Review: Super Pancake and The Terrible Toast - Written by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Illustrated by Abhi Alwar

Review: Super Pancake and the Terrible Toast - Megan Wagner Lloyd and Illustrated by Abhi Alwar - November 2025

There's something wonderfully absurd about a pancake superhero, and Megan Wagner Lloyd's Super Pancake and The Terrible Toast leans into that absurdity with pure joy. Thanks to RandomHouse Kids Graphics for sending this ARC my way , it was exactly the kind of light-hearted escape I needed.

This  installment finds our syrupy hero, Peggy Pancake, juggling the classic superhero dilemma: saving the world while maintaining personal relationships. After her previous adventure babysitting mini muffins and battling a Mini Mega Laser of Doom, Peggy now faces an even more challenging nemesis - The Terrible Toast, who's brewing up a mind control scheme beneath the Syrup Sea. But what really struck me about this graphic novel is how it balances the high-stakes action with genuine emotional weight. Peggy's strained relationship with her brother Patrick feels real, even in a world populated by breakfast foods.

The talent show subplot is where the story truly shines. Watching Peggy struggle with her mysteriously "scrambled" singing voice while trying to repair her bond with Patrick adds a layer of vulnerability that makes her heroic moments even more satisfying. It's a reminder that being super isn't just about defeating villains , it's about showing up for the people who matter most.

Abhi Alwar's illustrations bring Breakfast Town to vibrant life with dynamic action sequences and expressive character work. The Bacon Bullies are delightfully menacing, and the epic food fight scenes are choreographed with real flair. My personal favorite visual gag involves the heist sequence , it's Ocean's Eleven meets breakfast buffet, and it shouldn't work as well as it does.

What I appreciate most is how this series doesn't talk down to its 9-13 year-old audience. Young readers will relate to Peggy's mistakes and her determination to make things right.

Super Pancake and The Terrible Toast proves that superhero stories can be both silly and sincere. It's comfort food in graphic novel form , sweet, satisfying, and surprisingly substantial. Whether you're a middle-grade reader or someone who still believes breakfast foods make the best heroes, this adventure is worth diving into. 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/448wm2G