Greetings heroes!
Are sidekicks genuine heroes with interesting stories to tell? Or just mildly entertaining co-stars that can be removed on a whim and no one would miss them?
Comic book sidekicks have been playing second-fiddle to superheroes on adventures for years now. Normally, they’re an emulation of a smaller-scale of the titular hero; a mini-me with tights and a cape, if you will. But, of course, we all know what a sidekick is. I walking around campus today and got to wondering just what purpose they serve.
Many of a sidekick’s characteristics can be used to balance the hero. Many early readers felt that Batman was too dark and intense. As a result, Robin was added to the Bat family. His bright colors and sense of humor added an entire new dimension to Batman’s stories that weren’t available without Robin’s contribution. It also made Batman look darker, tougher and more masculine in comparison.As one of the first sidekicks. Robin has definitely taken his fair share of hard knocks in the stories. Here is a few negative aspects of being a sidekick inherent to all those who tag their name after the “And” on the cover:
- At least a foot shorter than the hero. I can relate to this since I normally look up to about everyone.
- Flashy, unimaginative costume. Robin’s was based on a spring bird for crying out loud…not quite as threatening as the vampire bat!
- Corny, humorless dialogue to make the reader groan. See below on Batman and Robin for more on this….
- Mainly serving as a plot device to make the hero look stronger and more capable by being unable to accomplish feats their mentor can.
- A plot device to motivate the hero to perform great acts. Batman would always become really inspired or a better fighter if he sees his Robin is injured. Of course, after it happens every week, you think the effect might lessen a bit.
- Just another character to rescue. I’d be embarrassed if I’d been kidnapped as many times as Robin. You think eventually he might see it coming….
When the original Tim Burton Batman movie was about to be released (1988), a decision was made by DC to take Batman back to his roots as a solo character, as portrayed in the film. At the time, the identity of Robin had been taken up by Jason Todd in the comics, the second Robin. Todd was a young man Bruce Wayne found on the streets and took in to learn the crime fighting business. He found that Todd was more reckless, temperamental and prone to violence than his predecessor; Todd became unpopular among comic fans. As an unpopular character, many felt it was time to give him the boot.
Todd became the part of a major marketing ploy in 1998, where readers of the Batman comics could call a 1-900 number and vote on whether or not he survived an encounter with the joker. This stunt attracted massive media attention, with many observers outside of the comic book community believing they were planning to kill the original Robin. Man! I know if I was a sidekick in a comic book, I would feel slighted for having my fate decided by a phone survey. Fans voted to kill off Todd, and Batman became a solo hero once again. Todd was beaten to death by a crowbar and left in a building rigged with explosives. So much for letting the character go peacefully….
Robin would return around 1991 with Tim Drake, my personal favorite Robin, taking on the mask and cape. Robin has had a successful solo series for years now, and his new adventures as the leader of the Teen Titans show no signs of slowing THIS sidekick down.
At one time, Robin and every other sidekick has displayed some of these traits of a negative sidekick. It would seem that they aren’t mean to be taken seriously as real heroes and just can’t cut it on their own.
WRONG!
The sidekick offers the chance to observe the journey of the hero over many years. In the case of the original Robin, Dick Grayson, he began as a wild, untamed orphan who just wanted to fight crime. Over the years, readers got to know him simply as Batman’s sidekick until he began to take on his own identity. Now, Dick Grayson is Nightwing, a popular superhero in his own right who still appears with Batman from time to time, but protects his own city with his own monthly title.
The journey of Dick Grayson is an example of a classic coming-of-age tale. But observing it over a course of many years in a monthly magazine makes us feel like we are able to grow up with the characters. It is true that some characters will never age, but those who do offer us a chance to watch their story unfold as we grow with them. Tim Drake, the current Robin, has already grown in his role. A glimpse of the future showed him as a new Batman, taking his journey full circle.
Next time, I’ll continue my thoughts on sidekicks. Till then, feel free to comment with your own!
Remember,
Stay SUPER!
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