Top 50 Sidekicks - The League of Extraordinary Second Bananas

[Johnny Unusual]

I missed writing about Tim Drake. I like him but he didn't make my list. I kind of like that the four core Robins are essentially people with potential to surpass Bruce in some capacity. In particular, Drake at age 14 is already a great detective and will likely be better than Batman when he grows up. Thing is, I really like him AND Damian but I wish they could have figured out what to do with him once Damian took on the Robin mantle.

 

[Zef]

I was one of the votes for Tim, as he's my absolute favorite Robin (outside of Teen Titans Go, I think of Dick more as Nightwing than as Robin 1). I REALLY hated Identity Crisis killing off his dad, though, especially as healthy parental relationships are so brutally rare in Bat-Family comics.

 

[Adrenaline]

#30 (tie): Zorak and Brak
“Kickin' it”
First Appearance: Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1994)
Sidekicks to: Space Ghost
2 votes, 52 points (Top voter: Ixo)

There was one vote for Zorak, and one vote for Zorak and Brak as a pair. Both first appeared in the 1960s Space Ghost animated series, but the versions in late night talk show Coast to Coast are essentially different characters. Zorak is Space Ghost's wisecracking bandleader and Brak frequently pops by to sow a little chaos.

 

[WildcatJF]

Zorak was one of, if not the last, character I added. Almost entirely forgot him, but that really would have been folly, as he was my favorite character in Space Ghost Coast to Coast.

RIP Clay

 

[Bulgakov]

Zorak and Brak are excellent choices.

 

[Adrenaline]

#30 (tie): Dixie Kong
“Let's go over to Crocodile Isle and rescue DK. (Sorry, I couldn't find much to work with here)”
First Appearance: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (1995)
Sidekick to: Diddy Kong
2 votes, 52 points (Top voter: Beta Metroid)

Beta Metroid sez: Even if DKC2 is Diddy’s Kong Quest, Dixie has no qualms about taking part, and her ponytail twirling is a welcome addition to the adventure. She earned the starring role in the immediate sequel, and is clearly the most fun of the sidekick Kongs to have in Tropical Freeze. She’s playable in the three best Donkey Kong Country games. And she plays a mean guitar.

 

[Patrick]

Zorak, Brak, & Dixie are all good.

 

[Torzelbaum]

But good enough for Dixie Kong for Smash?

 

[Issun]

I was the other vote for Dixie. She's always the best choice whenever she's available.

 

[Adrenaline]

#30 (tie): Damian Wayne
“You know, you might be the strongest of them all... if you weren't so damn fragile.”
First Appearance: Batman (2006)
Sidekick to: Batman
2 votes, 52 points (Top voter: Rascally Badger)

Damian is the fourth young man with dark hair in the main DC universe to take on the mantle of Robin, Batman's trusty boy sidekick. He can be distinguished from other Robins by being Batman's biological son, and being raised as an assassin from birth by his crime lord mother Talia al Ghul, teachings which Batman has tried to steer him away from. You could argue that his true first appearance is as an infant in a graphic novel from 1987, but his first appearance as Damian is at the start of Grant Morrison's Batman run in the 2000s.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Ah, this little shit. Bold move to make a Robin who in his first appearance is less likable than Jason Todd but Damian's arc towards being a decent guy, while still be unmistakably himself, is a good one. Its a shame they couldn't figure out what to do with Tim Drake after he took the mantle, though. Also, he and Dick make the best team.

 

[Mogri]

Damian is the most interesting thing they've ever done with the Robin role.

 

[Adrenaline]

#28 (tie): Jiji
“You’d think they’d never seen a girl and a cat on a broomstick before.”
First Appearance: Kiki's Delivery Service (1985)
Sidekick to: Kiki
2 votes, 54 points (Top voter: Kirin)

I'm guessing most people are like me, and are familiar with Jiji from the charming and wonderful animated adaptation of the original novel directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Jiji is Kiki's talking pet cat. Does Jiji talk in the novel, too? I don't know. He's the fun and supportive companion any young teenager leaving home for the first time would want to have around.

 

[Kirin]

Yeah, I know Jiji through the Ghibli movie, though I looked it up and Jiji does talk in the original book as well, though apparently in it familiars unequivocally lose their ability to communicate when their witch grows up and falls in love.

Jiji is pretty different in the English dub (Phil Hartman's last role!) where he's much more proud and sarcastic than in the original Japanese script's more Jiminy Cricket conscience-like role, but both versions are great companions to Kiki.

 

[Zef]

Yeah, I know Jiji through the Ghibli movie, though I looked it up and Jiji does talk in the original book as well, though apparently in it familiars unequivocally lose their ability to communicate when their witch grows up and falls in love.

That sounds pretty unfair to the familiar! It would be... better? the other way around, if the witch simply lost that ability.

 

[Kirin]

That sounds pretty unfair to the familiar! It would be... better? the other way around, if the witch simply lost that ability.

Sorry, that was probably my poor phrasing. The witch and her familiar lose the ability to communicate with each other - I doubt it affects the familiar otherwise, but I don't think they have communication abilities beyond that of a normal animal when it comes to interacting with anyone else in the first place.

