The Problem of DC Legacy Characters

*MikeandRaph87* · 02-23-2020, 01:33 PM

Legacy heroes have been present since nearly the start of superhero comics. It all begins with Dick Grayson, the best known Robin and originator of junior partners in superhero comics. Not long afterwards Roy Harper would debut alongside Oliver Queen. Sandy, the Sandman's sidekick was also created. Then the Golden Age gave way to the Silver Age and Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, and The Atom all were revamped, maintaining their name and basic concepts. With the changes of comic ages the new concept Flash gained a sidekick Kid Flash and about the same time Aquaman gained a ward of his own. Wondergirl was developed for the Titans and become a legacy for Wonder Woman. Batgirl was revamped and considered a sidekick of Batman and interacted with Superman's sidekick Supergirl. The idea is that Robin, Batgirl, Supergirl, Kid Flash, Aqualad, Wonder Girl, and Speedy will all grow older and take on the role of their mentor with Batgirl perhaps updating her name to Batwoman II. The problem is while they did grow and develop their mentors remained the same age all around 30, but could be argued to be 35 after awhile. Supergirl was Kal-el's kid cousin while Wonder Girl was the adopted kid sister of Wonder Woman, the others were father figures.

Each one aside from Supergirl would become another hero around the age of 20, presumably as a new identity while they wait out the time their mentor retires and he/she takes over adding their own touch to the legacy. Supergirl arguably got the short end because she was at her best as Linda Danvers, but then there was the cosmic identity merged with an angel bit and when dusted off in 2003 by Loeb she was not the same Linda, biological cousin of Kal-el.

Meanwhile Wally West, who quit his role in 1984 alongside Dick Grayson would be the only one to take over for his mentor. However, despite being the one able to take over for and make the legacy his own, his predecessor was "resurrected". Ultimately, having multiple versions operate simultaneously does not work or not given an easy solution. The previous version cannot retire perhaps due to being more popular, but its also arguable.

It gets more complicated with a second generation of sidekicks that was teased with Jason Todd and would be made up of Time Drake, Cassandra Sandmark, Bart Allen, and the Superboy clone among others. How do they grow? Are they meant to become Nightwing, Troia, or others that support the first generation? Legacies have been with DC heroes since the near beginning. Should Dick Grayson, Wally West, and the others be allowed to succeed their mentor? Do they need to become something else entirely? Should the JLA core be allowed to age as their younger partners have? What should be done with replacement sidekicks?

02-23-2020, 01:33 PM	#1
MikeandRaph87 Jedi Master Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: JLA Satellite Headquarters Posts: 11,134	The Problem of DC Legacy Characters Legacy heroes have been present since nearly the start of superhero comics. It all begins with Dick Grayson, the best known Robin and originator of junior partners in superhero comics. Not long afterwards Roy Harper would debut alongside Oliver Queen. Sandy, the Sandman's sidekick was also created. Then the Golden Age gave way to the Silver Age and Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, and The Atom all were revamped, maintaining their name and basic concepts. With the changes of comic ages the new concept Flash gained a sidekick Kid Flash and about the same time Aquaman gained a ward of his own. Wondergirl was developed for the Titans and become a legacy for Wonder Woman. Batgirl was revamped and considered a sidekick of Batman and interacted with Superman's sidekick Supergirl. The idea is that Robin, Batgirl, Supergirl, Kid Flash, Aqualad, Wonder Girl, and Speedy will all grow older and take on the role of their mentor with Batgirl perhaps updating her name to Batwoman II. The problem is while they did grow and develop their mentors remained the same age all around 30, but could be argued to be 35 after awhile. Supergirl was Kal-el's kid cousin while Wonder Girl was the adopted kid sister of Wonder Woman, the others were father figures. Each one aside from Supergirl would become another hero around the age of 20, presumably as a new identity while they wait out the time their mentor retires and he/she takes over adding their own touch to the legacy. Supergirl arguably got the short end because she was at her best as Linda Danvers, but then there was the cosmic identity merged with an angel bit and when dusted off in 2003 by Loeb she was not the same Linda, biological cousin of Kal-el. Meanwhile Wally West, who quit his role in 1984 alongside Dick Grayson would be the only one to take over for his mentor. However, despite being the one able to take over for and make the legacy his own, his predecessor was "resurrected". Ultimately, having multiple versions operate simultaneously does not work or not given an easy solution. The previous version cannot retire perhaps due to being more popular, but its also arguable. It gets more complicated with a second generation of sidekicks that was teased with Jason Todd and would be made up of Time Drake, Cassandra Sandmark, Bart Allen, and the Superboy clone among others. How do they grow? Are they meant to become Nightwing, Troia, or others that support the first generation? Legacies have been with DC heroes since the near beginning. Should Dick Grayson, Wally West, and the others be allowed to succeed their mentor? Do they need to become something else entirely? Should the JLA core be allowed to age as their younger partners have? What should be done with replacement sidekicks? __________________ Michelangelo: This looks like a job for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Raphael: Sheesh, Mikey this ain't a cartoon!