10 Superheroes That Are Much Better As Supporting Characters

Despite their superpowers, unlimited bank accounts and figure-hugging outfits, superheroes are very much like us ordinary plebeians. You see, some of them are born to be great: to go out and save the world while their logos adorn lunchboxes and boxers everywhere. And then there are others who're meant to be there as well - albeit a little quieter. Not everyone can be the leading star, you know. There's always a need for supporting characters and sidekicks in every story. Don't believe us? Then, why does Batman recruit more Robins than common sense would encourage? It's because they serve a purpose - to him, to you, to us. Unfortunately, the comic book world sometimes tries to make this supporting cast bigger than what it should really be. That's why it's important to sift through what we're being fed and identify whose name shouldn't be up there in the neon lights. So, without further ado, here are 10 superheroes that are much better as supporting characters. Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier Remember in Mean Girls when Regina George told Gretchen Wieners to stop trying to make 'fetch' happen? This is pretty much the same case with Marvel and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier. While we all loved Captain America: The Winter Soldier, does anybody really care about Bucky as a lead character? Back when he was the Robin to Captain America's Batman, Bucky was one of the most iconic sidekicks in the comic book universe. Unfortunately, as these things inevitably turn out, he outgrew his role - much like Dick Grayson did - and forged his own path in the Marvel universe. However, unlike Dick, Bucky never quite hit the same heights of popularity. Sure, he was Captain America for a short while and he's a lethal fighter, but is he better off now on his own than before? We certainly don't think so. Roy Harper/Arsenal Man, DC's been brutal to Roy Harper over the years. Whether it be by orphaning him, giving him a substance abuse problem, or chopping off his arm in Young Justice, the character's been through the wringer more often than not. Hasn't he suffered enough? In the New 52, he received a shot as a leading character. First, he was paired up with Jason Todd/Red Hood and Koriand'r/Starfire in Red Hood and the Outlaws, and then him and Jason in Red Hood/Arsenal. What the two series did prove was that Roy lacks the ability to be anything more than a sidekick or glorified team member in the DC universe. He never shined, as he played second fiddle to the others around him. Not everyone can be a natural leader, and Roy proved this. Rebirth has brought him back together with Green Arrow and the Titans team and it's a shrewd move, because this is where he belongs on the food chain. Hopefully, the writers are kinder to him this time and don't put him through more unnecessary trauma in the future. Harley Quinn Harley Quinn is DC's 'it girl' right now. Everywhere you look, you see the pig-tailed clown causing havoc and being a general nuisance to society. It's fair to say that she is to DC what Deadpool is to Marvel: money, money, money. That said, she's become an overexposed character in recent times - and the quality of her appearances are questionable at best. Is she as exciting as when she was Mr. J's right-hand woman? Probably not. There's yet to be that one big, defining Harley story that's captivated and gripped us to root for her. At the moment, she's purely comedic relief, with no focus and direction – kind of like a nice to have, but not really necessary. She needs to step out of the Joker's shadow and do something that gets everyone talking. Otherwise, she's doomed to be nothing better than the former henchwoman to one of the greatest villains of all-time. Felicity Smoak When Felicity first appeared on Arrow, a lot of people liked her quirkiness and geeky demeanor. She worked well with the rest of Team Arrow and gave Ollie the necessary backup he needed to save his perilous city. Then, they went and spoiled it all by saying something stupid like 'I love you.' No longer just the brains of the team, Felicity has taken on a hen mother sort of role, acting as a base leader and barking out instructions at everyone else. This is the point where the rage began, turning her into the most irritating character on television. Whinier than Speedy and more annoying than Tommy Merlyn, Felicity is the poisoned dagger in our groin. She's gotten too big for her boots, trying to call the shots where she can, and it's time for Ollie to cut her loose - or for her to follow daddy dearest and become a villain. Felicity worked better when she didn't try to be the whole damn show. Rick Jones If there ever was a need for a rent-a-sidekick business, Rick Jones would definitely be the CEO. Having been a partner to the Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Captain Marvel and Rom, Rick's always looking for the next sweet gig. While he never reached the Bucky-level of popularity (even though he did take