Sidekicks, Under Appreciated and only Occassionally getting there own book or recognition for even existing in comics. But where would comics be without them? Well we'd have fewer uninspired Gay-Jokes about comics and less secondary characters, which is important in a medium almost defined by bland protagonists. So lets tip our hats to the great supporters of superheroes and countdown my picks for the creme-de-la-creme.
10 ‘Dum Dum’ Dugan
Ex circus strongman and one of the original Howling Commandoes, Dum Dum Dugan has played second banana to everyone from Nick Fury and Captain America to Iron Man and fricking Howard the Duck. He’s even been the Commander of SHIELD during several of Fury’s many fake deaths, proving too vital to SHIELD to resign from it during World War Hulk.
The only real superpower he has is that he’s is basically a copy of the original Dugan’s mind in an LMD, or Life-Model Decoy. But he has been completely unaware of his situation throughout most of his adventures. And that’s the real cool factor to the character. He thought he was a mortal man with no hope of resurrection after death and he still went into dangerous missions with all guns blazing. He doesn’t need any powers or augmented armour or anything like that to go up against the forces of evil. He just his fists, his moustache and his hat. Badass.
9 Pip the Troll
The thing about Sidekicks is they’re inherently a bit pathetic, no Superhero sidekick lives up to this idea more than Pip. Adam Warlock even gave him the Space Stone because the only thing Pip would do with it is run away to somewhere safe. Yet somehow this cowardly troll has stood up to Thanos and other universe wide threats so kudos. (Pip has also been Sidekick to the Silver Surfer, Captain Marvel, Dr Strange and been a member of X-Factor)
8 Clea
This character fits perfectly into two forms of Sidekick, the Sidekick as love interest (other examples include Black Canary and Gamora) and the Sidekick as apprentice (like any of the Original Teen Titans). While not the most well known of Dr Strange’s sidekicks, but Wong has certain problems being his Asian Man-servant who teaches Dr Strange Kung Fu (also in the Comics, Wong isn’t a Sorcerer).
7 Lockheed
Ya know whats cool, Dragons, Ya know what else is cool, Aliens. So logically an Alien Dragon whose also a secret agent for Sword (intergalactic Shield) and Kitty Pryde’s pet Dragon has to make the best sidekicks. Sure there was that period when he wasn’t in Excalibur because Ken Lashley couldn’t draw him but… who doesn’t want a dragon he’s a friggin’ Dragon!!
6 Bat-Girl
There are many Bat-Girls, but the most famous and popular has to be the Barbara Gordon Bat-Girl, introduced in Batman 66 to boost ratings.
But Barbara’s more than a pretty face and a purple and yellow colour scheme, she’s also the Batcave’s tech-expert, even after the events of the killing Joke Babs had a role in the Bat-Family and was even an aid to the whole Justice League.
5 Black Widow
Best known for being played by Scarlett Johanson, but Black Widow was originally Iron Man’s Archenemy. Now a Career Sidekick for everyone for almost anyone including; Daredevil (whom she was once engaged to), Hawkeye (another Ex-Boyfreind), Captain America, Wolverine and Nick Fury. Now she’s not the only former Villainess turned Sidekick, but unlike Catwoman or Black Cat, Black Widow doesn’t seem like she’s going back to being a villain anytime soon.
4 Arthur Everest
The Pancho-via to the Tick’s Don Quixote, do I need to say anymore? Arthur and the Tick are inseparable and a great crime fighting duo. Arthur functions as the brains and the responsibility to the Tick who is the ultimate Socratic hero, he only 3 things, He must do good, he must stop people doing bad and Arthur is his friend. And with this he never exploits the Tick he is always there to lend him a hand.
3 Jubilee
The point of view character for the X-men in the 90’s, who wouldn’t want to be Wolverine’s sidekick? seriously he was and still is the most popular character in the series.
The Dynamic forged between these 2 is really want needs highlighting, the dark brooding mentor and the big mouthed brat sidekick, I think DC have tried to replicate this with Batman and Jason Todd and then later Damian Wayne. But it’s never worked as well as this possible Father-Daughter duo… and even if she isn’t his daughter Wolverine is so Badass he can hang out with a 14 year old asian girl and it doesn’t ruin his street-cred or popularity despite the fact many people hate Jubilee.
2 Jimmy Olsen
What kind of Sidekick do you give the Man of Steel? a Dog of Steel, a little cousin of steel? Well the answer is actually yes to both of them, but his most enduring sidekick is Jimmy Olsen. A teenage Dork in a Bowtie with freckles who looks up to him and no matter what will never learn not to drink whats in Professor Potter’s lab.
Jimmy Olsen was also allowed in Earth-One to grow into his own hero and fought Darkseid. And Bonus Trivia he was introduced in the Superman Radio series way back in the 1940’s before making his way to the comics, making him one of the first characters to do that pre-dating Harley Quinn by 50 years.
(Honourable Mention) Ebony White
The Black sidekick to me always come off a bit racist (see Captain Caucasian and Blackie the Wonder-Negro from Love Bunny and Mr Hell), but Ebony White is the first non-white character in comics and while he is in fact an ethnic stereotype which and most modern versions of the Spirit ignore him (interestingly Brad Bird’s test-footage for a Spirit animated film features him quite prominently).
1 Robin
Of Course it had to be, you think Superhero Sidekick and Robin is the first one you think of, but which one?
Now I don’t want to start a fight but… Dick Grayson, he can’t stop being Batman’s sidekick. Even as Nightwing when he’s fallen out with Batman what does he do, help Batman. He’s Batman’s sidekick whether he likes it or not.
He also ushered in the trend of mini-me sidekick’s in DC Comics which then led to the Original Teen Titans, featuring the Justice League’s sidekicks and Donna Troy a character created be cause they couldn’t think of Supergirl.
