Ever since Dick Grayson first put on a yellow cape and a domino mask way back in 1940, sidekicks have played a major role in DC Comics. These teen heroes are selected by the adults to become their proteges and, in theory, their torchbearers when they eventually retire or die. Of course, this being comics, the torches are rarely handed over, leading to an increasing number of sidekicks who find themselves constantly trapped under the shadow of their mentor.
While some sidekicks have broken out from the confines of the mentor/mentee relationship, many who should have become their own hero are still under the wing of their mentor when they should have flown off long ago. Even worse, some have gotten free only to return to the fold and lose their self-identity in the mix.
10 Tim Drake Was Free, Now He's Back
The third hero to take on the Robin mantle, Tim Drake has managed to stand out from the crowd for years, both as Batman's right-hand man and as his own hero. Over the years, Tim has taken on a number of identities, from Robin to Red Robin to the thankfully short-lived Drake, but he always goes back to his first persona, even when returning to Batman's side means he has to put his own life on hold. With Tim recently coming out as bisexual, the character once again has a chance to be more than just Batman's pal.
9 Mary Marvel Can't Even Have A Name
When DC decided to finally bite the bullet and stop calling their Captain Marvel - the original Captain Marvel - by that name, they may not have thought it through all the way. While the decision was made to change the classic character's name to Shazam, it left the rest of his family - the Marvel Family - in a lurch. After all, Mary Shazam is not a good name at all.
While the naming convention is more of an editorial issue, in the comics, Mary Marvel needs to break out from under her teammate's shadow more than any of the other members of the Shazamily mainly because she has the capability of being an interesting character on her own. Sadly, until she is given a new name, Mary won't be able to shine on her own.
8 Skeets Plays Second Fiddle To A Goofball
Of all the sidekicks in comics, Skeets may get the least respect. A super-intelligent robot that holds all of human history up to the 25th century in its databanks, Skeets works alongside Booster Gold to help the hero from the future become the greatest hero of today. But Skeets only shows up when Booster bothers to turn him on. When Booster was a member of the Justice League International, he boxed up his sidekick up and left him in storage, which is just plain rude. With its smarts, its lasers, and its sense of humor, Skeets is more than ready to branch out and do its own thing.
7 S.T.R.I.P.E. Is Too Old To Play Sidekick
Pat Dugan may well be the oddest sidekick in comics. His career in heroics started when Sylvester Pemberton, the rich kid Pat chauffeured decided to become the Star-Spangled Kid. Even though he was the adult of the duo, Pat took on the sidekick position under the name Stripesy, which is a name no adult should ever be called. These days, Pat flies around in a huge mech and calls himself S.T.R.I.P.E. but he's still a sidekick, now taking orders from his teenage stepdaughter Stargirl. Sooner or later, the adult man that is Pat Dugan needs to become his own person.
6 Jimmy Olsen Can Handle Himself
Jimmy Olsen isn't a sidekick in the traditional sense of the word. While the famous photographer has gained superpowers from time to time, he isn't really a superhero, but he has been mentored by Superman over the years, and he has been a major part of many of the Man of Steel's adventures. His comic was even called Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, suggesting that Superman would always be there. But now that Jimmy is older, richer, and the owner of the Daily Planet, it is far past time for him to break out from his sidekick position and become his own man.
5 Nightwing Needs To Learn To Say No
The first sidekick of them all, Dick Grayson has made good and become his own here, going from Robin to Nightwing. At least, that's what Dick likes to pretend has happened, but the truth is very different. No matter how much time passes, whenever Batman calls, Dick Grayson drops everything and answers.
Not that long ago, Dick got shot in the head because of Batman and what did the Dark Knight do? He pretty much ignored his first protege as he went through horrible trauma and a bout of amnesia. But the moment Batman needed help dealing with Joker, he called his old chum up and Nightwing came running. It's long past time for Dick to learn how to say no to Batman.
4 Spoiler Keeps Giving Up Her Own Identity To Be A Sidekick
Stephanie Brown started her superhero career as Spoiler but gave that identity up to become Batman's latest Robin at the drop of a hat. That decision cost Stephanie her life. Thankfully, she came back to life and started up her career as Spoiler again, but once more she gave up her own identity to take on the mantle of Batgirl, which she later gave up and once again returned to being Spoiler.
If that isn't confusing enough, Stephanie has once again given up her Spoiler persona to become part of the duo known as Batgirls, teaming up with Cassandra Cain, who has also gone back and forth on being called Batgirl over the years. Will Stephanie ever really become her own person if she keeps taking on the identities of others?
3 Kid Flash Is Trapped In A Wheel
Wallace West, the second Kid Flash to have that name, was introduced under one of the biggest shadows ever cast in comics. Not only was he the sidekick to Barry Allen, the second Flash, but he was sharing a name with a previous version of Kid Flash - Wally West.
Wallace West was introduced during the New 52 era of DC Comics when the company made the bad choice to wipe the original Wally West out of continuity. This instantly put a pall over the new Wallace, one that he may never be able to break free of. Calling himself Kid Flash doesn't help.
2 Captain Marvel Jr. Needs To Regain His Independence
In a lot of ways, Captain Marvel Jr. was the first sidekick to make good. While Robin and Speedy were still sitting shotgun in the Batmobile and the Arrowcar, Captain Marvel Jr. was off having his own adventures in his own comic series. Captain Marvel Jr. was so popular that his look inspired the look of Elvis Presley, forever changing the style of rock n roll.
Sadly, it's been a long time since Captain Marvel Jr. has had a chance to shine, and like Mary Marvel, he is currently trapped without a name, which means he's unlikely to headline his own book anytime soon.
1 The Signal Needs To Get Out Before It Gets Bad
The latest addition to Batman's ever-growing group of sidekicks, Duke Thomas may have started off as the leader of a group of kids who fashioned themselves after Robin, but these days he goes by Signal. Unlike Batman's other sidekicks, Signal actually has superpowers, giving him an advantage the others don't have.
Sadly, Duke tends to get lost in the mix when the Bat-Family gets together. When the whole gang got together to deal with "The Joker War," Duke barely showed up. If the Signal wants to make his mark, he'll need to break away from the Bat.