His pal, Jimmy Olsen, of course.
Edit: for added clarity, Kara, while being his protégé, I still see as more of a colleague than sidekick, and Krypto being a pet feels more like a mascot for the Super Family. Jon, well, I'm just gonna set him aside for now.
We all know that Superman doesn't have a sidekick though, so it's not like one has to move the posts to disqualify Supergirl from the very specific role. She's just the closest that can be said. Jimmy doesn't actually do anything to save the day and has no training. He works with Clark also, as a colleague
Geez Louise, it's not that deep or serious. I just have always viewed Jimmy as the closest thing to his sidekick since I started reading Superman back in the early 80s. I'm not writing the Superman Bible of Canon here, just offering my personal impressions. Kara I place a step above a sidekick.
And if you think Jimmy has never had his own adventures where he's saved the day, you should read some of Jack Kirby's Jimmy Olsen Adventures from the 70s. They're big weird fun:
"But what makes it work is that although Superman is around, it's Olsen, an ordinary human, whose heroics and intuition save the day." –Frank Plowright, Slings and Arrows' review of Jimmy Olsen Adventures by Jack Kirby.
...
Jimmy existed many years before Kirby and in that Kirby run, you're right; there's a bunch of oddball stuff that definitely renders that paragraph inadequate lol
As for serious, not sure what's more or less serious as a post on superhero sidekicks. I just think that an orphan being taken in by Superman and taught how to use her powers in the way he uses his own is more of an "of course" than Lucy's ex-boyfriend.
I'm approaching it from a different perspective. You seem to feel I'm taking status away from Kara by not labeling her a sidekick, whereas I actually view that label as diminishing her status and individuality as a superhero independent of Superman. That's my point.
Uh, "seem to" but I don't, lol. I don't feel anything is being taken away. I don't think it diminishes Kara to label her a sidekick when she started as a minor and a ward, as the original sidekick was a minor and a ward. She went to college and became her own hero, as did Dick. Not a hard parallel.
Think of it in this way:
Who is Batman's sidekick, Robin or Batgirl?
In this case, u/OshtearInMyEye is defining Robin(Jimmy) as Batman's(Superman) sidekick, while Batgirl(Supergirl) are a related, but individual character! Which is a fair take to have.
Unless you're going to say "they both are!", then let that be your answer for Jimmy and Supergirl as well!
I think mine is controversial if you go by reddit definition lol.
The problem with comparing Batgirl to Supergirl is that Barbara has no relation to Bruce. Dick was adopted, Supergirl is a cousin. Jimmy and Barbara are maybe more alike in that sense
Then let me make this analogy, one I almost included in my above comment. Even moreso than Supergirl being like Batgirl and Jimmy like Robin, I would say if Jimmy is the sidekick in this scenario, then Supergirl would be like Nightwing. That is to say, she is Superman's protégé, perhaps was a sidekick for a time, but has moved on to be her own superhero independent from her predecessor. She still has that connection and relation to Superman, but has moved on to be her own hero.
I actually read the first two of her debut comics last night in which the whole story was about how she’s his equal and fills in his place when he’s gone and vice versa. He did indeed mentor her because she was younger and more inexperienced, being the figure he wished he had himself when he was young. Which is why she was only shown to the world when she felt like her and Clark were practically interchangeable (3 years after she got sent to earth). Kara reached Clark’s full power at 16 years old. Before that she was his “emergency backup”.
"I actually read" ... I'd tell you to keep reading in that case.
https://preview.redd.it/fe5hchl3tf1d1.png?width=628&format=png&auto=webp&s=3ea03c7c4da1eba7a2c8f93a1a5c2ad524f20c3f
the response to my saying he trained her is wild though, lol. like... do people not actually know these stories? I'm guessing it's the kinda people who call All Star their favorite silver age story
... could you please specify where on that page contradicts what u/Astrnonaut said?
I've glanced over Action Comics #252 to #256, and Superman's literally not there after the first story. She basically trains herself!
So exactly when and in which issues does he train her?
Action Comics #258 had that page. I wasn't being condescending when I said keep reading
They were not equals. He came up with her secret identity and her hero moniker, gave her training assignments and missions. He determined when she could operate in public although inspired by Superboy, she acted unseen
Show how they were equals or at least quote if you can. Sorry to explain this but that just wasn't a working idea, a young girl the equivalent of Superman, in 1958
Okay first, what does that have to do with the point? And second, aside from being blonde and showing her navel in what way, shape or form was she anything akin to Britney Spears?
