Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Dan Santat, scholastic books, Thick as Thieves, young readers
Thick as Thieves: Dan Santat's Sequel to Sidekicks Coming in January
Thick as Thieves, the sequel to Dan Santat's Sidekicks graphic novel about animal sidekicks of superheroes, is out in January 2026
Article Summary
- Dan Santat returns with Thick as Thieves, the action-packed sequel to his hit Sidekicks graphic novel.
- Captain Amazing's retirement sparks new chaos as secrets about superheroes fall into the wrong hands.
- Manny, Roscoe, Fluffy, and Shifty face a mysterious visitor and suspicion within the pet sidekick team.
- Perfect for ages 8-12, Thick as Thieves releases January 6, 2026 and is available now for preorder.
Caldecott Medalist, National Book Award Winner, and New York Times bestselling graphic novel icon Dan Santat is back this spring with Thick as Thieves: A Graphic Novel (Scholastic/Graphix; January 6th, 2026, for readers Ages 8–12): an action-packed, hilarious sequel to Sidekicks, starring the same four legendary pets as book #1!

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 of the Sidekicks series! 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? After all, they're thick as thieves!
Dan Santat is the New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, which won the prestigious Randolph Caldecott Medal in 2015. He is also the creator of the acclaimed graphic novel The Aquanaut, and his graphic memoir, A First Time for Everything, was the 2023 National Book Award Winner for Young People's Literature. His art is featured in numerous children's books, including Dav Pilkey's Ricky Ricotta series as well as picture books by Henry Winkler and Jake Gyllenhaal. He lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, and pets. His official website is dansantatbooks.com.
Thick as Thieves: A Graphic Novel is out on January 6th, 2026, and is available for preorder.











