Not every sidekick is destined for greatness. Most of the time, a sidekick simply serves as a contrast to their hero companion; the most constant example is dark, brooding Batman and naive, bright-eyed Robin. A sidekick can also be minimized to simply asking questions and providing comic relief. Many Marvel fans may think of Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy or the latest rendition of Ned Leeds in the Spider-Man solo films.
Yet, occasionally, the sidekick creates a name for themselves and outshines the hero, such as the case with Ant-Man and the Wasp. However, within the massive Marvel comics universe, many sidekicks are no longer used. They are written off, fade away into obscurity, or die (and stay dead).
10 H.E.R.B.I.E Due To Sheer Unlikability
In the 1970s, the Fantastic Four team was left without a Human Torch after a premature licensing to Universal Studios. Due to the limited restrictions, Stan Lee created H.E.R.B.I.E (Highly Engineered Robot Built for Interdimensional Exploration). According to Sean Howe's Marvel Comics: The Untold Story, Lee originally commissioned Dave Cockrum to design the robot. However, Cockrum disliked the robot so much, that artist Jack Kirby eventually replaced him. This unfortunate pattern foreshadows H.E.R.B.I.E's reception as a character.
The slightly-humanoid robot replaced the Human Torch in NBC's animated Fantastic Four series in 1978. While the worst version of the robot is in the cartoon, he does transition into the comics canon in 1979. Most fans' gripes were his uselessness and his whiny, high-pitched voice. H.E.R.B.I.E's full last appearance was in 2008. He has made brief cameos since then but is ultimately no longer used as a major character.
9 Jim Wilson Due To Character Death
While many individuals may think that the Hulk does not need a sidekick, Jim Wilson aids the large superhero against Hydra and more. In the comics, the two men meet when the Hulk seeks refuge within Jim's deteriorated tenement. They bond as outcasts: the Hulk, a green man-monster, and Jim Wilson, a starving man down on his luck. Jim Wilson is also the nephew of Sam Wilson.
Jim Wilson first appeared in the comics in Incredible Hulk #131, which was published in 1970. His apparent death occurs in 1994's Incredible Hulk #420, with the Hulk at his bedside. Jim Wilson dies because of complications with AIDS, which peels back the fantastical curtain of comic books to reveal something very real and very tragic.
8 Alpha/Andy Maguire Due To Character Arc (And Writers)
Created by Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos, Alpha first appears in Amazing Spider-Man #692 in 2012. Yes, Alpha's first and last names are a very not-subtle reference to Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield. The two actors carried the Spider-Man film mantle before Tom Holland. While Spider-Man works best solo, Alpha is the closest thing to a sidekick for the teenage superhero. While traveling to Horizon Labs on a field trip, Andy Maguire is exposed to Peter Parker's "Peter Particles" after an experiment goes awry.
Andy Maguire acquires many different abilities and, as a result, Peter Parker feels a great responsibility towards the student. Peter reveals himself as Spider-Man to Andy and offers the opportunity for Andy to become his sidekick. Thus, Alpha is created. Instead of suffering a tragic death, the kindest fate for a sidekick is for them to find their path. In this case, Alpha finding his path as the protector of Pittsburgh... The writers decide to drop his character.
7 Sun Girl/Mary Mitchell Due To Age
Originally a solo hero, Sun Girl partners with the original Human Torch. In the comics, she vaguely worked as a crimefighter under the alias Sun Girl, but after World War II, she becomes the Human Torch's secretary. However, in 1949, that brief superhero/sidekick partnership quickly ends, and Sun Girl retires her suit.
Sun Girl made her first comic book appearance in 1948. Her last comic book appearance is as a resident of the Valhalla Villas in Ant-Man: Last Days #1, published in 2015. Unless another pesky time-warp conveniently de-ages The Mysterious Beauty, Mary Mitchell is assumed to live out the rest of her days in the retirement home for superheroes.
6 Dum Dum Dugan Due To Character Death
In the Marvel comics, Dum Dum Dugan sees combat during WWII as a member of the Howling Commandos, a Nick Fury-led organization. Afterward, Dum Dum Dugan fights alongside Captain America and Bucky as a member of the Deadly Dozen. Unfortunately, he dies in 1966 on a S.H.I.E.L.D mission.
Dum Dum Dugan is no longer used by Marvel in his original form. Instead, Nick Fury transitions Dum Dum Dugan's consciousness into a Life Model Decoy, otherwise known as an LMD. So, while Dum Dum Dugan may appear in different forms, his original appearance is no longer utilized by Marvel in the comics due to story progression and his human death.
5 Deadpool's Weasel Due To Character Death
In the comics, Weasel is everything a sidekick should be: best friend, informant, and arms dealer. However, due to Deadpool's uncertain behavior, their friendship is often one-sided or manipulated. Created by Fabian Nicieza and Klaus Janson, Weasel first appeared in Cable #3 in 1993.
After being killed by Macho Gomez, and subsequently returning to the land of the living, Weasel coins himself Patient Zero. However, right now, the original Weasel is no longer used within the comics. His fate in the Deadpool movie franchise has yet to be fully determined.
4 She-Hulk/Jennifer Walters Due To Character Arc (And Legal Stuff)
In 1980, She-Hulk first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1. While not the most traditional sidekick, She-Hulk is added to the list due to her character arc and Marvel's legal bonds with Universal. She-Hulk is also one of the few sidekicks who has managed to separate herself from her male counterpart.
Throughout the comics, She-Hulk joins a variety of groups and alliances, including the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and A-Force, an all-female group of superheroes. By offering physical strength and legal counsel, She-Hulk works as both a sidekick and a hero in her own right. It is still uncertain as to whether or not Marvel now explicitly owns the rights and licensing to She-Hulk, including the rights to release a solo film. A Disney+ show starring the green superwoman is rumored to air in 2022.
3 Spider-Bite/Nathan Due To Character Arc
Another Spider-Man "sidekick," Nathan is one of Marvel's more pure creations. He first appears in 2019's Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #6. One of Spider-Man's biggest fans, Nathan is a young boy suffering from cancer. The superhero visits Nathan in the hospital. Within the comic book's storyline, Spider-Man and Nathan, now Spider-Bite, imagine that they are fighting a group called the Sinister Sixty.
At the end of the story arc, Nathan's parents disrupt the fantasy for the boy's bedtime. Ultimately, Nathan's true fate is unknown within the comics, but it is easy to assume that he dies from cancer.
2 Toro/Thomas Raymond Due To Character Arc
With 70 years of comic book history, Toro's story is convoluted. First introduced in 1940, he served as the Human Torch's sidekick before becoming a hero in his own right, retiring, returning to action, and, ultimately, dying in the process. Ironically, Toro's parents assisted Phineas Horton, the creator of the original Human Torch.
Toro has appeared on and off throughout the years. Recently, he was revealed to be Inhuman and accepted an offer to live in Attilan. His character is continually revived but is unexpected to have a major reincarnation any time soon. Currently, he is no longer a sidekick.
1 War Machine/James Rupert "Rhodey" Rhodes Due To Cancellation
In Iron Man #118, published in 1979, James Rhodes was introduced as a supporting character. He made his debut as Iron Man in 1983; he was introduced as War Machine in 1992; he also carried the mantle of Iron Patriot in 2013. Needless to say, Rhodey has worn many hats, including side character, sidekick, and even main character.
Rhodey made his most recent comic book appearance in Iron Patriot, an All-New Marvel NOW! title. Unfortunately, the series lasted for only five issues before cancellation. While major film plans are determined, it is uncertain whether or not Iron Man's best friend will feature in another comic book series as the main character.