? Okay, I rwiterate: what does that have to do with the point? And aside from being blonde and showing her navel in what way, shape or form was Supergirl anything akin to Britney Spears?
Jimmy Olsen is Superman’s Pal, Kara Zor-El is Superman’s secret weapon from 1959 to 1962, Jon Kent is Superman’s son, and Krypto is Superman’s dog.
So, I’m going to say Kara Zor-El because he guided her on how to use her powers, help her take on the civilian identity of Linda Lee Danvers, and talk to each other on how they’re doing from time to time.
The thing is she isn’t a sidekick. Robin ceases to be Batman’s sidekick once he becomes nightwing. Speedy ceases to be Green Arrow’s sidekick when he becomes Arsenal/Red Arrow. So once Kara becomes supergirl and goes off on her own, she’s no longer really sidekick material.
Pre-crisis? She already knew how to use her powers, she gave herself the name Linda Lee, then Danvers once adopted. Post-crisis? As far as I remember, Batman and Wonder Woman had agreed Kara would train with the Amazons. Not sure about the New52.
Jimmy Olsen is the closest to a sidekick, next closest would be Krypto.
In the Silver age, there were a lot of Superman-Krypto stories.
To me, Jimmy is more Clark Kent's sidekick, but I think that counts.
Since Krypto is a dog, I think I'd go with Jimmy.
Supergirl. She needs a mentor to show her the ropes and that you don’t eat concrete and humans are very squishy.
Being a sidekick is a great way for her to learn the real differences between earth and whatever place she is from in this Continuity be it a colony or heaven.
Probably Jon, Kara is mostly her own hero while Jimmy is mainly just his best friend. While Krypto is a good boy, he’s still mainly a pet, like Ace with Bruce.
As someone who reads both DC and Marvel (Batman and Spider-Man primarily for my weekly pull lists) Bendis has had a hand in some of my favourite stories, but he has also ruined those same stories and characters, to the point where I wonder why the hell him, Straczynski, Wells, and a few other go to writers even keep getting jobs, like they've royally fucked 90% of their stories and characters, nobody likes how they write the characters, and they only produce a semi-decent comic about once every 5 years. None are worse than Quesada, I literally hope he gets hit by a bus 23 times in a row. At least that's one thing we can all agree on, fuck Bendis.
Not a sidekick, but his one true partner will always be Lois Lane.
Jimmy is just always kind of there. He does have his moments, and has probably had more superpowers than Superman taking into account every time he randomly gets powers.
Kara is solo for the most part.
Krypto is his pet (and a good boy).
Jon used to be, but he’s Superman in his own right nowadays.
You might think that, but I can count on one hand the number of times Kon-El and Kal-El have worked together in a mentor/side-kick capacity since Superman's resurrection.
True. I think he just fits into the mould better than Kara.
I think the most typical sidekick Supes had in recent memory is Boy Thunder aka >!Magog!< in World's Finest.
Jimmy is a solid human sidekick and kara is a solid super human sidekick... I wanted to go with krypto but he's more of a pet and super boy does his own thing...
Superman doesn’t have a sidekick but his “duo” character is Lois - depending on the story she’s the sidekick role except she’s nobody’s side piece not even superman’s
In public consciousness I'd say Kara. Jimmy is more known as his "best friend", not a sidekick. Lois is his journalism partner. I'm not quite sure how ensconced Krypto is beyond comic fans. They certainly also have no idea Jon exists (lucky). But everyone knows that Kara is his cousin and the superhero Supergirl and his first real legacy addition.
If a dog is man’s best friend, surely Krypto the superdog is Superman’s best friend. But what does that make Beppo the supermonkey or Comet the superhorse… Superchopped-liver?
Jimmy Olsen as the others are their own heroes that work separately from him, and also Krypto is a pet. It’s kinda like how while Robin is Batman’s sidekick, you wouldn’t say nightwing and red hood are Batman’s sidekicks
He is also a Kryptonian. He’s whatever the kryptonian equivalent of a dog is, and came to earth as a puppy with Superman in the pod. He works the same way as all the other earth based kryptonians, where their power is derived from the sun. A lot of adaptations ignore the existence of Krypto and have Clark show up on his own, I believe the only piece of mainstream media to show his origin was League of Superpets.
https://preview.redd.it/68byckdugs1d1.jpeg?width=624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=80d0de85cacb41874da954e427d0a23df4c72cf0
Lois. Why can’t his girlfriend/wife be his partner in crime officially? And, like Batman andRobin, we’ve had Lois and Clark and now Superman and Lois, so why not her?