up the alias as well at some point), he still stands out as a resilient sidekick in the Marvel universe. Sadly for him, the writers decided to infuse him with some superpowers, in an effort to elevate him from a supporting character to a starring role. Yet, with aliases like A-Bomb and Whisperer, he sounds more like a bad WWE jobber and you can never quite take him seriously as a superhero. In Rick's case, he's better placed as a partner to the star than the actual hero. He's endearing enough, but not quite A-list material. Not everyone can be the lead singer, you know - someone needs to be the bass player, too. Mystique This one is purely the fault of the latest X-Men films, where Mystique has been portrayed as some form of leader. But she isn't. She's Magneto's lackey, and a card-holding member of the Brotherhood of Mutants, so why mess with that formula? While she undoubtedly has the powers and ability to ascend to the throne of villainy, Mystique has never shined on her own. All of her best work has come when she's been an associate, i.e. working for someone else. It's okay if she prefers to be a worker bee, and not an entrepreneur. With Jennifer Lawrence unlikely to continue as the character on screen, this might be a chance for history to self-rectify here. Give us more of Mystique, by all means, but as a supporting character at best. Damian Wayne/Robin Damian's been spreading his little wings lately, and gone out on his own more and more. His prickly personality, however, will always prevent him from becoming a likeable main character. Although, it's fun to see him try to lead the Teen Titans, while the group - mainly Beast Boy - mocks his bossy ways. Funny enough, his best sidekick role wasn't as his father's latest Robin, but as Dick Grayson's. The adventures that the two embarked on in Grant Morrison's Batman and Robin seminal run were some of the best Batman and Robin stories in years, and there was an undeniable chemistry between the two. Recently, Tim Seeley's Nightwing brought Dick and Damian back together for the "Nightwing Must Die" arc, and it's evident that there's still a strong bond there. Let's hope the powers that be also notice that Damian's the perfect partner for Dick. Black Cat With the news that Sony's developing a Black Cat/Silver Sable movie, without Spider-Man, we have to ask ourselves, what's the point of it all? Felicia Hardy is recognized mostly due to her close and tumultuous relationship with Spidey, so it makes no sense why anyone would exclude him from the picture. In fact, it makes more sense to introduce Felicia in the Spider-Man films as a potential love interest or someone to create conflict between him and Mary Jane Watson or Gwen Stacy. Did Sony even read the comics or watch the 90s animated series? While it's obvious that this is an attempt at creating a universe out of the characters that aren't under the MCU umbrella, it's a bit of a head-scratcher, really. Felicia is a cool cat, but if she can't have her own series, how will she carry a film with the equally B-grade Silver Sable? Cyborg Cue the hate, but Vic Stone/Cyborg is far better as a member of the Justice League and Teen Titans than he is a solo hero. While he's an interesting and powerful character, he lacks the charisma to carry an entire series on his own. After a while, it feels like we're watching another addition to the never-ending Terminator series - and no one needs that kind of negativity in their life. There's a lot to like about Vic, don't get us wrong. He's brave, smart, and incredibly strong. Yet, his solo outings degenerate into hot messes rather quickly. He remains the sort of hero who shines in group settings, but flounders in the spotlight - a lot like Hawkeye from the Avengers. Let's see what the Justice League does for his character development and stock value. It's highly possible that we'll be eating our words in a few months, and Cyborg will become DC's Iron Man. Ben Reilly/Scarlet Spider Ah, the clones are to Marvel what alternate timelines are to DC. It's a silly trope, but it did provide us with one cool character: Ben Reilly/Scarlet Spider. Naturally, he's been in and out of the Marvel universe over the years, but he's back now - even getting his own book titled Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider. It's all good and dandy at the moment, but we need to question the longevity of Ben here. While he's fun, and provides a welcome relief to Dan Slott's blander-than-a-sandwich Peter Parker, how long do you think the interest in his character will last? Will he stand the test of time, or will he end up like 1995's flavor of the year, X-Man? He's had a start-stop run in the universe, so this is Ben's big chance to stand up and be counted as a major player. His first issue is off to a good start, but will the quality be sustained in the long run? Only time will tell. Tell us, do you agree with our choices? Are there any other superheroes that you feel are better as supporting characters? As always, let us know in the comments section down below.