Sidekick

Sidekicks are posterchildren, usually between the ages of eleven and sixteen, who fight crime alongside BPHA-approved public hero mentors. They are generally selected through the Maillardet's Academy's sidekick program.
==Sidekick program==
Recognizing that not all posterchildren are suited to the Academy's teaching style, the Maillardet's Foundation for the Future of Humanity allows for alternative avenues for learning. One of these is its sidekick program.
The opportunity to serve as a sidekick is offered only to a few, as only a small number of public heroes have the necessary BPHA accreditation to act as mentors. Typically, sidekick placements are awarded to the Academy's most promising students, as well as to those who are struggling and could potentially benefit from a one-on-one practical style of education. Sidekicks usually range between the ages of eleven and sixteen, as placements are only available to students who have reached the second block of their training.
Taking on a sidekick is a huge responsibility, and all potential mentors are heavily screened prior to and after receiving accreditation. In addition to an extensive background check, they must undergo continuing mental examinations ever six months. Few are willing to subject themselves to the process. At present, only twelve public heroes are certified mentors.
The late Rook was one of the first heroes to be certified by the BPHA. Knowing that his son, Marshal, would not be suited to the Academy, he chose to train the boy himself as his sidekick. Together, the Rook and Little Bird set the standard for the mentor/sidekick dynamic. Marshal's gregarious and talkative demeanour was well-received, and succeeded in rehabilitating his father's public image. This ended abruptly following the tragic kidnapping and murder of Matt Underwood, which led Marshal to go rogue and blotted out any prospect of a future heroic career.
==Sidekicks in the media==
Sidekicks generally present as colourful, light-hearted characters, both in their costumes and in their media portrayals. They tend to be regarded as "corny", with silly catchphrases like "Only a chump would mess with the Champ!" This is by design.
The uncomfortable truth is that sidekicks are minors doing a highly dangerous job. They are first responders to violent crimes, and are frequently required to place themselves in harm's way, sometimes with fatal consequences. It is a difficult practice to condone. The portrayal of sidekicks as larger-than-life characters therefore serves to distract from the sobering reality. As former sidekick Roxanne Galán-Grant puts it, "It's easier for the public to forgive themselves for condoning sidekicks when they're laughing. The moral majority will do just about anything to distract themselves from the mortality rate of 'kicks under the age of fourteen."
==Known sidekicks==
*Champ ― Roxanne Galán-Grant, former sidekick to the Commander (retired)
*Li'l Champ/Champ ― Ernest Wright, sidekick to the Commander
*Little Bird ― Marshal Underwood, former sidekick to the Rook (went rogue)
*Little Bird ― Mal Underwood, former sidekick to the Rook
==References==
Category:Sidekicks
Category:Public heroes
Category:Posthumans