DC‘s sidekicks are pretty much the greatest in comics. They set the bar high for the institution of sidekick, defining it and giving DC’s roster of respected heroes the kind of back-up and support they need. The best of them have stepped into their mentor’s mantles long or short term or made names for themselves as their own hero, forging new identities.
However, not every sidekick is so lucky. Some of them have all the talent and potential in the universe but it never really comes together. They get either stuck in their role as a sidekick or overshadowed by the ones who come after them.
10 Cassandra Cain Is Considered One Of The Greatest Martial Artists But She’s Still A Second String Bat-Family Member
Cassandra Cain took over as Batgirl after the massive earthquake that rendered Gotham a no man’s land and immediately made a splash. While she was unable to talk, she had learned to read her opponents’ movements and gestures and was one of the most skilled martial artists around. She was even able to defeat Lady Shiva and her father, top assassin David Cain.
Her time as Batgirl proved her potential but everything she did since has just been wheel spinning. She’s easily one of the greatest martial artists in the world, if not the greatest, and she just sort of hangs out in the background of Bat-family group shots as Orphan. She can do so much more, but her new costume is cool at least.
9 The Huntress Has Had Plenty Of Shots At The Big Time But Always Squanders Them
Huntress was always the black sheep of the Bat-family. Her more violent tendencies made her the one that Batman would give stern lectures to but because she got results she got to stay around. She’s been a member of several super teams, most notably the Birds of Prey but also the JLA. She’s tough, smart, and skilled but for whatever reason, she falls through the cracks.
Huntress is another member of the Bat-family who is way better than she ever got credit for but she just never makes much of an impression. Even the recent retcon that made her a spy outside of Gotham City did little for her.
8 Aqualad Gained A Power Upgrade As Tempest But Is Still In Aquaman’s Shadow
As one of the founding members of the Teen Titans, Aqualad was part of the first class of DC’s sidekicks but was unfortunately left behind by his peers. For years, he languished as Aqualad, a forgotten sidekick. However, Garth would eventually master Atlantean magic and changed his name to Tempest, his upgrade seemingly meant to give him a bigger place in the DC Universe.
However, this wasn’t the case; he was always just kind of there, helping out in Atlantis when needed or joining up with his old friends in the Titans. He was more powerful but in the end, none of that really mattered- he had already peaked.
7 Damian Wayne Is Better Than Being “Just Robin”
Saying Damian Wayne squandered his potential may be a little premature but it’s actually a pretty valid statement. Damian has been the best of the best since he first showed up in the Batcave; while he’s been known to go a little too far, he’s one of the most skilled and intelligent people to ever wear the Robin costume and has more than proven he’s one of the best.
Damian Wayne is already better than being a sidekick; he can keep up with superpowered heroes like Superboy easily and is an accomplished leader, having led the Teen Titans. Damian could easily go out on his own, even as young as he is, and become an amazing hero all by himself outside of the Robin mantle.
6 Cassie Sandsmark Was One Of The Best Teen Heroes Of Her Generation But Fell Through The Ranks
Cassie Sandsmark made a big splash after her debut as Wonder Girl, joining up with both Young Justice and the Teen Titans and giving Donna Troy a run for her money as to who was the best Wonder Girl. Cassie would even go on to lead the Teen Titans for a time and continue to prove that she was one of the best heroes of her generation.
However, the New 52 hit and Cassie took a massive backseat to others, losing most of her prominence before disappearing. While she would return with the rest of Young Justice, she’s never reached the same heights she had previously again.
5 Connor Hawke Made A Splash As Green Arrow Then Faded Away
Connor Hawke was part of a raft of replacement heroes that DC experimented with in the ’90s and one of the more successful. His time as Green Arrow was an unmitigated success for a long time but when his father Oliver Queen returned to life, he was demoted to sidekick and all of his potential melted away there.
It was made all the worse when he was eventually wiped from existence, an ignominious fate to say the least. While he’s recently returned, his life since losing the Green Arrow mantle has been a downward spiral.
4 Mia Dearden Inherited The Curse Of Speedy
Being Green Arrow’s sidekick is often a road to some dark places but Mia Dearden seemed like she would skip that path. Her life before her time as Speedy was already pretty dark, as Ollie helped her get out of the sex-work business and gave her a new lease on life. She proved to be a pretty great sidekick as well, taking to archery and butt-kickery with aplomb.
However, as good as she was, she just never really made an impact outside of hanging out with Green Arrow. She had all the skills but it just never really came together for her, which is a tragedy.
3 Roy Harper’s Many Problems Kept Him From Becoming The A-Lister He Could Have Been
Roy Harper is a classic example of a sidekick who wasted their potential. His time as Speedy was a lot to deal with and the trauma and pain drove him to drugs. While he would get clean, he would never really recover from the whole thing and it took years for him to move past it. His time as Arsenal was a good start but he never really found his niche.
Arsenal found himself stuck in the B-list and even when he had his chance with the Justice League, a well-deserved chance, it got ruined for him. Throughout the New 52 and Rebirth, he basically just stayed still, teaming with the Outlaws and Titans but never really rising. He was accidentally killed and recently resurrected; hopefully, things will finally look up for him.
2 Bart Allen Was One Of The Most Powerful Speedsters
Bart Allen made a splash as Impulse; his speed powers had been with him his whole life and he had skills that other speedsters didn’t. A founder of Young Justice, he would eventually take up the mantle of Kid Flash when he joined the Teen Titans and the sky was seemingly the limit for him. Unfortunately, his shot at the big time was a disaster.
He became Flash but was targeted by the Rogues and killed. While he would return to life eventually, he never reached the same heights again and found himself back as Impulse with Young Justice.
1 Tim Drake Got Lost In The Shuffle
Tim Drake earned his mantle of Robin, unlike the others. He was able to figure out Batman’s identity on his own and his time as Robin was filled with some impressive victories. He led teams and rivaled Dick Grayson for the title of the best sidekick of all time. However, the coming of Damian Wayne ruined it all for him.
Damian became the new Robin and overshadowed Tim in a lot of ways. Tim would drift from heroic identity to heroic identity but never shone nearly as much as he did as when he was just plain old Robin. It was a sad fall for one of the greatest sidekicks of all time.
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