May 29, 2012 Ode to the Sidekick
It’s tough being the sidekick. They rarely set off in life looking to be Number 2. There’s a reason Number 2 is a piece of poo. It stinks. Vivian Vance had to stay 20 pounds fatter than Lucille Ball as her sidekick on I Love Lucy. Ed McMahon had to forgo his own career in comedy as Johnny Carson’s sidekick in The Tonight Show. Even Shyne was so traumatized by the time he did as P. Diddy’s sidekick-qua-jailgoat he converted to Judaism.
Orthodox Judaism…
So it’s always nice when a sidekick gets due recognition, as a sidekick. Not as a Garfunkel-esque solo artist, but as part of the interdependent half of an organic whole. Today was Dick Grayson’s day in the light.
Dick Grayson. Better known as Batman’s Sidekick, Robin. (From Kotaku.)
Part of what we see in the Batman/Robin relationship is the ability to create family out of incredibly dire circumstances. It also gives him something to lose. If Batman dies in the course of battling evil, he’s fulfilling the idea of a hero’s ultimate sacrifice. In a way, it’s what he supposed to do.
But if Robin dies while fighting crime, it’s more tragic. He’s younger and—by virtue of that and Batman’s caretaking—hopefully less bound to the dark obsession that drives his mentor. He’s also a brighter counterpoint to Batman’s dour demeanor. So, if evil snuffs out the Boy Wonder, there goes Batman down into that abyss of grief again.
The Sidekick is dead. Long live The Sidekick.
For real nutty Batman fans, don’t miss this Chip Kidd-signing of the latest D.C. omnibus.
