that makes these scenes look like something that honestly is comparable to work from IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles flagship series. The look of the rest of the story’s pages are more in line with the look of the original cartoon. To that end it makes the team of artist Ariel Medel, colorist Valentina Pinto, and letterer Sandy Tanaka deserving of their own praise, too. When all of this is considered with the overall artistic presentation of “Odds and Bends,” it shows clearly why the stories’ artwork is just as important to their presentations as the stories themselves and their writing. All things considered the stories, their writing, and the art makes the book overall a strong, welcome new chapter in this title that makes for plenty of cautious optimism about its future.
Street Shark Annual, the latest entry in IDW Publishing’s Street Sharks comics series, is a welcome new entry in this title. It is a presentation that continues to show this title really does deserve to become an ongoing title. This is proven in part through its stories, the first of which connects the title’s initial limited run to this piece. It shows that the series has great potential for growth while also continuing to engage and entertain readers. The second is just a fun one-off tale that shows this series has the easy potential to entertain and engage even when the focus is not directly on its titular characters. The stories’ writing enhance the reading experience for so many reasons, as examined. They add so much depth to the stories, simply put, along with just as much entertainment. The book’s art makes for its own wonderful presentation, giving audiences something to appreciate here, too. Each item examined is important in its own way to the whole of the book. All things considered they make Street Sharks Annual a must read for any Street Sharks fan and a presentation that gives reason to be cautiously hopeful about this title’s future with IDW Publishing.
Street Sharks Annual is available now. More information on this and other titles from IDW Publishing is available at:
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