Discover why there is a need for sidekicks in the world of My Hero Academia, and what their purpose is in the overarching narrative.

Among the massive cast of characters in My Hero Academia, it’s easy for us to remember big names like All Might, Endeavor, and Deku — some of the series’ greatest and most reputed Heroes. However, many often tend to overlook the ones standing behind the big names — the “sidekicks”, who are perhaps the perfect representation of unsung Heroes who don’t always get the recognition they deserve.
That being said, the concept of sidekicks in My Hero Academia doesn’t always make perfect sense. Because of their portrayal in the story, many people started questioning the purpose of their existence in the overarching narrative. Comic books usually portray sidekicks as young apprentices training under established superheroes. For instance, take Robin’s relationship with Batman in DC Comics into consideration.
However, in the world of My Hero Academia, sidekicks aren’t just portrayed as young aspiring Heroes in training — a lot of them are full-fledged adult Heroes working under bigger names. As such, this has often led fans to question the validity of their existence in the series. Are they actually even necessary? Or are they simply failed Heroes who are stuck in someone else’s shadow? Follow this article to get a definite answer.
Who Are Sidekicks in My Hero Academia?

In My Hero Academia, sidekicks are usually the weaker, less-experienced Heroes who work at Hero offices under the guidance of a stronger, more experienced, and well-established Hero. Their job is to basically serve as the backup for their employer, who is usually involved in the fieldwork of saving people or fighting Villains.
That said, the top Pro Heroes don’t always consider sidekicks a necessity for them. Some of them may prefer to have a couple of sidekicks, some may have dozens, while others prefer to have none at all. There are several things these Heroes take into consideration while hiring a sidekick — ranging from their individual usefulness, skills, or simply their good looks.
Sidekicks usually make a lot of effort to get noticed and hired by prestigious pro Heroes. They may either aim to join a Hero Agency out of admiration for a particular Hero or simply to gain popularity and experience so that they can become full-fledged professional Heroes themselves one day.
While most of the sidekicks fail to advance in their ranks and usually stay in the background, there are often a few exceptions — with Sir Nighteye being the most prominent one. He used to be a sidekick as well, who eventually went on to become a recognized and reputed Pro Hero. He later started his own Hero Agency and had sidekicks working under him.
Why Is There a Need for Sidekicks in My Hero Academia?

On paper, sidekicks are necessary for the obvious purpose of serving as the Pro Hero’s assistant. They help Pro Heroes manage the overwhelming work they face on a regular basis. They contribute to the Pro Hero’s success behind the scenes, often doing work that may go unnoticed. While the Pro Hero focuses on battling Villains, their sidekicks may either keep the Hero agencies running efficiently or may also accompany the Heroes in their fieldwork by helping them rescue civilians.
For sidekicks, it’s not just about doing the grunt work for the top Heroes behind the scenes. They also get some real-world experience and valuable guidance by working under the top Heroes, which might help them become successful Pro Heroes one day.
Additionally, Hero Course students also get the opportunity to work as interns or sidekicks for top Heroes by applying for part-time employment at Hero Agencies. This helps aspiring Heroes or students of Hero Courses gain practical knowledge or grab the attention of other top Heroes who might want to hire them after their graduation.
Therefore, sidekicks in My Hero Academia do make sense in theory. In fact, in other superhero stories, sidekicks either grow into top Heroes themselves or remain loyal partners to their mentor. However, in My Hero Academia, sidekicks usually feel more like second-class Heroes, who seem even less prominent than Vigilantes in the overarching narrative.
Are Sidekicks Just Aspiring Heroes Who Fail To Get Recognized?

This is undeniably one of the most controversial topics in My Hero Academia. While it certainly may not be true for some, it is, unfortunately, a harsh reality for most superhero sidekicks in the series — they are just aspiring heroes who often fail to catch the public eye. In fact, most sidekicks don’t remain in that position by choice. They might be stuck there probably because they weren’t good, strong, or even lucky enough to gain recognition.
To support this argument, let’s consider this — why are some of these “sidekicks”, who are capable and licensed Heroes themselves, continuing to work under someone for years at length when they could open their own Hero agencies? After several years of mentorship, surely they would have become capable enough to protect civilians and fight villains by themselves. As such, what exactly is stopping them from stepping out of their mentor’s shadow and becoming their own Hero?
The answer to this is clear — becoming a top, established Hero isn’t just a matter of strength or skill. To rise to the top, one would need to be popular enough to get a rank on the Hero Billboard Chart. Furthermore, one would also need connections to gain recognition, which they may never do if they continue to work under top Heroes for a prolonged time. Therefore, staying as a sidekick after many years of grueling Hero work is often a sad reality for many aspiring Heroes.
The Influence of Western Superhero Comics on My Hero Academia

The influence of Western superhero comics on My Hero Academia is undeniable — with the concept of sidekicks being one of the many inspirations Kohei Horikoshi took from them. The mangaka has even admitted on several occasions, that classic American superhero comics have heavily inspired his work — All Might being a spitting image of DC’s Superman for example.
Additionally, the concept of Hero Agencies in My Hero Academia seems similar to how superhero teams function in Western comics, with DC’s Justice League and Marvel Comics’ Avengers being prominent examples. That said, Horikoshi’s unique spin on these classic Western superhero troupes certainly made My Hero Academia one of a kind — especially in the world of anime.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the concept of sidekicks was certainly a unique addition to My Hero Academia. Their overall purpose in the narrative needs no detailed explanation either, as their main job as a sidekick is to assist their mentors/main Heroes with their Hero work. That said, the main problem lies in their portrayal as indispensable background characters, which the majority of people usually tend to overlook.
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