Thursday 23 April 2009

Whatever Happened to the Loyal Sidekick?






Putting my Oxford English Dictionary uni-based subscription to mis-use I looked up the term Sidekick

SIDEKICK:
1. A companion or close associate; spec. an accomplice or partner in crime; a subordinate member of a pair or group. More loosely, a friend, a colleague.
2. Criminals' slang. = SIDE-POCKET 1. U.S.

3. An incidental criticism; a passing or indirect attack, a ‘side-swipe’

This whole thing began with a debate on the DC Comics Supergirl messageboard brought about by the new solicitation of Superman/Batman

SUPERMAN/BATMAN #62
Written by Michael Green & Mike Johnson
Art and cover by Rafael Albuquerque

When the inmates take over Arkham Asylum, it's a job for the World's Finest duo – Robin and Supergirl! Rafael Albuquerque (BLUE BEETLE) joins the series as regular artist for a story we could only call "Sidekicked!"

As we all know the first superhero sidekick in the form was Robin, the Boy Wonder. Introduced in 1940 after just a year of Batman's first publication. It was this partnership that made Batman famous yet certain 'fans' consider Robin an embarrassment. Famously director Christopher Nolan refuses to add Robin to his movie interpretations. Being a sidekick is treated as embarrassing, yet Robin is more famous that 99% of the DC Universe. He is an icon, part of the World's Finest and founder of the Teen Titans. Yet the modern equivalent of World's finest excludes the character in favour of Superman/Batman. The five seasons of animated series Teen Titans shows that the character is still speaking to young boys and girls, is still cool and is still incredibly important. All this said he gets less respect than Aquaman. Why?

The tragedy of the sidekick is that they can never become the master. Comics are a static form, Batman will not stay dead for long, Superman never stayed dead for long and Wonder Woman is never far away. Creators constantly have the Legion from 1000 years in the future fanboy these 3 characters as 'the best'. How depressing is that? In 1000 years it never gets better than this. The next generation is in a constant state of subordination. Dick Grayson of course graduated to Nightwing yet was never considered equal to Bruce. He may soon become Batman..again. Which will be incredibly intresting as to how much respect he gets in the DCU as a whole compared to Bruce. It should also be interesting to see how Wally is treated now his mentor has returned from the dead.


But as will all popular characters, they can't be kept down. With Tim Drake's Robin a self titled comic was created and not long after one for his predecessor Nightwing. They were successful for 12-14 years detailing the duos soli adventures. This is where out OED definition stumbles. Tim and Dick were not sidekicks in these volumes. During the period these were published the focus in Batman was more on his struggles and the duo was put aside. I haven't counted but I would bet Tim Drake has more solo adventures than team ups with the Dark Knight. Of course we can't forget the Teen Titans, founded by Robin and 'sidekicks' in the Silver Age. While the boys of the group were tagalongs of the older heroes Wonder Girl was a new creation. She was created when the writer confused a tale of Diana as a young Wonder Girl rather than Wonder Woman as a separate character. (Its interesting to note that Supergirl was excluded despite seeming like an obvious choice in the 60's) Here the sidekicks could have their own adventures but by having their own adventures separate from their mentor they become less of a sidekick and more independant heroes. After all, the definition requires the duo to be together.


Of course the definition is flawed. Lets break it down into its parts

A companion or close associate

an accomplice or partner in crime

a subordinate member of a pair or group

More loosely, a friend, a colleague


and lets apply it to other characters

Commisioner Gordon, A companion or close associate of the Batman- for sure, A partner in crime- does partner against crime count, Batman depends on Gordon's role in the Gotham Police and so the Commish is therefore an accomplace to the Batman's actions, a subordinate- in what way? Batman is more skilled and more famous.


Mon-El- a companion or close associate of Superman- of course, he is 'Superman's Big Brother', an accomplice or partner in crime- in the legion and in the modern day, a subordinate member- while he is as powerful as superman he lacks experience and knowledge of modern life.


Both characters I think we'd agree aren't sidekicks. By this loose definiton Batman is Superman's sidekick in Superman/Batman. Its time to make our own definition based on

-amount of time spent as a team, all characters work together, some more frequently than others

-role of the 'subordinate' character. There are many ways to be subordinate both in-universe and based on hype/popularity.

No popular character can be a sidekick, there will always be too much demand for more focus on said 'subordinate'. Fans will demand more active roles for their favourites, compatance and equality! I would like the in-universe suggestion that while these heroes are good the future is bright, Dick Grayson will eclipse Bruce Wayne's reputation by leading the Justice League against a Starro Invasion of multiple planets. That Donna Troy will reconcile the Amazons with Men and create an alliance against evil in all forms. That Supergirl will live on and on and on and on as kryptonians do and when the Earth meets its end she moves on and continues her fight against evil across the stars.

Tuesday 21 April 2009

Here have some wallpapers!

I remember as a kid first discovering the internet I was in awe they sold actual wallpaper!!!!



http://i40.tinypic.com/20r1qwx.png

http://i44.tinypic.com/ra7top.png

http://i42.tinypic.com/2qmm3ad.jpg




http://i43.tinypic.com/1zbwjly.png


If you request sizes smaller I will crop

Posted by Nikki at 21:34 | 3 comments  
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Sunday 19 April 2009

Ebay is my Hero

Back issue boxes are crap. Always have been always will be. There are only so many comics you can fit into those long boxes and finding a treasure once in a while does not make up for the search. I remember my friend Kerry and I in Travelling Man, sitting on the couch they provided trying to find the second part of the Supergirl/ Karate Kid issue I had missed. Ebay is a saviour as are online comic stores.


Here are a few of the gems I spotted at great prices





JLA 122 and 123. Look at that depiction of Kara! Nothing Skanky about this at all and this was in 2006! Jamal will be the first to say he's not the first to do that costume right and here is proof. That girl right there is fierce, I can't believe I missed these! (In the good old days of '06 I had no internet and just picked up my comics based on title rather than who would appear)





Remember the centrefolds and the posters they sent out to your comic store advertising New Krypton? Well I got one for the grand sum of 99p exc P&P. There are 4 more on Ebay UK and keep an eye out there were final crisis ones on there a few months back.



next up..






I got a pretty bashed up copy of Adventure Comics #397 from 1970 but I just had to have a dress up issue. Its a supergirl thing. If they do change her costume I hope they have a few extra pages of wacky designs.














and Finally


Copies of Supergirl 0 were going for the exact same price as my next deal. I got 4 issues of Superman/Batman which included the gender swap issue featuring Superlad and the Girls Night Out issue for the same price they wanted for the same reprinted story










Other issues I got include the 1997 pulp heroes Supergirl annual with the Legion. (there is still one left), Some Michael Turner variant covers (I just love sellers who don't know what they have is more expensive than what they are selling it for), and I've put in a bid for the famous Christmas with the Superheroes. All in all a good day and even with delivery none of these comics were as expensive as a modern comic. Considering most of us can only get to the limited back issue bins at the local store and not to conventions I think we can agree Ebay is a godsend.


(there are some Adventure Comics issues still going for 99p exc. P&P on Ebay Uk and remember to check if the seller will combine postage on mulitple items or do discounts.)

Posted by Nikki at 19:19 | 0 comments  
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