Publication Date: July 1, 2011 Publisher: Arthur A Levine Author: · Dan Santat Grade: A-

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To the rest of the world, he's Captain Amazing. But to his devoted pets who wait loyally for him to return home every evening, he's Harry, the master whom they love. But Harry's had increasingly less and less time for them, and when it becomes apparent that the aging Captain Amazing is in need of a sidekick to provide him backup, the pets see it as an opportunity to get to spend more time with Harry.

That's the basic premise behind Dan Santat's new graphic novel, Sidekicks, which combines superhero action with anthropomorphic comedy. While Captain Amazing takes some much-needed time off to recover from his latest battle, and to audition sidekicks, a new superhero moves into town -- Wonder Man -- causing many to ask if Captain Amazing might not want to consider a more permanent retirement. But Captain Amazing's pets -- Roscoe the dog, Fluffy the hamster, and Shifty the chameleon -- aren't going to just roll over. Individually, they make their way out into the city to practice fighting crime one-on-one, using their powers (or seeming lack thereof) to make a name for themselves. Make way for Metal Mutt and... Fluffy!

However, there's another hurdle these four-legged friends have to get past: Harry's used a pet for a sidekick before, and the results ended in heartbreak when his cat Manny -- aka Static Cat -- went missing. But is Manny truly gone for good? (Hey, it's comic books! What do you think?)

Can these housepets become a 'legion of super pets' in time to save the day from the evil machinations that threaten the city? Or will the rolled-up newspaper of crime send them home with their tails between their legs? The fun is in the journey with this funny and touching adventure for comic book lovers of all ages.