 

[Adrenaline]

#28 (tie): Danny Butterman
“Have you ever fired two guns whilst jumping through the air?”
First Appearance: Hot Fuzz (2007)
Sidekick to: Nicholas Angel
2 votes, 54 points (Top voter: Rascally Badger)

Sometimes it seems like Nick Frost was born to play Simon Pegg's sidekick in movies directed by Edgar Wright. Danny isn't the only such character to get a vote, but he's the only one on this list. Danny's obsession with flashy action movies makes him annoying to Angel at first, but his earnest desire to help solve his small town's strange crimes ultimately wins him over.

 

[WildcatJF]

JIJI IS THE BEST

 

[Kirin]

I voted for Ed from Shaun rather than Danny from Fuzz, but they're basically all the same guy. I suppose Danny is more of an explicit sidekick though.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

I feel like Danny is more likable than Ed. Both are man-children but Danny is a more of a good little boy who wants to be a man while Ed is very happy in his arrested development. Its interesting that the chemistry between Simon and Nick are different in both films. In Shaun, they are both in arrested development, in Fuzz, Nick is with Simon as the grown up and in World's End Simon is the man-child while Nick is the grown up.

 

[Zef]

In Shaun, they are both in arrested development, in Fuzz, Nick is with Simon as the grown up and in World's End Simon is the man-child while Nick is the grown up.

I was about to ask what their dynamic is in Paul but then I realized I don't even remember what kind of character Nick has--which I guess is the consequence of the film focusing much more on the titular alien, then on Simon, and Nick is just kinda there?

 

[Johnny Unusual]

I mean, I haven't seen it but I was just talking about the Cornetto trilogy. I think that's the only time they were a big screen pairing outside of that.

 

[Adrenaline]

#27: Yoshi
“Yoshi!”
First Appearance: Super Mario World (1990)
Sidekick to: Mario
2 votes, 55 points (Top voter: Beta Metroid)

Yoshi began his existence as essentially a vehicle for Mario, but over time his appearance and abilities and even the noises he makes have evolved to make him more of a character in his own right. He can make eggs! He can drive go karts! What version of Yoshi is your favorite?

 

[Zef]

Also, his saddle evolved into a turtle shell?

 

[Adrenaline]

#25 (tie): Daisuke Jigen
“There ain't room in this world for two top gunslingers!”
First Appearance: Lupin III (1967)
Sidekick to: Arsène Lupin III
2 votes, 57 points (Top voter: Kirin (#1))

A world-class thief needs a world-class sidekick. Jigen is a fantastic quick draw and sharpshooter, and he's always helping Lupin with his heists. Goemon also got a vote but Jigen is Talking Time's favorite member of the crew.

 

[Kirin]

My man! Had to give him my #1 slot as he's the only sidekick I've repeatedly cosplayed as.

Jigen is extremely capable on his own and has lots of personal stories mostly involving entanglements from his past as a mob-associated assassin/bodyguard, but for the most part he's perfectly content to bum around as Lupin's right hand man and marksman, probably because he just plain enjoys it.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Good one I didn't consider. I haven't seen a ton of Lupin but they make a good duo. I also like how he's usually the cool sharpshooter but in this more recent OP, he gets to go nuts with a shotgun because hey, if you are with Lupin all the time, of course your a joyful rambunctious thrillseeker.

BTW, you can submit if you want to host a list now.

 

[Adrenaline]

#25 (tie): Dwight Schrute
“How would I describe myself? Three words: hardworking, alpha male, jackhammer, merciless, insatiable.”
First Appearance: The Office (2005)
Sidekick to: Michael Scott
2 votes, 57 points (Top voter: Issun)

Like most of the main cast, Dwight is loosely based on an equivalent character in the original British version of the Office. But Dwight arguably set himself apart from the original quicker than any other character, as his odd home life is distinctly American and fodder for many jokes. He is Assistant (to the) Regional Manager of the Scranton branch of the Dunder Mifflin paper company, and while his boss Michael tries too hard to be cool and likable, Dwight tries too hard to abuse the very little amount of power he has.

 

[Issun]

Had to vote for Yoshi. A very good dog.

The Office is one of my favorite shows, and if I just need something on to veg, it's my go to. It's comfort food. So of course I had Dwight on my list. What I really love about the character is that, while he is abrasive and does not know how to handle power at all, you do see glimpses of compassion peek through. His bizzarro relationships with Jim and Pam also constantly evolve and get more complex and entertaining.
Besides the obvious reasons, I'm glad the show ended when it did because the jokes about at least one of Dwight's grandparents being a Nazi war criminal would not have been amusing during the last 4 years. Also he probably voted for Trump (the first time, but probably not the second time).

 

[Rascally Badger]

I realize that I did not think about my list enough; my definition of sidekick was both narrow and and arbitrary. Jigen and Dwight are both good choices.

I no longer recall the origin of my irrational hatred of Yoshi, but that does not mean I am going to let it go.

Also, going back to Damien; he's another Robin on my list. He works as a great inversion of how Robin usually acts, especially when Dick was Batman for a while and they completely reversed the Batman/Robin dynamic. Damien is such a delightful little shit.