Sidekick

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A sidekick is a slang expression for a close companion or colleague who is, or is generally regarded as, subordinate to those whom they accompany.

Origins

The first recorded use of the term dates from 1896.

One of the earliest recorded examples of a sidekick may be Enkidu, who played a sidekick role to Gilgamesh after they became allies in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Other early examples are Achilles and Patroclus in the Iliad and Moses and Aaron in the Old Testament.^[4]

In fiction

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Sidekicks can fulfill one or multiple functions in fiction, such as a counterpoint to the hero,^[5] an alternate point of view, or knowledge, skills, or anything else the hero does not have. They often function as comic relief,^[5] and/or the straight man to the hero's comedic actions. A sidekick can also be a character to whom the audience can more easily relate than the hero, or whom the audience can imagine themselves as being (such as teen sidekicks).^[4] And by asking questions of the hero, or giving the hero someone to talk to, the sidekick provides an opportunity for the author to provide exposition, thereby filling the same role as a Greek chorus.

Sidekicks frequently serve as an emotional connection, especially when the hero is depicted as detached and distant, traits which might make it difficult to like the hero.

, being mentally linked to the reticent protagonist, often reveals thoughts, feelings, and the physical condition of his host, as well as background elements of the story.

The apparent stupidity of some comedy sidekicks is often used to make a non-intellectual hero look intelligent. Similarly, a flamboyant or effeminate sidekick may make an otherwise unimposing hero look more masculine. And a strong, silent and modest hero may have his fighting qualities revealed to the other characters and the audience by a talkative sidekick.

While many sidekicks are used for comic relief, there are other sidekicks who are less outrageous than the heroes they pledge themselves to, and comedy derived from the hero can often be amplified by the presence or reaction of the sidekick. Examples include Porky Pig, who is more sensible and calmer than Daffy Duck in later short films; similarly, Sancho Panza is more rational than Don Quixote.

It is typical for the character and sidekick to be of the same gender — otherwise the term "sidekick" is replaced with "partner" or "companion". Whenever there is a team of more than two characters, the term sidekick is generally reserved for another team member of the same sex. It is rare for the relationship between a character and an opposite-sex sidekick to lack romantic or sexual overtones of any kind — though there are examples, like

.)

While unusual, it is not unheard of for a sidekick to be more

was not. This became more important as Hartnell's health declined during his tenure as The Doctor. This was not an issue with the following Doctors as they were cast with significantly younger actors.

It is also not unusual, especially in more recent TV programs such as Bones and NCIS, for there to be a team of sidekicks. In Bones, for example, FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth often fulfills one of the traditional roles of a sidekick by providing translations for the brilliant but socially incapable Dr. Temperance Brennan. Both Brennan and Booth, however, are heroes in their own right. The sidekicks in this case are the team of "squints" back in the Jeffersonian Institution's Medico-Legal Lab, each with their own scientific specialty, all of whom are usually needed to break the case.

In certain cases, a sidekick can grow out of their role of second fiddle to the hero and become a hero in their own right. Dick Grayson is one such example, having outgrown the mantle of Robin when he was under Batman and taken up the new identity of Nightwing. Grayson for awhile succeeded his mentor and took on the costumed identity of Batman himself. Another example is the popular comic-strip soldier of fortune Captain Easy, who started as the two-fisted sidekick of the scrawny eponymous hero of the strip Wash Tubbs.

Use

Frodo Baggins's Samwise Gamgee, and Harry Potter's Ron Weasley, as well as the afore-mentioned Sancho Panza and Doctor Watson, are notable sidekicks from fiction.

In fiction, the term "sidekick" commonly refers to assistants to crime-fighting heroes. However, sidekicks do not necessarily accompany a crime-fighter, such as Leporello, Don Giovanni's servant in the 1787 opera. Villains can also have sidekicks, who are usually portrayed as less brilliant or lacking cunning. The sidekick has the literary function of playing against the hero, often contrasting in skill, or performing functions not suited to the hero.

The sidekick was a regular presence in

had longer careers than some of the heroic singing cowboys for whom they took pratfalls.

