Should superheroes be having kid or teen side-kicks?

Baby Geniuses.

I can see how its nice for kids who read the comics to associate with, but personally I dont like it for storyline purposes.

It probably depends on who they're sidekicking to, and on their own personal skills.

Depends on who they're sidekicking with. If it's somebody like Batman who goes through kids like nothing then they probably shouldn't be allowed allowed around anybody below the age of at least 17. Sure teaming up with any superhero is dangerous but Batman gets his sidekicks killed more than anybody

Eh, I like kid/teen sidekicks and heroes, as goofy and outlandish the concept may be. But I voted Baby Geniuses.

Teaching them but not letting them fight crime yet. It is better than to leave them alone and having the possibility that they go to fight crime alone.

Does anyone know what series/issue that panel is from?

As for the OP, I think the teenage sidekicks should be older. When I read about kids being 10-15 and they're super heroes I just can't believe that because their maturity level and such is so high while the kids I know in real life that are that age are mostly morons.

Hey @aros001, if it makes you feel any better, Sylvester Pemberton (the original Star-Spangled Kid) was a 15 year old with an adult sidekick as far back as the 1940's.

How's that for a plot twist (LOL)?

Yes, Nightwing and red robin are examples of how it works. Jason Todd died because he sucked and damian was a little kid he shouldn't have been allowed out at all.

I tend to like the sidekicks and former sidekicks more than the main hero as they have interesting perspectives and development we rarely see with main heroes when done properly, I just wish writers wouldn't misuse them the way they have been lately...

@jayc1324: to be fair i blame what happened to Jason on what happens when you let people who hate the character or concept write them. He could have been a great character if he was written properly.

@juliedc: I don't know if he could've been great. It seemed they kept changing him to try to get people to like him since his pre crisis origin was basically the same as dick Grayson's. Maybe if he was written more originally like Tim drake he would've been better recieved though.

@jayc1324: jason had the misfortune of succeeding dick which is a massive legacy to live up to at a time when such things didn't happen...however in interviews I've read jim starlin intentionally wrote jason to be a jerk so the character never stood a chance once he took over. At least one good thing came from the whole mess which is tim although it feels like the character is suffering a similar fate at the moment...

Morally? No sidekicks are a terrible idea. But in the context of a comic it is pretty awesome. I love sidekicks. To me Robin has always been as important as Batman.

@juliedc: yeah the new 52 has been horrible for tim overall. I guess its good that he is the leader of the titans but overall his character has been screwed and he is less fun to read now. And teen titans is getting canceled so who knows what will happen to him now. Hopefully the next thing he shows up in will have a writer that understands him and does something with him.

I think something like Avengers Academy is the best choice. They are not teaching just one method of crimefighting their mentor knows - they have multiple mentors. And they are learning the teamwork, which will be useful when they will be adult heroes.