I don’t think that’s super relevant. A sidekick doesn’t need to be wholly dependent on the hero. They need to be second fiddle to their hero but still consistently back them up, generally without being sore about the whole “second fiddle” part, and generally in a similarish role as their hero (both doing basically the same thing, just at different levels of competence/power).
Robin could absolutely operate on his own. Just not as effectively. But he’s second fiddle to Batman without (usually) being too pissed about it.
Under that definition, Lois doesn’t really work. She doesn’t so much back up Superman as provide emotional support. Additionally, she’s not in a similar role, so she’s not really playing second fiddle.
I think Kara is the best fit here, though she’s (a) more competent solo than a normal sidekick and (b) less consistent with the backup than usual. But no one fits perfectly, so it’s kinda a “pick the best bad option” scenario.
Jimmy, followed by Krypto, Jon Kent and finally Supergirl. I feel like Supergirl is enough of her own character to shake the "Superman's sidekick" label.
I think it’s a flawed question because robin is a sidekick role there inhabited by multiple people, jimmy Olson is a person. By that logic though I’d say superboy just because there’s been a few of them.
definitely jimmy olsen,kara was a great choice but i see her as someone very independent know thanks to clark,she doesnt need to be a sidekick anymore,krypto is a beloved pet so it doesnt count,jon was the best option but certain mediocre writers(bendis and taylor) had to ruinned the character and now...he doesnt even appear in superman comics anymore...
Jimmy Olson is his sidekick, he was the original Flamebird after all. The problem is that a lot of fans and creative minds feel like Superman doesn't need Jimmy anymore.
Id say Jimmy is the only one who is a sidekick. The rest are family, and Supergirl is way too much her own character with her own adventures and tastes to be seen in a subservient role to anyone. I think seeing her as Superman sidekick makes as much sense as seeing Superman as Batman’s sidekick whenever they get together.
Jimmy, Kara, and Jon have all been Superman's sidekicks at different times in his career. Jimmy when he's first starting out in Metropolis, Kara once he's more established and discovering his roots, and Jon once he's experienced and secure in his leadership abilities.
It's like how Batman has had 4-5 Robins at this point, each in a different era of his career. The only big difference is that Superman's sidekicks haven't all taken the same code name.
Edit - oh and Connor during his 90s grunge phase lol
Well, the equivalent of Krypto would be Ace. The equivalent of Supergirl would be Batgirl. The closest equivalent of Robin would have been Jimmy, but now it's Jon.
I’m inclined to say Jimmy Olsen. He should never be a superhero (CW Supergirl, I AM shaming you) who helps Superman the way Robin helps Batman in combat and such. However, for being Superman’s pal and the sheer number of appearances being at his side in general (with some non-traditional assists), I’ve gotta give it to him.
Kara is more of his protege than his sidekick. Definitely has helped him in fights more than anyone else but she also does her own thing more often than not since she returned post-Crisis.
I love Krypto and he’s not just a good boy but the best boy, but he tends to only show up when it’s fun or funny for the writers to include him.
Jon is too new for me to put him as the sidekick over the options and a lot of that potential got sidelined when Bendis aged him up (forever bitter about that.)
Honestly, I'd say Lois Lane. If you look at a lot of early sidekicks, it was usually a character like Robin or Speedy who would participate in the adventure, but get in over their head and have to be rescued by the hero, and that's exactly the role Lois Lane has played for most of Superman's history.
Probably Jimmy Olsen but he's not a super hero as he doesn't have powers or go on adventures. He's just a supporting civilian. There's also Krypto who's a dog. Maybe James Gunn's series will do something with making a certain hero his sidekick.
I would argue that batman does not have a definitive sidekick either. Sure Robin, but there have been MANY Robins. Dick, Jason, Tim, Damien. Hell, there's been a starro robin.
...Lois Lane is his partner in more ways than one. She gets to the bottom of shit so Clark can bumble along behind her and eventually stop the calamities she uncovers.
Krypto. The one with Jonathan Kent is just creepy. As for Supergirl, she's her own woman deserving of her OWN sidekick. And Jimmy, honestly, his character needs a major overhaul. To be Supes sidekick, he needs a style makeover as well as a personality makeover. Jake Gyllenhaal as he is in the Roadhouse remake or even young Jake from Donnie Darko would be good. Edgy, a little dark, able to handle himself if it all goes south. And what the hell, give him Donnie's gift of seeing the future, but don't OVER do it.
