# Coolest fictional sidekicks **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 30, 2007, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022 "2007-06-30T06:20:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2007, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/41 "2007-07-01T23:43:03Z")
Milo in Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware novels. I’m a little sick of Alex (always picking at his food) and Robin doesn’t do much for me (or Alex, apparently) anymore. But if Kellerman wrote a book with Milo as the main character, I’d read it. Also, TJ in Lawrence Block’s Matthew Scudder novels. This is how Block handled the emergence of new technology, which would be really out of character for Matt. He introduced TJ, the genius techno-sidekick. ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/42 "2007-07-02T01:24:04Z")
Agent 99 (Barbera Feldon) from “Get Smart”… Gorgeous, (And ever), great fashion sense (Gun always matched outfit), always getting Smart out of trouble, and that little “eye roll” she did when Smart did something/said something bumblish… Regards FML ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/43 "2007-07-02T02:10:42Z")
Sure, I’d enjoy many of the sidekicks above if I were dealing with Orcs, Imperial troopers or the like, but for serious help in today’s real world, I’d love to have Travis Magee’s incomparable **Meyer** , to whom the ladies flock, in whom children trust, and governments consult. > [@](#): > > The character of Meyer is widely believed to be based on John D. MacDonald himself. A rumored final Travis McGee novel (presumably narrated by Meyer), titled Black Border for McGee, has never been confirmed to exist. This has also been referred to as A Letter Etched in Black. Note: Dr. Meyer is a retired economist, and Mr. MacDonald earned an MBA from Harvard in 1939 ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/44 "2007-07-02T04:29:13Z")
Mouse in Walter Mosley’s Easy Rawlins stories. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/45 "2007-07-02T05:10:52Z")
Does Emma Peel count as a sidekick? 'Cuz nobody is cooler than a high-kicking Diana Rigg. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/46 "2007-07-02T10:49:52Z")
Leela. “Discussion is for the wise and the helpless. I am neither.” ---
**Author:** ![I\_m\_No\_Saint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/977dab/32.png) [@I\_m\_No\_Saint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_m_No_Saint)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/47 "2007-07-02T13:22:30Z")
Sgt. Detritus from the Discworld series always seems to come in handy. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/48 "2007-07-02T13:28:18Z")
Geez, no one’s mentioned SPOCK yet? I need Spock, I really do. My computer insists on doing weird stuff. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/49 "2007-07-02T13:34:42Z")
[QUOTE=StarvingButStrong] Geez, no one’s mentioned SPOCK yet? [/QUOTE] OR Agent 99. ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/50 "2007-07-02T13:36:20Z")
[QUOTE=Heller Highwater] Hawk was the person that came to mind immediately upon reading the thread title. Not only was he the guy you’d want watching your back, but he also had a definite aura of coolness about him, at all times. [/QUOTE] A curse on both your houses. I came in here specifically to mention him, and you guys stole my thunder. But yes, another vote for Hawk. He is the very definition of cool. And I feel a bit like Susan does about him: he’s a very, very dangerous man, but I’d have nothing to fear from him. He’s a man of honor, even if his particular code doesn’t completely line up with what’s legal. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/51 "2007-07-02T13:50:18Z")
[QUOTE=Evil Captor] Spenser’s Hawk. Definitely the guy you want watching your back when your back needs watching. [/QUOTE] I thought of naming Hawk, but I didn’t because I don’t think he counts as a sidekick. Certainly he would not think of himself as one, and if a male were foolish enough to call him one in his presence, well, there’d be several very uncomfortable moments in store for that foolish man. Hawk and Spenser are, well, complex. They’re blood brothers, certainly, who have an unspoken agreement never to oppose one another and who happily cooperate when either needs help. Hawk may more often be the helper, but that’s probably because he less often needs help than Spenser does. (I mean, really, does anyone think Spenser has half a chance of winning if he actually had to throw down with Hawk?) ---
**Author:** ![rhythmonly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee59a6/32.png) [@rhythmonly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhythmonly)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/52 "2007-07-02T14:42:09Z")
Bullwinkle. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/53 "2007-07-02T14:48:25Z")
[QUOTE=StuffLikeThatThere] A curse on both your houses. I came in here specifically to mention him, and you guys stole my thunder. But yes, another vote for Hawk. He is the very definition of cool. And I feel a bit like Susan does about him: he’s a very, very dangerous man, but I’d have nothing to fear from him. He’s a man of honor, even if his particular code doesn’t completely line up with what’s legal. [/QUOTE] Just don’t forget to offer him one of your fresh-baked muffins. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/54 "2007-07-02T18:00:35Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] I thought of naming Hawk, but I didn’t because I don’t think he counts as a sidekick. Certainly he would not think of himself as one, and if a male were foolish enough to call him one in his presence, well, there’d be several very uncomfortable moments in store for that foolish man. Hawk and Spenser are, well, complex. They’re blood brothers, certainly, who have an unspoken agreement never to oppose one another and who happily cooperate when either needs help. Hawk may more often be the helper, but that’s probably because he less often needs help than Spenser does. (I mean, really, does anyone think Spenser has half a chance of winning if he actually had to throw down with Hawk?) [/QUOTE] I agree with all your points about Hawk as far as how his character is written in the books, including a win for Hawk in a throwdown with Spenser. However, his function within the story is definitely that of sidekick – he mostly comes along to help Spenser out when he needs it, the very definition of a sidekick. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/55 "2007-07-02T19:30:42Z")
[QUOTE=Hypno-Toad] People, people, people… KATO. I don’t know why the Green Hornet even bothered to get dressed. Just send Kato and watch the villains disappear. [/QUOTE] For a moment, I thought you meant Inspector Clouseau’s Cato! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/56 "2007-07-02T19:43:56Z")
[Rules for sidekicks.](http://www.evilrulers.com/sidekick.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/57 "2007-07-02T20:13:29Z")
[QUOTE=Aspidistra] Leela. “Discussion is for the wise and the helpless. I am neither.” [/QUOTE] Would that be Leela from “Dr. Who” or Leela from “Futurama”? "Cuz I can picture either one of them speaking that quote. Now if I were living in mid-70s L.A., and in dire need of some discreet investigative work, I’d probably want to place my trust in Bosley before I let any one of “Charlies’ Angels” handle my case. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/58 "2007-07-02T21:58:58Z")
Do Morpheus, Trinity, and Tank count? If not, my vote goes to Chloe O’Brien. ---
**Author:** ![Miscue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@Miscue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miscue)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/59 "2007-07-02T22:48:14Z")
[QUOTE=Hometownboy] Sure, I’d enjoy many of the sidekicks above if I were dealing with Orcs, Imperial troopers or the like, but for serious help in today’s real world, I’d love to have Travis Magee’s incomparable **Meyer** , to whom the ladies flock, in whom children trust, and governments consult. Note: Dr. Meyer is a retired economist, and Mr. MacDonald earned an MBA from Harvard in 1939 [/QUOTE] Bastard! You stole my idea of Meyer. I would also nominate Clete Purcel from the Robicheaux character series by James Lee Burke. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022/60 "2007-07-03T02:20:39Z")
[QUOTE=Kythereia] If not, my vote goes to Chloe O’Brien. [/QUOTE] Ooooh. Good call. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fictional-sidekicks/410022.md?page=4)