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CollectionAges 8–12Graphic Novels

Sidekicks

A universe by Dan Santat

An ageing superhero's neglected pets secretly develop powers of their own — and end up saving the day. A funny, warm superhero graphic-novel series from Dan Santat.

  • Series

    1
  • Books

    2
  • Best for

    8–12
  • Status

    Ongoing

At a glance

Primary creator
Dan Santat
First book
Sidekicks · 2024
Tone
Funny, Exciting, Heartwarming, Adventurous
Overall sensitivity
Low

The shape of it

The shape of this universe.

Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat's Sidekicks is an action-packed, big-hearted graphic-novel series about the overlooked pets of an ageing superhero. Captain Amazing, hero of Metro City, is too busy catching crooks to notice that his animals, Roscoe the dog, Fluffy the hamster, Shifty the chameleon and long-lost cat Manny, are quietly developing superpowers of their own. When the Captain finally seeks a sidekick, his pets compete for the job just as his oldest enemy strikes; later adventures turn on data breaches, mysterious strangers and questions of who really counts as family. Funny, warm and full of heart, it blends genuine superhero action with tender stories about loyalty, trust and belonging.

An ageing superhero's neglected pets secretly develop powers of their own — and end up saving the day. A funny, warm superhero graphic-novel series from Dan Santat.

Primary themes

Tone palette

  • Funny
  • Exciting
  • Heartwarming
  • Adventurous

The series

One way in.

Cultural footprint

A shelf of evidence.

Cultural ubiquity

3/ 5

Well-known to people who know the room.

Sensitivity

Low, and collection-wide.

LowCollection-wide

Across the collection

All 2 books.

About the creator

Dan Santat.

Dan Santat

Both

Dan Santat: Caldecott- and National-Book-Award-winning American picture-book and graphic-novel maker — The Adventures of Beekle, After the Fall, A First Time for Everything — for ages 4–12.

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