Thick as Thieves: A Graphic Novel (Sidekicks, #2)

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Author(s)

Dan Santat

Publisher

Graphix

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

January 06, 2026

ISBN

978-1338879186

Buy This Book

Caldecott Medalist, National Book Award winner, and New York Times bestselling creator Dan Santat returns to Sidekicks with a brand-new adventure in this second series installment! Suit up for high-octane action and laughs!

There's trouble at the Society of Superheroes!

Captain Amazing, the longtime hero of Metro City, has retired, and he's enjoying a much-needed vacation at the World's Biggest Ball of Yarn. But while he's away, there's trouble at home! A massive data breech disrupts the Society of Superheroes, and a flash drive containing sensitive information about Captain Amazing and other heroes winds up in reckless hands. Meanwhile, an unannounced visitor named Whipley arrives at the captain's house, and his pet sidekicks -- Manny, Roscoe, and Fluffy -- are skeptical of the stranger's intentions. The only sidekick excited by the visit is Shifty.

Could Whipley be Shifty's loving, long-lost brother as he claims? Or is he framing the sidekicks for his own personal gain and vengeance?

Editor review

1 review

engaging MG superhero graphic novel

October 04, 2025 (Updated: June 20, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0

Characters

5.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

THICK AS THIEVES is an engaging middle grade graphic novel, great for children who love fast-paced superhero reads. After Captain Amazing retires and takes a vacation, there is trouble in the city. A flash drive containing sensitive information about superheroes has been stolen - and the sidekicks are on the case.

What I loved: This is a consuming graphic novel, perfect for readers who love superheroes, solving cases, and plenty of humor. Children will figure out what is going on before the characters do, much to their delight. Whipley, claiming to be Shifty's brother, has arrived, and nothing seems to be going just right. Children will enjoy the humor and the subterfuge around this visit and the sidekicks as they work to save the day.

The images are fantastic and strike just the right balance between storytelling with pictures and text. The dialogue throughout tends to be light, which is great for readers who appreciate the artwork and are gaining confidence in reading. The characters really come to life throughout, with lots of expressiveness and great detail.

Final verdict: THICK AS THIEVES is a fantastic new installment in the SIDEKICKS series, great for middle grade readers who enjoy humor and great artwork with light dialogue. It is definitely helpful to have read the first book in the series prior to opening this one.