So who are your favorite side kicks?/Why?

Favorite would be Batgirl.

She started off as a cheap knock off of Batman but became one of the most iconic female characters. Evolved into a detective and fighter in her own right. And although not in the same role now still continues on as Oracle.

She has even spawned her own copy cats with Huntress (both of them) and with the new Batgirl

by the way anyone interested i have a tribe that covers Batgirl Oracle Huntress and other Gothamites called Gotham Knights gothamknights.tribe.net

Now a cool side kick that I think developed well as far as what was done with the character for the time period was Green Arrows side kick Speedy.

The spiral downward with his drug abuse and the story arch where Dinah (Black Canary) helped him through the withdrawal/recovery. Now he has blossomed into Arsenal and spawned his own copy cat with Mia the New Speedy