Sidekick

A sidekick is defined as any character who has worked alongside, or apprenticed under a more experienced mentor. The only exception to this rule is Pat Dugan, the hero known as S.T.R.I.P.E.. Dugan was once the sidekick to the original Star-Spangled Kid, a character several years younger than him. Later, he became the sidekick to Courtney Whitmore, the hero known as Stargirl - again, a character who is many years his junior. Characters who operate in equal partnership with another character (ala Hawk and Dove) are not considered sidekicks.

The most infamous sidekick of all time (with the possible exception of the Lone Ranger's faithful Native American companion, Tonto) is Dick Grayson - aka, Robin. Robin is the teenage sidekick of costumed superhero Bruce Wayne. He was introduced in Detective Comics #38 in April, 1940 and remained as the Batman's partner for nearly four decades before splitting off to form his own adult identity as Nightwing. Since then, Batman has adopted other young would-be heroes to don the pixie boots of Robin including Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown and even his son, Damian Wayne.

Other notable comic book sidekicks include Wally West, aka Kid Flash - partner to the Flash, Speedy (Roy Harper, who was the partner of Green Arrow, Aqualad, who was the partner of Aquaman and Supergirl, who was the cousin and junior partner of Superman.