Review: "Sidekick For Hire" #1 & #2 (Comic Book Series)

Sidekick For Hire is another book series that I had recently backed on Kickstarter.  We always hear the story of the superhero—the main character wearing the cape and struggling to balance his/her everyday life with their hero persona.  But what about the sidekick?  On the outside, this book looks like a fun and sometime quirky superhero book, but it also manages to twist in some seriousness to the main protagonists life choices.

Sidekick For Hire is brought to you by:  Writer:  Kristian Herrera  -  Artist:  Rick Alves  -  Colorist:  Veronica Saraceno (Issue #1) & Jimmy Greenhalgh (Issue #2)  -  Letterer:  Toben Racicot  -  Logo Design:  Winston Gambro

The main character, Leo, is currently the sidekick to a hero with a bit of a reputation:  Captain Ultra.  Leo is going by the alias of Kid Alpha.  Leo reveals that he had achieved this “position” by placing an ad on an online job search site; he simply posted that he was looking to be a sidekick for pay.  From the start it looks like Leo is doing his sidekick gig with ease, but he apparently isn’t very good at it.  While busting up a gang of thieves, Leo takes a moment to check his messages and because of this careless interruption, Captain Ultra is shot and killed from behind—Tragically, this apparently isn’t the first time a hero has died while Leo has been assisting.  I suppose that if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again… and again.  Leo places another ad online and awaits his next job offer.  Meanwhile, we get to see how Leo has been balancing his crime fighting career with his regular life.  Leo is in school; he has a male friend that he confides his alter ego life to, and he has supportive yet clueless parents that he visits regularly.  On top of that, it’s pretty clear that Leo’s poor ability to juggle his two lives is going to cost him a possible relationship with the girl that he’s obviously crushing on.  By the end of issue #1, it’s revealed that something more went on the night that Captain Ultra was murdered; something that will haunt Leo for the rest of his life. 

Okay, let’s unwrap this thing; I love this story concept.  I’ve read other sidekick books (from other creators) in the past, and this one holds up alongside them in my book.  Sidekick For Hire adds the twist that the sidekick is an actually occupation.  Leo is a pretty relatable character.  Although he has some fighting skills and dubs himself a “has-been gymnast,” he’s also a pretty clumsy guy that makes a lot of mistakes.  As far as villains go, Leo really is his own worst enemy.  He knows that he can get other jobs—safer jobs—to pay his bills, however he decides to follow a very unconventional occupational route just because he can’t stand working a regular job.  Not very smart, but it makes for a fun read.   

The artwork fits the book on every level.  I like all the colorful scenes, and the fun character designs.  I think that the concept for this book was well planned and had a firm theme that they had set in place.  Kudos to the art team!  They are all certainly working on a professional level!

As enjoyable as these first two books were, by the final page of Issue #2 it’s clear that these first two books were only setting the stage for the real story to begin. 

I love super hero comic books, but it’s important that we don’t forget about all the sidekicks out there that usually keep them from getting killed.  I give Sidekick For Hire a solid 5 out of 5 Stars.  I’m assuming that SideKick For Hire #3 will most likely come in the form of a Kickstarter campaign, and if so, I would recommend getting in on that one!  Sidekick For Hire is also available on ComiXology:  https://www.comixology.com/Sidekick-For-Hire-1/digital-comic/820948