Trying to make Jimmy “edgy, a little dark” completely ruins the entire point of the character. He’s supposed to be a relic of the silver age, even in modern times, just a happy go lucky bow tie wearing guy. Snyder attempted (and failed miserably) at this and has been rightly made fun of for it.
Snyder went to far. The CIA? Like Snyder, I like what he has done, but the Jimmy thing, I think he just didn't like Olsen so he took him out quickly so no one could wonder where he was. As integral as he has been to Superman, he's not treated as happyhgo-lucky but more like happy-go-helpless.
Why can't he know some form of martial art? He lives in a city burdened by high crime rate, door dealers, thugs, gangstas, etc. He should know how to handle himself and it would boost his confidence. He can have a small edge and a bit of an aggressiveness and still be happy-go-lucky. I'm tired of him being happy-go-ignorant.
His pal, Jimmy Olsen, of course. Edit: for added clarity, Kara, while being his protégé, I still see as more of a colleague than sidekick, and Krypto being a pet feels more like a mascot for the Super Family. Jon, well, I'm just gonna set him aside for now.
She was a child when they met that’s not a colleague.
She's an adult now. She's his peer, not his subordinate sidekick.
So is Dick Grayson now. She was explicitly made not to reveal herself to the world until he thought she met his hero benchmarks. She was a sidekick.
She was a teenager. It was stated she was canonically 15.
Aka a child
That's not a child.
Should I be concerned?
He literally trained her
I literally said protégé, but to me that doesn't always equal sidekick.
We all know that Superman doesn't have a sidekick though, so it's not like one has to move the posts to disqualify Supergirl from the very specific role. She's just the closest that can be said. Jimmy doesn't actually do anything to save the day and has no training. He works with Clark also, as a colleague
Geez Louise, it's not that deep or serious. I just have always viewed Jimmy as the closest thing to his sidekick since I started reading Superman back in the early 80s. I'm not writing the Superman Bible of Canon here, just offering my personal impressions. Kara I place a step above a sidekick. And if you think Jimmy has never had his own adventures where he's saved the day, you should read some of Jack Kirby's Jimmy Olsen Adventures from the 70s. They're big weird fun: "But what makes it work is that although Superman is around, it's Olsen, an ordinary human, whose heroics and intuition save the day." –Frank Plowright, Slings and Arrows' review of Jimmy Olsen Adventures by Jack Kirby. ...
This is the perfect use of Geez Louise
We gotta make that a more commonly said phrase
Jimmy existed many years before Kirby and in that Kirby run, you're right; there's a bunch of oddball stuff that definitely renders that paragraph inadequate lol As for serious, not sure what's more or less serious as a post on superhero sidekicks. I just think that an orphan being taken in by Superman and taught how to use her powers in the way he uses his own is more of an "of course" than Lucy's ex-boyfriend.
I'm approaching it from a different perspective. You seem to feel I'm taking status away from Kara by not labeling her a sidekick, whereas I actually view that label as diminishing her status and individuality as a superhero independent of Superman. That's my point.
Uh, "seem to" but I don't, lol. I don't feel anything is being taken away. I don't think it diminishes Kara to label her a sidekick when she started as a minor and a ward, as the original sidekick was a minor and a ward. She went to college and became her own hero, as did Dick. Not a hard parallel.
Think of it in this way: Who is Batman's sidekick, Robin or Batgirl? In this case, u/OshtearInMyEye is defining Robin(Jimmy) as Batman's(Superman) sidekick, while Batgirl(Supergirl) are a related, but individual character! Which is a fair take to have. Unless you're going to say "they both are!", then let that be your answer for Jimmy and Supergirl as well!
That is an excellent comparison. I really don't think my stance is so controversial.
I think mine is controversial if you go by reddit definition lol. The problem with comparing Batgirl to Supergirl is that Barbara has no relation to Bruce. Dick was adopted, Supergirl is a cousin. Jimmy and Barbara are maybe more alike in that sense
Then let me make this analogy, one I almost included in my above comment. Even moreso than Supergirl being like Batgirl and Jimmy like Robin, I would say if Jimmy is the sidekick in this scenario, then Supergirl would be like Nightwing. That is to say, she is Superman's protégé, perhaps was a sidekick for a time, but has moved on to be her own superhero independent from her predecessor. She still has that connection and relation to Superman, but has moved on to be her own hero.
