[krankyboy]

Whenever I start to think that the kid sidekick idea looks a little dangerous, I remind myself that David Farragut captained his first ship (a prize ship, but still) when he was twelve, and saw combat soon after.

There's also the twelve-year old, blond-haired cabin boy in "Master and Commander" with Russell Crowe. Let's just say that during the final battle at the end, he's anything but Bobby Driscoll's Jim Hawkins. Even with one arm, the kid is a little hell raiser. Guns blazing, screaming for the men to follow him, and blasting the crap out of the enemy and all that.

So when people laugh at the kid sidekicks in comic books, saying how implausible it is, I kind of laugh back.

Then again, we're talking about defending a kid's comic book with a movie.   

[krankyboy]

I think that the 'other' Sparky was the partner of The Red Blazer one of Harvey Comics more forgetable heroes.

-Nigel

And they were pretty much just relegated to comic covers and text stories in All New Comics, were they not?

[krankyboy]

It's true that the names aren't just bad, but they're...y'know, the kids' actual names.  Sparky?  I think I'll call you...Sparky.  Bucky, eh?  That's a hard one.  How about...Bucky.  Tim?  Roy?  Davey?  I mean, c'mon, what kid puts on a mask and deigns to be called by his real name?  Where's the hero whose sidekick refuses to respond to any name other than Admiral Death-Eater, Esquire, the Third?

Well, what have you suggested that they be called? Batman Jr.? Mighty Half Pint? Teen America?

Some of them took more secretive names (Kid Terror, American Eagle and Eaglet, 13 and Jinx), but come on... it's not like the comic companies were looking for any sort of "realism" that modern adult comic book readers, in their quest to somehow have costumed heroes relate to them as adults (which is ridiculous on its face), demand. It's all pretty silly stuff. But for the world that the heroes and kid sidekicks occupy, we should be willing to roll with it.

[boox909]

It's true that the names aren't just bad, but they're...y'know, the kids' actual names.  Sparky?  I think I'll call you...Sparky.  Bucky, eh?  That's a hard one.  How about...Bucky.  Tim?  Roy?  Davey?  I mean, c'mon, what kid puts on a mask and deigns to be called by his real name?  Where's the hero whose sidekick refuses to respond to any name other than Admiral Death-Eater, Esquire, the Third?

Well, what have you suggested that they be called? Batman Jr.? Mighty Half Pint? Teen America?

Some of them took more secretive names (Kid Terror, American Eagle and Eaglet, 13 and Jinx), but come on... it's not like the comic companies were looking for any sort of "realism" that modern adult comic book readers, in their quest to somehow have costumed heroes relate to them as adults (which is ridiculous on its face), demand. It's all pretty silly stuff. But for the world that the heroes and kid sidekicks occupy, we should be willing to roll with it.

I wonder if anyone owns Teen America yet? 


btw, Jinx is the best name out of all of the kid sidekicks!  Nightmare still has a lot of potential -- may Alex Ross get confused on the way to Nightmare's and Jinx's door.

B.

[John C]

Well, what have you suggested that they be called? Batman Jr.? Mighty Half Pint? Teen America?

I'm not railing against it, mind you.  I do, however, think that a lot of the flak the writers got (and still do today) regarding kid sidekicks would have been avoided if the kids used codenames...and they might have gotten more kids in the audience, since that's exactly the sort of thing kids love.  It also helps the illusion that one day, you might be the kid in the mask; that's less probable if the kid's secret codename is Davey.

I had, by the way, forgotten Kid Terror's moniker.  In most of the stories, it seems like he's "Tim."  And again, "Robin" is fine, though the costume is...incomprehensible.  Replace the cape with a green cloak, though (because the staff has insisted the name was derived mostly from Robin Hood), and it could have been an even bigger winner, and maybe not so much a target for Wertham.

(Interestingly, Sparky's a great name for a sidekick, because there's nothing particularly thematic about his patron.  The only problem is that it's also his REAL name.  If he'd only been Fred...)

[phabox]

Toro was a name which had a nice dramatic ring to it as did the other name he was also known by 'The Flame Kid' unlike his real name which was Thomas.

-Nigel

[krankyboy]

I'm not railing against it, mind you.  I do, however, think that a lot of the flak the writers got (and still do today) regarding kid sidekicks would have been avoided if the kids used codenames...and they might have gotten more kids in the audience, since that's exactly the sort of thing kids love.  It also helps the illusion that one day, you might be the kid in the mask; that's less probable if the kid's secret codename is Davey.

I had, by the way, forgotten Kid Terror's moniker.  In most of the stories, it seems like he's "Tim."  And again, "Robin" is fine, though the costume is...incomprehensible.  Replace the cape with a green cloak, though (because the staff has insisted the name was derived mostly from Robin Hood), and it could have been an even bigger winner, and maybe not so much a target for Wertham.

(Interestingly, Sparky's a great name for a sidekick, because there's nothing particularly thematic about his patron.  The only problem is that it's also his REAL name.  If he'd only been Fred...)

The Golden Age writers would probably be getting flak regardless. Whether the kids used code names or had a costume which was slightly cooler to modern audiences, hipsters and comic geeks alike would be bitching and moaning. Unless, of course, those sidekicks were teenage girls with huge, oversized breasts literally popping out of their costumes. Then, it would probably be okay with them. 

By the way, I think Black Terror and Tim referred to themselves as "The Terror Twins" more often than not. So you're probably right on that count. I think Tim was referred to as Kid Terror in Exciting #69, though.

[Palooka slim]

Regarding sidekicks lets remember back in the day 15 and 16 yr old boys were lying about their age to join the army.perhaps kids were made of tuffer stuff back then ,i tend to think so.but having said that a 17 yr old boy just recently sailed around the world by himself thats pretty durn tough.

[narfstar]

NOt so much tough as they think themselves invincible. That is the reason for wanting young soldiers.
I was only a couple months past my 17th birthday when I joined the army right after Vietnam

[Astaldo711]

I can recall reading many storied of kids joining the army even though they were to young. Going back to the Civil War although I'm sure it happened before. It's the only real regret I have in my life. Many in my family joined the various branches of armed service.

[narfstar]

I am very appreciative of the experience. And it paid my way through college allowing me to get my teaching credentials.

[boox909]

Regarding sidekicks lets remember back in the day 15 and 16 yr old boys were lying about their age to join the army.perhaps kids were made of tuffer stuff back then ,i tend to think so.but having said that a 17 yr old boy just recently sailed around the world by himself thats pretty durn tough.

Very true! My grandfather did that to get into WWI. 

B.

[JonTheScanner]

YOur grandfather sailed around the world to get into WWI?  Why didn't he just sail straight to Europe?

[John C]

That's just what the dirty Krauts would be expecting, Jon...

[JonTheScanner]

Ahh good point.

[krankyboy]

Thanks for scanning and uploading Blue Beetle #16, AU! 

[archiver_USA]

Does anyone have the covers to a Blue Beetle #17 (inside and out, front and back)? My copy is coverless.

[JonTheScanner]

JVJ has Blue Beetle Holyoke #17

[krankyboy]

Any chance of AU scanning the pages for Blue Beetle #17, and JVJ's front and back covers for the issue being added later?

KB

[Yoc]

When you are done your scans AU, just upload them to the FTP and I'll try and arrange for the missing pages from Jim.