The Brave Or The Bold: Comic Book Archers!

Martinex1: Today let's discuss comic book archers!  Who is your favorite; what are the greatest story lines; who has the most engaging characteristics; who is the best?

Hawkeye started out as a villain but became an Avenger, a West Coast Avenger, and even a Great Lakes Avenger and a Thunderbolt!  Clint Barton has been a carnival trick artist, an enemy of Iron Man, and a friend, follower and thorn-in-the-side of Captain America.  He and Mockingbird were married. He is sarcastic, bold, cunning and charismatic.

Green Arrow has been a mainstay of the DC Universe for decades.  He has been a member of the Justice League of America and partnered in a memorable series with Green Lantern.  Oliver Queen was a rich industrialist and a voice of the people.  He has had a long running relationship with Black Canary. He is outgoing, charming, brash, and sarcastic.

And there are others that can be considered as well.  There is Kate Bishop, the new Hawkeye!  And Connor Hawke, the replacement Green Arrow!  There is  Roy Harper, Speedy, or as he is known now - Arsenal!  There is Wyatt McDonald, the Squadron Supreme archer, who started as the other world's Hawkeye and eventually changed names to the Golden Archer (ugh!) and the Black Archer.  And also Archer from Valiant's Archer & Armstrong series!  I am sure there are others as well.

Who is the best archer! Let's compare and contrast, and share your thoughts today about the bow-and-arrow comic book crowd!

The Brave Or The Bold: Sidekicks!

Martinex1:  Comic book history is littered with numerous sidekicks who have disappeared over time, but there are a few significant success stories.  DC Comics has perhaps the largest stable of sidekick tag-a-longs and legacy heroes, but what makes them great?

Frequent commenter, david_b, queried recently about sidekicks and how they have evolved, what has made a few successful, and how has their design affected that success.  In particular, he wondered about the Boy Wonder. How did a character that was designed as the polar opposite to his partner become an icon?  Is Robin great because he is the light to Batman's dark - or in spite of that opposing appearance has he somehow found greatness?  Robin is different than the "me-toos" of his generation; does that make him better or worse?

Marvel seemed, for the most part, to steer away from sidekicks.  They carried over a few from the Golden Age of comics, including Bucky and Toro.   And they developed the "universal" sidekick in Rick Jones who had partnerships with the Hulk, Captain America, Captain Marvel, and ROM.  I actually find Rick to be relatively compelling as the everyman in the Marvel Universe, despite having a rather whiny Silver Age existence.  DC had Snapper Carr in a similar mold; why doesn't he have the same type of legacy?

And what about the odd Stripesy as partner to the Star-Spangled Kid from the earlier era, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Speedy and the rest?  You might also get a laugh out of the villainous DC sidekicks from the late 70s - take a gander below at Chick, Sardine, Honeysuckle and the gang!

Who was the best sidekick and why?   Who had the best design (and the worst look)?   Who should  have never been created?   And specifically, to david_b's question what makes Robin such a superstar?

It's another great day at BitBA, so let's indulge in a compare and contrast discussion with a side of "kick"!