Street Sharks Annual # 1 – Here We Go Again Boys!

It’s Street Sharks Annual #1. Witness the return of Moby Lick in the story “Old Friends, New Depths” from series writer Stephanie Williams and artist Ariel Medel. The boys old friend Moby Lick is back and he’s not just stopping by for a Humongo Burger.

In the second story of this annual, Jordan Morris and Margeaux Pepoy give us a look at a day in the life of The Street Shark’s main sidekick and resident tech partner, Bends. What happens when Bends tries to enjoy a normal day? Stop in and find out in Street Sharks Annual #1.

This review is brought to from Nerd Initiative’s Matt and Shawn.

Creative Team

“Old Friends, New Depths”

Writer: Stephanie Williams
Artist: Ariel Medel
Colorist: Valentina Pinto
Color Assistant: Jonathan Dobbs
Letterer: Sandy Tanaka

“Odds and Bends”

Writer: Jordan Morris
Artist: Margeaux Pepoy
Colorists: Valentina Pinto and Heather Breckel
Color Assistant: Jonathan Dobbs
Letterer: Neil Uyetake

Writing

Matt: This annual issue serves as a way for readers who have not read Stephanie’s run (which you should!) and for those who have. We get a quick catch-up, then hit the ground running with Moby coming into the picture. Honestly, I had his toy as a kid, so seeing him had me screaming with absolute joy. I love how Moby is down to fight; he is serving a greater purpose by helping endangered animals, which was an easy way to keep him around for the future while explaining his absence from the mini-series.

Seeing Jordan Morris involved already had my attention, but having him write a story focused on Bends was genius! As the so-called guy in the chair, we got a chance to explore Bends and really give him his moment to shine. Just because he isn’t a shark doesn’t mean he can’t hop in a suit and whoop some tail! The poor guy just wanted to have a date for the first time, and it really led to some hilarious action moments while tugging at our heartstrings.

Shawn: “Old Friends, New Depths” is a really great story from the mind of Stephanie Williams. While I’ve read Street Sharks, I love that she provides a quick background out of the gate to allow readers to pick up this Annual with little previous information. I was so excited to see Moby Lick return. I consistently wondered where he was during the initial run, but Williams saving him for the annual turned out to be a brilliant idea.

One thing Williams has consistently done on this series and continues on this issue is provide a connection to the original stories that 90s kids grew up with, without the story ever feeling like just pure fan service. Old Friends, New Depths is genuinely a good story that happens to feature the characters many comic nerds grew up with. Villains were used perfectly, and the story feels warm and character-centered, like readers have come to expect from Williams.

Odds and Ends from Jordan Morris was another great addition to this annual. I loved that Morris gave us a Bends-centric story. Bends is such an important part of the Street Sharks story that it was so fun to get to see him get some shine. Anyone who knows anything about the Street Sharks knows that Bends is smart, but it was nice of Morris to show us just how creative and intelligent he really is.

Art

Matt: The art has consistently been able to capture the tone and spirit of a franchise I hold near and dear to my heart. Getting to see Moby leap from the water and how well colored and fierce he looked showed the love put into the artwork from the team. Despite the fighting being chaotic, at no point was I ever confused about who was fighting whom or what was happening. The spacing and line work allowed the moments to breathe and happen organically across the panels.

Both stories featured stellar color work, making the pages vibrant and catching my eye. It truly felt as though we were watching a cartoon play out before us!

Shawn: On Old Friends, New Depths, it’s more of the awesome work from Ariel Medel we’ve come to expect. I said this when reviewing the regular Street Sharks series, but I continue to be in awe of Medel’s ability to capture the authentic 90’s feel of this story with modern techniques.

Valentina Pinto and Jonathan Dobbs brought beautiful, vibrant colors to life. Moby Lick looks like his old self but more vibrant and ready to rock. Sandy Tanaka does an amazing job on lettering, letting the story flow and ensuring that the art gets to be center stage in each panel. The background information introducing us to characters goes a long way to making this issue accessible to fans who may have missed the original series.

In Odds and Bends, Margeaux Pepoy, along with Pinto and Dobbs, and the addition of Heather Breckel managed to capture the feel of the original series and Medel’s art without missing a beat. Pepoy manages to capture the style of the first story while also making this story uniquely hers. It still maintains a lot of the 90’s feel but also feels much more updated and digital than previous stories.

Final Thoughts

Matt: 10/10! I hope this annual delivers for people the way it delivered for me. Street Sharks is such a fun and wonderful franchise. I love that IDW has brought them to life once again. Stephanie just gets it with these characters, and she is the perfect fit to capture the attitude and the loving brotherhood they have.

Shawn: 10/10. The world needs more Street Sharks. IDW is sitting on a goldmine with the creative team of Williams and Medel on this IP. This series and the Annual managed to put together a writer and artist that are able to tell fresh creative stories that still connect to the original. I’ve loved everything about Street Sharks. This annual feels like another love letter to the 90s in the best way.

Overall Grade: 10/10

Did you enjoy this comic? Let me know in the comments below

Until next time, may your pulls be magical, and your multiverse remain stable.