Within the universe of My Hero Academia, Sidekicks play an important supporting role for the many Pro Heroes as they work to uphold peace and justice. Though often overshadowed by their famous employer, Heroes, these licensed aides utilize their unique quirks and skills on the front lines of battles against villains both big and small. From assisting with rescue operations to crowd control, there is no task either trivial or dangerous that falls outside the job duties of these unsung backups.

However, being a Sidekick is not merely a career; for many, it is the first stepping stone towards one day achieving their dream of becoming a top-ranked Pro Hero in their own right. Through paying their dues under the tutelage of esteemed mentors, Sidekicks look to sharpen their abilities and gain invaluable experience to make a name for themselves. Whether their goal is to one day inherit an agency or blaze their trail, the opportunities afforded by starting as a humble Sidekick are truly invaluable for aspiring young heroes of the future. Let's take a closer look at what exactly a sidekick is and the different roles they play within hero agencies.

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What is a Sidekick?

Sidekicks are often weaker and less experienced heroes who work under the leadership of a stronger, more experienced pro hero at their hero agency. Their main role is to serve as backup for the hero they work for when that hero is out fighting villains and rescuing people.

While the pro hero is typically the top operative who handles rescues and battles villains head-on, sidekicks are there to assist when needed. The number of sidekicks employed at a hero agency can vary. Some heroes only have a couple of sidekicks, while others may have dozens. It is up to each hero to decide how many sidekicks they want to take under their wing.

In hiring sidekicks, pro heroes will consider the applicants' quirks and skills to determine how useful they may be. Some heroes look solely at quirks that directly complement their own, while others, like Uwabami, value good looks that can boost popularity. Interestingly, even vigilantes without official hero licenses can become legal sidekicks if recruited by a pro-hero's agency.

Uniforms and appearances are also important to some heroes who want their sidekicks to match their brand. Best Jeanist, for example, requires denim jeans and neat hair for all his sidekicks. But not all agencies are as strict about dress codes.

The goal of most sidekicks is to get experience working for a top hero agency in hopes of one day starting their agency or achieving pro-hero status. However, many end up being long-term sidekicks. Some exceptional sidekicks, like Sir Nighteye, have founded their successful hero agencies with fleets of sidekicks under them.

While most work directly in the field, not all sidekicks fight crime hands-on. Some play important support roles as equipment developers or item manufacturers to better assist their hero partners.

Student Interns as Sidekicks

After passing their provisional hero license exam in their second year, UA student heroes are allowed to intern at hero agencies under a licensed pro hero. These internships provide valuable experience for the students and allow them to apply what they've learned in the classroom and during training.

Internships serve as part-time or temporary jobs where students work as sidekicks to pros. As sidekicks, they assist the pro heroes on relief missions and help people in emergencies while gaining hands-on experience in the field. This exposes them to real-world hero work and tests their skills in a supervised environment.

Some agencies actively recruit students after events like the UA Sports Festival, where top student performers get exposure. Agencies may send recruitment requests to students they are interested in. However, most internship positions are obtained through traditional job interviews. Having an introduction or recommendation from another intern or employee can help boost a student's chances, such as when Mirio Togata brought Izuku Midoriya to meet Sir Nighteye.

Once placed with an agency, interns are fully integrated into agency operations. They take on responsibilities equivalent to a sidekick's role. Students accompany pros on patrols and respond to emergencies alongside licensed heroes. This gives them real experience assessing situations and using their quirks in the field.

Throughout their internship, students gain hands-on training in areas like combat, rescue tactics, and investigation. Working closely with pros also allows interns to observe different hero styles and techniques. With good performance, an internship can lead to a full-time sidekick role after graduation. It is a valuable opportunity for hero course students to get professional experience and make connections within the hero industry.

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Known Sidekicks

Some of the most notable known Sidekicks include:

• Kaoruko Awata, also known as Bubble Girl, is a pro-hero and Sidekick who works at Sir Nighteye's Hero Office.
• Sirius is a pro-hero who works as a sidekick for the Oki Mariner crew under Captain Selkie.
• Moe Kamiji, also known as Burnin, is a pro-hero and one of over thirty sidekicks who work at the Endeavor Agency.
• Gang Orca has a group of sidekicks at his agency who were originally villains and helped during the Provisional Hero License Exam by acting as mock villains.
• Mick is a pro-hero and sidekick of the pro-hero Selkie. He is a member of the Oki Mariner Crew.
• David Shield is a former sidekick and scientist who created support items for heroes. He is the father of Melissa Shield and invented a Quirk Amplification Device while he was a sidekick.
• Mirai Sasaki, also known as Sir Nighteye, was a pro-hero and a former sidekick to All Might. He was considered the brains behind All Might.

While sidekicks operate in the shadow of top Heroes, they form the backbone of support that allows Heroes to save more lives. Through teamwork and utilizing their unique quirks, these exemplary sidekicks prove that every role in the hero industry is important.

My Hero Academia is available to stream on Prime Video.

My Hero Academia (2016)

Action

Superhero

In My Hero Academia, some humans have superpowers called quirks. Izuku Midoriya, nicknamed Deku, is not one of them. Deku has always idolized heroes like the number one hero, All Might, and since he was a child, he has always wanted to be a hero. However, his lack of a quirk has always held him back, but a chance encounter with All Might after discovering a classmate in danger sets Deku on the path to becoming a true hero. My Hero Academia centers around Deku and a class of heroes-in-training at UA. This school shapes young quirk users into future heroes through fake rescue missions, combat training, and other hero-tempering tasks. With young Deku inheriting the "One-For-All" quirk, he will learn what it means to be a true hero while facing off with dastardly supervillains.

Release Date

April 3, 2016

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

7

Creator

Kōhei Horikoshi

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Hulu

See at Amazon