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The Lone Ranger and Tonto. Abbot and Costello. Lone Wolf and Cub. So what's with side-kicks? Sometimes they're a biiiiiiiiig help to the esteemed hero... and other times, like C3PO and R2D2, they're just a big pain in the butt. If you read a ton o' books about the heroic tradition (please refer to your nearest edition of anything by Joseph Campbell) the side-kick is there not just for comic relief, but also as a sounding-board. They sometimes help further validate what our intrepid Hero has to do, other times the side-kick is there to go 'Duh!' and smack the dense-hero up-side the head. Either way, the Side-kick is always fun to have... and can throw a serious monkey-wrench in the plans of any Villain. Here are just a few from comic-dom.
1. Alfred. Wait, no Robin? Actually, no. Mainly because it's too easy and much too obvious. But ALFRED. Let's see... sutures wounds... fixes Batmobile... cleans up the HUGE expanse of Wayne Manor with no staff... comes up with pretty good excuses for Bruce Wayne... part-time psycho-therapist, AND has the driest sense of humor this side of Steven Wright. Hey, you GOTTA love the guy. Sure, Robin's got Batman's back, but Alfred keeps them ALL going.
2. Gosuke, Usagi Yojimbo. Alright, he's a HUGE pain in the butt... ok, even that's a gross understatement. Just the same, there is no question Usagi trusts the rhino bounty-hunter with his life. Won't trust the dude with his WALLET, but will his life.
3. Jim Rhodes, Iron Man. Unfortunately he hasn't been around lately, but during the Michellinie/Romita Jr. run in the '80s, Jim Rhodes was the man for Tony Stark. He wasn't just the pilot; he was a back-up and friend to the end.
4. Nat the Hat, Hitman. Take Michael Clark Duncan, MORE attitude and give him the most HORRIBLE pork-pie hat in the world, and you have Tommy's best friend in Garth Ennis' 'Hitman'. Go deeper, and you find someone incredibly loyal, and will follow his partner to the bitter end... literally.