As far as mantras go, Street Sharks have one about as good as they come. They fight. They bite. They stand for everything right. You can read it on the opening page of each issue of the IDW Publishing series, and as we discuss with writer Stephanie Williams this week, given everything going on in the world, it’s worth repeating every time you crack open the comic.

Street Sharks may have begun as a cash grab in the wake of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ success. However, under Stephanie Williams’ direction, in collaboration with artist Ariel Medel, the comic book series distinguishes itself by embracing the Bolton brothers’ chill attitude amid abject horror. They’re Supergirl to TMNT’s Superman. They lived a life before their Krypton exploded. They know what they lost, they lived what they lost, and they still choose to direct their jawesome chompers toward villainy. It's pure superhero comics.

You might be thinking, what the Big Slammu are you talking about? Well, you just have to dig into this week’s episode to appreciate the comparison truly. We’re getting deep with Street Sharks this podcast, discussing community, reluctant heroism, and mob mentality with Stephanie Williams. Two weeks ago, our co-host Lisa didn’t know a thing about Street Sharks, but as of today, she’s INVESTED.

The first four issues of Street Sharks are now available from IDW Publishing. The fifth issue, concluding the first arc, swims into comic shops on February 18th. Street Sharks is written by Stephanie Williams, illustrated by Ariel Medel, colored by Valentina Pinto, and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry.

Also, follow Stephanie Williams on Bluesky, Instagram, and her website.

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This February, Dave Stevens’s The Rocketeer soars again in a brand-new story written by John Layman, the genius behind the foodie cannibal detective series Chew, and illustrated by Jacob Edgar, who drew Plastic Man: No More and has a very cool J. Bone/Darwyn Cooke style. The new series is called The Rocketeer: The Island. Our skybound hero, Cliff Secord, leads a dangerous search and rescue mission. Who’s he looking for? None other than Amelia Earhart! The first issue crashes into comic book shops on February 25th, courtesy of IDW Publishing.

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Stephanie Williams on Street Sharks