John "Ripster" Bolton is the leader of the Street Sharks. He's the smartest and the oldest of the Bolton Brothers. He enjoys creating inventions; taking up most of his knowledge and skills from his dad. He's also an avid pool player. In the first episode, he's seen riding a motorcycle. When he changes into Ripster, he becomes a Great White Shark with teeth that can chew even through steel.
He was voiced by Lee Tockar in the 1994 TV series.
History
Ripster and his brothers were gene-slammed into the Street Sharks and they've been fighting Dr. Piranoid and the other villains who want to harm them and make them look bad.
Powers and Abilities
As a Street Shark, he's a genetically modified human/shark hybrid. He possesses great physical strength, speed, endurance, and durability. Resulting in the trade mark shark dive that allows him to tunnel or swim through concrete like water.
- Intelligence: Ripster's the smartest of the sharks and he's their leader.
- Driving skills: Ripster's a capable motorcyclist.
- Pool Proficiency: Ripster is skilled in playing pool.
Arsenal
- Motorcycle: Ripster's main transportation, a red motorcycle with a flame paintjob
- Super Cue: In A Shark Among Us, Ripster used a pool cue that could fire a powerful laser blast.
- Chaos Armor: In Shark Wars, Bends gave the Sharks armor that could allow them to fight the MechoSharks, Ripster's armor resembled his pool shark disguise.
- Trapjaw: Ripster's Chaos Armor possessed a trapjaw with a wire cable on his right arm that could be launched.
Personality
John is shown to be both intellectual and mature person who enjoys making inventions and is very caring to his family, specifically on both his father and his brothers. He and his brothers are also worried for their father Dr. Robert Bolton who is secretly helps them or secretly giving letters from his unseen appearance.
In Eco Shark, John as Ripster became very concerned and worry to his brothers after revealing they were being held captive by Malcolm Medusa III and his crew, causing him to get serious to rescue them with Moby Lick's assistance.
When he became half-Great White Shark hybrid as Ripster, he is a very capable leader who leads the Street Sharks, a technological genius and a master strategist who can outsmart his enemies using both his intelligence and his extra sensory.
In To Shark or Not to Shark, following their transformation into a shark or briefly reverted into a human, John along with his brothers enjoy being a shark hybrid and to protect the city from Dr. Paradigm and the Seaviates from their evil plans.
In Eco Shark and Shark Hunt, Ripster along with his brothers, Moby Lick and Bends particularly dislike Malcolm Medusa III in his polluted grand schemes and his hunt gaming which makes him and his group to expose him.
Design
As a human, he is a young handsome muscular man with dark brown hair with brown eyes (sometimes the eyes are blue). He wears a light blue button-up shirt and a white t-shirt under, black jeans with a belt, and brown shoes or loafers.
As a shark, the top of his outfit was ripped into shreds to make him shirtless and retains his black jeans and brown shoes. His black jeans however were torn on both knees. The color scheme as a humanoid Great White Shark is dark blue and white. In Season 3, it became blue and pale blue, turning him into a different shades of blue.
Toys
Ripster is, perhaps the Shark with the most merch. As revealed with the release of the 2021 merch, Ripster was originally named "Ripley" and was the shark's sport loving brother, attributes which would be passed to Big Slammu. In series 1, Ripster was a dull blue gray in color. In series 2, the leader was given the "Metallic" painting. Both figures were able to punch with their left hand. Along side these, a Rip Rider Ripster was made, where the shark would ride a motorcycle. A 12 inch talking Ripster was able to be mailed away for. Like the rest of the Bolton Brothers, a Hand-Shark would be produced. A Shark Buddy, shown in the 1995 Toy Fare, was produced, but never released, it was a full body Ripster plush toy that could be used as a puppet.
For series three, Ripster was retitled, Ravenous Ripster. This figure was packaged with two laser rifles and could eat them. Uncommon for Ripster's character though, he sported a pair of brass knuckles on his left hand. Series 4, Ripster was Pool Shark Ripster, complete with his leather jacket, pool cue, exploding cue balls, and sunglasses. Oddly, the tongue of this Ripster had very prominent tastebuds. For Series 5, the Night Fighter line, Ripster was re-named once again to Trap Jaw Ripster, where he featured metal jaws that connected to his own. He also had a pair of shark jaws on a chain to use as a flail, and brass knuckles on his right hand. For Space Force, the sixth series, Ripster became Powerarm Ripster, where his left arm was fitted with a Jaws of Life style weapon. When Mattel brought back the IP for 2021, Ripster's prototype design was released. Originally called Ripley, he was a fun loving jock of the Bolton Brothers. The figure came with two accessories, barbells and a football missile launcher.
In 2024 as part of the Street Sharks 30th anniversary toyline, Ripster was given a toy similar to his original action figure but with added articulation. His spring-loaded punching gimmick can now be twisted in either direction at the hips, allowing him to punch with either fist. He also has an opening through his fist to allow him to hold 5mm accessories in both hands, although none are included.
At San Diego Comic Con 2024, it was revealed that a Ravenous Ripster figure will be released some time in 2025. This version will include metal knuckles, a speargun for him to chomp on, and a modified paint job.
Trivia
- Considering that the Street Sharks are similar to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ripster takes the place of Leonardo and Donatello as he's the leader of the Street Sharks and also the brainiac of the Street Sharks.
- Ripster is similar to Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) from the Fantastic Four as they were both the leaders and the brainiacs of their team.
Gallery