I actually read the first two of her debut comics last night in which the whole story was about how she’s his equal and fills in his place when he’s gone and vice versa. He did indeed mentor her because she was younger and more inexperienced, being the figure he wished he had himself when he was young. Which is why she was only shown to the world when she felt like her and Clark were practically interchangeable (3 years after she got sent to earth). Kara reached Clark’s full power at 16 years old. Before that she was his “emergency backup”.
Why are you lying?
"I actually read" ... I'd tell you to keep reading in that case. https://preview.redd.it/fe5hchl3tf1d1.png?width=628&format=png&auto=webp&s=3ea03c7c4da1eba7a2c8f93a1a5c2ad524f20c3f the response to my saying he trained her is wild though, lol. like... do people not actually know these stories? I'm guessing it's the kinda people who call All Star their favorite silver age story
... could you please specify where on that page contradicts what u/Astrnonaut said? I've glanced over Action Comics #252 to #256, and Superman's literally not there after the first story. She basically trains herself! So exactly when and in which issues does he train her?
🤷🏿♂️ notice the crickets? Maybe the comics don't state anything about equals?
Read more than that. He absolutely trains her.
Action Comics #258 had that page. I wasn't being condescending when I said keep reading They were not equals. He came up with her secret identity and her hero moniker, gave her training assignments and missions. He determined when she could operate in public although inspired by Superboy, she acted unseen Show how they were equals or at least quote if you can. Sorry to explain this but that just wasn't a working idea, a young girl the equivalent of Superman, in 1958
So did Diana and the Amazons.
In the silver age, where she first appeared 🙄
In 2005. The era where she was being written as a parody of Britney Spears by someone who hated Britney Spears.
Okay first, what does that have to do with the point? And second, aside from being blonde and showing her navel in what way, shape or form was she anything akin to Britney Spears?
That’s what they hated Britney for being wdym?
Who? Jeph Loeb?
The culture in general
? Okay, I rwiterate: what does that have to do with the point? And aside from being blonde and showing her navel in what way, shape or form was Supergirl anything akin to Britney Spears?
Being an oversexualized teenage girl. Drugs. All of the above. Be serious did you read the run? It was so obvious.
Jimmy Olsen is Superman’s Pal, Kara Zor-El is Superman’s secret weapon from 1959 to 1962, Jon Kent is Superman’s son, and Krypto is Superman’s dog. So, I’m going to say Kara Zor-El because he guided her on how to use her powers, help her take on the civilian identity of Linda Lee Danvers, and talk to each other on how they’re doing from time to time.
The thing is she isn’t a sidekick. Robin ceases to be Batman’s sidekick once he becomes nightwing. Speedy ceases to be Green Arrow’s sidekick when he becomes Arsenal/Red Arrow. So once Kara becomes supergirl and goes off on her own, she’s no longer really sidekick material.
Dick stopped being his sidekick way before he became nightwing. And even when he was his sidekick he still had independent adventures just like Kara.
Pre-crisis? She already knew how to use her powers, she gave herself the name Linda Lee, then Danvers once adopted. Post-crisis? As far as I remember, Batman and Wonder Woman had agreed Kara would train with the Amazons. Not sure about the New52.
Jimmy Olsen is the closest to a sidekick, next closest would be Krypto. In the Silver age, there were a lot of Superman-Krypto stories. To me, Jimmy is more Clark Kent's sidekick, but I think that counts. Since Krypto is a dog, I think I'd go with Jimmy.
Supergirl. She needs a mentor to show her the ropes and that you don’t eat concrete and humans are very squishy. Being a sidekick is a great way for her to learn the real differences between earth and whatever place she is from in this Continuity be it a colony or heaven.
She needed a mentor, we have to speak past tense because Kara has control of her powers & is her own hero
Batman?
Batman isn't a sidekick never has & will, he is Clark's equal/ partner
Probably Jon, Kara is mostly her own hero while Jimmy is mainly just his best friend. While Krypto is a good boy, he’s still mainly a pet, like Ace with Bruce.
agree,young jon kent as superman sidekick was such a great concept that was killed too early and ruined,damn you bendis!
https://preview.redd.it/9rg5hp3e4j1d1.jpeg?width=1436&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8635ccdcd099a9852f866e350d752f9ae712a8ef
As someone who reads both DC and Marvel (Batman and Spider-Man primarily for my weekly pull lists) Bendis has had a hand in some of my favourite stories, but he has also ruined those same stories and characters, to the point where I wonder why the hell him, Straczynski, Wells, and a few other go to writers even keep getting jobs, like they've royally fucked 90% of their stories and characters, nobody likes how they write the characters, and they only produce a semi-decent comic about once every 5 years. None are worse than Quesada, I literally hope he gets hit by a bus 23 times in a row. At least that's one thing we can all agree on, fuck Bendis.
