Comicology Face Off: Sidekick battle

August 28, 2009

The similarities between Dick Grayson and James Buchanan Barnes are astonishing, especially given the fact that they are both currently holding their mentors’ mantles. They’re both great fighters from a young age and both were side kicks to each universe’s premiere martial artists. When they go up against each other, how would they do? Let’s see in this edition of Comicology: Face Off.

This is how we do Face Offs. We take an angle from each character’s life and compare them with one another, then we see who would come out on top based on that particular area.

Childhood:

Bucky was a troubled youth from the 1940’s who had  fire in his heart, but needed to get his head on straight. Dick was a naturally gifted althetic kid who was traumatized at his parents’ deaths. Both are orphans. Bucky’s dad was a soldier, Dick’s dad was a circus trapeeze.

When Bucky’s folks died, he spent his days at a training camp, during World War II. When Dick’s parents got killed, he was adopted by Bruce Wayne to live in a cushy mansion only to eventually be trained by the goddamned Batman.

This is isn’t even a close match. One practically grew up training with firearms and explosive and the other grew up  jumping from rope to rope. I do believe the edge goes to Bucky Barnes.

Sidekick to:

When it comes to Captain America VS. Batman, the debate will be long and extensive. I think what would be easier to discuss is the relationship each of our contenders had with their mentors.

Cap trained Bucky in hand to hand combat, Bats did the same with Dick. Bucky, however, had a very different set of ethics from Cap it wasn’t something Cap tried to instill in Bucky very hard. In fact, as far asI know, the whole sidekick angle was a PR stunt to cover up the fact that Bucky Barnes was a young black ops specialist. Nevertheless, Bucky looked up to Cap like the legend he was.

Dick had a father figure in Bruce. They had a very strong bond, which persists until today, after all that’s happened in the past. As Robin, Dick learned martial arts, detective skills and even some of Bruce’s ingenuity rubbed off on Dick. Even through their similarities, Dick acted as Bruce’s anchor to his humanity, as the yin to his yang (not wang, because I’m beyond making gay jokes about Bruce and his Dick Grayson). Hell, they were even called Batman and Robin.

For me, the clear winner here is Dick Grayson. He and Bruce have the same bond as Cap and Bucky, but Dick just gained much more from Bruce. And not to mention those long lonely nights.

Weaponry and Equipment:

This is a fairly simple comparison. Dick Grayson used to use bat-gadgets such at batarangs and such when he was Robin. When he became Nightwing, he used simpler things such as bolas and kali sticks, which was really effin’ cool. For armor, Dick uses a fire-resistant suit with light armor padding. He doesn’t have that cape to keep him hidden or make him into a larger target than he really is, but he compensates for it by wearing a dark suit in which he can creep around, creepily.

Since he became Batman, he’s been using a cool new Batmobile.

I think his lack of resources as Nightwing, being a policeman and all, has made him rely on his skill more than his stuff.

Bucky Barnes is an expert marksman and black ops specialist. Back in the war, he would use his ever-so-unreliable Thompson sub-machine gun. He’s an expert at other firearms and grenades. Dude even uses knives. I assume, since he became the Winter Soldier, he uses the regular spy fanfare, such as a souped up Luger. Oh, and he’s got a bionic arm that makes him stronger. The arm doesn’t even need to be attached to Bucky for it to function properly.

Since becoming the new Captain America, he gets his vibranium shield and he gets to drive a flying car. Booyah.

This is pretty close. I’d have to say this is pretty much a tie. The Bat family is known for their gadgets and Winter Soldier’s got some nifty German scientist gadgets as well.

Solo Experience:

Winter Soldier- assassin/ killed Wolverine’s wife/ started a whole lot of shit completely undetected

Nightwing- leader of the Titans for a while, and generally a poor man’s Batman in Bludhaven

Sorry, but Bucky runs away with this one.

In a fight:

Here’s where the debate pretty much rages into a discussion between Batman and Captain America. I’ll try to stay as far away from that as possible.

Bucky is said to be the best natural fighter Cap has ever seen, and has trained in many martial arts. And Dick has peak human agility and endurance, and has mastered six martial arts. They’re both said to rival their mentors.

Now, Robin has the edge when it comes to aerial combat and agility, but only slightly. When it comes to brutality, I think Bucky’s got the cojones to do what it takes. In no holds barred fighting, Dick may jump circles around Bucky for a few minutes but when Bucky grabs a hold of Dick (yes, grabs DIck) in his cybernetic clutches, it’s lights out for the Boy Wonder.

In a dragged out, bare knuckle, hardcore fight, using everything including the kitchen sink, I think after all it’s said and done, Bucky kneecaps Dick and then kicks his teeth in.

I posted a survey over at plurk, and this is what they had to say.

Ade: Bucky would shoot Dick’s kneecaps off but Dick will get a blowjob from the nearest supermodel to make it better.
Rhi kohh: (unsure)
jmhighdef: Dick. Because he’s young, and hip. Bucky’s from the 40’s. He needs a new hip.
kaytay: which one could stay dead the longest?
The Bim: Has Dick died yet? I don’t remember them killing off Dick, though I’m sure they probably had him “thought dead” once or fifteen times.
Rhi kohh: Dick, because he will outsmart Bucky
shrubber: Bucky snipes Dick from 3 blocks away.
Rhi kohh: But when Bucky tries to snipe Dick, a trap Dick laid beforehand would shock him unconscious
The Bim: We all love saying “Dick,” don’t we?
Lizz: Nightwing would kick Bucky’s ass because he trained under the Goddamned Batman.
The Bim: But Bucky trained under the goddamned Captain America?
Rhi kohh: GB is all about outwitting opponents, GCA is all about maximum application of tactics and strategy, IMO
Lizz: Cap is a lot of things, but he’s not goddamned, hehe.
timstersays: Hmm… tough, but in terms of skill and agility, my money’s on Dick Grayson. Bucky would have the weapons, but Dick’s good at avoiding that.