February Faves: Glenn Walker’s Favorite Superhero Sidekicks

For the month of February, we’ll be doing something special here at Biff Bam Pop! Each week our writers and correspondents will be compiling lists of their favorite things. Today, I’ll be talking about my favorite superhero sidekicks. Meet me after the jump for more, or perhaps I’ll have my masked assistant show you the way…

Bucky

Bucky Barnes will be making big news in just a few weeks in the co-title role of the new Marvel movie Captain America The Winter Soldier. Now known better as the Winter Soldier, Bucky was once Captain America’s sidekick during World War II, but most importantly, when he was thought dead, he provided the motivation and inspiration for the Star-Spangled Avenger.

Kid Flash

I love me some Wally West, but maybe it’s because I’m from an older generation, I prefer him as Kid Flash. When I idolized the Flash, Wally was my age and did the same, only he got a chance to get super powers and run with his hero. All that, and Wally was the first of the superhero sidekicks to step forward and take over for his mentor, becoming the Flash himself.

Rick Jones

Rick Jones is the man. He could be said to have been sidekick to the Marvel Universe, a place created by Stan Lee, a man who didn’t believe in teenaged sidekicks. Jones played second to Captain America, the Hulk, Rom, among others, and was an honorary Avenger, and the guy who brought the team together. He also served as the human half of the original Captain Marvel for a time.

Kato

Despite what many folks might think, Kato is not a sidekick, even though I’m including him here. Kato is the Green Hornet’s partner, an equal part of the equation, offering up abilities that his other half might not have. As much as I love the Hornet, let’s face it, Kato is cooler, and hey, how many superheroes get to be played by Bruce Lee?

Dick Grayson

Whether you’re calling him Nightwing, Robin, Batman, Owl Man, the Boy Wonder or the Teen Wonder, Dick Grayson is my favorite ‘sidekicks,’ and one of my favorite comic book characters. He was leader of several versions of the Teen Titans, and led them in saving the world more than once, but leadership and responsibility aren’t why I think he’s cool.

I like Dick Grayson because he’s better than Batman. Batman and Robin have essentially the same origin, parents murdered by criminals and the orphaned child vows vengeance on the underworld. Bruce Wayne became a creature of the night, an obsessed vigilante, almost a sociopath. Dick Grayson is same and stable. He did his thing, got his revenge, and got over it, then dedicated his life to fighting crime and helping others. Bruce still mourns, while Dick is focused on the job. That’s why this Robin rocks.