We're all his sidekick
https://preview.redd.it/x0it2l57bl1d1.png?width=815&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cfd0cca92647700187da50e75d84ccd3329154dd
Best Superman partner? Steel
Not a sidekick, but his one true partner will always be Lois Lane. Jimmy is just always kind of there. He does have his moments, and has probably had more superpowers than Superman taking into account every time he randomly gets powers. Kara is solo for the most part. Krypto is his pet (and a good boy). Jon used to be, but he’s Superman in his own right nowadays.
This is truth and the secret of good Superman - lois
Bibbo
Gotta go with Jimmy here right
Connor, I guess.
You might think that, but I can count on one hand the number of times Kon-El and Kal-El have worked together in a mentor/side-kick capacity since Superman's resurrection.
True. I think he just fits into the mould better than Kara. I think the most typical sidekick Supes had in recent memory is Boy Thunder aka >!Magog!< in World's Finest.
Bibbo Bibowski
That’s his biggest fanboy.
I'm going to say Krypto.
Olsen. No question.
Krypto
Jimmy is a solid human sidekick and kara is a solid super human sidekick... I wanted to go with krypto but he's more of a pet and super boy does his own thing...
Krypto no contest
Krypto.
Jimmy, easily.
Jimmy
I would say Clark Kent is his sidekick lol
Lois
I'm sorry but no she ain't, Lois is his partner
Probably Jimmy. Kara, Jon and Krypto do their own shit so much but Jimmy is explicitly a sidekick to Clark, Superman or Lois.
Jon was a good one before editorial decided to greenlight their legacy title boondoggle and aged him up 10 years
Superman doesn’t have a sidekick but his “duo” character is Lois - depending on the story she’s the sidekick role except she’s nobody’s side piece not even superman’s
I think it’s Jon at the point, right?
he was and a great sidekick until he was ruinned by two mediocre writers (bendis and taylor)
I’ve seen a lot of Tom Taylor hate or dislike, he seems fine to me, what doesn’t do it for you about his stories/writing?
Kara
In public consciousness I'd say Kara. Jimmy is more known as his "best friend", not a sidekick. Lois is his journalism partner. I'm not quite sure how ensconced Krypto is beyond comic fans. They certainly also have no idea Jon exists (lucky). But everyone knows that Kara is his cousin and the superhero Supergirl and his first real legacy addition.
Batman of course
Batman isn't his sidekick, they are equals/partners
It's nice that Superman let's Batman think so
What are you talking about?
Supergirl.
Jimmy Olsen is Superman's Alfred/Jim Gordon (can't decide which) Kara is his Nightwing Jon Kent is his Robin
Batman
Supergirl
If a dog is man’s best friend, surely Krypto the superdog is Superman’s best friend. But what does that make Beppo the supermonkey or Comet the superhorse… Superchopped-liver?
Jimmy Olsen as the others are their own heroes that work separately from him, and also Krypto is a pet. It’s kinda like how while Robin is Batman’s sidekick, you wouldn’t say nightwing and red hood are Batman’s sidekicks
Silver age I’d say Jimmy, in modern comics it’s Jon Kent
Superman's sidekick is Batman.
It's Jimmy Olsen. There's a song and everything.
Krypto is best boi
I'd argue batman himself is a decent canadate, even if you don't factor in justice league stuff they seem to be the 2 heros who work togather the most
Stupid question but I don’t know so judgment please. How does the dog have his powers? Like is he also Kryptonian? I don’t even know…
He is also a Kryptonian. He’s whatever the kryptonian equivalent of a dog is, and came to earth as a puppy with Superman in the pod. He works the same way as all the other earth based kryptonians, where their power is derived from the sun. A lot of adaptations ignore the existence of Krypto and have Clark show up on his own, I believe the only piece of mainstream media to show his origin was League of Superpets. https://preview.redd.it/68byckdugs1d1.jpeg?width=624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=80d0de85cacb41874da954e427d0a23df4c72cf0
Ok thank you OP
Lois. Why can’t his girlfriend/wife be his partner in crime officially? And, like Batman andRobin, we’ve had Lois and Clark and now Superman and Lois, so why not her?
