"Hilarious and heartfelt... A charming and well-told tale about friendship." Kazu Kibuishi, creator of Amulet
"The lovable menagerie of crime-fighting pets offers lots of laughs and a boisterous and exuberant storyline; Santat's illustrations are clear, engaging, and neatly stacked into easy-to-read panels." Kirkus Reviews
"Lively, insightful, and just plain fun, this convergence of capes and creatures will find a wide audience in animal lovers and superhero fans alike." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A superhero story that is skillfully plotted and artfully executed at every turn. Sidekicks is a graphic novel that plays on classic comic storylines, yet manages to make them completely modern. A dangerously entertaining mix... Santat's vivid artwork will turn heads. Dramatic full-color illustrations splash across each page, the energy palpable. Wide-angle panels give off a cinematic vibe that kids will eat up." School Library Journal
"Well-crafted art balances the lighthearted and the rough-and-tumble and works equally well for the character moments and the epic battle at the end. Santat also cleverly uses the action to highlight the importance of smarts over simple brawn. Though not as emotionally intense, the combination of drama and superhero action compares favorably withThe Incredibles." Booklist
Praise for The Aquanaut:
An American Library Association Best Graphic Novel for Children
★ "Kinetic panel artwork impresses throughout, with smart pacing that swings between hilarity and suspense." Publishers Weekly, starred review
"The art in this graphic tale is something special... Santat's vividly expressive visuals are, even more than usual, riveting." Kirkus Reviews
"An endearing tale of love, loss, and the value of family biological and found." School Library Journal
"Poignant and often funny, The Aquanaut is Santat's triumphant return to the graphic novel genre." NPR
"A spirited and thrilling story." Shelf Awareness
"A humorous and heartwarming tale." BookPage
Gr 3–6—Middle-aged superhero Captain Amazing is looking for a new sidekick after his superpowered house pet and former cohort Static Cat runs away. His dog, Roscoe, is posing as superhero Metal Mutt in order to audition for his replacement, while his other pets—a hamster and a chameleon—train secretly with Static Cat as well. The artwork has an easily accessible style, and the characters display a distinctly identifiable design; they are rendered in such a way that makes them seem both solidly dimensional and appropriately cartoony. The story has a strong narrative continuity with a number of small details returning with dramatic importance later on, and each character has a particular arc of exploration and discovery. Full of inoffensive broad comedy, and providing a number of characters to relate to, Sidekicks is perfectly enjoyable, while still lacking the particular spark or inventiveness that would make it memorable. It should come as no surprise that Santat also created Disney's The Replacements, as this story has the tightness and pacing of a cartoon feature—-Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH
A veritable bonanza of capes, heroes and pets with superpowers abounds in illustrator Santat's first solo graphic novel.
Captain Amazing, the muscled hero of Metro City, is aging, and after a botched takedown of four nefarious villains, he decides he is in need of a trusty sidekick. Unbeknownst to Captain, his own pets are clamoring for the job (and for more quality time with their beloved owner). Fluffy, his hamster, has yet to discover his superpower, but this rodent has a lot of heart. Manny the cat (who has the ability to electrocute bad guys) had run away after his beloved toy Nummers went missing, but the prodigal cat returns just in time to help the Captain. Roscoe (a.k.a. Metal Mutt) has a gruff exterior but is fiercely loyal. Shifty, the newest addition to the family, is a color-changing chameleon who adds a dose of comic relief. The lovable menagerie of crime-fighting pets offers lots of laughs and a boisterous and exuberant storyline; Santat's illustrations are clear, engaging and neatly stacked into easy-to-read panels. While there is no mention of a sequel, subsequent volumes would certainly fly off the shelf faster than a speeding bullet, so here's hoping.
A vibrant volume sure to zoom, pow and swoosh its way into the hands (and hearts) of young superhero fans. Extremely entertaining. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)