Sunday, November 30, 2025

Street Sharks #2 Review

 



Writer: Stephanie Williams

Artist: Ariel Medel

Colorist: Valentina Pinto

Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry

Cover Artists: Phil Murphy, Mateus Santolouco & Elizabeth Beals

Designer: Sandy Tanaka

Editor: Nicolas Niño

Publisher: IDW

Price: $4.99

Release Date: November 12, 2025

 

Big Slammu, Ripster, Streex, and Jab want to keep Fission City safe. Amid their skirmishes with the Seaviates, the scientist who turned the athletes into sharks works toward his goal of transforming everyone into sea creatures. Will Dr Paradigm realize his vision of helping his entire city evolve? Or will the Street Sharks shut down his gene-slamming operation? Let’s grab a burger with extra metal shavings, dive into Street Sharks #2, and see!

 

Story

Reporter Danielle Lafond weighs the Street Sharks’ crimefighting exploits against the property damage that endangers Fission City’s inhabitants. Today, she broadcasts from Seashell Park, where the Magnificent Marvels Circus promises to deliver the show of the century. Despite appearing overnight, the city says it's legit. Danielle hopes it will lift people's spirits after all the destruction the Street Sharks have caused.

 

Street Sharks #2 follows the team’s investigation into the mysterious circus. Jab, Streex, Ripster, and Slammu discover the circus's origins and assess the dangers of opening night. Back at their headquarters beneath the university ice rink, Lena Mack, their person in a chair, formulates a plan. Tech wiz Bends builds gear to assist them. With their Human university students advising them from HQ, the sharks attend the show, hoping to foil the nefarious plan endangering the attendees.

 

Stephanie Williams fills her story with engaging characters and high-flying action. All this takes place within Dr Luthor Paradigm's ongoing plan to upgrade Humanity. In his zeal to improve the species, he preys on desperate people. The scientist promises to make everyone better. Even though they frustrate his plans, Dr Paradigm calls Jab, Streex, Ripster, and Slammu rejects. But then, they don't follow his orders like Slobster, Slash, and Killamari.

 

Art

Ariel Medel imbues Street Sharks #2 with a cartoony vibe. Big Slammu is a brown-and-beige bodybuilder. Ripster is smaller and dark blue. Pink stripes help Streex’s light blue skin shine. Jab is a beige-and-brown Hammerhead. Their underground lair includes a motorcycle and a pool table. They watch Danielle's reports on a tube TV, while the university students work at computers from a similar era. Danielle’s concerns are well-founded as she reports in her maroon suit outside the beige-and-maroon big top. But despite a father’s concern at a poster filled with fish people, the mother smiles at her son’s delight.

 

Valentina Pinto paints Street Sharks #2 with a loaded palette. Backgrounds shine, and highlights and shadows are beautifully colored. The street sharks swim beneath the street, their fins cracking and tearing the brown-and-gray asphalt until they stand and resume walking. An orange clownfish performs acrobatics while red lobsters juggle torches. As Marina flies overhead in her green suit before the glowing gold background, a walrus addresses the crowd in his maroon coat, white slacks, and black top hat.

 

Jeff Eckleberry fills white dialogue balloons with large, black uppercase letters. Yellow narrative boxes denote time and space and introduce characters. The letters grow bold for intonation as the sharks investigate and attend the opening evening in disguise. Sound effects enhance a little brotherly competition, and the sharks trying to avert a tragedy. Thanks to IDW for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Big Slammu, Ripster, Streex, and Jab may have to live beneath the city. Yet they do themselves credit when they emerge from the ground to protect people's right to choose how they live. When you thought it was safe to go back to the circus, Street Sharks #2 reminds you that whatever your situation, use it to help others be Finomenally Fintastic.

 

Rating 9.4/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch


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