Sidekicks - The Official Thread

[Russell Brettholtz]

I just ran over to FB to like this. Very cool!

Thanks, John. I appreciate it.

[Russell Brettholtz]

Meet the Sidekicks

Phantasm

Richard is having a bad week. Not only did his fiancée leave him two months before the wedding, but as Phantasm, he is the sidekick to Mr. Marvelous, Chicago’s most popular super-hero. Unfortunately for Richard, Mr. Marvelous suffers from an inflated ego, and pulls no punches when reminding Richard of the Hero / Sidekick dynamic: Mr. Marvelous is beloved; Phantasm is replaceable. Anyone who has ever been mistreated, underappreciated or disrespected by their boss should be able to identify with Richard.

Powers: Phantasm can create and control solid light projections.

[Russell Brettholtz]

Meet the Sidekicks

Mustang

Dan is the de facto leader of the Sidekicks group. Attractive, smart and easy going, as Mustang he is the most popular sidekick in the city. Dan is relatively oblivious to the difficulties shared by his fellow sidekicks. Dan is on course for a major life lesson as Mustang’s popularity threatens to overshadow that of Captain Celerity, the super-hero he sidekicks for (yes, I used sidekick as a verb).

Powers: Mustang can shoot plasma blasts from his hands.

[CharlesM]

This is such a great, great concept! It truly is. I first encountered it over in the Digital Webbing forum, a while back. I check it out on your Facebook page, also.

One thing that stands out to me, so far, of the various characters that I have seen, is that there's not much skin showing. Everyone is wearing long garb, it seems. Not so much a criticism as it is an observation.

[Russell Brettholtz]

This is such a great, great concept! It truly is. I first encountered it over in the Digital Webbing forum, a while back. I check it out on your Facebook page, also.

One thing that stands out to me, so far, of the various characters that I have seen, is that there's not much skin showing. Everyone is wearing long garb, it seems. Not so much a criticism as it is an observation.

Thanks, Charles.

I'm very much a pragmatist when it comes to costumes. Long sleeves and pants just seemed to make sense (except for Atlas - we wanted to show off his muscles).

[Russell Brettholtz]

Meet the Sidekicks

Jolt

Al is the youngest sidekick at 22. The recession is hitting Al particularly hard as he struggles to keep his finances above water. But when his car dies he can’t even get a loan from the Flying Fox, the hero he’s been working with for five years. A hero who also happens to be a millionaire. Al is forced to get a job at a fast food burger joint in order to make ends meet. He is living on the edge and coming dangerously close to falling off. The stress is getting to be too much for Al, as he lashes out at those he has spent years protecting.

Powers: Jolt can generate electricity and shoot electric blasts.

[Russell Brettholtz]

Meet the Sidekicks

Atlas

George is the conscience of the Sidekicks. A devout Catholic, he spends most of his free time working in a soup kitchen, feeding the homeless. George truly believes that helping people is its own reward. But when Atlas leaves the side of the hero he works with to save an innocent bystander, he gets an earful about to whom his assistance lies.

Powers: Atlas is super-strong.

[Dr Mike 2000]

That's a really cool idea you've got there, and some nice execution.

Man, that cityscape on page 8 looks like I've just stepped off the train station at Talos Island! Good memories! (If that doesn't mean anything, its a City of Heroes reference. )

And good catch with the Sceptre, and making him Egyptian. (And Yin & Yang as female characters.) It's easy to fall into the trap of writing white-guys-by-default, and great to see you're making an effort not to.

[Russell Brettholtz]

That's a really cool idea you've got there, and some nice execution.

Man, that cityscape on page 8 looks like I've just stepped off the train station at Talos Island! Good memories! (If that doesn't mean anything, its a City of Heroes reference. )

And good catch with the Sceptre, and making him Egyptian. (And Yin & Yang as female characters.) It's easy to fall into the trap of writing white-guys-by-default, and great to see you're making an effort not to.

Thanks, Mike. I appreciate the comments.

[Russell Brettholtz]

Meet the Sidekicks

Frostbite

Mild-mannered and cool headed, Walter is the assistant editor at the Chicago Herald newspaper. While Heroes get the front page and glowing praise, their sidekicks don’t even merit a footnote. Every day Walter is reminded of how the media ignores the sidekicks and how society in general takes them for granted.

Powers: Frostbite can freeze objects near him and shoot ice blasts from his hands.

[Davenex]

I'm pretty new to these forums so I haven't seen this before but dam it looks nice. Will definitely be keeping an eye out for this and any future kickstarters. If this was on shelves would pick it up in a heartbeat, keep up the amazing work!

[Russell Brettholtz]

I'm pretty new to these forums so I haven't seen this before but dam it looks nice. Will definitely be keeping an eye out for this and any future kickstarters. If this was on shelves would pick it up in a heartbeat, keep up the amazing work!

Thanks, Davenex.

We should have a Kickstarter for the remaining issues of the mini-series late this year or early next year.

[Russell Brettholtz]

Meet the Heroes

Mr. Marvelous

Mr. Marvelous is Chicago’s most popular super-hero. Beloved by the people and police alike, Mr. Marvelous spends his days flying above the city looking for villains to thwart. Confident and egotistical, he has little patience for advice and disdain for criticism; even if it is coming from his own sidekick.

Powers: Mr. Marvelous is invulnerable and can fly.

[Russell Brettholtz]

Meet the Heroes

The Scepter

The Scepter is one of Chicago's most popular Super-Heroes.

While on an archaeological dig in Egypt as a student pursuing his PHD, AJ discovered the scepter. Upon touching the ancient artifact he could feel its power coursing through him. Keeping the scepter secret, AJ smuggled it back to his apartment in Chicago. Through seemingly endless experimentation, AJ learned how to channel the energy of the scepter to generate blasts, shields, and several other energy manifestations. Running with the Egyptian theme, AJ designed a suitable costume and took up the mantle of The Scepter.

It should be noted that AJ is, in fact, of Arabian descent.

He was originally written as just another white American, but as I fleshed out his back story I realized I was falling into the same trap of so many other Egyptian themed characters: namely, not having a direct link to the heritage or culture being represented.

AJ's name is Asim-Jabari.

Atlas is The Scepter's sidekick.

[Russell Brettholtz]

Meet the Heroes

Captain Celerity

Captain Celerity is Chicago's fastest super-hero.

As a child, Brian was always fast. And he only got faster as he got older. Realizing that he was one of the lucky few on the planet to be born with super-powers, Brian kept his gift a secret. But not such a secret that he didn't win every race he entered.

Earning a track and field scholarship to a top university, Brian shattered local, state and national records. It wasn't long before the Olympic team came calling. Hungry for the attention and adulation, Brian joined the US Olympic team. In his first Olympic outing, he broke four world records. Four years later, he broke them again (but never by enough to make his feats seem illegitimate).

But the glory of the Olympics soon faded. Brian needed the attention. So he did what any ambitious, self-absorbed, super-powered twenty-something would do: he became a Super-Hero.

Moving to Chicago (a city without another speedster to rival), Brian quickly established himself as Captain Celerity: Chicago's fastest Super-Hero!

Mustang is Captain Celerity's sidekick.