Always the thinker, Tinker likened Jordan’s aerial acrobatics to fighter planes performing dogfight manoeuvres. Mimicking WWII fighter jet nosecone art, the Air Jordan 5 flaunted jagged shark teeth on the midsole and a more aggressive vibe that peaked with its towering tongue height. The AJ5 also introduced reflective 3M Scotchlite tongues and translucent ‘icy’ rubber soles, both of which became signature elements of the Air Jordan aesthetic. The one-two punch of prominent product placement in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and the ongoing Mars Blackmon campaign launched the AJ5 into orbit.