Top 10 Loner Superheroes Without Sidekicks (Marvel and DC)
A little over a week ago, I wrote an article about superheroes and their sidekicks. The article detailed who were the greatest sidekicks in history. After writing that article, I got to thinking about the opposite of it. That is, I got to thinking about all the superheroes without sidekicks.
Although there are more superheroes without sidekicks than with sidekicks, this list was tricky to put together. This is primarily due to the fact that choosing the best of the best isn’t always the easiest. Sure, anyone can put together a list and call it the top 10 of whatever the list is counting down. But to put together a well thought and constructed list isn’t that easy. I hope I’ve done this one justice. Without further ado, here are the 10 best loner superheroes without sidekicks!
10. The Punisher
The Punisher came to be after a war veteran, Frank Castle A) watched as his family was inadvertently gunned down during a battle between rival mobs and B) helplessly stood by as the legal system failed to give him justice. Wanting to never see this sort of injustice happen again, he grabbed some guns, put on his now famous skull t-shirt, and began to rid the world of all forms of scum and villainy.
Different from the others on this loner superheroes list, The Punisher is an anti-hero. As an anti-hero, he has no qualms about killing or brutalizing his enemies. The Punisher is easily one of the greatest superheroes without sidekicks because there isn’t a sidekick alive who can keep up with his line of work.
9. Moon Knight
Moon Knight (Marc Spector) has multiple personalities, each of which when in control, sees him act and speak in manners all to themselves. Not only do the personalities act and speak in different ways, but they often don’t remember or know what each has done. Steven Grant is Marc’s millionaire persona. As a millionaire, Grant is usually found at charitable functions rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous.
Jake Lockley, is, outside of Moon Knight, Marc’s most violent form. He has a short fuse and is known to use less-than-admirable measures to get what he wants. Lockley patrols the world at a street level and as such, often becomes aware of activity well before it happens.
Mr. Knight is a newer addition to the Moon Knight story. Whereas Moon Knight uses force, violence, and brutality to get what he wants, Mr. Knight typically acts within the confines of the law. Because he works within the confines of the law, he can often be found helping the police. Who needs a sidekick when you have three already built in?
8. Dr. Fate
The original Dr. Fate first appeared inside the pages of More Fun Comics #55 back in 1940. He was created by the now legendary team of Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman. Dr. Fate is one of the most powerful characters in comics. Rather than being born with his powers, Dr. Fate is a trained sorcerer whose powers are augmented by Nabu and the Helmet of Fate.
His laundry list of powers includes but isn’t limited to reality manipulation, levitation, mystical senses, super strength and speed, telekinesis, time travel, memory erasing, damage resistance, invisibility, flight, etc. When a character is capable of more than an entire military, there just isn’t a need for a sidekick.
7. Thor
When you’re a literal God, why would you ever require a sidekick? Am I right? If you can do practically anything you want, are more powerful than most, have near-immortality, and change the outcome of every battle you’re a part of, why would you want a sidekick? Thor is a God. However, he’s not just any God. He’s the God of Thunder, son of Odin, off and on again ruler of Asgard, and occasional Avenger. Thor works without a sidekick because, well, a sidekick would only limit what he’s capable of.
And what’s he capable of? Anything that you can think of. Stopping galaxy-wife threats, keeping the peace amongst the Nine Realms, reigning down terror on his enemies. Dismantling armies without breaking a sweat and wielding one of the most sacred and powerful weapons in the Universe. And more.
6. Zatanna
Does Zatanna need a sidekick? In short, no. Zatanna is an extremely powerful spell caster who has, at one time or another, cast spells that heal wounds, control the Earthly elements, and manipulate the minds of those around her. And this is but a small fraction of what she’s capable of. She’s so powerful that Green Arrow has regarded her as the most powerful member of the Justice League. This compliment shouldn’t be taken lightly. Remember, the Justice League boasts heroes like Superman, Martian Manhunter, and Wonder Woman.
