The Wonder of Side Characters

Written by Shae Rufe

From the very beginning I have always had this…’problem’ of falling for side characters. I don’t know why, I really wish I had a full answer, but there is something about the side character that has always fascinated me more than the main characters at times.

For example, Batman. I love Batman, and anyone who knows me can tell you that this obsession of mine runs far deeper than it probably should. It’s not a problem, per se, it’s just not something many people could consider a healthy habit from someone in their 30’s. To which I say, those people are boring, and if you can’t love Batman, then we can’t be friends. I’d say I’m kidding, only, I’m not kidding…I know I’m not alone in my obsession with the world of Batman; many of you out there love the franchise just as much as I do. I’m willing to bet many of you even have your own favorite characters and so on. While I do adore Batman, I do have to admit something to you guys. Because, when do I not tell you guys everything? As it turns out, I just so happen to love someone in the franchise a bit more than the caped crusader. Nightwing, also known as Dick Grayson, and the Original Robin, is my absolute favorite Batman character of all time.

I don’t know when this started, or how, or even why, it just happened. Like, I woke up one day, as a kid, and was like 'wow, Grayson is so much cooler than Wayne'. And from there I never said another word about it. I just magically…obsessed. Thankfully Nightwing has become more popular as time has gone on, which is fantastic for me. I still remember the first time I found the comics. Seriously, I spent the last of the money in my bank account at the comic store that very day buying every comic they had of his. When I obsess, I obsess hard core apparently.

Nightwing isn’t my only love, as I am a nerd and have many interests in many geek things. So, I’ll move to other examples of how I seriously adore side characters. Take the Avengers for a moment. They’re all awesome. A team of superheroes that save the world. When it comes to this group, however, it’s Hawkeye that has my attention. Why? Dude, he has no real superpowers and is an archer from the circus! How could I not love him!? Supernatural is a long time love of mine, and while everyone knows I secretly love Sam more, Gabriel and Crowley are tied for my love as well…

The art of loving a side character isn’t one I can formulate. And, this isn’t to say I don’t like main characters. I just happen to always like the side characters more. Perhaps it’s the mystery of their side of the story. We’re so focused on the main character, we often overlook the side characters. They’re used to further plot, offer character support, but we look over their own growth and development. It’s easy to see what a main character is going through, but we don’t always get the full story of the side character. What I love about much of the comic world, is characters we once thought of as just background nobodies, have gotten their own storylines, comics, and spinoffs. The best example I can give for this one? Agent Coulson from the Marvel movie franchise, getting his very own show, as the main character, on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. So really, the moral of the story today is; never count out the ‘little’ guys (or gals).

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