Review by Comix
Sidekicks have always gotten a bad rap. From ransom fodder to comedy relief, sidekicks have always been the throwaway characters of the comic world. In fact, Robin himself became so expandable that, at one point, in Batman issue #428, readers got to vote if Robin lived or died after a brutal attack by the Joker. Let’s just say he burned down quicker than the Hindenburg. I bet no one would have done that to Batman, but for a character who got replaced at least three times during the series, fans were more than delighted to watch him bite the dust. Of course, some are lucky; some go on to be superheroes in their own right, shaking off the weights of being a bit player, but what about those who can’t? Those who get stuck in the shadows of the greats, doomed to fade into obscurity? Sidekick from Joe/Image Comics plays off such a concept as it follows the life of original sidekick extraordinaire, Flyboy, as he attempts to rebuild his life after the sudden death of his partner, Red Cowl. Grim and heartbreaking, Sidekick is like watching a train wreck in the form of a desperate and beaten man.
The comic starts out with a classic opening. Red Cowl and his right hand boy, Flyboy, are fighting the deadly enemy Sonic Master when *gasp,* Sonic Master’s bomb is two minutes from detonating! As Red Cowl racks his brain on how to stop the weapon, Flyboy thinks fast and throws the damned into the sun to cheers of the relieved populace. Suddenly, the comic flash’s forward to present time, when Flyboy has become a Fly-man, who has resorted himself to patrolling the streets for hooker blowjobs and crying in shame. Here we get glimpses of Flyboy’s past, watching him rise to prominence after tossing the bomb to him falling from the spotlight after the death of Red Cowl. It’s basically a super bummer. Left penniless and depressed, Flyboy has a major fit and takes it out on an abandoned building, not aware of the watchful eyes just above him. Perhaps his time for glory is just around the corner or perhaps, just more misery.
Sidekick is definitely worth picking up. Though superhero works have been getting grittier as the years roll on (it seems like every week someone is having a breakdown), Sidekick reads a lot easier. Perhaps it’s the fact that the characters aren’t long time running favorites, but were specifically made for this series to get absolutely wrecked. There’s no pre-established relationship with them, no collectable toys or movies, and best of all, no restrictions. The writers could kick the heroes into an open volcano and have their flesh melt off in extra gory detail and no one would blink an eye. It’s similar to the formula of The Boys. The heroes in that one were sex-crazed, drug addicted assholes, but it was cool, they got killed and we all got that sense of pleasure of watching the self-absorbed little snots get what they deserve. Can’t do that to Iron Man. It’s definitely going to be interesting in seeing where the comic goes, especially since the writer himself has stated that he’s going to do every awful and terrible thing he can possibly think of to poor Flyboy.
Speaking of writers, the comic is penned by J. Micheal Straczynski, a man who is no stranger to the four colored graphic world. Generally known for writing Babylon 5, he made the leap over a few years back and is now writing, well, whatever he damn well feels like. Sidekick is an excellent example of his talent: original, entertaining, a little depressing, and demanding that you keep reading. If you haven’t read his work, this is a good place to start. The art, by Tom Mandrake, is alright. Nothing to really write home about but it does do the job adequately. The inking is done kind of poorly, but everything is there, so it’s easy to ignore. Anyway, Sidekick comes out on August 8, so it’s not out yet (well, depending when you read this), but pick up a copy when it drops. It’s going to be a great series.