We all love a hero. Some of us are holding out for one. Some don’t need another one. But those poster boys and girls are the reason we fall in love with films and stories that keep us coming back for more. However, those stars can’t take on the world’s villains by themselves, so here is a run-down of our TOP TEN FAVOURITE SIDEKICKS – those characters that seem to get the bum’s rush when it comes to celebrating them and their achievements…
10. SHAGGY & SCOOBY DOO (SCOOBY DOO)
If you take a step back and take a hard look at the team who drive around in the Mystery Machine solving ghostly crimes (spoiler: it’s normally the person you most expect) then it’s clear that the brains belong to Fred, Velma, and Daphne. Shaggy and Scooby are pretty much comedy relief, although they usually, through their pure dumb luck, end up helping to unmask the villain of the week. (The only entry on here where one of the sidekicks is actually also the name of the show, if they spent as much time looking into the clues as they do their Scooby Snacks, the team would be the best detective agency in the world and Daphne probably wouldn’t be kidnapped as much!)
9. OBELIX (ASTERIX)
The slightly rotund sidekick to Gaulish warrior Asterix has had his fair share of adventures, falling into a cauldron of magic potion when he was a baby, resulting in his superhuman strength. This makes up for his lack of smarts, although his penchant for beating up Roman legionaries and stealing their helmets, and accidentally damaging things because he is not entirely aware of his own strength means that the pair get into plenty of scrapes with those crazy Romans. He’s an affable chap and loves his dog, Dogmatix, very much – just don’t call him fat.
8. ARNOLD BERNID ‘CASEY’ JONES (TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES)
A supposed parody of vigilante characters from other comics, Casey Jones quickly became a fan favourite sidekick of the Italian Renaissance named reptiles. Using mostly sports equipment as weapons and wearing a hockey mask, Jones refuses to sit on the sidelines and takes his vigilante justice seriously, meting out punishment to those who deserve it. His violent tendencies do sometimes put him on a collision course with Master Splinter’s pupils, but that hasn’t stopped him romancing April O’Neil, or becoming part of the team.
7. ABE SAPIEN (HELLBOY)
Working at the B.P.R.D., Abe’s abilities may not match Hellboy’s brute strength, but he can breathe underwater, swim very fast, is an excellent marksman and skilled at hand-to-hand combat, whilst also having psychic intuition. These powers combined make him a formidable sidekick on nearly every mission, as is his apparent ability to be potentially immortal. Not bad for someone who was literally floating in a tank when he was found – just don’t expect him to solve a Rubik’s Cube!
6. VLAD (HACK/SLASH)
When they first met, Vlad and Cassie Hack were not exactly best friends, with Cassie mistaking him for a slasher. To be fair, he fits the bill visually: imposingly large, carrying meat cleavers and wearing a gas mask, so you can understand her confusion. Naive to the point of bordering on innocent, Vlad nonetheless has the brawn to weigh in on any battle, regardless of the foe. He sees himself as the protector of Cassie as she battles against the slashers of the comic book world. You can’t even keep him down for long, Vlad coming back to life, and to the side of Cassie, in Hack/Slash: Resurrection.
5. KATO (THE GREEN HORNET)
No, not Peter Seller’s flatmate in the Pink Panther movies (not tonight, he’s washing his hair!) but the valet to Britt Reid’s Green Hornet. Having saved Kato’s life at some point in the past, Britt’s faithful companion is always there to assist on his vigilante adventures. The character had a complicated history surrounding his heritage, having been presented as Japanese, Korean, and even Filipino, there is no confusion when it comes to his abilities in a fight. This is only clarified further when you remember that Kato was played by none other than Bruce Lee in the ‘60s TV show.
4. JAMES BUCHANAN ‘BUCKY’ BARNES (CAPTAIN AMERICA)
On the other side of the DC/Marvel divide, we have Bucky Barnes. Somewhat ironically, Bucky was the one who looked out for Steve Rogers before he beefed up to become Captain America. Later, becoming the sidekick to Cap, Bucky was a resourceful pal who Steve thought had perished before coming back into his life as an antagonist in the form of the lethal Winter Soldier. Captain America, the pinnacle of doing what is right, was torn when he had to choose between his old friend and his morals. Luckily, the Winter Soldier was converted to the good guys and even ended up picking up the mantle of his old friend, albeit not in the MCU. That arm of his would make him MVP in a baseball team, no doubt.
3. ROBIN (BATMAN)
Talking of wonders, this list probably would be incomplete – and we wouldn’t hear the end of it, we’re sure – without Dick Grayson, or any of the various other wards who took up the mantle after him. Although Batman was reluctant to take on a sidekick, and would see his worst fears brought to life (or is it death?) thanks to the actions of his arch-nemesis, when The Joker killed the Jason Todd version, the dynamic duo have been connected in the consciousness of comic book fans for so long, that Robin could be considered to be the archetypal sidekick. Holy hole in a doughnut, Batman!
2. HIT-GIRL (KICK-ASS)
It could be argued that Mindy McCready is actually a partner to Kick-Ass after her father, Big Daddy, dies, considering that Dave Lizewski is relatively untrained and unprepared compared to the pre-pubescent, sweary tyke. However, the fact that she is so young – although she grows up to be a force of her own – makes Mindy our favourite Girl Wonder. If you do end up in a fight with her and manage to survive, she’s the only sidekick on this list where taking her for ice cream after would probably smooth things over.
1. JACK BURTON (BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA)
Everyone seems to think that Jack Burton is the main character in John Carpenter’s insanely fun Big Trouble in Little China, but take another look. The owner of the Pork Chop Express was actually the sidekick all along, backing up Wang Chi as he attempts to rescue his one true love, the green-eyed Miao Yin, from the clutches of David Lo Pan. As the events unfold, Jack finds himself more and more confused, caught up in a street gang war, battling against an ancient prophecy that he doesn’t understand, and falling in love. The very fact that he accidentally knocks himself out right at the beginning of the big, final battle, added to nearly every one of his ideas backfiring, cements his place at the top of this list. He’s a reasonable guy, who has just experienced some very unreasonable things.
If you think we’ve missed anyone or want to want to add your own, reach out to us on Twitter @STARBURST_MAG