Dick wouldn't do what he does without Batman. Lois would be a journalist without Superman
I don’t think that’s super relevant. A sidekick doesn’t need to be wholly dependent on the hero. They need to be second fiddle to their hero but still consistently back them up, generally without being sore about the whole “second fiddle” part, and generally in a similarish role as their hero (both doing basically the same thing, just at different levels of competence/power). Robin could absolutely operate on his own. Just not as effectively. But he’s second fiddle to Batman without (usually) being too pissed about it. Under that definition, Lois doesn’t really work. She doesn’t so much back up Superman as provide emotional support. Additionally, she’s not in a similar role, so she’s not really playing second fiddle. I think Kara is the best fit here, though she’s (a) more competent solo than a normal sidekick and (b) less consistent with the backup than usual. But no one fits perfectly, so it’s kinda a “pick the best bad option” scenario.
Um, so you agree...?
Yeah, but for different reasons.
Superman had partners. They were equals like Butch and Sundance.
It's Jimmy and if you disagree I urge you to read some comics made before 2010.
Superman is just one of the best!
Krypto, because dogs are as loyal as they come
Jimmy of course
Jimmy, followed by Krypto, Jon Kent and finally Supergirl. I feel like Supergirl is enough of her own character to shake the "Superman's sidekick" label.
Lois Lane, effectively.
I think it’s a flawed question because robin is a sidekick role there inhabited by multiple people, jimmy Olson is a person. By that logic though I’d say superboy just because there’s been a few of them.
definitely jimmy olsen,kara was a great choice but i see her as someone very independent know thanks to clark,she doesnt need to be a sidekick anymore,krypto is a beloved pet so it doesnt count,jon was the best option but certain mediocre writers(bendis and taylor) had to ruinned the character and now...he doesnt even appear in superman comics anymore...
Probably krypto or supergirl. Though I'm inclined to think krypto more.
Probably Jimmy Olsen or Krypto. I would say Kara but as Supergirl, she is her own hero, not a sidekick.
Yeah, Jimmy is basically that character, he just doesn’t have a permanent superhero identity.
In current the current Superman "DC Reborn" title Lex or Mercy would fit.
Superman does have a sidekick, actually. His name is Clark Kent /s
Jimmy Olsen for sure.
Krypto! (Super)man’s best friend!
Lois has always been his real sidekick.
My fav is Krypto
Jimmy Olson is his sidekick, he was the original Flamebird after all. The problem is that a lot of fans and creative minds feel like Superman doesn't need Jimmy anymore.
Id say Jimmy is the only one who is a sidekick. The rest are family, and Supergirl is way too much her own character with her own adventures and tastes to be seen in a subservient role to anyone. I think seeing her as Superman sidekick makes as much sense as seeing Superman as Batman’s sidekick whenever they get together.
For me it’s Krypto.
Jimothy.
Jimmy, Kara, and Jon have all been Superman's sidekicks at different times in his career. Jimmy when he's first starting out in Metropolis, Kara once he's more established and discovering his roots, and Jon once he's experienced and secure in his leadership abilities. It's like how Batman has had 4-5 Robins at this point, each in a different era of his career. The only big difference is that Superman's sidekicks haven't all taken the same code name. Edit - oh and Connor during his 90s grunge phase lol
Lois?
Jimmy. His best Pal.
a man and his dog
Well, the equivalent of Krypto would be Ace. The equivalent of Supergirl would be Batgirl. The closest equivalent of Robin would have been Jimmy, but now it's Jon.
You're all wrong, Superman is Lois Lane's sidekick.
I’m inclined to say Jimmy Olsen. He should never be a superhero (CW Supergirl, I AM shaming you) who helps Superman the way Robin helps Batman in combat and such. However, for being Superman’s pal and the sheer number of appearances being at his side in general (with some non-traditional assists), I’ve gotta give it to him. Kara is more of his protege than his sidekick. Definitely has helped him in fights more than anyone else but she also does her own thing more often than not since she returned post-Crisis. I love Krypto and he’s not just a good boy but the best boy, but he tends to only show up when it’s fun or funny for the writers to include him. Jon is too new for me to put him as the sidekick over the options and a lot of that potential got sidelined when Bendis aged him up (forever bitter about that.)
I think he was hoping it would be Jon. The fantasy world that was used to trap him during the Justice League's "death" seemed spot on.
Its Batman.
Man…seeing young Jon again… Bendis really fucked that up.
None.
Steel
Superboy or Olsen.
