Top 10 Most Powerful Superhero Sidekicks
#10: James Rhodes
Top 20 Greatest James Bond Moments of All Time
Not just anyone can fill Iron Man's jet boots. However, the War Machine James Rhodes carried the mantle many times. An ex-Marine and aviation engineer, Rhodes donned the Variable Threat Response Battle Suit, better known as War Machine. Tony Stark designed this better-equipped suit with a more incredible arsenal specifically for Rhodes to use. During Stark's absence, Rhodes stepped up and into the Iron Man gear himself. With armor and weaponry on par with Iron Man, War Machine rises to top-tier Avengers status as one of their most powerful members.
#9: Old Lace
Top 10 Superhero Sidekicks
Time-traveling pair Dale and Stacey Yorkes commissioned a pet Deinonychus for their daughter Gertrude upon their death or after her 18th birthday. A product of 87th-century technology, Old Lace shares a telepathic link with Gert and exists to protect her. Through their psychic connection, the two have a strong bond and can feel each other’s emotive states. One downside is that they can also feel each other’s pain from injury. Equipped with razor sharp claws and teeth, Old Lace has shown that she can hold her own against opponents. Combine that with her high level of intelligence and this is one dino we wouldn’t want to cross paths with.
#8: James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes
Top 20 James Bond Kills
Bucky Barnes first debuted in 1941's "Captain America Comics" #1 and even then his military history and elite fighting skills made him a great hero and even a villainous threat. Although Bucky lacked the Super Soldier Serum, his natural toughness and courage made him worthy enough to fight alongside Captain America. After an explosion was thought to have killed Bucky, Russians recovered and brainwashed him. Now dubbed the Winter Soldier, he further mastered combat and weaponry training. Eventually, he regained control and would assume the legendary Captain America shield and title for a period of time.
#7: Lockheed
Brood insectoids, beware. The fire-breathing sidekick Lockheed is one of Marvel's best. His partner, Kitty Pryde, thought he resembled a fairytale dragon. However, he is a member of the alien race known as the Flock. Built for battle, Lockheed boldly fought against the vicious Brood hoards. After saving Kitty Pryde from the Brood, they helped found the group Excalibur. Often characterized as the British X-Men, Excalibur couldn't go wrong with a warrior dragon among its ranks. Although cat-sized, he can withstand superhuman attacks, breathe smoke, fly, and is mind-resistant to telepaths.
#6: Raquel Ervin
English majors rejoice! The super sidekick Rocket holds reading and writing as her noted abilities. Aspiring to be a writer like the great Toni Morrison, teenager Raquel Ervin doubles as the hero Icon's partner. Ironically, it is Rocket that pushes the alien transplant Augustus Freeman IV to become Icon. In her case, the sidekick makes the hero. Using Icon's inertia belt, she controls and manipulates kinetic energy to fly, shoot blasts, and create force fields. Juggling teenage motherhood and high school is no small feat. Nevertheless, Rocket did so while still protecting her neighborhood and saving the world.
#5: Wong
Only the most trustworthy and dedicated can stand beside a Sorcerer Supreme. No wonder expert martial artist Wong has assisted both the Ancient One and Doctor Strange. Wong even helped the 20-ton ancient dragon Fin Fang Foom against Hydra. Along with sorcery skills, he wields the bo staff and spars with Doctor Strange. On top of that, Wong serves as the custodian for the Sanctum Sanctorum and protects it against all threats. On occasion, Strange even hid his astral soul in Wong for safe keeping. Now that's sidekick supreme material.
#4: Garth
Although Aqualad possesses many of the same powers as Aquaman, he also touts an emphasis on magic. Abandoned at birth, Garth was saved by Atlan, Aquaman's father. Eventually, Garth would be adopted and trained by Aquaman. Along with other superhero sidekicks, Aqualad founded the Teen Titans. He even acted as the king of Atlantis. Whether he goes by the name Aqualad or Tempest later, Garth's powers include marine-telepathy and superhuman speed, strength, and stamina. However, his mighty magic allowed him to teleport Atlantis and open a Boom Tube to time's beginning.
#3: Cassandra "Cassie" Sandsmark
Originally Zeus's daughter, Hercules's half-sister, and Wonder Woman's second, demigod Wonder Girl holds her own. Bestowed with the power of the Olympians, Cassie Sandsmark became the second incarnation of Wonder Girl. She first befriended Wonder Woman and helped her in battle by Cassie utilizing Hermes's sandals and Atlas's gauntlet. Now elevated to Wonder Girl, she uses a lasso given to her by Ares. However, this lasso harnesses Zeus's lighting. As a Young Justice and Teen Titans member, Wonder Girl possesses much of the same godlike strengths and abilities as Wonder Woman, such as superhuman speed, durability, and reflexes.
#2: Frederick "Freddy" Freeman & Mary Batson
Captain Marvel, better known as Shazam, draws his powers from the wizard Shazam. This is the same power source for Freddy Freeman and Mary Batson, who then became Shazam Jr. and Lady Shazam. When they are transformed, Freddy and Mary gain wisdom, strength, healing, power, courage, and speed. The Shazam Family is one of the first superhero families in comics. In fact, Mary Marvel predates Supergirl by over a decade as a female superhero spinoff. Sharing the same power source as a legendary DC hero makes Shazam Jr. and Lady Shazam elite and formidable heroes themselves.
#1: Wally West
Labeled as the “Fastest Man Alive” and even considered the fastest man in the multiverse, Wally West long surpassed sidekick status. Acting as a Speed Force Conduit, Wally West connects to the Speed Force like no other, as he pretty much embodies it. With this power, Wally can steal or lend speed to others. However, the most impressive show of supremacy involves time travel. Although other Flashes time travel using a Cosmic Treadmill, Wally West enters the timestream without needing one. Not only is he the strongest Kid Flash, but he might also be the most excellent version of the Flash.