In addition to being a member of the Justice League of America, she also belongs to the Justice League Dark. The Justice League Dark, for reference, is a team of powerful magic users that deal with the more supernatural problems of the DC Universe. As a member of two prominent teams, even if Zatanna wanted a sidekick, she would have the time of day for one.
5. Supergirl
Supergirl is one of the superheroes without sidekicks for the same reason as a few others on this list. She’s too powerful and wouldn’t have use for one. Supergirl immediately announced herself as a force to be reckoned with after first appearing on the pages of Action Comics #252 back in 1959. She is the daughter of Zor-El and Alura In-Zee. If the last name El sounds familiar, like her famous cousin Superman, she hails from the planet Krypton. As a Kryptonian, she receives her power from Earth,s yellow sun.
What are the powers that make her so formidable that she’s one of my superheroes without sidekicks? She possesses superhuman strength, speed, durability, stamina, hearing, and agility. She also has infrared, telescopic, x-ray, heat, microscopic, and electromagnetic vision. In addition, she is nearly invulnerable, can fly, has a healing factor, and has both freeze and wind breath. Supergirl is the female equivalent of Superman. Like her cousin, there are fewer powers she doesn’t have than she does.
4. Nightwing
You’d think growing up as the most famous sidekick ever created would mean that Dick Grayson would pay that treatment forward, wouldn’t you? By all logic, he probably should. Well, in terms of Dick Grayson, logic doesn’t always prevail. Therefore, he didn’t, hasn’t, and probably never will have a sidekick.
His reason for this is threefold. First, he’s too busy keeping the Titans in order. Second, he’s preoccupied with his duties in the Batfamily. And third, he’s far too quick for one to keep up with. Remember, Nightwing is a former circus acrobat. As an acrobat, he can do things that very few people could even dream up, let alone keep up with.
3. Daredevil
The Man Without Fear has been alone since day one. First appearing in Daredevil #1 back in 1964, Daredevil was created by Stan Lee and Bill Everett. Daredevil came to be after Matt Murdock was inadvertently struck by a truck carrying a chemical compound. As a result, he was left blind and his remaining senses heightened. Even though he can’t see, he does use a radar-type sense to map out the world around him.
Daredevil is one of the best fighters in Marvel Comics. In addition, he’s a gymnast-level acrobat, possesses a high-level intelligence, and is proficient with most types of hand-to-hand weapons. All of these add up to Daredevil being one of the best examples of superheroes without sidekicks.
2. Hal Jordan
Hal Jordan is one of the superheroes without sidekicks because different from the other loners on this list, he has teammates and belongs to a galactic police force. As a member of the Green Lantern Corps, Hal is charged with keeping peace throughout the galaxy.
Hal Jordan has an unbreakable will and is called upon when Green Lanterns are needed. He’s unafraid to go toe-to-toe with some of DC’s fiercest villains and due to this, has a longstanding membership in the Justice League of America. The reason Hal doesn’t have a sidekick isn’t only because he has more teammates than most. Nope.
The reason that Hal doesn’t have a sidekick is for a reason that I haven’t said yet…there isn’t a being alive who can put up with his cocky, bold, and brash behavior.
1. Spider-Man
Although he has occasionally joined the ranks of the Avengers and Fantastic Four, Spider-Man is the quintessential loner. He walks alone, swings alone, fights alone, and talks to himself more than most heroes. It’s all for good reason.
Marvel Comics has made it very obvious that keeping his secret identity safe means more to him than anything. He rightfully believes that if his enemies were to find out who he was, all those whom he loves would be placed in danger. Of course, the most important of these are Aunt May and Mary Jane Watson.
Due to the needed secrecy of his identity, Spider-Man hasn’t taken on a sidekick, and most likely won’t. Imagine the torment he would go through if a sidekick knew who he was. Not only would he fear he’d slip up and tell someone but he’d also spend every waking minute worrying that they might tell someone.