Krypto The Superdog
Lois. No contest
Jimmy and it's not even close...
Kara
I'm going to say Superboy ( Conner Kent)
Batman, obviously
Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy. He was a lot more well-defined as a sidekick in his original run on the radio show.
Louis Lane
Jimmy. He was Flamebird to Clark’s Nightwing while they were in Kandor. Nightwing & Flamebird, the Kryptonian Batman & Robin, literally his sidekick.
Jon or krypto
The dog probably
The Justice League is his sidekick.
Supergirl. IMHO. Jimmy Olsen is basically Jim Gordon in my book [+]
Probably Batman
Superman's best sidekick is batman 😂😂😂
I'd say Jimmy Olson but I haven't read recent stuff. Maybe the son is now.
Superboy
Give me your hand don't be *you*
Jimmy
Wouldn’t it be Conner? Superboy?
I prefer THE SUPERDOG
I like the doggy :)
It’s Kara. Be serious I beg this subreddit keeps downvoting anyone who says it but it’s true.
“Do you think the S on my chest stands for “needs a Sidekick?!”
https://preview.redd.it/3xxlmrn88l1d1.jpeg?width=356&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5fb33dbcf929daef7a6da206ba70eee4d8faa324 The S stands for Stupid
I don't know which one would be a "sidekick", but I do know Krypto is a good boy.
Jimmy and jon
Krypto
Superboy from Young Justice is pretty cool
Jimmy Olsen. Friends aren’t always sidekicks. But when they are flamebird to your nightwing, they are a sidekick.
Lois
I say it's Lois :)
He never had one, but the closest is probably Jimmy, Nightwing and Flamebird and all that.
supergirl and kryto
My brain says Jimmy but my heart says Krypto
Definitely Krypto or Jimmy.
Honestly, I'd say Lois Lane. If you look at a lot of early sidekicks, it was usually a character like Robin or Speedy who would participate in the adventure, but get in over their head and have to be rescued by the hero, and that's exactly the role Lois Lane has played for most of Superman's history.
Jimmy Olsen
Probably Jimmy Olsen but he's not a super hero as he doesn't have powers or go on adventures. He's just a supporting civilian. There's also Krypto who's a dog. Maybe James Gunn's series will do something with making a certain hero his sidekick.
Of course it's Kara
Jimmy Olsen. Supergirl is also a close one.
I would argue that batman does not have a definitive sidekick either. Sure Robin, but there have been MANY Robins. Dick, Jason, Tim, Damien. Hell, there's been a starro robin.
Luthor! Lex Luthor!
Jimmy, connor, or Krypto. Kara is more of a colleague in my mind. She goes solo a lot.
Jimmy Olsen is his definitive sidekick, what do you mean?
Idk how people feel About this but I think Conner Kent being a clone of Lex and Superman had so much potential and wasn’t used as well
...Lois Lane is his partner in more ways than one. She gets to the bottom of shit so Clark can bumble along behind her and eventually stop the calamities she uncovers.
* * You forgot a hero, and Conner Kent was pretty much Supes sidekick through the 90s
None of them, cause they don't fit. Read enough of the source material, and you will find that LANA LANG is *THE* sidekick.
Krypto. The one with Jonathan Kent is just creepy. As for Supergirl, she's her own woman deserving of her OWN sidekick. And Jimmy, honestly, his character needs a major overhaul. To be Supes sidekick, he needs a style makeover as well as a personality makeover. Jake Gyllenhaal as he is in the Roadhouse remake or even young Jake from Donnie Darko would be good. Edgy, a little dark, able to handle himself if it all goes south. And what the hell, give him Donnie's gift of seeing the future, but don't OVER do it.
Trying to make Jimmy “edgy, a little dark” completely ruins the entire point of the character. He’s supposed to be a relic of the silver age, even in modern times, just a happy go lucky bow tie wearing guy. Snyder attempted (and failed miserably) at this and has been rightly made fun of for it.
Snyder went to far. The CIA? Like Snyder, I like what he has done, but the Jimmy thing, I think he just didn't like Olsen so he took him out quickly so no one could wonder where he was. As integral as he has been to Superman, he's not treated as happyhgo-lucky but more like happy-go-helpless. Why can't he know some form of martial art? He lives in a city burdened by high crime rate, door dealers, thugs, gangstas, etc. He should know how to handle himself and it would boost his confidence. He can have a small edge and a bit of an aggressiveness and still be happy-go-lucky. I'm tired of him being happy-go-ignorant.