Sidekicks: Thick as Thieves – written and illustrated by Dan Santat
Scholastic Graphix, 2026

Sidekicks: Thick as Thieves, is the second volume of Dan Santat’s Sidekicks series.  This graphic novel combines frenetic action with thoughtful dialogue about some serious questions. Among these are the nature of families, the difficulty of making tough decisions, and accepting that no one is skilled at everything he or she tries to do. And for adults, add to that list how difficult it might be to retire, even if you are a superhero.

When the book opens, Captain Amazing, also known as Harry James Blake, is about to, reluctantly, take a vacation. His sister Kelly is accompanying him to Crochet-Con, a convention of hobbyists that includes the display of a gargantuan ball of yarn.  Harry has recently taken up the hobby, and he‘s not good at it. He won’t win any prizes, except for participation. But he’s getting older, and now that his peanut allergy has been revealed by his nemesis, Dr. Havoc, his superhero days have been further compromised.

Meanwhile, back at the Society of Superheroes, there has been a data breach, and also a possible betrayal.  Shifty, Roscoe, Manny, and Fluffy are trying to put the pieces together, and Shifty’s brother, Whipley, makes a surprise appearance. The two siblings are thick as thieves, sort of. Shifty looks up to Whipley as a paternal figure, but in a complex series of revelations, it turns out that Whipley’s morals are rather flexible. Is anything and everything permitted if someone claims that he is only taking questionable actions to care for someone he loves?

Santat’s bad guys are scary, and the damage they inflict shows viscerally on their victims’ faces. Classic superhero action and robotic terror are confronted by gentle animals, confused, but also clever.  When Manny confesses his insecurities to Roscoe, “But I was worthless at the world’s biggest ball of yarn…I made careless mistakes,” Manny’s canine friend reassures him: “I have, too. That’s why we work together. You got my back, and I got yours.”  Santat’s gift for neatly summarizing difficult issues is visible here, as in all his books. Without a trace of condescension, he reminds readers that no one is perfect, but, just maybe, good can still defeat evil.