Batman's 10 Best Sidekicks (Who Aren't Robin) (original) (raw)

The character of Batman might be more well-known for his partnership with Robin, as the pair have worked together as Gotham City's Dynamic Duo for years. And while different heroes have taken over the role over the years and moved through the ranks of the Batman Family, Batman almost always has a sidekick of some kind to call for assistance.

Of course, that sidekick isn't always Robin, as Batman has assembled a surprisingly large roster of costumed characters that he has worked alongside many times over the years. And while some of those sidekicks may not exist yet due to future appearances or universal reboots, they have still proven themselves as capable as any Robin and are all worthy sidekicks to Batman.

10 Barbara Gordon First Worked Alongside The Dark Knight As Batgirl Before She Became Oracle

Barbara Gordon joined the Dynamic Duo as Batgirl in the 60s and was one of the first costumed characters to work as a sidekick to Batman that wasn't Robin. While there was a pre-Crisis character known as Bat-Girl, Barbara was the first in-continuity character to use the name, though she wouldn't be the last.

After Barbara's partial paralysis following a vicious shooting by the Joker in Batman: The Killing Joke, she started operating as the secretive information broker known as Oracle, a position she recently returned to following the Joker War event in Gotham City.

9 Cassandra Cain First Appeared As Batgirl Before She Became Black Bat And Then Orphan

When Gotham City was devastated by an earthquake and abandoned by the federal government during the No Man's Land event, a new Batgirl appeared in the city that was eventually revealed to be Cassandra Cain (after Huntress first appeared in the costume).

Cain had been raised with only the language of fighting, though her relationship with the Batfamily helped her develop properly. After her time as Batgirl, Cassandra Cain worked with Batman, Incorporated as Black Bat before she reappeared as Orphan alongside Batman's team of sidekicks during the Rebirth era.

8 Stephanie Brown First Became The Spoiler To Stop Her Supervillain Father Cluemaster

Stephanie Brown originally created her costumed identity of Spoiler with the intention of ruining her father Cluemanster's attempted crimes. Stephanie did spend a brief amount of time as Robin, though that history was largely erased by the Flashpoint event.

She also took on the role of Batgirl after Cassandra Cain, with who she developed a close friendship. Brown eventually returned to her original costumed identity of Spoiler and joined Batman's team of Gotham Knights alongside Orphan where she continued her romantic relationship with Tim Drake/Red Robin.

7 Azrael Became The Agent Of The Bat After His Disastrous Run As Batman

While Jean-Paul Valley/Azrael may be best known for his failed attempt to take over as Batman during the Knightfall saga, though he also spent a good amount of time after his fall in KnightsEnd atoning for his mistake.

He did this by serving as Bruce Wayne's "Agent of the Bat" while also exploring his own origins, and played a role in a number of Gotham events prior to his death. The character returned during the DC Rebirth era to again work with Batman as Azrael. He joined Batman's Gotham Knights before working alongside the Justice League Odyssey team in space.

6 Gavin King Wore A High-Tech Suit As Orpheus To Infiltrate Gotham's Gangs

Batman: Orpheus Rising by Alex Simmons and Dwayne Turner introduced a new hero to Gotham City named Orpheus, who wore a high-tech helmet and used sonic-weaponry that reflected his civilian identity as a music producer.

Batman was initially against an inexperienced hero working in Gotham City, but Orpheus proved himself and an ex-assassin named onyx agreed to work alongside him. Unfortunately, Orpheus was killed by Black Mask during the War Games event after taking part in a failed plan to take over Gotham's underworld.

5 Sasha Bordeaux Adopted A Costume Identity When She Became Bruce Wayne's Bodyguard

Lucius Fox and Waynecorp's board of directors forced Bruce Wayne to accept a highly trained agent named Sasha Bordeaux as his new bodyguard, following a series of dangerous public events in Gotham City. While he was able to keep his life as Batman a secret for a short time, Bordeaux soon discovered the truth.

She forced Batman to allow her to accompany him at night as well so she could fulfill her duties, and he created a costume for her to keep her identity and their connection hidden. They began to develop feelings for each other as they trained and worked together, though she would eventually leave his side to take a position with the Checkmate spy organization.

4 Luke Fox Was The Second Character To Use The Batwing Armor

David Zavimbe debuted as Batwing at the launch of the New 52, though he soon abandoned the high-tech armor he wore as a member of Batman, Incorporated. MMA fighter Lucas Fox (son of Lucius Fox) soon took over the armor and modified it to become the next Batwing.

Fox worked with Batman and alongside the Batfamily as Batwing for years throughout the New 52 and joined with Batman's Gotham Knights in the Rebirth era before he retired from super-heroics. Unfortunately, Future State recently teased that Luke's retirement eventually turned to full-blown villainy.

3 Harper Row Was A Gifted Hacker Who Joined The Batfamily As Bluebird

There were a few new characters introduced during the New 52 reboot of the DC universe that found a place with the Batman family, including Harper Row. Harper and her brother lived alone in the Narrows section of Gotham City, where she used her engineering skills to try and fortify Batman's own network.

This soon caught his attention and after Harper saved his life following a battle with the Court of Owls, she created her own costumed identity. As Bluebird, Harper designer her own weaponry and worked her way into the Batfamily before she decided to retire and finish her schooling.

2 Duke Thomas Worked With Alfred's Street-Level Robins Before Becoming The Signal

Duke Thomas first appeared as a child during the "Zero Year" (and briefly assumed the costumed identity of Lark during a future vision of Batman) before he started working with Alfred's street-level team known as the Robins. Thomas eventually began to work much closer with Batman who began training him for a new role that moved away from the usual position of Robin.

Duke Thomas became Batman's operative during the day and took the name of The Signal. He also discovered that he had a metagene that gave him light-based abilities, making him one of Batman's few powered sidekicks.

1 Tiffany Fox Joined The Next Batman During Future State As His New Masked Partner

The ongoing Future State event introduced Tim "Jace" Fox as The Next Batman following the Fox family's acquisition of Bruce Wayne's fortune and resources, which included Batman's arsenal and technology. Batman: Black And White introduced Jace Fox's new partner who was revealed as his youngest sister Tiffany Fox, which highlighted their family's unique connection to Batman.

While Tiffany Fox's costumed alter ego went unnamed during her recent introduction, the character previously worked with the Batman family as one of Barbara Gordon's Batgirls alongside Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain during The New 52: Futures End event.

NEXT: Batman: 10 Times Gotham City Should've Realistically Been Destroyed