In science fiction the sub-type of the

trilogy. One of the roles of the alien sidekick is to act as a mouthpiece for social commentary on the human condition from an outsider's point of view.

Heroic sidekicks such as

not only provide comic relief, but can occasionally be brave and/or resourceful and rescue the hero from a dire fate. Kalimán, a heroic character depicted on movies, radio theatre and comic books, mentors a young lad named Solín.

Comparisons

A

for the hero and his sidekick. As a result, henchmen tend to be anonymous, disposable characters, existing for the sole purpose of illustrating the protagonists' prowess as they defeat them.

Nevertheless, some villains do have sidekicks, including

live action films).

Examples

Some well-known fictional sidekicks are

Robin

.

In television

TV sidekicks usually play a supporting pivotal role to the star. Examples include

), are sometimes both called sidekicks to each other, although the usual sense of the term denotes inequality.

Many television talk shows make use of a sidekick as a co-host who anchors a show with the main star. Ed McMahon played this role famously to Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show, as did Andy Richter to Conan O'Brien on the Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Tonight Show, and Conan. The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson employed a mechanical robot sidekick named Geoff Peterson (voiced by Josh Robert Thompson).

's sidekick, instead humorously saying "This is Chuck Norris's sidekick" over footage of Norris kicking a villain.

Animation

In

The Ren and Stimpy Show

.

In the seventh episode of the 1994 animated series The Tick, the heroes take a night to relax at a local superhero nightclub. But when they arrive, Arthur is promptly escorted to the Sidekick Lounge, a small shack behind the club, where he meets several other sidekicks who spend the night lamenting their second-fiddle lot in life.

In video games

Some video games have sidekicks who provide assistance to players during their adventures. An early example was Floyd in

-as opposed to a single sidekick.

In comic books

Comic book sidekicks have a long and popular history, dating back to the beginnings of the form. Examples include the

Mister America's sidekick Fatman, both of whom debuted in the late 1930s. Other notable comics sidekicks include Ebony White,^[a] Jughead, Etta Candy, Captain Haddock, and Obelix

.

In 1940

Stripesy was the exception to the rule: an adult sidekick to a teen hero, the Star-Spangled Kid. Another unusual sidekick pairing was the Blonde Bomber [a.k.a. Honey Blake], a newsreel camerawoman, chemist, and crime-fighter with a male sidekick named Jimmy Slapso.)^[9]

The prevalence of so many adult male superheroes and their teenage "wards" caused some observers to look askance at the trend. Psychologist

-related aspects of the adult hero-teen sidekick relationship.)

In the early 1960s, at the advent of comics' so-called

Most of the

.

Conversely, the character

.

See also

• Aide-de-camp
• Confidant
• Foil (literature)
• Henchman
• List of comic book sidekicks

Notes

References

1. ^ "Sidekick definition & meaning". Merriam-Webster. September 8, 2023.
2. ^ Adams, Cecil. "What's the origin of 'side kick'?". The Straight Dope. Archived from the original on May 28, 2005.
3. ^ Morris, Evan. Word Detective (December 20, 1999).
4. ^ ^{a b c} Hay, Noelle. "Evolution of a sidekick," Archived February 20, 2010, at the Wayback Machine SFFWorld.com (2002). ^{[dead link]}
5. ^ ^{a b} McNamera, Mary. "Critic's Notebook: Sidekicks are second bananas no more," Los Angeles Times (May 5, 2008).
6. ^ McPherson, James (April 1984). "Micro-Reviews: Planetfall". Computer Gaming World. pp. 43–44.
7. ^ Barr, Mike W. "The Spirit's Dead Letters," The Spirit #6 (Warren Publishing, Feb. 1975).
8. ^ ^{a b c} Jones, Geppetto. "Snuff, Sidekicks, and the Apocalypse Suite," Archived March 16, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Job Seekers of America (August 1, 2009).
9. ^ Williams, Maren. "She Changed Comics: Pre-Code & Golden Age: Barbara Hall," Comic Book Legal Defense Fund website (March 4, 2016).

External links

Look up sidekick in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• "Sidekicks are second bananas no more," Los Angeles Times