Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 04/15/2011 When Captain Amazing is laid up due to his peanut allergy, his pets secretly take up crime-fighting duties and end up in a trial by fire as they get tangled in a supervillain’s secret plot. Despite the presence of its charming animal characters, Santat produces much more of a dramatic adventure than a hilarious romp, which is by no means a bad thing. Realistic relationship dynamics come out as Fluffy the hamster must welcome and learn to count on newcomer Shifty the Chameleon, and a hint of psychological nuance is displayed in the static between the estranged runaway cat Manny and his former protégé Roscoe the dog. 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 with The Incredibles. - Copyright 2011 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 07/01/2011 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 - Copyright 2011 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Bulletin for the Center... - 09/01/2011 When old age and a peanut allergy threaten to take Captain Amazing out of commission, the hero of Metro City starts looking for a sidekick and potential replacement in this graphic novel. After watching their owner take down bad guys for years, Captain Amazing’s pets are certain they’re ready for the job-even if their master has no idea they’re even interested, much less in training. Roscoe, a.k.a. Metal Mutt, has been using his super strength to fight crime for some time now, while the near-invisibility powers of Shifty the chameleon are sure to come in handy while fending off villains. Fluffy the hamster isn’t quite sure what his superpower is yet, but he’s got guts and determination, and when he runs into Static Cat, former member of the Captain’s animal cohort and current runaway vigilante, he begs the kitty to take him under his wing-er, paw. Static Cat’s return to the household brings up some long buried (and probably natural) tensions between Manny (Static Cat’s alias) and Roscoe, but in the end, the four pets team up to save Captain Amazing from certain doom and live to fight another day. Panels populated with “BAM!”, “POW!”, and “KABOOM!” and defined, angular linework call up images of the golden age of superheroes. The rusty palette that characterizes the daytime scenes gets a bit monochromatic, but is nicely broken up by the more intense jewel tones indicating the pets’ nightly adventures. There’s a pleasingly understated parallel to human relationship in the sibling-like dynamics between the pets, and most youngsters will readily identify with one of the four creatures, be it the overburdened older brother in Roscoe or the underestimated little guy in Fluffy. Lively, insightful, and just plain fun, this convergence of capes and creatures will find a wide audience in animal lovers and superhero fans alike. KQG - Copyright 2011 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.