The Black Widow Shark is one of the many strange predators native to Third Earth, a genetic-looking blend of black widow spider and shark with crab-like legs and claws. She makes her home in the treacherous waters of the River of Despair, where she guards against any who dare to cross.
Appearances
The creature first appears in The Time Capsule (1985). Lion-O’s quest to reach the buried capsule takes him, the Thunderkittens and Snarf to the River of Despair, where the Black Widow Shark erupts from the water and snaps at them. Aided by the female Unicorn Keeper, they escape only by crossing the Bridge of Light raised by the Unicorns with a magical diamond.
In the same episode, the Thunderkittens also encounter the shark. Wilykit almost meets her doom when they attempt to fly across the River of Despair on their hoverboards. The shark leaps into the air and destroys Kit’s hoverboard with her teeth just as Kit leaps away. Wilykat just barely rescues Kit in mid air as the shark makes prepares her next attack. The kittens narrowly escape the jaws of the shark on one hoverboard.
The Black Widow Shark returns in Turmagar the Tuska, attacking the ThunderCats as they navigate the River of Despair en route to Tuskania. It is never confirmed to be the same animal, but Cheetara’s comment, “THE Black Widow Shark,” on sighting it suggests that it is the same creature. The shark pursues the thundertank underwater, grappling the tank with her crab-like legs and claws. Tygra secures their escape by diverting an electric shock to the shark causing her to flee.
