Feeling ancient yet? Street Sharks are now 30 years old. While nostalgia surrounding them seems less to do with any particular characters and storylines, and more to do with how bizarre and over-the-top the concept was in the first place, Mattel is bringing them back. Sharks are always fun, and extremely muscular figures never really go out of style.
‘Roided Sharks, Do Do Do Do Do…
Like so many anthropomorphic toy lines and cartoons that sprung up in the wake of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Street Sharks loved fast food (except, notably, pizza) and fought crime alongside — and against — other mutant animals. In typical ’90s EXTREME style, they were created by a device called the gene-slammer.
In hindsight, they’ve become most famous for giving Vin Diesel his first big acting break as a Toy Fair pitchman in 1994:
The new toys are described as “collector-focused but kid-friendly” and retain the chomping jaws and rubbery skin, with more modern articulation. They will once again include combinable shark cage accessories, and like most contemporary 6.5-inch figures, retail for $24.99. Mattel previously released a “lost wave” as online exclusives for $75 each, so a $25 price point feels like sweet relief.
The first wave of three figures goes up for presale Friday, March 15th, at Walmart and most other online retailers. The characters include Ripster (the basic shark), Jab (Hammerhead), and Slash (drill for a nose). It looks like more are coming, though, based on this Tweet/X-post and stop-motion video posted by Mattel’s Steve Ozer:
With the Nacelle Company bringing back Biker Mice From Mars and C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa, and Super7 doing Toxic Crusaders Ultimates, it’s a great time to be nostalgic for muscular man-animal hybrids. Somebody snap up that Adolescent Radioactive Black-Belt Hamsters license while there’s still time.
Also, if Street Sharks has a successful comeback, that could pave the way for their spinoff, the Dino Vengers. They were, naturally, later rebranded Extreme Dinosaurs — because ’90s.
Anyway, here’s what the revived Street Sharks look like:
